LHH NHL Power Rankings 'n Bits: 'Who Cares We're Playing Outdoors!' Edition

Happy The-Rest-of-the-Universe-Has-To-Pay-Attention-To-Us-For-One-Night Eve!!!! Well, at least that's when I wrote this. It's too late for it to run now, and something tells me people won't be too eager to talk about a bunch of opinion polls and dry tables full of numbers on the day the Isles take it outdoors.

I'll be sitting in the bleachers over in left field, sssooooo.... I probably spent 320 bucks to see absolutely nothing.

But it's an opportunity that might not come around again for a long time. Taking my dad (a Rangers fan) and despite our one profound divide, we will enjoy this together.

And running with that warm fuzzy feeling, have some power rankings. But first, some mini-bits:

• Maybe Cal Clutterbuck went all enthusiast with the "eye" black. [Sporting News]
• The Isles are downright digging the outdoor experience, and the Danes are going medieval with the head gear. [Isles]
• NEW: Josh Bailey updates his Stadium Series blog: "I know everyone thinks about memories of playing outside, but I think that gets played up a little more than it actually is. To me, it felt like another practice. At the same time, it was obviously cool."
• Thomas Vanek is cool with the role Austria has given him for the Olympics. [NHL]
• Matt Martin on the radio with that former quarterback guy and Carton. [CBS]
  
• Eric Hornick with the Skinny on the Stadium Series. [NYI Skinny]
• The Isles have concussions on the blueline up and down the system. Andrei Pedan is finally skating though. [CT Post]
• From earlier this month (and after the trade), but here's Vanek blogging on the Olympics, and the Islanders.
• FIG Picks: Leave 'em here for tonight's game.

Elsewhere

• Tim Thomas had a bummer of a return to Boston but clubbed Carl Soderberg. [SB Nation]
• Look away from Evander Kane's infected hand. [Sporting News]
• Beach volleyball, fireworks and KISS: The NHL at Dodger Stadium - SBNation.com
• Notre Dame's one-handed goalie. [SB Nation]
  
• KHL hockey in Croatia. [PPP]
  

Weekly Roundup of Opinion Polls

It appears that people are pulling for us... But doubt we'll pull off the comeback.

Ah yes, that Kyle Okposoy. Some say he really benefits from playing with Tavaresy and Vaneky, but he's just as good with Nielseny and Grabnery, in my opiniony.

LHH Power Rankings

The Isles get dragged down a spot. Or kicked. I forget which. They're basically the same thing now, from what I've been told.

Standings from an Alternate Universe

Three points for a regulation win. As pure as an outdoor sheet of ice (until the shootout rains on everything):

The Isles would be three regulation wins out of third, which isn't too bad considering they have twice as many regulation losses as regulation wins.

OK, I hope to meet many of you at the LHH meet-up at Stout tomorrow (or I hope I did meet many of you). I'll be there until a little after six, so if you showed up later, then we'll do it again someday soon, OK?

Let's. Go. Islanders. And try to stay warm.

More from Lighthouse Hockey

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