Islanders Bits: The Calm Before the Pivotal Blue Jackets Clash

Last night's 5-4 win wasn't pretty, but it was a ton more entertaining than the snoozer with the Devils. I don't always watch garbage-time hockey in April, but when I do I prefer firewagonry. Some links on the Isles and around hockey:

The guys gave it to Matt Moulson pretty good after his sweet top shelf snipe last night: "A lot of guys said [it wasn’t a typical Moulson goal]. I like to mix a decent one in every now and then." That's some good nature, but that's not why he won the Good Guy Award.

Here's the Skinny from last night. Meanwhile, Newsday's write-up focused on Michael Grabner mourning missed chances before last night's pair of goals. Arctic Ice Hockey digested the game from the Jets fan perspective. Winnipeg Free Press | QMI goes with "former Manitoba Moose sniper" Grabner. | The Sun adds lots of notes on the game.

Good interview from Hockey's Future on the NHL dreams of Andrey Pedan, who I must continue typing as Andrei Pedan so that our database picks it up.

I've been asked a bit about this, but Kevin at IPB goes into it more deeply: The hockey seating chart at Barclay's is, as generally rumored, horseshoe shaped.

Here's video of last night's ceremony for Steve Staios' 1000th game.

Brock Nelson has reported for duty with Bridgeport but is not expected to play tonight. [Update: Fuller words from Fornabaio's blog.]

Hockey Around Us

The CBA and continued revenue growth has created strange trends: On The Changes In NHL Contracts, Part 1 - The Copper & Blue

After losing a court battle, Newark's mayor takes back his friendship bracelet from the Devils owner: Newark mayor Booker slams Devils owner following arbitrators' ruling against city | NJ.com

The back-into-titles situation in the Southeast and Pacific had me wondering: This is just the third year since the lockout that the NHL will have sub-100-point division winners.

This was a ridiculous bit of cheating from Ryan Clowe ... but he got away with it!

Saturday's Frozen Four final is set: Boston College versus Ferris Bueller.

We linked this in the game recap last night, but it's too funny not to surface again: John Tortorella on Penguins: ‘One of the most arrogant organizations in the league’ | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports

The video is actually at NHL.com:

On that note, the Score asks: What was the dirtiest cheap shot of the season? | Backhand Shelf. (I'm going with Carcillo. You?)

Stat-gazing: Sounds like Parenteau won't get this one, but Tavares already did last night: First 50-assist man on the Isles since Pierre Turgeon. Stat trackers: What to watch for every Eastern Conference team in season's final days - NHL - Sporting News

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So that's your superficial surfing for Friday, April 6, the last day before the last day of the NHL regular season. As you may know, all 30 teams are in action to close out the 82-game schedule Saturday. Weak division titles and seedings are on the line, though all 16 playoff combatants are already identified.

That leaves the Islanders and Blue Jackets to toil in obscurity, the BJ's already having locked up 30th place and the Islanders finishing no lower than 27th and no higher than 24th. Get ready.