• After practice, Point Blank was able to confirm some details for Wednesday’s exhibition game against the New Jersey Devils:

Josh Bailey will play, likely centering Jon Sim and linemate-of-the-future Kyle Okposo, and Jeremy Colliton will center a line with Brandon Sugden and Mitch Fritz.

The Islanders will probably not dress established veterans Brendan Witt and Radek Martinek, meaning ticketholders will witness an open competition for blueline jobs among contenders such as Jack Hillen, Chris Lee and Brett Skinner. Thomas Pock is expected to sit this game out. Expect his debut Friday in New Jersey.

Raves for Streit: Management, coaching staff and even teammates appear giddy over the arrival of UFA defenseman Mark Streit. They believe he will have a major impact on the Islanders’ power play, which for large sections of last season was unimaginative, boring, ineffective and just plain sucky.

Scott Gordon did not make any predictions of success (too early for that), but his respect for the former Canadien was apparent. Gordon also reeled off facts off the top of his head - “Mark played two games for us. I think in those two games we gave up a combined 38 shots and Mark wasn’t on for an even strength goal against.” Gordon’s like a machine. I haven’t talked to a coach this organized since Al from Sudbury. Talking to Gordon is like talking to Islanders radio analyst/savant Chris King.

No F in Power Play: The coach didn’t rule it out, but it’s obvious placing a forward on the point of his power play is far from his first choice. Said Gordon, “I think the teams that do that are teams that feel they don’t have a better option on defense. We have the guys here.” At Providence, Gordon only used two forwards at the point - and one of them was Patrice Bergeron. So there.

Fight Club: Fascinating scene at the end of practice, with Brandon Sugden and Tim Jackman fighting without actually hitting each other. It looked like Sugden was showing Jackman a few measures of self-defense. Soon after, assistant coach Dan Lacroix skated over to lend his experience. Then noted brawlers Jeff Tambellini, Blake Comeau and Frans Nielsen came over to take notes. The heavyweight convention was completed when 6-8 Mitch Fritz joined the club. I’m thinking Tambellini-Gionta tomorrow night.

Tomorrow’s Not a Show: Give Gordon credit for honesty. I asked him if tomorrow’s game being the only one in front of the home fans would affect his roster decision or approach to the game. While showing appropriate respect to the fans, Gordon made it clear his priority was not putting on a show but evaluating talent.

He’s right. As much as it might be fun for the fans to see a front-loaded lineup win big over the Devils, it would be a temporary joy no one would remember a week later. Of course, that doesn’t mean the Islanders can’t win anyway.

Gordon has also changed his approach to injury questions. Instead of the dance he did yesterday, today when asked if there was any update, he quickly said, “No.” When Garth Snow hears about this, he’ll be choked up with pride.

11:15 am

Practice started around 11:00 at Islanders Iceworks. A very spry Mike Sillinger took the ice before practice, flying around the rink like a kid at his first hockey camp. I’m no doctor - although I guess we’ll be making prognosisesesesses all season - but Sillinger stopped, started and spinned like someone who could play for a team at some point in the autumn.

Breaking news: Rick DiPietro is still not practicing with the team. Yet I continue to hear he could play at least one of the last three exhibition games. Those are this Friday, Saturday and Monday.

The more fun immediate news has to do with tomorrow’s lineup when the Islanders host the Devils at the Veterans Memorial. Some pre-practice buzz has a trio of must-sees in the lineup: 2008 first round pick Josh Bailey, plus enforcers Mitch Fritz and Brandon Sugden. Damn. I’m on record as saying pre-season games don’t move me, but I actually might get to the Coliseum on time tomorrow.

No clue at this point about the Devils lineup. From my experience on the PR side, they’ll probably send it over around 6:30 pm Wednesday (just kidding, Mr. Altstadter). I don’t even know if they have anyone interested in a go with Fritz or Sugden.

But when you think about it, good idea to dress both of them. Everyone knows Fritz and Sugden can fight. If Snow and Gordon want a true test of their ability to skate and think at the NHL level, no better way than to throw them out there against the New Jersey Devils.

Dom “My Friend” from Islandermania is here, live blogging away. I probably won’t have any more until after practice, unless someone limps off the ice. For a minute-by-minute account, check out the Dominator on Islandermania.