Islanders Gameday News: Game 1 vs. Lightning tonight

No rest for the weary! For the first time since the New York Islanders were reigning Stanley Cup champions, the NHL will begin a series from one round while a series from the previous round has yet to conclude. And no, it's not weather or Act of Bossy-related, it's just arenas and TV and stuff.

The Islanders are the "beneficiaries" of this quirk, starting their series in Tampa tonight. They're hoping the short break helps them pick up where they left off.

Islanders News

• The schedule is out. We start in Tampa tonight. Then we sit for two days. Repeat four times. [LHH]
  
• Josh Bailey, Ryan Pulock and Jaroslav Halak all made the trip to Tampa. Don't expect Halak in uniform anytime soon, but the other two could return this series. [Newsday | What happens when Halak is ready, is a question the Daily News ponders]
• This series should feature plenty of Tavares vs. Hedman, seven years after they were dragged around at the NHL draft like show dogs. [Newsday | TB Times]
• Alan Quine was not a first overall pick, but has become important for the Islanders nonetheless. [NY Times]
  
• Raw Charge looks at the series ahead.
  
• Which team has the edge in forwards, defense, intangibles, etc.? [TB Times | Post | Daily News (Botte rates the Isles in nearly everything, including "magic"]
• Steven Stamkos was back at practice, but don't worry, his return is not imminent. [Raw Charge] It is cruel though. [TB Tribune]
• A reminder that Lightning coach Jon Cooper is a Hofstra alum that sat in the Nassau Coliseum seats just like you did. [NHL.com]
  
• Heading to Tampa to take in some playoff road action? Here are some craft beers to look for. [LHH Fanpost]
• And some carryover from the last round: Taking down the "best" of Panthers fan conspiracy rants, Fire Joe Morgan-style. [LHH Fanpost]
• Once The New Yorker writes about referees missing calls in hockey games, you know the jig is up.
  
• Speaking of shadow governments, the many (well, most) names behind LHH traded reflections on what the last round's victory meant. Safe to say much in our lives has changed since 1993. [LHH]
• NEW! The Point Blank Podcast is giddy, talking the series, the arena and orange jackets.
• You can already buy a t-shirt with the Tavares wraparound on it. [5th year]
• Dan's eulogy of the Panthers is hilarious and amazing in its ability to remember the Panthers by actually  lampooning those who mock them. [Puck Daddy]
• Alas, the Panthers' "Spacey in Space" sweatshirt shall be retired. Blame the refs. [Puck Daddy]
• A reminder why Bryan Trottier was amazing -- like Al preferred him to Gretzky amazing. [Sportsnet | CBC]
• Shuffling for Bridgeport as they take a 0-2 deficit to Toronto. [Soundin' Off | On the finally arrived Marc-Andre Cliche]
• Mathew Barzal's empty netter sealed Seattle's 3-1 win over Kelowna and a 3-0 series lead. [WHL]
• Shawinigan curb stomped Saint John 7-3 to take a 2-1 lead in the series. No points for Anthony Beauvillier in the game but that's okay. [QMJHL]
  
• Ilya Sorokin is a young KHL star. [KHL.ru]
  

Other Stuff, I Suppose

• One of the underrated parts of Monday night was watching this guy tune in to watch Cardinals baseball and instead discover the glory of ice hockey. [SB Nation]
  
• I get why everyone involved in this would say what they said: Dan Boyle tells Brooksie (and Brett Cyrgalis, who wasn't there) to get the hell out of his post-mortem media scrum. [Transcript at Puck Daddy | Video at CSN Bay Area | Daily News]
• And so there, trade Ryan McDonagah. [Post]
• More Ranger angst: They kind of wasted Lundqvist's prime. "Lundqvist was hung out time and time again by an abysmal and entirely overwhelmed blueline, but this was more or less the same environment he has played in for years." [TSN]
• Eulogy for the Flyers [Puck Daddy]
• The London Knights produce a lot of pros. (But really now. Please don't count Tavares as one. He was headed for stardom before the Knights acquired him for a playoff run.) [Times]
• How the goal horn came to be for those who always wondered. [NY Daily News]