The Final Showdown: The Islanders and Sabres meet for the final time this season. Separated by one point in the standings, the Islanders can either put some distance between them in the Sabres, or keep them hanging around in the playoff picture. If the Islanders can win in regulation, they will have taken seven of eight points against the Sabres this season. In three previous games, Matt Martin has dropped the gloves with three different Sabres and with so much on the line, another bout/heated affair is likely in order.

Home on the Road: The Islanders have become a formidable road team, winning four of their last five on opposition ice. In February the team has secured victories in Ottawa, Philadelphia and Winnipeg and won their previous contest at First Niagara Center. 

Start Streaking: After a 7-5-1 January, the Islanders have alternated wins and losses through 10 games in February. .500 hockey won’t be enough to get the Isles into the playoffs and they need to start streaking now. A 4-2 win over Buffalo on Jan. 14 sparked a four-of-five run for the Islanders, and replicating that success will be crucial down the stretch drive.

Brad Boyes and Jason Pominville scored in a shootout as the Buffalo Sabres rallied to beat the New York Islanders 4-3 on Feb. 4 at Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders held a 3-1 advantage after the first period on two Frans Nielsen goals and one from Josh Bailey. Nathan Gerbe scored in the first period for Buffalo, but the rally began with Derek Roy at 18:41 of the second period before Paul Gaustad sent the game to a shootout at 11:46 of the third. Ryan Miller stopped 35 shots, including nine in overtime, for the win while Al Montoya turned aside 34 in the losing effort.

Jack Capuano after yesterday's 6-0 loss to Ottawa: “At this time of the year you need physicality. You have to pay the price. I’ll never ask anybody to fight but we weren’t physical enough. We need an injection in our lineup, we need something to happen here. We can’t have the emotion that we had on the bench here tonight.”