The New York Islanders will end a franchise-record nine-game road trip looking to keep the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Islanders, who are 5-2-1 on the trip, lead the Toronto Maple Leafs by one point. "You look at the fact we're 5-2-1 and say, 'That's a good trip no matter what,'" coach Doug Weight said. "I guess it would be on most times, but people are winning. It's that time of year where teams are going to get points. We're one point up right now and we've got to win the game. We've gained some confidence on the road as a team I think, the style we have to play. We've played a lot of different teams with different elements, but the record right now means nothing. We have 75 points and teams have 74 and 76, 71; we've got to win a game. It would be a great trip if we can win." Defenseman Scott Mayfield, a St. louis native, will step into the lineup against his childhood team. Weight, who said he forgot that Mayfield was from St. Louis, informed the defenseman that he was dressing 10 minutes before he left the ice. "We've had two really strong games, so maybe they were going to keep the same lineup," said Mayfield, who projected that 25-30 family members and friends would be at the game. "[Weight] let me know on the ice I was in, so that was pretty special." Goaltender Thomas Greiss will start for the ninth straight game.
