Game Preview: Islanders vs Wild

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (6-5-2) VS MINNESOTA WILD (5-7-3)

7 PM | UBS ARENA | BUY TICKETS

WATCH/STREAM: MSGSN | GOTHAM SPORTS APP

LISTEN: 88.7FM | 103.9FM | ISLANDERS + UBS ARENA APP

The New York Islanders are hosting Military Appreciation Night will take on the Minnesota Wild on Friday at UBS Arena.

The Islanders kept their three-game point streak alive with a 4-3 SO loss the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. Bo Horvat (2G) and Anthony Duclair scored for the Islanders and Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves.

MORNING SKATE UPDATES

Islanders Projected Lineup:

Emil Heineman – Bo Horvat – Mathew Barzal
Jonathan Drouin – Cal Ritchie – Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee – JG Pageau – Simon Holmstrom
Anthony Duclair – Casey Cizikas – Kyle MacLean

Alexander Romanov – Tony DeAngelo
Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock
Matthew Schaefer – Scott Mayfield

David Rittich

IN NET

Head Coach Patrick Roy said that David Rittich will start on Friday against the Minnesota Wild. Rittich is 3-1-0 for the Islanders this season, along with a 3.01 GAA and a .902 SV%. Ilya Sorokin will start the second half of the Islanders back-to-back set on Saturday against the New York Rangers.

Jesper Wallstedt is the expected starter for the Wild, given that Gustavsson played on Thursday night. Wallstedt is 1-0-2 this season with a 3.45 GAA and a .863 SV%. The 22-year-old netminder has not yet faced the Islanders in his career.

SHABANOV UPDATE

Max Shabanov is skating on his own and "progressing," but is not ready to play, per Head Coach Patrick Roy. His status for the upcoming seven-game road trip is to be determined.

"We talked this morning and we'd like him to come on the trip but we can't guarantee he'll play on the trip," Roy said. "So we'll see how it shapes up in the next day or so."

The Russian winger has not skated with the team since Oct. 21 in the Islanders' 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks.

MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT

The first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive an Islanders military cap, presented by Ford.

Isles Lab and the Isles Pro Shop will be selling limited-edition military-related merchandise, featuring jerseys, hoodies, game-used military apparel. Friday’s Item of the Game is the Military Collection. A 15% discount on all merchandise and concessions will be offered with a military ID presented at checkout - all season long.

Learn more about the special night HERE.

ONE LAST STOP BEFORE THE ROAD

Friday’s contest against the Wild will mark their last home game before they embark on a seven-game road trip that sees two local opponents – the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils – before they head to Vegas, Utah, Colorado, Dallas and Detroit. The Isles are looking to make the most of home ice advantage on Friday night.

“We got another one at home, we like playing in front of our fans,” said Scott Mayfield. “We’re gone for a couple of weeks after so it’s a big one tomorrow, we’re excited.”

UPCOMING MILESTONES

JG Pageau leads the NHL with three shorthanded points (1G, 2A) With 23 shorthanded points as an Islanders, Pageau’s next shorthanded point will pass Butch Goring for sole possession of fifth most in franchise history.

With 298 NHL career assists, Horvat is two away from his 300th.

TOP SCORER VS WILD

Anders Lee leads the Islanders with 13 points (7G, 6A) in 20 career games.

SEASON SERIES

The Isles are 1-6-1 in their last eight games with the Wild. The Isles snapped a seven-game winless streak against Minnesota with a 3-1 win at UBS Arena on April 4th.

ACROSS THE ICE

Mats Zuccarello has been activated off season-opening non-roster IR on Friday morning and is expected to make his season debut, per Michael Russo of the Athletic. The winger sustained a lower-body injury in training camp and missed the first 15 games of the season as a result. Zuccarello recorded 54 points (19G, 35A) through 69 games last season.

The Wild are coming off a 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night in the first half of a back-to-back set. Matt Boldy (2G) and Brock Faber scored for Minnesota, while Filip Gustavsson made 24 saves. The Wild saw a two-game winning streak come to an end and they fell to a record of 5-7-3 on the season. 

Minnesota’s power play ranks fourth in the NHL (31.6%).

Kirill Kaprizov leads the Wild in scoring with 18 points (8G, 10A). The winger signed an eight-year extension that begins in the 2026-27 season. The deal marks a new high in NHL history in both the total amount ($136 million) and average annual value ($17 million AAV). 

Matt Boldy skated in his 300th career game on Thursday and recorded his first multi-goal game of the season.