Ny Islanders Islanders vs Montreal Canadiens Picks and Predictions October 19th 2024

Islanders Aim to Ignite Offense vs. Canadiens

The New York Islanders return home to face the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night, hoping to spark their offense after being shut out twice during a recent three-game road trip. Despite generating plenty of scoring opportunities, the Islanders managed just three points out of a possible six on their trip and now look to find more consistency on home ice.

Islanders Look to Convert Opportunities

Head coach Patrick Roy expressed frustration over the lack of goals despite the Islanders’ ability to create chances. In Thursday’s 1-0 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues, the Islanders outshot their opponent but were undone by Jake Neighbours’ game-winner just over two minutes into the extra frame.

“I thought we had our chances, especially in the third period,” Roy said. “A couple ones I couldn’t believe they didn’t go in. We had our chances to win that hockey game. Three out of six (points) on the road, these are tough places to play—Dallas, Colorado, and here. I’m not saying I’m satisfied with it, but when I look at that road trip, I’d take three out of six.”

The Islanders have been getting steady play from goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who has stopped 61 of 64 shots in his two starts since returning from back surgery. His strong performances will be crucial as the team works through its offensive struggles.

Canadiens Struggling to Keep Opponents Off the Scoreboard

While the Islanders are looking to convert on their chances, the Canadiens have been struggling on the defensive side of the puck. Montreal has allowed 16 goals in its three losses, with goaltending and defensive breakdowns contributing to the team’s uneven start to the season.

After starting a three-game homestand with a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators, the Canadiens faltered in back-to-back games, suffering a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins and a 4-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Kings. In both games, Montreal allowed early goals and struggled to regain momentum, particularly with a power play that has been ineffective (4-for-22 on the season).

“I’m definitely disappointed,” captain Nick Suzuki said after Montreal’s loss to the Kings. “It was an immature effort from us, especially with them playing (Wednesday) and getting in late. I think we gave them too much life and let them feel comfortable. It’s on us to be a lot better than that.”

The Canadiens’ defense took a further hit with the loss of Mike Matheson, who exited Thursday’s game with an upper-body injury. Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson, forced to play more than 30 minutes in Matheson’s absence, will likely be relied upon again on Saturday. However, Hutson has struggled defensively, posting a minus-6 rating in the past two games despite his four assists this season.

Key Injuries Impacting Both Teams

Both the Islanders and Canadiens are dealing with injury concerns heading into Saturday’s matchup. For the Islanders, forward Kyle Palmieri remains sidelined with an upper-body injury, while defenseman Scott Mayfield is questionable to return from a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup for several games.

Montreal, meanwhile, could be without key players on the back end. Matheson traveled with the team to New York, but fellow defenseman Kaiden Guhle did not make the trip due to an upper-body injury. In addition, former top overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky may miss the game after leaving Friday’s practice with an apparent shoulder injury.

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Both Teams Eyeing Key Win

For the Islanders, getting back after a moving excursion presents a valuable chance to reignite their offense and gather speed. Roy will depend on his top players to change over a greater amount of the scoring chances they’ve been creating, particularly with the solid play of Sorokin allowing them an opportunity in each game.

In the mean time, the Canadiens will be searching for more consistency in their protective play while likewise wanting to find a flash on the strategic maneuver. With wounds mounting, particularly on protection, they should depend on younger players like Hutson to move forward in key minutes.

The two teams are eager for a success to get their seasons in the groove again. For the Islanders, it’s an opportunity to light their offense and exploit home ice, while the Canadiens are anxious to support their protection and try not to fall into a more profound rut.