Preview: Isles vs. Predators 2.9.10 NVMC

The last time these two teams met was in October of 2006, when Paul Kariya clinched a shootout win for the Preds. Now, Nashville will face off against a very different Isles team- one in which only four of the Isles from that 2006 team remain (Richard Park, Bruno Gervais, Trent Hunter and Radek Martinek).

Not only that, but there has been a shakeup in the lineup. Bridgeport Sound Tigers Jesse Joensuu and Matt Martin are on the Island for tonight, while Martin Biron gets the start in net. Captain Doug Weight will be a healthy scratch for tonight. Joensuu has the hot hand lately (17 points in 18 games). The Isles likely hope that his size and developing skill, along with Martin's toughness, will rejuvenate the demoralized offense and get the Isles back into shape.

Coach Scott Gordon has also messed with the lines, putting John Tavares between Blake Comeau and Sean Bergenheim, two physical players who will probably try and use their aggressive forechecking to push into the offensive zone and free up JT for a one-on-one opportunity. It'll be interesting to see how the power play fares with Weight out of it. Likely Mark Streit will once again be doing much of the work on the first PP unit, unless JJ or MM get some PP time. (See what I did there?)

With all of that said... it should be an interesting matchup!

LET'S GO ISLANDERS!