Islanders Game 25 Preview vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: Lines, Best Bets, How To Watch

The New York Islanders continue their season’s longest homestand tonight as they welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets to UBS Arena. Here’s what you need to know before puck drop.

Projected Lineup:

Lee-Horvat-Barzal

Engvall-Nelson-Palmieri

Holmstrom-Pageau-Gauthier

Fasching-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

Romanov-Dobson

Bolduc-Pulock

Reilly-Mayfield

Varlamov

Sorokin

Last Time Out:

Everything felt secure for the Islanders Tuesday night. Up 4-1 in the third period of the first of a six-game long homestand facing the worst team in the NHL; what could go wrong? The same thing that has all year long. Another blown lead led to another loss in overtime.

Islanders ‘Sin’ In OT Loss To Sharks

The Opponent:

The Columbus Blue Jackets enter tonight’s contest depleted in numbers.

On Wednesday afternoon, Columbus placed goalie Elvis Merzlinkis, defenseman Adam Boqvist and center Cole Dillinger on injured reserve and did not pack forward Patrick Laine for their trip to Long Island, either.

According to Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch, there’s currently a bug/illness going through the Blue Jackets’ dressing room.

The Islanders shut out the Blue Jackets, 2-0, back on Oct. 28, handing them their third straight loss at the time. Since then, things haven’t improved much for Columbus.

The Blue Jackets carry an 8-14-5 record in their first season under head coach Pascal Vincent. They lost in overtime to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.

Zach Werenski leads Columbus in points, and Boone Jenner is the team’s leading goal scorer.

Spencer Martin will make his ninth start in net tonight for the Blue Jackets, posting a 3.20 GAA and a .902 save percentage.

Best Bets:

Julien Gauthier is looking comfortable in his first prolonged opportunity in the Islanders’ starting lineup this season and has found the back of the net in each of his last two games. You can bet on him to do so again as an anytime goal scorer against the Blue Jackets using odds presented by Draft Kings.

How To Watch:

Puck drop between the Islanders and Blue Jackets from UBS Arena is scheduled for just past 7:30 p.m. EST. The game can be seen on MSG Network and streamed on MSG + or  ESPN+ for out-of-market viewers. 88.7 FM WRHU will produce the radio feed of the game, which can also be heard on 98.7 FM ESPN and 103.9 FM WRCN.

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