Morning Skate Updates: Islanders at Red Wings

The New York Islanders take on the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena at 7 p.m. Watch the game on MSG+, MSG GO, or NHL.TV. Listen live on 88.7FM WRHU, 103.9FM LI News or online at RADIO.COM/ISLANDERS. Read the game preview. Check the game notes.

Lehner was deemed healthy by Head Coach Barry Trotz and the coach said he had given some consideration to starting Lehner, but felt the goalie didn't receive adequate practice time before getting game action.
Lehner last played on Nov. 29, stopping 35-of-36 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins. The 27-year-old is 4-5-2 with a 2.79 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and a shutout this season.

KUHNHACKL A GAME-TIME DECISION:

Tom Kuhnhackl will be a game-time decision on Saturday night, as the Islanders forward left the team's morning skate early.

FIL VS FRANS:

Valtteri Filppula and Frans Nielsen have heard the comparisons about each other.
They're both thought of as heady, two-way centers, with good vision and some offense to match. The fact that they both wear the relatively uncommon number 51, only fuels the fire that they are similar types of players.
"The similarities extend beyond the ice," said Josh Bailey, who's played with both Nielsen and Filppula. "They both have similar mannerisms and both are really good people. Kind of quiet. I think we used to draw the same comparison when Frans was playing here. Being the same shot, same number, around the same height, similar styles - two really good players."
Nielsen spent 10 years with the Islanders, playing 606 games with the club between 2006-16. He was known as a steady, two-way forward with a deadly backhand in the shootout and was a popular teammate.

The Islanders see a bit of that in Filppula, who has anchored the team's third line and penalty kill with Leo Komarov. Filppula has chipped in 16 points this season, as well.
"It's tough for me to evaluate, but I've heard that too," Filppula said. "I've played a lot of times against him, but it's tough to say if there are some similarities. I wouldn't mind that. I think he's a good player."
The number 51 sat vacant for two seasons after Nielsen signed with the Detroit Red Wings, so it seems fitting that Filppula was the first to don it.
"I've heard that a lot," Nielsen said of the comparisons. "I know him a little bit and he's a great guy and a great player and been one for a long time. It's good to see him doing well there."

ISLANDERS-DETROIT CONNECTIONS:

The Islanders have a lot of ties to the Detroit Red Wings - and the Detroit area.
Matt Martin is from Windsor, ON, only a couple of miles from downtown Detroit.
Josh Bailey played his junior hockey in Windsor with the Spitfires.
Valtteri Filppula played for the Red Wings from 2005-13, winning a Stanley Cup with the club in 2008.
MSG Islanders Host Shannon Hogan is from the Metro Detroit area.
Frans Nielsen played 606 games for the Islanders from 2006-16.
Thomas Vanek played 47 games for the Islanders in 2013-14.

BERNIER TO START FOR WINGS:

Jonathan Bernier gets the nod for the Wings tonight. Bernier is 4-6-0 with a 3.40 GAA and a .896 SV% for the Red Wings this season. He is making back-to-back starts for the first time this season.

RED WINGS PROJECTED LINES:

Gustav Nyqvist - Dylan Larkin - Justin Abdelkader
Andreas Athanasiou - Frans Nielsen - Thomas Vanek
Michael Rasmussen - Luke Glendening - Tyler Bertuzzi
Martin Frk - Jacob de la Rose - Christoffer Ehn
Dennis Cholowski - Mike Green
Niklas Kronwall - Nick Jensen
Jonathan Ericsson - Luke Witkowski
Jonathan Bernier
*Lines courtesy of