Game Preview: Islanders vs Hurricanes

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (23-13-4) VS CAROLINA HURRICANES (19-17-5)
7 PM | NYCB LIVE | BUY TICKETS
WATCH: MSG+ | MSG GO | NHL.TV
LISTEN: 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM/ISLANDERS

Video: Morning Skate: NYI vs. CAR 1/8

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• The Islanders have won a season-high six straight games - tied for the longest active streak in NHL - and nine of their last 10 games overall. The Islanders are looking for their first seven-game winning streak since the 1989-90 season.
  - The Islanders (50 points) enter Tuesday's game in a playoff position, occupying the first wild card berth in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders are one point back of the Columbus Blue Jackets (51 points), two back of the Pittsburgh Penguins (52) and four back of the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals (54).
  "We just want to keep going here," Robin Lehner said. "We look at the standings, we keep climbing and I think we're in a good position. It's incredibly close, so every game is going to matter. We can't take our foot off the gas, we have to keep going."
  - Robin Lehner was named the NHL's third star of the week on Monday after posting a 3-0-0 record with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. Overall, Lehner has won a career-high seven straight games.
  "It definitely feels good, something to build on," Lehner said. "[When] the team does good, individual success happens also. I'm just happy we're winning right now to be honest. It's nice, sure it is, but every win right now feels incredible, we just have to keep winning."
  Tuesday's game poses an interesting dilemma. While Lehner is red-hot, Thomas Greiss has dominated the Carolina Hurricanes this season. Greiss is 3-0-0 vs the Canes this season, stopping 109-of-112 shots. Greiss, who hasn't played since Dec. 28, has won six straight games against Carolina, dating back to the 2016-17 season.
  - Valtteri Filppula and Thomas Hickey both joined the Islanders during practice on Monday at Northwell Health Ice Center. Monday marked the return to a team skate for both of the Islanders injured players, though Hickey practiced in a non-contact jersey.
  Filppula has been out since Dec. 31 with an upper-body injury, while Hickey has been out since Dec. 17, also with an upper-body injury. Both players are currently on IR and need to be activated prior to returning.
  - The Islanders are 3-0-1 in four games at NYCB Live - Nassau Coliseum - this season.

Video: Lehner earns 3rd Star of the Week

HURRICANES NOTES:

• The Hurricanes have won four straight games and are 6-4-0 in their last 10.
  - Carolina (43 points) is trying to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, as they sit seven points back of the Buffalo Sabres (50 points) for the second wild card berth.
  - Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes with 45 points (16G, 29A) in 41 games this season. Aho has six points (1G, 5A) in his last three games.
  - Defenseman Dougie Hamilton has four points (3G, 1A) on a three-game point streak.
  - Jordan Staal was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury on Jan. 4.
  - The Hurricanes are 12-2-2 in their last 16 games at Nassau Coliseum and are 24-7-0-4 at the Coliseum since relocating from Hartford to Raleigh.