Staios would like to stay with Isles
Steve Staios of the New York Islanders controls the puck against Steve Bernier of the New Jersey Devils. (March 8, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Steve Staios played his 995th game Sunday night. Barring injury, he'll get to 1,000 before this season is up.
But it's not a last gasp to reach that milestone for the 38-year-old, who hasn't decided if he wants to play a 17th NHL season -- and isn't wondering if he'd be a wanted man after joining the Islanders following a tryout in training camp this season.
"I'm just concerned with playing good hockey," Staios said. "Next summer, next season, that really isn't in my mind now."
Staios hasn't had much good fortune throughout his long career, having played in only 33 playoff games in three different postseasons. He went to the Stanley Cup Finals with the Oilers in 2006 and hasn't been back to the playoffs since.
But even with missing the playoffs for a sixth straight season -- three with the Oilers, two with the Flames and one with the Islanders -- he still would like to get another crack with the Isles if he decides to play one more season and Garth Snow wants another year out of the veteran, who has provided a good presence in the locker room.
"This is a group I'd love to be a part of again," Staios said. "It's been a disappointment, because I truly believed with the talent we had, we'd be in it right down to the last day and then be in the playoffs. We're going in the right direction and I'd be crazy not to want to be a part of it."
Nino scratched again
Jay Pandolfo went back into the lineup after sitting out three straight, and rookie Nino Niederreiter was a healthy scratch. He sat for two games at the beginning of the month and was a minus-5 in his previous five games. Pandolfo played wing with Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas Sunday night, and Marty Reasoner centered Michael Grabner and David Ullstrom.
Milan Jurcina also went back in after sitting out the previous two games, with Mark Eaton a healthy scratch.
