Islanders Bits: Bridgeport Playoffs Resume; Something Something Brooklyn

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers play Game 2 tonight, trailing 1-0 in their intrastate AHL playoff series with the Connecticut Whale. The CT Post game preview focuses on Justin DiBenedetto, the pending RFA with eight fruitless shots in Game 1. In Soundin Off, some mulling of playing Tony Romano, who was a point machine down the stretch after being left off the Clear Day list. Links to Courant coverage in that post.

In Brooklyn/relocation quasi-news, Gary Bettman visited with AP sports editors for 90 minutes of hockey talk and nothing new regarding the Isles emerged. But there were the familiar lines about the County, about the NHL "working with" the Islanders for metro solution and not conceding anything beyond a preseason game to Brooklyn interests (shock, I know). Same as it ever was. [Newsday | AP | FanShot]

Further into the future and down the prospect pipeline, Ryan Strome and Mitchell Theoret each figured in Niagara's goals in their OT win in Game 1, with Theoret getting the winner. [FanShot highlights | CP recap]

And overseas, Michael Grabner on playing for Austria again at the IIHF site.

Finally, Evgeni Malkin ... this hit suspension-worthy? (embedded below)

We'll have a new post and playoff-watching thread up late this afternoon. R.I.P. Red Wings.