3/6: New York vs Rangers 7pm FSN

New York Islander Fan Central | 3/06/2008 10:01:00 AM | |
Islanders website: Has the early preview for tonight's game against the Rangers.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Isles cannot win one, lose one any longer. Islanders cannot even afford to let the Rangers get an overtime point here, they need a regulation win if they want to catch them in the standings.

I guess we will find out during the afternoon if it's Dubie or DiPietro in goal. I would take a gamble with Dubie here and ride the momentum of his solid play because it's worked in Bridgeport and in college while DiPietro gets an extra day or two to relax after a very tough week. He'll be the number one goalie in the long-run regardless because he should be.

Of course it's not my call and in the end there is a hockey game to play and win.

Regardless Islanders are going to need more quality chances, more goals and their powerplay must stop giving the other team momentum, it gave away a point on Monday.

Lundqvist is letting in soft goals, Islanders have to keep getting the puck to the net and test his confidence. Defense will need another huge game to keep the shots down as they did in the third period and overtime and do a better job on Jagr who got frustrated after he did not finish some chances.

That line with Colliton looked very good on Tuesday, Nolan should consider giving them more minutes if they are effective again. Satan needs to be a lot more visible tonight, so does Comrie and Guerin.

Hopefully the league does not determine the outcome with bad calls or a review, let both teams play.

Updated 2:20pm:
Wade Dubielewicz will start tonight for Isles.

Full game report will be on Friday morning.

Updated 3:30pm
Newsday: Greg Logan updates the Newsday blog and has Rick DiPietro, Ted Nolan's comments and his own speculation that this is the biggest gamble in Ted Nolan's two years as head coach.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
There are another thirteen games after tonight and if the coach wants to ride the hot hand it's hard to go against that. Dubielewicz did not get a lot of work against Florida but played well in that game too.