With the exception of one game, the New York Islanders have played extremely well during their four game losing streak. The team hopes to break its slump when it takes on the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night.
On Saturday night, the Islanders outshot the Buffalo Sabres 43-15 and still managed to lose 3-2. The Sabres' Thomas Vanek scored on a scrum in front of the net to give the Sabres a lead early in the first but superstar John Tavares scored in the final minute of the opening frame to draw even. In the second, the Sabres' Christian Ehrhoff scored on an odd man rush to restore the Buffalo lead, but Colin McDonald scored his first Islander goal late in the second to tie the game. In the third, Buffalo's Alexander Sulzer scored on a long range shot that Islanders keeper Evgeni Nabokov fumbled. Tavares had a chance to tie the game on a penalty shot late in the game, but hit the post; he clanked the iron two times in the waning minutes.
"Our battle level (compared to) the Rangers game was night and day," Coach Jack Capuano said. "Our guys left everything they had on the ice tonight and just came up short."
Lubomir Visnovsky and Josh Bailey made their season debuts for the Isles and looked strong. "I think when you get a guy like Visnovsky in the lineup, you are able to create more four-man attacks," Capuano said.
The Hurricanes are coming off a heartbreaking loss against the Flyers. During the course of that match, Carolina tied up the game twice before succumbing in overtime. Despite losing, Carolina seemed content to steal the point. "I think you can see guys coming together," said Carolina forward Jeff Skinner. "We've been together for quite a bit now with the shortened training camp. You don't have that time to sort of get to know each other. Especially with us having a lot of new guys coming in. I think it's good to see everyone coming together. I think guys are feeling pretty good about themselves and playing with each other."
This is the first of three matches between the two teams. The Islanders won all four last season; John Tavares ahs scored 15 points in 12 career games against Carolina. Eric Staal has 31 points in 31 games for Carolina against the Islanders.
Predictions: The Islanders break their slump with a 4-2 win.
Start Time: 7 PM EST
TV: FS-CR, MSG-PLUS
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