12:28 pm: Nick Leddy – 2 points from 100
So we need to root for Nick tonight. Points... any points... Would be a great thing!
10:48 am: And yes.... Halak in net for Capuano and the Isles. No other changes to the line-up per reports from the morning skate. That may leave Matt Martin the one to dance if need be.
Brett Cyrgalis @BrettCyrgalis · 51m51 minutes ago
Hamonic was one ice for skate, seemed to take it easy. He won't play, but will make trip, as will Bailey (who didn't skate). #Isles
At what point do we worry about Travis?
7 am: The Jets may not have a great record right now, and the Isles are riding high, but as we all know, things change quickly in the NHL. Tonight’s game could be a wild one.
The NHL injury ninja is hard at work on both teams and Evander Kane is still out and is not expected to play tonight (or any night the Jets road trip), so the Isles won’t get to see him tonight. Travis Hamonic is not likely and while the news on Josh Bailey was better than expected, he won‘t be in the line-up too soon.
The Jets may have won their last game in a shoot-out, but they are low on the NHL stat chart. None-the-less, coach Paul Maurice was happy with his team’s work.
“If you’re only coaching mistakes, then you’re going to beat your team down, and it’s too early. You have to also focus on the good things a team does.” Jack Capuano has done the same thing -- often. The Isles should take note. According to Maurice “Our forwards aren’t getting after they’re defense. The front end’s not getting there and the back end is reading that they are.”
So-- the Jets are a confused team?
“On the road you need to have a comfort level with two of your lines. To find the other team’s best. Some of it is how your team is going. You look at your opponent and see if you’re going to go after their strength or exploiting their weakness.”
Maurice may have a problem with the Isles since the Isles have goals coming from all their lines. It is no longer a case of just shutting down John Tavares and Kyle Okposo and winning the game. They are now a formidable opponent with weapons on every line.
From NY Islanders Cory Wright:
The Islanders league-leading offense (3.88 goals-per-game) is coming in hot after reeling off seven goals in a 7-5 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night. Frans Nielsen stole the show with a third period hat trick, but the Islanders secondary scoring came through as a unit, producing all seven goals without the aid of captain and scoring leader John Tavares.
Will Eric Boulton be back in the line-up to face the Jets big guns?
Hulking forward Dustin Byfuglien (6’5, 260 lbs.) leads the team in plus/minus with a +4 rating and makes up a physically imposing line with Chris Thorburn (6’3, 235 lbs.) and Adam Lowry (6’5, 207 lbs.).
Yikes. Maybe that fourth line will look a little different tonight for Jack.
How about Nelson? Will BrockTober continue tonight? He has ten points in eight games. And let’s not forget the NHL’s third star of the week, Frans Nielsen. How nice is it to see an Islander on the NHL page that ISN’T JT?
I’m guessing Halak should be back in net. If he is not, then speculation of injury should begin. You can ride the hot hand, but if he’s supposed to be your number one, giving your number two three straight starts may damage some confidence.
More after the morning skate as Jack Capuano makes his decisions for the night.
If you’re going to the game, bring cash. The Halloween basket raffle is tonight and it’s Soccer night. If you’re in your car and you’re out east, guess what? The game is also broadcast now for us east enders on 103.9 WRCN. Bet you didn’t know that. So no more complaining from us Suffolk residents that we can’t get the game on the radio. Although -- if you have SiriusXM, you always could.
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