SHAWN BATES LIKELY TO PLAY WEDNESDAY

BATES LIKELY TO PLAY WEDNESDAY
Courtesy: New York Islanders
Nov 27, 2007

Ted Nolan said today after practice that Shawn Bates is likely to dress for Wednesday's contest against the Ottawa Senators.

Bates has been out with injuries since January 30 of last season. In 318 career games with the Islanders, Bates is 58-112-170, including 13 shorthanded goals.

"Shawn has worked extremely hard on his conditioning and spent a few games down in Bridgeport," said head coach Ted Nolan. "So we'll probably more than likely see him tomorrow night."

In practice today, Bates centered a line with Richard Park and Sean Bergenheim.

Bates will return to the lineup to help the Islanders stop a menacing force in the Ottawa Senators. Last season, Ottawa took all four games against the Islanders. Nolan told reporters this afternoon what he said to his assistants today about their matchups from last season.

"Last year it was like boys playing with men," said Nolan. "They out-worked us, they out-did us in every aspect of the game, but this year we have a different staff and a lot of new players, and hopefully a different result."