The NY Islanders will skate 11 forwards and 7 defensemen against the Nashville Predators tonight

When the NY Islanders take the ice tonight against the Nashville Predators, the lineup will have a different look than we're used to. Peter DeBoer will deploy 11 forwards and seven defensemen, with Kyle MacLean getting the night off.

"We're going to go 11 and seven tonight; Mayfield is coming in, MacLean is going to sit," DeBoer said this morning. "I don't want someone sitting too long. I didn't think any of our D deserved to come out."

DeBoer also hinted that he isn't exactly thrilled with the way the fourth line has been playing, as this lineup will give them a different look.

"We do need some more out of the depth out of our lineup," DeBoer said. "I think our fourth line's underlying numbers haven't been good. They're not alone on that, but it's a challenge to those groups out there to tilt the ice when they're out there."

There has certainly been a shift in those underlying numbers since the Islanders were forced to jumble the lines following the Cal Ritchie and Matias Maccelli injuries. According to Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News, in the three games MacLean, Casey Cizikas, and Mitchell Chaffee have been together, the trio has an expected goals for (xGF) of 1.01 and expected goals against (xGA) of 1.33. Cizikas, while playing with Ondrej Palat and Anthony Duclair, the fourth line to start the season, has an xGF of .65 and xGA of .15.

One thing to keep an eye on is whether DeBoer sends Matthew Scahefer out in a forward role when he believes the opportunity is right. Scahefer jumped into a forward role after being released from the penalty box the other night, and though it was short-lived, he didn't look out of place.

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