Top Shelf – Islanders Daily 10/10/13

Oct 8, 2013; Uniondale, NY, USA; Phoenix Coyotes defenseman

(2) is checked into the boards by New York Islanders left wing

(17) during the second period of a game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Islanders are off to their best start in roughly 13 years, as they sit at 2-0-1 (5 points) and second place in the Metropolitan Division; they’re also alone in third place in the Eastern Conference.

Then again, there’s not much to be taken from records and standings when a team has only played three of the 82 regular-season games on its schedule.

The Isles have a difficult test Friday night in Chicago, where they’ll face a Blackhawks team that’s returning home off a loss and will be looking to make a statement at United Center.

Stay tuned to Eyes On Isles for pregame notes and postgame analysis tomorrow.

-Mike (@MichaelWillhoft)

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Who Sits When Clutterbuck Makes Islanders Debut (Eyes On Isles)

Can Mike Smith Be A Dominant Goaltender Again For 2013-14 Phoenix Coyotes? (Bleacher Report)

NHL Three Stars: Carter’s Big Night Vs. Sens; Steen’s Late Goal Beats Blackhawks (Puck Daddy)

Two Minutes For Tweeting

Be sure to check out the latest edition of the Dump and Chase Podcast at www.thedumpandchasepodcast.com or search ‘Dump and Chase Podcast’ on iTunes to subscribe.

The similarities between MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates and the Isles are striking; perhaps next season is the one where the Pirates really break out, which is exactly what Islanders fans are hoping will happen with their team this year.

A win in Chicago would prove that the Isles’ fast start isn’t a fluke. Beating the defending Stanley Cup champs in their own building is a tall order, but the Islanders have the blue-collar style of play to pull out a win.

The team has carried over last year’s playoff momentum—for the most part—into this season, which has made Isles fans happy so far.

Last Night In The NHL

Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues

Alex Steen broke a 2-2 tie at 19:38 of the third period to help the Blues beat the division-rival Blackhawks at Scottrade Center last night.

Steen’s last-minute goal was a fitting end to a tightly contested, playoff-like game between two of the Western Conference’s best teams. Alex Pietrangelo added two assists to help St. Louis’s cause.

For the Blackhawks, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews each recorded two points in the loss.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Calgary Flames

Sean Monahan netted his third goal of the season and added an assist on another as the Flames beat the Canadiens 3-2. Monahan, only 18, has been a refreshing surprise for a Flames team that had low expectations to start the season.

The Canadiens got a goal and an assist from P.K. Subban, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap with Calgary after the home side took a 2-0 lead in the first period and extended it to 3-0 late in the second.

Ottawa Senators vs. Los Angeles Kings

The Senators battled back from a 0-3 first-period deficit on the road against the Kings to tie the game late in the third, but fell to Los Angeles in overtime last night. Bobby Ryan had a goal and an assist, and Joe Corvo added two helpers of his own in the loss.

Dustin Brown and Jeff Carter each had two goals on the night; Carter’s second was the game winner less than half a minute into the overtime period.

The Sens will travel to San Jose to take on the Sharks in their next game on Saturday, while the Kings will head east to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.

Across The Sound

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (1-1-0) will take on the Manchester Monarchs (1-0-0-1) on Saturday afternoon. Ryan Strome is still tied for the team lead in points with three, but leads the team in shots on goal with 9. Saturday’s game is at 7:00 p.m. at Webster Bank Arena.

As always, thanks for reading us at EyesOnIsles. Keep it right here for all of your NHL coverage and up-to-the-minute Islanders news. Be sure to check the menu bar at the top of the page for ways to connect with the EyesOnIsles staff; we’re always happy to talk hockey.