Update (3:15 PM): Ansar Khan reports that Mathieu Schneider won’t be back tonight after all. Apparently, Mike Babcock thinks it’s better that he sit out another couple days, even though he feels fine and wants to play. Okay, I’m all for not rushing him back, but this is getting ridiculous. - Matt
Tonight is the first and only game between these teams this season. The Islanders won the last meeting, 2-1 on December 9th, 2005 in Detroit.
Thus far in January, the Islanders are 4-6-2, with four of those losses coming at the start of the month as a continuation from a losing streak started in December. They are coming off a 5-3 comeback win over Buffalo on Saturday, bouncing back from a 5-4 overtime loss to Atlanta the previous night. Earning three points against two of the East’s top teams is an accomplishment for the Atlantic Division’s fourth place club, which is currently three points back of Tampa Bay for the 8th spot.
Alexei Yashin has just one goal in 17 games, according to the AP, while Trent Hunter has scored seven in 11, so watch out for him.
Rick DiPietro, the de facto Islander starter with a 15-year contract, should be in net tonight. He was pulled on Friday night in Atlanta, but played well Saturday, apparently.
The Wings have gone 7-5-1 in January, with two three-game losing streaks preceeding and following a five-game stretch of winning. They beat Colorado 3-1 in their last game, but lost their first game back from the All-Star Break, 2-1 in overtime to the Blues on Friday. They are 7 points behind Nashville and will have a tough time catching them for the Division lead.
It looks like Dominik Hasek will be in net tonight for the Wings. Dom turned 42 yesterday, and to celebrate, he took some of his teammates out for dinner. Which teammates? His defense and penalty killers.
Mathieu Schneider is slated to make his comeback tonight. He hasn’t played since January 7th because of a sprained MCL.
The Islanders, being an Eastern Conference team, are a bit of an unknown quantity to me. It will be interesting to see how the Wings stack up, though I don’t think they should have too much trouble.