by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Dec 01, 2021
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
Where to watch: NBC Sports California, MSG+
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Islanders -125, Sharks +105
BetMGM: Islanders -115, Sharks -105
Caesars: NL
Season record
Sharks: 12-9-1 (4th place, Pacific Division)
Islanders: 5-10-2 (Last place, Metropolitan Division)
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Sharks - Islanders preview and analysis
Recent form
Sharks: 5-5-0 in last 10; won 5-2 at Devils
Islanders: lost 8 straight
The New York Islanders will return to action after having two games postponed due to a COVID outbreak within the team. They will host the San Jose Sharks while also trying to snap their 8-game losing streak.
New York last played on Friday in a 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins where six players landed in COVID protocol.
A reminder that we’re not out of the woods yet with this COVID thing.
The Islanders returned to practice Wednesday for the first time and are on pace to host the Sharks in their new UBS Arena which has become a house of horrors to begin the new tenure. After starting the season on a 13-game road trip in order to finish that building up, the Islanders lost the first four at home and only scored three goals in that stint.
"This is something that we were prepared that something like this might happen, and then when it does, you just kind of have to deal with it and roll with it," Islanders captain Anders Lee said. "It's out of your control. We did the best we could at home and now we're ready to get back at it and we are looking forward to getting in the building tomorrow night."
This entire losing streak has been horrendous to an Islanders team that is coming off a trip to the Eastern Conference Final last season. The Islanders have been held to two goals or fewer in nine straight games; the ninth being a 2-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets, their last victory.
New York has been outscored 32-7 during the losing streak.
"They're going to all have to play for the most part," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "I think you're going to see probably four of the five [players from protocol play]. … We've gotten away from what we do well, so we're just going to try and piece our game back. ... we're getting people back. ... the first step is, let's get our game at least trending in the right way."
Awaiting the Islanders are an improved Sharks team who has won four of five and is another surprise in the suddenly-crowded Pacific Division. The Sharks are coming off a 5-2 win at the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday that was highlighted by the return of Jack Hughes. He did not score, but the Sharks did plenty of that.
Timo Meier scored twice, and Noah Gregor had a goal and an assist while James Reimer made 32 saves in his first start since a shutout in Chicago on Sunday.
"[Meier's] been one of our best players all year and again tonight," Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. "I like all the little things he's doing this season. One thing that we've talked about is the whole 200-foot game, and that has really improved. He's done a real good job of being a detail player."
Prediction
You don’t want to jump to the conclusion that the Islanders are well-rested after something horrible like that, but perhaps too much rest is going to be the case. The Sharks are playing well and have a lot of momentum after two solid road wins. It should carry over. Sharks win 3-1
Betting trends
The Sharks are 0-4 in their last Thursday games.
The Islanders are 3-13 in their last 16 against winning teams.
The home team is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
Projected lines
Sharks:
Timo Meier -- Logan Couture -- Jonathan Dahlen
Alexander Barabanov -- Tomas Hertl -- Rudolfs Balcers
Jonah Gadjovich -- Lane Pederson -- Kevin Labanc
Matt Nieto -- Nick Bonino -- Noah Gregor
Mario Ferraro -- Brent Burns
Jacob Middleton -- Erik Karlsson
Marc-Edouard Vlasic -- Radim Simek
James Reimer
Islanders:
Richard Panik -- Mathew Barzal -- Zach Parise
Anthony Beauvillier -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Kyle Palmieri
Andy Andreoff -- Otto Koivula -- Oliver Wahlstrom
Matt Martin -- Casey Cizikas -- Cal Clutterbuck
Robin Salo -- Scott Mayfield
Thomas Hickey -- Noah Dobson
Sebastian Aho -- Grant Hutton
Ilya Sorokin
Key Injuries
Sharks: None
Islanders: Brock Nelson (lower body), Ryan Pulock (lower body), Anders Lee (COVID), Kieffer Bellows (COVID), Ross Johnston (COVID), Adam Pelech (COVID), Andy Greene (COVID), Zdeno Chara (COVID)
Statistical leaders
Sharks:
Points: Timo Meier -- 22
Goals: Timo Meier -- 11
Assists: Logan Couture -- 12
TOI: Brent Burns -- 26:30
Goalie: James Reimer -- 8-4-1, 2.11 GAA, .934 SV%
Islanders:
Points: Brock Nelson -- 11
Goals: Brock Nelson -- 9
Assists: Kyle Palmieri -- 6
TOI: Adam Pelech -- 21:26
Goalie: Ilya Sorokin -- 5-6-2, 2.42 GAA, .928 SV%
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
