Deja Vu? Islanders set to take on Leafs

Well Islanders fans, if yesterday was not a wake up call then I do not know what would be. After a very poor performance against an unstable Philadelphia Flyers team, the Islanders hit the road bumped and bruised.

Tonight, from Toronto, the Islanders hope to have an outcome similar to the last time these two teams faced off against each other. The one change, minimal shots on goal. In other words, it is a must that the new found offense of the Leafs are held to under thirty shots on goal tonight. Dwayne Roloson is hoping that he does not have to have a repeat performance of 58 saves again.

The defense needs to step up and clear the front of the net, keeping rebounds from entering the danger zones. The sharper the defense plays in front of Roloson tonight, the better for the team to attack. By attack, the Islanders need to apply offensive pressure and good forechecking to keep the Leafs out of the Islanders zone.

If the Islanders and accomplish three things aside from the aforementioned, it should be a victory to end the road trip:

Capitalize on the man advantage.
Hold the Leafs to under thirty shots.
Score first.

Easier said then done, of course, but head coach Scott Gordon needs to brainwash his players to carry out these three key’s to victory.

Aside from the lack of veteran presence already missing from the line up, tonight will see press box regulars Robbie Schremp and Blake Comeau inserted into the line up in place of Sean Bergenheim and Tim Jackman. Jackman only played just over a minute last night and was hurt when he and Mike Richards met. It’s being called a hip pointer, and Jackman, currently, is listed as day to day.

Bergenheim was hurt when he and Flyers Claude Giroux wound up bumping into each other. So, the boys in Orange Blue and White will need to step up their game tonight go come home on a positive note.

Tonight’ line-up (subject to change):

Matt Moulson – John Tavares – Kyle Okposo
Jeff Tambellini – Frans Neilsen – Trent Hunter
Blake Comeau – Josh Bailey – Rob Schremp
Nate Thompson – Richard Park – Jon Sim

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

Dwayne Roloson

It’s an opportunity that the Islanders must take advantage of. That opportunity is the end of a road trip and knowing they head home. Victory, the most important outcome from tonights game.