Andrew MacDonald News

As the New York Islanders assembled some success, or at least progress, in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, you'd hear more and more other teams and hockey media note their team speed.

Not just because it's where the 28-year-old Bible Hill native was raised, but because he credits his time with the Truro Bearcats for helping get him where he is in the game today, a professional coming off his second season with the Zagreb Medvescak Bears of the Kontinental Hockey League in Croatia.

"There was no way I wasn't going to play," Nielsen said, distraught after the Islanders' 4-3 overtime loss the Penguins at the Coliseum that ended their season in Game 6 of the opening round of the playoffs.

Brian Strait of the Islanders carries the puck against Steve Bernier of the New Jersey Devils at Nassau Coliseum .

For five games, Sidney Crosby and John Tavares have been on opposite sides in the quest to lead their teams to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Evgeni Nabokov of the Islanders makes a save in against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinalsat Consol Energy Center.

May 3, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Andrew MacDonald moves the puck under pressure from Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Pascal Dupuis during the second period in game two of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center.

The surprising New York Islanders will try to grab their first lead of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals when the series shifts back to Pittsburgh for Thursday's Game 5 at CONSOL Energy Center.

The team leader in ice time and the cerebral centerpiece on the blue line, MacDonald is expected to miss tonight's Game 5 of the first-round series against the Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Center with what is believed to be a left hand/arm injury.

Tavares slammed in his own rebound in front after Brad Boyes fed him following a turnover by Penguins star Evgeni Malkin.

In Smithtown two lanes blocked on Rt-347/Nesconset Hwy EB at Rt-111/Hauppauge Rd.

Arthur Staple of Newsday reports blue liner Andrew MacDonald broke his hand in the third period of tonight's game and may be done for the remainder of the playoffs.

Islanders coach Jack Capuano can sometimes come off as not the hardest dictator on the block, but under the fire of the playoffs, he was not about to roll over.

Jarome Iginla spent parts of 17 seasons as the go-to guy for the Calgary Flames, on and off the ice.

A rivalry is building in the Northeast, the eight-seeded Islanders and Wild aren't going away quietly, but the Canucks are a team in turmoil, falling behind three games to none against San Jose.

Pittsburgh' Chris Kunitz, center, celebrates his goal with Evgeni Malkin, right, while New York's Andrew MacDonald reacts to the game-winning overtime shot in Game 3 of a Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday in Uniondale, N.Y. The Penguins lead the series, 2-1 UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The Pittsburgh Penguins bounced back from their home ... (more)

New York Islanders' Kyle Okposo celebrates his goal with teammates Matt Moulson and Frans Nielsen, rear, during the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Friday, May 3, 2013, in Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin battles with the New York Islanders' Andrew MacDonald during Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Eastern Conference quarterfinal in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins begin their march for the Cup tonight, as hockey analysts around North America have confirmed what all hockey fans have known since the trade deadline: the Pens are the most complete team in hockey.

A pre-series chat with our rival's blog covering topics of interest to Penguin fans from the Islander perspective.