Recreation Preview: Islanders at Blackhawks – NHL.com

The Islanders kick off a three-game highway journey with a matchup in Chicago (3 p.m., MSGSN)
NEW YORK ISLANDERS (12-12-7) AT CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (9-19-2)
3 PM ET | UNITED CENTER
WATCH: MSGSN | MSG+ | ESPN+
LISTEN: 88.7FM | 103.9FM | ISLANDERS + UBS ARENA APP
The New York Islanders are within the Windy Metropolis to tackle the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon within the first of a three-game highway journey.
The Islanders picked up their third win of their final 4 outings with a 5-4 victory over the Blackhawks on Thursday evening. Dennis Cholowski, Simon Holmstrom (1G, 2A), Noah Dobson, Bo Horvat and Max Tsyplakov scored for the Isles whereas JG Pageau had a three-assist evening. Ilya Sorokin had a 26-save efficiency in his seventh consecutive begin.
The Blackhawks will face the Islanders within the second half of a back-to-back set. They fell 4-1 in a matinee matchup with the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Middle on Saturday. Jason Dickinson scored the lone objective for Chicago.
The Isles lead the season collection 1-0-0 after Thursday’s 5-4 victory, which prolonged the Isles’ level streak in opposition to the Blackhawks to seven video games (5-0-2) courting again to 2021. The Isles are 2-0-1 of their final three journeys to United Middle.
– Adam Pelech (higher physique) will return to the Islanders lineup on Sunday, Head Coach Patrick Roy advised reporters on Saturday. Pelech has been out since Nov. 1 – lacking 20 video games – after taking a puck to the face in opposition to the Buffalo Sabres. Pelech is predicted to play with longtime d-partner Ryan Pulock.
– Mathew Barzal (higher physique) is taken into account a game-time choice for Sunday’s recreation, per Roy. Barzal has been out since Oct. 30 and has missed 21 video games. Barzal participated in Thursday’s morning skate and Saturday’s observe with no restrictions.
– Anthony Duclair was additionally a full participant in Saturday’s skate, however is not going to play on Sunday.
– Bo Horvat missed Saturday’s practice with a lower-body harm and whereas his standing for Sunday is unconfirmed, the middle did journey with the group to Chicago.
– Oliver Wahlstrom was claimed by the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon after being positioned on waivers by the Islanders on Friday. Wahlstrom, the 11^th total choose within the 2018 Draft, recorded 71 factors (36G, 35A) in 220 video games with the Islanders over six seasons with the group.
– Pierre Engvall was additionally positioned on waivers on Friday, and cleared on Saturday.
– Holmstrom recorded the primary three-point recreation of his profession with a objective and two assists in opposition to the Blackhawks on Thursday evening. The Swedish winger has 18 factors (8G, 10A) via 31 video games this season, seven factors shy of his career-high 25 factors via 75 video games final season.
– With three assists in Thursday’s win over Chicago, Pageau recorded his second three-point recreation of the season and 12^th of his profession. Pageau, who additionally had three factors (1G, 2A) in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 7, and has 16 factors (6G, 10A) via 29 video games this season.
– Max Tsyplakov has three targets in his final 5 outings. The 26-year-old winger, taking part in in his first NHL season after seven years within the KHL, ranks fourth amongst rookies in factors (17) and ties Montreal’s Emil Heineman for fourth within the NHL in targets (6) amongst rookies.
– The Islanders’ house PK faltered on Thursday, permitting Connor Bedard’s first interval power-play objective to begin the scoring. Although the Isles’ house PK ranks 32^nd within the NHL (51.7%), their shorthanded numbers are improved on the highway, with a 75.7% highway kill (25^th within the NHL).
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– Connor Bedard had a three-point recreation (1G, 2A) in opposition to the Isles on Thursday, however his three-game level streak got here to an finish on Saturday in New Jersey. Bedard leads the Blackhawks with 24 factors (6G, 18A) in 30 video games this season.
– Tyler Bertuzzi netted a pair of targets in opposition to the Islanders within the span of a minute within the third interval of Thursday’s contest. The 2 targets marked the primary and second time he’s scored in opposition to the Islanders in 15 profession appearances. The 29-year-old winger is 30 video games into his first season with the Blackhawks, with eight targets and 5 assists.
– Arvid Soderblom is the seemingly starter for Chicago as Drew Commesso made his first NHL begin in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Soderblom is 2-7-1 this season with a 2.74 GAA and a .908 SV%. Soderblom began Thursday’s recreation and was roughed up by the Islanders, as he allowed 5 targets on 19 pictures earlier than being pulled within the third interval.
– The Blackhawks recalled Frank Nazar from AHL Rockford on Dec. 13. Nazar was tearing up within the AHL in his first season, with 24 factors (11G, 13A) in 21 video games. The 13^th total choose within the 2022 NHL Draft made his season debut in opposition to New Jersey on Saturday. He performed three video games for Chicago final season recording one objective.
– Chicago’s penalty talent has not allowed a objective in eight straight video games, going 21-for-21 over that span, together with a three-for-three outing in opposition to the Islanders on Thursday. Since Nov. 1, the Blackhawks are 48-for-54 on the penalty kill (88.9%), which ranks first within the NHL.
– The Blackhawks are 2-3-0 on the second half of back-to-back video games this season.

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