BEAU IS BACK: Islanders Lineup, Matchups and Game Notes vs. Buffalo

Anthony Beauvillier will be back in the New York Islanders lineup tonight when they face the Buffalo Sabres for the second game of a back-to-back. The Islanders defeated them 3-1 last night.

Islanders head coach Barry Trotz confirmed as much this morning during his pregame availability that Beauvillier will play for the first time since Jan. 24 in New Jersey. Beauvillier has been out of the Islanders lineup due to a lower-body injury.

“That will really only be the change that we make there,” Trotz said in regards to the lineup. “For the most part, if you play well there’s no reason to change (the lineup).

Trotz hinted that Beauvillier could see time tonight with both Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle as well as time on the third line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Michael Dal Colle has been playing in Beauvillier’s spot recently and it has been paying dividends for the Islanders ever since.

The Islanders lineup may also see someone in net other than Semyon Varlamov. Barry Trotz hinted last week that Ilya Sorokin could play in one of their back-to-back games with Buffalo.

“I thought he had a pretty decent game last game,” Trotz said of Sorokin, who last started on Jan. 31 in Philadelphia. “Just growing confidence. It’s just been very difficult for Ilya to get any games. A, we were in a bubble last year. There’s no preseason games. He’s coming to a new environment in terms of the style of play that’s the National Hockey League versus the KHL. It’s been really difficult.

“He’s had to do it the hard way and if he’s in just have a real good performance.”

Jake McCabe and Brandon Montour were cleared to play tonight, but Buffalo head coach Ralph Kruger did not reveal his lineup.

New York Islanders Lineup (Projected)

Anders Lee — Mathew Barzal — Josh Bailey

Anthony Beauvillier — Brock Nelson — Jordan Eberle

Michael Dal Colle— Jean-Gabriel Pageau — Oliver Wahlstrom

Matt Martin — Casey Cizikas — Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech — Ryan Pulock

Nick Leddy — Scott Mayfield

Andy Greene — Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin

Semyon Varlamov

Game Notes

Buffalo has scored a power-play goal in six straight games, which includes in Monday’s tilt against the Islanders. They are 10-for-24 during that time. … Victor Olofsson enters tonight’s game on a seven-game point streak. In that span, he has recorded three goals and five assists for eight points. … Buffalo’s penalty kill is 16-for 18 in their last 10 games against the Islanders. … Monday marked the first time the Islanders held a team without a single shot for an entire period. Buffalo went 23:06 without a shot on net on Monday. … Mathew Barzal has a nine-game point streak entering tonight’s game. He has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in that span. … Jean-Gabriel Pageau is riding a three-game goal streak.

How to Watch

Tonight’s game will air on MSG+ and stream on MSG Go or on NHL.TV outside of the New York market. On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.