Looks like Mathieu Garon, and not Dwayne Roloson, will face the Isles tonight. Garon is 3-0-1 in six previous appearances against the Isles, including a 16-shot/16-save relief effort last week. Garon is 0-1-1 with a 2.28 GAA and 93.8 save percentage this season for the Lightning.
Garon has faced the Islanders wearing 5 different uniforms (Montreal, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Tampa Bay). He blanked the Isles on 35 shots in 2008 as a member of the Oilers.
Roloson (42 years, 8 years) is the oldest player in the NHL and the only remaining player born in the 1960's. He was born the same day (10/12/69) that Al Weis drove in the winning run in Game 2 of the World Series.
When Roloson got Tavares'd last week, he was 42 years, 1 day -- matching Dominik Hasek's age (to the day) when the Isles faced him for the final time on January 30, 2007 (Hasek's Red Wings prevailed 4-3 in OT after the Isles blew a 3-0 third period lead).
No older goaltender has faced the Isles since Eddie Johnston (42 years, 9 days)was when he faced the Islanders on December 3, 1977. The Isles beat St. Louis 7-2.
Rollie is going to have to stick around a few more years to become the oldest goalie to ever face the Isles. Gump Worsley holds that mark. The Isles defeated him 4-3 on January 12, 1974 in Minnesota. Worsley, born May 14, 1929, was 44 years, 180 days old. (Roloson won't reach that age until April of 2014)
Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick
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