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Isles End and Begin on a High Note |
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The last of the New Year’s Eve horns have been put away and the fireworks are over. It’s Friday, but it feels like a Monday as the Isles begin 2015 in Calgary. An impressive 5-2 win over Winnipeg to close out 2014 was nice but this road stretch ahead of them could be daunting.
Calgary is on a four game winning streak and has a habit of coming back in the third period. If the Isles continue their third period collapse routine that we have seen far too often this season, they could be starting 2015 with a loss.
But their confidence is high led by Ryan Strome (who is a +13), Brock Nelson and Anders Lee. Jack Capuano tweaked his lines just a bit on Wednesday and it worked. Strome and Nelson both have 27 points only five less than team leading Tavares and Okposo.
Kulemin, while playing well, hasn’t been able to hit the score sheet lately and is holding at 14 points. The Danish Prince is chugging along nicely with 21 points and three game winning goals which ties Anders Lee for winners.
Josh Bailey, who has only played 26 games this season has 13 points and is a +5 – and yet he still gets picked on. But the saddest case is that of Michael Grabner who has only played 5 games this season. He has not been removed from IR as of yesterday, so there was no chance of him playing tonight. Of course, just as with all things Islanders, that could change at any moment. Art Staple will have the update after the morning skate.
Looking at the stat sheet, I have to say I’m amused at Travis Hamonic leading the Isles in penalty minutes 52 followed by Matty Marts who has 47. I’m wondering if that means the zebras still have it out for Hammer.
A 9 pm game means lots of coffee tonight. Jiggs will be on the broadcast with Butch and I’m hoping his ability to be the Isles lucky charm continues into 2015.
Barring any unforeseen injury, I can only imagine Halal will get the net. Although Johnson will have to get a game in somewhere during this trip. It's only fair. And we will worry about that when it happens.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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