Nino Niederreiter had a goal and an assist in Switzerland's 3-0 victory over Team USA.
Niederreiter didn't play for the Islanders this season, but he might break out in 2013-14 after getting some seasoning in the AHL. Julian Walker and Reto Suri accounted for Switzerland's other two goals. Reto Berra turned aside 29 shots for the shutout. Team USA will compete against Finland in the Bronze Medal Game while Sweden and Switzerland will battle for the Gold Medal.

Eric Boulton has agreed to a one-year extension with the New York Islanders.
Boulton was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He had no points and 36 penalty minutes in 15 games in 2013.

Matt Moulson is a nominee for the 2013 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
Moulson was also a finalist in 2012, but lost to Brian Campbell. Moulson had 44 points and four penalty minutes in 47 games.

Brad Boyes is eligible for unrestricted free agency this July.
He joins defenseman Mark Streit and goaltender Evgeni Nabokov as key potential UFAs who the Islanders should retain for the 2013-14 campaign. Boyes registered 10 goals and 35 points in 48 games during the truncated regular season, while primarily on a line with John Tavares and Matt Moulson. Tavares thinks that the Isles should re-sign those three players too. "I hope we'll see all those guys back," he said. "The leadership they brought [meant] leaps and bounds for us getting over the hump in a lot of ways."

Evgeni Nabokov's agent spoke to Islanders GM Garth Snow four weeks ago, according to the veteran goaltender, but there haven't been any contract talks since then.
The two sides held conversations on an extension earlier in the season, but those broke off as well. "I think Garth will make his decision," Nabokov said. "I told him I would like to stay, but we were fighting for the playoffs and nothing was going on. Now we have to see." Nabokov posted 23-11-7 record with a 2.50 GAA and a .910 save percentage during the regular season prior to struggling in the playoffs against Pittsburgh's high-powered offense. Coach Jack Capuano praised Nabokov for his body of work over the season though. The 37-year-old goalie will become an unrestricted free agent this summer if a new contract isn't worked out with New York.

Mark Streit, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent, wants to stay on Long Island.
"I've said it all along, I want to be back," Streit said. The Islanders captain posted six goals and 27 points in 48 games this season, while collecting five points in six playoff contests. Streit has played for the Islanders for the last four years and the two sides had reportedly started working on an extension prior to the end of the regular season.

John Tavares plans to work hard during the off-season to continue his development.
"I just don't want to stop here. I want to keep getting better," he said after the Islanders were eliminated from the playoffs in the opening round by Pittsburgh. "It's my goal to help this team win a Stanley Cup and if I can improve myself in any way, that's what I'm going to do." Any success the team enjoys in the years to come will probably be directly impacted by the play of Tavares, who proved his worth this year by being selected as a Hart Trophy finalist.

Frans Nielsen said that the Islanders need to make sure that their improvements carry over into next year.
"We've got to realize that what we did down the stretch this year, we have to do it from Day 1 next year and we've got to do it for 82 games," he said Tuesday morning. "It only gets tougher from here. Teams are going to be even more prepared for us." Making the playoffs is a great accomplishment, but it has to be earned each year and the Islanders will need to stay consistent for longer stretches to make sure they remain as a team on the rise.

Islanders general manager Garth Snow doesn't expect his team to be much different next season.
The Isles have a solid core, and he's very happy with it. "I don't think there will be too many changes," Snow said. "We want to continue down the road we started. We're just as excited about the prospects we have as the team that played this season. We've had some really good drafts and we have a prospect pool we like, not just some of the players at Bridgeport. It bodes well for the future." The team will continue to build from within but will keep an open mind with regards to trades and free agency.

If the New York Islanders needed reassurance about their abilities, they got them from the Pittsburgh Penguins after they were eliminated from the playoffs in overtime Saturday night.
"Going through the [handshake] line, hearing what some of their guys said . . . 'You guys are a good team,'" Islanders forward Colin McDonald said. "I don't think a lot of guys around here have heard that in a while."

Jack Capuano is feeling proud as the coach of the New York Islanders, who were eliminated from the playoffs Saturday night after the Pittsburgh Penguins beat them 4-3 in overtime.
"We took some big strides as an organization," Capuano said. "Not many people gave us a chance to do some of the things we did. Anybody that watched the games, that saw the crowd . . . I'm sure we've got some respect around the league right now."

