[Bits] Set me to an early lead, you just keep me hanging on

If you saw the Islanders take a 4-0 lead in the first period last night and expected them to clamp down and coast to an easy win, I congratulate you on watching and surviving your first New York Islanders game. Next one is Thursday evening in Tampa.

Islanders news:

• Recaps: LHH | Arthur Staple's recap in New$day includes the difference between this season's late visit to Raleigh versus last year's | Islanders | Point Blank | Canes Country
• The Skinny from Eric Hornick. Time Flies: 12 years ago [last] night (3-25-02): Alexei Yashin had four goals as the Islanders pounded the Blackhawks 9-2 in the United Center.
  
• Buyout options for Islanders players. Spoiler alert: it's a short list. [The Checking Line]
• Reader Dougtone with some photos from Sunday's game against Columbus. [Fanshot]

Meanwhile:

• Last night's NHL Scores. Maple Leafs lose (again), Blue Jackets go and steal one from the Red Wings. A four way tie for the wild card spot in the East makes for a fun next few weeks.
• NHL Teams: if you're going to run a Twitter Q&A for one of your players, be careful. Exhibit A: the Penguins hijacked #AskNeal Affair. [Crossing Broad]
• Once again, Down Goes Brown sets the record straight on some NHL "facts." [Grantland]
• Nice read from Canes Country on Jim Rutherford: the Father of Triangle Hockey and the man who build Carolina's family atmosphere.
• Seeing live NHL games is expensive. How expensive? [Nucks Misconduct]
• San Jose Sharks: They are very good. [NHL.com]
• Today's #fancystats Advanced Classes:
  • How Cup contenders are really built. [Silver Seven].
  • Tyler Dellow on why Corsi matters. [mc79hockey]
  • Travis Yost on how teams improved on special teams from last year. [Hockey Buzz]
• UMASS-Lowell defenseman Christian Folin is getting major interest from NHL teams. [CBS Sports]
• Rangers color man Joe Micheletti tore his Achilles in a pick-up basketball game. Usually when Dolan employees get hurt shooting hoops, they play for the Knicks. [North Jersey.com]
• RIP Tim Sassone, venerable Chicago sports writer. [Sherman Report]
• RIP Ralph Wilson venerable Buffalo Bills owner and football Hall of Famer. [Buffalo Rumblings]
• What the puck is this thing? [Deadspin]

Good luck getting this out of your head today.

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Follow @LHHockey Follow @SBNationNHL

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• [Bits] Fitting the Jackets, sharp dressed Frans, tank-tops not allowed