NFT: Islanders - Preds 8pm Game Thread

Isles are in "Smashville" (as the locals call it...okayyy) to face the Preds. Although still leading the NHL in points, NSH has been out of sorts and have dropped four straight. These are the games that worry me...cannot imagine the Preds come out tonight looking to give any charity.

As Metnut mentioned earlier, Jaro Halak to get the start, and both Casey Cizikas as well as noted sniper Eric Boulton make their returns from IR and into the lineup (Mallrat to sit). Same defensive groupings as last game. My guess is Boulton takes Martin's place on L4.

Cappy on Neuvirth, who will likely get more work than just in the four sets of back-to-back games that remain.

Quote:

"He's going to get some playing time and we don't want to overwork anyone,"

And some more positive news on KO...he skated on Long Island for a third consecutive day. If he continues to progress, he should join the team's practice late next week when the Isles return home.

Funny thing I stumbled across today in hearing about that it's been nearly 13 years (!!) since the Isles last won in Nashville (5-2, on 4/12/2002). Look at the goal scorers from that game: Brad Isbister, Kip Miller, Oleg Kvasha, Mariusz Czerkawski and Mike Peca with an ENG. The goalie for that game?:

Quote:

Garth Snow improved his April record to 2-0, and won his 101st career game. Snow was credited with 23 saves.

Shhh...don't look now, but the PK is actually improved. Perfect in 9 of their last 11 games. Neither Hamonic nor Clutterbuck have been on-ice for an opponents PP goal in that span and they rank 4th and 5th in PK ice-time. Grabner has only been on-ice for 1 goal against, but missed the first couple of games. The PK has done well in this 11 game stretch despite a horrible faceoff win percentage on the kill of 35% (18 of 51)...this is a big issue, IMO.

And while not an Islanders-focused article (although it does make mention of Josh Ho-Sang), this is an important and disappointing read for hockey fans on issues of racism. Worth your time - Blue Lines and Black Stereotypes: http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-04/blue-lines-and-black-stereotypes

Let's Go Islanders!

Keep holding on so long
'Cause there's a chance
That we might not be so wrong
We could be down and gone
But we hold on