Islanders News: Next stop, Ronkonkoma; World Cup sorta starts; St. Patty & the Pope

Islanders stuff

• The LIRR has added more trains to and from Barclays Center for Islanders gamedays, matching the services provided during the playoffs last season. For higher profile games, shuttles from Atlantic Avenue will be utilized as well. Yes, we all still generally hate the LIRR, but this is good thing. [Full details via the team | Newsday]
• Steven Stamkos has some VERY EARLY free agency advice for John Tavares, who once again remains committed to the Islanders. [ESPN | It's already been added to the Complete Encyclopedia]
• Travis Yost ranks coaches based on shots allowed since 2007. Jack Capuano's spot is... very not good. [TSN.ca]
• I tried to deduce who might be the Islanders' new fantasy football commissioner in the absence of Brian Strait because I am an idiot.
• Barclays Center is No. 1... in tax subsidies received among NHL teams. Mikhail Prokhorov loves his exemptions. [FIXED: Post-Gazette]
• Pat LaFontaine, Pele and other sports stars will get to meet Pope Francis. Wonder which Easter Epic the Pontiff would rather talk about. [Buffalo News]
• Missouri Mavericks fans can meet the legendary Ken Morrow at this weekend's fan fest. [Mavs]
• Sound Tigers tickets go on sale today so get on it. [CT Post]
  
• Remember James Wright, who spent most of last season with Bridgeport? He's in the KHL now. [Soundin Off | General Fanager]
  

Of possible interest

• The first World Cup of Hockey practice games were played yesterday and we've already decided who's good and who's bad so we can all just go home now. Jaroslav Halak and Team Europe got blitzed by Team North America 4-0, including this sick Nathan MacKinnon penalty shot. Canada-USA is tonight at 7 on ESPNU and a few other channels.
  
• The Predators named Carrie Underwood's husband captain. [OTF]
• A brand new and gorgeous practice facility might help the Bruins draw some free agents, which sounds a little bonkers at first. But there seems to be some truth to it, according to players. Bodes well for the Islanders new facility in East Meadow. [Boston Globe]
  
• The Sharks have an official beer now. It tastes good at first, but has a disappointing finish and just sorta goes flat really quickly. [NHL.com]
  
• Apparently, there was some baseball news involving a New York team making a curious move yesterday. But that was just the beginning of the madness. So don't waste any time: Vote on what to rename the Staten Island Yankees here.