Haley Sent Back to Bridgeport, Isles Start Series Against 'Canes

Looking at the depth chart for the New York Islanders' lineup tonight, it looks as though Micheal Haley has been sent back to Bridgeport, apparently in order to make room for Jay Pandolfo who has been scratched the last few games. Pandolfo will be traveling as an extra forward, something I'm not exactly following all the way through.

In nearly every game Haley has played for the Islanders, he has left everything on the ice and then some. He has no points in his 7 GP, but 29 penalty minutes, most of them earned from his on-ice bouts fought either to defend teammates or wake them up. He's been the energizer for the fourth line and for the entire Isles on-ice roster, and yet there seems to be very little appreciation for that. I, for one, will be disappointed not to see him on the ice to start tonight.

Whatever the reasoning may be for sending him back, the Isles still face off tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes, playing the first of four between these two teams. The Isles are coming off of a two-game winning streak, their latest a rousing 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. John Tavares is the hot hand on this team, scoring two points and earning the No. 1 star in each win and proving that when he is on, the team is on as well. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are faltering a bit, coming off of a 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay; they're also missing top scorer Jeff Skinner (out since Dec. 8 with a concussion). However, with captain Eric Staal rallying back from a disappointing start to the season, look for this team to follow his lead and be hungry for two points. It's another one of those games that can go very well or horribly wrong, depending on which team comes out stronger (and in that same vein, which Isles squad shows up to play tonight- good or not-so-good?).

You can view the Isles' preview here.

Let's go, boys!