Islanders News: It’s a state of emergency in New York

2 years ago  /  Lighthouse Hockey

I’m gonna put this shot in the Wolverine Remembers Picture meme. | Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images


What’s the emergency, you ask? Not Kenan, no; instead, it’s the Islanders’ record against playoff teams. Well, I asked the New York Islanders to play against a playoff team how they did against the Philadelphia Flyers. Against the Los Angeles Kings, they did not. But at least they did not get shut out.
However, they have another chance to redeem themselves Sunday night against the Minnesota Wild.
[Leave your First Islanders Goal picks for Sunday vs. the Wild here.]
They were supposed to head into that game against the Wild a little tired on the second half of a back-to-back. Thanks to Winter Storm Kenan, though, their game against the Seattle Kraken this afternoon has been postponed until Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.


Tickets and prepaid event parking for tomorrow's game will be valid for Wednesday’s game against the Kraken.— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 28, 2022



Our reunion with Jordan Eberle will, yet again, have to wait a little longer. You may remember that this afternoon’s now-postponed game was supposed to be our second game against Eberle and the Kraken; the original schedule had the Islanders make their first-ever trip to Seattle on January 4, but covid pushed that game until late February.
So that’s two January games against the NHL’s newest franchise now both moved to February. 2021–22! What a year.
Islanders News
About Thursday night:

It was another loss to a playoff team, which, per Jenny, puts them at 2-13-2 against teams in playoff position. Not good. [LHH]
The Islanders’ comeback attempt simply fell short. That’ll happen when you wait until the final four minutes to try to generate offense. [3 Takeaways]
The Kings clogged the zone well, but the Islanders need to break through it to be successful. Also, Semyon Varlamov gave up a couple of howlers, including one, with about five seconds left in the second period, from the half-boards that was reminiscent of the Game 3-winning overtime goal he conceded to Brad Marchand. [Newsday]
Quinton Byfield, the 2020 no. 2 overall pick, scored his first NHL goal in the Kings’ win. He had the other one of Varly’s woofs. [NHL]

Some other stuff:

Eberle has been anticipating his first game against the Islanders, so the waiting is killing him. It’s making me sad that he didn’t get to enjoy the new arena with his teammates after he helped close the Coliseum in style. [Newsday]
Safe to say that the Isles’ offense could use his possession game, too. Since he left, the Islanders’ already-weak offense has plummeted. There are a lot of reasons for that, but Eberle helped keep possession for him and Mathew Barzal; without Eberle, Barzal’s underlying numbers have dipped a bit. [The Athletic]
On Thursday morning, Ryan Pulock joined his teammates for morning skate and stayed on for more work with the extras. [Isles DTD]
NBC asks the question: Should the Islanders really push for the playoffs or sell off assets? [NBC]
View Clark Gillies’ career and life through some old and new photos. He was always smiling. [NY Post]
Last weekend, the B-Isles took two of three games in a dreaded three-in-three. They’ll visit the Hershey Bears tonight, weather permitting. [Islanders]
Stan Fischler regales us with the tale of the “remarkably underrated” Stefan Persson. [Maven’s Memories]

Elsewhere
Thursday’s and Friday’s NHL scores. Each night, the Rangers dropped regulation games to expansion cousins: Thursday night on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets and last night at home against the Wild, spoiling Henrik Lundqvist Banner Night. Also last night, the Capitals stomped on Dallas.
You may not like it, but when the time comes, we will have an obligation to make Josh Bailey Night top Henrik Lundqvist Night.


Josh Bailey Night will top this #Isles https://t.co/fdSTORXN2z— (@IslesFix) January 28, 2022




Another exciting moment from Thursday night: In the Anaheim Ducks’ win over the Montreal Canadiens, Trevor Zegras pulled off “The Michigan.” [NY Post]
The Arizona Coyotes, about to be evicted from Gila River Arena, may be close to a deal with Arizona State University to use the latter’s new multi-purpose venue for the next few seasons. One problem: The new venue holds a maximum of 5,000 seats, and that might go down to 3,200. [PHNX]
The NHL completed its investigation into Evander Kane's allegedly shirking covid guidelines and decided not to punish him. Immediately thereafter, he signed with the Edmonton Oilers. [NHL]
The Oilers are spiraling out of control and appear to be at each other’s throats. In other words, the perfect situation for Locker Room Cancer (this time for real, though) Evander Kane. [Sportsnet]
Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin, and Bryan Rust would be UFAs this summer if they don’t re-up with the Penguins. Pittsburgh swears that their new deals are a “top priority,” though. [NHL]
The B.C. Crown has formally charged with sexual assault former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen. [TSN]
Thomas Chabot continues to excel, but the Ottawa Senators have a lot of work to do to be really competitive. [TSN]
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