With the New York Islanders having a back-to-back this weekend and six games in the 10-day runup to Christmas, there are some changes.
Tonight in Columbus, and perhaps for both games this weekend, Cal Clutterbuck will sit with an upper body injury. In his place on The Best Fourth Line In Hockey(TM) will be Eric Boulton, resurrected from IR for the umpteenth time and special assignment in his Islanders career.
Also changing for tonight is the third pair. Just as Thomas Hickey spoke of finding chemistry with Marek Zidlicky, the 38-year-old (obligatory age reference) Zidlicky will sit tonight in favor of Brian Strait, who last played on Nov.