Islanders Bits: Stocked Bridgeport Can Clinch Division Title

The show goes on for several New York Islanders prospects as their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers are close to their first division title in 10 years.

Their magic number is down to one -- and better yet, the team they're likely to beat out for the Northeast Division crown is also their likely first-round playoff opponent.

Oh, also: That team is the Connecticut Whale, Bridgeport's in-state rival and the affiliate of the Islanders' bitter rival New York Rangers. The playoff series on the horizon could add some prenatal spice to future Battles of New York.

Bridgeport is three points ahead with three games to play -- Connecticut has just two remaining -- but Bridgeport owns the tie breaker so it would require a pointless weekend (literally) and a Whale of a weekend on the Baby Rangers' part. The Sound Tigers visit Providence tonight, while the Whale host Manchester.

As Michael Fornabaio details in the Soundin' Off blog for ConnPost.com, the Sound Tigers' roster overfloweth with bodies. Matt Donovan, Micheal Haley and Casey Cizikas have all returned from the parent club, and there is your usual assortment of ATOs and flotsam, including Brian Rolston trade fodder Marc Cantin, recalled from the ECHL.

Cizikas might still be held out some or all of this weekend, but he'll be ready for playoffs. And here is the late goalie altercation that got Justin DiBenedetto an automatic one-game suspension.

Fornabaio also has an article at the paper proper, previewing this clinch opportunity through the perspective of the cult hero Mr. Haley, who has seen Bridgeport through thick and thin.

Also an interesting read: Mike Flannery at The Checking Line on the player/fan cruise, with some thoughts from injured goalie Anders Nilsson -- including clarification on who nicknamed him Thor.

Isles Bits

• Meanwhile, things are fairly quiet with the parent, although it's confirmed the two Swiss are headed to the World Championship.
• Idle speculation that the Isles might look at a D in the draft: Mock Draft: Islanders on a D-man? - Hockey Blog - ESPN New York
• The official site on John Tavares' big season.
• And on Jay Pandolfo's ... season.
• From Staple: #Isles have let trainer Garrett Timms go. No replacement named yet. New strength coach is Derrek Douglas.
• Voting continues for the NHL13 cover thing from EA.
  

NHL Bits

More on the draft: NHL entry draft is more art than science

And still more: Evaluating The Draft: A New Methodolgy - Habs Eyes On The Prize

Brent Sutter, no longer Flames coach. His record as an NHL coach stands at 215-146-49.

About last night: ANIMATED: Alex Ovechkin Ruined Dennis Seidenberg's Day - From Our Editors - SBNation.com

A key for Philly: Tiring Pens' Letang vital for Flyers' chances

A look at young defensemen league-wide, with salient quotes:

The problem with Schenn is...he's not very good. His closest comparables are Luca Sbisa and Theo Peckham.

and

Cam Fowler is just 19 years old, yet he won the battle while playing on the top pair with Francois Beauchemin. In a 2010 redraft, Fowler would be a top five pick without question.