The return of goaltender Evgeni Nabokov is the major reason the Islanders have played better of late. The Islanders are 5-2-2 since Nabokov returned from a groin injury and he has been between the pipes for all but one of the games. "He's a big reason we got to the playoffs last year," coach Jack Capuano said, "And you look at this year, you know, he's a veteran. We don't have many guys who have the experience he does. He knows what to say, when to say it. And then, on the ice, he's very vocal. He's constantly talking to our [defensemen] and he's much better at playing the puck than people give him credit for, getting that transition up the ice. And he handles his rebounds very well." Nabokov is 9-7-5 this season with a 2.98 GAA and a .906 save percentage but he has been 4-2-2 since his return while giving up 17 goals on 240 shots.