[Gameday Bits] Moving On, More Poulin, Mayfield Learns & Marty McInnis

The Islanders are at the Staal place tonight to take on the Hurricanes. It's gonna be a long day until puck drop. Read these:

Islanders reading:

• We had this in the comments yesterday, but in case you missed it: Arthur Staple takes stock of the Islanders' problems at about the quarter pole of the season and looks past everybody's fantasy trades toward realistic options. He also uses the phrase "smaht and hahd," which is epically epic. [New$day]
• The Islanders want to put Tuesday's game behind them and play with confidence going forward. Good idea. [Staple again]
• UPDATE: Aaron Ness has been recalled from Bridgeport, because ... injuries: Cal Clutterbuck (upper body) and Matt Donovan (hip) are both day-to-day
• Over at The Hockey Writers, Anatoliy Metter says Kevin Poulin should get more starts. Also a good idea. [THW]
• In Bridgeport, Scott Mayfield is eating, sleeping and breathing hockey and loving every minute. [CT Post]
• He may seem like Public Enemy No. 1 sometimes, but Evgeni Nabokov is still a very intelligent and erudite individual and a hockey lifer. In this (English translation) interview with a Russian news outlet after the Caps game, Nabokov talks about his background, his future, getting out of barely-liberated Russia and, of course, his foil Stan Fischler. If you're gonna tear the guy a new one today, at least read this first. [Voice of Russia]
• Islanders Point Blank has some information on a survey about Islanders fans transportation to and from games. No really. [IPB]
• The official site (and John Tavares) discuss Kyle Okposo's hot start, which means he will go cold any minute now. [Isles]
• Daniel Friedman of WFAN looks at Okposo's chances of making a trip to Sochi with Team USA. [CBS]
• Sweet Fancy Moses! I think we missed this from a month ago, but former Islander Marty McInnis is now an assistant coach at Boston College. [SBN College Hockey]

The World and Elsewhere:

• Last night's NHL Scores include the Rangers spanking the Penguins, and Semyon Varlamov giving up five goals to Nashville.
  
• Eliotte Friedman's 30 Thoughts cover a lot of ground this week. [HNIC]
• Oilers coach Dallas Eakins had some words with struggling sniper Nail Yakupov yesterday, specifically the words, "You're not being traded so relax." [Edmonton Journal]
• The Flyers are behind the times, but not in the way you think. Really strong take that I'm sure Ed Snider will unfortunately ignore. [The 700 Level]
• What is the origin of the "fly by" goal celebration, and is Scott Scissons involved? [TSN, h/t Fornabaio]
• Need some help for your fantasy team? How about a Dane? [NHL.com]
• Ken Daneyko talks about how good Scott Niedermayer was. [NHL.com]
• Andrew Berkshire gives Canadiens coach Michel Therrien a few pieces of his mind. [HEOTP]

Times must be tough in Chicago. If a player goes into the crowd at United Center, they'll take the helmet right off his head. And then pour beer on him.

FIG Picks

Leave your First Islanders Goal picks for tonight's game over this way.

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