Islanders Aim to Extend Six-Game Streak Against Lightning

TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Islanders, riding a six-game winning streak, face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night at Amalie Arena. The Islanders, fresh off a dominant 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, look to continue their momentum against a Lightning team that recently snapped a two-game skid with a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

The Islanders (23-20-7) have been bolstered by strong performances from Simon Holmstrom, Marc Gatcomb, and Kyle Palmieri, who all contributed goals in Thursday’s win. Goaltender Ilya Sorokin earned his third shutout of the season with a 23-save effort, while the team’s penalty kill unit went a perfect 3-for-3. “Everyone’s part of it right now,” said Head Coach Patrick Roy. “It’s a solid team effort.”

Tampa Bay (27-20-3) counters with Brandon Hagel, who notched two goals and an assist in their recent win, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, who made 28 saves for his third shutout of the season. The Lightning have been formidable at home this season, posting a 16-7-1 record at Amalie Arena.

Historically, the Islanders have struggled against the Lightning, going 2-8-0 in their last 10 meetings and losing five straight games in Tampa. Their last win at Amalie Arena came on Dec. 9, 2019, with a 5-1 victory.

New York’s recent success has been fueled by improved defensive play and a red-hot penalty kill, which ranks first in the NHL since Jan. 1 with a 91.3% success rate. The team has also allowed just 1.75 goals per game during that span, the best mark in the league.

For Tampa Bay, Nikita Kucherov leads the team with 75 points, while Brayden Point has a team-high 28 goals. The Lightning’s offense ranks third in the NHL with 3.48 goals per game, and their penalty kill is fifth at 81.5%.

Injury-wise, the Islanders will be without Anthony Duclair (illness), with Pierre Engvall expected to replace him in the lineup. Sorokin will start in net for New York, while Vasilevskiy will guard the crease for Tampa Bay.

The game marks the first meeting between the two teams this season and is the third contest of a five-game homestand for the Lightning. The Islanders will face the Florida Panthers on Sunday in the second half of their back-to-back set.