Jack Capuano is feeling proud as the coach of the New York Islanders, who were eliminated from the playoffs Saturday night after the Pittsburgh Penguins beat them 4-3 in overtime.
"We took some big strides as an organization," Capuano said. "Not many people gave us a chance to do some of the things we did. Anybody that watched the games, that saw the crowd . . . I'm sure we've got some respect around the league right now."

Evgeni Nabokov kicked aside 17 of 21 shots as the Islanders were eliminated from the playoffs after their 4-3 overtime loss against the Penguins on Saturday night.
Facing a very dangerous offense in this series, Nabokov really was not very good, finishing with a 4.44 goals-against average and .842 save percentage in the playoffs. One could only imagine how the Islanders would've fared -- with the Pens clearly ripe for the taking -- had Nabokov even replicated his regular-season rates of a 2.50 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. Re-signing Nabokov isn't a terrible idea, but it's clear the Islanders need to go out and upgrade at goaltender in order to help them take the next step.

Michael Grabner had a goal and an assist in the Islanders' 4-3 overtime loss to the Penguins in Game 6 on Saturday night.
And with that, the Isles' season comes to an end. It's certainly not the way they wanted to go out, but there's a lot of promise here and coach Jack Capuano has made a ton of strides with this young team -- to the point that it wouldn't be surprising to see them in the thick of the playoff picture again next season. Colin McDonald and John Tavares scored the other goals, while Keith Aucoin chipped in with two helpers. Matt Carkner and Josh Bailey recorded an assist apiece as well.

Updating a previous note, Casey Cizikas (mouth) has returned to the game.
Great news. Cizikas was caught by Simon Despres skate in the chin/mouth area and presumably went to the locker room to get stitched up. He has two goals an a helper in the series.

Casey Cizikas has headed to the Islanders' dressing room after Simon Despres' skate contacted him around the mouth area.
This could've been much worse. Despres' skate came up high on a hit and caught Cizikas. The forward went to the locker room immediately but it didn't seem as bad as other skate incidents we've seen over the years.

Frans Nielsen will be in action for the New York Islanders in Game 6 on Saturday.
He's an underrated two-way player with solid scoring ability, so definitely put him in your lineup if available.

The New York Islanders decided to tab Brock Nelson for Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, making this his NHL debut.
He brings size and a solid amount of skill to the table, so he's at least worth watching. The Islanders selected him 30th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft.

If Frans Nielsen (lower-body injury) is not able to play in Game 6 Saturday night, Brock Nelson may draw into the Islander lineup.
In fact, he is skating with the regulars at practice Saturday morning. Frans Nielsen is also on the ice but appears to be skating on his own.

Frans Nielsen's status for Saturday's pivotal Game 6 is unknown.
He sustained a lower-body injury in Thursday's game and did not skate on Friday. At best, we are pegging Nielsen as a game-time decision. If you have other options on your playoff roster we would avail ourselves of them.

Andrew MacDonald is expected to need six to eight weeks of recovery time after having surgery on his hand.
The defenseman sustained a broken hand in Game 4 and the Islanders missed his presence on the back end in Thursday's 4-0 loss to Pittsburgh.

Frans Nielsen (lower body) will be a game-time decision for Saturday's do-or-die game against Pittsburgh.
The Islanders have to win to force a Game 7 back in Pittsburgh, but they may have to do it without the services of Nielsen, who was hurt on Thursday.

Evgeni Nabokov has been confirmed as the Islanders' starting goaltender for Game 6.
"I (have) confidence in Nabokov to go with him. He'll start. There's no surprise. Just move along with him," coach Jack Capuano said. "He's a veteran guy. He's probably harder on himself than anyone else. He knows how he has to play." Nabokov hasn't been able to slow Pittsburgh's offensive attack the series. He has a 4.69 goals-against average and an .847 save percentage in the series and was pulled in Games 1 and 5.

John Tavares received his first Hart Trophy finalist nomination on Friday.
He is up for the NHL's MVP award with Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin. Tavares registered 28 goals and 47 points in 48 games this season to help the New York Islanders return to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

Jesse Joensuu made his NHL playoff debut Thursday in Game 5.
He recorded one shot and played just 8:26 of ice time in the Islanders' 4-0 loss to Pittsburgh. David Ullstrom came out of the lineup to give Joensuu an opportunity to play.

