New York @ Vegas preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 12, 2018 ) Vegas 3, NY Islanders 2

Anthony Beauvillier has flipped the script from a slow start to the season, answering a one-point effort in his first 16 games with 12 (10 goals, two assists) in his last 16. Beauvillier bids to add to his torrid stretch on Thursday when the Islanders visit T-Mobile Arena in an attempt to salvage a split of the season series with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Beauvillier scored in New York's 3-2 setback versus Vegas on Dec. 12 and added two more tallies during the team's three-game winning streak, including Tuesday's 3-1 triumph over Arizona. Brock Nelson also scored against the Coyotes to pull even with Beauvillier with 11 goals, one shy of captain Anders Lee for the team lead. While the Islanders are vying for their fourth straight win and fourth consecutive victory on the road, the Golden Knights return home from a four-game trek having played in a quartet of one-goal decisions. "It's too bad we couldn't finish this road trip off on a better note. The guys played hard but they didn't have a whole lot in the tank," Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said on the heels of Monday's 1-0 setback in Columbus.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus (New York), Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountains (Vegas)

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (17-12-4): New York placed Thomas Hickey (upper body) on injured reserve and recalled fellow defenseman Devon Toews from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. Hickey crashed into the boards during the second period of Monday's 4-1 victory versus Colorado. The 24-year-old Toews, who has collected 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 24 games with the Sound Tigers, would make his NHL debut should he participate in Thursday's contest.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (19-15-2): With Max Pacioretty sidelined by a lower-body injury, Vegas reached out for some offensive punch and recalled fellow forward Brandon Pirri from Chicago of the American Hockey League. The 27-year-old Pirri, who leads the AHL with 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 28 games for the Wolves, has scored a goal in four straight contests to highlight his current nine-game point streak. Pirri fared well in a short stint with the Golden Knights last season, scoring three goals in two games to boost his career point total to 101 (60 goals, 41 assists) with five NHL teams.

OVERTIME

1. Vegas G Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 23 shots in the first encounter with New York to improve his record to 24-11-5 in 43 career matchups.

2. Islanders C Mathew Barzal recorded two of his team-leading 23 assists in last week's meeting with the Golden Knights.

3. Vegas C William Karlsson has scored four of his club-best 13 goals in his last five games, with one coming against New York.

PREDICTION: Islanders 3, Golden Knights 2