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The Islanders make their first trip to Madison Square Garden tonight as they face the struggling Rangers, who have lost four straight games. The Isles have fared a little better going 1-2-1 in their last four.
Defensemen Ryan Pulock will make his season debut. The Isles hope that Pulock will spark a dormant power play that has failed to convert on any of their first 20 power play opportunities.
Head coach Doug Weight did not specify how or if Pulock will be used 5V5. Forwards Anthony Beauvillier, Nikolay Kulemin and defenseman Dennis Seidenberg will sit out.
The team will dress just 11 forwards. Jason Chimera will replace Kulemin on the fourth line and the other nine forwards will rotate to play with Brock Nelson and Josh Ho-Sang. Perhaps Thomas Hickey plays a shift or two on the wing, that's if Weight has the confidence to play Pulock.
I'm not sure why Beauvillier suddenly is in Weight's dog house. From the press conferences to the lineup decisions, it seems more to me that Weight is slowly transitioning into Jack Capuano.
Jaroslav Halak will make his 400th career NHL start tonight. This is the first time this season that an Islander goalie has started consecutive games. Halak has owned the Rangers since joining the rivalry, going 7-3-0, with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage with a shutout. At MSG, Halak is 3-1-0 with a 2.75 GAA and a .917 SV% with a shutout.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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