Brunchtime Islanders Gameday News: At the Shark Tank; Golden influence

Sorry for the lateness of these bits, folks. I’m getting in the spirit of the Isles’ California trip by operating on Pacific time. It’s about 8:00 over here.

The Islanders are, for some reason, in northern California tonight to play the Sharks, but then will fly back to southern California to play the Kings tomorrow night. Why wouldn’t they play the Kings while in southern California to play the Ducks, and then fly north? Schedule-makers and their dastardly tricks.

Leave your FIG picks for tonight’s game here.

Islanders Clippings

• Jordan Eberle took what he called a “funny hit” in practice the other and missed yesterday’s practice. He wouldn’t name the teammate who hit him, so I will put down my pitchfork for now. But it’s ready. The torch is still burning. [Newsday | Islanders]
• As indicated in the Newsday article, Thomas Greiss will start tonight. He’s also Fear the Fin’s ex-Shark of the week, a dubious honor to be sure.
• Scott Mayfield is making his case to be a regular in the lineup, and quite frankly, he’s a great bottom-pair defender. He’s big, lumbering, and slow in his own zone, but he doesn’t play all that often in his own zone. And he shoots the puck. Now if we could just get Dougie to swap out Pelech for Pulock, that would be the best six defenders we could dress. [Islanders]
• The Sound Tigers beat the Charlotte Checkers 5-3 on the road the other night, with former Mat Barzal linemate Scott Eansor notching two goals and Our Sebastian Aho tallying the game-winner on his first North American goal. [Sound Tigers | CT Post | Soundin’ Off]
• The Medicine Hat Tigers also won, and David Quenneville has been on one since returning to the team from Isles training camp. My man has 14 points in 7 games thus far. [Medicine Hat News]
• Pretty cool story: Art Rooney Sr., who owned the Pittsburgh Steelers during their dominant 1970s display and whose family still owns the team, actually had a hand in the Islanders’ dynasty, as a friend of Bill Torrey’s. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
• Larry Brooks has some concerns about the timeline of the Isles potential new arena at Belmont. I think we all do, Lawrence. [NY Post]

Clippings from the Beyond

• Last night’s NHL scores. Both the Rangers and Devils lost, as did the Golden Knights. No team remains perfect.
• Nathan MacKinnon suffered an eye injury in the first period against the Ducks last night and didn’t finish the game. Hope he’s okay - eye injuries are always scary. [MHH]
• Former Islander captain Mark Streit has cleared waivers for the Canadiens, and he will be assigned to AHL Laval. Bon voyage, mon ami. [EOTP]
• Speaking of waivers, the Golden Knights are still burying Shea Theodore and Vadim Shipyachov in the minors while they attempt to get seventh-round picks in exchange for their trash heap of defensemen, and no one wants their garbage. Anyway, they’re now considering waivers, and John Shannon of Sportsnet believes Griffin Reinhart would clear them. On one hand, he’s a 23-year old former 4th overall pick, but on the other, he sucks, so it’s hard to say.
• Vegas unveiled their mascot, and it’s... not a golden knight. It’s kind of frightening, actually. Its name is Chance, though, which is both clever for Vegas, and an actual first name, thanks to Chance the Rapper. [SBN]
• Though, perhaps they went this route because they’re still going through a dispute getting Golden Knights trademarked. [SportsLogos]
• Still, though, they’re not going anywhere, and they couldn’t have come around at a better time for the city’s unity. [NY Post]
• Former Islander captain Michael Peca is probably best remembered for his time as captain of the Buffalo Sabres, and his presence in that community was rewarded as he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Good for him. [Buffalo News]