Islanders Gameday News: Take 2 vs. the Bruins

The Islanders continue their homestand (1-1 thus far, thanks to the shootout) with a Thanksgiving Eve visit from the Bruins, who just lost to the Sharks.

The Bruins visited earlier in the month, prevailing in a 4-3 (shootout) shortly before the big road trip that may have turned the Islanders’ season around. Time to take two points this time around.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

• Previewing tonight: Expect Emil Heineman and Cal Ritchie to help fill in on the PK during J-G Pageau’s absence. [Isles]

• Day to day: Casey Cizikas is the latest injury concern, but they say he only missed practice for “maintenance” and he should be good to go tonight. [Isles]

• Gross: An overdue win over the Bruins would help show the Isles are for real. [Newsday]

• Patrick Roy believes the power play is turning a corner. [Post]

• Mat Barzal isn’t worried about how many points he’s getting, he’s worried about whether he’s helping influence wins by impacting chances, limiting turnovers, covering the ice as a center. [Post | THN]

• Only one game in the NHL last night, but it was a doozie that checked off all the narratives for the Oilers, who returned home from a long road trip to get blown out by the Stars: bleeding defensively, goaltending questions, you name it. Four goals against in the first period, pulling Stuart Skinner afterward only to allow four more against Calvin Pickard. [Sportsnet]

• Fifteen games tonight, however; which will be the ones to watch? [NHL]

• Nick Kypreos’ first trade board of the season has lots of names and reasons. [Sportsnet]

• What’s happening Barry Land? The Predators are off to an even worse start than last year, and Barry Trotz has had to refute a report of a “toxic” culture. “I know toxic,” which maybe isn’t the defense he thought it was. [Sportsnet]

• Speaking of, Insider Trading covers potential firesales in Nashville and Vancouver. [TSN]

• Mailbag: After a hot start, are the Penguins “who we thought we are”-ing? [NHL]

• Is this final the end for Milan Lucic? Released from his AHL PTO by the Blues. [TSN]