Islanders vs. Sharks, Gm 71: Cizikas & Bailey Skate, High Stakes

The New York Islanders (35-27-8) close out their California road trip with a Saturday nightcap against the San Jose Sharks (19-36-14). Puck drop is slated for 10:30 PM ET at the SAP Center.

The Islanders split their back-to-back earlier in the week, and against a bottom-feeding Sharks team, two points are critical in their march to the postseason.

With 78 points, the Islanders hold the second wild-card spot but are tied in points with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have played two fewer games. Pittsburgh faces the New York Rangers Saturday night at 8 PM ET.

The Florida Panthers are three points behind the Islanders with two games in hand and face the New Jersey Devils Saturday at 6 PM.

MORNING SKATE

Ilya Sorokin was in the starter’s crease as he gets the nod for all three games of the trip. Over Sorokin’s last two starts, he’s allowed seven goals, posting a 3.55 GAA with an underwhelming save percentage of .881.

After missing Friday’s practice due to illness, Casey Cizikas and Josh Bailey were back on the ice Saturday morning.

The Islanders didn’t run lines, but Bailey stayed out with Ross Johnston and Parker Wotherspoon as the extras.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINES (PROJECTED)

Anders Lee-Bo Horvat-Simon Holmstrom
Pierre Engvall-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Zach-Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Hudson Fasching
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech-Scott Mayfield
Alexander Romanov-Ryan Pulock
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov

ISLANDERS NOTES

Tonight, the New York Islanders visit the San Jose Sharks in the second and final matchup between the two clubs this season. These teams last met on October 18, 2022 at UBS Arena, when Noah Dobson, Brock Nelson, and Adam Pelech recorded multi-assist games in a 5-2 Islander win.

Tonight’s matchup is the third and final contest of a three-game West Coast road trip for the Islanders, who will look to improve to 10-6-0 against Pacific Division opponents this season.

The Islanders enter tonight’s game with points in six of their last eight matchups (5-2-1) and in their last five straight meetings against San Jose.

FANDUEL BETTING CORNER

Do you think the New York Islanders will beat the San Jose Sharks? You can get the Islanders at -188 & +130 on the puck line. The Shakrs come in at +162 & -156 on the reverse puck line.

The over for the contest is 5.5 at -132, with the under at +108.

Check out more FanDuel sports betting odds.

HOW TO WATCH

Saturday’s contest will be available on MSGSN. On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU, and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.