Game 5 tonight. Time for the Rally in Raleigh! Bring it back at 3-2, tie it up at home on Thursday and then complete the backdoor sweep on Saturday.
I've got games tonight and Thursday, of course. So I'll probably miss the third period tonight (and any OT unless it goes like 3-4 OTs). Thursday my game is earlier, so I will likely miss more than half of regulation. But I'm thinking that bodes well for the Isles. They usually do better when I can't watch. Big comeback or something like that. I can watch Saturday, so maybe they're fucked no matter what. Being down 3-1 isn't what is fucking them. It's my ability to watch the games...
I assume Varlamov is in net. But I often ASSume incorrectly. Roy tinkering with the lines. Martin is apparently still out and Roy hasn't really set a replacement. Iskhakov didn't play much the other night. Could be Holmstrom or Fasching replacing him. Seriously doubt Wahlstrom worked his way back in. Dude is just banished at this point. I doubt they'll even qualify him. Probably let him walk at the season's end, and then he'll pull a Carter Verhaeghe and become a really good NHL player. Who knew? It seemed like an all minor league deal when the Isles traded Verhaeghe to Tampa for an AHL goalie.
Maybe the lack of development or foresight in Bridgeport has a lot more to do with the Isles' failures than me watching. Weird. I've always thought it was me.
Semi-related fun fact. Matt Martin & John Tavares both started their NHL careers with the Isles in the 09-10 season, and both have only played for the Isles & Leafs (Martin for 2 years, Tavares for 6 now). Martin has 82 career playoff games and Tavares only 58. Weird how that's worked out.
Random note- Isles want to improve goaltending in Bridgeport, so they've signed former Senator Marcus Hogberg. Maybe not a great NHL goalie, but he's better than the guys they've had in Bridgeport.