Islanders at Canucks preview

ISLANDERS (35-18-7) at CANUCKS (26-27-8)
10 p.m. ET; CITY, SNE, SNO, SNP, MSG+, NHL.TV

New York is two points ahead of the Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan despite losing the first two games (0-1-1) of a three-game Western Canada road trip. The Islanders are 2-2-1 in their past five games after going 9-1-2 in their previous 12 games.
The Canucks have lost two straight (0-1-1) and are 2-5-2 in their past nine games after going 4-1-1 in their previous six games. Vancouver is four points behind the Minnesota Wild for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.

Players to watch

Islanders goalie Robin Lehner, who is expected to start, is 14-3-2 with a 1.77 goals-against average, .940 save percentage and two shutouts in his past 19 games (18 starts).
Canucks center Elias Pettersson has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 12 games since returning from a knee injury.

They said it

"We just have to get back to playing our game. I don't think we've played with a lot of quickness and firmness in our game and therefore we're just off a little bit." -- Islanders coach Barry Trotz
"It's nice to be back and I am going to prove that I can stay in the lineup. Obviously, I am a little nervous sometimes, but try to stay calm and make plays and do what I am capable of." -- Canucks forward Nikolay Goldobin, who will play after being a healthy scratch in six of the past 14 games

Islanders projected lineup

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

Canucks projected lineup

Ryan Spooner -- Elias Pettersson -- Brock Boeser
Nikolay Goldobin -- Bo Horvat -- Josh Leivo
Antoine Roussel -- Adam Gaudette -- Markus Granlund
Loui Eriksson -- Jay Beagle -- Tyler Motte
Ben Hutton -- Troy Stecher
Ashton Sautner -- Erik Gudbranson
Derrick Pouliot -- Alex Biega
Jacob Markstrom
Marek Mazanec
Scratched: Tim Schaller, Luke Schenn, Zack MacEwen
Injured: Jake Virtanen (rib), Chris Tanev (ankle), Brandon Sutter (lower body), Alexander Edler (concussion), Sven Baertschi (concussion), Thatcher Demko (knee)

Status report

Ladd and Hickey each took part in the morning skate but remain on long-term injured reserve. … Roussel missed the morning skate with an illness and will be a game-time decision. If he can't play, MacEwen will replace him. … Edler and Demko each participated in the morning skate and each is day to day.

Stat pack

Bailey has five points (one goal, four assists) in his past four games. … Nelson has four points (two goals, two assists) in a three-game point streak. … Boeser has three points (two goals, one assist) in a three-game point streak.