Thomas Hickey made his second career playoff appearance in Game 5 Thursday night.
He got the nod over rugged blueliner Matt Carkner in the contest. Hickey hadn't played since Game 1. He has no points, six blocks and a minus-2 rating against the Penguins in New York's quarterfinal series.

Radek Martinek logged 19:14 of ice time in his 2013 playoff debut Thursday night.
He didn't play in New York's first four postseason contests, but got the chance to play because of an injury to shutdown defenseman Andrew MacDonald. Martinek finished the Islanders' Game 5 4-0 loss to Pittsburgh with two shots and a minus-1 rating.

Frans Nielsen left Thursday night's game in the third period with a lower-body injury.
There wasn't an update on his status after Game 5 and so it's unclear if he will be available to play Saturday in Game 6 when the Islanders face elimination from the playoffs. Nielsen has 13 shots and two assists in five postseason games.

Evgeni Nabokov understands that his play has to be better if the Islanders want to extend their playoff series with Pittsburgh to a seventh game.
He was pulled for the second time in the series in Thursday's loss after he allowed four goals on 27 shots. "I have confidence in Nabby," coach Jack Capuano said after the contest. "With the amount of games we've played and minutes we've played, [pulling him] was something we had to think about." Game 6 is slated for Saturday night with the Penguins up 3-2.

John Tavares was held off the scoresheet for the first time in four games Thursday as the Islanders lost a 4-0 decision to Pittsburgh in Game Five of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
Prior to tonight Tavares had recorded a point in every contest since the Isles were shut out in Game One of the series. With six shots on goal Tavares did as much as he could to record a point in the contest, but Pens netminder Tomas Vokoun was solid enough to hold him at bay.

Evgeni Nabokov allowed four goals on 27 shots Thursday as the Islanders were shut out in Pittsburgh by a score of 4-0.
Nabokov actually hit the showers early, as he was replaced by Kevin Poulin after the Pens scored their fourth marker with about 15 minutes remaining in the third period. He'll certainly be back between the pipes for Game Six.

Radek Martinek may get a chance to play in the postseason with Andrew MacDonald sidelined.
Martinek appeared in just 13 games for the Islanders during the regular season. Matt Carkner, who has suited up in three of the team's four playoff contests, may get an increase in ice time as well.

John Tavares registered the game-winning goal just past the midway mark of the third period to help the Islanders draw even in their quarterfinal series against Pittsburgh.
After being held without a point and a shot in Game 1, Tavares has three points, including two goals, in his past three playoff outings. The Islanders and Penguins have two wins each in the series with Game 5 set for Thursday night.

Brian Strait potted his first career playoff goal to open the scoring Tuesday in New York's 6-4 Game 4 victory.
Scoring against the Pittsburgh Penguins must've felt great for him after he was waived by the club prior to the season. Strait also has nine hits and four blocks in four games in the series.

Casey Cizikas generated a goal and two assists in Game 4 Tuesday night.
He scored his first career playoff goal in Sunday's overtime loss and he followed that up with a superb three-point performance. Cizikas logged a postseason high 12 minutes of ice time and he finished with a plus-4 rating. His second marker of the playoffs came late in the contest and it provided the Islanders with a 6-4 lead.

Brad Boyes collected three assists in Tuesday's win over Pittsburgh.
His three helpers helped the Islanders post a 6-4 victory to tie their first-round series against the Penguins at two games apiece. Boyes had been scoreless in his previous three playoff outings, but he finally broke free in Game 4.

Kyle Okposo recorded his third goal of the postseason in Tuesday's 6-4 win against Pittsburgh.
The Islanders are a confident group in their first-round series versus the Penguins and with both teams winning two games that confidence is justified. Okposo scored from behind the goal line on a bank shot off Marc-Andre Fleury's pad in the second period. He had four goals in 48 regular-season contests, but has elevated his game to a much higher level in the playoffs.

Andrew MacDonald is expected to miss the remainder of the postseason after suffering a broken hand in the second period of the Islanders' 6-4 Game 4 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
MacDonald led the NHL in blocked shots and will surely be missed. Other Islander blueliners will need to step up defensively in his absence.

Mark Streit potted two goals and added an assist in a 6-4 win for the New York Islanders in Game 4 of their quarterfinal series versus Pittsburgh.
He has five points in four playoff games. Kyle Okposo continued his excellent playoffs with a goal in the match, while John Tavares, Brian Strait and Casey Cizikas also scored for the Islanders. Cizikas also collected two helpers in the win. Brad Boyes contributed three helpers and defenseman Travis Hamonic had two. Body check-machine Matt Martin led the team with seven hits.

