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Vegas Golden Knights Vs. New York Islanders Storylines

By Andrew Steele-Davis

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 05: Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders skates against the Vegas Golden Knights at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on December 05, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 05: Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders skates against the Vegas Golden Knights at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on December 05, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The homestand continues for the Vegas Golden Knights tonight against a fellow playoff team in the New York Islanders.

After pulling off a statement win on Thursday by beating the St. Louis Blues in overtime, the Vegas Golden Knights will be looking to record what would be another big victory.

It won’t be easy against an Islanders team that don’t give up many goals, though, and it should be a fascinating battle at T-Mobile Arena.

Let’s delve into some storylines…

Storyline 1 – Build Momentum

It was a wild win on Thursday as the Vegas Golden Knights overcame a number of deficits to beat the reigning Stanley Cup champions the St. Louis Blues in overtime.

Jonathan Marchessault tallied the game-winner and it was a superb start to the five-game homestand, which continues tonight.

And the mission for the Knights will be to build some momentum now as they look to try and get ahead in an ultra-competitive Pacific Division.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 13: Alex Tuch #89 of the Vegas Golden Knights is helped off the ice by teammates Chandler Stephenson #20 and Cody Eakin #21 after Tuch appeared to hurt his left knee in the third period of a game against the St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena on February 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Blues 6-5 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 13: Alex Tuch #89 of the Vegas Golden Knights is helped off the ice by teammates Chandler Stephenson #20 and Cody Eakin #21 after Tuch appeared to hurt his left knee in the third period of a game against the St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena on February 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Blues 6-5 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Storyline 2 – Tuch out, Marchessault uncertain

Alex Tuch, who had marked his 200th career game in the NHL with the game-tying goal against the Blues, took a nasty fall into the boards in that game and is now week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

As a result, both Cody Glass and Nicolas Roy were recalled from the AHL, with Glass set to play on the third-line tonight.

And Roy could also be in the lineup given that Jonathan Marchessault is a game-time decision for tonight’s contest.

Marchessault tallied two goals against St. Louis and the Golden Knights will hope to have the forward in the lineup against the Islanders.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 21: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights makes a save during the first period of the game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on January 21, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 21: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights makes a save during the first period of the game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on January 21, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Storyline 3 – Fleury in net

Marc-Andre Fleury was due to start in net against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday but was battling illness, so the future Hall of Famer backed Malcolm Subban up instead.

Fleury will be back in net tonight, however, and the goalie is 21-14-5 this year with a 2.87 Goals Against Average and a .904 Save Percentage.

Fleury is also 25-11-5 with a 2.48 Goals Against Average and a .918 Save Percentage in his career against the Islanders.

Semyon Varlamov will get the start in net for the New York Islanders.

Storyline 4 – Start hard

The Golden Knights allowed the St. Louis Blues to light the lamp just 25 seconds into Thursday’s contest, although they were able to come back and win the game after piling 52 shots on Jordan Binnington.

However, the Isles are stellar in their own end and they rank 7th in Goals Against Per Game (2.75).

So, as a result, the Golden Knights will need to come out hard from the drop of the puck and land the first blow of the night, otherwise it could be a long and frustrating night if the Isles strike first.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 11: The New York Islanders celebrate a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Barclays Center on February 11, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 11: The New York Islanders celebrate a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Barclays Center on February 11, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Storyline 5 – Isles lowdown

The New York Islanders are locked in a race for the postseason in the Metro Division and they currently sit third behind the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

They are 4-2-1 in February but have yet to win on this road trip having been shutout by the Nashville Predators in a 5-0 blowout loss on Thursday.

So there is no doubt that the Islanders will be extra motivated to get the W tonight as they look to keep pace with both Washington and the Penguins.

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – JANUARY 18: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders skates against the Washington Capitals at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on January 18, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. The Capitals defeated the Islanders 6-4. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – JANUARY 18: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders skates against the Washington Capitals at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on January 18, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. The Capitals defeated the Islanders 6-4. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Storyline 6 – Put the shackles on Barzal

Mathew Barzal is arguably the most talented player on the New York Islanders roster and he’s also had his wicked way against the Vegas Golden Knights.

In five career games against Vegas Barzal has two goals and three assists for five points, while he leads the Islanders in points with 48 (18 goals, 30 assists) this year.

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Barzal is blessed with blistering speed and elite vision, and the Golden Knights will have to keep the talented forward quiet if they are to make it consecutive wins tonight.

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