El Nino Is On The Way

After a long wait to start the season as a New York Islanders, El Nino will finally be striking the Island.

The Islanders sent out an official press-release today that Nino Niederreiter will be joining the big club. Last night he scored his third goal in as many games played after scoring on a penalty shot. 

There is a good chance he will be dressing for his first game of the year tomorrow night against the team's biggest rivals, the New York Rangers.

Per the press-release:

UNIONDALE, NY (November 14, 2011) – The New York Islanders announced today that forward Nino Niederreiter has been recalled from his conditioning assignment with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. Niederreiter, who missed the first 13 games of the 2011-12 season with a groin injury, will rejoin the Islanders roster and be eligible to make his season debut on Tuesday, Nov. 15, when the Islanders host the New York Rangers at Nassau Coliseum.

In six games with the Sound Tigers, Niederreiter tallied four points (three goals and one assist), while posting a +4 rating. 

Niederreiter, 19, was the Islanders’ first-round selection, fifth overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. During his rehab stint with the Sound Tigers, Niederreiter scored three goals and added one assist in six games.

Last season, the Chur, CHE, native appeared in nine games with the Islanders before being returned to his Western Hockey League club, the Portland Winterhawks. Niederreiter finished his second WHL season with 70 points (41 goals, 29 assists) in 55 games.  

Tomorrow night's game just got a little bit more interesting.

-Rob McGowan

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