Game Preview: Islanders vs. Blue Jackets

New York Islanders (19-17-9) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (32-10-4)

Ladd Could Return vs. Blue Jackets:

UPDATE: Ladd is in tonight for the Islanders. Click here for lineup notes and morning skate updates
Andrew Ladd (upper body) could return to the Islanders' lineup on Tuesday, according to Interim Coach Doug Weight's pre-game comments on Sunday. Ladd has missed four straight games and reportedly skated during the Islanders' day off on Monday.

Thomas Greiss Earns NHL Second Star:

Thomas Greiss was on fire last week, going 2-0-1 with two shutouts in three games, posting a .971 save percentage and a 0.98 goals-against average. In total, Greiss stopped 99-of-102 shots, making 85 straight saves during his shutout streak (154:10). To top it off, the German goalie picked up his first assist of the season on Calvin de Haan's empty net goal against Dallas. For his effort, Greiss was named the NHL's second star of the week.

Blue Jackets Notes:

The Columbus Blue Jackets absolutely went off earlier this season, winning a team-record 16 straight games, one shy of tying the NHL record.
The winning streak shot the Blue Jackets to the upper echelon of the NHL and Columbus currently holds the NHL's second-best record, but they've cooled off a bit since the streak ended. Columbus is 5-5-0 in their last 10 games.
The Blue Jackets are coming off a 7-6 OT win over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night - the fourth time this season Columbus had scored seven or more goals. The Blue Jackets are one of the stingiest teams in the NHL, tied with Minnesota for the second-fewest goals allowed (106).
The Islanders also need to be wary of the Blue Jackets' league-leading power play, which is converting at 25% this season.
Cam Atkinson leads the Blue Jackets with 23 goals and 45 points and is coming off a two-goal performance against Ottawa. Markus Nutivaara and David Savard (both undisclosed) remain day-to-day according to the Blue Jackets' website.