Islanders at Sharks preview
New York looks to extend point streak to 17 games; San Jose has won seven of past eight
by Ross McKeon / NHL.com Independent Correspondent
ISLANDERS (16-3-1) at SHARKS (11-11-1)
10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, MSG+, NHL.TV
The Game
The New York Islanders look to extend their team-record point streak to 17 games when they play the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Saturday.
The Islanders are 15-0-1 since Oct. 12. They defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in overtime Thursday, their fifth consecutive victory..
The Sharks, who defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 in overtime Thursday, have won seven of their past eight following a five-game losing streak.
Goalie Semyon Varlamov, who is 7-2-1 with a 2.70 goals-against average and .912 save percentage, starts as New York continues to alternate him with Thomas Greiss. Martin Jones, 8-8-1 with a 3.34 GAA and .885 save percentage, starts for San Jose after backing up Aaron Dell on Thursday.
Players to watch
Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier has a four-game goal and point streak (six goals, two assists).
Sharks center Logan Couture has two goals and seven assists during a five-game point streak.
They said it
"Flying all that way, you only have time to get adjusted and then you're playing so quickly. This year we actually have a little bit of time. We only play every second day, which is a good rhythm." -- Islanders forward Jordan Eberle on their three-game road trip in California
"[The Islanders] have the best fourth line in hockey in my opinion. They can start them at the start of periods. They put them out after goals before and against to create momentum. They wear down the other team and set up the next shift for the skill guys coming over the boards." -- Sharks coach Peter DeBoer
Islanders projected lineup
Anders Lee -- Mathew Barzal -- Jordan Eberle
Anthony Beauvillier -- Brock Nelson -- Derick Brassard
Michael Dal Colle -- Otto Koivula -- Josh Bailey
Matt Martin -- Casey Cizikas -- Cal Clutterbuck
Nick Leddy -- Johnny Boychuk
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Devon Toews -- Scott Mayfield
Semyon Varlamov
Thomas Greiss
Scratched: Noah Dobson, Leo Komarov, Ross Johnston
Injured: Tom Kuhnhackl (leg)
Sharks projected lineup
Evander Kane -- Logan Couture -- Kevin Labanc
Timo Meier -- Tomas Hertl -- Barclay Goodrow
Marcus Sorensen -- Joe Thornton -- Patrick Marleau
Antti Suomela -- Dylan Gambrell
Marc-Edouard Vlasic -- Erik Karlsson
Radim Simek -- Brent Burns
Brenden Dillon -- Mario Ferraro
Tim Heed
Martin Jones
Aaron Dell
Scratched: Lukas Radil, Noah Gregor
Injured: Melker Karlsson (upper body), Dalton Prout (upper body)
Status report
The Sharks could dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen. … Hertl is a game-time decision. … Simek said he'll play after missing a late shift against Vegas. … Prout is not skating and was placed on injured reserve Saturday.
Stat pack
Brassard (one goal, eight assists) and Nelson (four goals, five assists) have five-game points streaks. … San Jose has won all six games when allowing two or fewer goals to extend its streak to 42 straight dating to March 20, 2018. The NHL record for consecutive wins when allowing two or fewer goals is 43 in a row by the Pittsburgh Penguins from Feb. 21, 2012-Oct. 17, 2013.