Jack Capuano shuffles lineup
Islanders player Brock Nelson skates past the bench for hi-fives after scoring a second period goal against the Ottawa Senators. (Sept. 29, 2013) Credit: AP
Jack Capuano shuffled his forwards again Saturday night, taking first-year Islanders Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Peter Regin out of the lineup. Brock Nelson, a healthy scratch on Friday in Pittsburgh, and Eric Boulton (who scored) went in to give the Isles a bit more size against the Flyers.
It was Nelson's first game of the season at his natural center position after playing in 16 of the first 23 as a wing. The 22-year-old rookie has been a true jack of all trades this season, getting time on the top line and the first-unit power play when Thomas Vanek missed five games and getting some penalty-killing time Saturday night.
Bouchard was a healthy scratch for the second time this season and Regin was scratched for the first time. Regin's 41.9 faceoff winning percentage, plus a streak of no points in 12 games, added up to a night in street clothes.
The Islanders kept the same six defensemen who played in Pittsburgh on Friday, meaning Aaron Ness was a healthy scratch for the second straight game.
PK a drain againThe Isles allowed a power-play goal during the second-period meltdown, the fifth consecutive game in which they've given up at least one power-play goal and the league-high 22nd they've allowed this season.
They came in at a 70.4 percent success rate. The worst 82-game season rate since 1998 was the Leafs' 74.6 percent rate in 2009-10.
"There isn't anything you can change on the PK -- it's a matter of inches, or feet, on passes, deflections, things like that," said Cal Clutterbuck, who also got his first taste of PK duty this week. "Have to keep working and earning your confidence back."
