New York Islanders at Montreal Canadiens [Game 64]

			-AT-
			7:00 P.M. E.S.T.
Radio	Network		Arena		Network	Radio
88.7 FM WRHU	MSG+		Centre Bell		RDS	690 AM CKGM
League	Value		Metric		Value	League
21st	51.6%		Points Percentage		45.2%	27th
19th	16.41%		Net Power Play Percentage		18.82%	9th
29th	77.35%		Net Penalty Kill Percentage		80.10%	25th
26th	93.76%		Combined Special Teams Percentage		98.92%	17th
5th	3.29		Goals for per Game (All Situations)		2.53	29th
31st	3.57		Goals against per Game (All Situations)		3.13	23rd
10th	.22		Penalty +/- per Game (All Situations)		-.16	21st
27th	47.01%		Shot Attempt Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		50.59%	15th
30th	45.33%		Scoring Chance Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		51.76%	8th
8th	100.94%		P.D.O. (5V5)		98.31%	29th
4th	9.17%		Shooting Percentage (5V5)		6.03%	31st
26th	91.76%		Save Percentage (5V5)		92.28%	16th
Data from Hockey-Reference.com and Natural Stat Trick
The Enemies' Lair
Eyes On The Prize

The New York Islanders head to Quebec for their first of two consecutive games against the woeful Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens are a quality possession team, but the roster that's been assembled up there is relatively devoid of talent. That's shown in their shooting percentage which is dead last in the league.

Chris Wagner was acquired for Jason Chimera at the deadline from the Anaheim Ducks and will make his Islanders debut tonight as he replaces Ross Johnston. That's good! Johnston has a few points to his name, but is sporting a Corsi percentage below 40 percent with a relative percentage of around -7 percent - that's not going to cut it as an N.H.L. player even on the fourth line.

Another Islanders newcomer in Brandon Davidson will make his Islanders debut tonight after being acquired for a third round pick from the Edmonton Oilers. He'll displace Sebastian Aho which is not good. Davidson was acquired to be a defense-first defenseman and the coaching staff has decided that he was going to replace the only Islander defenseman that was doing a better job at suppressing shots and shot attempts (Aho also leads the Islanders defense in relative Corsi percentage).

Jaroslav Halak will get the nod in tonight's contest. Antti Niemi starts for the Canadiens as Carey Price is injured. That may seem like a reprieve, but Price is supporting a dSV% worse than Thomas Greiss this season.

Puck drop is at 7:05 P.M. E.S.T. Tonight's contest will air on MSG+.

New York Islanders Projected Lineup

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup