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The New York Islanders’ season-best 6-0-1 run came to an end last night in Detroit. Five of those wins came under new interim coach Doug Weight, who took over before the homestand following the Jack Capuano finale 4-0 win in Boston.
Before that win over the Bruins was the last, embarrassing loss in the Capuano tenure: a 7-4 (and really, it was worse than that) defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes that had all the appearances of sealing his fate. Despite building a mostly fortuitous 3-1 lead, they were outplayed thoroughly and looked lost throughout.
So now here we are three weeks later, the Islanders have at least saved the notion of possibility in their season, and the team is playing at least up to its potential if not significantly better than last season’s wild card team.
With both teams having played last night — same as last month when they met on the second half of back-to-backs — tonight represents a chance to see if the Isles under Weight are better able to handle the Hurricanes’ counterattack.
Lineup News
Jean-Francois Berube gets the start in goal. Cal Clutterbuck left last night’s game with an injury, so he’ll be replaced by Shane Prince.
You Can Play Night
This one is at 7 p.m. EST on MSG+.
In addition to Stanley Cup banner giveaway night, tonight’s game is the “You Can Play Night” as part of the league-wide campaign promoting diversity and inclusion and its own Hockey Is For Everyone month. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales tonight go to You Can Play.
The #Isles visited The Henry Viscardi School this week for a game of wheelchair hockey with students to kick off #HockeyIsForEveryone Month. pic.twitter.com/VGirU0h8SX
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 4, 2017
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Check more Hurricanes coverage at Canes Country.