The Islanders look to extend their two-game winning streak as they host the Arizona Coyotes tonight in what is a classic trap game. The Isles head to Minnesota and Nashville following tonight's game. The Coyotes are winless in eight games (0-7-1) this season.
After playing the last two games with seven defensemen, head coach Doug Weight will go back to the traditional 12 forwards, six defensemen lineup. After being scratched the last two games, Nikolay Kulemin returns to the lineup. Kulemin has been a non factor all season, as well as Jason Chimera. Josh Ho-Sang will sit for the second straight game. Still seems like the rules for rookies and young players are different from the veterans.
Going back to six defensemen means that the Ryan Pulock experiment is over for the time being. Pulock played limited time in the two games he dressed. He assisted on the team's only power play goal this season. Pulock looked a little timid on the power play during overtime against the Rangers. Confidence comes with playing, not wearing a suit. Scott Mayfield will return after missing Saturday's games. He was banged up. Dennis Seidenberg, who looked as bad as he did at the end of the season on Saturday, will sit.
This day in Islanders history...
2012: Charles Wang announced team will move to Brooklyn for the 2015-16 season. Five years from now, will they have a new home?