Game Preview: Islanders vs. Sharks

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (5-10-2) VS SAN JOSE SHARKS (12-9-1)
7:30 PM | UBS ARENA | BUY TICKETS
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After postponing their season due to a COVID-19 outbreak, the New York Islanders are back in action as they host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night at UBS Arena.

The NHL postponed the Islanders-Rangers game on Sunday night, as well as Tuesday's tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers, as the Islanders roster continued to be depleted by COVID-19. Casey Cizikas was the latest player added to the COVID-protocol on Saturday, thus enacting the postponement.
ISLES VS SHARKS
ISLANDERS ARTICLES
Isles Day to Day: Cleared to Resume, Practice Before Game vs San Jose
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The Bridgeport Report: Dec. 1, 2021
3 Takeaways: Rangers 4, Isles 1
ISLANDERS VIDEO
Trotz Pregame: Coming Soon
Player Pregame: Coming Soon
GAME EXTRAS
Talkin' Isles
Isles STM Reserve List
Get Ready for Game Day
Getting Here
Parking
After a three-day shutdown, Josh Bailey, Anders Lee, Ross Johnston, Andy Greene and Adam Pelech have been cleared to play.
"Whether you're going through a tough time or a really good time, you want to be involved in it with your teammates." Bailey said following Wednesday's practice. "I'm looking forward to [Thursday] night. It's an exciting time for all of us guys that haven't played in the new arena yet."
Kieffer Bellows, Zdeno Chara and Cizikas still remain in COVID-19 protocol. The Islanders are still also without Ryan Pulock and Brock Nelson who are both sidelined for the foreseeable future with lower-body injuries.
"We've had a couple of days here to reset," Bailey continued. "We had good energy out there today. We'll try to bring that into the game tomorrow night and play the way we know we can and the way we need to to have success."
The Islanders enter the matchup against San Jose after not playing a game in six days and on the heels of an eight-game losing streak after suffering a 1-0 loss to Pittsburgh on last Friday, Nov. 26. It marks the longest consecutive string of regulation losses for the club since Oct. 23-Nov. 10, 2010.
Despite the result, netminder Ilya Sorokin was 'fantastic' per Trotz following the loss, as the Islanders goaltender made 29 saves on 30 shots and stopped two third-period breakaways.
San Jose is coming off its second-straight win after defeating New Jersey 5-2 on Tuesday night. Timo Meier posted a two-goal performance with one power-play goal, while Noah Gregor, Jacob Middleton and Erik Karlsson also scored at even strength. James Reimer made 32 saves on 34 shots in the win.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• Sorokin made his 13th start of the season while his record dropped to 5-6-2 record. The Russian netminder stopped two breakaways on Jason Zucker and Sidney Crosby. Sorokin has lost four-straight decisions.
• Noah Dobson returned to the lineup after missing last Wednesday night's game against the Rangers with a lower-body injury.
• Josh Bailey, who was placed in COVID-19 protocols on Nov. 16 returned from Florida after finishing his quarantine and skated with the team ahead of Friday's game at Pittsburgh, as well as Saturday and Wednesday.
• The Islanders were 0-for-2 on the power play against Pittsburgh and their power play is ranked 32nd in the NHL at 10.2%.
• The Islanders were 1-for-1 on the penalty kill against Pittsburgh and their PK ranks 15th overall in the NHL at 82%.
• The Islanders were shut out for the third time this season against the Penguins.

SHARKS NOTES:

• Meier leads San Jose in scoring with 22 points and 11 goals through 17 games. The Swiss winger has four goals in his last two games, with consecutive two-goal performances. He also leads the Sharks in power-play goals as he notched his third of the season against New Jersey.
• Karlsson and Brent Burns are tied San Jose's d-core in scoring with 12 points apiece. Karlsson has four goals and eight assists through 16 games, while Burns has one goal and 11 assists in 22 games.
• In his 13th start of the season, Reimer improved his record to 8-4-1. He has a 2.11 GAA and a .934 SV%.
• Sharks forward Lane Pederson returned to the lineup after being out for eight games, including five due to a lower-body injury. Pederson logged 11:13 of ice time.
• The Sharks' penalty kill is ranked the second highest in the NHL at 88.1%. Their power play ranks 16th overall at 18.3%.
• In the faceoff circle, San Jose boasts the eighth-highest ranking with a FOW% of 52.6%.
• San Jose's Swedish rookie Jonathan Dahlen ranks second overall among all rookies in the league with his seven goals. Dahlen, who Ottawa drafted 42nd overall (second round) in the 2016 NHL Draft, has produced nine points (7G, 2A) through 18 games this season.
• In the offseason, San Jose acquired goaltenders Adin Hill and Reimer and forwards Jasper Weatherby, Nick Bonino, Andrew Cogliano, and Pederson.
• Cogliano missed Tuesday's game at the Devils due to a personal matter.