Islanders Gameday News: Battle of New York, Episode 2

The Battle of New York resumes tonight. Leave your First Islanders Goal picks for tonight here.

Battle of New York Reads

• Rivalry sure, but the Isles just need to take two points from their nearest Metro combatant. [Newsday]
• That doesn't mean they didn't have one eye on the advance stats-cringing Powerball though. [Newdsay]
• Still though, it's a rivalry. [Isles]
• Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolay Kulemin as hipsters and surrealist performers. Must watch. [LHH]
• Ryan Strome answered your twitters, and we captured it. [LHH]
• This week's power rankings are in. [LHH]
• Standings vs. atmosphere for the Isles. [Altar of Bossy]
• Seconhalf questions, given all that unsettles them. [SI]
• Tonight's opponent was frustrated by its blown lead and OT loss to Washington, though they rebounded against Boston. [Daily News]
• How shall the Rangers trade Keith Yandle? [Post]
• Unhappiness with Alain Vigeneault's selection who to hold accountable, etc. [Blueshirt Banter]
• Denis Potvin apologized for his rant against the Canucks while broadcasting the Panthers game there. [TSN | Panthers]
  
• As well he should, because they just keep plugging along. [TSN]
• Quine is ever-closer to activating the reactor. #totalrecall [Soundin' Off]
• Also with the Sound Tigers, Ben Holmstrom's tenacity has been essential. [CT Post]
• Barzal's Thunderbirds still fell short to some place called Prince George. [Seattle Times]
• If you've always wanted to skate at Barclays Center, home of the Islanders, now's your chance. [Barclays]
• The Rangers are old. [Blueshirt Banter]

Beyond The Center of the Universe

• Alex Galchenyuk's girlfriend being arrested for domestic violence reminds us how to think about the scope of this issue. [PPP]
• Can we predict which players will succeed on the PP? [Hockey-graphs]
• The Sabres shall be sellers, FYI. [TSN]
• The agleess wonder(s) of Joe Thornton. [Fear the Fin]
• New Jersey's Bobby Farnham, who earlier this season called out Casey Cizikas for not "backing up" his hits, delivered a cheap hit so ridiculous he got four games, full stop. [NHL]
• The stalling Canadian dollar could have a big effect on expansion, as well as escrow. [TSN]
• Oliver Ekman-Larsson is doing pretty swell, as is Brock Nelson and others. [TSN Statistically Speaking]
  
• Is brief-training-camp Islander T.J. Brennan the best defenseman in the AHL? [PPP]
• How will John Tortorella handle Ryan Johansen and what can it teach us about stadiums and drafts. [Sportsnet]
• There is an auction to benefit Denna Laing, the NWHL player who suffered a spinal injury at the Winter Classic.

On to the battle.