#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/qpZRNIrYfC
— NHL (@NHL) April 21, 2016
The New York Islanders seek to reverse the curse of the disconcerting Game Five.
For the second time in the last two seasons, the New York Islanders are in what is essentially a best-of-three series after succumbing to the Florida Panthers by a score of 2-1 in Game Four.
“We knew it was going to be a hard-fought series,” defenseman Travis Hamonic said. “That’s what we’re in. It’s a best-of-three now at this point. We played alright when we were in their barn, so we’re heading back there and ready to rock.”
For the Isles to win the contest that has alluded them all these years (they haven’t won a Game 5 in nearly three decades), they’ll need secondary scoring from guys like Ryan Strome, Brock Nelson, Josh Bailey, Nikolai Kulemin and the fourth line.
Lineups:
Capuano: Greiss in goal tonight. Zidlicky in for Pulock. Forwards TBD. #Isles
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 22, 2016
Quine comes off before Strome. We'll see what that means later on. Bernier says he's only been told he's a gametime decision.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) April 22, 2016
Bernier off with regulars. Quine and Strome doing extra work with scratches. One of em will play.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) April 22, 2016
Storylines:
- The New York Islanders have the opportunity to win their first game five since 1987. They’ve lost their last eleven.
- With Ryan Pulock sidelined (with an undisclosed injury) for what appears to be the remainder of the series, Marek Židlický is going to receive some playing time. That begins tonight.
Capuano: Ryan Pulock didn't travel to Florida and will likely be out the rest of the series. #Isles
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 22, 2016
Cap: initial diagnosis on Pulock is 1-2 weeks.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) April 22, 2016
Capuano: Zidlicky in because of experience and power play. #isles
— Andy Graziano (@AndyGraz_SNY) April 22, 2016
- Despite being tied, the Isles have led for an entire nine minutes this series. That’s a solid 3.75% of the time.
- Game Four was the first contest in which Riley Smith didn’t find the back of the net. That’s the good news for the Isles. The bad? Florida found a way to win without their hottest forward on the statsheet.
- Per Eric Hornick, this is the sixth time in franchise history that the Isles will play on the first night of Passover. In 1990, the team beat the Rangers in double overtime on a Brent Sutter goal in Game 3. They’ve also beaten two other rivals — the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals — on the eve of the Jewish holiday.
- El Capitano, John Tavares, scored the Isles’ loan goal in Wednesday night’s 2-1 loss. He has seven points in four contests, and is again making the case that he is an elite player.
