The week grinds on with a solidly long practice today. And with only six games in 27 days this month, there’s plenty of time to practice. They’ve prepared a lot as a staff, Scott Pellerin said, for this month, looking back at last season and at their various goals going ahead. They’ve had extra work for different special-teams groups at different times; they’ve focused practices on different aspects and areas. This week, they’ll work their way from the defensive zone yesterday to the offensive zone by the end of the week. “We’re laying the foundation of our systems, getting reps in,” Pellerin said. “The guys have bought into what we’re trying to accomplish, team effort, team concepts.”
Still no Brett Gallant; Pellerin hoped to have a better idea tomorrow about him. No Andrey Pedan this morning in practice; Pellerin said he was on “earlier this morning for some skill development and conditioning skate. He wasn’t feeling well after the skate. He’s going to come back for a workout. He’s going to be doing a little individual work with me this week.”
Calling back to Sunday: That was Jarrod Skalde that Pellerin shook hands with after the shootout; teammates in the Devils organization and they’ve caught up at different times. The hockey life: Pellerin knows and played against Marty Wilford, and he also played with Trent Yawney.
The Islanders solved their Cal Clutterbuck Roster Spot issue by sending Griffin Reinhart back to the Edmonton Oil Kings. They’re at 23 men (14 forwards, seven defensemen) with no one on IR, assuming nothing else happens. Certainly weren’t sending down Brock Nelson or Matt Donovan at the moment; Nelson had his first NHL point last night, followed by Donovan’s first NHL goal. (With Ryan Pulock and Reinhart back in junior, the Islanders are effectively at 41 contracts, for what it’s worth.)
The NHL Network will pick up several AHL games that Sportsnet will be televising in Canada.
Milford’s Colin Sullivan isn’t playing for Boston College anymore. The USHL’s Twitter feed says Green Bay has added him to its roster.