The Islanders return home tonight to hopefully feast on some Ducks as they play their final game leading into the Christmas break. While the Isles offense continues to struggle, they were woefully shutout by a struggling Coyotes team featuring a backup goalie in net.

This team resembles an European beer league squad. Soft. Easy to defend. Over passes. Hides on the half-boards. All qualities that lead to extended scoring slumps. We currently have a roster than stubbornly refuses to shoot the puck. You know this isn't what is being drawn up by the Coaching staff, but the players unwillingness to listen is yet another reason as to why the staff needs a new voice.

As for tonight, Jaro Halak will be in net and Brian Strait will play in place of Marek Zidlicky because THAT makes sense. The Isles are not coming off back to back games and have a nice break after tonight but I'm not even going to try and make sense of this. Perhaps Zidlicky is jet-lagged.

Kirill Petrov was assigned back to Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL and he can play for the Isles again after the KHL season is over. Petrov was invisible in the AHL and he clearly did not earn a look with the Islanders. If he wants to go float in the KHL and collect more money there then so be it.

In this episode of the Islesbuzz podcast we are joined by the 2013 3rd round pick of the Islanders, Eamon McAdam. McAdam has started to establish himself for the Penn State Nittany Lions posting a 7-1 record with a 2.01 Goals Against Average. Enjoy!

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