The New York Islanders are no longer the cellar dwellers, placing just ahead of the Devils and are playing much better hockey recently with a 7-3 record in their last ten games. With 40 games played their record is 13-21-6, 32 points, 4th place in the Atlantic Division and 14th in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders are sorely missing defenseman Mark Streit this season. Streit is a solid defenseman and runs the power play as well anybody in the NHL. While in Penn Station last year I gave directions to a young couple from Switzerland and seeing my Ranger hat they mentioned Streit to me. I told them I saw him at The Garden the previous week and he had a great game against the Rangers. The Isles have solid defenseman, notably Mike Mottau, Andrew MacDonald and Milan Jurcina. The team just doesn’t give up. Veteran forward and captain Doug Weight shows leadership to younger players Matt Moulson, Blake Comeau, Kyle Okposo, John Taveras and Rob Schremp. Taveras is only 20-years-old and will be a star for years to come. Like the Devils the Islanders also had a coaching change this season naming Jack Capuano interim head coach two months ago. They have to figure out a way to keep Rick DiPietro between the pipes in net.
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