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ISLANDERS (41-22-7) at RED WINGS (24-37-10)
1 p.m. ET; FS-D, MSG+, NHL.TV

The Islanders have won four of their past five games, including 2-1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, to move within two points of the Washington Capitals for first place in the division having played one fewer game.
Dylan Larkin is expected to return for the Red Wings after the forward missed five games with a neck injury. Detroit has lost four straight and 12 of its past 13 (1-9-3), including 5-4 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, and is eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention.

Players to watch

Islanders forward Anders Lee leads New York with 25 goals and has scored in each of his past two games.
Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha has one goal and no assists in his past seven games.

They said it

"They are creating, and they've been fine on both sides of the puck, which is good. They are finding a little chemistry and they got a huge goal (against Montreal), which started in our own end." -- Islanders coach Barry Trotz on their top line of Matthew Barzal, Jordan Eberle and Anders Lee
"When you are missing a player like Larkin, who is probably one of your best players, your team isn't going to be as good unless other guys step up and play outstanding hockey. We haven't had enough guys stepping up like that." -- Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill

Islanders projected lineup
Red Wings projected lineup
Status report

Neither team will skate Saturday morning. ... Trotz said Friday he expects Lehner to play one of New York's weekend games (at Minnesota Wild on Sunday) and that Boychuk will travel to Detroit and be a game-time decision. ... Kuffner, a free agent from Princeton, will make his NHL debut.

Stat pack

Barzal has four assists in his past four games. ... Athanasiou had two goals and an assist in five games replacing Larkin as first-line center.