Thursday Morning Fly By: Hockey happens tonight!

* So hey it turns out that I'M the idiot and Steve Mason is actually cool and great. Who knew? [BSH]

* Know who else is cool and great? Flyers prospects, that's who! Updates for everyone: [BSH]

* Discussing reasons the Flyers have played better of late, including some tactical changes on the breakout: [CSN Philly]

* Scott Laughton is expected to play tonight against the Islanders, and he'll be on a line with Wayne Simmonds and ... Ryan White. Sure, why not: [Flyers.com]

* Making the argument that Matt Read is the Flyer with the most to prove over these final 30 games of the season: [Philly.com]

* Some more analysis on Nick Schultz and why it's important for the Flyers to be cautious if they're looking to sign him to an extension: [Pattison Avenue]

* The World Cup of Hockey, set to take place in fall 2016, will be broadcast on ... ESPN? [SBNation]

* This week's 30 Thoughts, leading off with some talk of escrow and also of the recently-healthy-scratched Evander Kane in Winnipeg: [Sportsnet]

* Stop me if you've heard this before: The Kings are playing much better than their record would indicate, but they're still going to need to make a late-season push to make the playoffs at all: [CBS Sports]

* And now for a question that's been asked so many times before: should the Coyotes trade Keith Yandle? [SBNation]

* There's a draft lottery simulator. How many times can YOU get the Flyers Connor McDavid? [NHL Lottery Simulator]

* And finally, P.K. Subban was fined for diving yesterday and I'm sure that all of the takes out there on the matter were very calm and measured: [Puck Daddy]