Islanders at Stars preview

ISLANDERS (17-13-4) at STARS (18-15-3)
8 p.m. ET; FS-SW+, MSG+, NHL.TV

The Stars won 2-1 in overtime on the road against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. Alexander Radulov scored with 10 seconds left after the Wild tied the score with 2:03 remaining in the third period. Dallas is 1-5 in the second half of back-to-backs this season.
The Stars have won three straight against the Islanders.
The Islanders are trying for a 3-1 road trip that would be their first winning trip since sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 27-30.
Radulov scored twice when Dallas won 6-2 at Barclays Center on Nov. 18.

Players to watch

Islanders forward Josh Bailey has a four-game point streak (four assists).
Stars forward Jamie Benn has six points (three goals, three assists) in a five-game point streak, including the first goal on Saturday.

They said it

"This is a tough game for every player. Hate to say it, but everyone's looking forward to the break. They are. I'm not going to lie; I am too. The trick is to focus in on 60 minutes, just as hard as you can." - - Islanders coach Barry Trotz on the final game before the NHL Christmas break
"Now we have to take a rest, adjust a little bit and get ready for tomorrow. Tomorrow's a huge one too." - - Stars forward Alexander Radulov following the win Saturday

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 -- Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech -- Scott Mayfield
Luca Sbisa -- Devon Toews
Robin Lehner
Thomas Greiss
Scratched:Ross Johnston, Tom Kuhnhackl, Johnny Boychuk
Injured: Andrew Ladd (lower body), Thomas Hickey (upper body)

Stars projected lineup

Jamie Benn -- Tyler Seguin -- Alexander Radulov
Mattias Janmark -- Jason Spezza -- Denis Gurianov
Devin Shore -- Martin Hanzal -- Blake Comeau
Valeri Nichushkin -- Radek Faksa -- Tyler Pitlick
Esa Lindell -- John Klingberg
Miro Heiskanen -- Taylor Fedun
Gavin Bayreuther -- Roman Polak
Anton Khudobin
Ben Bishop
Scratched: Julius Honka, Brett Ritchie
Injured: Stephen Johns (upper body), Connor Carrick (lower body), Marc Methot (lower body), Jason Dickinson (upper body)

Status report

Toews will make his NHL debut replacing Boychuk, who is home following the birth of the couple's third child on Friday, and should see time on the second power play. … Dickinson is doubtful after sustaining an upper-body injury during the second period on Saturday. … Hanzal, who had back surgery in March, sat out the game on Saturday with back soreness.

Stat pack

Lehner (2.54 goals-against average, .917 save percentage) finished the Nov. 18 Islanders loss against Dallas, playing the final 32:43 and allowing three goals on 14 shots. … Khudobin (2.87 GAA, .911 save percentage) has made two relief appearances for Bishop since his most recent start on Dec. 13.