The Islanders begin a difficult back-to-back weekend in Dallas tonight against the Stars. Alan Quine will make his season debut and will likely center a line with Andrew Ladd and Anthony Beauvillier.
Nikolay Kulemin was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Head coach Doug Weight said that he will be out indefinitely. The team will go with 12 forwards for the trip. I can't imagine that will last.
For those wanting Josh Ho-Sang, be patient, his time will come. He is putting up a point a game in Bridgeport (two goals, four assists in six games). But he is still making the same mistakes that got him sent down in the first place. Ho-Sang was dropped to the third line for Wednesday's game.
Jaroslav Halak will start after sitting out the last two games.
The Islanders have had Dallas' numbers over the last few years, going 6-1-1. They defeated the Stars in both meetings last season. The Stars are have been hot at home though, winning five of their last six home games.
Josh Bailey failed to register a point in Tuesday's overtime loss against the Edmonton Oilers, ending his nine-game point streak. Mat Barzal assisted on Jordan Eberle's goal against his former club. The assist extended his point streak to six games. The rookie has two goals and nine assists during that stretch.
Special teams will be key tonight as the Stars boast the league's top power play (31.8%) and the fourth-ranked penalty kill (86.5%).
Ben Bishop will get the start tonight. Bishop has been exactly what the Stars needed. Goaltending was the reason why they missed the playoffs a season ago. Bishop is 6-4-0 this season with a 2.71 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.
The Islanders will head to St. Louis following tonight's game.