Minnesota Wild at New York Islanders [Game 55]

The New York Islanders are back on Barclays ice for the second to last time this season as they take on the Minnesota Wild. This is the last week to get your Barclays fix in for what might be the final time ever as their last game is Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers. After that, all of the remaining games will be at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum this year.

The Islanders are in their second of a back-to-back that saw them storm back against the Colorado Avalanche and capture two points in overtime. The division is still incredibly close and the Islanders need those R.O.W. victories wherever they can get them. They are now three points up on the Washington Capitals with a game in hand.

Minnesota meanwhile is 5-3-2 in their last ten and currently hold the top wild card spot in the west, but just lost captain Mikko Koivu for the season. They are currently trying to hold off the Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues who each have 57 points. St. Louis has been torrid hot as of late while Vancouver is 5-3-2 in their last ten just like Minnesota.

Thomas Greiss will start in this one after Robin Lehner went yesterday. Lehner had a bad game statistically yesterday, but one of those goals came off of the foot of one of his own defensemen while another came in four on four play. Greiss now leads Lehner in dSv%, high danger save percentage, and G.S.A.A. in five-on-five play while also leading in dSv%, medium danger save percentage, high danger save percentage, and G.S.A.A. in overall play according to Corsica.

Cal Clutterbuck might return tonight. If he doesn’t, expect more Tom Kuhnhackl. Luca Sbisa and Ross Johnston will man the press box.

Game time is at 3:00 P.M. E.S.T.