New York at Edmonton 9:30 pm Msg+2

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/05/2009 04:05:00 PM |
Joey MacDonald stated in goal for the Islanders.

Edmonton despite all the struggles comes in off a 4-1 win against Dallas Saturday after home losses to Calgary and Ottawa are two games over five hundred which places them tenth in the Western Conference only a point out of the eighth seed.

Injury Expected Return
12/30/08 Steve MacIntyre LW Face IR. Out until at least early January
12/30/08 Fernando Pisani RW Ankle Out until at least late January
01/03/09 Ales Hemsky RW Nose/concussion Out until at least early Jan
01/03/09 Marc-Antoine Pouliot C Concussion Questionable for Jan. 5

Dwayne Roloson in goal has posted 10-6-5 record with 2.63 gaa/921 save percentage.

Ales Hemsky 34 10 25 35 1
Shawn Horcoff 37 10 18 28 2
Sheldon Souray 36 12 16 28 0

Former Islander Denis Grebeshkov with 2 goals, fourteen assist is on the Edmonton backline with Robert Nilsson according to the Edmonton Sun's Terry Jones having a plus two against Dallas in a game where the Oilers played well here despite the benchings and missed practice.

Edmonton Journal: Had Joanne Ireland on their win against Dallas.

From the Islanders side of things we'll have to see what they bring to this game on the fast Edmonton surface. Speed gives them trouble in most games adjusting, they have gotten back into games recently and played some strong third periods and had a very good middle part of the first but overall they have been spotty and it's cost them.

Seems whatever offense they generate in terms of finishing comes off something that Richard Park does. When Park, Jackman and Tomas Pock score that's a game the Islanders should win.

I would expect Rick DiPietro to start but anything is possible depending on how he reacts to practice. Goaltending is not the problem for this team regardless who starts. Islanders need to draw more powerplays than they have been on this trip so far.

As of Sunday night no reported callups from Bridgeport.

I will add updates to lineup as made available, aside from a change in goal I expect the same lineup.


Updated:

Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog reports Doug Weight is out for tonight's game, Radek Martinek went home for final medical clearance, Jon Sim is likely to dress even though he is not a center with line shuffling.





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