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The New York Islanders had a somewhat rare off-day Tuesday, as a likewise-rare two days between games gave them a chance for the — yes, rare — practice today.
That was the theme coming into today, as they practice ahead of Thursday’s tilt with the Florida Panthers: During a busy game schedule with lots of travel (there’s only one other two-day gap between games this month outside of the Christmas break), squeezing in a proper practice is a coaching luxury.
Islanders News
So anyway, the Islanders will squeeze in a practice today. [Newsday]
If you only know Jamie MacLennan as a broadcaster, you may not realize he had a multi-team NHL career that started with the Islanders — and their affiliates from “Capital District” to Worcester to out West in Denver and Salt Lake. [Isles Alumni Corner]
MOAR podcasts: For the Athletic, Arthur Staple and Mark Parrish on Varlamov, trade options and yesterday’s shocking NHL news in Dallas. [Athletic]
And on Andrew Gross’ Island Ice podcast, Blake Comeau and Andrew’s answers. [Newsday]
Elsewhere
Last night’s NHL scores included Monday’s Isles’ victims, the Lightning, defeating the Panthers in the rather poorly attended Battle of Florida, and the Penguins losing in regulation to the Canadiens.
- The big news yesterday was the surging Stars suddenly firing coach Jim Montgomery, due to “unprofessional conduct” unrelated to and pre-dating the league’s push for a code of conduct. [Defending Big D]
- His replacement? The ageless former Islander coach Rick Bowness. [Stars]
- The Stars pledge to “rally together” as they “move forward” under Bowness.
Rick Bowness has already been a head Coach in 80s, 90s, 00s.
— Eric Hornick (@ehornick) December 11, 2019
Assuming he makes it to January he’ll add 10s and 20s to that list. #Stars #NHL
There have been 4 coaching changes in the NHL since the Detroit Red Wings last won a game
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) December 11, 2019
Some ugly looking injuries last night:
Eric Staal Down On Ice After Huge Collision With Linesman https://t.co/nwfXXS6RSm via @YouTube
— Kukla's Korner (@kuklaskorner) December 11, 2019
This is the Malkin hook or whatever you want to call it that sent Peca to the locker room. pic.twitter.com/7vBcsCSqng
— Scott Matla (@scottmatla) December 11, 2019
More stuff from the Board of Governors meetings:
- The NHL and NHLPA are (again) working on some sort of World Cup of Hockey (again) to finally happen (again) one of these years. [NHL]
- Also, the salary cap should increase next season, but by how much? It depends. [TSN]
- Brendan Shanahan, who was a practicer of some, ahem, unprofessional conduct as a player and teammate, discusses recent stories about Mike Babcock and reminds us #notallcoaches. [TSN | Sportsnet | Athletic] “I think that obviously we have all come from a generation where there are certain things that have occurred, and occurred to us, and occurred to us as players that you just sort of accepted. I think that we all have to do a better job...”
- NOT SATIRE: “Never too early for the Rangers to think playoffs.” [Newsday]