Going Up Against The Best, Gm. 53: Islanders vs. Avalanche, Game Notes & More

After a successful bout with the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, the New York Islanders (21-23-8) face the Colorado Avalanche (40-11-5) on Monday. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 PM ET at UBS Arena.

This will be the second time the New York Islanders are facing the Colorado Avalanche this season, with their first meeting less than a week ago on March 1, a 5-3 loss in Colorado.

“You don’t want to trade chances because they’ll (Colorado) will win that game,” New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said. “When you play the right way, with the right intensity, with the right management of the game at times, you can be can beat anybody.”

“And they’re a benchmark in the league, one of the benchmarks in the league.”

The New York Islanders will be without Mathew Barzal (day-to-day) as he did not take part in Monday’s optional morning skate. Trotz said he, along with Zdeno Chara (IR) were both available.

Semyon Varlamov (3-11-1, 2.76 GAA, .912 SV%) was the first goaltender off the ice at morning skate as he will make his 16th start of the season, against his former team.

Anders Lee, who missed Saturday’s contest due to personal reasons, was back on the ice for morning skate and will be back in the lineup.

Forwards Ross Johnston and Otto Koivula remained on the ice following the team skate, as they will serve as healthy scratches on Monday.

For the Colorado Avalanche, Pavel Francouz (9-3-1, 2.33 GAA, .923 SV%) gets the start against the Islanders.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Bellows–Pageau–Palmieri

Beauvillier–Nelson–Bailey

Lee–Parise–Wahlstrom

Martin–Cizikas–Clutterbuck

Pelech–Pulock

Greene–Dobson

Aho–Mayfield

Varlamov

Sorokin

COLORADO AVALANCHE LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Burakovsky–Mackinnon–Rantanen

Henrique–Kadri–Nichushkin

Newhook–Compher–O’Connor

Helm–Jost–Aube-Kubel

Toews–Makar

J. Johnson–Girard

Murray–E. Johnson

Francouz

Kuemper

GAME NOTES

Tonight, the New York Islanders host the Colorado Avalanche in the second of two matchups between the teams this season. They last met less than a week ago, on March 1, in Colorado.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Zach Parise each recorded multi-point games. Tonight is the third of a six-game homestand for the Islanders, who are 3-2-1 in their last five at UBS Arena, after defeating St. Louis on Saturday afternoon.

This evening’s game is the Islanders’ eighth consecutive Western Conference matchup. They have a 6-3-1 record in their last ten meetings with Colorado and have won 12 of their last 13 matchups on home ice against the Avalanche.

WHO’S HOT?

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan Mackinnon is riding a 10-game point streak, with eight goals and three assists. He has five goals and an assist over his last five games.

New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson has five points in his last five games, with two goals and three assists.

BETTING CORNER

The New York Islanders are the home underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche at +164 They are -158 on the reverse puck line. The Avalanche come in at -200 and +128 on the puck line.

The over for this game is set at 6, with the over at -104 and the under at -118. These lines are subject to change.

HOW TO WATCH:

Monday’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.