Islanders Gameday News: Lehner out, Jets incoming

The Winnipeg Jets, who are fun to watch and frankly terrifying to face (I imagine), are in Brooklyn for their lone visit of the year tonight.

Leave your First Islanders Goal picks here.

Robin Lehner was not on the ice for today’s morning skate, and Christopher Gibson was up from Bridgeport in his stead. Something to monitor. Making room for Gibson, Stephen Gionta was returned to the AHL, hopefully a sign that it’s short-term for Lehner.

Update: Indeed. A “tweak.”

The Jets are looking to sweep the metro area, having won in Newark and the Garden over the weekend with Mark Scheifele starring in both.

Islanders Reading/Listening

• After Saturday’s Coliseum high, the Islanders need to be careful not to fall into a Barclays low letdown tonight. [Newsday]
• Speaking of which, Dan and Mike discussed the feels from that return, and what it means for remaining games in their other building, on the latest Islanders Anxiety. [LHH]
• In the latest “From the Eagle’s Nest” view, Travis looked at Ryan Pulock’s (and the rest of the blueline) usage this season: though his offense has dipped, he’s becoming an all-situation defenseman. [LHH]
• Bode Wilde signed his ELC. [LHH | Isles]
• Prospect Report, Pros-pect Re-port! Dobson and Skarek go to WJC camp {check, check, check} [Isles]
• Meanwhile, Otto Koivula is turning heads in Bridgeport, where Brent Thompson has begun using him as a center. If that works out, that could be key. [BST]
• Cool feature on broadcaster and Winnipeg native Jennifer Botterill helping blaze trails. [Winnipeg Sun]
• On the struggles of the power play, which was reshuffled again (with Barzal back on the first unit) yesterday. [Drive4Five]
• Scenes from the Isles spouses and squeezes going toy shopping for kids. [Isles]

Elsewhere

• The Flyers did the other thing: They’ve hired former Wild GM Chuck Fletcher as their new GM. They say he listens to other opinions unlike that Hextall guy, who their execs have basically been roasting. [Philly |
• Nonetheless, fans thank Hextall for his service, which included cleaning up the cap mess Paul Holmgrem left him. [BSH]
• The Flyers also have crease issues and a hot young goalie prospect, but he and the team are being patient keeping him in the AHL. [NHL]
• The Penguins traded Daniel Sprong to Anaheim for Marcus Pettersson. [PensBurgh]
• A different savior awaits in the Ottawa arena saga. [Silver Seven]
• Brand marketing: That’s not a statue, that’s Nick Offerman, painted bronze, slowly sipping Lagavulin at a Chicago Blackhawks game. [The Takeout]