{coyotes} ISLANDERS (18-10-5) at COYOTES (14-15-2)

Friday 18 December 2015

{coyotes} ISLANDERS (18-10-5) at COYOTES (14-15-2)

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Saturday, December 19, 2015

9:00 PM ET

ISLANDERS (18-10-5) at COYOTES (14-15-2)

TV: MSG+2, FS-A

Season series: The New York Islanders will try for their second straight series sweep of the Arizona Coyotes. New York won 5-2 on Nov. 16 in Arizona's first visit to Barclays Center. John Tavares scored two goals, and Kyle Okposo had three assists for the Islanders; Martin Hanzal and Mikkel Boedker scored in the third period for the Coyotes.

Islanders team scope: Okposo, whose 26 points lead New York, will miss the Islanders' final two games before the Christmas break with a nagging lower-body injury. He told Newsday the problem has been bothering him for a little while, adding, "I don't want it to linger all year." Anders Lee, who hasn't scored a goal in 12 games, will be bumped up to the first line with Tavares and Josh Bailey. Goaltender Jaroslav Halak likely will start after Thomas Greiss made 28 saves in a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Thursday. New York has lost back-to-back games after going 8-0-2 in its previous 10.

Coyotes team scope: Goaltender Anders Lindback, who allowed four goals on 10 shots in a 7-5 home loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, didn't practice Friday because he was ill. His status for Saturday is unknown; if he can't play, Louis Domingue will make his first start of the season. Hanzal, who has missed four games with a lower-body injury, told the Coyotes website that he's ready to return. "We'll see how it reacts tomorrow, but I got through a full practice [Friday] and I feel pretty good," he said. Coach Dave Tippett said rookie forward Anthony Duclair will be back in the lineup after missing the loss to Columbus with an illness, but defenseman Zbynek Michalek (lower body) will miss his third straight game.