James Wisniewski looking to be a big addition for team's power play

With tonight's focus on special teams, it's a good time to take a closer look at defenseman James Wisniewski.

If all goes according to plan, Wisniewski should be a huge addition in both areas. He was on Anaheim's first penalty-killing unit as well as the team's second power-play group.

Considering his career-high 30 points last season (3 goals, 27 assists) and the Islanders' lack of a big right-handed shot from the point, Wisniewski hopes to play a pivotal role on the power play.

"If I get the chance to play with Mark Streit, that's going to great," Wisniewski said. "It's huge when you have two guys who can fire shots at 95 mph because it brings the opponents' two forwards up and gives our forwards down low more time and space."

Wisniewski, who said he thrives playing the off wing and unleashing his powerful one-timer, hopes to improve on last season's offensive production.

"It's kind of hard to say, but I think 40-plus points is a very realistic goal," he said. "And if we have the season we want to have, it could definitely be higher."

Wisniewski's presence should also have a big impact for power-play QB Mark Streit. Because the team didn't have another big shot to pair with Streit, teams would lock in on the Swiss defenseman last season; Scott Gordon said rather than worry about play-making from the point like last year, Streit can re-adjust his focus to getting shots through.

"It's so important to have that shot presence," Gordon said. "It opens things up a lot for our guys down low, and to have two guys up there with a big shot to get pucks through, it gives our forwards different options and different looks. We're excited to have that."