/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66451733/1183989624.jpg.0.jpg)
The Islanders visit Ottawa tonight in need of two points. They’ve lost four straight (0-2-2) and are 2-6-2 in their last ten. Probably not coincidentally, ten games is the span they’ve been without Casey Cizikas.
It appears that Leo Komarov is coming out of the lineup, based on this morning’s skate:
#Isles morning skate
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) March 5, 2020
Lee-Barzal-Eberle
Dal Colle-Nelson-Brassard
Beauvillier-Pageau-Bailey
Martin-Koivula-Clutterbuck
Extra Fs: Ladd, Johnston, Komarov
Not skating: Kuhnhackl
Greene-Pulock
Toews-Mayfield
Leddy-Dobson
Extra D : Hickey
Varlamov, Greiss
Also note that Thomas Hickey is up. He was recalled from Bridgeport on emergency, which means he can only go into the lineup if someone else cannot play. Guessing that Andy Greene is the guy banged up, but he was in line rushes this morning. We’ll see in warmups. Also, Semyon Varlamov was the first goalie off today, which usually indicates who starts in net.
The Senators were running these lines at their morning skate:
#Sens line rushes at morning skate ahead of Isles game:
— Hailey Salvian (@hailey_salvian) March 5, 2020
Tkachuk - Tierney - Brown
Balcers - White - Ryan
Duclair - Paul - Hawryluk
Boedker - Peca - Sabourin
Chabot - Hainsey
Reilly - Zaitsev
Englund - Jaros
Anderson
Gustavsson
It is, of course, J-G Pageau’s return to Ottawa. He’s looking to celebrate his first win as an Islander. Tonight would be a good night for it.