First thing's first, the nicer side: Through a "Goals for Groceries" program, each time the Sound Tigers score a goal at home this season, Citizens Bank will donate $20 to the Connecticut Food Bank of New Haven. As part of this program, there are four games this year where if you bring 10 canned goods to the game (including today's game), you'll receive a ticket voucher for a future game.

Also, with the big club: On Monday, from 2 - 8 p.m., the Islanders will host a free, open skate at Nassau Coliseum for the general public. Throughout the event, the team will collect monetary donations, warm clothing and other non-perishable items for Hurricane Sandy relief. Details and instructions here.

Back to the hockey: The Sound Tigers host the Connecticut Whale with a chance to create some separation. The 7-3 Sound Tigers are three points ahead of Connecticut with a game in hand, and the 5-5-1 Whale are playing their third road game in as many days.

Last night the Whale took out Worcester 6-2, rebounding from another loss to Springfield the night before.

Links of Note:

• Michael Fornabaio says the lines look as they were. We'll see come game time.
• Fornabaio also has a really interesting story on Scott Pellerin's impression of Johan Sundstrom, one that won't change your sneaking suspicion that the Islanders are accumulating some smart hockey players. Note that they track scoring chances for/against, a rather Corsi-like move to going beyond the published stats.
• Isles official site has an update on Anders Lee. They also have a wrap on Lee and Notre Dame's loss to B.C.
• The talk around Griffin Reinhart's Edmonton Oil Kings is of finding consistency, but they swept their weekend road games in Prince George, and Reinhart picked up a goal (ENG) and an assist and was +3 in Friday's 4-2 win.
• Ryan Strome, he just keeps rolling.
• I'm not paying close attention to the NHL-NHLPA pissing and moaning, but Elliotte Friedman has an interesting post on where he thinks things stand. I trust I'll care when they care enough to hold games.