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Tonight's preseason game in Brooklyn has been long-anticipated, and it's the much-hyped future home of the Islanders, so it's only fitting they go with a lineup of more established regulars while the others prepare to play in Nashville on Sunday.
Yesterday's skate, according to Brett Cyrgalis of the Post, had the expected lineup looking like this:
Moulson - Tavares - Bouchard
Bailey - Nielsen - OkposoGrabner - Regin - McDonald
Martin^ - Cizikas^ - Boulton
Hamonic - Strait
MacDonald - Carkner
Visnovsky - Hickey
(Note: Sorry, forgot to include the preseason reminder of "subject to change," as per rule the Isles will need to ice eight veterans in Nashville.)
UPDATE from morning skate: Staple has MacDonald paired with Matt Donovan, Visnovsky paired with Griffin Reinhart, while up front Johan Sundstrom is between Boulton and Justin Johnson and Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas reunite with Colin McDonald.
Earlier in the week there was scuttlebutt about Anders Nilsson getting a full game, but with a game in Nashville tomorrow they could get a look at him then while letting veteran Evgeni Nabokov have this Brooklyn exhibition. Stay tuned. [The tuning, if you stayed: Nabby gets the start with Parker Milner backing up.]
The Devils did not have a morning skate, so you won't know what lovely lineup they field until later. However, Corey Schneider will be in net.
The game should be streamed at the Islanders official site as well as barclayscenter.com. Expect more than 10,000 in attendance (including some Isles fans gathering at Cherry Tree for pre-game).
Islanders Reading
- More on those lines plus other notes from Friday's skate.
- The Isles post travel tips for taking the LIRR to tonight's game.
- Islanders Point Blank: Jack Capuano wants to see the veterans in sharp form tonight.
- Newsday has Matt Moulson vowing not to let his walk year bug him. No negotiations yet, but it's a long season.
- With 14 days until the season, IPB had a nice collection of Bob Bourne tributes.
- Many links and general oglings of John Tavares.
- Heh, fun to see Quinnipiac promoting Mike Dalhuisen's fight, something not allowed in the NCAA.
- Back in juniors, Adam Pelech will lead the Erie defense, where he is joined by "the average or the very young." | He had an assist last night in Erie's opening OT loss to Guelph.
Elsewhere
- The Flyers sound like they'll keep Hal Gill.
- They will definitely keep Matt Read: Four years, $14.5 million
- Brian Burke won a judgment against those anonymous online slanderers, whoever they are.
- Darren Dreger says the helmet rule enforcement is a complicated thing. (But, really, is it?)
- The new goalie pads have literally irritated Jonathan Bernier.
- Don't expect Jaromir Jagr tonight; he continues to skate on his own but the "soreness" isn't ready for full practice. Aging.