The New York Islanders are gearing up for a crucial matchup at UBS Arena on Saturday night as they take on the Calgary Flames. It's the second half of a back-to-back, and the Isles are hungry for redemption after a tight 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.
Falling behind early with three first-period goals against them, the Islanders showed resilience with Emil Heineman netting two goals to keep them in the fight. Despite Ilya Sorokin's 24 saves, they couldn't quite complete the comeback.
Looking to shake things up, the Islanders are expected to start David Rittich in goal. Facing his former team for the second time this season, Rittich is still searching for his first win against Calgary. He comes into the game with a respectable 13-9-3 record, a 2.69 goals-against average, and two shutouts this season.
A key focus for the Islanders will be reversing a troubling trend of slow starts. They've found themselves trailing 3-0 in back-to-back games and have conceded the first two goals in six of their last eight outings.
Bo Horvat emphasized the need for a stronger start, saying, “It wears on you having to come back all the time. We have to find ways to get leads and hold leads.”
On the offensive front, Mathew Barzal remains a pivotal force, leading the team with 60 points. Notably, Barzal has been a standout performer following losses, racking up 24 points in those situations.
In the standings, the Islanders are in a tight race with 79 points, tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division, with the Columbus Blue Jackets nipping at their heels.
The Flames come into town fresh off a 5-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Mikael Backlund, who recently hit the 600 career points milestone, leads the team with 37 points after several roster changes at the trade deadline.
This game is the final showdown of the season between the Islanders and Flames, with Calgary having taken the previous encounter 4-2 back in January. It's set to be an intense battle as both teams look to make their mark.