It won't be long before New York Islanders fans are forced to ponder the final season at Nassau Coliseum in 2014-15, but there is another classic and banner-touting Coliseum on its last legs: The Northlands [well they call it something else these days] Coliseum in Edmonton has long been on death watch, and yesterday it was served final notice.
Its $480 million downtown Edmonton replacement was green lighted, with construction expected to begin next month and completion in 2016, one year after the Islanders' debut season in Brooklyn.
Which once-proud blue and orange franchise, I wonder, will be on better footing when it moves to its new digs?
Islanders Reads
- Erik Johnson was suspended two games for his slash that broke Frans Nielsen's hand. [LHH with video] Newsday has the prognosis.
- On the Islanders' proud Olympians. [Isles] Games start today at noon EST, though not with Isles involved until tomorrow. Sweden vs. Czech Republic, and Latvia vs. Switzerland.
- Also at the official site, video of the Isles Olympians plus January's top plays. (There were top plays in January?)
- Bridgeport hit the All-Star break having won six of its last eight. Ryan Strome featured in the Skills Competition last night, and you'll be able to catch him in the All-Star game tonight on MSG+2 and on NHL Network on tape delay.
- Video: In a reverse-Stefan moment, Isles blueline prospect Jesse Graham makes a crazy empty-net save and his team goes the other way to score. [Yahoo]
- Kyle Okposo's favorite player as a kid was ... Sandis Ozolinsh. Alas, Bruno Gervais kept KO from getting his number.
Elsewhere
- I almost feel bad for Canadians, if winning is a pressure-cooker of relief followed by joy. That "we have to win" feeling is no way to enjoy sports.
- Olympic line combos from the first practices. [SBN] Also: comparing NHL vs. Olympic ice sheets.
- NEW: More Olympics in Elliotte Friedman's Olympic-happy 30 Thoughts [CBC]
- Nicklas Backstrom's grandma throws him under the bus. [Yahoo]
- Manon Rheaume's son is a goalie. [THN]
- What is up with Taylor Hall this season anyway? [mc79hockey]
Olympic Hockey
Treat this as your mid-day (in the Eastern time zone) thread for the two Olympic games. If you're enabled, NBC Sports is streaming Czech vs. Sweden here and Latvia vs. Swtizerland.