NEW YORK ISLANDERS (29-15-5) VS TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (37-11-2) 7pm
So the break is over, the 1st game back especially the 1st period is usually tough to your legs under you. Tampa has already played after the break so have to be careful how we start tonight’s game. Islanders sent Toews and Michael Dal Colle to Bridgeport. MDC got to play in the AHL All Star game. Tires was sentnstrictly for conditioning to keep him in shape. Islanders are 3 points ahead of Cindy’s Penguins and the Caps with a game in hand. The islanders lost their last game before the break in a shootout with the Black Hawks. The Lightning after a phenomenal start are 6-4 in their last 10. This is a team who can score at will. Our D and our goalie will be tested tonight. My expectation is that Robin Lehrer will be between the pipes The Islanders reconvened on Thursday and Anders Lee said, We put ourselves in a position to succeed,” Lee said here.” We have nothing to hang your hat on right now, there’s a lot of hockey left and we know that. We think we haven’t reached our potential at all and neither have I, that’s a little of the exciting part.” I believe this team is poised to continue to push towards the playoffs and I believe they have a great chance to win this division. I know this is just the 1st game back after the break but a win tonight will send a message that team is not going any where. Get your cold ones ready for Must See TV 7pm @ The Barn! Go Isles!
SEASON SERIES: TIED 1-1-0
The home team has taken the first two games of the Islanders and Lightning's season series. Tampa beat the Islanders 4-2 on Nov. 8, while the Isles beat the Bolts 5-1 on Jan. 13 in Brooklyn. The Islanders scored three goals in the opening 4:43 of the team's most recent meeting with Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin all recording two points apiece.
ISLANDERS NOTES:
- The Islanders return to action after eight days off for the All-Star break and league-mandated bye week. They play 33 games over 65 days to finish the season, including a back-to-back with Tampa Bay and LA.
- The Islanders lead the Metropolitan Division with 63 points, three points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.
- The Islanders enter Friday on a six-game point streak (5-0-1) and are 15-3-1 in their last 19 games.
- Robin Lehner leads the NHL in goals-against average (2.02) and save percentage (.931). Lehner is 11-1-1 (1.34, .953) in his last 13 decisions.
- The Islanders recalled Michael Dal Colle and Devon Toews from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Thursday. Dal Colle and Toews were loaned to Bridgeport on Jan. 23 for the Isles break. Dal Colle appeared in the AHL All-Star Classic on Jan. 27th and 28th.
- Thomas Hickey and Andrew Ladd are both skating on their own and are poised to re-join the Islanders for optional practices, according to GM Lou Lamoriello.
ISLANDERS GAMEDAY PROGRAM
LIGHTNING NOTES:
- The Lightning enter Friday's action with a league-leading 76 points and 201 goals for.
- Tampa Bay is coming off a 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night. The Lightning have only lost consecutive games once this season.
- The Lightning are making their first visit to Long Island since a 3-1 loss on Dec. 20, 2014. Tampa Bay is 18-23-2 (plus one tie) in 44 games at Nassau Coliseum.
- Nikita Kucherov leads the NHL with 79 points (22G, 57A) this season.
- Brayden Point leads the Lightning with 30 goals and is second on the team with 65 points.
Islanders President and GM Lou Lamoriello is cautiously optimistic about his team’s chances this season, giving them credit for their play so far but wisely understanding they’ve still got a ways to go. He also states that he’d like to keep all of his pending UFAs beyond this season, and that a decision on a home arena come playoff time has not been made. [Newsday]
Go Isles!!!!
Let's hope this team really isn't satisfied with being a feel good story in the first half and is hungry to keep it going.
Nice start, 12th!
LGI!!!
Best team in hockey at Nassau tonight. Hopefully crowd is loud, team isn’t too rusty, and Isles can come away with some points.
With Ladd inching toward a return, I wonder how they fit him back in the lineup. A few nights on the scoring sheet for Dal Colle will make things tough on Trotz.
Let's hope this team really isn't satisfied with being a feel good story in the first half and is hungry to keep it going.
Nice start, 12th!
LGI!!!
Thanks Mike! It really is imperative to get off to a solid start after the break. I really believe The Barn is going to be hopping tonight. I am anxious to see how they handle this break. Let’s start it up again tonight. Tampa is not going to be happy off their last game against us and their loss to Cindy. I expect them to come out flying. We need to match their tempo settle in the 1st 10 minutes and then do what we have been doing best for the next 50 minutes and get these 2 points.
Very entertaining game so far.
Absolutely does. Good to hear the Coliseum alive and loud.
Thanks 12th Man for all the updates this year. It's the best way I can follow the team and it's a treat to actually get the game on local tv. (Hope me watching isn't a jinx)
Quote:
This is some game. Feels like a playoff game.
Absolutely does. Good to hear the Coliseum alive and loud.
Thanks 12th Man for all the updates this year. It's the best way I can follow the team and it's a treat to actually get the game on local tv. (Hope me watching isn't a jinx)
Thank you! Started watching the game and our heat went out. Wife and I went down and changed the thermal coupling. We have heat and we have what you call playoff hockey. What a great response to the the break. Got a point niwnget the 2nd.
Not a team in the league the Isles can line up against where you feel there's no chance. These guys can go toe to toe against anyone.
Not a team in the league the Isles can line up against where you feel there's no chance. These guys can go toe to toe against anyone.
I could not agree more, this team is for real. We need a PP specialist between now and the trade deadline. PGA, looks like this team has turned the corner.
That was a playoff atmosphere in January. Crowd was great.
Need to win tomorrow.
I love the way this team plays, but wow is the power play hapless! No quick puck movement at all. It is lumbering and methodical night in and night out. This team just lacks that elite scorer that the pk has to account for. The struggles on the shootout are the same thing. There is plenty of talent, but everybody has a role. Outside of Barzal there is nobody that create their own chances. Honestly I’d like to see Beau in the shootout.