Islanders News: No Fly Zone; Trapping the Neutral Zone; Bellows in the zone

The Islanders lost last night and it’s (probably) snowing where you are. Here’s some reading material if you’re inside today. The Islanders close out 2017 tomorrow night in Denver.

Islanders stuff

• Recaps: LHH | Newsday | Islanders | NHL.com | NYI Skinny
• Before the game, garik took a look the team’s neutral zone performance so far this season. Some good, some bad.
• Sebastian Aho is pumped for his potential NHL debut. [Newsday]
• Meanwhile back at the Bridge, Devon Toews is out week-to-week with an injury, leaving the Sound Tigers without their top two power play defensemen for a while. Good luck out there. [CT Post | Soundin’ Off]
• Forgot to include this yesterday but the Railers lost 6-2 to Reading on Thursday night. [Telegram]
• And now an update from the KHL:

World Juniors (with an Islanders twist)

• The annual Canada-USA game at the World Juniors is usually a big deal but yesterday’s was played outdoors at New Era Field, home of the Buffalo Bills (uh, when did it change its name from Ralph Wilson Stadium? I missed it). At over 44,000 spectators, it was by far the largest crowd ever to see a World Junior game. [ESPN]
• Oh, and hey, Team USA won, thanks in large part to Islanders prospect Kieffer Bellows, who scored one goal in regulation and one in the shootout. [SBN]
• He loves playin’ on the ol’ pond:

• The big blast:

• Hey now:

Other stuff

• Last night’s NHL scores. The Hurricanes are now a point behind the Islanders for eighth place. I hate this division.
• The Senators might be ready to start selling off players. [Ottawa Sun | In the Columbus Dispatch, it sure as heck sounds like Derrick Brassard wants out]
• The USHL is becoming the go-to place for European prospects looking to break into the North American game. [NY Times]
• Monday is the Winter Classic at Citi Field and I am irrationally excited to see KISS guitarist Ace Frehley perform before the game. Much more than I am about watching a Rangers-Sabres game, I guarantee you. Friend Brian Compton gets to live his dream by interviewing the Spaceman for NHL.com.

Oops.