Evgeni Nabokov stopped 27 of the 31 shots he faced in New York's 6-4 win over Pittsburgh in Game 4 Tuesday night.
He got plenty of offensive support from his teammates despite a fairly sub-par effort. The Islanders and Penguins have two wins each in the series, but Nabokov hasn't been a factor with his play while sporting an .846 save percentage and a 4.55 goals-against average.

Andrew MacDonald will not return to Tuesday's contest because of an upper-body injury.
He blocks plenty of shots and logs plenty of ice time as a shutdown defender for the Islanders, so the team will miss him. Consider MacDonald day-to-day for now.

Andrew MacDonald headed to the dressing room in some pain after being assessed a penalty for holding in the second period.
Keith Aucoin went to the penalty box to serve MacDonald's infraction. At the time of his exit, he had been leading the team with 15:36 of ice time. We'll keep you posted on his status.

Evgeni Nabokov is expected to be back in net Tuesday for Game 4.
Nabokov hasn't exactly been lights out in the series but he's been backed up by an Islanders offense that's tagged the Pens for four goals in each of the last two games. The Isles will need Nabokov to be better Tuesday night against a Penguins team that surely wants to avoid giving the Isles any more momentum in the series.

Kyle Okposo is making his presence felt in his first playoff experience.
With two goals and a helper, Okposo has arguably been the Islanders' best forward in the first-round series. "He's been great for us," Brad Boyes said. "He's been physical, doing what it takes. That's what you need in the playoffs. It's been great to see. He's getting his first taste, but it doesn't really seem like it.

Islanders coach Jack Capuano is happy the way most of his players responded in Game 3, despite the loss.
He wanted his players to be more engaged and physical. "We met with certain guys and told them that if they wanted to stay in the lineup, there's a way they had to play," Capuano said. "And I thought those guys answered the bell going forward. Some guys, the physical side may not be in their DNA, but they elevated their games and it was good to see."

John Tavares won't be the one to speak out about getting no calls.
Sidney Crosby drew two of them in Game 3, including the one that led to the game-winning power-play goal. Still, Tavares is keeping his mouth shut despite not getting much favoritism from the referees himself. "[Crosby] is a great player, he's going to make it tough on us and we want to play him tough," Tavares said. "We just want consistency both ways."

The Islanders are a confident group, but know that means nothing if they don't win.
Down 2-1 in the series entering a home tilt against the Penguins, the Islanders know they're close. "If you're satisfied with just being able to compete, that's a recipe for losing,'' Josh Bailey said. "We're not here to try and hang with them and go home having put up a good fight. We're here to win.''

Matt Moulson scored his second goal of the playoffs in Sunday's overtime loss to Pittsburgh.
He has worked well with Kyle Okposo, who picked up one of the assists along with defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, since being separated from John Tavares. The two of them will probably get some shifts together as the series moves along, but the changes have worked out well so far for the Islanders' offense despite Pittsburgh's 2-1 series lead.

Casey Cizikas found the back of the net in New York's 5-4 overtime loss to Pittsburgh Sunday.
His first-period tally gave the Islanders a 2-0 lead, but it didn't last and the Penguins ended up riding their power play to a Game 3 victory. The goal was Cizikas' first playoff marker and his first point in three games during the series. The 22-year-old forward finished the regular season with 15 points in 45 outings.

Travis Hamonic isn't worried that the Islanders are down 2-1 in their first-round series versus Pittsburgh.
"We can't be down. We played a great game," he said following Sunday's overtime loss. "We battled back against one of the tougher teams in the league. It's a loss, so it stinks, we're mad, but you can't dwell on it. We'll be ready for Game 4." New York was picked apart in Game 1, but they've been competitive and right there with the Penguins in the past two games of the series. Hamonic doesn't have a point yet, but the shutdown defenseman has produced 14 hits, eight blocks and 14 penalty minutes in three games versus the Penguins.

John Tavares potted his first career playoff goal in Sunday's overtime loss to Pittsburgh.
His marker evened the score at 4-4 and sent the game into overtime, where the Penguins got a power-play tally from Chris Kunitz to take a 2-1 series lead. Tavares has two points in his first three postseason appearances after getting off to a rocky start in his debut.

