Islanders/Blackhawks Pregame Notes

(This piece can also be seen at SportsHaze)

After defeating the Avalanche 4-3 in overtime yesterday courtesy of a game winning goal from John Tavares, the Islanders will look to keep it going as they drop the puck against the Stanley Cup defending Chicago Blackhawks tonight at 7PM ET.

Notes From Colorado

-Jermey Coliton had two goals last night, both coming on the powerplay. He was called up Friday from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

-Blake Comeau scored the other Islanders goal, and Tavares buried one in OT.

-Rookie goaltender Kevin Poulin stopped 34 out of 37 shots and recorded his first NHL win.

-Trevor Gillies was a healthy scratch, and Frans Nielsen was sidelined for the second straight ga
me with a groin injury.

-Rick DiPietro was flown back to Long Island for evaluations on his strained abductor in his hip.

Isles/Hawks Preview

Tonight is the only time this season that the Isles and Hawks will face off. Last season, however, the Islanders defeated the Hawks by a final score of 5-3, thanks to a hat trick by Blake Comeau at the Coliseum.

In the Islanders last ten games played, they stand a record of 7-2-1. The Hawks, on the other hand, are 6-4-0.

It's still undecided who will start between the pipes, but I'd expect Nathan Lawson to as head coach Jack Capuano likes to give all of his players a chance to play.

The Islanders will be without defenseman Mark Eaton as he is out indefinitely due to hip surgery. Here's the full list of injuries:

Rick DiPietro (Abductor strain in hip)
Frans Nielsen (Groin)
Mark Streit (Shoulder surgery)
Kyle Okposo (Shoulder surgery)
Trent Hunter (Knee surgery)
Doug Weight (Back)
Radek Martinek (Wrist)
Mike Mottau (Hip surgery)

That's clearly a lot of injuries but it certainly doesn't stop the Isles from winning. They'll do whatever it takes to make names on the Island, especially the guys from the Sound Tigers that are trying to fill the roles of the players sidelined.

If the Isles come away with a win tonight, they'll put four out of five wins in the books on this road trip, and will go back to the Coliseum with positive attitudes as they face the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday night.