Islanders News: Please stop scoring; Wild and Reckless Hits; Pulock up and down; The Bryz is Back

Islanders Notes

• Recaps of a Meltdown in Minnesota for masochists: LHH | Newsday | Islanders
• Eric Hornick's Skinny contains an amazing factoid that a lot of people might not have realized. I know I forgot about it: The Islanders remain in second place in the Metropolitan Division, one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• We most likely have not heard the last of Matt Martin's hit on Keith Ballard that left Ballard shaking on the ice and helped off by trainers. Last night he was taken to hospital and will be monitored.  [CBS Sports has video | ESPN with the Ballard update]
• Likewise, Marco Scandella c(sh)ould be hearing from the league about his reckless third period that included a diving Highlander-style slash at John Tavares' leg and this elbow to Brock Nelson's chin. [CBS Sports]
• In other player safety news, Anders Lee was not suspended for his hit on Carl Gunnarsson but instead was fined about $2,200. [LHH Update]
  
• Jaroslav Halak was announced the starter for last night, but sat out with an "upper body injury." Not really much more is known than that. [NHL.com]
• The Nino Issue: He has moved on and is happy where he is [TwinCities.com] | Islanders fans need to get the hell over it [Islanders Insight].
• Thomas Vanek doesn't have many bad things to say about his time with the Islanders. He doesn't have much to say period. [Newsday]
• It was a yo-yo week for Ryan Pulock. [Soundin' Off]
• Notre Dame's Robbie Russo was named the Hockey East's Defensive Player of the Week. [UND.com]
• Bridgeport is hosting their own Teddy Bear Toss this Sunday.
• Catch up on the Thunder and Sound Tigers. Summaries: meh. [BST]
• The Islanders, Nets and PIX11 (or, as it is known in New York/New Jersey, "Channel 11"), have entered into a broadcast agreement to have a studio set up in Barclays Center for remotes from the arena. No mention of games being broadcast on PIX, but the partnership is an interesting one. [PRNewswire | Barclays Center]

Out and About

• Fired Senators coach Paul MacLean met with the press and things got a little wild, including Taylor Swift references and a screaming interruption. At least no one threw a shoe at him. [SB Nation]
• The Ducks will be without super villain Corey Perry for about a month, but did bring in some comic (and goaltending) relief in the form of Ilya Bryzgalov. [Anaheim Calling]
• If the prospective owners of a hypothetical Las Vegas NHL team wants to have an exploratory season ticket drive, the league will listen to the results. The drive starts in February [Review-Journal]
• Vegas isn't exactly a lock (hehe!) and other notes from Day 2 of the owners meetings. [ESPN]
• Gary Bettman also talked about the World Cup and the league's plans for next year's outdoor games. [NHL.com]
• SBN's Power Rankings have the Islanders holding steady.
• And Eyes on the Prize's massive possession stats are interesting and informative.
• It's been a rough season for the Oilers, but Leon Draisaitl is doin' OK. [Edmonton Journal]
• How does a coach "lose the room?" And why can't they remember where they left it? [The Score]
• The 1995-96 St. Louis Blues were a talented, uber-famous and completely flawed team. [Down Goes Brown]

The Canadiens' pre-game ceremony in their first home game since the death of Jean Beliveau was really something.