Game Preview | 5 things to know ahead of Sabres at Islanders

NEW YORK - Don Granato received an encouraging sign from one of his top players when he walked into KeyBank Center before playing the New Jersey Devils on Friday.
"I knew things were good going in when Tuch walked in the building and told me to smile," Granato said.
Tuch scored two goals and added an assist as the Sabres got back to their confident, offensive brand of hockey in a 5-4 win over the Devils. Tage Thompson also scored while Jack Quinn and Dylan Cozens each had a goal and an assist.
The Sabres will look to roll that confidence into their game tonight against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. The game can be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu beginning at 5 p.m. Click here for more details on the NHL's broadcast partners.
Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray will have the call on WGR 550.
Here are five things to know.

1. Thompson's status

Thompson left the game against the Devils in the first period following a collision with forward Timo Meier. He returned early in the second and finished the game having skated 13:14.
Sabres coach Don Granato said postgame that Thompson was questionable to play against New York.
Granato and Tuch lauded Thompson for gutting out the win over New Jersey.
"He's a warrior," Tuch said. "He went into battle. He missed a couple shifts to get checked out, but he's a warrior and he came back and worked his ass off tonight. It was good to see. It was good to have him back and I thought he didn't miss a beat out there."
UPDATE (3:45 p.m.) -Granato said during his pregame media availability that Thompson is doing better and there is "a good chance" he plays against the Islanders.

2. Medical report

Goaltender Eric Comrie was in uniform to back up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the victory over the Devils. Comrie had been out since March 9 with a lower-body injury.
The Sabres were without forwards Jordan Greenway (upper body) and Vinnie Hinostroza (personal matter) against the Devils. Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson has missed the last six games with an upper-body injury.

3. Quinn's production

Jack Quinn moved into a tie with Vegas forward Paul Cotter for fourth among NHL rookies with his 13th even-strength goal of the season on Friday. Dallas forward Wyatt Johnston leads rookies with 19 even-strength goals, followed by Seattle forward Matty Beniers (15) and Ottawa forward Shane Pinto.
Quinn leads NHL rookies (minimum 20 games played) with an average of 2.30 5-on-5 points per 60 minutes.

4. Scouting the Islanders

New York has maintained its hold on the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 6-2-2 run in its last 10 games, including a 5-4 overtime loss in Columbus on Friday.
Forwards Zach Parise (4+1) and Hudson Fasching (2+2) and defenseman Noah Dobson (1+4) all enter tonight on four-game point streaks.
The Sabres and Islanders have split the first two games of their season series. The Sabres won 3-2 in Buffalo on Ryan Miller Night on an overtime goal from Cozens. Fasching had a goal and an assist to lead the Islanders to a 3-2 win on Long Island on March 7.

5. The Wild Card standings

Here are the latest standings:
Other games to keep an eye on tonight include:
Rangers at Panthers (5 p.m.)
Senators at Devils (7 p.m.)
Capitals at Penguins (8 p.m.)