Islanders, Red Wings Meet in Detroit With Playoff Implications DETROIT (Interstat) — Two teams jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference playoff race will clash Tuesday when the New York Islanders visit the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. The Islanders (19-14-0) arrive after a 3-2 shootout victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, extending their point streak to three games (2-0-1). New York has won five of its last seven contests. Center Marc Gatcomb, a player to watch, has points in two of his last five games, including a goal in a 5-4 shootout win over Vegas on Dec. 9. The Red Wings (18-15-0) are coming off a dominant 4-0 road win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, snapping a brief two-game skid. Detroit has been fueled by winger Alex DeBrincat, who is on a hot streak with nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last seven games. He had two goals and an assist in the win over Chicago. This matchup carries a recent history of one-sided results, heavily favoring New York. The Islanders have outscored the Red Wings 12-2 in two meetings this season, including a 5-0 shutout in Detroit on Nov. 20 and a 7-2 victory on Long Island on Oct. 23. Both teams are separated by just two points in the standings, making this a critical head-to-head battle. The Islanders’ recent success has been built on timely scoring and solid goaltending, while the Red Wings will look to DeBrincat and a power play that has shown potency to reverse their fortunes against New York. Following this game, Detroit hosts the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday, while the Islanders return home to face the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.