Islanders Gameday News: Bortuzzo in as powerhouse Kings arrive
Bortuzzo hurt Pelech during this game. But now he’ll wear the other jersey. | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The Islanders lost Ryan Pulock to injury and traded for Robert Bortuzzo. The New York Islanders continue their season-long homestand tonight against the Los Angeles Kings, who might be the best team in the NHL so far this season.
They’re definitely the best road team: On Thursday, they set the record for the longest win streak on the road to start a season, now 11-0-0. And the Islanders are now down three starting defensemen, including another stalwart. It necessitated an immediate trade.
FIG Picks go here.
Islanders News
Ryan Pulock took a shot off his foot on Thursday and is now on IR. Down a righty, they traded a seventh-rounder to the St. Louis Blues for Robert Bortuzzo. Dom has some familiarity with the ten-year Blue, a member of the 2019 Stanley Cup-winning team. [LHH | Isles: Bortuzzo Trade | Isles: Pulock to IR | NHL: Bortuzzo Trade | Newsday]
A preview of tonight’s game. It’s a third jersey night with Ilya Sorokin in net, and it looks like it will be Bortuzzo’s debut alongside birthday boy Sam Bolduc. That defense is something.
#Isles morning skateLee-Horvat-BarzalEngvall-Nelson-PalmieriHolmstrom-Pageau-GauthierFasching-Cizikas-Clutterbuck(extras: Martin, Wahlstrom)Romanov-DobsonBolduc-BortuzzoReilly-Mayfield(extra: Hutton)SorokinVarlamov— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 9, 2023
Bortuzzo will wear his normal number, 41. [Islanders] After dressing for only four games this season, he is happy to have a chance to play again. [Twitter]
The defense may be suffering, but at least they can score now. Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat have been a revelation, working exactly as we hoped. [THN]
If anything, their chemistry just keeps getting better. It’s been amazing to watch. [NY Post]
This development has contributed to a lot of confusion about who the Islanders actually are. Defense used to be their hallmark, and they got just enough offense; now, it’s the opposite, when better defense could have helped prevent blown leads and climb the standings. [Newsday]
The latest episode of Weird Islanders: The Podcast! is out now, and it’s Kevin Poulin. He looked like the next big thing until he caught his skate in a rut. [LHH]
Stan Fischler travels back to 1984, when the Islanders Dynasty officially ended and when Pat LaFontaine represented the future. [THN]
Elsewhere
Last night’s NHL scores include the Penguins losing another game in regulation, this one to the Panthers.
It’s not a straightforward decision for the Calgary Flames to trade Chris Tanev. [Sportsnet]
Boone Jenner suffered a fractured jaw and will be out six weeks. [Sportsnet]
If the NHL goes to the Olympics in 2026, Team USA might be the favorite. [E$PN+]
More and more and more about Patrick Kane to the Detroit Red Wings. [ESPN]
...
Want the trending hockey news in your inbox daily?.
Just add your email, and we'll start sending you the most important hockey news of the day.
