Islanders Gameday News: Dal Colle the defender; Dynastic determination

Hello again, everyone. Unfortunately for you, I am back from Puerto Rico and here to ruin your lives once again - I am sure you’ve missed me dearly. Thank you to Dom for assuming the load while I was gone.

Well folks, the Islanders have another road game tonight, in New Jersey against the Devils, who will play their first game without Brian Boyle on their active roster. Your FIGs for tonight can be deposited in this link here.

Islanders News

During yesterday’s practice, coach Barry Trotz shook up the lines a bit by swapping Anthony Beauvillier and Michael Dal Colle. Here he is explaining why and stating he’s not sure if the change will hold when the puck drops tonight:

• Carey explains how Dal Colle has been one of the Isles’ best defensive forwards this season. No, really. [LHH]
• Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech have played noticeably better of late as partners, with Pelech’s game in particular catching up to Pulock’s a bit. [Islanders]
• The Sound Tigers collected four of a possible six points from their games last week, with road wins against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Hartford Wolfpack. [Bridgeport Report]
• The IIHF Hall of Fame Class of 2019 includes former Islanders Ziggy Palffy, Miroslav Satan, and Jorgen Jonsson. [IIHF]
• Greg Wyshynski ranks the top 10 NHL dynasties of all-time, and before you all yell about it, the Islanders came in at no. 2, behind only the Canadiens for their run of dominance throughout the 1970s. [ESPN]
• This week’s featured guest in the Alumni Corner is Claude Lapointe, a long-time gritty type player who came to the Island as a free agent in 1996 and stuck around until a trade to the Flyers in 2003. [Islanders]
• Former Isles goalie and current analyst for TSN Jamie McLennan is going to get roasted in May in Edmonton for charity, if you should happen to be in the area and might be interested. Jason Strudwick will be the roastmaster.

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores were the Senators getting beaten by the Maple Leafs and the Bruins and Rangers going to a shootout at the Garden.

• I mentioned Boyle was no longer in Jersey: he was traded to the Predators for a second round pick, a steep price to pay for even a decent 4C, as Boyle is. (The Predators also paid a seventh round pick to the Rangers for Cody McLeod, whom the Rangers claimed on waivers from Nashville last season.)
• He’ll always treasure the support he received from the Devils organization after being diagnosed with cancer shortly after signing there. [NHL]
• Here’s some crappy news for Wild fans: captain and defensive wizard Mikko Koivu will be out the rest of the season after tearing his ACL. [NHL]
• Beleaguered, to put it nicely, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk spoke at a corporate event in Toronto and said that, after a short rebuilding period, he plans to spend close to the cap on the Ottawa hockey club. [TSN]
• The Auston Matthews extension was met with glee by most Toronto fans, but there’s reason for mild concerns. [PPP]
• One such reason is what it might mean for Mitch Marner’s next contract, which figures to be in a similar range as both the Matthews and John Tavares contracts. [The Athletic]
• Justin Schultz’s absence has been felt on the Penguins’ blueline, but they’re fooling themselves if they think that’s the only problem. [PensBurgh]
• CWHL All-Star goalie Liz Knox is the head of the Players Association and represents the present and future of pro women’s hockey.