Islanders Gameday News: Afternoon with the Senate; Halak the shining Tiger

The New York Islanders remain on the road today with an afternoon visit to Ottawa to face the Senators.

Leave your First Islanders Goal picks over here for a 1 p.m. EST start.

Islanders Notes

• Doug Weight told Nick Leddy he needs to be the Isles' second-best player, and Leddy is answering the challenge. [Newsday]
• Meanwhile down in Bridgeport, Jaroslav Halak's 42-save 1-0 shutout "won us the game, plain and simple," said coach Brent Thompson. [CT Post]
• With Steve Bernier hurt, Carter Verhaeghe is among the reinforcements in Bridgeport. [CT Post]
• Anders Lee is a good player and a good dude, and Kancer Jam is one way he's giving back. [Crowd Rise]
• In some promising news, Craig Anderson is back with the Senators and will make the call on whether he starts today. [Ottawa Citizen]
  

Beyond Blue and Orange

• Five happy thoughts for fans of today’s opponent, as the Sens are in a 2-4 slump. [Silver Seven]
• That slump's despite them benefiting from an amazing Stars own goal the other night. [SB Nation]
• Long-time Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch has died at 87. [Winging It In Motown | SB Nation]
• Theory: Why the Kings are kings of 3-on-3 overtime. Good stuff on manipulating space (which is key to any hockey situation, just different depending on numbers) [SI]
• Connecticut politicians propose $250 million in renovations to draw an NHL team to the Whalers' old home. [The Score]
• In potentially big news for women's hockey, the CWHL has formed a partnership with the NHLPA. [Puck Daddy]
• Jonathan Ericsson will be out six to eight weeks with a broken wrist because Frans can't have nice things. [Puck Daddy]
• Doc Emrick will call a college hockey game with a local from Oceanside High. [Newsday]