NFL Show
New York Islanders (17-12-1) vs. Los Angeles Kings (22-9-1)
The New York Islanders head to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night to face off against the Vegas Golden Knights. These two cross-conference foes start their two-game regular-season series, and the Golden Knights open as firm home favorites.
Last season, the Islanders and Golden Knights split their two-game set, and each team emerged victorious on the road. New York blanked Vegas 2-0, while the Golden Knights responded with a 4-3 shootout victory.
The New York Islanders meet Vegas on the second night of a back-to-back set. Friday’s games have been excluded from this preview, and the 17-12-1 Islanders visited the Arizona Coyotes, hoping to snap a two-game skid. Last Tuesday, New York started a five-game road trip with a tough 4-3 shootout defeat at the Boston Bruins.
The Islanders overcame a two-goal first-period deficit at TD Garden in Boston. Mathew Barzal gave them a lead in the shootout, but both Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey missed, and the Bruins converted two of their three rounds.
“We started the game, we find ourselves down two,” Islanders coach Lane Lambert said. “For us to climb back and go to the third being d own, coming away with the point was a good job by our guys.”
IT'S 3-3! pic.twitter.com/XWNZQ3QwDi
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 14, 2022
Semyon Varlamov posted 30 saves against the bruins but fell to 7-3-1 with a 2.68 GAA and .916 save percentage on the season. Ilya Sorokin was projected to guard the cage Friday at Arizona, and he’s 10-9-0 with a sturdy 2.36 GAA and .925 save percentage in 2022-23. It’s unknown who’ll patrol the crease Saturday against Vegas.