Islanders Gameday News: Capital return, Isles hope to bounce back

Tonight the Washington Capitals visit the Islanders in a meeting between the Metropolitan’s {checks schedule} yep, fifth- and eighth-place teams.

The Capitals are 10 points ahead of the Isles and holding on to the East’s second and final wild card spot. Meanwhile, EVERYONE else in the East is at least seven points behind the Caps. Weird year.

But tonight is Star Wars Beanie night. Leave your FIG Picks here.

Islanders Reads

• The Islanders hope not to fall "asleep for five to eight minutes" again and Anthony Beauvillier looks to return to the lineup for Alan Quine. [Newsday]
• The Islanders Prospect Report smells like Gopher. [Isles]
• You too can win an Isles branded PS4 and Tavares jersey. [The twitters]
• Isles prospect Kieffer Bellows is wonderful and terrific and the future, his coach says, but also he needed a break (read: scratch) because he’s a kid. [@Nikfraz14]
• Yet more from Newsday on how the state's cancellation of RFPs for Belmont Park maybe-might-could open the door for the Islanders. Best line: "No town or village zoning or approval process is required to build on the property." [Newsday]
• The Islanders are generally good dudes so a few of them discussed teamwork and being filthy rich (okay not that last part) with kids at Birch Lane Elementary. [Massapequa Observer]

Beyond Brooklyn

• By the way, the pace of the Metro's five good teams is insane right now. Many good decisions have led to the division's rise. [SB Nation]
  
• Darnell Nurse is out for up to 12 weeks. Yikes. [Oilers Nation]
• There was lots of craziness in last night’s Bruins-Habs game, including Andrew Shaw being dirty (as is his wont), and Torey Krug being dirty on Shaw. [SB Nation]
• It ended with more insanity in overtime. [SB Nation]
• Johnny not-hockey Gaudreau filed trademark applications for "Johnny Hockey" even though (a better) one already exists. [TSN]
• Patrick Laine "scored" a game-deciding own goal and needed a hug. [SB Nation]
• Book review: "Architecture on Ice," a history of the hockey arena. [Puck Junk]
• Aaron Cohen is not native to hockey but loves it now and has to write "Road to the (various) Classic(s)" scripts with the NHL playing both in Toronto and St. Louis on turn-of-the-calendar outdoor games. [CBS NY]
• The Columbus Guide to Expansion. They should know, they've been through this. [The Cannon]
• This is odd or confusing (and over a month old), but Coyotes goalie Louis Dominque has the SB Nation Arizona logo on his mask. [SB Nation]