Preview: Islanders at Stars

ISLANDERS (29-22-10) at STARS (25-28-10)
8:30 p.m. ET; FS-SW, MSG+ 2, NHL.TV

Islanders team scope

Forward
Joshua Ho-Sang
will make his NHL debut for the New York Islanders after being recalled from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. "I think it's amazing to me, I don't think I have to explain it, everyone can imagine how exciting it is," said Ho-Sang, the No. 28 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. "I'm just taking it day by day and enjoy the moment. I remember when I got on the ice yesterday and I looked around, it was just like, 'Wow." Ho-Sang will play on the second line with center Brock Nelson and left wing Andrew Ladd, and will get opportunities on the power play, coach Doug Weight said. The Islanders are one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference with a game in hand. Forwards Shane Prince and Cal Clutterbuck will return to the lineup; Prince missed seven games with an upper-body injury, and Clutterbuck was out for 11 of the past 12 with a lower-body injury. "Play it day by day," Weight said. "Cross your fingers a little bit, but this time [Clutterbuck] feels a bit different than the other time [he tried to come back]." Goaltender Thomas Greiss will start after giving up three goals on 17 shots before being pulled in a 7-0 loss at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Stars team scope

Forward Ales Hemsky will return to the Dallas Stars lineup for the first time since Oct. 22. Hemsky sustained a hip injury during the World Cup of Hockey 2016 and played in one game before having surgery in late October. "It's been awhile; it's nice to be with the guys and to have a chance to play a game tonight," Hemsky said. "It's exciting, I worked hard to be where I am right now. We'll see how it goes tonight." Hemsky fills the void left by forward Lauri Korpikoski, who was traded to the Blue Jackets on Wednesday for AHL defenseman Dillon Heatherington. Defenseman Greg Pateryn will make his Stars debut after being acquired in a trade from the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Jordie Benn on Monday. "I've been looking forward to this, and the transition has been really good," Pateryn said. "It's been a hectic couple days, ever since I've been traded, life has been great." The Stars are seven points out of the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference. Goaltender Antti Niemi will make his second straight start; he had 18 saves in a 3-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

Islanders projected lineup

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

Stars projected lineup

Jamie Benn -- Cody Eakin -- Tyler Seguin
Antoine Roussel -- Jason Spezza -- Brett Ritchie
Devin Shore -- Radek Faksa -- Patrick Sharp
Curtis McKenzie -- Jiri Hudler -- Ales Hemsky
Esa Lindell -- John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis -- Greg Pateryn
Jamie Oleksiak -- Stephen Johns
Antti Niemi
Kari Lehtonen
Scratched:Patrik Nemeth
Injured :Mattias Janmark (knee), Adam Cracknell (lower body)

Status report

Cracknell and Janmark each took part in the morning skate; Cracknell is day to day, and Janmark isn't expected to play this season.

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Who's hot

Tavares has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past six games. … Jamie Benn has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in his past 16 games. Seguin has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in his past seven games. Roussel has six points (four goals, two assists) in his past five games.