Islanders Gameday News: The Tavares 500; Denis and Jean Potvin recall Al

John Tavares recently scored his 200th NHL regular season goal, and tonight he plays his 500th regular season contest as the Islanders return home to host the suddenly relevant Philadelphia Flyers. It feels a little scary that it's already been 500; tonight would be a great time for him to start another "aww sick, that's Johnny" surge.

Leave your FIG Picks here.

Islanders Reads

• The official site collects some favorite highlights from the captain's first 500.
• He'll be the 27th Islander to reach this milestone here. In addition to the 200 goals, his regular season career includes 257 assists and even 241 PIM. That's not counting his 5-6-11 total in 13 playoff games; they should really get him more of those.
• When the Potvins talk about the old days, you read. I swear they look more alike now in their 60s (and yes it feels crazy to say "Denis Potvin is in his 60s." Denis on Al Arbour: "Al was very hard on us both. But he never dealt with us in the media and he always had our backs. And for that he always had our respect." [Times]
• The Sound Tigers came back in the third again for their fifth win in a row, this time over the Devils. [BST | Soundin' Off | CT Post]
• Casey Cizikas has become an indispensable Islander. He's an UFA RFA, by the way. Says the captain: "They bring a lot of energy. They’re physical. They’re hard on the other team, but they get the puck in the net. Casey’s had a great year. Cal has gone back to the way he can score . . . And Marty does what Marty does." [Newsday]
• Thomas Greiss is comfortable and confident. [NHL.com]
• APB for the Isles missing offense. [SNY]
• This standings thing is real: The Penguins added two more points as they scored four consecutive goals in the final 25 minutes to storm past the Capitals Sunday. [NHL]
• Meanwhile, the Flyers will be without Michal Neuvirth for three weeks, but their PK is peaking. [BSH]

Seriously though, breathe:

Pens and Rangers now both 3 points up on #Isles, who could still leapfrog them both by winning the 2 games in hand.

— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) March 21, 2016

Maybe they can do this. Maybe.

"Winning" of course is the key word in that last tweet. #Isles are 6-0-1 in last 7 at home, have 8 of last 12 @barclayscenter

— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) March 21, 2016

Beyond the Battle in Brooklyn

• The week ahead in the Metro. [All about the Jersey]
• Sad news as former NHLer John Druce's daughter Courtney appears to have lost her fifth battle with cancer. [Peterborough Examiner]
• Thomas Vanek was a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game and third time this season. [NHL]
• Women's hockey: Minnesota ended Boston College's undefeated season (40-1!) to take the NCAA title. [SBN College Hockey]
• Here is the men's bracket [SBN College Hockey]
• New NHL hire Steve Mayer "is trying to hit the sweet spot in how to align the NHL with the right type entertainers and entertainment entities." [Puck Daddy]