Islanders News: Power play analysis, Coliseum open house, Koivula the center

The Islanders are heading to Boston for a game tomorrow, when they’ll meet an injury-ravaged but still dangerous Bruins squad.

Hopefully they bring more “special” teams with ‘em, yeah?

Islanders Reading

• NEW: Casey Cizikas (more on him later this morning) was taken off IR this morning, and Tanner Fritz returned to Bridgeport. [@NYIslandersPR]
• The floundering power play has been the talk of the last few weeks, so yesterday Carey Haber looked at a move that would probably make a big difference. [LHH]
• More on Barry Trotz’s heartfelt talk with his former team, and why the Islanders’ best offseason move commands respect on all sides. [Athletic]
• Speaking of which, this is, quite frankly, probably the t-shirt you need right now. (If you didn’t watch Trotz’s speech to the Caps, do it now.) [Yes Men Outfitters]
• Also on Trotz, who says the Isles have a lot of work to do but are headed in the right direction in terms of recreating what he achieved in D.C. [Newsday]
• The ravishing Valtteri Filppula keeps filling the net and doing Frans-like (blaspheme!) defensive things. [Isles]
• Otto Koivula had a heads up that Brent Thompson would like to use him at center sometime...but he didn’t expect it to be later that day. “The project is going to continue.” [CT Post]
• You know who gets overlooked as a legit callup because he’s older and has a known ceiling? Steve Bernier, collecting goals (an AHL-leading 7 on the PP) in Bridgeport. [Bridgeport Report]
• Meanwhile, Devon Toews has taken a couple of maintenance days. [Soundin’ Off]
• Tuesday morning, the ECHL Railers earned a much-needed OT win. [Railers HC]
• Open house at the Coliseum Thursday, as everyone prepares to bring it back to life. [BSE Live]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include the Sabres extending their franchise-record win streak, the Penguins winning in Winnipeg, the Hurricanes winning in Montreal, and the Oilers beating Ken Hitchcock’s old team 1-0, among others...

• He was afforded a much shorter leash, but the cause of his firing sounds rather Snow-esque: Was Ron Hextall too patient? [Broad Street Hockey]
• Paul Holmgrem is now (interim) in charge of things in Philly. Remember when he dealt Jeff Carter, Mike Richards and James van Riemsdyk and signed Ilya Bryzgalov (apparently at the owner’s urging) to a nine-year deal? What a year. [NBC]
• The Blue Jackets are flying, and pending UFA Artemi Panarin has plans to discuss the future with them during the team’s pre-All-Star bye week. [NHL]
• In a similar boat, though on a miserable team: pending UFA Matt Duchene. [NHL]
• Because the Ottawa arena drama is looking bad, among various 31 or so Thoughts. [Sportsnet]
• There is no hotter seat in North America’s four “major” leagues than an NHL coach’s seat. Gerard Gallant and Rick Tocchet discuss getting let go by dysfunctional franchises. [Athletic]
• On that note, happy for Phil Housley, who has the Sabres flying with a fresh start. [DBTB]
• Julius Honka was a hot prospect who couldn’t earn Ken Hitchcock’s trust, and now he’s having trouble earning it from Hitch’s replacement. [Defending Big D]
• Back in the AHL, one-time Islander project Cory Conacher is putting on a show. [Raw Charge]
• How every NHL team is deploying its talent in the AHL. [Faceoff Circle]
• The NHL is expected to approve a Seattle expansion team next week, but they are wise to be careful about which season the team should begin play. [Seattle Times]
• Wanna know how to get started doing your own hockey analytics research and theory testing? Here are the tools and tips. [Hockey-Graphs]