It’s been a tough year for New York Islanders goalie Jean-Francois Berube.
Not because he has struggled or been injured, but mostly because he simply has not had a chance to play. At all. At any level.
Because the Islanders do not want to risk losing him on waivers they have refused to send him to the AHL, and with veterans Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss still on the roster, that means they are stuck once again with a three-headed monster in net. That has resulted in Berube playing in only 14 games (AHL and NHL combined) since the start of the 2015-16 season. Only two of those games have been this season, and both have come within the past week. A relief appearance on Dec. 10 against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 10 when he had to make one save, and finally his first start of the season on Friday when he stopped 34 out of 37 shots in a shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
He is getting another chance to play on Sunday night.
Islanders coach Jack Capuano announced on Sunday morning that he is sticking with the same lineup from Friday, including Berube in net when the team takes on the Ottawa Senators.
Andrew Hammond goes for the Senators.
Elsewhere...
-- In the afternoon games Tuukka Rask and Peter Budaj went for the Bruins and Kings, while Calvin Pickard and Connor Hellebuyck went for the Avalanche and Jets. Sergei Bobrovsky goes against Ryan Miller in the Blue Jackets-Canucks game.
-- No official word yet from the Blackhawks and Sharks, but look for Martin Jones to go for the Sharks. Scott Darling played on Saturday night and with Corey Crawford still sidelined this could be a chance for Lars Johansson to get a start.
-- Henrik Lundqvist is back in the net for the New York Rangers when they take on their longtime rivals, the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider, after getting a day off on Saturday, is back in the net for the Devils.