The Islanders look to head to the All-Star break on a positive note as they host the Montreal Canadiens tonight. New York have points in five-straight games (4-0-1) and are tied with five teams with 49 points. The Isles have games in hand on all five teams. They trail the Philadelphia Flyers by five points for the second wild card, with three games in hand.
A bunch of lineup changes tonight as Thomas Hickey, Shane Prince and Stephen Gionta will all be out, replaced by Scott Mayfield, Anders Lee and Anthony Beauvillier. Hickey is dealing with a lower-body injury so tonight plus the break will benefit him. Lee returns after misssing Tuesday's win against the Columbus Blue Jackets will an illness. Interim head coach Doug Weight said scratching Prince was a tough decision and will be back in soon. Weight is also rolling the dice with Gionta as the Isles are unbeaten with him in the lineup.
Thomas Greiss will get the start tonight.