Islanders Matinee News: Into the Wild; Big Shot(s); Hammer’s 500th game

Dear LHH readers and commenters,

The Monday morning grind may be on hold for the week for some of you, allowing you to take in the Presidents Day matinee against the Wild; for others of you, it is most certainly not, and you will have to follow along another way. But know this: either way, you’re probably going to be miserable.

Have a good day!

Warmest regards,

Steve

P.S. Leave your FIG picks here.

Islanders News

• No but really, the Islanders are looking to build off a week of thrilling games and big - albeit, lucky - victories. [Newsday]
• The shot counts have been astronomical and they’ve been extraordinarily busy of late, but Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss have excelled recently at their work, becoming the first tandem to record shutouts of at least 40 saves on consecutive days. [NHL]
• That being said, Greiss definitely appeared to tweak something in the closing minutes of his shutout of the Hurricanes, and didn’t practice yesterday. (Also, don’t ask Anders Lee about the shot counts.) [Newsday]
• Christopher Gibson appears set to come up from Bridgeport, fresh off two straight shutouts of his own, the most recent of which coming against the Rangers’ affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack. So the blanking of the Smurfs reaches new levels. [CT Post | Soundin’ Off | Sound Tigers]
• Cory Wright works in a How I Met Your Mother reference discussing the success of video coaches Matt Bertani and Doug Holewa, the best coaches in the organization bar-none. [Islanders]
• Getting back to Lee, he revisits his mindset from when he was a fifth grade speedskating hopeful. [The Athletic]
• Logan Cockerill scored in Boston University’s win over Merrimack, giving him points in eight straight after a slow start. [Daily Free Press]

Around the Hockey-verse

NHL scores from a busier-than-normal Sunday. The Blue Jackets and Rangers lost in regulation, but curses to the Devils and Hurricanes for their three-point game. Curses, indeed!

• Speak of the Devil(s), the night before, they played the Lightning in Tampa. During the game, Miles Wood charged at Vladimir Namestnikov and left his feet to board him, with his numbers clearly facing Wood throughout the process. He was suspended two games. [AATJ]
• The Capitals grip on the division has loosened in the Weekly Metro Division Snapshot. [AATJ]
• As befitting a milestone game there can be, old pal and true family man Travis Hamonic will play his 500th NHL game when the Flames host the Bruins Monday afternoon, on Family Day, with his mother in attendance as part of the impending Moms Trip. [Calgary Sun]