Islanders Gameday News: Sharks lurk as Isles go to the dogs

The San Jose Sharks are in town after taking their first loss of the season last night at Madison Square Garden. Here's to going 0-for-New York. You are hereby encouraged to leave your FIG picks for the game here.

Islanders Reads

• It’s just another game day early in the season, except it’s not: John Tavares was reflective about what he expects from the team and where he is in his career. [Newsday]
• And Josh Bailey and Travis Hamonic reflected on how quickly time flies by, seeing longtime teammates leave, and the mix of veterans, core homegrowns, and new youngsters. [NHL]
• That’s a lot of serious talk for a day when the Isles made time to visit with dogs. [LHH | Isles]
• Shannon Hogan says don't you panic, and I always do what Shannon says. [MSG Networks]
• Howie Rose got to enjoy the home opener as a fan, then delivered a rare selfie to say thanks. [LHH]
• Another review of the home opener from the English perspective, with an introduction to the great Billy Smith. Forgive the delay, that game was pretty late GMT. [LHH Fanpost]
• Senior captain (and Isles prospect) Doyle Somerby and freshman Kiefer Bellows are part of a vaunted BU lineup that the coach would like to have not read its hype. [Times]
• Meanwhile, victory for OHL Oshawa. [Durham Region]
• Oh Kirill, my Kirill! Kabanov's contract was terminated by his KHL team, Nftkhmkzg HC. [HCnfkmgzlkse]

Neither Here but Maybe There

• Yann Danis is alive! Back in the Habs system with St. John’s. [HEOTP]
• The Hurricanes are a popular sleeper pick or at least team on the rise, but their early trends are not good. [N&O]
• Arghh! Another useful hockey site's founder has been gobbled up by an NHL team. Las Vegas has hired General Fanager founder Tom Poraszka as a Hockey Ops assistant. Unclear whether his duties include picking a team name. [Vegas Is Hockey]
• In search of a Battle of Florida rivalry. [Tampa Bay]
• The NHL's "situation room" explanations are kind of a joke. [Defending Big D]
• With their unreal breakaway speed, Scotty Bowman sees parallels between Connor McDavid and a young Bobby Orr. Hopefully injuries don't ever cut McDavid's career in half. [TSN]
• People have been noting this for a year at least, but Pekka Rinne's decline has created goaltending concerns in Nashville. [THW]
• Yesterday's league drama revolved around the Oilers canceling an offday after a severe stinker against the Sabres, and whether that change violated the CBA. [Sportsnet]
• Cool story: Longshot 32-year-old Claudia Teilez makes Calgary's CWHL team. [Today's Slap Shot]
• Another stupid and needless headshot in juniors, another concussion for Flyers prospect Pascal Laberge. [BSH]