Evgeni Nabokov starts in goal for Islanders again
Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov keeps an eye on the puck during the first period. (Feb. 9, 2013) Credit: AP
Evgeni Nabokov made his seventh consecutive start Saturday night and now has lost four straight, meaning Rick DiPietro could be in line for a start Monday against the Hurricanes.
Nabokov made only 12 saves, and Alexander Sulzer's winner in the third likely was one Nabokov would want back.
Given that his play during the last week has not been as sharp as it was at the start of the season -- Nabokov allowed a goal during the opponent's first three shots for a third straight game -- DiPietro, who has played only on Jan. 25 in Boston, might get a start.
"That's something as a coaching staff we'll discuss," said Jack Capuano, whose team has a day off Sunday.
Nabokov has started 10 of the Islanders' first 11 games.
Casey Cizikas returned to the lineup Saturday night, with Eric Boulton and Marty Reasoner the healthy scratches to make room for Cizikas and Josh Bailey. Joe Finley sat out on defense to make room for Lubomir Visnovsky's Islanders debut.
Familiar face on Sabres
Visnovsky joked that he needed to spend Friday night on the Internet to familiarize himself with his new Islanders teammates.
There was one friendly face on the Coliseum ice Saturday night -- but it was one of the Sabres. D Andrej Sekera was Visnovsky's teammate on HC Slovan Bratislava, the Slovakia-based KHL team that both played for during the lockout. Sekera returned after missing three games with a bruised foot.
Tyler Myers, the 2009-10 Calder Trophy winner, was a healthy scratch. Myers has one goal, no assists and a minus-9 rating this season. "I'm embarrassed, and I should be," Myers told the Buffalo News yesterday.
