Islanders Gameday News: Halak to waivers, Isles to Winnipeg, 2016 to history

The New York Islanders are in Winnipeg for New Year's Eve and they're one goalie lighter.

Leave your First Islanders Goal picks here for tonight against the Jets by 7 p.m. EST.

Halak Reading

So as you may have heard, the Isles head to Winnipeg without Jaroslav Halak, who was put on waivers:

• That ends(?) a long-running saga and quite the fall in just two-plus seasons. [LHH]
• Evidently Halak didn’t return to the bench nor talk to anyone after getting pulled during the game in Minnesota. [Newsday]
• This is a microcosm of self-inflicted goalie wounds by the Isles. [LHH]
• One thing's for sure, Halak's numbers this year are ugly. [THN] That and the salary has everyone thinking he won't be claimed. [McKenzie/FanRag] [Post] ...which means he'd be in Bridgeport soon. [Soundin' Off]

Meanwhile...

• In other drama, the story of Joshua Ho-Sang, from hotshot prospect to AHL prospect to AHL hero. To be continued. [LHH]
• The Sound Tigers lost in Hershey after a bad third period. [CT Post | BST]

Elsewhere

• Finland didn't make the WJC quarterfinals, so the entire coaching staff is getting sacked. [HEOTP | TSN]
• The U.S. win over Russia on Thursday set up tonight's U.S.-Canada clash for the top of Group B. Bob McKenzie calls them very similar teams. [TSN radio] So they say it will come down to special teams. [TSN audio preview]
• A bit of history developing in this U.S.-Canada clash. [United States of Hockey]
• Neither team was saying who they'd start in goal. [TSN]
  
• Now just what I say what is going on with that boy Jordan Eberle? Less than you might think, with more detail than you can imagine. [C&B]