Playing the second contest of a back-to-back set, the Nashville Predators (5th in Central Division) will try to extend their winning streak to three matchups while visiting the New York Islanders (3rd in Metropolitan), who have just lost for the first time in five games.
The current back-to-back stretch and a three-game road trip started with a victory for the Nashville Predators (11-9-2), who recorded their second consecutive triumph following a 4-3 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center last night. The Preds took a 2-0 lead in the opening frame, but conceded three strikes, including two power-play goals, in a span of 2:38 in the following frame, only for Mikael Granlund (3 goals, 17 points this year) to force the extra session with 8.4 seconds remaining and Ryan Johansen (7 goals, 14 points) to bank the win 33 seconds into the bonus period with his second marker of the night. Colton Sissons (3 goals, 7 points) also scored for Nashville, which is 6-1-1 in its last eight games.
Goalie Juuse Saros (9-6-2 on the season with a 2.92 GAA and a .909 save percentage) made 25 saves yesterday, but is set to vacate the crease for Kevin Lankinen ahead of tonight’s trip to Long Island. Lankinen is 2-3-0 for the rolling year with a 2.50 GAA and a .922 save percentage, and is set to face the New York Islanders for the first time in his career. The Predators, meanwhile, are netting the 4th lowest number of goals per game this season (2.59), while conceding the 16th highest amount defensively (3.09). They are 28th in power play (16.1%) and 15th in penalty kill (79.2%).