12:04 pm: So Kyle Okposo couldn't get named to Team USA, but he can be the NHL third star of the week. No, I'm still bitter.


11 am: I was right. Halak in net. Same line-up as Saturday. Better not be the same outcome or heads will roll.

Many have today off for the national holiday. I am not one of them. But I'm sure there will be a large contingent of Flyer fans in attendance today with their packed busses and their orange and black jerseys. They can be very scary sometimes.

As noted in @EHornick's blog, this is the last MLK matinee at the coliseum and the Isles have won the last two of the nine they have played. http://www.nyiskinny.com/2015/01/the-final-mlk-matinee.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Which also means they've lost quite a few times and after Saturday's miserable showing, they will not want to lose this one. As Newsday's Art Staple mentioned, maybe they should start by improving their penalty kill. Truthfully, there is no way the Isles will be able to stay out of the box while playing against the Flyers. And even while this is a "family friendly" day game, with lots of children in attendance, I'd guess there will be at least a few fights... the first of which will probably be between Martin and Simmonds.

While everyone is assuming Chad Johnson will get the nod, I'm wondering if Jack will go against that thinking and put Halak in net again to give him a chance to forget about the goals he gave up on Saturday. Yeah, yeah.... he's playing in the All-Star game, but the Isles don't care about that. They care about points. So if Jack thinks he has a better chance of points with Jarod, I'm thinking he may get the net. (which is better than the hook he got on Saturday.)

Kyle Okposo has been on fire the last few days, but I'm going to say that Ryan Strome could dazzle this afternoon and add to his stat sheet. Just a thought.

Let's hope they are up for this one, we don't want two stinkers in a row now do we? No.

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