The New York Islanders (20-16-11, 51 points, T-4th Metro) head off to Canada on Thursday to play the Montreal Canadiens (19-21-7, 45 points, 6th Atlantic). New York was defeated by the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday 3-2 and has lost five of the last six. Montreal was defeated by the Ottawa Senators 4-1 on Tuesday and the Canadians have lost three straight and six of the last eight. New York will play without Ryan Pulock, Robert Bortuzzo, Pierre Engvall and Casey Cizikas. Montreal will play without Christ Wideman, Christian Dworak, Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach and Carey Price.
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New York is averaging 2.91 goals per game which is 24th in the NHL while taking an average of 29.5 shots per game which is 23rd. New York is winning 50.6% of its face-offs which is 13th and the power play is 19th, scoring 22.8% of the time with the man advantage. Brock Nelson is the leading goal scorer for New York with 21 and Bo Horvat (day-to-day) is second with 19. Horvat is the leader in assists with 42 and Mathew Barzal is second with 36. Barzal and Horvat are tied for the lead in points with 48 apiece.
New York has a goals against average of 3.32, which is 24th in the NHL. The Islanders are allowing an average of 35.2 shots per game which is 31st or next to last. New York's penalty kill unit is 30th, holding opponents scoreless only 73.6% of the time. Islanders #1 goalie Ilya Sorokin is 14-12-9 with a 3.17 goal s against average and .909 save percentage.
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