NEW YORK ISLANDERS (4-4-1) AT CAROLINA HURRICANES (6-3-0)
LENOVO CENTER | 7:30PM
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The New York Islanders are in Raleigh to take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the first half of a back-to-back set.
The Islanders are 0-1-1 on the trip thus far after a 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night at TD Garden. Bo Horvat (1G, 1A) and Kyle Palmieri scored early, but Boston scored five unanswered goals and the Islanders’ five-game point streak was snapped in the process.
The Hurricanes are coming off a 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night. Andrei Svechnikov snapped an eight-game scoring drought with his first goal of the year, while Jordan Martinook and Logan Stankoven also scored for the Canes. Frederik Andersen made 29 saves on 34 shots in the loss.
MORNING SKATE UPDATES
Romanov Returns
Alexander Romanov has been activated off the team’s IR list will play against the Hurricanes after missing five straight games with an upper-body injury. The defenseman said he’s feeling good and ready to go after the team’s skate.
“I want to play the same way I did in my last game against the Oilers,” Romanov said. “Just want to start feeling the game with my first shift.”
Head Coach Patrick Roy said that Romanov was physical and defended well against Edmonton on Oct. 16, which is what he’s looking for against a feisty Hurricanes team.
“He’s hard to play against when he’s physical and when he plays around the net,” Roy said. “It’s nice to have him back, no doubt about it.”
Barzal Out Vs Canes
Mathew Barzal will not play against Carolina. The center was late on Thursday morning.
“That’s the culture of our team, we made the decision to not play him tonight,” Roy said. “Barzal doesn’t feel good about it but he respects and understands it.”
Roy said Barzal has a clean slate tomorrow, where he’ll be in the lineup against the Washington Capitals. Barzal has eight points (2G, 6A) through nine games this season.
A roster update is expected in the afternoon regarding which player will be taking Barzal’s spot in the lineup.