Kyle Okposo has carried the momentum he built during the end of the 2013 regular season into the playoffs.
He was the difference-maker in Game 2 and nearly did the same in Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. He had a goal and an assist in today's game, yet the Pens ultimately won 5-4 in OT. John Tavares was strong in his own right, scoring the game-tying goal.

The quality of the goals is a matter of opinion, yet the bottom line is that Evgeni Nabokov had a rough Sunday on paper as the New York Islanders lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 in OT in Game 3.
The Islanders limited the Penguins to 25 shots and carried chunks of play. Unfortunately for them, Nabokov wasn't up to the task as he allowed five goals. It's been an up-and-down postseason so far for the aging netminder.

Goaltender Anders NIlsson says he's feeling much better after he missed three months of the AHL season due to a mysterious illness.
After a battery of tests were conducted, it was determined Nilsson suffered from a severe vitamin deficiency in addition to allergies to gluten and dairy. "It feels so much different now -- I can work hard on the ice or in the gym," he said. "It was a tough year, but I learned a lot. You live, you learn, right?" Now that the issues have been regulated, Nilsson has been practicing with the NHL club as the third netminder.

Defenseman Brian Strait has a number of reasons he would like to prove his worth to the Islanders in their opening round playoff series with the Penguins.
Not only was Strait waived by the Penguins prior to the season, adding some extra motivation for him, but the rugged blueliner would like to show he belongs as an NHL regular, which he has become for the first time in his career. In order to maximize his effectiveness, Strait understand he may need to get under the skin of his opponents. "I'm on top of my game when I play physical," Strait said. "If that makes me a target, so be it. If they're more worried about me than our skill guys, I don't know what to tell you."

Despite the majority of the hockey-watching world writing them off before the the series began, Islanders center John Tavares says the team believes in itself and feels it can defeat the Penguins in the opening round of the playoffs.
After the team was embarrassed 5-0 in Game One of the series, the Isles shocked Pittsburgh by scoring a 4-3 comeback win in Game Two. "Obviously, we believe in ourselves a lot more than people do," Tavares said. "It's a great opportunity for us. You see what the Kings did last year." It might be a stretch to compare the Islanders against the 2012 Kings at such an early stage, but we admire the young star's optimism.

The move to split Matt Moulson and John Tavares up seemed to work quite well.
Both were productive in the Islanders' 4-3 win over the Penguins Friday night. Moulson scored a goal and registered an assist, while Tavares recorded a power-play helper. No telling if Isles' coach John Capuano will continue to play Joshua Bailey on Tavares' wing or will restore Mouslon to his regular spot.

Evgeni Nabokov made 30 saves as the Islanders' edged the Penguins 4-3 on Friday night in Game 2 of their first-round series.
It had the makings of another long night for the netminder, who yielded all three goals on the first eight shots of the game. But he rebounded in a big way after that, making 25 straight saves. Nabokov's veteran experience was on display as the game went on, often opting to cover the puck and slow the Pens' momentum, rather than forcing a pass to a teammate. The series is now tied 1-1, heading to New York for the first time since 2007. If Nabokov can continue this type of performance, the Isles have a chance in this series.

Kyle Okposo potted the game-winning goal in the Islanders' 4-3 come-from-behind win against the Penguins in Game 2 on Friday night.
Okposo was the catalyst for the Isles in this one, as his fight -- the first of his career -- against Matt Niskanen at 4:58 of the second period shifted momentum New York's way, when it was down 3-1. The Islanders would score three unanswered goals, one by Colin McDonald 14 seconds after the fight and the second by Matt Martin just over five minutes after that. Matt Moulson had a power-play marker in the first period. Mark Streit chipped in with two helpers. Any fear about John Tavares' first-game struggles carrying over can be put to bed, too, as he was superb, getting an assist, four penalty minutes and a team-high six shots on goal.

Matt Moulson has been moved off John Tavares' wing and onto the second line.
We point this out because the two have been nearly inseparable over the last four years, forming one of the best one-two punches in hockey. Moulson had 15 goals and 29 assists this year. Joshua Bailey, who had 11 goals and 19 points this season, has been moved up to left wing on the first line. For something that has worked so well, this screams of something of a desperation move, though we can understand that coach Jack Capuano wants to balance the lineup more.

Matt Carkner is making his Islanders postseason debut Friday night.
Carkner draws into the lineup at the expense of Thomas Hickey, who has been scratched. Carkner has played in 10 playoff games in his career. He had two assists on the year.

