Lightning face a rebooting Islanders squad (preview)

by John Fontana on Nov 17, 2010 10:10 AM EST in Game Previews

WHERE: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
WHEN: 7 PM EST
MEDIA: Sun Sports (cable), 620 WDAE (radio)
OPPONENT COVERAGE: Lighthouse Hockey

Let me say ton thing about Scott Gordon's dismissal in New York after 17 games this season. He outlasted Barry Melrose's last coaching gig (this was also Gordon's third season n the Island). That's saying something.

But the dysfunction on Long Island was likely more of a culprit than Gordon himself. The old sports cliché "you can't fire the players" is appropriate here. Nor can you fire ownership, which under Charles Wang has been dysfunctional at best (anyone who trusts in Mike Milbury as long as Wang had, is dysfunctional).

Thus Gordon got the hook in Uniondale, but the same issues continue to revolve around the team on Long Island.

But I digress, why focus on the issues of The Enemy when the Bolts have their own problems to deal with?

"Problems" being their 3 game losing streak and losing their past 5 on the road. "Problems" being the banged-up roster. "Problems" being inconsistent goaltending.

While Simon Gagne skated with the team yesterday (video comments after the skate are here), he's not expected to travel with the team on the three game road trip that gets underway tonight in Uniondale. That might change, but that's the plan.

Last time these two teams squared off, the Bolts lost by way of video replay ...

Even after the Minnesota Wild capitalized several times on the power-play on Sunday, the Bolts remain 4th in the league on the Penalty Kill. The Islanders, on the other hand, are 16th in the league with a 83.1 kill-rate. On the power play, the Bolts remain 6th in the league while the Islanders are 11th with a 19% conversion rate with the man-advantage.

Don't forget about tonight's watch party in Palm Harbor at Outback Steakhouse.