Though three of the four lines today looked pretty familiar, and the defense pairs looked pretty much as they did Sunday, some ins and outs along the way this morning. Michael Dal Colle remains out, day-to-day said Brent Thompson, with the upper-body ailment he suffered Sunday at Wilkes-Barre. Thompson’s not expecting Dal Colle tomorrow, which will be his first game lost to injury as a professional.
Ryan Hitchcock was in that spot again, and Josh Ho-Sang returned to practice, looking fine with the Jones twins. Jeff Kubiak slotted in as a fourth guy on that line.
Scott Eansor is making progress, Thompson said. Weekend at earliest, but that’s a possibility at least, depending how he feels. On the back end, both Kane Lafranchise and Parker Wotherspoon practiced today, and both could be available tomorrow against Hershey, but it’ll depend how they’re feeling. They both said they’re feeling better, but still a bit of a limp on both of them.
Good to see @StapeAthletic this morning for the first time since he was @StapeNewsday. Good stuff coming, no doubt. The Big Club was eliminated last night by Jack Capuano and the Florida Panthers, leaving Capuano, still, the only Islanders or Sound Tigers coach to win a playoff game in the past decade. There’s still a chance for Brent Thompson to have a chance to change that this year. SportsClubStats has that first chance at about three percent.
The NHL is putting its new goalie interference rules into effect Wednesday.
Bob Motzko jumps from St. Cloud State to Minnesota to replace Don Lucia.
RIP, Linda Brown and Zeke Upshaw.
And a tip of the cap to one of the Sound Tigers’ all-time unsung heroes (and to Elite Prospects for the tip): Concussions have forced Tyler Haskins to retire. Haskins carved himself out a fine career over there after establishing himself here in his first few seasons, so much so that his team will retire his number. Best to him and his family.