Islanders Game 37: Final Battle Before New Years vs. Blue Jackets

The New York Islanders (20-14-2) have the ability to head into 2023 with three straight wins and potentially find themselves in a playoff spot as they host the Columbus Blue Jackets (10-21-2) Thursday night at UBS Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 PM ET.

The New York Islanders have won each of their last two games by a score of 5-1 and have lost players early in each contest. The Columbus Blue Jackets have lost their last six games.

“We have good leadership,” New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert said. “Guys know what is presented and what’s in front of them, and I’ve thought we’ve done a really good job when we have gone down people to manage the game and play the game properly.”

The Islanders did not skate Thursday morning but were on the ice Wednesday for practice.

Islanders Sticking With What Worked, Schneider Starting vs. Columbus?

Head coach Lane Lambert is sticking with what worked as Hudson Fasching remained on the top line with Mathew Barzal while Casey Cizikas remained on Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s wing.

With Oliver Wahlstrom banged up and no update on his status, Ross Johnston was back in the mix and skated on the fourth line alongside Matt Martin and Aatu Räty.

Take this as you may, but Cory Schneider was the first goaltender off the ice and could start against Columbus.

In 15 appearances with Bridgeport, Schneider is 10-3-2, with a 2.51 GAA with a .921 SV%. He has not played in the NHL this season.

As for the injured parties, Lambert shared that Semyon Varlamov (IR) skated Wednesday morning, along with Palmieri and Clutterbuck. Wahlstrom, Holmstrom and Pelech have not skated.

On the Blue Jackets side of things, Joonas Korpisalo will get the start in goal, per Jeff Svoboda. The Blue Jackets will be without Patrik Laine (illness).

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINES (PROJECTED)

Josh Bailey-Mat Barzal-Hudson Fasching
Anders Lee-Brock Nelson-Anthony Beauvillier
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Casey Cizikas
Matt Martin-Aatu Raty-Ross Johnston

Parker Wotherspoon-Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson

Cory Schneider
Ilya Sorokin

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS LINES (PROJECTED)

Johnny Gaudreau-Jack Roslovic-Emil Bemstrom
Gus Nyquist-Kent Johnson-Kirill Marchenko
Eric Robinson-Sean Kuraly-Mathieu Olivier
Liam Foudy-Cole Sillinger-Carson Meyer

Vladislav Gavrikov-Marcus Bjork
Tim Berni-Erik Gudbranson
Andrew Peeke-Adam Boqvist

Joonas Korpisalo
Daniil Tarasov

ISLANDERS NOTES

Tonight, the New York Islanders host the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third of four matchups between the two clubs this season.

The last time these teams met was just over a month ago on November 25, when Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Brock Nelson each scored, and Mathew Barzal tallied two assists to help the Islanders earn a 3-2 win in Columbus.

The Islanders enter tonight’s game with an 8-4-0 record against Metropolitan Division opponents after defeating the Penguins on Tuesday, and they have won each of their last five matchups against Columbus, including three straight at UBS Arena.

DRAFTKINGS BETTING CORNER

Do you think the New York Islanders will beat the Columbus Blue Jackets? You can get the Islanders at -240 & +105 on the puck line. The Blue Jackets come in at +200 & -125 on the reverse puck line.

The over for the contest is 6.5 at -105, with the under at -115.

Head over to DraftKings to place your bets now!

HOW TO WATCH

Thursday’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.