Music: {allcanada} ISLANDERS (24-11-1) at JETS (19-11-7)

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

{allcanada} ISLANDERS (24-11-1) at JETS (19-11-7)

The Hangover Part III / Nothing Was the Same - Drake

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

5:00 PM ET

ISLANDERS (24-11-1) at JETS (19-11-7)

TV: MSG+, TSN3

Season series: Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd had two goals against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on Oct. 28 in a 4-3 Jets win. The road team has won the past four games between the Islanders and Jets.

Islanders team scope: The Islanders begin a season-high seven-game road trip Wednesday. Three Islanders defensemen scored in a 4-3 overtime win against the Washington Capitals on Monday. After the win Monday, the Islanders are 16-2-1 in one-goal games. The Islanders have given up a three-goal lead in the third period in each of the past two games. The power play had two goals in seven opportunities against Washington after a 1-for-23 slump. Center John Tavares (three goals, two assists) and right wing Kyle Okposo (one goal, four assists) are each on a four-game points streak. Right wing Michael Grabner, who has been limited to five games this season because of a lower-body injury, participated in the morning skate Monday and is a possibility to dress against Winnipeg. Goaltender Jaroslav Halak returned Monday after a two-game absence (lower body) and made 23 saves. The Islanders, who are starting a stretch of eight of nine games on the road, play the Calgary Flames on Friday.

Jets team scope: The Jets continue their four-game homestand with their annual New Year's Eve game. Winnipeg surrendered a 2-0 second-period lead in a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Monday. The game was their first since coach Paul Maurice announced that left wing Evander Kane will be out until early February because of a lower-body injury. Winnipeg defenseman Dustin Byfuglien did not practice Tuesday, but Maurice said that he will play Wednesday. Jets left wing Mathieu Perreault scored Monday; six of Perreault's nine goals are at MTS Centre, and he has seven goals and five assists in 12 games in December. After scoring once on the power play in their four games, the Jets had two power-play goals Monday. Goaltender Michael Hutchinson has started the past three games and four of the past five. Maurice said Monday that he plans to start goaltender Ondrej Pavelec in the upcoming stretch of six games in 11 days. The Toronto Maple Leafs visit MTS Centre on Saturday.

Team Stats