Islanders News: Two’s a couple, three’s company

1 week ago  /  Lighthouse Hockey  /  Read Time: 58 seconds

Wild sequences. | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images


It was going to be tough to beat the Kings for a third straight win, and it sure was. It appears to me that the New York Islanders have not been going quite as hard in the first period over the last few games as they had through the first 20-25 games this season. I almost wonder if the Islanders, consciously or subconsciously, have been conserving energy earlier in order to have more later in the game when they typically blow their leads.
If that’s the strategy, it didn’t work against a strong and streaking Los Angeles Kings team that got to every loose puck throughout the entire contest. That was always going to be a tough game, especially given how hot the Kings have been, but the Islanders were outclassed for large stretches of it. They did rebound a bit as the game went on, though.
Now, they must take all four points from the Chicago Blackhawks in this home-and-home-but-not-really-because-Chicago-plays-Saturday-in-Jersey. Ideally, the Isles win both in regulation both for tiebreaker purposes and confidence purposes, but four points are critical no matter how they get them—if the goal is to make the playoffs, of course.
Islanders News
About last night:

You can’t say last night’s result wasn’t a reasonable expectation. [LHH]
The slow start sank them. [THN] The best thing that happened in the first period was one Alex crushing another, with Romanov crushing Laferriere reminiscent of when he flattened Miles Wood against the Devils a couple of years ago. [THN]



Romanov LEVELS Laferriere pic.twitter.com/YOmgjVd38q— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) December 11, 2024





Anders Lee continues his renaissance, Ilya Sorokin has returned to form, and the Islanders did come close to tying it in the third, hitting two posts and watching a puck bounce off Darcy Kuemper’s skate but away from the net. [Islanders]
Close but no cigar. It’s a shame, too, because Sorokin was brilliant and the main reason the Islanders even had a chance late, and the Islanders would’ve passed the Rangers in standings points (though points percentage clearly wouldn’t say the same). [Newsday]
It was the second straight game they struggled at five-on-five, the one area of their game you could generally count on. [Post]
Isaiah George has had some rookie mistakes, but last night was his first big struggle, and he did not play the final 30-plus minutes of the game. It took him 18 games for this to happen, though, and Patrick Roy recognized that, thinks he’ll learn from it, and wants him to bounce back. [Post | THN]
“Anders Lee scored his 273rd goal, passing John Tavares for 8th place on the Isles’ all-time list.” [NYI Skinny]

More stuff:

He’s still in a non-contact jersey, but for the first time in almost two months, Anthony Duclair skated with his teammates yesterday at morning skate. Scott Mayfield was a game-time decision and ultimately did not play due to illness. [Isles DTD]
Oliver Wahlstrom is trying to fulfill his offensive potential; you don’t see it much, but goals like the one he scored against the Hurricanes remind you of the raw skill he still has. [Newsday] He believes he’s turning a corner [Post], although his failed clear and bad misplay led directly to the second Kings’ goal last night; he got deked out of his shorts by Kevin Fiala.
Quinn Finley is on fire, tied for the NCAA lead in goals and surpassing his career highs in goals and points with plenty of time remaining in the season. [Prospect Report]

Elsewhere
Last night’s NHL scores include the Avalanche throttling the Penguins with help from a Mikko Rantanen hat trick—they're calling it the first avalanche at the South Pole, folks, don’t Google it—and the Jets doing even worse to the Bruins. Also, the Devils lost to the Leafs in OT, and the Flyers beat the Jackets.


Board of Governors meeting updates from the Commissioner: Olympics stuff; the cap is going up at least $4.2 million next year; and the current CBA expires in September 2026, but they hope the next one to be finalized this year, possibly by the Stanley Cup Final.
Kevin Shattenkirk announced his retirement yesterday after 14 seasons in the NHL, playing for seven teams, including the Rangers, and winning a Cup with the 2020 Lightning. Bon voyage. [NHL]

NHL Buzz includes the Duclair update, plus JT Miller returning to the ice and David Pastrnak being able to play last night.
Thatcher Demko made his long-awaited return to the Canucks net, but they lost in OT to the Blues. [Sportsnet]
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