After defeating the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Thursday, the New York Islanders will look to continue their point streak on Saturday, when they face off against the Sabres once again.

Islanders Storylines:

The fourth line: 

After struggling offensively earlier in the season, the fourth line, consisting of Casey Cizikas, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, has picked it up in the opposing zone, especially after Martin netted two goals in Thursday’s win. If the fourth line can provide an offensive edge, in addition to its pesky defense, the Islanders’ depth could be a strength for them down the stretch.

Deep Goaltending: 

After recording his first NHL shutout against the Sabres on February 17, Ilya Sorokin has been nothing short of phenomenal. While Semyon Varlamov most likely will pick up the start today, the surge of Sorokin is something to keep an eye on going forward. 

Sabres Storylines:

Offensive Woes:

Nothing has gone right for the Sabres this season. Despite picking up Taylor Hall in the offseason, their offense has not improved at all, as it ranks last in Goals For per 60 Minutes (GF/60). Their only bright spot seems to be the power play, where they have been a top-three team in GF/60.

The First Line:

According to MoneyPuck, the line of Hall, Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart has been a top-four line in the NHL in terms of Expected Goals Percentage (xGoals%). However, to shake things up, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger is replacing Reinhart with up-and-coming star Dylan Cozens. It will be interesting to see how Krueger’s decision plays out.

Score Prediction: Islanders 3 – Sabres 1

Expect all four forwards lines for the Islanders to generate scoring chances, while Semyon Varlamov remains strong in net, as the Islanders extend their win streak to four games and their point streak to seven games.

How to Watch?

Puck drop is at 1:00 PM EST. The game will be aired on MSG+.

All Statistics are from Evolving-Hockey or MoneyPuck and are accurate at the time of writing.

John Smark