Islanders at Flyers preview
New York looks to extend point streak to 14 games; Philadelphia 5-1-2 in past eight
by Adam Kimelman / NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor
ISLANDERS (13-3-1) at FLYERS (10-6-3)
7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, MSG+ 2, NHL.TV
The Game
The New York Islanders will try to extend their point streak to 14 games when they play the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday.
The Islanders are 12-0-1 in their previous 13 games, including a 5-3 win against the Flyers on Oct. 27, and have outscored their opponents 44-26 during their streak. It's their longest point streak since a team-record, 15-game streak (15-0-0) from Jan. 21-Feb. 20, 1982.
Brian Elliott is expected to start in goal for the Flyers, who had their seven-game point streak (5-0-2) end in a 2-1 loss at the Ottawa Senators on Friday.
Players to watch
Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss is 6-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .948 save percentage in his past six games. He leads the NHL with a .942 save percentage.
Flyers forward Claude Giroux has 54 points (18 goals, 36 assists) in 50 games against the Islanders, his most against any NHL team.
They said it
"I know I have the skill set and the speed and ability to play in this League and have success, so it's just going out there and having fun, not think about it too much." -- Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier
"It's going to be a tough matchup, a great challenge on a back to back. I think we'll maybe have to simplify our game a little bit. Part of losing battles sometimes is trying to hold onto the puck and make plays not as quick as usual. Against the Islanders if we do that it'll be the same thing, they'll come hard at us, it's going to make it tough on us. Just simplify our game, come back to skating, establish a good forecheck and create turnovers." -- Flyers forward Sean Couturier
Islanders projected lineup
Anders Lee -- Mathew Barzal -- Jordan Eberle
Anthony Beauvillier -- Brock Nelson -- Derick Brassard
Josh Bailey -- Casey Cizikas -- Cal Clutterbuck
Michael Dal Colle -- Ross Johnston -- Leo Komarov
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Devon Toews -- Scott Mayfield
Nick Leddy -- Johnny Boychuk
Thomas Greiss
Semyon Varlamov
Scratched: Noah Dobson, Otto Koivula
Injured: Tom Kuhnhackl (lower body), Matt Martin (lower body)
Flyers projected lineup
James van Riemsdyk -- Claude Giroux -- Joel Farabee
Oskar Lindblom -- Sean Couturier -- Travis Konecny
Carsen Twarynski -- Kevin Hayes -- Jakub Voracek
Andy Andreoff -- Michael Raffl -- Tyler Pitlick
Ivan Provorov -- Matt Niskanen
Shayne Gostisbehere -- Justin Braun
Travis Sanheim -- Philippe Myers
Brian Elliott
Carter Hart
Scratched: Chris Stewart, Robert Hagg
Injured: Nolan Patrick (migraine disorder), Scott Laughton (broken finger)
Status report
Neither team held a morning skate. ... Martin practiced in a non-contact jersey Friday. The Islanders activated forward Andrew Ladd from injured reserve and loaned him to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League on Friday, after he cleared waivers. ... Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said his lineup would be a game-time decision because of some injuries. "If it wasn't back to back, it wouldn't be an issue," he said. "But it is back-to-back [games], so it is an issue."
Stat pack
Barzal has five points (two goals, three assists) during a three-game point streak. ... Voracek needs one goal for 200 in the NHL.