Preview: Flyers (18-17) at Islanders (21-15)
Date: January 23, 2016 7:30 PM EDT
The New York Islanders are turning things around since being soundly beaten by the Philadelphia Flyers to cap a sluggish stretch two weeks ago.
The weather, however, may prevent the Islanders from another victory.
With Winter Storm Jonas bearing down on the East Coast, it's unknown if the Islanders will get a chance to extend their home winning streak over the Flyers to five games Saturday night.
New York (24-15-6) lost for the seventh time in 11 games after being pounded 4-0 at Philadelphia (20-17-8) on Jan. 9. The Islanders were outshot 11-2 in the first period and 31-20 overall while being blanked for the second time this season.
Avenging that defeat may have to wait since the region is about to be hit by a blizzard, with forecasts calling for up to 18 inches of snow in New York.
If the games goes forward, it'll give the Islanders a chance at a fourth win in five games since last facing the Flyers. New York scored three unanswered goals in the third period of its 5-2 win at Ottawa on Friday.
"Overall it was a good road win, especially coming off a bit of a layoff, and it will be good if we can carry this momentum forward," captain John Tavares said.
Tavares is looking to build on his two points from Friday, when he ended a six-game goal drought. The center's 16 goals are two behind Brock Nelson for the team lead, but Tavares has gone eight home games without finding the net.
He has five goals and four assists in his last nine home meetings with Philadelphia, setting up a tally by Kyle Okposo in a 3-1 win Nov. 25.
Okposo leads the team with 35 points, including four in the last three games. He's collected five over the past five home matchups with the Flyers.
Philadelphia has dropped six of its last eight games on the road after blowing a two-goal, first-period lead and losing 4-3 at Pittsburgh on Thursday. That came two days after falling 3-2 to Toronto after surrendering a goal with 8 seconds left in regulation.
"It's huge. We got another tough game in Brooklyn," right wing Jakub Voracek said. "We just gotta make sure we win that one. Obviously, we pissed away points the last two games. We can't hang our heads here. Like I've said before 'nobody cares.' We just gotta make sure we're ready to play Saturday."
The Flyers are now trying to avoid a three-game overall slide after a 5-0-1 stretch included the victory over the Islanders two weeks ago.
Voracek and Claude Giroux didn't get on the score sheet in that meeting, but they've got seven points each in five games since after netting two apiece against the Penguins.
Giroux has 40 points in 36 career meetings with the Islanders, his highest total against any opponent. He's found the net in each of the last two road matchups.
It's unknown if Philadelphia will have Sean Couturier back after he missed Thursday's game with a lower-body injury. The center has nine points in his last 11 road games but none in the past three against the Islanders. However, he had one goal and one assist at home against them earlier this month.
Date: January 23, 2016 7:30 PM EDT
The New York Islanders are turning things around since being soundly beaten by the Philadelphia Flyers to cap a sluggish stretch two weeks ago.
The weather, however, may prevent the Islanders from another victory.
With Winter Storm Jonas bearing down on the East Coast, it's unknown if the Islanders will get a chance to extend their home winning streak over the Flyers to five games Saturday night.
New York (24-15-6) lost for the seventh time in 11 games after being pounded 4-0 at Philadelphia (20-17-8) on Jan. 9. The Islanders were outshot 11-2 in the first period and 31-20 overall while being blanked for the second time this season.
Avenging that defeat may have to wait since the region is about to be hit by a blizzard, with forecasts calling for up to 18 inches of snow in New York.
If the games goes forward, it'll give the Islanders a chance at a fourth win in five games since last facing the Flyers. New York scored three unanswered goals in the third period of its 5-2 win at Ottawa on Friday.
"Overall it was a good road win, especially coming off a bit of a layoff, and it will be good if we can carry this momentum forward," captain John Tavares said.
Tavares is looking to build on his two points from Friday, when he ended a six-game goal drought. The center's 16 goals are two behind Brock Nelson for the team lead, but Tavares has gone eight home games without finding the net.
He has five goals and four assists in his last nine home meetings with Philadelphia, setting up a tally by Kyle Okposo in a 3-1 win Nov. 25.
Okposo leads the team with 35 points, including four in the last three games. He's collected five over the past five home matchups with the Flyers.
Philadelphia has dropped six of its last eight games on the road after blowing a two-goal, first-period lead and losing 4-3 at Pittsburgh on Thursday. That came two days after falling 3-2 to Toronto after surrendering a goal with 8 seconds left in regulation.
"It's huge. We got another tough game in Brooklyn," right wing Jakub Voracek said. "We just gotta make sure we win that one. Obviously, we pissed away points the last two games. We can't hang our heads here. Like I've said before 'nobody cares.' We just gotta make sure we're ready to play Saturday."
The Flyers are now trying to avoid a three-game overall slide after a 5-0-1 stretch included the victory over the Islanders two weeks ago.
Voracek and Claude Giroux didn't get on the score sheet in that meeting, but they've got seven points each in five games since after netting two apiece against the Penguins.
Giroux has 40 points in 36 career meetings with the Islanders, his highest total against any opponent. He's found the net in each of the last two road matchups.
It's unknown if Philadelphia will have Sean Couturier back after he missed Thursday's game with a lower-body injury. The center has nine points in his last 11 road games but none in the past three against the Islanders. However, he had one goal and one assist at home against them earlier this month.
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