On Tuesday night, the New York Islanders and Anaheim Ducks each helped bolster the other's surprising early-season surge.

On Thursday night, the two teams will try to cool each other off when the Islanders face the Ducks in their first matchup of the season in Elmont, N.Y.

Both teams earned shootout wins Tuesday night: New York edged the visiting Vegas Golden Knights 5-4, and Anaheim beat the host Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3.

The Islanders and Ducks have each won four of their last five games, continuing to establish themselves as playoff contenders. New York ranks third in the Metropolitan Division, two points ahead of the fourth-place Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, who hold the wild card spots. Pacific Division-leading Anaheim is two points ahead of the second-place Golden Knights.

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