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Lightning-Islanders Game 4 Preview |
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The lslanders look to even the series tonight against the Lightning at Barclays. This is the first time all playoffs that New York has trailed in a series. The two days off between Games 3 and 4 are thanks to our good friend Justin Bieber.
There will be lineup changes for tonight as both Ryan Strome and Ryan Pulock are expected to play. Strome was benched for Game 3 in place of Josh Bailey, who made his series debut in a big way. Each time Strome returned after being scratched he produced. Following his three-week timeout in Bridgeport, Strome put up two goals and two assists in his next three games. The 2011 fifth overall pick assisted on Shane Prince's two first period goals in Game 1 after being scratched late in the Florida series. The problem for Strome this season is that he has yet to remain consistent.
Strome will likely replace Alan Quine, who had his four-game point streak snapped in Game 3. I would rather keep Quine in the lineup and sit Steve Bernier. We all know Jack Capuano likes his "experienced guys". The case can certainly be made for scratching Brock Nelson, who has been invisible. Nelson gets a reprieve due to Anders Lee being out. Nelson is basically the only big body who can get in front of the net now. Whether he does it is a different story.
Nelson could replace Quine on the top line with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. While Strome would center Shane Prince and Bernier.
Pulock has not played since suffering an upper-body injury in Game 4 against the Panthers. He would take Marek Zidlicky’s spot on defense and could be on the top power-play unit, which has produced only Tavares’ Game 1 goal in 13 opportunities. The Isles’ second unit has the other two power-play goals in this series. Johnny Boychuk even made an appearance on the second unit during Game 3.
Pulock was really coming into his own the first half of the Florida series. The 2013 first-round pick had a goal and two assists before getting injured. He can certainly thank Bieber for getting back before Game 4.
Dan and I talked with WFAN/CBS NY columnist Jeff Capellini on the latest Isles Buzz