The New York Islanders will have a new look down the middle when they visit the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night, looking to end a two-game skid.
New York acquired center Brayden Schenn from the St. Louis Blues before Friday’s trade deadline. The 34-year-old, who has 12 goals and 28 points in 61 games this season, was coincidentally already in the Bay Area because the Blues were playing the Sharks on Friday night.
“What excites me about this team is the high-end talent,” Schenn said of his new club. “When I played the Islanders as an opponent, you’re never going to get an easy night. They always play hard, and they’re always intense, and they always play for each other, and I think that’s important. To be a part of a team like that, I’m excited for this new chapter.”
The Islanders, in the middle of a four-game road trip, dropped back-to-back games in Anaheim and Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
Adam Pelech, Bo Horvat and Emil Heineman scored for the Islanders in the 5-3 loss to the Kings. Ilya Sorokin made 30 saves for New York, which is 18-13-3 on the road this season.
The acquisition of Schenn gives the Islanders, third in the Metropolitan Division, depth and flexibility with 19 regular-season games remaining.
“We just feel that he’s going to help us out down the middle,” said Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche. “Gives us a lot of flexibility … We have a lot more options, and we’re excited to have him.”
Sorokin, 22-14-2 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.54 goals-against average in 38 starts, is 4-0-3 in seven career appearances against the Sharks.
Saturday will be the second and final meeting this season between the Islanders and Sharks. New York edged visiting San Jose 4-3 on Oct. 21.
The Sharks, who were relatively quiet at the trade deadline, sending defenseman Timothy Liljegren to the Washington Capitals for a fourth-round pick, enter Saturday’s contest following a 3-2 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Friday night.
“Our forecheck wasn’t the best, I don’t think — that’s when we’re generating most of our chances, and that wasn’t our best tonight,” San Jose’s Will Smith said. “(Turnovers) are definitely something we’re trying to work on. This time of year, it can’t happen.”
Macklin Celebrini scored his team-leading 31st goal, and Kiefer Sherwood tied it 2-2 in the third for the Sharks, whose three-game winning streak ended. Alex Nedeljkovic made 11 saves.
San Jose, third in the Western Conference wild-card standings, is 4-4-2 over its last 10 games and 17-10-4 on home ice this season.
“It was a huge point for us (Friday), but going into a back-to-back, it’s going to be huge,” Smith said. “(The Islanders) are a great team, they’re obviously having a great year, so we’ve got to be ready.
“You’ve got to learn from (the loss) and move past it and get ready for (Saturday).”
Yaroslav Askarov, Saturday’s likely starter for San Jose, is 19-16-2 with a 3.57 GAA and an .887 save percentage in 38 starts this season.
–Field Level Media
