Islanders Back-to-Back News: Blizzard of losses; Beau knows (what he has to do to get back to the NHL)

There was a bomb cyclone yesterday, and also it snowed last night throughout the east coast. That was a joke, in which I said the Islander game was a snow storm. Anyway, it’s really warm out today.

The Penguins are in town. They played and lost last night, as well. Leave your FIG picks here.

Islanders News

• Recaps: LHH | Newsday | NHL | BSH
• Ahead of the game last night, the Islanders announced they had signed Scott Mayfield to a five-year - yes, five - extension. Low AAV, but why does a bottom-pair defenseman need a five-year deal? [Newsday]
• Brian Kieffer Bellows scored one of the goals in garbage time, but Sweden ousted USA 4-2 in the semifinal game, after going up 4-0 in the second period. The US will play for bronze. [SBN]
• No one likes being sent down, but Anthony Beauvillier is focusing on the positives, like how much ice time he will get in Bridgeport. [CT Post]
• Tanner Fritz and Sebastian Aho were the only Sound Tigers to have been selected for the AHL All-Star Game. They are both currently not in the AHL. [Soundin’ Off | Sound Tigers]
• Rookie forward Woody Hudson, formerly a star for St. Lawrence University, will be the Railers’ lone representative in the ECHL All-Star Classic. [RailersHC]
• Another famous son enters the Islanders organization: Worcester acquired the son of Jeff Beukeboom, Brock. [RailersHC]
• Luke Richardson’s daughter, Daron, committed suicide seven years ago at the age of fourteen. Today, he and his family honor her spirit through the Do It For Daron organization, which raises money for mental health research. [Newsday]
• China is hosting the Winter Olympics in four years, and the preparation has already begun. Also, Andong Song, despite his long-shot chances to make the NHL, has become a national hero among youth hockey circles.

Other Hockey News

• Last night’s NHL scores. Ground in the division was lost.
• Brutal loss: Filip Forsberg will be out 4-6 weeks for the Predators. They’ve got the talent to make up for him, though. [OTF]
• At age 32, Alex Ovechkin is on pace for 50 goals and couldn’t be feeling any better. He was also named the Metro Division’s captain for the All-Star Game. [NHL]
• Nazem Kadri and Joe Thornton had a little scuffle in the beginning of the game last night. After both centers were tossed from the opening faceoff for it, they fought on the wing once the puck dropped, and Kadri got a chunk of Thornton beard. [Sportsnet]
• One of the funniest things I’ve heard in a while: according to Darren Dreger, the Senators and Oilers had virtually agreed to a one-for-one swap of Taylor Hall and Cody Ceci (yes, really) but Ottawa needed approval from ownership. Before they could get it, Hall was sent to the Devils for Adam Larsson. So, somehow, Hall-for-Larsson was the better trade. Imagine if Hall-for-Ceci went through, though. One of the best players for the league traded for, literally, one of the worst. I can’t stop laughing that the trade was on the table in the first place, AND that the Senators weren’t able to make the trade. [FanRag]
• Trevor Linden was a bit non-committal when asked about the future of Canucks GM Jim Benning. [Sportsnet]
• Though his time there was brief, Bryan Berard was named the Former Blackhawk of the Week by Second City Hockey, given the fact that he was actually able to play hockey after the stick of Marian Hossa blinded him in one eye. [SCH]
• Dominic Turgeon, another famous son but not in the organization, is starting to find his offensive game in AHL Grand Rapids. [MLive]
• Earlier, I mentioned the Beijing Winter Olympics in four years; apparently the NHL’s participation for that is also in doubt, but IIHF President Rene Fasel is going to do what he can. [THN]
• Before TSN bought the rights to the World Juniors, it was “the broadcasting equivalent of a speculative mining stock.” They’ve transformed it into a must-see event. [National Post]