![\"NHL:](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/27364288.jpg\")
Oct 18, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; New York Islanders center Matthew Barzal (13) skates with the puck in the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nWhile the New York Islanders continue to jockey for playoff position, the Ottawa Senators are doing their best to remain relevant in the postseason chase.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Eyeing a fourth straight road win, the Islanders will look to hand the Senators a second straight loss on Thursday, something Ottawa hasn’t experienced in nearly two months.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n A year removed from missing the playoffs, New York (39-24-5, 83 points) sits in third place in the Metropolitan Division, one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins but just two points ahead of the surging Columbus Blue Jackets.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Islanders have been relatively consistent of late, going 12-5-0 since Jan. 26. They have won eight of their past 11 on the road, yielding an average of 2.5 goals in those 11 contests.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “Everyone’s winning games, including us,” said New York center Mathew Barzal, who notched three assists on Tuesday during the Islanders’ 3-1 victory at Toronto. “So that’s just the race it is this year, and we just got to keep pace and hopefully push the pace.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “That’s the best part about this, this time of year, every game means a little more. And, every play means a little more.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Barzal has totaled 35 of his team-leading 63 points in 36 road games this season. He produced six points in the Islanders’ past two contests away from home.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Barzal earned an assist while captain Anders Lee scored a goal and set up two others during the Islanders’ 5-4 away victory against the Senators on Oct. 18. New York has won four straight at Ottawa and is 14-3-1 there since Nov. 1, 2013.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n The Senators (34-24-9, 77 points) enter the Thursday contest five points out of a playoff spot. They were riding a 14-4-4 surge prior to losing 4-1 at Washington on Wednesday. It was a potentially costly setback for Ottawa, which had won its previous two contests.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Ottawa last dropped two in a row on Jan. 22 and Jan. 24.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “This time of the year, this point of the season, it’s that playoff mindset,” Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot said. “We (didn’t like) our game (Wednesday), but we get a chance to go right back at it (Thursday). It’s a big one for us, and we’ve got to respond like we’ve been doing.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Ottawa should remain confident at home, where it’s amid a 6-2-2 stretch.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n After scoring his team-high 31st goal on Wednesday, Senators center Tim Stutzle has 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in the past 17 games.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark (2.79 goals-against average) made 21 saves against the Capitals during his fourth consecutive start. Backup James Reimer is 4-3-1 with a 2.53 GAA in eight starts since joining the Senators in mid-January. Reimer stopped all 16 shots he faced in his most recent action, a 2-0 victory at Vancouver on March. 9.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n New York’s Ilya Sorokin (2.49 GAA) made 26 saves on Tuesday at Toronto, and he stopped 28 of 32 shots at Ottawa earlier this season. Teammate David Rittich has a 2.66 GAA in 26 starts, but he has allowed 11 goals while losing his last three road starts in regulation.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n