Louie Korac - NHL.com Correspondent
BLUES (15-7-3) at ISLANDERS (14-8-4)
TV: TVA Sports 2, FS-MW, MSG+
Season series: Forward Mikhail Grabovski scored in overtime to give the New York Islanders a 3-2 victory against the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 24. Forwards Kyle Okposo and John Tavares each scored a goal, and forward Frans Nielsen had two assists for New York, which led 2-0 in the third period but was outshot 40-22. Defenseman Colton Parayko had a goal and an assist for St. Louis, which got a goal from forward Alexander Steen.
Blues team scope: Goalie Brian Elliott will make his first start since Nov. 17 and second in 13 games. St. Louis will move center Jori Lehtera to the left wing to play alongside center Paul Stastny and opposite of Vladimir Tarasenko in one of multiple moves to attempt to improve its scoring. Lehtera has one goal and two assists in the past 15 games. "We're looking for more inclusion with more people," coach Ken Hitchcock said after practice Thursday. "We'll see how it looks in a couple games and how long it lasts." Hitchcock will put center Scott Gomez, left wing Dmitrij Jaskin and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo in the lineup. Each was a healthy scratch Tuesday; Jaskin has been scratched the past three games. "We talked about skating with the puck," Hitchcock said of Jaskin. "We've worked hard with him for five days now, moving his feet. … He's had two good practices, so we'll put him in the game and see how he looks."
Islanders team scope: New York, which was off Thursday, will be looking for its fourth straight victory. The Islanders haven't lost in regulation the past five games (4-0-1) after an emotional win against the New York Rangers in a shootout at Barclays Center on Wednesday. "It was loud; it was one of those games where you had to listen on the bench and explain certain things to guys," Islanders coach Jack Capuano told MSG+ after the game. "… I think we're a mature group. It's New York and it's great for the media and the fans, but we're back to business against a really good St. Louis team." Tavares has a point in eight of the past 11 games (seven goals, four assists).
GDT: Blues vs Islanders 6:30 FSMW
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