Trekking Along, Gm 54: Islanders vs. Blue Jackets, Game Notes & More

The New York Islanders (21-24-8) host the Columbus Blue Jackets (28-26-3) Thursday night, the first game of a back-to-back situation, with the Winnipeg Jets in town on Friday. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 PM ET at UBS Arena.

Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was on the ice with his teammates for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury against the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 26. He will not play Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets and head coach Barry Trotz will see where he is at on Friday.

Zdeno Chara (IR) was on the ice for the second straight day and although he will not be in the lineup against Columbus, but there’s a good chance he will be back in the lineup against Winnipeg.

“We just want to give him one more day with his injury going into back to back, but he’s felt really good on the ice,” Trotz said.  “So I would think that he’s getting real close there.”

Ilya Sorokin (18-12-7, 2.38 GAA, .923 SV%) was the first goaltender off the ice at Thursday’s morning skate. He will make his 38th start of the season as Semyon Varlamov will more than likely be in goal against Winnipeg on Friday.

Joonas Korpisalo will make his first start Thursday since Jan. 30 due to a lower-body injury.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Lee-Nelson-Beauvillier

Bailey–Pageau–Palmieri

Parise-Koivula-Wahlstrom

Martin–Cizikas–Clutterbuck

Pelech–Pulock

Greene–Dobson

Aho–Mayfield

Sorokin

Varlamov

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Nyquist–Jenner–Laine

Voracek–Roslovic–Bjorkstrand

Domi–Sillinger–Danforth

Robinson–Kuraly–Chinakhov

Werenksi–Peeke

Gavrikov–Kukan

Carlsson–Bean

Korpisalo

Merzlikins

GAME NOTES

The New York Islanders host the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight in the second of four matchups between the clubs this season. The last time these teams met was October 21, 2021, the Islanders’ fourth game of the season, in Columbus.

This evening’s game is the first in a series of back-to-back games for both teams, as the Islanders face the Winnipeg Jets at home tomorrow night.

They will play back-to-back games every week for the remainder of the regular season. Columbus is the first Metropolitan Division opponent the Islanders have faced since Philadelphia on January 25.

WHO’S HOT?

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand has points in five straight with four goals and an assist. Jakub Voracek has six points over his last five contests, with a goal and five assists.

New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson has seven points in his last five games, with two goals and five assists. Jean-Gabriel Pageau has six points in his last six games with two goals and four assists.

BETTING CORNER

The New York Islanders are the home favorites against the Columbus Blue Jackets -175.  They are +145 on the puck line. The Blue Jackets come in at +150 and -165 on the reverse puck line.

The over for this game is set at 6, with the over at +100 and the under at -175. These lines are subject to change.

HOW TO WATCH:

Thursday’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.