Injured backline for J-E-T-S, Jets Jets Jets

The Isles will face a Winnipeg team decimated by injuries on their backline tonight.

Winnipeg has three defensemen on IR and a fourth, Mark Stuart is questionable tonight.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/ahl/Jets-raid-IceCaps-after-injuries-133146753.html

Former Islander Mark Flood could see action tonight.  Flood, who appeared in six NHL games at the end of the 2009-10 season was recalled from St. John's as was fellow defensemen Brett Festerling.

Goalie Chris Mason is also on IR so it is Ondrej Pavelec's job... at least for now.

Former Islander Peter Mannino is the backup.  Mannino, who owns a 1-1 record after 5 NHL appearances (three for the Isles, two for the Thrashers) has a memorable NHL win to his credit-- a 40 save effort against Chicago (3/15/2009) in his first NHL start.

The Isles, who have played a league-low 9 games, have scored a league-low 18 goals and allowed only 22 (plus a shootout goal).  They are 29th in the NHL in goals per game (2.00, ahead of only Minnesota) and are 9th in goals against (2.44).

The Isles (in part because they have played the fewest games) have scored only 4 third period goals -- fewest in the NHL; Winnipeg on the other hand has been outscored 16-5 in the third period.  Their -11 differential is the worst of any team in the 3rd pd this season (and equals Ottawa, -11 in the first period, for worst in any period).

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick