Top Shelf – Islanders Daily 1/27/14

Lubomir Visnovsky could be back in the Islanders lineup tonight. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Alright. Enough with the Saturday’s loss to the St. Louis Blues. It was frustrating, yes, but it’s nothing the New York Islanders have time to harp on.

Just two days after one point was taken from Long Island’s hockey team, the Boston Bruins pay a visit to the Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders have found success against the Bruins in recent history, taking each of the last three games between the two teams, so the Bruins will be looking to avoid: 1) the extension of their losing streak; and 2) a season-series sweep to the Isles. The Islanders will be looking for two points to push them a little bit further out of the grave they dug for themselves back in November.

And how’s this for a boost? Lubomir Visnovsky, who has been on injured reserve with a concussion retroactive to October 17th, might be back in the lineup for the Islanders. That would be tremendous news for this hockey team – perhaps just “the rope” the Islanders could use to pull themselves out of this mess.

Things could be looking up for the Islanders in the near future, potentially as early as tonight.

In case you missed it:

• Michael Willhoft gives his take on the Isles loss to the NHL War Room. (EOI)
• Three months later, re-visitng the trade that brought Thomas Vanek to Long Island. (Isles Op-Timism)
• Strome’s first professional fight took place yesterday. Here’s the video! (IslesEnforcers)

Around the NHL:

• New York Rangers 7, New Jersey Devils 3: NYR (D. Moore, Staal, Zuccarello [2], Hagelin, Nash, Stepan), NJD (Elias [2]. Zajac) – In the first of two Stadium Series matchups at Yankee Stadium, New York scored six unanswered goals to overcome an early three-goal deficit. Martin Brodeur, pulled for Cory Schneider at the end of the second period, allowed six goals for the first time against the Rangers. Jaromir Jagr added two assists, which pushed him ahead of Mario Lemieux for 10^th all-time amongst the NHL’s assist leaders.
• Florida Panthers 5, Detroit Red Wings 4 SO: FLA (Bergenheim, Winchester, Shore, Boyes, Bjugstad SO Winner), DET (Nyquist, Alfredsson, Sheahan, Tatar) – The Florida Panthers overcame a two-goal deficit late in the third period to force overtime and a shootout. Brad Boyes tied the game with a shorthanded goal with only 3:46 remaining.
• Winnipeg Jets 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1: (Wheeler [2], Ladd), CHI (Bollig) – The Winnipeg Jets recorded six shots on goal through the first two periods, but peppered Corey Crawford with 14 shots (and an empty-netter) in the third. Blake Wheeler tied the game at 1, and Andrew Ladd scored the winner just over four minutes later.
• Edmonton Oilers 5, Nashville Predators: EDM (J. Schultz, Eberle, Smyth, Yakupov, Nugent-Hopkins), NSH (Legwand) – Ben Scrivens made 34 saves to earn his first win with the Oilers.
• Vancouver Canucks 5, Phoenix Coyotes 4 OT: VAN (Bieksa [2], Hansen, Higgins, Dalpe), PHX (Vermette [3], Doan) – Kevin Bieksa scored his second of the game with 2:45 remaining in overtime. Antoine Vermette recorded a hat trick for the Phoenix Coyotes.

Across the Sound:

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers defeated the Syracuse Crunch by the score of 6-5 on Sunday afternoon. John Persson recorded a hat trick, including the tie-breaking goal with 4:06 remaining in the game. Anders Lee, Andrew Clark and Scooter Vaughan rounded out the scoring for Bridgeport. Ryan Strome added an assist and took part in his first professional fight.

-CT