Islanders Face Senators in Crucial Matchup at Canadian Tire Centre

The New York Islanders continue their Canadian road trip with a Thursday night game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 PM EDT. The game will be broadcast on MSG SN.

Islanders Riding Momentum

New York comes into the game after a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. Brayden Schenn, Cal Ritchie (with one goal and one assist), and Emil Heineman scored for the Islanders, while Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves on 27 shots. This win marks the Islanders’ second consecutive victory and their fourth in the last five games.

Senators Seek Playoff Push

The Ottawa Senators are looking to climb back into the playoff picture. Despite recent wins against the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks, they currently sit five points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Ottawa suffered a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.

Projected Lineups

Here are the projected lines for the New York Islanders, as they lined up against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Updates will be provided after Thursday’s morning skate:

• Emil Heineman – Bo Horvat – Mathew Barzal
• Anthony Duclair – Brayden Schenn – Simon Holmstrom
• Anders Lee – JG Pageau – Cal Ritchie
• Kyle MacLean – Casey Cizikas – Ondrej Palat

Defense: Matthew Schaefer – Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech – Tony DeAngelo, Carson Soucy – Scott Mayfield

Sorokin’s Stellar Season

Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin is having a remarkable season. Tuesday’s win was his 150th career victory, placing him third all-time among Islanders goaltenders. He is seven wins away from tying Chico Resch for second place. Sorokin has too secured his 25th win of the season, achieving this milestone for the fifth consecutive year. He is currently five wins away from an Islanders record third 30-win season. This season, Sorokin boasts a 25-15-2 record with a 2.49 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage, and a league-leading six shutouts.

Heineman’s Hot Streak

Emil Heineman has been on a scoring spree, with four goals in his last six games.

Senators’ Key Players

For the Senators, Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson, and Tim Stützle each have four points in their last five games. Batherson had two two-goal performances against the Montreal Canadiens and the San Jose Sharks.

Season Series

This is the second of three meetings between the Islanders and the Senators this season. The Islanders won the first game 5-4 on October 18 in Kanata. The final game will be played on April 11 on Long Island.