McDavid missed a 3-2 shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday because of illness and did not practice Wednesday. The Oilers are on a five-game losing streak (0-4-1) and are 1-8-3 in their past 12 games. A six-game losing streak would match a season high, which they have done twice. Goalie Mikko Koskinen will start his fifth consecutive game for Edmonton. The Islanders will start goalie Robin Lehner in the second of back-to-back games. They lost 4-2 at the Calgary Flames on Wednesday with Thomas Greiss in goal. New York is 11-3-2 in its past 16 games and leads the Metropolitan Division; the Islanders are three points ahead of the second-place Washington Capitals.
Players to watch
Islanders center Mathew Barzal scored the game-winning goal in a 5-2 victory against the Oilers on Saturday. He leads New York with 50 points (17 goals, 33 assists) in 59 games. Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl has five points (three goals, two assists) in a four-game point streak. He has 15 points (11 goals, four assists) in his past 11 games.
They said it
"It's definitely easier this time than it was last year. Last year felt a little funny and this year, it's just business." -- Islanders forward Jordan Eberle on returning to Edmonton, where he played his first seven NHL seasons "I just wasn't feeling good. I didn't feel quite right all day and I still tried to go. The other guys were doing a warm-up and I tried to do a warm-up on my own and I tried to put my gear on and go, but I just couldn't do it." -- Oilers center Connor McDavid on sitting out Tuesday
Ladd and Hickey were recalled from a conditioning assignment in Bridgeport of the AHL on Tuesday, but neither will play against the Oilers … Malone is expected to be a healthy scratch with McDavid returning to the lineup.
Stat pack
Bailey has five points (one goal, four assists) in a three-game point streak … Lehner is 14-3-1 with a 1.64 goals-against average and .943 save percentage in his past 18 games … McDavid has 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in his past 10 games.
