New York Islanders (4-9-2) at Ottawa Senators (6-7-2)
7:30 p.m. EST | [some such bank] Place | MSG+
Sens blogs: Scarlett Ice | Sens Army | Battle of Ontario
The Focus on Youth program takes a new turn tonight: In his second NHL game, Josh Bailey will center rookie Kyle Okposo. Andy Hilbert will provide the "veteran presence" for the line. Among the three of them are 36 career NHL goals, 113 career AHL goals, and an undeniable dose of hockey sense.
Bailey, of course, has no AHL experience, and Okposo only has last year's 35 games at Bridgeport. All but 9 of the above AHL goals are Hilbert's. But the hope is that the two young pups can become real scorers at the NHL level, attaining a role that checking forward Hilbert -- and Jeff Tambellini we're increasingly discovering -- could not.
Notes: More thoughts on what this home-and-home with struggling Ottawa means for the Isles here. ... Fun fact of the day? Jason Blake was scratched a second time. He did not take it well, and Ron Wilson couldn't care less.