Morning Skate Updates: Islanders vs Lightning

The New York Islanders take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Buy tickets here. Watch the game on MSG+ or MSG GO. Listen live on 88.7FM - WRHU or 660AM/101.9FM - WFAN. Read the game preview. Check the game notes.

ISLANDERS PROJECTED LINES:

CLUTTERBUCK RETURNS:

Cal Clutterbuck is back in the lineup after missing Tuesday's game. Clutterbuck said he needed the extra day to heal up from an upper-body issue and the physical winger should have some extra jump on Thursday night.
In Clutterbuck the Isles are getting back one of their top penalty killers, a physical presence and a leader on the bench.
"He's just good at what he does. He finishes every hit. He's hard to play against and you can feel it on the bench, can feel it on the ice," Anthony Beauvillier said of Clutterbuck. "No one really wants to go in the corner against him. He's a strong guy and he creates room for a lot of guys on the ice and it's good to have him back."

MAYFIELD AND QUINE UPDATE:

Scott Mayfield and Alan Quine both took part in their first team practices since suffering lower-body injuries in February. Mayfield - who's been out since blocking a PK Subban slap shot on Feb. 5 - was a limited participant Wednesday, but could become a full participant if he's feeling good after Thursday's morning skate. After that, Weight estimates Mayfield will need four or five practice days before being able to return.
Quine - out since Feb. 23 - is closer to being able to return, with Weight estimating two to three days before being cleared by trainers.

BARZAL VS GOURDE:

Thursday's matchup pits the NHL's two highest-scoring rookies against each other. Barzal leads rookies with 75 points (20G, 55A) this season while Gourde is second with 56 (24G, 32A). On Tuesday Barzal became the first NHL rookie since Nicklas Backstrom (2007-08) to record 55 assists in a season. Gourde has four goals in two games against the Islanders this season.

LIGHTNING PROJECTED LINES:

| FORWARDS | | --- | | LEFT WING | CENTER | RIGHT WING | | J.T. MILLER | STEVEN STAMKOS | NIKITA KUCHEROV | | ONDREJ PALAT | BRAYDEN POINT | TYLER JOHNSON | | ALEX KILLORN | ANTHONY CIRELLI | YANNI GOURDE | | CHRIS KUNITZ | CEDRIC PAQUETTE | ADAM ERNE |

| DEFENSE | | --- | | VICTOR HEDMAN | ANTON STRALMAN | | RYAN MCDONAGH | DAN GIRARDI | | BRAYDON COBURN | MIKHAIL SERGACHEV |