Tonight, the Islanders hosted the Ottawa Senators, a team that, entering tonight, held home-ice advantage in the Atlantic Division despite a goal differential of -7. Divisional playoffs, folks. Not that it matters to us anyways!
The Senators were without Mike Hoffman, in the midst of serving of a two-game suspension for cross-checking Logan Couture in the back of the head. He's good. They started Andrew Hammond, who hadn't played an NHL game since October. The Senators were also on a back-to-back, having played the New Jersey Devils the night before, though in Ottawa and not across the Hudson River.