The Islanders return home tonight as they face off with the surging Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning are really clicking right now as they beat up the Islanders on Saturday and dismantled the Rangers last night. Over the past two games, Tampa has outscored its opponents by a score of 11-3. The Isles do catch a break as Tampa did play last night and the Bolts will start former Islander Evgeni Nabokov between the pipes. With that being said, the Isles will have their work cut out for them tonight and must play an overall better game than they did on Saturday.
This will be a challenging week for the Isles as they face the Lightning tonight and then they will play the Penguins twice, in Pittsburgh Friday and home against the Penguins on Saturday. Realistically, three points in the next three games wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, however, if they Isles are serious playoff contenders they have to prove they can beat the better teams in the Eastern Conference.
Cal Clutterbuck will return to the lineup tonight and Cory Conacher will be a healthy scratch. Jaroslav Halak will be between the pipes for the Islanders. Michael Grabner is getting closer to returning to the lineup and the coaching staff will have a tough decision to make when he is cleared to play.
In Ahl news, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers continue their strong play and are in first place in their division. Ryan Pulock is tearing up the AHL and his play has been so good one has to think he may force the Islanders hand at some point. Right now I would let him play and grow in Bridgeport but if he keeps playing solid defense and racking up points, the Isles may have to consider calling him up.
Here are the forward lines and defensive pairings for tonight’s game at the Coliseum against the Lightning. As always, for more on all things hockey please follow me on twitter at @DanDanNoodles78.
Bailey-Tavares-Okposo
Grabovski-Nielsen-Kulemin
Lee-Strome-Nelson
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck
Leddy-Boychuk
De Haan-Hamonic
Visnovsky-Hickey
Halak/Johnson
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