David Ullstrom has entered the Islanders' lineup Friday night in Game 2.
Marty Reasoner has been scratched. The 24-year-old picked up five points in 20 NHL games this year, and he had 26 in 33 games in the AHL

Evgeni Nabokov was yanked early in the second period of the Islanders' 5-0 loss to the Penguins in Game 1 of their first-round series on Wednesday night.
Nabokov was shaky, facing 15 shots and only 11 saves before being pulled 1:51 into the period. He can't be blamed for it all, though. The Isles weren't holding onto pucks and on defense were often running around without any direction, leaving their goalies on no-man's land. Kevin Poulin came on in relief, kicking away 10 of 11 shots. This is not the way the franchise wanted to play in its first playoff appearned since 2007.

John Tavares was held without a shot in the Islanders' 5-0 loss in Game 1 of their first-round series with the Penguins.
Every player has an "off" game, but the Isles don't have the depth to get away with their best player being a nonfactor, especially against the Penguins in the most important games. Predictably, Tavares was the object of the Penguins' defense -- they limited his space and played him very physically -- and he didn't get a shot on goal for the first time all season, a span of 48 games. If Tavares is invisible, the first line will be, too. The result was Lubomir Visnovsky finishing with a team-high five shots. With the game out of hand, it became a penalty-fest: Marty Reasoner had 17 penalty minutes, while Matt Moulson, Travis Hamonic and Casey Cizikas all had 10 apiece.

Marty Reasoner appears as though he will play for the Islanders in Game 1 at Pittsburgh Wednesday night.
Coach Jack Capuano said he "can do the job for us, no question." Reasoner hasn't played since April 4 and he doesn't have much NHL playoff experience, but he is a veteran player. Whether he plays or doesn't, he doesn't have any fantasy value.

Evgeni Nabokov has plenty of playoff experience on an Islanders team that doesn't have much.
Offensive catalysts John Tavares and Matt Moulson will be making their postseason debuts Wednesday night, but Nabokov has appeared in 80 playoff games during his career. Moulson said Nabokov is "very vocal during games and during practices. He leads us not only with his play but also with his words." Tavares said that the goaltender's "composure and calmness really set a great example for us." Nabokov face a dangerous and deep Pittsburgh team in the postseason and many believe he'll have to stand on his head in impressive fashion for the Islanders to pull off an upset.

John Tavares has grown as a leader and as a player this season and he's looking forward to playing his first playoff game Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.
"I've always talked about being a very consistent player, playing at a high level consistently, and I'm still trying to find that," he said. "I'm trying to handle that on and off the ice, and I'm improving. It's part of getting older, part of being a part of this and obviously this time of year is a new experience for me. It's all another great challenge and something I'm looking forward to." Tavares had 28 goals and 47 points in 48 games during the regular season and he'll be the focal point of the Islanders' offensive attack in the playoffs as well.

Ryan Strome was called up from the minors Sunday along with seven other players.
Forwards Brock Nelson, Johan Sundstrom and John Persson, defensemen Matt Donovan, Aaron Ness and Calvin de Haan and goaltender Anders Nilsson were also brought to serve as the Islanders' Black Aces squad during the playoffs.

Michael Grabner said the New York Islanders aren't concerned with being projected as big underdogs against Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs.
"Maybe we'll change some minds, but I don't really think anyone in here cares," he said. "We know what we can do, what we're trying to accomplish. If someone out there wants to underestimate us, so be it. We can't control that." Grabner had 16 goals and five assists in 45 games during the regular season.

For the second straight season, John Tavares fell just shy of a point-per-game pace.
Tavares ended up with 28 goals and 47 points in 48 games. Those are certainly remarkable numbers and he's the single biggest reason why the Islanders are in the 2013 playoffs. At this point Tavares has established himself as a star forward and he should be putting up big numbers for years to come.

Josh Bailey had a solid 2013 season.
Bailey had 11 goals and 19 points in 38 games, mostly due to his superb finish to the season. He scored six goals and four registered assists in 13 April games to help propel the Islanders into the playoffs. Bailey isn't likely to ever be a top-tier scorer, but he has developed into a complimentary piece for the Islanders.

The Islanders will be cheering for the Devils Saturday afternoon.
If the Devils defeat the Rangers in regulation time, the Islanders will avoid playing the Penguins in the first round of the playoffs irrespective what Ottawa does in its last two games. That's reason enough to cheer by us.

