Islanders News: Special Tavares, fun-loving Halak, angelic Okposo, naughty Strome, camp-bound Dal Colle

The Islanders host the Senators tonight for the first part of a home-and-home. You have assigned reading first.

Islanders Reads

• This is why John Tavares is special. That's excerpted from this ESPN/LeBrun profile on the Isles.
• Michael Grabner will probably crack the lineup sometime this week, but who he cracks from it is the daily question. [Newsday]
  
• Jaroslav Halak was named the NHL's 1st Star. [LHH | Daily News(!) | NHL Video]
  
• He says hey, just have fun out there. [Zen of Halak]
• Or maybe his secret is behind a paywall. [ESPN Insider]
• Chad Johnson knows he needs to be better, is doing the video homework. [IPB]
• Pennst92 checks in with his weekly Islanders 30 Thoughts. November was nice, yeah? [LHH]
• The top penalty +/- lists include Kyle Okposo (good!) and Ryan Strome (shame!) [CBS]
• The Isles prospect report includes that shutout pair by Stephon Williams. [Isles]
• The Isles picked out toys to give hospitalized kids, which is always adorable. [Isles | Newsday]
  
• Sunday's Hockey Night in New York podcast included Arthur Staple. [blogtalk]
• Here is the Canada 2015 WJC camp invite roster, and why yes Michael Dal Colle is on it. [Eyes on the Prize] Dal Colle is having a bit of a season. [Durham]
• The Post had a clearly AEG-friendly leak saying AEG wanted to by Barclays Center but saw the Isles lease as "risky." [Post] Take it all with a grain. [Field of Schemes]
• After a brief callup with David Leggio banged up, Kent Simpson is back in Stockton. [Thunder]
• Your feedback sought: Ranking NHL teams (and their trend) based on Corsi, goals for, shot differential, special teams. JPinVA says weigh in, suggest improvements, enjoy the ranking. [LHH]
• FIG Picks: Leave your First Islanders Goal picks for tonight here. Don't pick Grabner...yet.

As If Others Places Matter

• NHL Power Rankings: Preds and Isles, man. [SB Nation]
• No but in projected standings, the Isles are for real. [WaPo]
  
• Tonight's opponent is having a rough season. But Daniel Alfredsson is going to retire and officially erase last season from the record, so Sens fans are reliving his best moments, which were all as a Senator because last year was a mirage not to be spoken of again. Here is Silver Seven on his seven-point night.
• Martin Brodeur just won't be told to quit. [SB Nation] He says he's ready, and the Blues will probably start him soon for some reason. [stltoday]
  
• Veteran center Scott Gomez says two ancient Devils can play at this "washed up but employed" game. [NHL]
• Speaking of slow, here's the Monday slow-mo replay.
• The road to the Stars' rebrand was filled with disasters dodged, including the desire to abandon green -- because hey, why own a distinct color almost no other team has? The NHL "encouraged" them to reconsider. [Icethetics]
• No introduction: Revenge of Revenge of the Nerds: A Comic | FlamesNation