Arizona @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 18, 2018 ) NY Islanders 3, Arizona 1

Back-to-back shutout losses had the New York Islanders wobbling, but they responded with a strong effort in one of their biggest moments of the season. Fresh off a 4-2 win in Philadelphia that drew them within a point of first-place Washington in the Metropolitan Division, the Islanders return home Sunday to face the slumping Arizona Coyotes.

Despite getting outscored 9-0 in lopsided losses to Boston and Montreal, New York coach Barry Trotz eschewed the temptation to make wholesale lineup changes for Saturday's matchup versus the Flyers. "I liked our response about stepping up to the plate here and getting it done," Trotz told reporters. "That says a lot about the group, a lot about our character and hopefully it gives us some confidence." That confidence Trotz is seeking has been missing with the Coyotes, who absorbed their fourth straight defeat in a 2-1 shootout loss at New Jersey on Saturday to fall into 10th place in the West. “We’ve got some guys playing tight," coach Rick Tocchet told reporters. "It’s my job to get these guys to relax. ... We’re skittish."

TV: 3 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, FS Arizona, MSG Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE COYOTES (36-32-7): Arizona has scored only six times during its four-game slide (0-2-2) and the frustrations continued to build Saturday. Two players hit the post in overtime Saturday before five of six failed to convert in the shootout. "At this time of the year it's hard to score goals, it's hard to walk out of buildings with two points," said center Derek Stepan, who returned to the lineup after sitting out the previous 10 games. “We just keep pushing and we’ve got to get ourselves ready for two more points tomorrow.”

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (43-25-7): Forward Josh Bailey, who entered Saturday's contest mired in a 12-game goal drought, snapped out of his funk in dramatic fashion by scoring twice in an 83-second span late in the third period to seal New York's victory. “This time of year, we know how big these games are," said Bailey, who scored his 15th and 16th goals to move him within two of matching last season's career high of 18. Thomas Greiss, who is 3-3-1 with a 2.11 goals-against average versus Arizona, will likely get the start Sunday.

OVERTIME

1. New York owns an eight-game home point streak (7-0-1), including five straight wins, versus Arizona.

2. Coyotes D Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored his third goal in six games to reach 40 points for the fifth time.

3. Islanders F Brock Nelson had a goal and an assist Saturday to move within one point of reaching 50 for the first time.

PREDICTION: Islanders 3, Coyotes 1