UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Evgeni Nabokov is making his long-awaited New York Islanders debut against the rival New York Rangers.
Nabokov seemed unlikely to ever play for the Islanders when he declined to report to the team last season after being claimed off waivers, but he got the starting nod Saturday night in New York’s fourth game of the season.
The 36-year-old goalie was scratched for the Islanders’ first two games and then served as backup to Al Montoya on Thursday when New York beat Tampa Bay at home.
Montoya started all three games this season and played all but two minutes. He was backed up in the first two games by Rick DiPietro, who is out indefinitely with a concussion sustained in practice Wednesday when he was struck in the mask by a shot.
