This could be a very interesting game, if I can stay awake long enough to watch it. Oh, these western road trips are a killer.
While the Isles are having issues scoring, the Ducks have a bit of a problem of their own in net. With one goal on IR, one listed as Day-to-Day and two called up from their AHL affiliate, Dwayne Roloson had to don the pads during their last outing. It reminded me of the night goalie coach Mike Dunham had to do the same for the Isles. Although Dunham didn’t have to sit on the bench with TV cameras pointing at him, he sat in the locker room – waiting.
Anderson is hopeful for tonight, but if he can’t go, the Ducks will put Jason Labarbera in net. Art Staple said that Boudreau wouldn’t commit at the morning skate.
This from the Duck’s website:
On facing adversity, Boudreau says it's time for the team to rise to the occasion. “We have to suck it up,” he said. “I don’t see anybody crying for Columbus or other teams that have a lot of injuries right now. We have to do what we have to do, and we have to pick it up.
“You just have to deal with the adversity and if you take it as a challenger rather than a ‘Woe is me,’ you come away from it OK.”
I don’t know exactly how much “Woe is me” the Ducks can muster considering they lead the league with a t 10-3-0 record. The Ducks have beaten the Isles more times than they want to think about, but this is a different Islander team – right?
From Art Staple’s Newsday article:
"We can all do better, from the goaltender on out," Capuano said. "Yes, the numbers could be better, but we played pretty well the last three games. It's been puck management that's hurt us, and from some key guys on our team."
Was one of those guys Casey Cizikas? He gets to sit tonight and Eric Boulton gets to make his season debut. Not that inserting Boulton in the line-up will shake things up much, but Jack has to try something.
Shannon Hogan @Shannon_Hogan 13m13 minutes ago
Kulemin will start on top line with Tavares and Okposo tonight against the #Ducks #isles
Daniel Friendman @DFriedmanOnNYI
So now Strome gets to play on a line with Boulton and Martin instead of Cizikas and Martin. Just made a bad situation even worse. #Isles
Ben Amodeo @IslesFan_Ben 21m21 minutes ago New Rochelle, NY
I don't mind Eric Boulton getting some playing time, but to have him replace Cizikas is ridiculous. Boulton couldn't replace Martin? #Isles
Andy Graziano ™ @tazman19 23m23 minutes ago
Halak in goal (not wow), Boulton in for Cizikas (coach's decision) WOW. #isles
Nick Leddy is only one point away from 100 points. Considering he’s currently a +5 player, that should be easy to do, maybe even tonight. Boychuk is also a +5 player but Corey Perry is a +11. These stats don’t mean anything, right? John Tavares is currently a -4.
On the bright side, “Matt Martin leads the NHL with 52 hits. He's led the league in hits in each of the last three seasons. In 2011-12, Martin's 374 hits marked the highest total since hits became an official stat in 2005-06.” Thank you Isles GameDay notes.
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