Islanders Gameday News: Some Bits to wash down your leftovers

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I realize this is two days late, but hey, better late than never, right?

We didn’t offer up any savory, delicious Bits the last couple of days because we figured you were all too full from your feasts on Thursday. Or, perhaps that was me, and I couldn’t roll over to the computer until now.

Nevertheless, the Bits are back this morning as the Islanders finish a stretch of 3 games in 4 nights against Metropolitan Division opponents. They split the first two against the Rangers and Devils on the road, and host the Hurricanes tonight at Barclays Center.

Leave your FIGs for tonight’s game here. I bet it’s Valtteri Filppula. Is this considered FIG tampering? Am I being detained?

Also, through Cyber Monday, you can get 15% off any and all Lighthouse Hockey t-shirts using the promo code found here. All proceeds earned by LHH go directly to the Center for Dementia Research in the name of Al Arbour.

Islanders News

• Let’s recap, shall we? First, Wednesday night’s disaster, and I don’t mean my night out *rimshot*: [LHH | Newsday | Islanders | NYI Skinny]
• And, last night’s nearly-blown redemption: [LHH | Newsday | Islanders | NHL]

Let’s hear what the coach has to say about the game in Newark:

• New Jersey was able to tie the game with 10.2 seconds on the clock in part because the Isles were unable to hit the empty net at the other end of the ice, icing the puck a few times in the process. But Barry Trotz is okay with it. “There’s no right or wrong answer.” [Newsday]
• We’ve reached the quarter pole of the season, a good time to evaluate where a team lies. The Islanders have outperformed expectations thus far, to say the least. [The Athletic]
• One of the things that has helped them do this has been their attention to detail in Trotz’s detail-oriented structure - and in the Stars game and two Rangers games, they lost that. [Newsday]
• Newsday beat writer Andrew Gross appeared on the Isle Seat Podcast before Wednesday night’s game. [Isle Seat Podcast]
• Michael Fornabaio’s pregamer for the Sound Tigers game against the Wolf Pack last night included a mention of the terrible tragedy that occurred Thanksgiving Day at Webster Bank Arena. It was ready for hockey, though. [Soundin’ Off]
• Unfortunately, Bridgeport fell to Hartford 4-3 in overtime. [Soundin’ Off]
• Stephen Gionta is currently filling in as 4C with Casey Cizikas out, and managed to grind out a job with the Isles. A longstanding relationship with Lou Lamoriello helps, certainly. [Newsday]
• Alumni Corner catches up with Alexei Yashin, who has been a busy man back in Russia since leaving the NHL. [Islanders]
• In the latest Maven’s Memories, Stan Fischler recalls the Islanders’ charge to the final four for the second straight season in only their fourth year of existence. They couldn’t beat the Canadiens, who were on their way to win their first of four straight Stanley Cups, but the first two rounds against the Canucks and Sabres were a wild ride. [Islanders]

Elsewhere

Yesterday’s NHL scores, as well as Wednesday’s (no games Thursday). Every team but the Kings played yesterday - an odd number of teams in the league prevent them all being able to play at the same time. Also, the Sabres can’t stop winning, and now sit one point back of the Predators and Lightning for the top spot in the league. Their records differ only in that Buffalo has one fewer win and one more overtime loss.

• I think it’s fair to say that Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is the worst owner in professional sports history, or at least bottom five. Their plans to develop and move to a new downtown arena have seemingly fallen apart because he didn’t want to foot any of the bill, and he’s now suing his business partner in the project for... about the amount of money necessary to build the arena. Honestly, just stunning. [Ottawa Citizen]
• Before news of the lawsuit broke, The Athletic published a scathing indictment of Melnyk as a petty, greedy asshole. And, quite frankly, is he not? [The Athletic]
• Vancouver has switched up the lineup on the business side of things. I have no idea what it means. [The Province]
• Finally, some good news (and it involves a former Islander!): Travis Hamonic started his D-Partner project while he was still on Long Island; last year, he launched The Northern Project, and, inspired by his recent fatherhood, began Charlie’s Children. He’s a saint, man. The world needs more Travis Hamonic’s. [The Province]