Islanders Gameday News: Buffalo trip; Halak question; Poulin shutout; de Boer de Throned

The New York Islanders play in Buffalo tonight after flying out this morning, and we'll have a very special pre-gamer up later this a.m. Think of it as the day silent film transitioned to talkies.

Islanders-Related Things

• Jack Capuano busted out the "they know who they are" in discussing the timeless conundrum that defines hockey: "We want our guys to be a defense-first team, but at the same time, we need some guys to generate more." [Newsday]
• From the holiday week around here: Garik16 updates the neutral zone numbers and finds promising signs through 34 games. 30 Isles Thoughts (from before the Montreal game). Santa's power rankings consider the Isles nice.
• In case another goalie recall were needed today, Bridgeport was carrying three goalies with Kent Simpson called up from ECHL Stockton. But Kevin Poulin started last night, and shut out the P-Bruins, continuing quite the road-traveling week. [CT Post]
• More post-game notes from Fornabaio on the blog, with it looking like Poulin probably wasn't getting a call, but ya never know. [Soundin' Off]
• UPDATE: Well, about that...Halak on IR retroactively, Poulin recalled and starting tonight.
• Possibly sketchy hit from Harry Zolnierczyk on Joe Morrow in that game. [@MarkDivver] [GIF]
• At the WJC, Isles draft pick Ilya Sorokin was the goalie of record in Russia's 3-2 shootout win over Denmark. [IIHF] [HEOTP]
  
• The renovated Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum will retain its gloriously unsponsored name, though the "complex" around it will get the [bank or insurance or furniture or other] naming rights treatment. [Newsday]
• FIG Picks: (Sorry these were posted late, but leave your First Islanders Goal picks here.)

Around the NHL

• Lou Lamoriello built an old team with some good players and a defensive coach. That coach, Peter DeBoer, is now out of work. At least Lamoriello waited until the day after Christmas this time, though a replacement won't be clear until this morning. [Fire & Ice] [Times] The only surprise was the timing. [ILWT] Should Lamoriello follow de Boer out the doer? [Puck Daddy]
• The Devils may stink, but recent history shows hope is not lost for all teams that are at least mid-table on Christmas Day. [NHL]
  
• More mumps in Pittsburgh: Steve Downie, Thomas Greiss, please visit the doctor. [Post-Gazette]
  
• I received the 1987 Canada Cup DVD for Christmas. The 1984 tourney is now available too. [Hockey Book Reviews]
  

Twilight Zone

I don't know how else to describe this than Guy drives to Temecula to fight someone over a Kobe Bryant Twitter argument on Christmas - SBNation.com