Capuano: Berube in goal. Strait, Bernier and Grabovski in. Prince, Nelson and Pulock out. #Isles
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 15, 2016
The Islanders look to leapfrog the New York Rangers for second place in the Metro with a win tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Isles played probably their worst two periods of hockey Monday night against the Florida Panthers. They played about ten minutes last night and stole a win. The last time the team played a solid 60 minutes was last Tuesday at home against the Penguins.
Per @EliasSports: @NYIslanders overcame multi-goal deficit in final 10:00 of 3rd per to win in regulation for first time since Jan. 13, 1991
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 15, 2016
Their 12-3-2 record in their last 17 games is hiding the fact that this team has not played well in the second half. They are finding ways to win though. Don't know how long they can play with fire. Their next three games are on the road against playoff teams (Penguins, Predators and Stars). If they failed to show up for the first period like their previous two games, New York will get run out of the building.
Jean-Francois Berube will likely start tonight. Berube has not started since the first game back from the all-star break. He stopped 40 shots en route to a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. I'm still surprised that he did not start last night. I figured the team would play him at home where the team is 21-8-4.
Mikhail Grabovski was activated prior to the game last night's game. He did not play. Seeing how most of the forwards sleptwalked through the game, Jack Capuano has plenty of choices. Cappy should bench Ryan Strome. He has been invisible and extremely soft. He lost where Aleksander Barkov was for the Panthers' first goal. Now that Shane Prince is here and Grabovski is healthy, Strome could use another stint in Bridgeport, perhaps for the reminder of the season.
The Islanders have to go back to the drawing board on their penalty kill. They have allowed seven power play goals in their last 19 times shorthanded.