Islanders hit the big national media stage on Versus for tonight's game.
Courier-Post: Chuck Gormley has the bad news about a club on a 9-1-3 roll that is threatening the all-time mark for shorthanded goals with eleven already. Mr Gormley also writes the the Isles have been outscored 59-35 at even strength and rank 18th on the power play and penalty kill and it's the biggest reason ten points now separate them from the Flyers.
Philadelphia Flyers:
Matt Carle D Lower body Questionable for Dec. 9 vs. N.Y. Islanders
Daniel Briere C Groin Out until at least early January
Randy Jones D Hip IR. Questionable for Dec. 9 vs. N.Y. Islanders
Ryan Parent D Shoulder IR. Out until at least early January
Derian Hatcher D Knee IR. Out indefinitely
Flyers website: Has the latest from the Flyers Public Relations blog on injuries and practice.
Flyers head coach John Stevens made a change to his lines on Monday flip-flopping Joffrey Lupul and Scottie Upshall. Lupul was with Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell, while Upshall skated with Glen Metropolit and Andreas Nodl.
NYI Fan Central Comments:
This is excellent and sets up a game for everyone trying to find out the latest from practice. Islanders should absolutely look into doing something along these lines, most Islander website content these days is lacking on a lot of levels.
Sometimes it just takes one game where things change and some chemistry is rebuilt. Flyers have some key injuries of their own but Gagne, Kunble, Carter, Richards, Hartnell are a very good core.
Islanders had no problem playing them close and should have gotten points in the Coliseum game after the ot loss in Philadelphia. Unless they want to be twelve points behind Philadelphia they better find win a game here and establish a forecheck.
They have no time for fatigue, if they skate like they did against Toronto it could be a blowout loss the way the Flyers are playing right now.
Not sure if I will have time to post if Danis is in or if there is a callup for Thompson/Comeau.
I'm releasing this blog entry at 12pm.
Updated:
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports Mitch Fritz and Joe Callahan were recalled to the Islanders for tonight's game.
Callahan was not in our poll. Thompson or Comeau, I'm not sure who gets a seat on the backline.
Updated:
Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog reports Andy Sutton has the flu along with Thompson.
Martinek was placed on IR last week.