Islanders News: Leddy plus, Trotz structure, Ho-Sang scratch, Fan Cave contest

The Islanders will try to extend their points streak in Boston tonight, where the Bruins are coming off getting the Braden Holtby/Capitals monkey off their backs in a franchise milestone win for Tuukka Rask.

Check up on Bruins news over at Stanley Cup of Chowder, where they’re keeping our Jaro safe and happy.

Leave your First Islanders Goal picks for tonight here.

Islanders Reading

• Among many turnarounds this season from last, Nick Leddy’s plus/minus has completely reversed course. But of course that’s not the whole of it. Structure and Battle Level, ya’ know? [Newsday]
• Three points out of the back-to-back Friday and Saturday reflected a lot of what’s different about this team this season. Trotz: “We’re not perfect, but there’s a predictability that allows our goaltenders to focus on one thing and what I like is we do have a little bit of second effort. When we do break down, there’s that second effort where we bend and don’t break.” [Athletic]
• Meanwhile, in Bridgeport: Josh Ho-Sang, perhaps you’ve heard (and even lobbed a comment or 20), is a healthy scratch again. Thompson said it’s just part of the process, discipline in managing the puck and playing away from it, with a side of the old “trying to do too much.” They won without him Saturday, and he might be scratched again tonight. [CT Post | Soundin’ Off]
• Here are details for the Sound Tigers’ “Stick it to Cancer” weekend this Saturday and Sunday. [BST]
• Further down the pipeline, a Prospect Report: Another shutout (ho-hum) for Ilya Sorokin, plus Olive Wahlstrom and Ruslan Iskhakov each score against the other’s NCAA team. [Isles]
• “The deadline to submit written comments to the state regarding the Islanders’ proposed $1.2 billion arena development at Belmont Park has been extended by three weeks [to] March 1.” [Newsday]
• Does your Fan Cave need an upgrade? Can’t hurt to try to get it for free through this contest. [Isles]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores included little of Metro playoff relevance, though the Flyers won their eighth straight, which is pretty insane.

• With a contending team but two want-away free agents, this is going to be a franchise-defining month for the Blue Jackets. [Cannon]
• Trying to predict where Mats Zuccarello will end up. [Blueshirt Banter]
• Meanwhile, in trade rumbling notes, Pierre LeBrun says a few teams have already expressed interest in Bryan Boyle. (Arthur Staple believes the Islanders are one.) [Athletic]
• The Flyers, surging of late after a horrendous first half, may have reasons for optimism from this shipwreck season. [Broad Street Hockey]
• With Evgeni Malkin day-to-day, Nick Bjugstad has already made a good impression at center with the Penguins. [NHL]
• Is, um...is Ken Hitchcock having the desired effect on the Oilers? [Copper N Blue]
• Interesting league-wide and team by team attendance observations from this season vs. last. [NHL to Seattle]
• Debating who should and would win the Western Conference’s crazy wild card race. [ESPN]
• I’m not sure how many world soccer fans won’t or didn’t guffaw at the site of Jose Mourinho biting it after a ceremonial puck drop in the KHL. [Deadspin]