With an Early Game Comes... a Preview!

The Islanders face off against the Edmonton Oilers today, which is pretty fitting, since I can't seem to remember a single New Year's Eve they've had off. The good thing about this one, though, is that it's at 1:00 pm, which means the boys have plenty of time to kick back and pop some champagne before 2012 hits.

Now, on to this matchup. The Edmonton Oilers have the potential to be scary good someday, but their talent- Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins among them- like the Isles', is still a bit green. As such, the Oilers have been losing as of late, starting their seven-game road trip with a loss in Vancouver, and being beaten by Minnesota 4-3 just the other night.

The Islanders have won five straight against Edmonton on home ice, outscoring them by a 2:1 ratio, but that's no reason for us to get cocky. The Islanders need to put together a few wins now, for no better reason than to try and get back into the playoff hunt- not to mention, they need some of their swagger back. It was great watching them play around and joke with each other after Thursday's win, but now it's time to get back to business. Even though the Oilers are struggling, that's no reason to underestimate Eberle (five goals and three assists in six games) or Nugent-Hopkins, the NHL's leading rookie scorer with 35 points this season (five more than PA Parenteau, our team's leading scorer). Hall, meanwhile, has been a bit quiet, but did score two points in the Oilers' loss to the Wild (1G, 1A).

As for the Islanders, the key is simple: simplicity. The Moulson-Tavares-Okposo line looked wonderful Thursday night, and they have to bring the same energy and aggression that they brought against Calgary. Crash the net hard, early and often (that does create a LOT of our offense, to be honest), don't go for fancy passes and dipsy-doodles (unless you can), and stay out of the penalty box, if only to keep RNH off of the PP where he has 15 assists this season. Same formula, different team. Carry on.

Let's Go Islanders!!

P.S. Good thing this is an early game- I'll be in downtown Buffalo for the ball drop tonight! It's no Times Square, but it'll do to be SOMEWHERE. ;) Happy New Year, everyone!

Stats sources: islanders.nhl.com, oilers.nhl.com