NEW YORK ISLANDERS (6-8-4) @ LOS ANGELES KINGS (10-9-1)
BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN
Last night the New York Islanders snapped a four-game losing streak, converting in the 14th round of the shootout to gain a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. It was the first road win of the season for the Islanders, who now begin the night at 1-4-1 overall away from Brooklyn.
J.T. PRODUCING
The Islanders’ captain, John Tavares now has a point in three out of his past four games, as he registered an assist on Josh Bailey’s first period power play goal in Anaheim Tuesday. No. 91 leads the Islanders in points scored with 14, and assists with nine, while sharing the team-lead in goals with five.
L.A. STREAKING
After edging the Ducks 3-2 Sunday, Los Angeles extended its winning streak to four games. The streak has been notable being that the Kings have won four in-a-row without their sidelined captain, Anze Kopitar (upper body), who has been the Kings’ leading scorer for the past eight seasons.
CAL OUT?
The Islanders may have to face the Kings tonight without rugged forward Cal Clutterbuck, who left last night’s tilt with an upper-body injury after sustaining a hit from Josh Manson of the Ducks. Clutterbuck did not return to the game, and the prevailing thought was that he was undergoing evaluation for a potential concussion.
CARTER FILLING THE GAP
Without Kopitar in the lineup, forward Jeff Carter has elevated his game, scoring four goals with two assists and was named, NHL First Star for the week ending last Sunday. Overall, Carter leads the Kings with nine goals and 17 points in 20 games played.