12/12: New York at Buffalo 7pm FSN-2

New York Islander Fan Central | 12/12/2007 12:15:00 PM | | | | |


Updated 6:37pm
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Updated 7pm:
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Islanders website: Has the pregame for tonight's game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Buffalo News: John Vogl reports Ryan Miller will start in goal for the Sabres tonight.

In Monday’s 4-1 loss to the Bruins, Buffalo had a 45-21 advantage in shots on goal but couldn’t solve Boston netminder Alex Auld. Buffalo has lost three of four games.

Defenseman Henrik Tallinder (11/25, shoulder) is out indefinitely. Defenseman Dmitri Kalinin (10/25, knee) is on injured reserve and is out indefinitely. Defenseman Teppo Numminen (9/21, heart surgery) is on injured reserve.

Updated 3:30pm
Newsday: Greg Logan updated his blog and reported Marc-Andre Bergeron will return to the powerplay with comments from Bergeron and Ted Nolan. Mr Logan makes the point teams adjusted to Bergeron on the Islanders powerplay in the playoffs but omits Bergeron's pp goal in game two for some strange reason.

“He wants me to be natural and do what I do best,” Bergeron said. “I would love to, but it’s hard when you’re in and out of the lineup. I’m not feeling that comfortable out there. I know that every now and then I’m going to do something wrong, and I’ll be out again. So, it’s not a position I really enjoy. But there’s no secret this is not an easy league to be part of. I’m going to work hard and I’m sure everything is going to be brighter.”

“Yeah, when you go through what our whole power play has been going through, it’s hesitating, hesitating, hesitating versus just letting your natural ability take over,” Nolan said. “The one thing Bergeron can do is shoot the puck. He’s got to get himself in position real quick, and we’ve got to get the puck to him and he’s got to unleash it.”


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Islanders return to the scene of their best offensive game of the season tonight with a few days off. There are no excuses for this club not to produce enough quality chances to win tonight. Buffalo is like Toronto in that they are inconsistent but dangerous enough to put up eight goals on the Islanders and skate them into the ice. After a 4-1 loss where the Bruins goalie was the best player on the ice, Rick DiPietro may have to do the same thing for the Islanders to come out of this with points.

Bill Guerin is getting more high quality chances, he's due to find the net beyond his deflection goal in Tampa. Seven defenders will dress. Not sure if Bergeron, Berard or Meyer will but there is a game tomorrow. Fedotenko is out.

We'll see what happens. Last place by a few points with games in hand is still last place. If the Islanders do not start putting up wins now they may find themselves well out of contention.

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