Islanders News: Söderström close-up; Market price for Carp Lads; Isles reunion on Green

Happy early Mother’s Day (in case we don’t post any Bits tomorrow). Or, in the words of former Mets broadcasting legend Ralph Kiner, to all the mothers out there, Happy Birthday.

Kind of a packed set here for an offseason Saturday.

Islanders Stuff

• We’ve been graced with a wonderful profile of Linus Söderström from two friends of the blog that are closer to the action than we are. His story keeps getting more and more compelling.
• Thomas Greiss has apologized for some controversial Instagram likes he made. The Islanders have also issued a statement denouncing his actions. [Newsday | The AP]
• Projecting Calvin de Haan’s next contract. I could be on board with this. [Eyes on Isles]
• This profile of new Canucks coach Travis Green is a walk down memory lane for Islanders fans of the mid-to-late 1990’s, featuring quotes from Marty McInnis, Rich Pilon and Ken Belanger, and written by former play-by-play man Jim Cerny. Yes, Mike Milbury makes an appearance and it’s glorious. [Yahoo]
• It’s not the full schedule, but the Sound Tigers released how often they’ll play their division rivals and Michael Fornabaio breaks it all down. [BST | Soundin’ Off]
• The family of a young Long Island hockey player is thankful for neck guards because they saved the boy’s life. [CBS NY]

How Barzal, How Barzal

• Another ho hum playoff performance by Mathew Barzal last night. Only two goals and an assist in Game 5 against Regina, his final game in Seattle, to put the Thunderbirds within one win of a WHL championship. [My Northwest]
• It’s already been a history-making season for the Thunderbirds. [My Northwest]
• And for most of the team’s leadership core, this playoff run is the last ride before going pro. [My Northwest]

World Championships

• Surprise! Team USA’s Saturday game at the World Championships is already over. They beat Latvia 5-3 on a late goal by Winnipeg’s Andrew Copp. Anders Lee had an assist. [IIHF]
• The undefeated Team USA’s next game is against Slovakia on Sunday. NBCSN will broadcast the game, which starts at 10:15 am ET.
• Dennis Seidenberg had an assist in Germany’s 3-2 OT loss to Denmark at the Worlds on Friday. Greiss served as the back-up. [IIHF]

Around the NHL

• James Neal scored in overtime to put the Predators up 1-0 in the Western Conference final. If you like punishing, brutal hockey, this series will be for you. [OTF]
• On the day their team plays in the Eastern Conference final, Senators fans explain the kind of hockey city Ottawa is. [Silver Seven]
• “Big” Ben Bishop (his full, legal name) signs a six-year deal in Dallas worth $29.6 million. The money’s not awful but man that’s a lotta years. [DBD]
• We may finally know what caused Kyle Okposo to be hospitalized last month. It might have been a combination of a concussion and the medication he was taking for it. Hoping for a full recovery for Kyle over the summer. [Puck Daddy]
• UFA Kevin Shattenkirk wants the spotlight next season. [TSN.ca]
• Darren Dreger had a sit-down heart-to-heart talk with Matt Duchene about his awful season and the incessant trade rumors that are still dogging him (and not just the ones from here). He sounds like a man very much at a crossroads. I’m sure about those shorts, though, dude. [Video here | Transcript and notes via FanRag]