The Islanders return to the ice, tonight in Anaheim, to take on the surging Ducks. This will surely be another stiff test for an Islander team that has been struggling for some time. Jaroslav Halak will return in goal, coming off a strong performance in Saturday’s defeat in San Jose. As for Islanders’ Head Coach Jack Capuano’s lineups, I can only think of one word and I believe Nancy Kerrigan said it best, WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?
I simply don’t understand Capuano’s decision making. It is like he punishes the wrong players and rewards mediocrity. He then sends a preapproved list to Butch Goring who will then criticize these players to re-enforce his decision.
Eric Boulton will make his season debut for the Islanders tonight. I am fine with this decision. However, Boulton will be playing in place of Casey Cizikas who will be a healthy scratch. This means Eric Boulton, Matt Martin, and Cal Clutterbuck will all be in the same line, on purpose. WHAT?!?!? There is enough stones in all those hands to build a castle.
Compounding this further is Capuano’s decision to move Ryan Strome to the fourth line. So you’re telling me that centering Strome in a line with Matt Martin and Eric Boulton is good for Ryan Strome? Let’s compound this even more. Hey Brock Nelson, you are off to the best start of your career, go center the third line.
I just don’t get it. I’m not second guessing here, I’m first guessing the hell out of these decisions. I simply do not understand what this coaching staff is doing and it is either defiance or, in my opinion, stupidity. Look, if the team wins tonight I’ll gladly tip my cap but I think we can all agree that this coaching staff is not getting the best out of it's players and not putting out the best possible lineup on a nightly basis.
I’m not claiming to be an expert here by any means but I do think I have a firm grasp on this game. I can usually tell what is worth a shot and what will most likely fail miserably. I think the bottom six forwards, as constructed tonight, is a recipe for defeat. Now we all know the top two lines have the talent to pop in goals and carry this team to win but I feel like Jack Capuano is constantly bringing a pocket knife to a gun fight. Below are the projected lines for tonight’s game. If anything changes I will surely update them. I will be watching the game tonight and if you are staying up, God bless in advance. As always, for more on all things hockey, please follow me on twitter at @DanDanNoodles78.
Kulemin-Tavares-Okposo
Grabovski-Nielsen-Lee
Conacher-Nelson-Clutterbuck
Martin-Strome-Boulton
Leddy-Boychuk
Visnovsky-Hickey
De Haan-Hamonic
Halak-Johnson
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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