After finishing up a three-game road trip with a 5-4 victory over the Dallas Stars Saturday, the New York Islanders return home Tuesday and host the Tampa Bay Lighting in a Eastern Conference match up at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (7 p.m. ET on MSG+). The Isles (8-11-5, 21 points) collected two victories last week and currently have won three of their last four games, while the Lighting (11-13-2, 24 points) are on a four-game skid.
Last week, New York defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1, Nov. 29, and Stars, but dropped the road trip's sandwich game, 5-4, to the Chicago Blackhawks, Dec. 2. On Tuesday, the Islanders, who still sit in last place in the Atlantic Division, begin a streak of contests that feature four of their next five games at home.
Meanwhile, the Lighting, who sit in second to last place in the Southeast Division, four points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes, begin a three-game road trip, which features them playing at the Islanders, New York Rangers, Dec. 8, and Philadelphia Fylers, Dec. 10.
Center Steve Stamkos leads Tampa Bay with 16 goals and 29 points, while goaltender Mathieu Garon has a 5-5-1 record, has a goals against average of 2.47 and .917 save percentage.
-- For more on the New York Islanders, check out the SB Nation blog Light House Hockey.