Game Preview: Islanders vs. Canucks

New York Islanders (4-6-2) vs. Vancouver Canucks (4-7-1)

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Cal Clutterbuck Bobblehead Night:

The first 10,000 fans in attendance on Monday will receive a Cal Clutterbuck bobblehead.
Buy tickets.

Islanders Looking To Break Through:

The Islanders felt they did a lot of things right on Saturday, limiting the Oilers to few even strength chances in regulation, holding Connor McDavid without a point and scoring early, but that made their loss the more frustrating. John Tavares said the Islanders just need to break through late in games when they have their opportunities, but he and his teammates were encouraged by Saturday's performance.
"I thought our overall play was pretty solid [Saturday]," Shane Prince said. We made good plays with the puck, good breakouts, moved it forward, made their D work, controlled the game. It's all about puck possession and controlling games nowadays. That's one of the best things we did tonight, we have to bring it over.

Travis Hamonic Out 4-6 Weeks:

Travis Hamonic will miss 4-6 weeks with an upper-body injury, suffered in the first period of Saturday's loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Hamonic had five points (2G, 3A) in 12 games to start the season and was averaging 19:46 TOI - fourth-highest on the Islanders, though that number was higher before he missed the last two periods on Saturday.
"He's one of our leaders," head coach Jack Capuano said on Saturday. "A right-shot D-man who plays 21, 22 minutes a night."
With only five healthy defensemen on the roster, the Islanders will need to recall a defenseman from Bridgeport.

Special Teams:

The Islanders special teams are looking to get back on track Monday. The team's penalty kill has allowed nine power-play goals in the last six games, including two against the Oilers on Saturday. The team's power play is 4-of-35.
"We can improve on our special teams and try to win that battle," John Tavares said on Saturday. "If you win that battle it gives you a good chance to win the game."
The Canucks have one of the league's better penalty kills (84.8%), but haven't found their stride on the power play, converting at 7.7%.

Canucks Having Trouble Scoring:

After starting the season 4-0-0, the Canucks have gone 0-7-1 in their last eight games, including a 6-3 loss in Toronto on Saturday night. The main issue? A lack of scoring.
Goals have been hard to come by for the Canucks this season, as they are averaging 1.58 per game and have been shut out four times. Free agent Loui Eriksson, who is coming off a 30-goal season in Boston, is still looking for his first goal as a Canuck. Eriksson started the season on the Sedin line, but Jannik Hansen is now flanking Daniel and Henrik.
Henrik Sedin (4G, 2A), Hansen (2G, 4A) and Brandon Sutter (1G, 5A) are all tied for the team scoring lead with six points.