Islanders Gameday News: Hab yourself a merry little Christmas; Halak-ukkah; Baby, it's shootout side

FIG picks for tonight's tilt against Les Canadiens can be left here. Merci.

Islanders news

• Jaroslav Halak is feeling very zen after his busy and successful weekend. [Newsday]
• Chris spent some time at the Kid's Table with the Islanders' line of talented youngsters. [LHH]
• The Islanders are growing up right before our eyes and ESPN wants you to pay money to read about it.
• Montreal columnist Pat Hickey remembers the early Islanders and sees this version on the rise. [Montreal Gazette]
• Turns out that Top 25 Under 25 lists can be very insightful, even years later. And our panel knows their stuff. [Fanpost by DPKnees]
• From World Juniors to bust to waiver pick-up to top four defenseman. Thomas Hickey's wild ride. [Islanders Insight]
• The Hockey Writers on Jack Capuano's role in the Islanders' success.
• Isles Nation is organizing a Frans Nielsen appreciation celebration for the Jan. 19 game against the Flyers.
• Puck Daddy's Top 10 shootout goals of 2014 feature more than a couple of Islanders. Spinoramas for everyone.
• Garik has Christmas/Hanukkah presents for all of you: Islanders neutral zone data! Game 24 vs New Jersey | Game 25 vs Ottawa | Game 26 at Ottawa | Game 27 vs St. Louis | Game 28 at Minnesota | Game 29 at St. Louis | Game 30 vs Chicago | Game 31 vs New Jersey | Game 32 at Detroit.

Beau Coup Audio

• A very special guest stops by the Islesblog podcast: Darius Kasparaitis.
• The Point Blank podcast talks the wins over Detroit and Tampa Bay.
• Sportstalk1240's Gary Harding talks to Doc Emerick and Shannon Hogan on his show.
• Last but not least, Johnny Boychuk hangs with Butchie on the Butch Goring Show.

Around le mond du hockey

• Not sure what, or even if, John Scott was thinking hitting Tim Jackman in the face with the butt end of his stick like it was the hilt of a sword. Dumb. [Eye on Hockey]
• The newest mumps case is the Rangers' Lee Stempniak. [USA Today]
• Japers Rink goes behind the scenes with EPIX on the Road to the Winter Classic.
• After over a year on the job, the gap between Steve Tambellini and Craig MacTavish gets smaller and smaller. [Lowetide]
• The son of former Islander Bill Berg is suing the CHL for unfair labor practices. [NY Times]
• SB Nation College Hockey checks in on the World Juniors.
• Eric Morris looks at transaction trees for NHL teams. The Islanders one is refreshingly boring yet divine. [Undisclosed Injury]

It's David Leggio versus Ryan Pulock in a hilarious Sound Tigers cookie decorating battle. Fight!