NFT: Oilers at Islanders, 2:30pm Game Thread

So that was fun yesterday, right?

We'll see if this team is capable of salvaging pride, because that may be a stronger motivator than the messaging they're receiving (or, better said, not receiving) from the coach. McJesus comes to town, so beware his mystical powers.

Greiss is the likely starter today. I'd also wager some line shakeups and possibly Bernier in for some random scapegoat (cough, cough...Josh Bailey...looking at your charmin-soft play...cough).

MDC continues his assault since joining Kingston with 2G, 1A in consecutive games Friday & Saturday. Additionally, some interesting pieces here from the CT Post concerning Pulock (and more) from BPT Beat writer Michael Fornabaio:

Quote:

1. Who has been the most impressive Islanders youngster in Bridgeport this season? Pelech for good or ill. His progression over a year from 6/7 guy to shutdown guy (and, had he stayed here, a guy who looked as if he might be getting another crack on the power play) was pretty neat to watch. To tack on another, Alan Quine's all-around game has come along greatly over his three seasons. I think he's in the mix if a call-up is needed. That probably would've surprised me two years ago. 2. With Pelech and now Scott Mayfield being recalled before Pulock, what is your sense as to the possible reasoning why? Their defensive games were more mature than Pulock's. They were Bridgeport's top penalty-kill pair, the matchup pair. Pulock was, for instance, the fourth or fifth PK guy. That said, Pulock has kind of seized the moment with those two guys up and has taken advantage of more ice time and more-important ice time. 3. What has been the most impressive part of Pulock's game and, subsequently, the most disappointing thus far? I don't know that there's a really disappointing aspect. He's developing. Over the past month or so he has tried to be more assertive, and it shows, whether moving the puck, carrying it himself, taking it to the net. 4. What was your sense of Kirill Petrov when he was here, prior to his returning to the KHL. I was kind of waiting to see him take over. You saw flashes. It's an adaptation, obviously; different culture, different everything. But then he was hurt, came back for that one game on his way out the door, and then was gone. Too bad, really, as long as we all waited for it to happen. 5. Stephon Williams might be more talked about, but Christopher Gibson has taken the starting job and performed very well. With the JF Berube situation on the big club, it seems like the team now has a glut of qualified goaltending prospects. Which one makes the cut in your opinion and why? Stockpiling is not a bad idea -- see which one emerges. Williams has shown potential, if inconsistency as a rookie. Gibson has been very solid here and has a couple of years' experience. Berube has been the man for a really good AHL team that won a Calder Cup. Reasonable odds on any of them, with no clear cut favorite right now.

Can't let a clunker get in the way of a stretch of some decent quality play the Isles have shown in the MIN and WAS games. A win at home would be a nice tonic.

Let's Go Islanders!

We sometimes catch a window
A glimpse of what's beyond
Was it just imagination
Stringing us along?