Back to the grind

*The Islanders take on the Hurricanes Saturday for just their third game in two weeks. They will then get back to the rigors of an NHL schedule, though they don't leave the Metro Area until mid-November.

*Following a pair of wins in which the powerplay went 5-for-11, the Isles now rank first in the league in that department (27%). Their penalty killing unit has also been phenomenal and is ranked third in the league (91%).

*The down side to that is nearly the entire team has a minus rating. Sean Bergenheim is the lone exception (+/-E). The worst? Andy Hilbert with a -4.

*Bryan Berard will sit for the next few weeks with a groin injury. Marc Andre Bergeron will presumably take his spot as the powerplay quarterback. Bergeron, who had been a healthy scratch the last three games, is a safe fantasy pick-up right now since he will be relied on in Berard's absence. Despite his -3 rating, Bergeron has three points (1-2=3) in five games.

Hot

Rick DiPietro has won two straight while allowing five goals on 57 shots for a .912 S%. Overall, DP is 5-2 with a 2.27 GAA and .914 S%.

Bill Guerin (4-6=10,-1) has finally broken his scoring drought after failing to score a goal in his first six games as an Islander. He had a hat trick Thursday in Washington and followed that with a dramatic overtime winner against the Devils. Guerin has proven to be a streaky contributor in the early-going. He had five assists in his first two games, one assist in his next four, and then four goals in the next two. Half of Guerin's points have come on the powerplay.

Mike Comrie (5-5=10,-3), like his (former) linemate, has also been streaky. He followed his six-point outburst in the opening two games with just one assist in his next four. In his last two games, Comrie has contributed a goal and two assists. Half of Comrie's points have also come on the powerplay.

Miroslav Satan (1-4=5) turned it on the last two games with four points (1-3=4). This after going six games with just one assist. Satan may be available in your league if there are any impatient GMs. Despite the slow start, he is always good for at least 55 points.

Josef Vasicek (3-1=4) has points in three straight games, including a pair of goals (one shorthanded).

Chris Campoli (2-5=7) has five assists, including four on the powerplay, in his last two games.

Cold

Ruslan Fedotenko (2-5=7) has just two points (1-1=2) in his last six games after opening the season with five (1-4=5) in his first two. Three of Fedotenko's points have come on the powerplay.

Mike Sillinger (0-2=2) has not been able to get it going so far this season. Granted, he failed to muster a point in his first four games as an Islander last year and went on to score 59 points. The only concern is Sillinger is averaging just a shot a game, half of his average. But the points will come as soon as his line starts clicking.

Trent Hunter (1-1=2) has gone six games without a point after tallying a point in each of his first two games. He ranks second on the team with 22 shots so the points will eventually come.

Chris Simon (0-0=0) has averaged just over five minutes of ice time in the three games since his return.

Projected lines:
Fedotenko-Comrie-Hunter
Hilbert-Sillinger-Guerin
Bergenheim-Vasicek-Satan
Simon-Park-Bates
Extra: Bootland

Witt-Martinek
Sutton-Bergeron
Campoli-Gervais
Extra: Johnson

PP1: Satan-Bergeron-Fedotenko-Comrie-Guerin
PP2: Gervais-Campoli-Hunter-Sillinger-Satan

On the mend:
*D Bryan Berard (groin) will miss two-to-four weeks.
*F Shawn Bates (groin/hernia) has resumed skating and is expected to return soon.
*F Jon Sim (knee) is out for the season.

Upcoming schedule:
Sat. 10/27 vs. Carolina
Thu. 11/1 vs. Tampa Bay
Sat. 11/3 vs. Pittsburgh
Tue. 11/6 vs. Rangers
Sat. 11/10 vs. New Jersey

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