‘Concentration, Not Strength’, Gm 56: Islanders vs. Ducks, Game Notes & More

Over the last two games, the New York Islanders (23-24-8) have been as hot as they come. They swept both games of their recent back-to-backs, as they shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday 6-0 and then defeated the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 5-2 on Friday. Up next is the Anaheim Ducks (27-24-10), with puck drop at 7:30 PM at UBS Arena.

The Anaheim Ducks are currently on a three-game slide, having been outscored 14-5 over that span.

Ilya Sorokin (19-12-7, 2.32 GAA, .925 SV%) was the first netminder off the ice at Sunday’s morning skate as he will make his 39th start of the season.

After being a healthy scratch on Friday, forward Oliver Wahlstrom will be back in the lineup and for the first time to start a game, will skate alongside Mathew Barzal.

“You know, just like anything, just by putting it on paper doesn’t make it work,” Trotz said about Barzal and Wahlstrom. “So we’ll see.”

“If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, then we’ll just move on.”

Ross Johnston will be back in the lineup for the first time since last Monday, a 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Mar. 1. Matt Martin, Kieffer Bellows, and Sebastian Aho remained on the ice after morning skate and will be the scratches against Anaheim.

Things have clearly gone the Islanders way as of late and there’s a list of players who have stepped up to make that happen. Here they are:

#Isles streaks:

-PPG in 4 straight
-Nelson goals in 4 straight
-Lee goals in 3 straight (6G,1A)
-Bailey goals in 2 straight (3G,1A)
-Dobson points in 5 straight (1G,5A)
-Beauvillier points in 3 straight (6A)
-Pageau points in 3 straight (1G,3A)
-Pelech points in 2 straight (2A)

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) March 13, 2022

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Lee-Nelson-Beauvillier

Bailey–Pageau–Palmieri

Parise-Barzal-Wahlstrom

Johnston–Cizikas–Clutterbuck

Pelech–Pulock

Chara–Dobson

Greene–Mayfield

Sorokin

Varlamov

WINNIPEG JETS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Comtois–Henrique–Terry

Milano–Zegras–Rakell

Grant–Lunderstrom–Lettieri

Deslauriers–Carrick–Robinson

Fowler–Manson

Lindholm–Sustr

Mahura–Shattenkirk

Gibson

Stolarz

GAME NOTES

Tonight, the New York Islanders host the Anaheim Ducks in the second and final meeting between the two clubs this season.

The last time these teams met was just two weeks ago in Anaheim, when Casey Cizikas and Ross Johnston each recorded multi-point games to help the Islanders win, 4-0 at Honda Center.

The Islanders finish a six-game homestand tonight, their second-longest of the season. They are 3-2-0 in their last five games at UBS, including back-to-back wins last week. The last time the Islanders hosted Anaheim was more than two years ago, on December 21, 2019.

WHO’S HOT?

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler has five assists over his last five games. Forward Adam Henrique has three goals and an assist in his last five games.

New York Islanders forward Anders Lee has six goals and an assist over his last three contests. Defenseman Noah Dobson has a goal and five assists over his last five contests.

BETTING CORNER

The New York Islanders are the home favorites against the Anaheim Ducks at -180. They are +150 on the puck line. The Ducks come in at +155 and -170 on the reverse puck line.

The over for this game is set at 5.5, with the over at +100 and the under at -120. These lines are subject to change.

HOW TO WATCH:

Sunday’s contest will be available on MSG+ (local).  On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.