GAME DAY: Islanders at Hurricanes, 7pm
UPDATE, Noon: Brian Rolston and Dylan Reese find spots in the box tonight. Kevin Poulin will start and Rhett Rakhshani will be in the lineup although exactly where has not yet been revealed. All three goalies skated this morning, according to Newsday.
The last time these two teams met in Raleigh, the game ended with the Danish backhand that you see above, as quite a few games have. The Islanders finish up their January series against the Canes tonight, the third of three games this month. Both games thus far have been decided by one goal; the Danish backhand at the beginning of the month and the John Tavares show at the Coliseum just a few weeks ago.
The Canes made news yesterday, taking care of some housekeeping and re-singing defender Tim Gleason for four years at a total of $16 million. Gleason’s a solid defensive defenseman and is off the market (he was due to be an UFA this summer) in what is already a very small defensive free agent market. From the wire report of Gleason’s signing:
General manager Jim Rutherford says Gleason is “one of our core players” both on and off the ice.
That’s an awfully familiar line.
AND NOW, A ROSTER DECISION
In the last game against Toronto, Steve Staios and Marty Reasoner were the scratches. Reasoner has since been shifted to IR and Staios could very well sit out again. Now with Rhett Rakhshani called up, the Islanders will have some decisions to make at forward as well. There’s an odd man out tonight. Maybe Rolston or Pandolfo? We’ll have to wait and see. Also to be determined is the starter for tonight’s game. Newsday thought it could be Poulin, I disagree but we’ll know for sure soon enough.
TONIGHT’S LINES
(These are the lines from the previous game against Toronto. Expect them to be different with Rakhshani and Poulin called up.)
Moulson – Tavares – Okposo
Grabner – Nielsen – Parenteau
Rakhshani – Bailey – Martin
Niederreiter – Pandolfo – Wallace
Streit – Staios
Hamonic – MacDonald
Jurcina – Eaton
Nabokov
Poulin
About Kevin Schultz
Kevin was formerly an NHL blogger for the now defunct AOL Fanhouse and was the creator of the hockey comedy blog Barry Melrose Rocks. He now covers the Isles for Islanders Point Blank. You can follow him for instant updates on the team and talk hockey with him on Twitter @schultz88. View all posts by Kevin Schultz →41 Responses to GAME DAY: Islanders at Hurricanes, 7pm
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Game Misconduct says:
Read the post again Robbie, nobody said it was the last game of the year against the canes. He clearly said “wraps up January”….Pat attention and engage brain before mouth!
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JP91 says:
As far as I’m concerned, both Pandolfo and Rolston should be healthy scratches. Neither of them bring anything to the table. I’d rather see guys like Rakhshani and Wallace get the ice time at this point.
And in regards to the goaltending situation, I don’t even think it should be a question. It should be Nabokov running with this thing through the end of the season. IF (a big IF) we are going to have any chance at a playoff spot, he’s going to be a huge reason why (that’s if he’s not traded before or on Feb 27th)
LETS’S GO ISLES!!!!!
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Mezz says:
Rolston sits… my guess is that Pandolfo has been too valuable on the penalty kill… And are you really going to trust your meager playoff hopes on the back of a rookie goaltender? Everyone had off… start Nabby and see where that goes.
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Dan C. says:
Playoffs? Are you kidding me? Playoffs?
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john says:
what side of the bench will Rakhshani watch pandolfo and rolston from?
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Brian G says:
With 34 games left, having to jump over 6 teams and make up 11 points to get into a playoff position seems very remote. That being said play Poulin tonight, Then Nabokov on Friday. Have Rakhshani play with Bailey & Martin. Either Rolston or Wallace should be scratched tonight….
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Bob E. says:
Put the lines that give u best chance of winning as many games as possible
Moulson – Tavares – Okposo
Grabner – Nielsen – Parenteau
Niederreiter– Bailey – Rhett
Rolston/Wallace – Pandolfo – Martin
Streit – Jurcina
Hamonic – MacDonald
Reese – EatonRoloston off the PP forever.
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IslanderFan says:
I would love to see Bailey on that line.
Yay! Rolston sits! Yay. (Sorry, he seems to be a good guy, but he is really not helping the team. If you notice, he is paralyzed by indecision when he plays.)
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Rolston was a very good all-around player for a very long time, but he is finished. All he is doing now is taking playing time away from younger players. This has been obvious since late October so naturally it takes until late January for this team to do anything about it.
