5:14 pm: Yep, as Art speculated, Anders Nilsson has been returned to Bridgeport and Kevin Poulin has been recalled on loan. You know damn well @KevinPoulin60 is not being put on the Bridgeport Express to sit on the bench. No siree, he's getting some game action.
Thanks Evgeni. Take a little rest.
12:07 pm: According to the Islanders Twitter feed, Rick DiPietro is at IceWorks to use the gym and not to skate. Mike Dunham, goalie coach, is working with Al Montoya and David Ullstrom is skating.
There is no news on Montoya or Ullstrom's concussion status until after Coach Capuano speaks with trainers later today.
Earth shaking news? Hardly. But that's all I've got as I didn't get to go to practice myself.
Although, what could I really ask?
"Hey guys, after two losses, how bad is the plane ride?"
"How hard is it to focus on facing a top team after dropping two on the road?"
"Exactly WHY can't you play a full 60 minutes?"
"What the heck is wrong with Michael Grabner?"
Right. Like that would happen.
7 am:At 9:03 pm last night, Art Staple updated his Newsday article on line. It took a while for anyoe to notice.
The Islanders are back on Long Island for a four game home stand, but I'm not sure how many fans will still care. That West Coast trip may have soured many loyals and the Giants success may make anything the Isles can put together this week completely irrelevant.
However, there's a bit of good news (sort of) in the text that Art put out. Montoya and Ullstrom will practice today with the team. No timetable has been set, but it's step one of returnning.
Another little interesting tidbit in Art's article is the suggestion that Kevin Poulin will be called up and Anders Nilsson returned to Bridgeport.
I personally feel that Nabokov was over worked during the road trip. He's not 23 any more and having him play back-to-back in the west was probably not the best thing Jack could have done. I understand their believe is they will use whomever they feel gives them the best chance of winning, but Anders Nilsson could have played a game. Does that mean they don't have the confidence in him?
Meanwhile, Kevin Poulin has the longest shutout streak of the Sound Tigers. Yes, he is the Isles Future, even if the future is unclear.
Speaking of goalies, did anyone else find it ominous that Art mentioned something interesting at the end of his article:
Rick DiPietro's latest injury should be known this week. After missing a month with a groin injury, he came off the ice from practice in Carolina on Tuesday with a different lower-body injury and got an extra medical opinion late last week. He won't be back anytime soon
I'm betting $5 on a knee. How about you?
And lastly I smiled when I noticed that Art, who really does have great hockey analytical skills and a way with the MSG cameras, agrees with me that perhaps Grabner should be sat the same way Kyle was for a few games. If he doesn't have a physical issue, then it's mental and mental issues can sometimes best be treated on the sidelines.
Isles have a practice at 11 am as they prepare for tomorrow's game against the Red Wings. I may try to make it there, although Monday's are busy for me at work so it may not happen.
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