Islanders Game 38: Kicking 2023 Off Against the Kraken

Happy New Year, everyone. Hopefully, you all feel great and energized and not hungover and tired! The New York Islanders (21-14-2) are back in action riding high, on a three-game win streak as they face the Seattle Kraken (18-12-4), who has been one of the season’s biggest surprises.

Puck drop is slated for 8 PM ET on ESPN (not ESPN+).

The New York Islanders have outscored their opponents 12-2 on this mini streak and enter 2023 in the second wild-card spot.

Head coach Lane Lambert did not have his team skate this morning but will be available at 5:15 ET.

As for Saturday’s practice, the Islanders did showcase some positive developments.

Despite the usual group on the ice, the New York Islanders welcomed netminder Semyon Varlamov to the practice sheet, along with forward Cal Clutterbuck. Both are on Injured Reserve, but both can be activated off IR when they are ready for game action.

Varlamov has missed the last five games with a lower-body injury after leaving the contest against the Vegas Golden Knights with 6:30 to play in the third period.

Clutterbuck, who has been in and out of the lineup this season with a variety of injuries, has missed the last six contests.

Forward Kyle Palmieri, the other member of the injured traveling party, made the trip west but did not practice Saturday with the group, but jumped on the ice at the end.

Despite Varlamov being at practice, along with Cory Schneider, Ilya Sorokin is expected to get the start.

He has started all three games on the win streak with a .954 SV%, a 1.00 GAA, and an .846 HD SV%.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINES (PROJECTED)

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

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

Ilya Sorokin
Cory Schneider

SEATTLE KRAKEN LINES (PROJECTED)

No Vince Dunn out today, and a shake in the forward group. Kraken practice lineup, 12/31:

Burakovsky-Beniers-Eberle
Schwartz-Wennberg-McCann
Tolvanen-Gourde-Bjorkstrand
Tanev-Geekie-Sprong
Donato

Oleksiak-Schultz
Soucy-Borgen
Larsson / Fleury

Grubauer
Jones

— Mike Benton (@Benton_Mike) December 31, 2022

ISLANDERS NOTES

Tonight, the New York Islanders visit the Seattle Kraken in the first of two matchups between the two clubs this season.

The last time these teams met was February 22, 2022, when Zach Parise tallied three points and Casey Cizikas and Brock Nelson each scored to help the Islanders earn a 5-2 win in Seattle.

The Islanders enter tonight’s game with three straight wins, and have outscored their last three opponents 12-3.

Tonight, the Islanders will look to improve upon their 9-6-1 record against Western Conference opponents so far this season. Tonight’s game begins a four-game road trip for the Islanders, and is just the third meeting between the Islanders and Kraken in franchise history.

DRAFTKINGS BETTING CORNER

Do you think the New York Islanders will beat the Seattle Kraken? You can get the Islanders at +100 & -255 on the reverse puck line. The Seattle Kraken come in at -120 & -125 on the reverse puck line.

The over for the contest is 6 at -110, with the under also at -110.

Head over to DraftKings to place your bets now!

HOW TO WATCH

Sunday’s contest will be available on ESPN. On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU, and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.