Many Islanders staffers were in and around the equipment room this afternoon, but equipment manager Matt Broyles was not among them. There was no immediate confirmation about what might have happened.
Otherwise: All hands on deck. Rather than toss out a short line, Bridgeport had an extra forward on each of the bottom two lines, with Joel Rechlicz joining Bentivoglio-Haskins-Martin, and another set of Haley, Marcinko, Gillies and Morency. No other surprises.
Providence has four players out with wrist problems, including Yannick Riendeau; Andy Wozniewski was called up, too. (The ProJo blog has been a welcome addition to the party, eh?)
Larry Brooks reports that the Islanders have kicked the tires on Ilya Kovalchuk, the man they so desperately wanted in 2001 (and then, after they ping-ponged to runner-up, traded the consolation prize for Alexei Yashin). As noted in several other places, a match doesn’t seem likely, regardless of whether you think such a move fits philosophically. But crazier things have happened, so what the heck.
Travis Hamonic will drop the ceremonial faceoff* Saturday in Winnipeg.
And RIP, Teddy Pendergrass.
I’d throw in a Brake Time reference to Cat Osterman and the first pitch in Houston, but even I’ve got limits to obscurity.