‘We Either Play Or Play Around’, Gm 49: Islanders vs. Ducks, Game Notes & More

The New York Islanders (19-21-8), following their 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, have a quick turnaround as they face the Anaheim Ducks (25-20-9) Sunday night. Puck drop is slated for 8:30 PM ET at Honda Center.

Against the Kings, the Islanders were not ready when the puck was dropped. The Islanders chased the entire contest and although they had a push late, it was not enough.

“We had guys guessing, all over the ice,” Trotz said. ”

The New York Islanders did not skate Sunday morning or offer media availability. Head coach Barry Trotz will be speaking to the media at 5:45 ET.

If you’re going to guess against a team that moves the puck like that, you are going to get what you saw.”

With Semyon Varlamov getting the nod against the Kings, Ilya Sorokin (16-11-7, 2.44 GAA, .920 SV%) will get the start Sunday night against the Ducks. This will be Sorokin’s ninth start in 10 games.

Forward Mathew Barzal and defenseman Zdeno Chara were injured in Saturday night’s contest and did not return. Trotz stated that both were day to day and would miss Sunday’s contest.

Per Eric Hornick, Mathew Barzal had never missed a game due to injury. He missed a game at the end of the 2020-21 season (rest) and missed three games in December of 2021 due to COVID-19.

“Barzy’s a tough kid,” Anders Lee said. “He’ll come back, you know, just fine.

As for Zdeno Chara, the 44-year old set an NHL record on Thursday for most games played by a defenseman, at 1,652. That record will keep growing in each passing game. At 44, any injury is concerning.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Parise–Pageau–Palmieri

Bellows–Nelson–Beauvillier

Lee–Bailey–Wahlstrom

Martin–Cizikas–Clutterbuck

Pelech–Mayfield

Greene–Dobson

Aho–Pulock

Sorokin

Varlamov

ANAHEIM DUCKS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Milano–Getzlaf–Terry

Henrique–Zegras–Rakell

Steel–Lunderstrom–Silferberg

Deslauriers–Grant–Carrick

Lindholm–Drysdale

Fowler–Shattenkirk

Benoit–Mahura

Stolarz

GAME NOTES

Tonight, the New York Islanders visit the Anaheim Ducks for the first of two matchups between the clubs this season.

The last time these teams met was December 21, 2019, when seven Islanders, including Mathew Barzal, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, and Ryan Pulock recorded multi-point games.

Tonight’s game is the fourth of a five-game West Coast road trip, and the second of a back-to-back series for the Islanders, who fell to Los Angeles last night. The Islanders’ last visit to the Honda Center was on November 25, 2019.

BETTING CORNER

The New York Islanders are the road underdogs against the Anaheim Ducks at +100. They are -270 on the reverse puck line. The Kings come in at -120 and 220 on the 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) and on NHL Network (National) . On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.