Canadiens at Islanders preview

CANADIENS (30-28-9) at ISLANDERS (35-21-8)
7 p.m. ET; MSG+, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV

New York is 0-1-2 in its past three and tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Islanders, who are 2-5-2 in their past nine, have played three fewer games.
Montreal, which is opening a three-game road trip, is nine points behind the Islanders and Blue Jackets. The Canadiens are 3-1-1 in their past five games.

Players to watch

Canadiens center Max Domi is on a five-game point streak (four goals, three assists).
Islanders forward Anders Lee has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past five games.

They said it

"They're always well structured. (Islanders coach Barry Trotz) is one of the coaches that plays man to man [defensive] zone coverage when was in Washington and now here, probably one of the better teams that play man on man. It's going to be important for us to really move the puck quick and get some movement in the offensive zone in order to break them down. That's not a team that has a ton of scoring. They score enough to win games. They play well defensively." -- Canadiens coach Claude Julien
"We're fighting for a spot and every game counts. I think we know where we're standing right now, but it's fun to play games that mean something every night. We need the points, so obviously tonight will be a big one." -- Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Canadiens projected lineup

Tomas Tatar -- Phillip Danault -- Brendan Gallagher
Artturi Lehkonen -- Nick Suzuki -- Joel Armia
Paul Byron -- Max Domi -- Jordan Weal
Charles Hudon -- Jake Evans -- Dale Weise
Ben Chiarot -- Shea Weber
Brett Kulak -- Jeff Petry
Xavier Ouellet -- Christian Folin
Carey Price
Charlie Lindgren
Scratched:Karl Alzner
Injured: Jonathan Drouin (ankle), Victor Mete (broken foot)

Islanders projected lineup

Anders Lee -- Mathew Barzal -- Jordan Eberle
Anthony Beauvillier -- Brock Nelson -- Leo Komarov
Michael Dal Colle -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Josh Bailey
Matt Martin -- Derick Brassard -- Cal Clutterbuck
Andy Greene -- Ryan Pulock
Devon Toews -- Scott Mayfield
Nick Leddy -- Johnny Boychuk
Thomas Greiss
Semyon Varlamov
Scratched:Ross Johnston, Tom Kuhnhackl, Andrew Ladd, Noah Dobson, Otto Koivula
Injured:Casey Cizikas (lacerated leg), Adam Pelech (Achilles)

Status report

Petry participated in the morning skate after the defenseman did not practice Monday (therapy day). … Lee will play after his wife gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Monday. Clutterbuck (personal) also did not practice Monday but will play. … Islanders coach Barry Trotz said Cizikas, a center, has not resumed skating and may need more than the initial 3-4 week timeline after he was cut by a skate blade Feb. 11.

Stat pack

New York is 1-4-1 in its past six games against Montreal, including a 4-2 loss at Bell Centre on Dec. 3. … The Islanders are 7-0-3 at Barclays Center this season. … Tatar (one goal, five assists) and Danault (one goal, three assists) each has a three-game point streak.