Top Shelf – Islanders Daily 3/3/14

Jan 27, 2014; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Andrew MacDonald (47) plays the puck in the corner against Boston Bruins right wing Jarome Iginla (12) during the third period of a game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Bruins defeated the Islanders 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Well, here we are. It’s Monday morning, two days before the trade deadline, and one day after an ugly weekend of hockey at the Nassau Coliseum.

Yes, it’s mornings like these that created the definition of “the Mondays.” As we reach for our first cup of coffee to jump-start our week, we also digest a New York Islanders hockey team that is left looking for answers on the ice, and also answers on what might be the biggest decision Garth Snow has to make as the team’s general manager.

With two days to go, Snow has presumably been fielding offers for Thomas Vanek and Andrew MacDonald. While there’s little-to-no doubt that he will get these players off of Long Island, he has to move quickly to get max value for two players that could lose some of their value depending on other transactions made around the league within the next 48 hours.

The spotlight is on the Islanders’ GM. Depending on the deals he makes, the Islanders can either take two steps forward, or two steps back.

In case you missed it:

• Mike Halmo heads to Bridgeport leaving a positive first impression. (EOI)
• Islanders show frustration in loss to Devils. (EOI)
• GIFS of the Week. (EOI)
• The Vanek, MacDonald trade watch continues. (Newsday)

Around the NHL:

Philadelphia Flyers 5, Washington Capitals 4 OT: PHI (Giroux [2], Hall, Voracek, Lecavalier), WSH (Orlov [2], Johansson, Beagle) – Vinny Lecavalier’s 900^th NHL point was the game-winning overtime goal.

San Jose Sharks 4, New Jersey Devils 2: SJS (Couture, Torres, Nieto, Marleau), NJD (Henrique, Elias) – Matt Nieto snapped a 2-2 tie early in the third, and Alex Stalock earned his 10^th win of the season.

Ottawa Senators 4, Vancouver Canucks 2 HERITAGE CLASSIC: OTT (MacArthur, Karlsson, Ceci, Greening), VAN (Garrison, Kassian) – The Ottawa Senators erased a 2-0 deficit, defeating Eddie Lack and the Canucks at the BC Place in Vancouver.

Boston Bruins 6, New York Rangers 3: BOS (Iginla, Hamilton, Soderberg, Campbell [2], Lucic), NYR (Miller, Richards, McDonagh) – Gregory Campbell’s shorthanded goal proved to be the game-winner, as the Bruins put six pucks past Henrik Lundqvist. Tuukka Rask made 39 saves.

Colorado Avalanche 6, Tampa Bay Lightning 3: COL (Barrie, O’Reilly, Holden [2], Johnson, Stastny), TBL (Pyatt, Thompson [2]) – The Avalanche scored four unanswered goals in the third period, including two empty-netters, to best Ben Bishop and the Lightning.

St. Louis Blues 4, Phoenix Coyotes 2: STL (Berglund [2], Paajarvi, Shattenkirk), PHX (Bissonnette, Halpern) – Ryan Miller made 23 saves to win his debut with the Blues, and St. Louis snapped a 187-minute scoreless streak.

Anaheim Ducks 5, Carolina Hurricanes 3: ANA (Perry [2], Beauchemin, Cogliano, Silfverberg), CAR (Sekera, Dwyer, Semin) – Frederik Andersen made 49 saves, and Corey Perry recorded his team-leading 32^nd goal in the Ducks’ thrashing of the Hurricanes.

Across the Sound:

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers fell to the Utica Comets by the score of 2-1 on Sunday afternoon. Alan Quine had the load goal.

Mike Halmo was also returned to the Sound Tigers on Sunday morning.

-CT (@christriants)