4:16 pm: And here is the opening night roster with the exception of the three suspended players:
ForwardsKeith Aucoin
Eric Boulton
Brad Boyes
Casey Cizikas
Michael Grabner
Matt Martin
Colin McDonald
Matt Moulson
Frans Nielsen
Kyle Okposo
Marty Reasoner
John Tavares
David Ullstrom
Defensemen Matt Carkner
Joe Finley
Travis Hamonic
Thomas Hickey
Andrew MacDonald
Radek Martinek
Brian Strait
Mark Streit
GoaliesRick DiPietro
Evgeni Nabokov
12:33 pm: From James Mirtle:
James Mirtle @mirtle
Tim Connolly's agent, J.P. Barry, says his client will report to Marlies and play there.
So we all had heart failure for nothing, right?
12:06 pm: As I said, I don't believe anything unless TSN's Bob McKenzie tells me! The Islanders have claimed Brian Strait from Pittsburgh. And I don't know who that is!
Strait, 25, has appeared in 220 American Hockey League games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Boston, MA, native’s career AHL totals include eight goals and 32 assists for 40 points. He’s also accumulated 182 penalty minutes and a plus-46 rating.
Strait has appeared in 12 career NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, collecting one assist and four penalty minutes. The Penguins selected the 6’1, 200-pound defenseman in the third round (65th overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft.
Prior to his professional career, Strait played three years of college hockey at Boston University, highlighted by a NCAA National Championship in 2009, his final season with the team. He also spent two seasons with the United States National Development Team in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
On the international stage, Strait played for the U.S. National Team at the 2008 World Junior Championships and the 2006 Under-18 World Championships, winning gold as team captain in 2006.
12:03 pm: and a Tweet comes over by Art Staple that the Islanders have NOT claimed tim Connolly OR Wade Redden. Oh you internet hoaxters!
11:50 am: The NY Islanders have officially suspended Lubomir Visnovsky. Anyone surprised considering he said he couldn't get there until February? No.
I am reading that the Islanders have claimed Tim Connolly off waivers from the Leafs. I am surprised considering that yesterday or the day before Art Staple reported the Isles had no interest in him. Things change by the minute with the NY Islanders.
7 am: So it seems the CBA has provisions for ice resurfacing which is why we have beautiful girls with shovels. Here are some items regarding ice surface from the new CBA MOU.
Extension of standard Regular Season intermission from 17 minutes to 18 minutes and reduction of period for permissible on-ice activities from five (5) minutes to four (4) minutes, leaving 14 minutes for ice resurfacing and set time. (I know a certain GM that would love to have this down to zero minutes.)
Prohibition of on-ice activities for two (2) hours prior to pre-game warm-ups.
Requirement for each Club (building) to supply a minimum of eight (8) ice shovelers for in-period ice maintenance. Clubs will utilize best efforts to utilize ice shovelers on skates.
League will issue updated standards for end zone ice shoveling procedure.
Development and introduction of a smart phone app to facilitate completion and submission of Player reports on ice conditions and team compliance with Visiting Team Facility Standards.
Develop “best practices” guidance and video for Players on maintaining good ice conditions.
Interesting that they need a video to show players how to maintain good ice. You’d think they would know that by now.
Who didn’t know it was the adorable, petite young ladies who were at the Islanders scrimmage on Wednesday. While we were waiting for dressing rooms to be opened to the media, we spied Tim Beach training the Ice girls in the proper form for shoveling the ice. It was quite entertaining, but absolutely necessary and now we see -- a CBA requirement. Carry on Tim. Carry on.
Your AHL All-Stars in the Islanders system are no surprise! Nino Niederreiter and Matt Donovan have been selected to attend the 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star game in Providence RI on January 27 and 28. (I wish I could go!)
Almost there. Saturday will be the home opener and I hope you bought your tickets through the social media special for extra special savings. I will say this about Saturday: If Marty Broduer is in net for the Devils I would bet that it will be Rick DiPietro for the Isles and not Nabokov.
Rick and Marty have had a long standing respect/rivalry since Rick first came to the Islanders. DiPi loves playing against Broduer so I would imagine they will face each other on Saturday.
TGIF Hbers!
New York Islanders Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»