Exhibit B in the Islanders’ budding goalie controversy will be presented tonight in Tampa.
Exhibit A was Thursday night’s 3-2 loss to the Panthers in south Florida, which snapped the Islanders’ season-best four-game winning streak. Joey MacDonald, making his first start in goal after a three-week stint on the injured list, let up two goals from long range in the first period to create a deficit the Isles could not erase. That dropped his record on the year to 11-22-4.
Yann Danis had started seven in a row since MacDonald hurt his groin on Jan. 13 against the Rangers. The Isles went 4-2-1 in those seven games, and Danis allowed two goals or fewer in five of them.
Coach Scott Gordon said Danis will be between the pipes tonight versus the Lightning (7:30; MSG+; WMJC, 94.3 FM), losers of four in a row.
At this point, both netminders are auditioning for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart and perhaps the backup job for next season, when franchise player Rick DiPietro expects to finally return from knee surgery.