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Islanders Gameday News: Barzal, Beauvillier make Team Canada; Petrov joins rebel alliance

And the other Kirill also flies away.

By Dominik
Al Bello/Getty Images

The Islanders have their final game before the Christmas break tonight, and they'll try to end it on a bright note after losing three straight in regulation for the first time this season.

The game is a 7 p.m. start, and Ugly Holiday T-Shirt Night (first 10,000 fans), vs. the Ducks. Leave your FIG picks here.

Islanders Reads
  • As expected, Islanders first-round picks Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier have made Team Canada's WJC roster, which nicely sets up the "Isles are ruining them" online spats of 2016. [Sportsnet]
  • In time for fans to argue what could have been vs. what never was, Kirill Petrov is indeed leaving Bridgeport and returning to Russia. In time for Star Wars, he'll be back with his old team, "General" Ak-bars Kazan. [LHH | Isles]
  • Here's a fun listen: Dan joins the Arctic Ice Hockey podcast, and they could've talked for another hour. [AIH podcast]
  • It's, oy, yeesh, been tough in Bridgeport as they head to a much-needed break winless in five, shutout 3-0 by Portland. [CT Post | Soundin' Off]
  • But wait! The struggles are not contagious to the entire Islander system: The Mavericks are still perfect at home. [MO Mavs]
Beyond the Struggles
  • Jaromir Jagr is now fourth all-time in the NHL after scoring his 732nd goal. [Puck Daddy]
  • Speaking of which: The definitive oral history of Jagr...so far. [Sportsnet]
  • In that same game, which ended in a shootout -- which not even the grumpiest "why can't Bettman Ziegler fix everything" columnist had dreamed up back when Jagr was a rookie -- Ryan Miller hurt himself on the first shootout attempt and Alexander Barkov won it with a circus deal. [Puck Daddy]
  • The Capitals absolutely torched the Smurfs at the Garden, which is awesome, though it pushed the Caps to the top of the league standings, which is unsettling. [NHL]
  • More Metro updates from the week that was. [All About the Jersey]
  • "It looks like we're never going to win a game again and we're buried," Jim Rutherford said, before noting that it isn't so but he's awfully sick about it all. [NHL]
  • Kevin Lowe enjoys his new role and says "no question" a lot. [Puck Daddy]
  • Tonight's opponent, the Ducks have been struggling on offense. [NHL]

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