The New York Islanders are in Winnipeg to take on the Jets tonight. Here’s the pre-game report.

According to NHL.com’s Darrin Bauming, the projected lineups are:


NEW YORK
Anders Lee - Mathew Barzal - Tom Kuhnhackl
Anthony Beauvillier - Brock Nelson - Michael Dal Colle
Josh Bailey - Derick Brassard - Oliver Wahlstrom
Ross Johnston - Leo Komarov - Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech - Ryan Pulock
Devon Toews - Scott Mayfield
Nick Leddy - Johnny Boychuk

Semyon Varlamov
Thomas Greiss


WINNIPEG
Patrik Laine - Mark Scheifele - Blake Wheeler
Kyle Connor - Andrew Copp - Nikolaj Ehlers
Mathieu Perreault - Adam Lowry - Jack Roslovic
Gabriel Bourque - David Gustafsson - Mason Appleton

Josh Morrissey - Tucker Poolman
Carl Dahlstrom - Neal Pionk
Ville Heinola - Dmitry Kulikov

Connor Hellebuyck
Laurent Brossoit


Noah Dobson looks to be out today in favour of Johnny Boychuk (*sigh*). I get Boychuk made a great play against the Blues that essentially saved the game. He hasn’t been bad so far either. But this will be New York’s seventh game and Noah Dobson has played in……. two. Two games for your star prospect. Haven’t we seen how situations like this turn out? In my opinion, Dobson has earned his way into more playing time based on how he’s played and he needs to get it.

Moving on to our forwards, with Jordan Eberle injured, getting a chance on the top line is Oliver Wahlstrom….. Wait, no…. Michael Dal Colle….. Not it?....... Anthony Beauvillier?...... Seriously?.......

(*inhales*........ *long sigh*)

Tom Kuhnhackl. Tom Kuhnhackl will be up on the first line.

To be clear, I’m not against Kuhnhackl getting minutes with the Islanders. I’m against him getting top-six minutes. He can’t produce offensively and for a team who already ranks tied for 26th in the league in goals for per game, he’s obviously not a solution. I think Kuhnhackl can be a serviceable, fairly reliable player– but only with the appropriate role and this ain’t it.

Matt Martin will also be scratched in favour of Ross Johnston and Josh Bailey will play on the third line. Barry Trotz is a Stanley Cup Champion and there’s no denying he’s one of the league’s best coaches. I do question some of these lineup decisions though.

Nathan Beaulieu, Anthony Bitetto, Mark Letestu and most notably Bryan Little are all injured for the Jets. New York’s key here again: exploit Winnipeg’s depleted defense corps like they did last game.

The starting goalies are expected to be Semyon Varlamov and Connor Hellebuyck. Puck drop is at 8 p.m.


For more, follow @BenShelley_20 on Twitter.


OTHER ISLANDERS ARTICLES FROM OCTOBER

Game Recap (Game 6): NYI vs STL

Game Recap (Game 5): NYI vs FLA

Game Recap (Game 4): NYI @ CAR

Game Recap (Game 3): NYI vs EDM

Game Recap (Game 2): NYI vs WPG

Game Recap (Game 1): NYI vs WSH

Josh Ho-Sang has requested a trade

Fritz, Hickey and Ho-Sang clear waivers

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