One New York Islanders prospect is still playing this spring, and if his team pulls off an upset against their bitter QMJHL rival tonight, Kirill Kabanov and the Shawinigan Cataractes would advance to the Memorial Cup final on Sunday.

First things first, the Cataractes are in tonight's semifinal thanks to last night's 6-1 trouncing of the Edmonton Oil Kings, who beat Shawinigan in the opening game. Kabanov did score one of the goals in a most carom-friendly fashion and continued his diligent work to earn the first star of the game from Yahoo's Buzzing the Net.

For the story to continue, the Cataractes will have to win again tonight, against tournament favorite Saint John, with whom they racked up fines after a fight-filled meeting in the round-robin phase.

Other readable goings-on in hockey, from more Kabanov to Spacek to Shane Doan:

Islanders

• Also at BTN, mentioned in comments earlier: Another good interview with Kabanov
• At CBS Local: An overarching view of how Garth Snow has stuck to the rebuild plan, but how the biggest challenge remains finding supplemental help from the free agent marketplace.
• Video at NHL.com: CISCO NHL Live - Mike Bossy
• Tavares in the EA cover final four: Tavares Credits the Fans
• Even News12 picks up the JT vote bandwagon.
• And of course, little Grabner is fully committed. #VoteJohnOnTheJohn indeed. Voting for Tavares in the next round against Pekka Rinne continues through this holiday weekend.
  
• Around LHH lately: Our updated top 25 under 25 list has continued with Brenden Kichton at 21 and Anders Lee at 20. Meanwhile, trophy discussions of the Lady Byng here and the Calder here.
• And FanPosts: Chips are down, make your selection with the #4 pick. And recall, if you will, the Tommy Salo v. Dan Cloutier "fight."

Hockey

• The NHL looks into the post-game behavior and comments by the Coyotes in their elimination game.
• The KHL awards have some excellent translations.
• Columbus is loading up on the gritz: Blue Jackets' Dorsett signs three-year deal | BlueJackets Xtra
• Free agent Jaroslav Spacek would like to return to the Hurricanes but has some excellent stories about the dysfunction he experienced in Montreal. (Also, in that first link: What, like a "million calorie lunch" is rare for Czechs? I think not. Pass the dumplings and gravy, prosim.)
• In the continuing effort to change all that though, the Hockey Club from Montreal has yanked Rick Dudley away from Toronto. He can't help them with this year's draft though.