It only seems fitting that we have significant snow fall today as the Canadiens and their busloads of fans invade the coliseum. It has been par for the course as snow fall equals Habs game. Islander fans will get an early Christmas gift as top prospect Ryan Strome will make his NHL debut tonight. Also goalie Evgeni Nabokov will return to the net for the Islanders who have returned home after a 1-4 west coast trip. Casey Cizikas will miss the game with a jaw injury and Peter Regin will center the fourth line.

Lineups have not been posted yet but if they remain the same from practice expect Ryan Strome to center the third line between fellow rookie Brock Nelson and Cal Clutterbuck. I was wary of starting two rookies on the same line but this shows great fate in Nelson and I believe the half dozen games that Strome and Nelson played together in Bridgeport had a lot to do with this decision. I also like the idea of Clutterbuck adding some nice sandpaper with the two rookies. Islanders head coach Jack Capuano also stated that Strome will see power play time on the second unit.

While by no means is Strome expected to be the savior; the Islanders are in desperate need of any form of secondary scoring and perhaps his skill can spark the bottom nine forwards. I’m hoping once Strome kicks the butterflies in his stomach he will play with hunger and passion that a rookie should show. Too many players on this team are simply going through the motions and if they have any chance of digging themselves out of a hole the size of the Grand Canyon they have to play desperate hockey. I could even live with losing games if the team showed more heart, effort and desire.

Some of the passengers on this team are always pretty obvious to see but the Islanders dearly need players like Travis Hamonic to step up big time. They need Hamonic to regain that edge that he played with last season as it appears the only person he knocks to the ice is Evgeni Malkin. The Islanders desperately need Hamonic to play with that mean streak that just seems to be gone.

If anything changes this afternoon with the team I will update the site. I’m heading down to a Bridgeport practice next week and want to ask you Islanders fans if there is someone in particular you want to hear from. You can follow me on twitter at @DanDanNoodles78 and send me any request you have for the Sound Tiger players there. If you are going to the game please take extra time and be safe.

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