Wade Dubielewicz will get his second start in as many games, when the Islanders meet the Rangers tonight at Madison Square Garden. Rick DiPietro is expected to return to practice tomorrow. Bruno Gervais is still listed as day-to-day.
The NHL schedule makers created an interesting scenario between New York's bitter rivals this season. Following four meetings between the Islanders and Rangers in the first two months of the season, their next meeting wasn't scheduled until over two months later. That time has now come.
This week is gearing up to have intense and exciting battles at both Madison Square Garden tonight and the Nassau Coliseum on Thursday.
"We talk about emotion," said head coach Ted Nolan following practice at Iceworks on Monday. "It's always there for the Rangers-Islanders games. You could play them on a Sunday afternoon in mid-June and the excitement would be there. It's a big week for us. We have the Rangers back-to-back and then Philly on Saturday, but we can't focus on too much more than one game."
Looking at the remainder of the schedule, 11 of the final 15 regular season games are against Division rivals ? Rangers (4), Philadelphia (3), New Jersey (2), Pittsburgh (2).
The Islanders will meet the Rangers for the fifth time this season on Tuesday. In their previous four meetings, the Islanders hold a 3-1-0 advantage. Since taking over as head coach of the Islanders last season, Nolan's Islanders are 8-2-2 in 12 games.
"I don't know what it is," said Nolan, when asked about his success against the Rangers. "Maybe against the Rangers we've gotten the breaks at the right time. This game is about work and creating opportunities. And it's about luck. I believe the harder you work the luckier you get, so we have to continue to work and hopefully we'll get some lucky breaks.
The NHL schedule makers created an interesting scenario between New York's bitter rivals this season. Following four meetings between the Islanders and Rangers in the first two months of the season, their next meeting wasn't scheduled until over two months later. That time has now come.
This week is gearing up to have intense and exciting battles at both Madison Square Garden tonight and the Nassau Coliseum on Thursday.
"We talk about emotion," said head coach Ted Nolan following practice at Iceworks on Monday. "It's always there for the Rangers-Islanders games. You could play them on a Sunday afternoon in mid-June and the excitement would be there. It's a big week for us. We have the Rangers back-to-back and then Philly on Saturday, but we can't focus on too much more than one game."
Looking at the remainder of the schedule, 11 of the final 15 regular season games are against Division rivals ? Rangers (4), Philadelphia (3), New Jersey (2), Pittsburgh (2).
The Islanders will meet the Rangers for the fifth time this season on Tuesday. In their previous four meetings, the Islanders hold a 3-1-0 advantage. Since taking over as head coach of the Islanders last season, Nolan's Islanders are 8-2-2 in 12 games.
"I don't know what it is," said Nolan, when asked about his success against the Rangers. "Maybe against the Rangers we've gotten the breaks at the right time. This game is about work and creating opportunities. And it's about luck. I believe the harder you work the luckier you get, so we have to continue to work and hopefully we'll get some lucky breaks.