In case you were wondering whether Lubomir Visnovksy is injured, he is not.
He sat out Friday's season finale against the Sabres to rest up for the playoffs.

Keith Aucoin scored the lone Islanders' goal in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Sabres Friday night.
Sure, it was a gift from Ryan Miller, but Aucoin still managed to get his sixth of the season on the play. Overall, the 34-year-old has excelled at the AHL level during his professional career, but success in the NHL has eluded him so far. He has no fantasy value moving foward.

Evgeni Nabokov kicked out 21 of 22 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to Buffalo Friday night.
Nabokov has been a nice surprise this season as a number two fantasy goaltender. His peripheral statistics certainly won't dazzle, but he did get plenty of starts in 2013 for the surprising Islanders. The Russian netminder finishes the regular season with a 23-11-7 record.

Because of Thursday's loss, the Islanders no longer control their playoff-seeding destiny.
The Isles are now in eighth in the East. Even if they win Friday in their finale, they'd need help elsewhere to improve their playoff position. "We haven't played a full 60 minutes in almost a week now," Travis Hamonic said after the Isles lost in regulation for only the second time in the last 16 games (11-2-3). "We have to be better. We didn't deserve to win this one tonight."

John Tavares scored the only goal for the Islanders Thursday as they were beaten by the Flyers by a score of 2-1.
The goal was the 28th of the campaign for Isles' superstar, who remains four behind Alexander Ovechkin for the league lead. Matt Carkner picked up the only assist on the marker.

Kevin Poulin allowed two goals on 30 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Flyers on Thursday night.
Poulin was given a start as Evgeni Nabokov enjoyed a well-earned rest now that the Isles have clinched a playoff spot and he played well, only suffering a loss as a result of the poor offensive showing from his teammates.

Matt Carkner will draw into New York's lineup Thursday night.
He will suit up against Philadelphia instead of Thomas Hickey. The Islanders will also dress tough guy Eric Boulton.

To update an earlier post, Kevin Poulin will start Thursday's game at Philadelphia.
It will mark his first appearance since April 2 when he had 23 saves in a 5-2 win over Winnipeg. The Islanders want to keep veteran goaltender Evgeni Nabokov fresh for the postseason, so he'll probably start Friday's regular-season finale against Buffalo.

It is believed that backup goaltender Kevin Poulin will start in one of the Islanders' final two games of the regular season.
New York plays in Philadelphia Thursday night and at Buffalo on Friday, so number one goalie Evgeni Nabokov will probably get a night off. Coach Jack Capuano hasn't revealed his netminder plans yet.

Eric Boulton and/or Matt Carkner may get to play in New York's last two games of the regular season.
The Islanders play Philadelphia Thursday and Buffalo on Friday to finish their regular-season schedule and they could use the extra muscle. However, coach Jack Capuano doesn't anticipate changing his lineup that much prior to the start of the playoffs.

John Tavares, who has enjoyed a Hart Trophy-caliber year in the NHL's truncated season, will get to play in his first playoff game next week.
He scored the game-tying goal late in the third period of Tuesday's 4-3 shootout loss to Carolina to get the Islanders a point in the standings and clinch their first playoff berth since 2007. "It's definitely the biggest accomplishment since I've been in the league," Tavares said. "This is what you dream of as a kid, a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup, and we've got an opportunity to do that." The 22-year-old center has racked up 27 goals and 46 points in 46 games this campaign.

Evgeni Nabokov made 29 saves in a 4-3 shootout loss to Carolina Tuesday night.
Nabokov had won three straight games entering Tuesday's tilt. He leads co-leads the league in wins this season with 23 in 40 appearances with the upstart Islanders. The Islanders clinched a playoff birth with the "loser point" and Winnipeg's regulation defeat versus Washington.

John Tavares was credited with the game-tying goal, his 27th of the season, late in the third period to clinch a playoff spot for the New York Islanders.
He scored at the 18:59 mark of the final frame in the team's 4-3 shootout loss to Carolina. Their point and Winnipeg's regulation loss was enough to get them back into the postseason. Josh Bailey and Brad Boyes also scored for the Islanders in the contest.

Evgeni Nabokov will likely be in between the pipes again Tuesday night.
Nabokov has struggled a bit in his last two games, giving up seven goals combined in those starts. However, he won both of them and has six wins in his last seven starts. On the whole, Nabokov has been excellent over the past six weeks and is starting almost every game for the Isles down the stretch.

