Isles Notes for 12/5

Matt Moulson has been named NHL first star of the week.  NHL.com reports, “Moulson scored 6 goals in three games, including a single-game high 4 goals Saturday against the Dallas Stars. He also had an assist, and extended his point-scoring streak to four straight.”

New York Islanders announce Jay Pandolfo has been placed on IR retroactive to November 26 and Katie Strang reports the Islanders have placed defenseman Andrew MacDonald on IR; he is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with a right leg injury.

Michael Grabner (Groin/ day to day) and Rick DiPietro (Groin/ out indefinitely) were not on the ice for practice today.

G Kevin Poulin and F Tim Wallace will be called up on emergency loan from Bridgeport.

Evgeni Nabokov participated in his first full team practice since injury.

Brian Compton reports that Dallas D, Mark Fistric faces discipline hearing Tuesday for his hit on Nino Niederreiter and Bob McKenzie is saying that if Fistric is suspended, it will be for leaving his feet/charging, not a Rule 48 violation.

Update:
Dallas Stars Mark Fistric suspended 3 games. Brendan Shanahan explains: http://bit.ly/rDjxsB

Today’s Lines: Moulson-Tavares-Parenteau; Rolston-Nielsen-Okposo; Haley-Bailey-Ullstrom; Martin, Reasoner.

NHL News:

The new four-conference format gets approval by NHL Board of Governors today.  According to Dan Rosen on NHL.com, The makeup of the yet-to-be-named four conferences is as follows:

* New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Washington and Carolina

* Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Buffalo, Florida and Tampa Bay

* Detroit, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago, Minnesota, Dallas and Winnipeg

* Los Angeles, Anaheim, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Colorado

“The top four teams in each conference will make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The first two rounds will be played within the conference, with the first-place team playing the fourth-place team and the second-place team playing the third-place team in the first round. The winners will face each other in the second round.

Once the playoffs are down to one team from each conference, the NHL will re-seed based on the regular-season records of the four finalists. No. 1 will play No. 4 in one semifinal and No. 2 will play No. 3 in the other. The winners of those two series will face each other in the Stanley Cup Final.”