have already taken place this week. But the New York Islanders have one more game to play before embarking upon the NHL’s anticipated awkward reunion of the season.The Islanders will open a back-to-back set Friday night New York Rangers T-Shirts Authentic , when they host the Ottawa Senators at Barclays Center in the first game for both teams since the Christmas break.The Islanders won their final game before the holiday by earning a 3-1 win over the host Dallas Stars on Sunday night, The Senators last played Saturday, when they were blanked by the visiting Washington Capitals. 4-0.Article continues below ...While the Islanders (18-13-4) are focused on the Senators, they can’t help but look ahead to Saturday night’s trip to Toronto and the game against the Maple Leafs. Former New York captain John Tavares became the highest-profile player to change teams via free agency on July 1, when he signed a seven-year deal with Toronto.“Johnny meant so much to this organization and to us in the room — his friends and teammates,” Islanders center Anders Lee told reporters following practice Thursday. Lee replaced Tavares as New York’s captain.“I think we’re all looking forward to playing the game and seeing him. It’s obviously turned into a little more than just a game against the Leafs. It’ll be better if we take care of business on Friday.”The Senators (15-18-4) are also opening a compelling back-to-back set Friday. With starting goalie Craig Anderson sidelined due to a concussion, third-stringer Mike McKenna and rookie Marcus Hogberg will split the starts against the Islanders and the Capitals New York Rangers Hoodies Authentic , whom Ottawa hosts Saturday night. As of Thursday afternoon, head coach Guy Boucher hadn’t yet decided who would start when.“It’s a big step for me, to get up here,” Hogberg told reporters following practice Thursday. Hogberg was active against the Capitals last Saturday but did not play.“It feels different, with the shots and the speed. But wherever you play, you have to play well. If I get a game. It would be huge for me.”The Islanders are expected to start Robin Lehner on Friday and Thomas Greiss on Saturday. Lehner earned the win Sunday, when he recorded 19 saves in New York’s victory over the Stars. He is 6-0-3 in 11 career appearances against the Senators.McKenna made 29 saves while taking the loss against the Capitals last Saturday. He is 1-1-0 in three career appearances against the Islanders. McKenna victimized New York for the first of his eight NHL wins — and his lone shutout — on Feb. 7 New York Rangers Hats Authentic , 2009, when he stopped all 28 shots to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 1-0 victory.A pair of injured Islanders, right winger Cal Clutterbuck (lower body) and defenseman Thomas Hickey (upper body) skated Thursday. Clutterbuck could skate with New York on Friday morning.The Senators are hopeful Anderson can return against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night. Anderson suffered a concussion against the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 21. CHICAGO (AP) — Carter Hart is looking to help the Philadelphia Flyers rally into a playoff spot.If the 20-year-old rookie is feeling any pressure, it’s hard to tell.Hart made 40 saves and James van Reimsdyk snapped a tie in the third period, helping the Flyers beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Thursday night.Corban Knight also scored as Philadelphia picked up a sorely needed victory after dropping three of four. The Flyers (36-30-8) moved within five points of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.“It’s crunch time right now, but we’re just coming to the rink every day and just worrying about our group and everything that’s going on in here,” Hart said. “All that excess noise Custom New York Rangers Jerseys , we can’t control any of that. We can’t control how other teams are playing or any of that.”Hart made his fourth start since returning from a lower-body injury. He has stopped 114 of 118 shots in his last three games.“He’s been great. He’s won a lot of games for us by himself,” forward Sean Couturier said.Chicago (32-31-10) missed out on a chance to gain ground in the race for the second wild card out West. Erik Gustafsson scored, and Corey Crawford made 25 stops.“I’m aware of the standings, I’m aware we need points, but it’s how we play that matters,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “That’s where we’re at.”Van Reimsdyk picked up his sixth goal in the last five games on a long backhand at 9:50. Couturier had a hand in van Reimsdyk’s 26th goal with a well-placed screen in front of Crawford.“I think it hit a good spot,” van Reimsdyk said. “I wasn’t necessarily aiming there www.officialsenators.com , but I’ll take it.”Philadelphia forward Ryan Hartman was whistled for holding at 11:08, but the Flyers didn’t allow a shot on goal on the ensuing power play. Couturier then put it away with an empty-netter with 1:14 left.Chicago got one shot on its only other power play in the second period. It has one power-play goal in its last nine games.“If we score or not, we’ve got to get some momentum off it,” captain Jonathan Toews said. “We’ve got to find that poise in moving the puck, getting open for each other. When things were going really well for us, we had four guys playing well without the puck, being available Ottawa Senators T-Shirts Authentic , moving it quick.”The Blackhawks scored first when Gustafsson made a move in the right circle and beat Hart on the glove side 10:39 into the first period. It was the 15th goal of the season for the defenseman, who also scored during Monday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Vancouver.Knight responded for the Flyers, skating up the slot and beating Crawford on the stick side at 15:43. It was the first goal for Knight since Jan. 5, 2016, for Florida at Buffalo and No. 4 for his career.NOTES: Blackhawks F Drake Caggiula joined the team for its morning skate, but he missed his ninth consecutive game since he sustained a concussion against Anaheim on Feb. 27. … Flyers F Michael Raffl was scratched due to an illness. D Philippe Myers returned to the lineup after he missed Tuesday night’s 3-1 loss to Montreal with an illness. … The NHL announced Thursday that the Flyers and Blackhawks will open next season in Prague on Oct. 4 as part of the league’s Global Series. It’s the third consecutive year the NHL is staging regular-season games in Europe and eighth overall.UP NEXTFlyers: Host the New York Islanders on Saturday.Blackhawks: Visit the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.