My thanks to Alex & Steve from Hockey Night on Long Island here and special guest co-host Tom Mascoli Islesinfo.com for a lot of fun Saturday talking New York Islander Hockey.
Always a pleasure appearing on their outstanding program.
AP: Previews tonight's game against Columbus with the Jackets averaging two goals while losing seven of its last 11 games. Rick Nash, who leads the team with 13 goals and 24 points, has been held without a point in his last three games.
Columbus Dispatch: Has the expected line combinations for Columbus tonight with a brief game preview
here.
Columbus Dispatch: Aaron Portzline in a combined blog of media reporter with Tom Reed and and current sports columnist Michael Arace report rookie goaltender Steve Mason starts in goal vs the Islanders on Saturday.
Columbus has a game Sunday and comes in off a win against Nashville.
Injury Expected Return
Derek Dorsett RW Finger IR. Out until at least mid-December
Rostislav Klesla D Ankle IR. Out until at least mid-December
Raffi Torres LW Knee IR. Out until at least late December
NYI Fan Central Comments:
Not much to write about going into this game, Islanders have a win against Columbus this season in overtime after blowing a lead but have struggled badly in their building since day one being only one of two NHL clubs never to win in the Jackets home arena. (Buffalo)
How fragile will the goaltending be for New York and can they put up the kind of effort we saw in Philadelphia?
Fair to write it's a critical time for Scott Gordon and his players.
Updated 4:30pm:
Sim returns to the lineup, Sillinger returns to the sidelines. MacDonald returns to the net.