Here are some notes as the New York Islanders (21-24-7) are getting ready to host the Pittsburgh Penguins (35-13-2) in NHL action at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Thursday.
LAST GAME
1/21/14: NYI 5 at NYR 3
The Islanders completed their second two-goal comeback in as many games, rallying from a 3-1 hole to stun the New York Rangers 5-3 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. Captain John Tavares picked up three assists and Thomas Vanek scored the game winner with 4:38 to play.
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
The Islanders and Penguins complete their four-game season series tonight. All three games have been decided by a single goal; the teams split a pair of games in Pittsburgh earlier in the season, before Sidney Crosby capped a Penguins comeback with an overtime goal at the Coliseum on Dec. 3.
TEAM NOTES
Top-Line Streakers: Thomas Vanek is on a six-game point streak (3g/5a); he’s only been held pointless once in his last 17 games (8g/15a). John Tavares is on a four-game point streak (2g/4a) and has been held pointless twice in his last 14 games. Kyle Okposo has points in five of his last six games (3g/5a).
Career Numbers: Kyle Okposo’s 51 points are one shy of his career high, set in 2009-10.
Assist Streak: Frans Nielsen is on a five-game assist streak (5a). He is one game shy of matching the Islanders’ season high, set by John Tavares in October.
January Record: The Islanders are 8-3-0 in January, with five games to play. It’s the first time since 2003 that the Isles have earned eight wins in January and matches their most January wins since they earned nine in 1990. The Isles have earned ten victories in January only once in franchise history, going 10-4-1 in 1980
Winning Ways: The Isles are 10-3-0 in their last 13 games and have climbed to within three games of NHL-.500 for the first time since Nov. 19.
Home Ice: Seven of the Islanders’ eight games remaining before the Olympic break take place in the New York area.
MILESTONE WATCH:
Josh Bailey – 6 assists shy of 100
Kyle Okposo – 8 goals shy of 100
The Islanders and Penguins game is set to air on the NBCSN Network, with face-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.