Winnipeg Jets @ New York Islanders Game Preview: Will the Asbestos Affect Our Tank Battle?

Thursday, Apr 5, 2012, 7:00 PM EDT
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

The season's dwindling away from us...we are torn between blowing the rest of the games to go up a pick and apparently the idea that two wins will carry over to next year. I'm of the camp that will argue that Jets fans won't even remember whether we won the last two games by the next season. The players might, but I imagine they'll retain their feelings about as well as kids retain more-obscure teachings over summer vacation.

Keys to the Game, lineups, and prediction after the jump.

Keys to the Game

Spencer Machacek should score a point.
Grant Clitsome or Randy Jones will make a bad play in our defensive zone more often than he will make a good play in the offensive zone.
We should lose.
Claude Noel will wrap it up with a classic Noel Depressing Presser.

Lineups

Jets (GP 80 37-34-9 83 PTS)

Forwards

#16 Andrew Ladd -- #18 Bryan Little -- #26 Blake Wheeler

#9 Evander Kane -- #8 Alexander Burmistrov -- #46 Spencer Machacek

#14 Tim Stapleton -- #80 Nik Antropov -- #20 Antti Miettinen

#28 Patrice Cormier -- #19 Jim Slater -- #22 Chris Thorburn

Defencemen

#39 Tobias Enstrom -- #33 Dustin Byfuglien

#5 Mark Stuart -- #4 Zach Bogosian

#36 Mark Flood -- #24 Grant Clitsome

Goaltender

#50 Chris Mason

No Hainsey tonight, so I'm going to assume a reunion of Boogie with Stu. Machacek has apparently played his way into a brief trial in bigger minutes. I'm pumped. Oh, and also, I don't think Bustin' nor Pavelec should be playing...but knowing Coach Noel and lineups...

Islanders (GP 80 33-36-11 77 PTS)

Forwards

#26 Matt Moulson -- #91 John Tavares -- #15 P.A. Parenteau

#12 Josh Bailey -- #51 Frans Nielsen -- #21 Kyle Okposo

#40 Michael Grabner -- #16 Marty Reasoner -- #17 Matt Martin

#18 Micheal Haley -- #29 Jay Pandolfo -- #25 Nino Niederreiter

Defencemen

#2 Mark Streit -- #4 Mark Eaton

#47 Andrew MacDonald -- #3 Travis Hamonic

#42 Dylan Reese -- #46 Matt Donovan

Goaltender

#35 Al Montoya