Keep The Jets Going, Gm 55: Islanders vs. Jets, Game Notes & More

The New York Islanders (22-24-8) host the Winnipeg Jets (26-22-10) Friday night, the second game of a back-to-back situation for both teams. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 PM ET at UBS Arena.

The Islanders are coming off one of their biggest wins of the season, a 6-0 stomping of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Winnipeg Jets defeated the New Jersey Devils by a score of 2-1.

“I thought we did a really good job of limiting their skill player, especially the Laine’s, we were on top of him,” New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said. “We didn’t give them a lot five on five.”

“I think when I do the chances they’ll have like nine or 10 probably five on five, and seven probably on the power play.”

The big storylines from the contest were Anders Lee’s first career hat trick, Ilya Sorokin’s sixth shutout of the season, and the power play now with goals in three straight contests.

“You always feel good when you score a goal, but I think it’s a combination of finding your spots, good looks,” Anders Lee said following the game.  “I mean, you look at some of those ones tonight like the puck finds you too. So there’s some putting yourselves in a position to get a good bounce and just a couple nights in a row of getting those bounces.

The New York Islanders did not hold morning skate on Friday and the media session with head coach Barry Trotz will not be until 5 PM.

On Thursday, Barry Trotz gave an update on Zdeno Chara (IR) and it seems that he will be back in the lineup against the Winnipeg Jets after missing his sixth straight contest with an upper-body injury on Thursday.

As for Mathew Barzal, the belief is that he is not ready to return, only getting on the ice with his teammates for the first time Thursday morning. He did not partake in line rushes or special teams.

With Ilya Sorokin having started the first of the back-to-back situation Thursday, it is expected that Semyon Varlamov (3-12-1, 2.90 GAA, .911 SV%) will be in between the pipes on Friday night. On Monday, Varlamov stopped 44 of 49 in an impressive performance despite allowing five goals in the 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

Eric Comrie got the start in goal for the Winnipeg Jets in their win over New Jersey, so Connor Hellebuyck (19-20-9, 2.97 GAA, .908 SV%) will get the nod against the New York Islanders.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Lee-Nelson-Beauvillier

Bailey–Pageau–Palmieri

Parise-Koivula-Wahlstrom

Martin–Cizikas–Clutterbuck

Pelech–Pulock

Chara–Dobson

Aho–Mayfield

Varlamov

Sorokin

WINNIPEG JETS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Statsny–Scheifele–Wheeler

Connor–Dubois–Svechnikov

Copp–Lowry–Ehlers

Vesalainen–Toninato–Harkins

Morrissey–Demelo

Dillon–Pionk

Stanley–Schmidt

Hellebuyck

Comrie

GAME NOTES

Tonight, the New York Islanders host the Winnipeg Jets in the second of two matchups between the clubs this season.

The last time these teams met was on November 6, 2021, in Winnipeg. Anders Lee and Brock Nelson each scored to help the Islanders earn a 2-0 win at Canada Life Centre.

Both the Islanders and Jets enter tonight’s game on the back-end of a back-to-back series. The Islanders defeated Columbus at home last night and the Jets won in New Jersey.

This evening’s game is the fourth time in their last six games that the Islanders will play a Central Division opponent.

WHO’S HOT?

Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele has eight points in his last five games with three goals and five assists. Paul Stastny has five goals in his last five contests.

New York Islanders forward Anders Lee has five goals and an assist over his last five contests. Defenseman Ryan Pulock has a goal and five assists over his last five contests.

BETTING CORNER

The New York Islanders are the home favorites against the Winnipeg Jets at -120. They are +185 on the puck line. The Jets come in at +100 and -225 on the reverse puck line.

The over for this game is set at 6, with the over at -110 and the under at -110. These lines are subject to change.

HOW TO WATCH:

Friday’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.