Preview: Islanders at Flames

ISLANDERS (30-22-11) at FLAMES (35-26-4)
4 p.m. ET; SNW, SNF, MSG+, NHL.TV

Islanders team scope

Goaltender Thomas Greiss will start his sixth straight game for the New York Islanders, who are 3-1-1 to open a season-long nine-game road trip. Greiss has a 2.04 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage with one shutout in his past five starts. "I look around the League this time of year and you see guys like (Washington Capitals goaltender Braden) Holtby playing 10, 12 in a row and I don't feel differently about Thomas," coach Doug Weight told Newsday on Sunday. "He's our No. 1 goaltender." New York is 8-4-1 in its past 13 games, including 3-1-1 on a nine-game road trip.

Flames team scope

The Calgary Flames are seeking a season-high seventh straight win. "When you win six in a row, this is the time to tighten the screws and make sure we're doing the right things," coach Glen Gulutzan said. The Flames hold the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference and are 11-2-1 in their past 14 games. "It's easy to say we have to believe, we have to believe, but until you start getting results, that truly makes you believe as a group," captain Mark Giordano said. "We have that in our room right now." Goaltender Brian Elliott is expected to start for the eighth time in the past nine games. He is 9-1-1 with a 2.18 GAA and a .925 save percentage in his past 11 games. "When we're winning, goalies are making big saves and I think that's huge," defenseman Dougie Hamilton said.

Islanders projected lineup

Anders Lee -- John Tavares -- Josh Bailey
Andrew Ladd -- Brock Nelson -- Joshua Ho-Sang
Shane Prince -- Ryan Strome -- Jason Chimera
Nikolay Kulemin -- Anthony Beauvillier -- Cal Clutterbuck
Nick Leddy -- Scott Mayfield
Thomas Hickey -- Travis Hamonic
Calvin de Haan -- Dennis Seidenberg
Thomas Greiss
J-F Berube
Scratched:Adam Pelech, Scott Mayfield, Stephen Gionta
Injured: Casey Cizikas (upper body), Alan Quine (upper body), Johnny Boychuk (lower body)

Status report
Boychuk won't play after blocking a shot in a 2-1 shootout loss at the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. …Versteeg and Brouwer did not practice Saturday but are expected to play. ... Lazar is expected to be a healthy scratch for a second straight game since being acquired from the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.

Flames projected lineup

Johnny Gaudreau -- Sean Monahan -- Micheal Ferland
Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Michael Frolik
Kris Versteeg -- Sam Bennett -- Troy Brouwer
Lance Bouma -- Matt Stajan -- Alex Chiasson
Mark Giordano -- Dougie Hamilton
TJ Brodie -- Michael Stone
Matt Bartkowski -- Deryk Engelland
Brian Elliott
Chad Johnson
Scratched:Curtis Lazar, Freddie Hamilton, Dennis Wideman
Injured:None

Status report

Boychuk did not practice Saturday after blocking a shot in a 2-1 shootout loss at the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. If Boychuk plays against the Flames, Pelech is expected to come out of the lineup for Hickey, who was scratched for New York's 2-1 shootout loss at Chicago. …Versteeg and Brouwer did not practice Saturday but are expected to play. Lazar is expected to be a healthy scratch for a second straight game since being acquired from the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.

Who's hot

Tavares has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past eight games. … Backlund has seven points (five goals, two assists) points in his past six games. Tkachuk has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in his past 11 games. Gaudreau has eight points (two goals, eight assists) in his past six games.