MattMartin
Killer Instinct™
Preview
All time series record: The Islanders lead 46-45-12 with a 3.3 GFPGA While the Kings are averaging 3.1 GFPGA. Islanders all time @ Kings are 19-25-7 with a 3.1 GFPGA the Kings are averaging 3.5 GFPGA at home VS the Islanders
The Los Angeles Kings are looking forward to getting back home after salvaging the finale of an otherwise disappointing road trip.
The New York Islanders endured a rough start to their trek before picking up two points last time out.
Los Angeles goes for a seventh consecutive home win Thursday night against the Islanders, who are hoping to avoid a fifth straight defeat at Staples Center.
The Kings (7-4-2) suffered three consecutive losses in regulation before closing a 1-3-1 trip with Tuesday's 3-1 victory at Dallas. Dustin Brown scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period and Kyle Clifford added some insurance with 8:25 to go.
The Kings suffered a season-opening 4-0 loss to San Jose but have since outscored opponents 19-5 during a six-game run at home, their longest since winning 15 straight -- including playoffs -- from April 4-June 4, 2013.
Los Angeles has scored 30 non-shootout goals this season, with the top line of Tyler Toffoli, Jeff Carter and Tanner Pearson accounting for 18. That unit has been particularly productive during the home streak. Toffoli and Carter both have 11 points in those six games, while Pearson has eight.
The Islanders (7-5-0) had been outscored 8-1 during the first two stops of a five-game trip before beating Anaheim 3-2 in overtime Wednesday. John Tavares scored his second goal 2:18 into OT as New York snapped a three-game skid after blowing a 2-0 lead.
"We need points, and we need to win games after being in a little slump," said Jaroslav Halak, who made 13 of his 32 saves in the third period. "It was a big win for us."
Kyle Okposo also scored and assisted on Tavares' game winner. The two star forwards are tied for the team lead with 14 points.
Tavares and Okposo have been held scoreless in a combined 14 games against the Kings, notching five assists.
The Islanders have dropped 11 of their last 14 road matchups in the series, including four straight by a combined 13-3 score. Brown, Toffoli and Anze Kopitar all scored as Los Angeles won 3-0 on Dec. 7, New York's only visit over the previous three seasons.
Quick posted a 1.22 goals-against average in winning his first four starts against the Islanders before allowing five goals in back-to-back losses, both of which came in New York. Quick has compiled a 0.79 GAA and two shutouts in winning his last five home starts.
Halak had surrendered 14 goals during a four-start losing streak before Wednesday's win. He's 0-4-2 with a 3.23 GAA against the Kings since 2012-13.
Teammate Chad Johnson is 3-1-0 with a 3.75 GAA in four starts this season. He made 21 saves in his only start against Los Angeles, a 3-2 victory with Boston on Jan. 20.
Useful links
http://www2.dailyfaceoff.com/
http://www.tsn.ca/
http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/islanders/
http://www.nypost.com/sports/islanders/islanders.htm
https://twitter.com/StapeNewsday
http://islanders.nhl.com/
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