Islanders Gameday News: Power play changes, Botterill on the broadcast, Lou on the air

The Islanders begin a three-game homestand and the first of seven in a row in the Metro area by hosting the Vancouver Canucks, who lost in regulation at the Garden last night.

At practice yesterday, Luca Sbisa was put on a regular pair while Adam Pelech paired with PTO Dennis Seidenberg. Hmm...

Leave your First Islanders Goal (FIG) picks here.

Islanders Reading

• New in your studio broadcast tonight, Jennifer Botterill brings her illustrious experience as an Olympic, NCAA and IIHF champion player and broadcaster to MSG. [LHH | Newsday]
• Tonight is also Military Appreciation Night. Camo warmup jerseys, autographed, auctioned. [Isles]
• With the power play in a 1-for-19 skid, Barry Trotz is making changes to generate more of a “shooting mentality.” [Newsday]
• Lou Lamoriello discusses things (Brodeur, Barzal, Trotz) with Leafs Lunch. [TSN Radio via Isles]
• In the latest Eagle’s Nest, Travis looks at how the Islanders are trending upward in their 5v5 play. [LHH]
• PROSPECT REPORT, PROS-PECT RE-PORT: Noah Dobson will play in the Canada-Russia series {check, check, check!} [Isles]
• Speaking of the kids, Michael Dal Colle continues his hot, possibly resurrecting start. [Isles]
• The Sound Tigers sent Ryan Hitchcock to ECHL Worcester. [BST]
• Barry Trotz has popular veteran Leo Komarov seated next to Mathew Barzal for a reason. “He’s there to level me out,” #13 says. [Athletic]
• AHL suspensions for Bridgeport: Steve Bernier two games, Kyle Burroughs one. [@MarkDivver]
• In defense of Adam Pelech. [IslesBlog]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include the Hurricanes winning in OT over Chicago and the Blue Jackets dumping the Stars, among others.

Expansion scuttlebutt, AHL version...

Meanwhile, in Edmonton...

• Tonight we get our first up-close look at wunderkind Elias Pettersson. Wayne Gretzky is a fan. [NHL]
• On the Hall of Fame inductions of Willie O’Ree and Jayna Hefford. [Color of Hockey]
• On fellow inductee Aleksander Yakushev. If you’ve never watched the Summit Series, I recommend it for several reasons, especially him and Kharlamov. [Athletic]
• The league has reached a tentative $18.9 million settlement with more than 300 retired players on concussions, without admitting any fault, as one does. The key for these players is additional medical coverage. The key for these owners is keeping gobs of money. [TSN]
• The two sides jockey (owners: Happy! players: happiness is when you ask for improvements) on the next CBA. Also: Olympics, World Cup, Seattle. [Star]
• The Penguins have been struggling. Maybe they should try recapturing the Crosby-Guentzel magic? [The Cap Space]
• Teams are starting to formulate offers for William Nylander, as a deadline approaches to sign, trade or sit bait. [THN]
• Milan Lucic is searching for answers for having fewer goals than, like, Dennis Seidenberg over the last year or so (note: not an actual stat). [TSN Video]
• Gary Bettman is a fan and a friend of the players., Glenn Healy says... [NHL]