Islanders Game 51: Bailey Demoted to 4th Line vs. Red Wings

The New York Islanders (23-22-5) have two games remaining before we hit the All-Star break, two games to snap a six, potentially seven-game losing streak if things go south against the Detroit Red Wings (21-18-8) Thursday night. Puck drop is slated for 7 PM ET at UBS Arena.

If the Islanders fall to the Red Wings tonight in regulation, the Islanders get jumped by them.

Here’s the latest.

MORNING SKATE UPDATES

Ilya Sorokin was the first goaltender off the ice as he will make his 38th appearance, 36th start. That likely means Semyon Varlamov gets the nod against the Vegas Golden Knights Saturday night, but you never know.

Defenseman Noah Dobson and forward Hudson Fasching did not skate, as both are dealing with lower-body injuries. Head coach Lane Lambert said that it’s safe to say that both will be out until after the All-Star break.

Josh Bailey, who took some shifts on the fourth line in the 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators, remained on the fourth line, with Simon Holmstrom playing on the third.

“It’s a result of us trying to find solutions to not winning hockey games,” Lambert said.

Rookie Samuel Bolduc remained as the quarterback on power-play one.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINES (PROJECTED)

Anthony Beauvillier-Mathew Barzal-Casey Cizikas
Anders Lee-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin-Aatu Räty-Josh Bailey

Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov-Scott Mayfield
Parker Wotherspoon/Samuel Bolduc-Sebastian Aho

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov

DETROIT RED WINGS LINES (PROJECTED)

#DETvsMTL lineup. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/YACohpB6Y0

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 26, 2023

ISLANDERS NOTES

Tonight, the New York Islanders host the Detroit Red Wings in the second of three matchups between the two clubs this season.

The last time the Islanders hosted the Red Wings at UBS Arena was March 24, 2022, when Anders Lee, Mathew Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier, and Brock Nelson each recorded multi-point games in a 5-2 Islander win.

Tonight, the Islanders look to snap a six-game winless streak and collect their 14th home-ice win of the season. They enter tonight’s contest with a 6-3-1 record in their last ten meetings with Detroit.

DRAFTKINGS BETTING CORNER

Do you think the New York Islanders will beat the Detroit Red Wings? You can get the Islanders at -175 & -120 on the puck line. The Detroit Red Wings come in at +150 & +175 on the reverse puck line.

The over for the contest is 5.5 at -120, with the under at +100.

Head over to DraftKings to place your bets now!

HOW TO WATCH

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