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Another GM in training! Eh, Bob E.?
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Hishutzi Skorz says:
Too bad “Gleason” and Keith “Carney” played in different eras. Would have been a great pair!
Is this promotion to assess Rakshani’s long term value to the organization, or will he just be getting a game or 2 during the AHL All Star break?
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NYIslanders NYIslanders
Capuano says Poulin in net. Staios in. Rolston and Reese out. Nabokov backing up. #islesFrom the Isles twitter….
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Well now we know. This team will tolerate a player who brings absolutely nothing to the table for 48 games, but they’ll be damned if they’re gonna let it go on for a 49th!!
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Mike says:
If Reese is not playing? Which piece of CRAP is staios or mottau????
Time to play the kids call up Cizakas also ENOUGH of the OLD CRAP -
Isles Revamped says:
Playoffs with no infusion of talent equals same result as last year. Forget the playoffs. This team does not have what it takes to get there and Garth will not add the necessary pieces. Just be competitive until the end. Thats all we can hope for. Anyone thinking otherwise is lost.
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Now this guy gets it!
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Anthony says:
Wow it’s about time they sat Rolston it only took 48 games to see he is awfull. Why sit Reese? One step forward one step back.
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Gene F says:
Nabby is not playing because of the risk of injury before the trade. Montoya is probably not 100%, that’s why Poulin is starting.
That’s how I see it. -
Cold Spring Harbor says:
Gene F seems to have it just about right.
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Jim says:
I agree. Why not Reese? The Isles D was solid with him in it. Also, why play Poulin now? I realzie the playoffs are a long shot but at least make it look like you’re trying. I think Nabaokov gives them their best chance to win tonight.
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SnowBalls n Wong says:
This game will be unwatchable
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Why? The Isles and Canes played a pretty entertaining game 11 days ago.
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Jack says:
If you’re on a one way contract you will play. Wank will not pay a guy to sit no matter how bad he is.
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Really? Ever heard of Rick Di Pietro? Hes made nearly twenty million sitting on his swolen ass!
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Hope Rolston doesn’t play another game for isles the rest of the season, since he is just cap space just put him on waivers, no one will pick him up….
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Bean322 says:
I knew Reese shouldnt have got into that fight…uncle Chaz dont likey the fighty
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jon from nj says:
I guess the Steve Staios train continues, with the benching of Reese? I have no clue what this coach/GM are thinking…ever.
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Claude says:
Fine trade nabby . But I hope they acquire
A bonafide. That roli for wishart was a disasterThey brought up Rhett whatever last year
And he was invisible.
Can’t we try someone else
I hope poulin plays well like to see more
Loved Tavares ” AS ” shoot out goal , that boy gots some sick hands
Go Isles!!!!!!
Go Isles!!!!!! -
rpchief2 says:
Nabakov will get traded soon, Staios will go to Edmonton to finish his career, I say a sixth round pick. If Garth will not get anything to good for Nabakov, because teams know he doesn’t want to be here, so they won’t be offering much.
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Jeff wall says:
Jt has a shot at the scoring race. Only 9 points off Malkin As long as snow doesn’t mess with the first line and the islanders play loose meaningless games like last year, he has a legit shot. That’s what we have left for. Fail for nail and an art Ross.
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Hey, if JT wins the scoring title and they still actually get first overall, at this point I’d take it. That would be not unlike the Devils last year giving it a ride down the stretch and still landing Larsson.
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John R says:
Could Poulin be starting so another NHL team can get a better look? Would snow consider trading him as part of a package for Bobby Ryan?
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Jon in Chicago says: I wouldn’t think Anaheim would want a goalie in return for Ryan. Hiller is very good and still young.
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Nick M says:
the boys are giving a good effort so far tonight. all four lines. rhett looks comfortable
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wow what a difference youth makes on offense. rolston was holding this team back on a deeper level
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Sm says:
Dear NHL,
That’s one he’ll of a job your officials did in the Toronto home and home. Our special teams are top 10, the Leafs special teams are awful. I guess the thought of an opening round with 2 original six teams just gets you all ratings wet. Well, that doesn’t change the fact you suck, and karma comes back around. The Leafs aren’t worthy, and the remaining 30 games will prove that fact. Piss up a rope.
Frustrated isles fans who smells BS when it’s in front of me. -
Jon in Chicago says:
Any third-period lead with this team makes me feel very uneasy.
Joe 
This is not the last time they play the Canes. Islanders host the Canes on Feb 18 as well