Islanders News: Second verse, different than the first; Forward thinking; Dougie on the mic

Like Frankenstein, the Islanders remain alive and kicking, although just barely. Keep your eyes on the Senators and Maple Leafs now. Thursday in Raleigh becomes the next biggest game of the season.

Islanders readings

• Recaps: LHH | Newsday | Islanders | NHL.com | NYI Skinny | OTF
• Newsday's venerable sports media reporter Neil Best is with the Islanders and talked to Doug Weight about his great quotes and way in front of the cameras. And here's Weight after the game saying they need Pi to figure out the playoff seeding now. [MSG Networks]
• Weight also weighed (!) in on the NHL's decision to skip the 2018 Olympics. He's bummed but ya gotta support the team. [Newsday. Includes bits on his future and Jaro Halak's season]
• Yesterday morning, the Sound Tigers won their own huge game, beating Springfield 2-1, to go up three points in the playoff chase. Another goal for one of the new guys, Jake Bischoff. [CT Post | Soundin' Off]
• How about a Pat LaFontaine (or Marcel Dionne) painting? Sure, sign me up for one. [NHL.com]

Around the NHL

• Last night's NHL scores. Big night in the Atlantic Division. The Senators win, the Leafs lose and the Bruins clinch as the Lightning fail to show for the game.
• Ottawa's win didn't help the Islanders but it was an emotional one, featuring the long-awaited return of Clarke MacArthur to the Senators lineup after almost two years away. [Silver Seven]
• Brad Marchand's had a great season, but this is the kind of nonsense he doesn't need to do. He speared Tampa's Jake Dotchin in the nuts and got tossed from the game. The question is how long will he be out for? [SCOC]
• Long Island guy Sonny Milano is back up with the Blue Jackets. [Cannon]
• Ryan at Hockey Graphs attempts to identify playing styles with spider charts.
• More Olympics fallout: The Commish says they're done talking [Sportsnet] | Wyshynski says it's the IOC's fault (and he's right). | Pat helps you sort out your many feelings on it. | I'll have an Islanders-focused take on the situation later for everyone to not read.
• Wanna buy MSG Network? Looks like Jim Dolan might want to sell. [NY Post. Take with huge grain of salt]
• What the hell is Nick Bonino talking about? People who button their shirts bottom up are serial killers. [Post-Gazette]

This new second line forward, Thomas Hickey, is one to watch.