Islanders message: Do not get discouraged

It will be quite the road trip for the New York Islanders now that they have officially left “home” and headed to Atlanta. Tonight’s tilt against the Thrashers will be the first of two games where the Islanders players have their fathers in attendance. Nervous? No reason to be, except when you know that you are going to take on one of the better top lines in hockey as of late.

Kovalchuk – Antropov – Afinogenov have been on a tear, especially in the Thrashers current 7-1-2 record over their last ten games. There are, as always, keys to tonight in this test for the Isles. Discipline is a must.  They can not give up a 5 on 3 power play for the opposition again tonight.  Something that has been a common trend for this club this year needs to come to an end. That is a must.

Face-offs, especially outside of the neutral zone, are crucial in tonights game as well.  The Islanders need to have puck control in order to generate more offensive production and that all starts with face off wins. If they can control the puck, that means less time for the quick, young offense of the Thrashers to generate opportunities.

The power play also needs a boost. If the Islanders get the man advantage tonight they must capitalize. Such an important part of hockey is special teams.  This season, the Islanders power play is ranked at a percentage of

Tonight’s lineup (subject to change):

Matt Moulson              John Tavares           Kyle Okposo
Sean Bergenheim       Frans Nielsen          Trent Hunter
Jeff Tambellini            Josh Bailey                Jon Sim
Nate Thompson          Richard Park             Tim Jackman

Mark Streit                Bruno Gervais
Andy MacDonald   Jack Hillen
Brendan Witt            Freddy Meyer

Dwayne Roloson
Martin Biron

With Doug Weight and Andy Sutton out of the line up, the boys of the team will need to step up, in a big way tonight.  Another thing to watch, especially for the pure hockey fan, is the Calder candidates playing against each other.

John Tavares for the Islanders who has 21 points in 27 games and Evander Kane for the Thrashers who has 13 points in 24 games. What a future we have developing within the National Hockey League.

The Islanders are 4-4-2 over their last ten games, giving into the common theme of a .500 season thus far.  Seems as if Scott Gordon’s team is on a strange roller coaster ride. If the Islanders are able to put together a two to three game winning streak, this could start to turn into an even more interesting season.

The Thrashers are hot, and tonight would be the perfect time for the Isles to get hot by cooling off the team in “Hotlanta”

The Islanders are currently in the news because of:  overcoming expectations, John Tavares, Dwayne Roloson as well as the return of Rick DiPietro. Just think what a winning streak would do.  Do not get discouraged boys, this year is all about you.

Oh, and Isles – score first.