The New York Islanders faced another setback as they lost 4-3 to the Dallas Stars, marking their third consecutive defeat. Despite a strong start, the game turned when Casey Cizikas received a match penalty for a hit deemed to target the head of Lian Bichsel. This led to a crucial power play for the Stars, allowing Jason Robertson to complete a hat trick. Coach Patrick Roy expressed his disagreement with the penalty, believing the hit was clean, while players like Anthony Duclair and Kyle Palmieri echoed similar sentiments.

In a game filled with controversial calls, the Islanders nearly equalized late in the third period through Jean-Gabriel Pageau, only for the goal to be disallowed due to goaltender interference. The Islanders now sit five points behind the Ottawa Senators for the final Wild Card spot, making their playoff aspirations increasingly precarious.

Noah Dobson, the young defenseman for the New York Islanders, is reportedly available for trade as the team seeks to bolster its scoring options. With a $4 million cap hit and entering restricted free agency after the season, Dobson has drawn interest from various teams in the league.

Amid ongoing speculation, the Islanders are also considering moving other assets like forwards Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Recent discussions have suggested that Dobson could potentially be part of a package deal, especially with the team's interest in acquiring star player Elias Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks.

General managers across the league, including Pittsburgh's Kyle Dubas and Calgary’s Craig Conroy, have noted that trade discussions seem consistent with previous years, despite external factors like the Four Nations break. While many deals are typically finalized closer to the deadline, the current climate could lead to more trades happening sooner rather than later.

Levi Merilainen starred in goal for the Ottawa Senators, achieving his second shutout in just three games with 24 saves, leading the team to a 2-0 victory over the New York Islanders.

Adam Gaudette and Artem Zub found the net as the Senators extended their winning streak to three games, while the Islanders' winning run was halted at three.

Despite a solid performance by Marcus Hogberg, who made 23 saves in his second consecutive start, New York struggled as key goalies Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov were sidelined by illness and injury, respectively.

Leevi Merilainen recorded his second shutout in three games, making 24 saves as the Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Islanders 2-0. The Senators have now won three consecutive games, while the Islanders saw their winning streak halted at three. Adam Gaudette provided the game's first goal, redirecting a shot from Tyler Kleven in the first period, with Artem Zub sealing the victory with a late empty-net goal.

Islanders' goaltender Marcus Hogberg made 23 saves in a game that marked a disappointing start to their seven-game homestand. Despite Ilya Sorokin's availability, he did not play due to illness. The Islanders' defensive efforts included killing off four penalties recently, showcasing a resilient penalty kill, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.

Leevi Merilainen propelled the Ottawa Senators to a 2-0 victory over the New York Islanders, securing his second shutout in just three games. With 24 saves, Merilainen was instrumental in halting the Islanders' three-game winning streak while the Senators celebrated their own third consecutive win.

The game's scoring began with Adam Gaudette redirecting a Tyler Kleven shot past Islanders' goalie Marcus Hogberg early in the first period. Artem Zub capped the game with his first goal of the season, sealing the win with a shot into an empty net in the final moments.

In a notable absence for the Islanders, Ilya Sorokin was available but did not play due to illness, with Semyon Varlamov still on injured reserve. The loss marks a challenging start to a seven-game homestand for New York.