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The New York Islanders preseason game schedule kicks off tonight with simultaneous "split squad" games against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The teams are both home and away. They are both near and far. They are both recognizable and unrecognizable, in familiar shades of orange.
In Brooklyn, the Isles will dress former Devils Marek Zidlicky and Steve Bernier to welcome their first non-Devils exhibition opponent in Barclays Center history, while in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the Flyers will host the other half at the home of their Lehigh Valley AHL affiliate.
If you are attending one of them, you're encouraged to chime in here with what you see.
Rosters and Lines
The Flyers released their rosters for both games here. Former Islander Andrew MacDonald is among those coming to Brooklyn. Other prominent names include Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier, Wayne Simmonds and "POS" Radko Gudas. Keep an eye out for number 49, Scott Laughton, a hot prospect seeking regular work this season for the Flyers, and in any case likely to be a feared one in the years to come.
The Islanders published their rosters for the games here, with more of the big names (John Tavares, Nick Leddy, Johnny Boychuk, Anders Lee, Jaroslav Halak) playing in front of the home fans in Brooklyn.
Included in that group is Kirill Petrov, the long-awaited 2008 draft pick who is getting his first taste of action in North America after a lengthy tenure in the KHL.
According to Arthur Staple of Newsday, Petrov will line up in linguistic comfort next to Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolay Kulemin. Staple put the rest of the lines like so:
#Isles forwards vs. PHI @barclayscenter: Lee-Tavares-Bailey, Kulemin-Grabovski-Petrov, Whitney-Barzal-Bernier, Martin-Kearns-Clutterbuck.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) September 21, 2015
#Isles D/G: Leddy-Boychuk, Hickey-Zidlicky, Pelech-Carkner. Halak/Williams in net.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) September 21, 2015
In Pennsylvania:
#Isles forwards at Lehigh Valley: Boulton-Cizikas-Halmo, Florek-Wright-Beck, Dal Colle-Quine-Collberg, Vaive-Beauvillier-Holmstrom.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) September 21, 2015
#Isles D/G at Lehigh Valley: de Haan-Graham, Strait-Mayfield, Czuczman-Pulock. Greiss/Gibson in goal.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) September 21, 2015
Josh Ho-Sang was reportedly slated for time on the top line next to Tavares, where Josh Bailey now lines up, but those plans...changed.
Coach Jack Capuano said Halak would play more than one period, perhaps all of two.
Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania the chief interest will be the performance of top prospects Michael Dal Colle and Anthony Beauvillier. That one will also feature a curious matchup: The last two Islanders backup goaltenders, last spring's temporary backup Michal Neuvirth opposite new signing Thomas Greiss.
Want to follow that game? Check out Lehigh Valley's Fox1470.com or follow Phantoms announcer Bob Rotruck, or watch via CSN Philly if you're in the area.
Islanders vs. Flyers (Brooklyn)
Goaltenders:
41 - Jaroslav Halak
35 - Stephon Williams
Defensemen:
2 - Nick Leddy
7 - Matt Carkner
14 - Thomas Hickey
28 - Marek Zidlicky
50 - Adam Pelech
55 - Johnny Boychuk
Forwards:
11 - Bracken Kearns
12 - Josh Bailey
13 - Mathew Barzal
15 - Cal Clutterbuck
16 - Steve Bernier
17 - Matt Martin
27 - Anders Lee
48 - Joe Whitney
84 - Mikhail Grabovski
86 - Nikolay Kulemin
90 - Kirill Petrov
91 - John Tavares
Islanders Roster vs. Flyers (Allentown)
Goaltenders:
1 - Thomas Greiss
33 - Chris Gibson
Defense:
6 - Ryan Pulock
24 - Kevin Czuczman
37 - Brian Strait
42 - Scott Mayfield
44 - Calvin de Haan
62 - Jesse Graham
Forwards:
10 - Alan Quine
25 - Ben Holmstrom
26 - James Wright
36 - Eric Boulton
43 - Mike Halmo
45 - Justin Vaive
46 - Justin Florek
49 - Sebastian Collberg
53 - Casey Cizikas
56 - Taylor Beck
71 - Michael Dal Colle
72 - Anthony Beauvillier