It was like Jack Capuano knew it was coming, and if there were any silent contemplation before his answer, it was indiscernible.
“There’s no question our secondary scoring, we’re going to need it,” the Islanders’ coach said yesterday.
Through four games of the season, the Islanders (3-1-0) have 11 goals. Eight have come from the three forwards on the top line: John Tavares (five), Matt Moulson (two) and P.A. Parenteau (one).
The six forwards who make up the next two lines have combined for two goals, two assists and a minus-3 rating.
“I’m not going to blow the lines up right now or start to dismantle anything,” Capuano said, looking ahead to tonight’s game at Tampa Bay, followed by Saturday’s game at the Panthers.
“If they were getting chances that would be one thing,” Capuano said, “but right now they’re not getting too many chances in the games that we’ve played.”
The third line got a wake-up call before Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Rangers. Capuano scratched left wing Blake Comeau in favor of enforcer Trevor Gillies, who played 2:47. That line is centered by Josh Bailey, with veteran Brian Rolston on the right wing.
“Basically, what he decided to do with Blake doesn’t really concern me; it’s out of my control,” Bailey said. “I just wanted to focus on my game. You try to just prepare yourself mentally and physically, and I think we did that.”
The second line of Kyle Okposo-Frans Nielsen-Michael Grabner has managed the group’s two goals but hasn’t exactly made the lines roll.
“Obviously you can’t expect those guys [first line] to carry us all season,” Bailey said. “We need to take some pressure on them and put some pucks in, as well.”
*
Goalie Rick DiPietro (concussion) skated in practice yesterday for the first time in a week, and will make the trip. Capuano was undecided on whom would start in goal in either game.
Milan Jurcina (groin) skated in the morning and will make the trip, while Nino Niederreiter (groin) skated early but will not make the trip.