Game Preview: Islanders at Ducks

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (2-2-0) AT ANAHEIM DUCKS (4-1-1)
10 PM ET | HONDA CENTER
TV: MSG+ | MSG GO | NHL.TV
RADIO: 88.7FM | WRHU 103.9FM | LI News RADIO.COM
GAME NOTES | MORNING SKATE UPDATES
Bust out the coffee, smelling salts or whatever else you need to stay up late, as the New York Islanders take on the Anaheim Ducks at 10 p.m. et on Wednesday night.
Wednesday's contest kicks of a SoCal back-to-back for the Islanders, who take on the LA Kings on Thursday night at STAPLES Center. It's the second of a four-game Western swing, but the first of three games in California. The Islanders are 0-1-0 to start the trip after falling 5-2 in Nashville.

"You usually play three in four, they're good teams and one of the teams, LA or Anaheim, gets you on a back-to-back and then you go to San Jose" Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "We have to be on our game and a little sharper and execute a little better."
UPDATE: Thomas Greiss will start in goal. Casey Cizikas highly probable to return. Ross Johnston is in for Matt Martin. Get the latest from morning skate.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• Casey Cizikas (IR - lower body) practiced with the Islanders on Tuesday. Barry Trotz said he hopes Cizikas, who missed Saturday's game, will be ready to go on Wednesday. More practice updates at Islanders Day-to-Day.
• The Islanders debuted some different line combinations and d-pairings at Tuesday's practice in Anaheim. The main takeaways were Andrew Ladd skating with Mathew Barzal and Josh Bailey, while Anthony Beauvillier was on a line with Valtteri Filppula and Cal Clutterbuck. Adam Pelech skated as the extra defenseman, signaling Luca Sbisa's potential return to the lineup.
• Thomas Greiss is one win shy of 100 for his NHL career.

ISLANDERS PLAYER TO WATCH: ANDREW LADD

Andrew Ladd made an impact in his return to the lineup, netting his first goal of the season off a feed from Mathew Barzal in the second period. Ladd was bumped up to Barzal's line midway through Saturday's game and practiced with Barzal and Josh Bailey on Tuesday. Head Coach Barry Trotz said he expects to see some production out of Ladd in that role, while praising his tough, veteran experience. Ladd also saw some time on the PK during his season debut.

DUCKS NOTES:

• The Ducks currently lead the Pacific Division with nine points.
• Ryan Getzlaf has missed four straight games with a reported groin injury. The Ducks' captain skated on Tuesday morning on a line with Rickard Rakell and Troy Terry.
• Ducks leading scorer Jakob Silfverberg (upper body) did not skate at Tuesday's practice. Silfverberg leads the Ducks in goals (3) and points (7). Carter Rowney (upper body) also did not skate on Tuesday.
• The Ducks recalled centers Joseph Blandisi and Chase De Leo from the San Diego Gulls.
• Corey Perry is expected to miss the first five months of the season after undergoing knee surgery in September.

DUCKS PLAYER TO WATCH: MAX COMTOIS

Max Comtois' NHL career is off to a fast start as the 19-year-old has five points (2G, 3A) in his first six NHL games. Comtois, the Ducks 2017 second-round pick (50th overall), is third on the team in scoring trailing only Jakob Silfverberg and Hampus Lindholm. Comtois played his junior hockey for Victoriaville in the QMJHL, scoring 85 points (44G, 41A) in 54 games last season.

\Graphic courtesy of Islanders PR*