New York @ Ottawa preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 5, 2019 ) Ottawa 4, NY Islanders 5

The New York Islanders hit the road for their lone contest in a nine-game stretch on Thursday when they complete a home-an-home series against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. New York has fared well in Canada's capital city, winning both encounters last season to improve to 6-1-1 in the last eight such meetings.

"It was a big win because you lose a couple in a row and you have to get that confidence back," Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk said after Tuesday's 5-4 shootout victory capped their season-high five-game homestand with a 2-3-0 mark. New York, which failed to ride the momentum of outshooting Ottawa by a 26-8 margin in the second period, squandered a two-goal lead in the third and was taken to the limit by the league's worst team before getting the duke. While the struggling Senators fell for the eighth time in nine outings (1-7-1), NHL commissioner Gary Bettman dismissed the notion that the club is leaving Canada's capital in search for greener pastures. "The major projects (LeBreton Flats arena deal), the ebb and flow of team performance is something that will change over time," Bettman told reporters after the league's general manager meetings. "I know (owner) Eugene Melnyk is very focused on looking at what he has to do and what his best options are under the circumstances."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus (New York), TSN5, RDS (Ottawa)

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (38-21-7): New York recalled Christopher Gibson from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League on Wednesday, one day after seeing fellow goaltender Robin Lehner exit the contest following a collision with Ottawa forward Brady Tkachuk. Thomas Greiss likely will get the nod in Ottawa while Lehner is expected to stay home given the Islanders' upcoming schedule. "I feel good about my game. Whatever happens, happens," the 33-year-old Greiss told Newsday after he stopped both shots he faced through overtime as well as defenseman Thomas Chabot and Bobby Ryan in the shootout on Tuesday.

ABOUT THE SENATORS (23-38-6): Oscar Lindberg scored for the second time in five games since being acquired along with ballyhooed prospect Erik Brannstrom and a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft in the deal for Mark Stone. Beleaguered goaltender Craig Anderson saw his winless stretch extend to 10 contests after yielding four goals on 38 shots on Tuesday. The 37-year-old, who is expected to be back in net Thursday, owns an 8-7-4 mark in 21 career encounters with the Islanders.

OVERTIME

1. New York LW Josh Bailey set up C Brock Nelson's first-period goal on Tuesday to reach the 50-point plateau for the third straight season and boost his point total to 12 (three goals, nine assists) in his last 13 games overall.

2. Chabot has notched one of his team-leading 35 assists in each game versus the Islanders this season.

3. New York is 0-for-13 on the power play over its last six games.

PREDICTION: Islanders 5, Senators 2