The New York Islanders will try to keep their momentum going on Saturday when they host the Edmonton Oilers at 2 p.m. at UBS Arena in a Halloween Celebration matchup. The Islanders are coming off a 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, which gave them their second straight victory.
This is also the first matinee game of the season for the Islanders, and it comes during a stretch that has already featured games against first-place teams. That makes the matchup a useful early test, especially with Edmonton bringing one of the NHL's most dangerous offenses to Long Island.
McDavid's historic start
Connor McDavid enters the game leading the NHL in both points and assists. He has 36 points and 28 assists through 13 games, and his 13-game season-opening assist streak is an NHL record. He also has eight goals, and his 2.77 points per game pace has put him on one of the best starts to a season in NHL history.
McDavid's production is not the only reason Edmonton has been tough to handle. Leon Draisaitl also remains a major factor, giving the Oilers another high-end scorer to support a group that can make teams pay quickly if they lose track defensively.
Islanders looking for another strong response
For the Islanders, the win over Minnesota was another sign that the team is settling in after an uneven opening stretch. The club is now 7-4-2, and the two-game winning streak has helped steady the standings picture.
Bo Horvat continues to be a key part of that push, with 12 goals and 12 assists through the early portion of the season. He also has six power play goals, which has made him an important offensive presence in close games. Matthew Schaefer has added eight points, while the defensive group has had to manage a busy run without Adam Pelech, who is unavailable for Saturday.
With the Oilers in town and the Halloween promotion adding to the atmosphere, the Islanders will get another chance to measure themselves against a top opponent. The game should also show how well they can balance offense and structure against a team led by one of the league's hottest players.
