Islanders News: Not much, and just as well.

Today is the first day of the rest of the season. But no Isles game today, so...

• A grudging B for the Isles at the mid-point. [Today's Slap Shot]
  
• Well, at least Mathew Barzal is lifting his team to victory. [Seattle Times]
• A wee look around the Metro [All About the Jersey]
  

The Ovechkin Sectchkin

• Alex Ovechkin scored number 500 (and 501) last night. Reactions included his parents in tears. [SB Nation]
• Whatever you think of the player -- personally, I detest his headhunting -- it's a relief to have someone scoring and being generally amazing in this age of low-scoring, big goalies, shot blocking, and coached-to-death defense. Adjusted for era, he is among the absolute best ever. [NHL]
• Some funny lines from the many goalies Ovechkin has beaten, including an interesting one from Jaroslav Halak. [WaPo]
• It's been an interesting career, and at one point it looked like Ovechkin's goals were drying up. [NHL]
  

Neither Isles nor Ovechky

• The Canucks would like you and everyone else to know they are trying to trade Chris Higgins. [Nucks Misconduct]
• This after they lost in OT as the Sedins...just kind of left the ice. [SB Nation | Jeff Patterson]
• A good read on why the Predators went for it with Ryan Johansen. [Boston Globe]
• Evander Kane got the last laugh on the Jets' "Track Suit Night" deal. [Puck Daddy]
• Connor McDavid won't return until after the All-Star break. [NHL]
• "According to accounts from those to be trusted, Tortorella has returned to nuts-and-bolts coaching, and absent so much of the sideshow that marked his time in New York and in Vancouver." [Post]
• Wu Tang Clan, er, Larry Robinson ain't nothing to [mess] with. [HEOTP]
• Jakub Kindl is through waivers, and off to Grand Rapids. [WIIM]