New York @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 11, 2017 ) NY Islanders 5, St. Louis 2

Having matched their longest winning streak of the season, the surging New York Islanders go for their sixth consecutive victory when they visit the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night. New York has won eight of its last nine to climb a season-high nine games over the NHL version of .500 for the first time since the end of the 2016-17 campaign.

The Islanders squeezed out a 3-2 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, marking the first time the club has put together two five-game win streaks in 11 seasons. Goaltender Robin Lehner ran his personal winning streak to six for New York, which has surrendered only seven goals over the past five games. The Blues have struggled against the league's also-rans but came up big again against one of the heavyweights with a 5-2 thumping of defending Stanley Cup champion Washington on Thursday. It was the highest goal output since Nov. 23 for St. Louis despite the absence of star forward Vladimir Tarasenko due to illness.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New York), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (22-13-4): Defenseman Devon Toews was promoted from the minors for the start of the current winning streak and he kept it intact with the first goal of his career against Chicago, knocking home his own rebound in overtime. "He's played with a lot of poise, his skating allows us to transport the puck out of danger," coach Barry Trotz said. "He joins the play at the right times and gives us another option on some of our breakouts. He's been solid. That's why we're playing him and playing him a lot." All-Star center Mathew Barzal has scored eight goals during a six-game point streak.

ABOUT THE BLUES (16-18-4): Tarasenko was scratched about four hours before Thursday's game but he skated at Friday's optional practice and reported improvement, although he didn't say he was a definite for Saturday. "We'll see how Vladi is tomorrow and stuff," coach Craig Berube said Friday. "He was better today. So we'll wait till tomorrow and then make a decision. He came in and wanted to go on the ice. That's a good sign, so he's obviously a little bit better." Veteran defenseman Carl Gunnarsson returned to the lineup after missing 20 games due to a hand injury and registered a career-best plus-4 rating.

OVERTIME

1. Barzal has 17 points over his last 12 games.

2. Tarasenko has only two points -- both goals -- in his last 13 games overall but has seven tallies in 10 games versus the Islanders.

3. New York is 4-1-1 in the last six versus St. Louis, with G Thomas Greiss earning each of the wins.

PREDICTION: Islanders 3, Blues 2