The Islanders open up the 2017-18 season in Columbus against the Blue Jackets tonight. Thomas Greiss with get the start tonight while Jaroslav Halak will start the home opener tomorrow night against the Buffalo Sabres.
Fans have been on the ledge ever since it was announced last night that Josh Ho-Sang would be the forward scratched tonight. Excitement has been high on Ho-Sang since making his NHL debut last season. The 28th overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft had four goals and six assists in 21 games last season. Jason Chimera, who many thought would be the odd man out, is in the lineup. This decision has nothing to do with performance said head coach Doug Weight. The Islanders have 13 forwards who should all be in the lineup. This would have been a bigger issue had Steve Bernier or Stephen Gionta been on this roster and in the lineup. This is a good thing. Ho-Sang will get his chance, most likely tomorrow.
Jordan Eberle will make his Islanders debut playing alongside John Tavares and Anders Lee. I mentioned this on the latest Isles Buzz Podcast that this is the best first line that Tavares has had to open up the regular season.
Defensively, Adam Pelech will get the call over Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield. There had been talk last night that Mayfield would be in the lineup. Playing Mayfield against the physical and borderline dirty Blue Jackets would have made sense. Weight has said in training camp that veterans will sit if they are not performing. A Thomas Hickey, who had his spot secured under Jack Capuano will likely be benched under Weight. It happened last season.
The Isles went 1-2-1 against the Blue Jackets last season.