The Islanders head to Florida for a weekend two-game road trip. New York's first stop, Sunrise and the Florida Panthers. The Isles snapped their two-game losing streak Wednesday with a gritty 2-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Wednesday's game could be a turning point of the season. The Isles, after allowing their 9th power play goal in their last 27 attempts earlier in the first period, were shorthanded again. They mostly slept walked through the period. Who bailed out the team? Who else, 4th line players Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizkias, who scored shorthanded with a minute left in the first. The goal sparked their play for the remainder of the game. They finally picked up their physical play. Nick Leddy got into his first career fight. His first fighting major before his first goal.
Ryan Strome returns from his Bridgeport timeout. Strome spent eight games with the Sound Tigers, netting two goals and assisting on two others. He will replace Steve Bernier in the lineup. Lets hope that Strome received the message from Isles management and shows them that he's the player from last season and not the one from the first 12 games of this season. The 2011 first rounder pick has a goal and four assists. He will most likely play alongside Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolay Kulemin, who have been invisible as of late.
The Florida Panthers (8-9-4) have struggled in November, going 3-5-2. They have had the Isles' number the last couple of years. New York has 2 wins in their last 6 games vs Florida.
Jaroslav Halak will be in net tonight. Same defense.