Islanders Face Must-Win Against Defending Champs Panthers Tonight

ELMONT, N.Y. — The New York Islanders host the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers tonight at UBS Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Islanders enter the game looking to break a three-game winless skid after a narrow 2-1 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers Friday night, while the Panthers are trying to rebound from a recent 3-1 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens.

The Islanders (29-28-8) have struggled offensively, scoring just three goals over their last three games. Bo Horvat was the lone scorer against Edmonton, and goaltender Ilya Sorokin recorded 33 saves in that contest. As the playoff race heats up, the Islanders trail the New York Rangers by six points for the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot, making tonight’s matchup critical.

The Florida Panthers (41-23-3) are positioned among the league’s elite but currently face challenges after back-to-back games. Mackie Samoskevich scored their only goal in the defeat against Montreal, while Sergei Bobrovsky managed just 12 saves on 15 shots. The Panthers still lead the Isles by five points in the standings.

“We need to score more goals and support our goaltender,” said Islanders head coach Patrick Roy. “Ilya has been phenomenal, but we must find ways to finish our chances.” The Isles’ recent struggles have seen them ranked 28th in the league for goals per game and last in power play efficiency.

In injury news, the Islanders will welcome back defenseman Mike Reilly, who hasn’t played in a game since November, but Adam Pelech will miss tonight’s game after blocking a shot during the Oilers match. “We’re looking for Mike to keep it simple,” Roy said. “We need everyone to step up at this crucial time.”

Meanwhile, the Panthers will be without Aaron Ekblad, suspended for 20 games due to a violation of the NHL’s performance-enhancing substances policy. Ekblad has contributed 33 points in 56 games this season. Additionally, forward Brad Marchand, recently acquired from the Boston Bruins, is still sidelined with an upper-body injury.

Notably, Islanders captain Anders Lee is just two points shy of his 500th career point, while Sorokin’s recent appearances have seen him tie Kelly Hrudey for fourth place on the franchise’s all-time goalie games played list with 241.

Looking ahead, analysts predict a competitive match-up as the Islanders and Panthers clash. The Islanders must capitalize on their scoring opportunities to overcome the Panthers and keep their playoff hopes alive. Tonight’s game is significant, as it provides a chance to reclaim momentum in their season.