The Islanders are 2-0 on their current circus trip looping from New Jersey all the way to Vancouver and back to New York. Tonight, they make the first of two stops in Alberta against the currently-constituted-but-for-how-long Calgary Flames.
Islanders (32-19-7, 3rd/Metro) @ Flames (26-30-3, 6th/Pacific)
9 p.m. EST | MSG+2 (twice the plus!)
audio, WNYE 91.5 FM, WRHU 88.7 FM, LI NEWS 103.9 FM
[bank or leather tanning or something] Saddledome
Burning for you: Matchsticks and Gasoline
Calgary is coming off a 2-1 loss to the Kings on Tuesday, in which goalie Joni Ortio stopped 35 of 37 shots while the Flames just sorta skated around for the first two periods. A third period rally, Calgary's calling card for the last few seasons, wasn't enough to overcome their division leaders.
Right now, the big questions for Calgary involve who's staying past the trade deadline and who might have a new home very soon. Tonight's game and Saturday's game versus Ottawa might be the final home performances for more than one Flame.
The Flames have lost five of six and have dropped three straight to the Islanders including a 4-0 beatdown in Brooklyn in October.
Special Teamin'
The Islanders enter the game with the NHL's top penalty killing unit (87.2%) and a new-look power play that went 2-for-4 against Minnesota on Tuesday. The Flames have the worst PK in the league (73.2%) and second worst power play (16%). I'm not sayin', but I'm just sayin'. Know what I'm sayin'?
Line-Ups
Ortio starts again for the Flames, who might also get back defenseman Kris Russell, another possible trade target.
The Islanders will ice the same line-up as Tuesday's game, which means Jaroslav Halak gets his third straight start and Ryan Pulock, called up from Bridgeport before the start of the trip, will have to once again postpone his long-awaited NHL regular season debut. The Islanders' next game is Sunday night in Edmonton, which might be the day Pulock gets the call.
FIG picks can be left here. Don't pick Pulock (still) (yet).