If you missed it yesterday, Blake Comeau talked a bit about his healthy scratch, and Jack Capuano like Bartleby before him said he'd prefer not to.
It's funny: I don't want to say it's not notable to sit a 24-goal scorer for your 3-minute enforcer -- it sure is. But it also has the unlucky distinction of being the first non-Ryan Strome healthy scratch of the season.
It's normal to have three scratches every game (okay, two when you're carrying three goalies). But thanks to injuries the Islanders hadn't even faced that decision until Saturday night when Trevor Gillies came off IR.
No matter how this evolves, a lot of us have been saying competition is good. Gillies is not competition for Comeau, but a functional bottom six is. The third line, or the most-used bottom trio when Gillies is dressed, remains the mystery piece to the Islanders' puzzle. As we see more and more forward prospects push from below, this is going to get fun.
Islanders Links
Sure, P.A. Parenteau looks just fine working the telepathy with John Tavares and Matt Moulson -- but is it true first-line telepathy? {/disenchanted fan'd} ... also in that article is a refreshing take from Jack Capuano on Nino Niederreiter's return -- he's not skating yet -- and how it affects his lines: The answer is, it doesn't. Not now. "It's a long season, a lot can happen." So think day to day, because who knows what the situation will be next week.
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So this is what two four-point games does: Wall Street Journal says John Tavares is "taking the NHL by storm." (Seriously though, good details on his summer training there. The lesson, kids: Core strength, core strength, core strength.)
- We put up Kirill Kabanov's turn on our Top 25 Islanders Under 25 last night. Check this link for an interesting article on him complete with Google Translate hilarity.
- Isles hope to capitalize on quick start. [Post]
- In
jinxpraise of the Islanders penalty killers. [Official site] - P.A. Parenteau on The Fan 590 in Toronto (pssshh...not a true first-line radio station)
- Rick DiPietro skated yesterday. [Newsday]
- Bridgeport chat today: 1:30 p.m., Michael Fornabaio is your cruise director
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Fun trivia from Hornick | ... and Tavares is the 5th Islander to get two goals and four points in consecutive games. Guess who else?
- Here are your "Decades" ticket package details and schedule.
- If you submit(ted?) questions to Matt Moulson, he'll answer them today at 1 p.m. on Twitter.
- The successors at IPB believe the Atlantic is an obstacle. Needless to say, we agree.
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Love for the first line from Voice of the Islanders Fans
- Star talk (never know if "stars of the week" interest anyone): Isles three stars [Hockey Writers]; Tavares as NHL 2nd star | Prospect Park's players of the week.
- Chattin' hockey with 7th Woman.
Who are the greatest power forwards of all time? Barry Melrose asks himself. The real answer: 1. Clark Gillies 2. Clark Gillies with one arm tied behind his back. 3. Clark Gillies with both arms tied behind his back. 4. Clark Gillies with both arms tied, a hernia and a broken stick. 5. Clark Gillies driving Mike Ditka and da Bears in the Indy 500.
Like us yesterday, Lyle Richardson deduces the team scouts watching the Islanders and finds ... none of them need goalies except maybe eventually Columbus. So wouldn't worry about that "showcase Nabokov for trade?" report. Also in Richardson's column is a fun look at how Jay Feaster still has contract baggage in Calgary. Do not want.
If Loving Hockey is Wrong I Don't Want to be Right Links
- Just how important is winning an offensive zone faceoff (EV vs. PP), anyway?
- How about zone entries?
- How NHL teams handle so many young pups.
- The Oilers official scorers. Problem?
- The jerseys for the Winter Classic between two teams that don't get much attention.
- Bourne & Co. at theScore: DIGR: A New Stat Removes the Flaw From Save Percentage (WSJ with more here) | The Game Day Routine of the Healthy Scratched
- Elliotte Friedman's always-wonderful 30 Thoughts
OT: Can't remember if I've posted this here before, but it's one of my favorite underrated Monty Python skits. You might have to be an English soccer fan or philosophy dork to find it as tickling as I do, but it's good silliness for anyone: Germany vs. Greece - Philosopher's Football "Beckenbauer obviously a bit of a surprise there."
Keep your head up and have fun out there.