NEW YORK ISLANDERS (18-13-4) VS WINNIPEG JETS (20-10-6)
DEC 23 - 1 P.M. - BARCLAYS CENTER
TV: MSG+ MSG GO
RADIO: 88.7 WRHU, 660AM/101.9FM WFAN
The Islanders will look to rebound from Thursday's loss when they face the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon.
The Islanders lost to the Anaheim Ducks 5-4 in overtime on Thursday night, the fourth time in five games they'd allowed five or more goals. In December, the Islanders are averaging 4.45 goals against and are 3-6-2 over that span.
"Giving up five goals is just too many. We have to find a way to be better defensively starting with myself," Isles center John Tavares said after Thursday's game. "We were scoring enough goals, we just need to tighten up and run with the opportunities."
LINEUP NOTES
The Islanders tinkered with their third and fourth lines at Friday's practice. Shane Prince practiced with Brock Nelson, Anthony Beauvillier and Steve Bernier, while Jason Chimera, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck were reunited on the fourth line.
THE OPPOSITION
The Jets are second in the Central Division with 20 wins and 46 points. Mark Scheifele (drafted seventh overall in 2011) has recorded 37 points (15G, 22A) in 36 games this season, while Patrik Laine has followed up a sensational rookie season with 18 goals this season, sixth most in the NHL. Jets 2014 first-round pick (ninth overall) Nikolaj Ehlers has 17 goals and 28 points in his third season with the tean.
Scheifele, Laine and Ehlers all find themselves behind leading scorer Blake Wheeler, who has 41 points (9G, 32A) this season - seventh most in the league.
In goal, Connor Hellebuyck is 18-4-5 this season with a 2.44 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage.
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