One of Alexei Yashin’s New Year’s resolutions should be to spend less time in the doghouse.
You can count on one hand the number of dominant performances Yashin, the Lord of Dogtown, has had in an Islanders uniform – a total quickly being gained on by the number of times he’s been demoted to the fourth line.
Yashin and Miro Satan were both demoted to the fourth line Friday night in Ottawa for the Isles’ fourth straight loss, a lineup shakeup that saw No. 79 play a season-low 10:16 against his former team. A third-period penalty following a lifeless effort on nearly four minutes of power-play time earned captain Yashin a seat on the bench for much of the final period, unquestionably his low moment of the season.
Of Yashin’s team-high 36 points, 15 have been recorded on the first goals the Islanders have scored in games this season. Late in games, in step with when the Isles have wilted most of the year, Yashin has been virtually invisible.
Rick DiPietro is out day-to-day with a knee sprain and will not play tonight against Tampa at the Coliseum, the first of five of seven on home ice. Wade Dubielewicz and Jeff Hamilton were recalled from Bridgeport and Wyatt Smith was returned to the minors, while Alexei Zhitnik (tailbone) is expected to play.
The Isles trail No. 8 Tampa by five points in the standings and are just eight in front of No. 15 Pittsburgh, the worst team in the East.
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