Islanders at Coyotes preview

ISLANDERS (16-12-4) at COYOTES (14-16-2)
9 p.m. ET; FS-A, MSG+ 2, NHL.TV

The Coyotes begin a three-game homestand after going 1-3-0 during a road trip that ended with a 3-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. They have lost five of six games following a four-game winning streak.
Robin Lehner will start in goal for the Islanders. He is 0-2-2 in his past four decisions. Darcy Kuemper will start for the Coyotes. Kuemper is 0-3-1 since winning Nov. 15 against the Nashville Predators.

Players to watch

Islanders center Mathew Barzal has six points (one goal, five assists) in his past six games.
Coyotes forward Alex Galchenyuk has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 16 games against the Islanders. However, he has gone 13 games without a goal since scoring against the Washington Capitals on Nov. 11.

They said it

"The players are buying in. As long as they're paying attention. and they are, they give us a chance to win every night. Our guys are buying into the team effect." -- Islanders coach Barry Trotz
"Once there's a little pressure and adversity, I don't want to use the word panic, but we get away from what we're trying to do. We've honestly got to play 60-minute hockey, and that's something we struggle with." -- Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet

Islanders projected lineup

Anders Lee -- Brock Nelson -- Jordan Eberle
Anthony Beauvillier -- Mathew Barzal -- Josh Bailey
Leo Komarov -- Valtteri Filppula -- Joshua Ho-Sang
Matt Martin -- Casey Cizikas -- Cal Clutterbuck
Nick Leddy -- Johnny Boychuk
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Luca Sbisa -- Scott Mayfield
Robin Lehner
Thomas Greiss
Scratched:Ross Johnston, Tom Kuhnhackl
Injured:Andrew Ladd (lower body), Thomas Hickey (upper body)

Coyotes projected lineup

Clayton Keller -- Nick Schmaltz -- Conor Garland
Alex Galchenyuk -- Derek Stepan -- Christian Fischer
Richard Panik -- Brad Richardson -- Josh Archibald
Lawson Crouse -- Mario Kempe -- Nick Cousins
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Kevin Connauton
Jakob Chychrun -- Niklas Hjalmarsson
Alex Goligoski -- Jordan Oesterle
Darcy Kuemper
Adin Hill
Scratched:Ilya Lyubushkin, Calvin Pickard
Injured:Christian Dvorak (upper body), Jason Demers (lower body), Antti Raanta (lower body), Michael Grabner (eye), Vinnie Hinostroza (lower body).

Status report

Nelson (lower body) will be a game-time decision. Hickey is being evaluated. Each was injured in the win against the Avalanche. … Hinostroza and Dvorak are skating but aren't ready to be activated. Grabner is out indefinitely.

Stat pack

The Islanders have scored two goals or fewer in six of their past 10 games. New York is 3-1-1 in its past five games. … Arizona has scored seven of its NHL-best 11 shorthanded goals at home. Cousins has eight points (four goals, four assists) in eight games against the Islanders. Schmaltz has nine points (four goals, five assists) in nine games with Arizona since being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 25. Keller has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his past nine games. The Coyotes have won their past three home games against the Islanders.