Isles Notes For 10/28

Per Arthur Staple, "Charles Wang says Islanders will make playoffs if NHL season is played."

On SiriusXM radio, Charles Wang was quoted as saying, "Yes, we're going to make the playoffs." He went on to say, "We should have even done it last year, but we didn't. And we're disappointed. We're going to make the playoffs and we're going to have a great run."

Wang credits the Isles move to Brooklyn to be the catalyst.  He thinks the problems in free agency would go away with the promise of play in the Barclays Center.  Now, I assume free agents could live anywhere in the area, especially at a posh place in Manhattan and play in a state of the art facility. 

While I agree with him there, I am not sure the success would flood into a lockout-shortened season this quickly should an agreement be reached between the NHL and NHLPA.

Keep the Faith.

Sound Tigers Notes:

BST vs. WOR

Travis Hamonic is the final scratch on defense. Sound Tigers starters - DeFazio-Nelson-Persson, Ness-Landry. Kenny Reiter in goal.

Final score: Sharks 5, Sound Tigers 2. Hill and McDonald the BST goals. Kenny Reiter makes 41 saves in the loss.

BST vs. Springfield

Jason Clark expected to make his pro debut vs SPR; Marc Cantin and Sean Backman will likely make their 2012-13 debuts as well.

Jordan Hill, who signed a PTO this afternoon, is on the ice for warmups & wearing number 25. He'll likely be the last scratch on defense.

Sound Tigers starters - DeFazio-Nelson-Persson, Ness-Landry. Poulin in net.

Sound Tigers WIN! Casey Cizikas extends the shootout in the 6th rd, David Ullstrom wins it in the 7th - Sound Tigers beat the Falcons 3-2!

Per BST, 10/27 Player transaction: The Sound Tigers have signed defenseman Jordan Hill to a professional tryout contract (PTO).”

BST vs. Worcester

Tonight's projected lines - Niederreiter-Cizikas-McDonald, Ullstrom-Sundstrom-Persson, DeFazio-Nelson-Kabanov, Gallant-Watkins-Riley.

Seven defensemen taking warmups, Marc Cantin likely to be the final scratch - Nathan McIver will take de Haan's place in the lineup.

Kirill Kabanov skated off with athletic trainer David Stickney midway through the second period and did not return.  He underwent surgery on his left wrist and is expected to make a full recovery.

GAME RECAP: Worcester scores three times in second period, powers past Sound Tigers 5-1.

Per BST 0n 10/25, “Player News: Sound Tigers have recalled goaltender Kenny Reiter from the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL.”

NHL Notes:

Per Pierre LeBrun, “NHL makes it official: all games in November cancelled. A total of 326 regular-season games now gone – 26.5 percent of the season.”

Per Dave Stubbs, “Should Nov games be cancelled as expected, Gary Bettman will have killed a total of 2,024 reg-season NHL games by lockout. & counting.”

Winter Classic was not included in the block of cancelled games.

Per Brian Costello, Coming off the NHL books next season: 114 pending UFAs making $1 million or more. They make a combined $314 million.

Other Notes:

Per Szymon Szemberg, “KHL informs that it has cancelled the two Dynamo Moscow vs SKA St. Pete games in Brooklyn, NY, Jan 20-21. Games will be played in Russia.  Reasons for KHL cancellation in NY: league wants first & foremost Russian fans to be able to see the top games+uncertainty caused by lockout.”