Islanders at Maple Leafs preview

ISLANDERS (19-13-4) at MAPLE LEAFS (26-10-2)
7 p.m. ET; CBC, SN1, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL.TV

Tavares was selected No. 1 by the Islanders in the 2009 NHL Draft and spent his first nine seasons with New York before signing a seven-year, $77 million contract with the Maple Leafs on July 1.
Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen won't dress and is day-to-day because of a groin injury. Andersen backed up Garret Sparks in each of the past two games and last played Dec. 22 in a 5-3 win against the New York Rangers. Sparks made 27 saves in a 4-2 victory at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.
Toronto is seeking its sixth straight win.
Islanders forwards Leo Komarov and Matt Martin will face the Maple Leafs for the first time since leaving Toronto during the summer. Komarov signed a four-year contract with the Islanders on July 1. Martin, who spent two seasons with the Maple Leafs after seven with the Islanders, was traded to New York on July 3.
The Islanders are also playing the second of back-to-back games. They defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-3 in Brooklyn on Friday and are 5-1-0 in their past six games.

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Players to watch

Islanders center Mathew Barzal has three goals and two assists during a three-game point streak.
Tavares, who is tied with Jeff Skinner of the Buffalo Sabres for second in the NHL in goals with 26, has seven goals and four assists during a six-game point streak

They said it

"I know he's got a lot of good friends in our room, but I think they have to have a little bit of hurt that he decided to (leave). They understand it, but they would like having him as a teammate and he decided that he didn't need them as teammates anymore." -- Islanders coach Barry Trotz on Tavares
"I loved my time as an Islander and now I love being a Maple Leaf. It made a huge impact on my career and me as a person, so I'll never forget that. But at the same time, I'm looking forward." -- Maple Leafs center John Tavares

Islanders projected lineup

Anders Lee -- Brock Nelson -- Joshua Ho-Sang
Anthony Beauvillier -- Mathew Barzal -- Josh Bailey
Tom Kuhnhackl -- Valtteri Filppula -- Leo Komarov
Matt Martin -- Casey Cizikas -- Ross Johnston
Nick Leddy -- Johnny Boychuk
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Devon Toews -- Scott Mayfield
Robin Lehner
Thomas Greiss
Scratched:Cal Clutterbuck, Michael Dal Colle, Luca Sbisa
Injured:Andrew Ladd (lower body), Jordan Eberle (undisclosed), Thomas Hickey (upper body)

Maple Leafs projected lineup

Andreas Johnsson -- John Tavares -- Mitchell Marner
Patrick Marleau -- Auston Matthews -- Kasperi Kapanen
Connor Brown -- Nazem Kadri -- William Nylander
Par Lindholm -- Frederik Gauthier --
Trevor Moore
Morgan Rielly -- Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner -- Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott -- Igor Ozhiganov
Garret Sparks
Kasimir Kaskisuo
Scratched:Martin Marincin, Justin Holl
Injured: Zach Hyman (sprained ankle), Tyler Ennis (broken ankle), Frederik Andersen (groin)

Status report

Dal Colle was recalled from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League on Saturday, and Eberle was placed on injured reserve. … Coach Mike Babcock said Andersen is day to day. Kaskisuo was recalled from Toronto of the AHL to back up Sparks.

Stat pack

Bailey has six points (one goal, five assists) in his past six games. … Marner has 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in his past six games. Kadri has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his past six games.