Top Shelf: Islanders Daily 1/10/14

Islanders: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Happy Friday Islanders Country! Thank goodness we’re nearly finished what was the first week back for many after a nice, extended holiday break which I hoped you all enjoyed.

And what better way to kick off the weekend with some Islanders hockey? Tonight, Long Island’s hockey team travels to the mile high city of Denver, Colorado to take on the Colorado Avalanche.

With a hot Islanders team, winning 5 of their last 6 games, and a win one, lose won (maybe even win 2, lose 2) team for the last month or so in Colorado, the Islanders could very well come out with a win in Denver. It would only enable the Islanders to continue their way back into Eastern Conference relevancy, as they still have plenty of hockey to play and aren’t nearly as far out of the playoffs as they were just a month ago.

While  no official word has been made yet, it’s likely that the Islanders will be going with Kevin Poulin in net. The Islanders have won the last three games Poulin has appeared in, as he’s looked pretty nice in net since getting the temporary role of starter for the second time this season.

It’s starting to become all the more exciting to be an Islanders fan with the team winning, as we are seeing what we have been waiting for since our beloved team was eliminated from the playoffs back on May 11th of 2013. A win tonight would be huge, and would only instill more confidence in what is already a currently confidence-filled team

-PM (@PJMcEntee)

In Case You Missed It

Ryan Strome Selected to AHL All-Star Team (Eyes on Isles)

#IslesTwitter’s Tweets O’ The Week: Volume 7 (Eyes on Isles)

EOI’s Staff Says Who Needs to be a Catalyst for a Playoff Push (Eyes on Isles)

It’s Time to Re-Sign Thomas Vanek (Eyes on Isles)

Revived Offense Bringing Islanders Hope For Late Push (Islanders Op-Timism)

Around the NHL

• Florida Panthers 2, Buffalo Sabres 1 (SO)
• New Jersey Devils 1, Dallas Stars 0
• Carolina Hurricanes 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 1
• Washington Capitals 4, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Anaheim Ducks 4, Nashville Predators 3
• St. Louis Blues 5, Calgary Flames 0
• Minnesota Wild 4, Phoenix Coyotes 1
• Los Angeles Kings 4, Boston Bruins 2
• San Jose Sharks 4, Detroit Red Wings 1

Across the Sound

The Sound Tigers have been struggling as of late, having gone 0-2-1 in their last three games. Life in Bridgeport seems to have become much more difficult with the likely permanent departure of the AHL’s leading scorer, Ryan Strome.

Currently, Anders Lee is the leading goal scorer on the team, with 13 goals and 14 assists in 36 games played. Lee could be up with the Islanders in the near future, as he appears to be living up to the goal scoring potential he had when he was drafted by the Islanders 152nd overall in the 6th round of the 2009 draft.

Bridgeport is currently 4th in the Northeast Division, and much like their NHL affiliate, are towards the bottom of the conference, but aren’t far away from a playoff spot, as they are 8 points out of the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference.