The Islanders finished 2023 with a disappointing but not back-breaking 2-2-1 string of games against divisional opponents, including two regulation losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins. That leaves them in a tie for third with 36 points entering tonight’s action.
Now they head out West, starting tonight in Colorado followed by stops in Arizona and Vegas.
The Avalanche have had a couple of up-and-down stretches this season, but the Islanders conveniently catch them twice while they’re on the upswing. Currently, Colorado’s on a 4-0-1 run and they’re up to 23-11-3 on the season.
A question for tonight (and perhaps the morning skate): Will Pierre Engvall slot back in after his latest random healthy scratch?