Game Preview: New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning
Thursday, 03.14.2013 / 12:00 AM
/ News
By Travis Betts
PrintNew York Islanders 11-12-3 (25 points – 4th in Atlantic Division, 10th in Eastern Conference) 6-4-1 road |
Tampa Bay Lightning 11-14-1 (23 points - 3rd in Southeast Division, 12th in Eastern Conference) 6-6-1 home |
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| 7:30 p.m. Tampa Bay Times Forum Tampa, FL Television: MSG Play-by-play: Howie Rose; Color: Butch Goring Radio: WHRU 88.7 FM Chris King: Play-by-play |
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| Season series (1-0-0) The Islanders won the first meeting between the two teams back on Jan. 21 thanks to goals from Michael Grabner, Kyle Okposo, Matt Martin and David Ullstrom. The Isles got off to a 4-0 lead before allowing three straight goals in the third period. Evgeni Nabokov held strong late, stopping 23-of-26 shots overall to earn the Islanders their first win of the season. Jan. 21, 2013: NYI 4, TBL 3 - RECAP, BOX SCORE, HIGHLIGHTS |
Lightning player to watch Martin St. Louis - Right WingAt 37-years-old, Martin St. Louis is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, ranking fourth in the league with 36 points through 26 games. The Laval, QC native is riding a seven-game point streak (three goals, nine assists), including a one-goal, two-assist effort in a 3-2 win on March 12 at Florida. St. Louis had a goal and an assist in the lone meeting with the Islanders on Jan. 21. |
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| Islanders Storylines •John Tavares has 231 career points, 55 more than any other player selected in the 2009 NHL Draft. •Matt Martin leads the league with 128 hits, nine more than Buffalo's Steve Ott. •Andrew MacDonald is tied for fifth in the league with 68 blocked shots. •Evgeni Nabokov is tied for fifth in the NHL with 11 wins this season. |
The Matchup | |||
| Islanders 23.0% (23/100) 80.2% (73/91) 77 88 5-3-2 |
Power play Penalty kill Goals for Goals against Last 10 games |
Lightning 21.0% (21/100) 83.0% (73/88) 88 81 3-7-0 |
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| New York Islanders projected lines Forwards 26 Matt Moulson - 91 John Tavares - 24 Brad Boyes 12 Josh Bailey - 51 Frans Nielsen – 21 Kyle Okposo 36 Eric Boulton - 16 Marty Reasoner – 41 David Ullstrom 17 Matt Martin - 53 Casey Cizikas – 13 Colin McDonald Defensemen 3 Travis Hamonic - 47 Andrew MacDonald 14 Thomas Hickey – 11 Lubomir Visnovsky 2 Mark Streit - 4 Radek Martinek Goaltenders 20 Evgeni Nabokov 60 Kevin Poulin |
Tampa Bay Lightning projected lines Forwards 12 Ryan Malone - 91 Steven Stamkos - 16 Teddy Purcell 26 Martin St. Louis - 4 Vincent Lecavalier - 17 Alex Killorn 74 Ondrej Palat - 44 Nate Thompson - 89 Cory Conacher 11 Tom Pyatt - 19 BJ Crombeen Defensemen Sami Salo - 77 Victor Hedman 2 Eric Brewer - 25 Matthew Carle 3 Keith Aulie - 47 Marc-Andre Bergeron 75 Radko Gudas Goaltenders 39 Anders Lindback 32 Mathieu Garon |
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Quote of the Day "I think all the points right now, whether you get one or two in a game, it’s huge. If you look around the league, there’s a lot of overtimes and shootouts. Points are crucial. It’s still a tight race. We’re right there. But we have to match the intensity level. Tampa has some firepower. There’s no question. Playing sound defensively is going to be key for us." Head Coach Jack Capuano, |
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