New York Islanders Tickets

New York Islanders Tickets

The New York Islanders are tired of finishing in last place in the Atlantic Division and are hoping this roster in transition has enough talent and enough magic to make an impression in the shortened 2013 NHL season. Those with New York Islanders tickets to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum expect to watch superstar –in-the-making John Tavares eclipse the 100-point mark and they hope someone else on the roster has a career year to turn an improved performance by Evgeni Nabokov into a winning season and one with an extension into the postseason.

Nabokov is a great backup netminder but he is being asked to start while Rick DiPietro continues to endure injury after injury. One should not expect DiPietro to suddenly validate his ludicrous contract this season, meaning it is Nabokov’s charge to keep the Islanders competitive.

New York will not be competitive if the offense does not develop some kind of a repertoire. Tavares is not enough to win games. He is going to take the first line with Matt Moulson and a mystery third forward. It could be Kyle Okposo, Michael Grabner, or a number of dark horse candidates.  Coach Jack Capuano needs to solidify his Top 6 lest he want to start looking for another job very soon. He can save his job if the Islanders’ two offensive prospects, Ryan Strome and Nino Niederreiter do more than simply “contribute”.

Both players are obscenely young, but while Strome has been dominating in the minors for the past couple of seasons Niederreiter only recently started impressing in his time overseas.  Strome has to first make the team and Niederreiter has to forget his dreadful time on the ice last season. This can be the feel good story of the year for the NHL as the league attempts to make a comeback after tormenting hockey fans who already endured one locked out season in the 21^st century.