Islanders Game 25: Pageau Out, Engvall Health Bombed: Lineups & How to Watch

The New York Islanders’ (8-10-6) slow descent continued yesterday afternoon in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. The Washington Capitals stormed back from down 4-2 in the third period to win 5-4 in overtime. The collapse prompted Head Coach Patrick Roy to say he should “plead the 5th (Amendment).”

The loss truly didn’t have any new feel to it. It’s the same game being played over and over again, as the Islanders can’t close out a game and find ways to lose. Anders Lee took a penalty mere seconds into the third frame, and the penalty kill couldn’t come up with the kill. The Capitals surged throughout, and it felt for a moment like it may just end in regulation, but the Islanders hung onto the one point that kept them out of the Metropolitan Division’s basement.

Simon Holmstrom‘s two-goal game did not matter, nor did Kyle MacLean’s first of the year. What mattered was yet another defensive collapse with an inept power play that Roy specifically slammed hard after the game.

Not helping matters was Jean-Gabriel Pageau becoming a late injury scratch with an undisclosed lower-body injury that’ll also keep him out of action tonight. A team desperate for health of any kind cannot catch a break.

Despite scoring three goals in three games just over a week ago, Pierre Engvall is once again being healthy scratched by Roy. According to Andrew Gross of Newsday, the reasoning is simple. Engvall’s game has deteriorated over the last few games. Roy specifically mentioned Engvall needing to go to the net, but he has not done so. Now, Engvall takes a seat.

Grant Hutton returns to the lineup. The Islanders will skate with 11 defensemen and seven forwards for the first time this year.

Scott Mayfield also exited and did not return midway through the third period after catching a puck up high, but he is good to go tonight.

The Islanders’ opponent for tonight, the Buffalo Sabres (11-10-2), enter after erasing a 3-1 third-period deficit against the Vancouver Canucks. Ultimately, the Sabres fell short in the extra frame.

The Sabres recalled Tyson Kozak, a seventh-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. If he plays, it would be his NHL Debut.

Islanders Lines:

Forwards

Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Simon Holmstrom

Maxim Tsyplakov – Brock Nelson – Kyle Palmieri

Matt Martin – Casey Cizikas – Oliver Wahlstrom

Kyle MacLean – Hudson Fasching

Defense and Goalies

Alexander Romanov – Noah Dobson

Isaiah George – Ryan Pulock

Dennis Cholowski – Scott Mayfield

Grant Hutton

Ilya Sorokin (Semyon Varlamov)

Sabres Lines:

Forwards

JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Zach Benson – Dylan Cozens – Peyton Krebs

Jason Zucker – Jiri Kulich – Jack Quinn

Beck Malenstyn – Ryan McLeod – Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Defense and Goalies

Rasmus Dahlin – Bowen Byram

Owen Power – Henri Jokiharju

Jacob Bryson – Connor Clifton

James Reimer (Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen)

How to Watch

TV: MSGSN, ESPN+ (Out of Market)

Radio: 88.7 (FM) WRHU