The Islanders hit the road for the first time in two weeks as they face the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bolts embarrassed the Isles 6-1 on national television November 1.
New York did not take advantage of the home-game heavy early schedule going 5-3-2. If you are looking for a silver lining in this somewhat dark season, they have points in three straight games. They finished their five-game homestand with a 2-1-2 record. Cal Clutterbuck, who scored the go-ahead goal Monday said the players are excited to hit the road.
"Been looking forward to it for a long time. People look at a homestand like this and think it's great. But it's tough. It's being in one place for a long period of time, it gets redundant and it's easy for you to get into the 'groundhog day' type of feel. It will be really nice for us to get away for a couple of days."
It's the same lineup as Monday against the Canucks. Anthony Beauvillier will once again be scratched. At least he can try the Amalie Arena popcorn. Jaroslav Halak will start.
The team also has to be excited to be playing on better quality ice. According to Newsday's Arthur Staple that will not be the case.
Talked to a couple Lightning players and asked about the Barclays Center ice. "It's 10 times better than ours." #Isles
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) November 10, 2016
Mathew Barzal was returned to Seattle of the WHL yesterday. The move freed up a roster spot for potentially a seventh defenseman. The team was to the sunshine state with six defensemen. So the team's scratches are a 19-year-old, a third-string goaltender who has not played a second this season and a ghost/an empty chair, call it what you like.
Andrei Vasilevskiy will start tonight for the Lightning. Jonathan Drouin is still out after suffering that hit from Calvin de Haan.