Preview: Canadiens, Islanders Meet in Key Late-Season Matchup BELMONT PARK, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders, teams heading in opposite directions down the stretch, will face off Sunday at UBS Arena in a late-season NHL clash with potential playoff implications. The Canadiens (47-32-0) arrive riding a wave of momentum, having won eight of their last 10 games. They are coming off a 2-1 home victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. A key driver of their success has been forward Juraj Slafkovsky, who has recorded three goals and seven assists in his last 10 contests. He had a goal and an assist in the win over Tampa Bay. Conversely, the Islanders (43-37-0) have stumbled, losing five of their last six games. They were shut out 3-0 by the Ottawa Senators at home on Saturday. Goaltender Ilya Sorokin, a player to watch for New York, has faced heavy recent workloads, including a 40-save performance in a loss to Carolina on April 4. He allowed three goals on 15 shots in the loss to Ottawa. The season series is tied, with each team winning on home ice. The Islanders earned a 4-3 overtime victory in Montreal on Feb. 26, but the Canadiens responded with a decisive 7-3 win when the teams last met on March 21. Montreal’s recent surge has been marked by strong goaltending and timely scoring, with Jakub Dobes making 17 saves in Thursday’s win. The Islanders, struggling to find consistent offense, will need to solve a Canadiens team that has allowed two or fewer goals in four of its last five victories. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, the projected final score is Islanders 4, Canadiens 3. Following this game, Montreal will travel to face the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. The Islanders will host the Carolina Hurricanes on the same night.