The Blue, White and Orange head south for a matchup against the talented Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning lead the SouthEast division with a game at hand over the Caps and have been led by former #1 pick Steve Stamkos. For the first time, Tavares and Stamkos share the ice. After a tough rookie year in the league, Stamkos broke out last year with 51 goals. This year he hasn't missed a beat, leading his team with five goals and four assists in only five games. The Islanders Faithful can only pray that Tavares could emulate what Stamkos did his 2nd year in the league. The Lightning are a revamped team that started this offseason with the addition of Steve Yzerman as GM who placed Guy Boucher as the coach. So far, So good down in St. Pete as it evident this isn't the old Martin St. Louis/Vinny Lecavalier team we once remembered.
Who Starts Tonight? Lightning are reporting Dan Ellis gets the nod. DiPietro, coming off a solid performance in his loss to the Capitals gets the call.
Who's Out? Josh Bailey, the best Islander this season, will be out with a hipflexor. Vinny Lecavalier is listed as questionable and Mattias Ohlund is listed as out for The Ning.
What needs to Happen? The Ning are very serious when it comes to the PowerPlay and the Isles defenseman need to play smart like they did in the first period against the Leafs. I'm sort of surprised DiPietro got the nod tonight and not Roloson. I know Roloson will get the nod against the Panthers but Scottie Gordon will have a SERIOUS 2-headed monster on his team with the tenders. James Wisiniewski needs to avoid the box tonight. Milan Jurcina needs to play the style he played against the Avs. Expect an entertaining game this evening an expect the Isles to get another W.
Rumors: Banter is going on that the NHL might be looking to move the overtime format from 5 minutes to 8 minutes. This writer completely supports it if that day comes. When I was at the Avs the game the other night I noticed that they eliminated the Goal Judges completely. I know they use Toronto to review all tight calls but I felt sort of sad. I remember going to a game as a kid, and I would have trouble seeing the puck at times and wouldn't know when goals would happen because I was so small. My dad said, "Michael, see that man in that box, he's the goal judge. When a goal happens, he flicks a light and that red lamp lights up. That's how you know a goal occurred." My father is no longer with us...and I know he would have been upset knowing the goal judge is no longer with us either... If the Isles really want to send a message tonight, they need to hit Stamkos hard, like the video below..
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s320x320/564230_10100502543695358_15717851_48059116_852031882_n.jpg")
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