Islanders Gameday News: Jetting toward New Year’s with Aho in tow

The Islanders begin a two-game, 2017-ending Central road trip tonight in Winnipeg. The Jets are missing key center Mark Scheifele.

Leave your FIG picks for tonight here.

Islanders Reading

• Two surprising and related announcements yesterday: Despite playing the entire game Wednesday, Johnny Boychuk was placed on IR, and promising rookie Sebastian Aho was recalled from AHL Bridgeport. [LHH | Newsday | CT Post | Isles]
• Dan guested on the Isles Seat podcast talking about Aho, the OT win and more. [Isles Seat]
• Devon Toews is “maintenance day” treating an injury in Bridgeport, if he was in contention with Aho for the callup. [Soundin’ Off]
• David Quenneville scored a pair in Medicine Hat’s latest win. [ChatNewsToday]
• The New York Jr. Islanders are out in Calgary for a tournament. Good luck, kids. [Calgary Sun]
• Next up on stage, please welcome a little known guitarist and singer from Saskatchewan by the name of Bryan Trottier. [Western Star]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include the Capitals beating the Bruins in a shootout, the Flyers falling in regulation to the Panthers, and Thomas Vanek having a five-point night in Vancouver’s win over the Hawks.

• Should help the Isles tonight, but is a bummer for hockey because he’s awesome: Scheifele is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. [Arctic Ice Hockey]
• The Rangers will be without Chris Kreider indefinitely due to blood clots. [Blueshirt Banter]
• Auston Mathews scored his first NHL goal in Arizona last night. Growing up there shaped his upbringing. [Sportsnet]
• Trading Kris Letang wouldn’t improve the Penguins (so they should definitely do it). [PensBurgh]
• Eric Nystrom is suing the Predators for injury-related medical issues under Tennessee workers’ compensation law. [Tennesseean]
• NHL vets’ performance in the Spengler Cup is getting them consideration for the Olympic team. [CBC]