The New York Islanders are set to travel north of the border for a Thursday night matchup against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Both teams are looking to build momentum in the early stages of the 2024-2025 NHL season, with the Islanders coming off a hard-fought victory and the Senators eager to bounce back from a tough loss.
For the Islanders (5-3-1), the game presents a chance to solidify their standing in the highly competitive Metropolitan Division. New York has been impressive in the early going, thanks to strong performances from key players like Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson, as well as solid goaltending from Igor Shesterkin, who has been playing with confidence after his off-season acquisition. The Islanders will look to capitalize on their strong defensive game and fast-paced transition play to contain the Senators’ high-powered offense.
Ottawa (4-5-1) enters the contest with a slight dip in form after losing two straight, but the team remains a dangerous opponent, particularly with the firepower of forwards Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle. The Senators have shown flashes of brilliance, but inconsistent play and defensive lapses have prevented them from stringing together a consistent run of wins. They’ll need to tighten things up at both ends of the ice if they hope to keep pace with a New York team that has been hard to crack defensively.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Islanders will look to extend their winning streak, while the Senators aim to get back on track in front of their home crowd. With both teams eager for points, Thursday night’s game promises to be an exciting battle on the ice.