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The New York Islanders are in Detroit tonight for their final pre-Christmas opportunity to find a way to kick you in the jewels.
The official site helpfully points out that the Isles have won three in a row in Detroit ... but then again they haven't played there since 2010 and "four games ago" was 2003.
Arthur Staple is not on the trip for Newsday -- Mark Herrmann draws the short straw -- so be sure to blame Staple for something or other on Twitter.
There are a ton of games tonight -- just two teams don't play -- before the league shuts down for a lockout Christmas and returns Friday. Here are some things that can be read, if one is in a reading type of mood:
The Wings, of course, are one of the two teams featured on HBO 24/7 this month, so expect footage of the Isles game to be completely ignored if the Isles win (as was the case when the Crosbyburgh Crosbys lost to the Isles during taping a few seasons ago). But if Datsyuk scores a hat trick or something, expect the Isles to be prominently featured in a "Lions defensive back on NFL offensive highlight reel" kind of way. Anyway, here's Winging it in Motown's review of episode two, complete with "erection" reference.
You maybe saw yesterday that Larry Brooks says the Canadiens are shopping Max Pacioretty and the Flyers and Isles have allegedly offered. [CBS]
Yes, even at the World Juniors they have stupid bulletin board material, and they turn to Adam Pelech to fish out what he thinks of a benign comment from his Swedish Erie teammate. [TSN]
Oh, they have kneeing too. Matthew Dumba did a dumb thing. [SBN] Since Griffin Reinhart is suspended due to last year, if Dumba gets a suspension the Canadians could open the tourney with five D. [Buzzing the Net]
Europe's Champions League is on again for hockey, and hopefully they don't have a cheesy anthem the way they do it in soccer/football. [IIHF]
Roberto Luongo may be hurt. [SBN]
FIG Picks: Leave your First Islanders Goal picks for tonight over yonder.
From last night, this Chris Kreider goal was amazing and proves why he is clutch.