Thomas Hickey has enjoyed being paired with Lubomir Visnovsky for the past two months.
"He's such a positive guy, so it's mostly 'good job' or 'keep doing that,'" Hickey said. "You see the decisions he makes, when to jump into the play and when we switch sides inside the zone to confuse the coverage. I'm picking up a lot." The 24-year-old has played in 37 games with the Islanders during his first NHL season, while posting four points and a plus-10 rating.

It appears that there won't be any supplementary discipline for New York Islanders forward Kyle Okposo's hit on Winnipeg Jets defenseman Zach Bogosian.
As with many hits, there was at least a small contingent of people who expected a fine or a suspension. Okposo won't miss any time or money, though.

Brad Boyes is likely to get a nice raise from the $1 million he's making this season with the Islanders.
Islanders general manager Garth Snow was trying to work out an extension before the deadline, but it ultimately didn't work out. That might end up being to Boyes' benefit as he has nine goals and 25 assists while playing on the team's first line. "I think I proved what I needed to this season with the deal I took,'' Boyes said. "We'll have to see what happens when this season ends.''

Frans Nielsen had a goal and registered an assist in a 5-4 shootout win.
Joshua Bailey scored his 10th goal and registered his eighth assist in 35 games this season. Matt Martin and Michael Grabner each scored a goal for the Islanders. Kyle Okposo and Lubomir Visnovsky each assisted on two of the Islanders' four regulation-time goals.

Evgeni Nabokov kicked out 24 of 28 shots in a 5-4 shootout victory Saturday afternoon.
Nabokov allowed one goal on three shootout attempts. He has now won six of his last seven games, bringing his record up to 23-11-5 this season.

Andrew MacDonald is the surprising blocked shots leader in the NHL.
He has gotten in the way of 116 shots and probaly has the bruises to show for it. There aren't many pools that count blocked shots as a stat, but for the ones that do, MacDonald has been a very valuable fantasy player this season.

Matt Martin leads the NHL in hits with 216.
Bet that wasn't your first guess as to who is the top body checker in the league. Martin is therefor very valuable in pools that count hits as a category. Of course if you are in such a pool, you probably knew that already.

Look for Evgeni Nabokov to get the start Saturday afternoon against the Jets.
This is a crucial game for both teams that are fighting for a playoff position. However, the Jets may be a little more desperate and are playing at home. That makes for a tough game for Nabby and his Islander teammates. Start Nabokov at your own risk.

New York Islanders owner Charles Wang would prefer to move to Brooklyn a year earlier than planned.
The Islanders are scheduled to move into the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in time for the 2015-16 season once their lease at the Nassau Coliseum expires. Wang said Thursday he's talked to Barclays developer Bruce Ratner about the possibility "and it would be nice if we could and there is maybe an opportunity." Wang also said the team would fulfill its lease if mandated and said he's not in any talks currently to move the team early.

Evgeni Nabokov was beaten three times on 21 shots Thursday, but was rewarded with a victory in a 5-3 win over Toronto Thursday.
Nabokov wasn't overly busy in this contest and wasn't at his sharpest, but he didn't need to be since his teammates controlled the play from the outset. The Isles are heating up at the right time and Nabokov is reaping the benefits.

John Tavares scored a pair of goals and added an assist in the Islanders 5-3 win over Toronto Thursday night.
With 26 goals in 43 contests Tavares would certainly have set a new career-best if the season weren't shortened to 48 games. Matt Moulson, Frans Nielsen and Brad Boyes all found the back of the net in the victory.

Mark Streit produced a goal and an assist in the Islanders' 5-2 victory against Florida Tuesday.
Streit has 25 points and a minus-14 rating in 43 contests. Michael Grabner potted a pair of goals in the match, while Matt Moulson and Radek Martinek also found the back of the net against the Panthers.

Evgeni Nabokov turned aside 26 shots in a 5-2 win over Florida on Tuesday night.
Nabokov hasn't lost a game in regulation in his past seven appearances, while posting five victories over that time. It was his 21st win of the year, which ties him for the most in the NHL.

Evgeni Nabokov is expected to start in goal again Tuesday night.
Nabokov has been about as close to an every-night starter as you get these days. He's also been downright stingy over the past month, posting a 4-0-2 record in April to go along with a 1.14 GAA and a .931 save percentage.