Game Preview: Islanders vs Panthers

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (25-20-5) VS FLORIDA PANTHERS (19-22-6)
7 P.M. - BARCLAYS CENTER - BUY TICKETS
TV: MSG+, MSG GO
RADIO: 88.7 FM, 103.9 FM, AM970
MORNING SKATE UPDATES
Between the Coliseum announcement and all-star weekend, it's been a busy few days in Islanders country, but the focus shifts back to the ice as the Isles kick off the unofficial second half of the season against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.
The Islanders went into the all-star break on a high note, capping a 2-0-1 road trip with a gritty 2-1 win over the West-leading Vegas Golden Knights. The team caught a red-eye back from Vegas, so Head Coach Doug Weight said the all-star break came at the right time to get his players re-acclimated to the East coast. Rested after a few days off, the Islanders jump right back into it, kicking off a back-to-back set which concludes on Wednesday in Toronto.

"It's a perfect time for us. It made for a tired weekend, you travel all night and get in at 7 a.m. and the guys, halfway through Sunday they were starting to feel normal, which for me is a great break," Weight said. "Traditionally you see how those records go coming back from those long trips, so I think this rest, getting back out and having a good skate could do us well."
READ: CIZIKAS TO RETURN VS PANTHERS
The All-Star Game provided a brief detente in the Metropolitan Division, but the battle in the NHL's tightest division resumes today - as the second and seventh-placed teams are operated by two points.
Currently the Islanders and Rangers (55 points) are one point back of New Jersey and Philadelphia (56 points) for Wild Card spots and two points back of Pittsburgh and Columbus (57).
"To get five out of six [points on the trip] and to be in postiion now, we're in striking distance," Weight said. "We're just on the outside looking in, but are hungry to get back above and make those teams catch us again."

LINEUP NOTES:

UPDATE: CIZIKAS IS IN, JOHNSTON IS OUT, HALAK IN GOAL, SAME D
Casey Cizikas (upper body) could return on Tuesday, according to Head Coach Doug Weight. Cizikas and Johnny Boychuk (lower body) were both practicing with the team during their western road trip.
Andrew Ladd practiced with the Islanders for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury on Jan. 5.
Ross Johnston and Tanner Fritz were recalled from Bridgeport on Monday. Both were loaned to the Sound Tigers for the Islanders all-star break.

SEASON SERIES:

Mathew Barzal scored the game-deciding goal as the Islanders beat the Panthers 5-4 in a shootout back on Dec. 4. This is the second of three meetings this season, with the third being played on March 26 at Barclays Center. The Islanders are 2-4-0 in their last six home games vs Florida.

TONELLI TO DROP PUCK:

Islanders legend John Tonelli will be on hand to drop the ceremonial first puck at Tuesday's game. Tonelli won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders and scored 544 points (206G, 338A) in 594 games over eight seasons (1978-1986).

THE PANTHERS:

Last Game: L 4-2 vs Washington
Scoring Leaders:Points: Jonathan Huberdeau - 47
Goals:Vincent Trocheck - 18
Assists: Jonathan Huberdeau -31
Power Play:16% - 27th
Penalty Kill:79.3% - 20th
The Panthers have had a rough start to 2018, having won two out of their nine games since the start of the New Year. The Panthers lost three straight games heading into the all-star break and currently sit 14th in the Eastern Conference.
Jonathan Huberdeau leads the Panthers in points (47) and assists (31). Huberdeau is tied for 17th in NHL assists. Huberdeau has scored 11 points (3G, 8A) in his last 10 games.
READ: CAPUANO RETURNS TO BARCLAYS CENTER
Vincent Trocheck leads his team in goals with 18 so far this season. The captain has scored nine points (4G, 5A) in the last 10 games and is tied for 34th in league points.
Aleksander Barkov is third in team points with 43 (15G, 28A), with 10 points (4G, 6A) coming in as many games. Barkov has had two three-point games in his last six games, against St. Louis (1G, 2A) and Las Vegas (1G, 2A). Barkov was Florida's representative at the All-Star Game.
Tuesday's game marks Florida Associate and former Islanders Head Coach Jack Capuano's return to New York to face his former team.
\With files from Yali Cohen*