Islanders News: Road trip lineup questions, Bridgeport opener prep

The New York Islanders end a looooong break to resume their season, and start their Western road trip, in Nashville tonight at 8 p.m. EDT. After the Predators, it will be another three-day break before three games in four nights in California.

Leave your First Islanders Goal picks over here.

Casey Cizikas was not on the ice yesterday, with the coach saying it was neither “upper” nor “lower” body cause. There was talk of PTO Stephen Gionta making the trip. Because Jan Kovar isn’t walking through that door.

Islanders Reading

• Expect Robin Lehner to start tonight. [Newsday]
• You should listen to the latest Islanders Anxiety because Dan and Mike had to record it five times. But also because they discussed a three-hour reel of the 2006-07 season, how Lou’s puzzling moves come with the good (Trotz), a job that’s perfect for Doug Weight, and a Radek Martinek doppelganger on a skateboard. [LHH]
• In his latest trip down memory lane, Stan Fischler looks at Al Arbour’s early playing career. (He won Stanley Cups then too.) [Isles]
• Spizzwolf has notes, analysis and video on the first three games and it’s all awesome: the trap, the power play, the “Cobra squeeze” (h/t to ninfoxco in comments). [LHH]
• Staple gets the first power play unit to break down their approach. On creating space for Anders Lee in front: “Let the horse go to work. That’s what we say.” [Athletic]
• Based off the Newsday article we linked yesterday, this post underlines that Ledecky is confident the Belmont arena will break ground in the spring. [Islanders Insight]
• The Preds are rolling, though their special teams are not. [Isles game preview]
• The ECHL Railers extend their radio affiliation. [Railers HC]
• The dynamic and diminutive summer pick Ruslan Iskhakov began his NCAA career for UConn last night with a goal and an assist in a win over West Point. [UConn]

Bridgeport Home Opener

The Sound Tigers open their home schedule this afternoon at 1 p.m., then play Rochester again at home tomorrow:

• Official site preview [BST]
• They are happy to have Tanner Fritz back, and if he has to go back to the AHL he’s happy it’s with this organization. [CT Post]
• One of his Bridgeport teammates, Mitch Vande Sompel looks to build off a strong rookie year. [CT Post]
• Some more notes on final prep before the home opener. [Soundin’ Off]

Elsewhere

• Duncan Keith’s relatively few regular partners (including Nick Leddy) discuss what makes him so good on the even of his 1,000th NHL regular season game. [Athletic]
• Also at the Athletic, several hockey reporters discuss the worst teams they covered — of course the hockey stories are longer and better than the other sports’ — including Katie Strang covering the Isles the year Scott Gordon was fired. She remembers Gordon fondly, which is...well that’s not how some players feel. [Athletic]
• It’s such a minor thing, but I’m glad Leafs fans have to suffer through longshot articles speculating about William Nylander being traded. [Sun]
• The popular CBA FAQ videos have now been added to CapFriendly.
• Austin Watson’s suspension for domestic violence was reduced on appeal to an independent arbitrator from 27 to 18 games, and the NHLPA says it’s about a fair process rather than, the, um, serious issue at hand. The NHL’s response also is just about the process rather than the issue. No one looks good here.
• Ex-Isle Micheal Haley has entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, with a mandatory leave from the Panthers. Here’s hoping he can work through whatever caused him to seek help. [NHL]