Islanders at Flyers preview

ISLANDERS (20-16-4) at FLYERS (16-15-8)
7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, MSG+, NHL.TV

Goaltender Thomas Greiss will start for the first time since Dec. 19 for the Islanders, who are third in the NHL with an average of 3.38 goals per game but have scored four goals in their past three games.
The Flyers are looking for some consistency. They are 1-3-1 in their past five games after going 7-1-0 in their previous eight; that eight-game stretch was preceded by a 10-game losing streak (0-5-5).

Players to watch

Islanders forward Josh Bailey has 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in his past 12 games. He has 50 points (12 goals, 38 assists) in 40 games, second in the League to the Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (56).
Flyers forward Jakub Voracek has 16 points (one goal, 15 assists) in his past 13 games. He has 38 assists, tied with Bailey for the NHL lead.

They said it

"For us it's Game 41 and we've got to win. It [playing the Flyers] always brings out a good affair, gets a little grizzly, which our team needs. … You need some life. Hopefully that does help us initiate that. But frankly we need a win and we need a good road win and a great effort from 20 guys." -- Islanders coach Doug Weight
"When you look at our situation, the standings, the points and all of that, they [division games] are magnified. We have to go out and do a good job in those games." -- Flyers coach Dave Hakstol after practice Wednesday

Islanders projected lineup

Anders Lee -- John Tavares -- Josh Bailey
Andrew Ladd -- Mathew Barzal -- Jordan Eberle
Shane Prince -- Brock Nelson --
Tanner Fritz
Jason Chimera -- Casey Cizikas -- Cal Clutterbuck
Nick Leddy -- Dennis Seidenberg
Adam Pelech -- Scott Mayfield
Thomas Hickey -- Ryan Pulock
Thomas Greiss
Jaroslav Halak
Scratched:Alan Quine, Sebastian Aho
Injured:Nikolay Kulemin (upper body), Calvin de Haan (upper body), Johnny Boychuk (lower body)

Flyers projected lineup

Claude Giroux -- Sean Couturier -- Travis Konecny
Michael Raffl -- Valtteri Filppula -- Jakub Voracek
Jordan Weal -- Nolan Patrick -- Wayne Simmonds
Taylor Leier -- Scott Laughton -- Dale Weise
Ivan Provorov -- Shayne Gostisbehere
Robert Hagg -- Andrew MacDonald
Brandon Manning -- Radko Gudas
Brian Elliott
Michal Neuvirth
Scratched:Tyrell Goulbourne, Travis Sanheim, Jori Lehtera
Injured:None

Status report

The Islanders announced Thursday that Mayfield agreed to terms on a five-year contract. … Boychuk practiced Wednesday but Weight said it didn't go as well as hoped and he would not play Thursday or against the Penguins on Friday. … The Flyers did not hold a morning skate. ... Goulbourne was recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. He has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 34 games; if he plays it would be his NHL debut.

Stat pack

Tavares has 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in his past 11 games. … Giroux has 18 points (two goals, 16 assists) in his past 12 games.