New York @ Edmonton preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 16, 2019 ) Edmonton 2, NY Islanders 5

The New York Islanders failed to tighten their grip on first place in the Metropolitan Division in the opener of their three-game trek through Western Canada and now hope to at least maintain their three-point lead when they visit the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. New York suffered its second loss in seven contests as it dropped a 4-2 decision to Calgary on Wednesday.

Casey Cizikas and captain Anders Lee scored to erase a two-goal deficit, but the Islanders allowed goals 29 seconds apart early in the third period en route to their fourth setback in the last six road games (2-3-1). Cizikas' tally was his career-high 16th of the season and fourth in as many contests for New York, which posted a 5-2 home victory over the Oilers on Saturday. Edmonton was without captain Connor McDavid (illness) but finally earned a point Tuesday as it began a three-game homestand with a 3-2 shootout loss to Arizona, but has dropped five straight contests (0-4-1) and 11 of its last 12 (1-8-3). Leon Draisaitl had his three-game goal-scoring streak halted but notched a pair of assists for the Oilers, who are two points ahead of last-place Los Angeles in the Western Conference but only seven behind Colorado and Chicago for the second wild-card spot.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, MSG Plus 2 (New York), Sportsnet West (Edmonton)

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (35-18-6): Andrew Ladd (lower body) and defenseman Thomas Hickey (upper body) were recalled from their conditioning stint with Bridgeport of the American Hockey League on Tuesday but were not in the lineup against the Flames. The veterans were offensive forces in two games with the Sound Tigers as Hickey registered two goals and two assists while Ladd netted a tally and set up four others. Lee has scored in back-to-back contests to reach the 20-goal plateau for the third straight season and fourth time in his career.

ABOUT THE OILERS (24-29-6): McDavid, who is questionable to play against New York after missing Wednesday's practice, has been kept off the scoresheet in only eight of his 57 games this season. The 22-year-old two-time reigning Art Ross Trophy winner trails Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov by 16 points for the NHL scoring lead and has gone six straight contests without a goal. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tallied with 11 seconds remaining in the third period Tuesday to pull within one of his second consecutive - and third overall - 20-goal campaign.

OVERTIME

1. Oilers RW Alex Chiasson is mired in a 16-game goal-scoring drought after recording a career-high 17 over his first 34 contests this season.

2. New York RW Josh Bailey has collected two goals and five assists over his last six games.

3. Edmonton D Andrej Sekera (Achilles) made his season debut Tuesday while C Sam Gagner, who was selected by the team with the sixth overall pick in the 2007 draft, appeared in his second game since being re-acquired from Vancouver on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Oilers 4, Islanders 3