Game Preview: Blue Jackets Look To End Losing Streak In Thursday Night Matchup Against Islanders

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

20–14–2 (42 points; .583%) ROSTER / SCHEDULE

7:30 P.M. – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29 UBS ARENA ELMONT, NY

BALLY SPORTS OHIO ESPN+ (Out of Market)

In an already tough season, the Columbus Blue Jackets find themselves in the midst of a season-long, six-game losing streak.

To avoid making it seven, they'll need a Thursday night road win over the New York Islanders.

This will be Columbus' first game back since the holiday break, as Tuesday's game against the Buffalo Sabres was postponed due to weather conditions in western New York. No date has been announced for when that game will be rescheduled.

Here's what to know when the Blue Jackets and Islanders drop the puck in a Metro division battle:

TALKING POINTS: ISLES

• This will be the third and final game of a homestand for the Islanders. They've looked fantastic in the first two, defeating both the Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 5-1. What's interesting to note here — the ten goals have come without the benefit of a power play tally, as the Islanders went a combined 0-for-9 in the two games. 
   
• Goaltender Ilya Sorokin stopped 42 out of the 44 shots faced in those two games. With the Islanders allowing an average of nearly 32 shots per game, the combined total of 44 shows an impressive defensive scheme against two of the league's more potent offenses. 
   
• Speaking of Sorokin, both he and Semyon Varlamov are having phenomenal seasons between the pipes. Sorokin boasts a 2.32 goals against average and .926 save percentage in 24 starts, while Varlamov is 2.65 and .919 in a dozen starts. Goaltending wins games, and the Islanders have goaltending.
   
• New York's offense has been a three-headed monster all season. Brock Nelson, Anders Lee, and Mathew Barzal have combined for 99 points in 36 games, an average of 2.75 points per game for the Isles top threats with the puck. Nelson and Lee have done most of the goal-scoring (15 and 13, respectively), while Barzal leads New York in assists (28). 

CBJ

• BOQ'S BACK
  Adam Boqvist made his return to the lineup just before the holiday break, facing his former team in Columbus' 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks last Friday. He saw just over 20 minutes of time on ice and was paired with Andrew Peeke. The Blue Jackets have been rattled by injuries this season, particularly on the blue line, and shuffling of the pairings has been status quo for head coach Brad Larsen. Whether or not the two stay together or if Larsen tries to find a more effective pairing for Boqvist is a storyline that will play out over the next several games.
   
• BUILDING CHEMISTRY
  Each game that passes is another chance for Kent Johnson to build report with Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine. It's working out well so far, but seeing them kick things into the next gear in a lost season could be a sign that the Blue Jackets have found their top-line center. How will the trio fare against a stingy New York defense?

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Updated: 7:05 a.m. // Subject to Change