Islanders News: Same old Blues, Scandella suspended, Isles still confident

When you give me the business, you know I get a mind
'Cause I've got a lot of patience and I've got a lot of time
It's the same old story, tell me where does it end
It's the same old blues, same old blues again

>>Clapton, I think, but all the blues steal from each other

The New York Islanders visit the St. Louis Blues tonight, licking the wounds of two consecutive blown three-goal leads at the hands of the Blues and their lesser Central Division mates, the Minnesota Wild. They could really use a win, or at least a 60-minute effort.

Islanders Reads

• Despite the two gut-punch losses, they realize they are good, tied for the league lead in wins, and watched lots of video that maybe told them they shouldn't leave David Backes, Thomas Vanek or Nino Niederreiter alone in front of the net. [Newsday]
  
• Even though people in St. Louis are coming dangerously close to thinking Martin Brodeur is still good, Jake Allen is still #1 and will start against the Isles tonight. [stltoday]
• That doesn't mean people aren't paranoid the Blues will deal Brian Elliott or something. [Game Time]
• Alexander Steen -- a late scratch Saturday on Long Island -- and Jay Bouwmeester might be ready to return tonight too. Not Carl Gunnarsson, who was knocked out by Anders Lee's elbow. [stltoday]
• Marco Scandella was suspended two games for his hit on Brock Nelson's head, a reprisal of his hit on TJ Oshie's head. [LHH] Meanwhile, Keith Ballard was released from the hospital. [Star Trib]
  
• David Backes is "still not well" after taking a puck in the mouth. I kind of worry about this happening to Brock Nelson. [stltoday]
• Just as Brian Strait will never exit because he runs the fantasy football league, Matt Martin will never exit because he controls the music mix on up to the opening in Brooklyn. [NY Hockey Journal]
• Oh, also, Brock Nelson likes the rap. [LHH FanShot of Zen]
  
• Ken Campbell was told other teams have also lost two consecutive games after holding three-goal leads. [THN]
• Bridgeport updates from the man Fornabaio. [Soundin' Off]
• FIG Picks: Leave your First Islanders Goal picks for tonight here. You don't have to pick the first three goals. Just the one.
• The Big Ten will do a doubleheader of hockey and hoops (I think that's basketball) at MSG from 2016-19. [SBN College Hockey]
• Bro, you know what's even more hip than liking the Isles? Liking curling. In Brooklyn. [Times]

There Are Other Teams, Too

• Jean Beliveau and Elise Couture, a love story. [Sportsnet]
• Wait, how does Vegas affect expansion?! [Globe and Mail]
• The Sens liked Paul MacLean, and then they didn't. [Globe and Mail] He was the fall man. [SB Nation]
• The Sens might move downtown because, as it turns out, arenas built in the middle of nowhere don't do so well. [Citizen]
• Paul Bissonnette still wants to live the dream, still believes in fighting though he doesn't like to fight. [ESPN]
  
• You know who's even more of a criminal than Scandella? Ryan Garbutt. Guy probably can't be trusted to play hockey. [PHT]
• The Flyers PK issues are not Braydon Coburn's fault, man. [BSH]
  
• Ex-Wings and Bruins coach Dave Lewis is taking his puck to Belarus. [Yahoo]
• The best value draft picks since 2005. [Committed Indian]