[7:00 PM] Flyers @ Islanders

Who will WIN this matchup?

Philadelphia Flyers (4-5-1)

@ New York Islanders (4-6-0)

 

Starting Goalies:

Steve Mason (PHI): Likely

Jaroslav Halak(NYI): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Philadelphia Flyers (+130)

New York Islanders: (-150)

 

• The New York Islanders hope to take advantage of the remainder of their lengthy stretch of home games, beginning with Thursday’s matchup against the Metropolitan Division-rival Philadelphia Flyers. New York, which has lost all three of its road contests this season, is in the midst of a second five-game homestand that falls within a span during which it plays 10 of 11 contests at Barclays Center but is 1-1-0 on this string and 4-3-0 overall during the run.

• Wednesday’s victory was memorable for several members of the team, as 24-year-old left wing Roman Lyubimov scored his first NHL goal while Brayden Schenn reached the 200-point plateau for his career with the first of his two assists on the night. Chris VandeVelde also has a day he’ll never forget, scoring his first goal in 55 games just hours after his wife gave birth to the couple’s second child. Philadelphia has shown an ability to bounce back early on this season as it has erased a deficit of at least two goals seven times in 11 games.

• Anthony Beauvillier is making a good case to remain with the team, recording a goal and four assists in his first nine NHL games. New York faces the decision of sending the 19-year-old left wing back to juniors or activating the first year of his entry-level contract by allowing him to appear in a 10th contest. Captain John Tavares, who has notched a point in six of his last eight contests and is seeking his first three-game streak of the season, is one goal away from overtaking Derek King (211) for sole possession of ninth place on the franchise list.

• Islanders defensemen have scored a total of nine goals during their six-game streak.

• Philadelphia has scored four goals in each of its last four contests, going 2-2-0 in that span

• New York RW Ryan Strome and D Calvin de Haan both will reach the 200 career game plateau with their next appearance.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: New York Islanders

Confidence: 5/10

Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Previous Pick
Next Pick