Islanders Gameday News [+ Game #39 thread]: Eberle and Jiggs return
Everybody wants to hug Ebs. | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Saying hello to some old friends, and welcome to Team #32. The Islanders will try to make it two in a row in their first-ever meeting with the Seattle Kraken, tonight in the fancy arena at Belmont Park. These two teams have the newest and coolest buildings in the league (and created by the same group), I’m told.
No morning skate, but it’s assumed Semyon Varlamov will get the nod after Ilya Sorokin played last night.
Legendary Isles play-by-play man Jiggs McDonald will be back in the booth for the call, which is always a treat.
Leave your First Islanders Goal picks here.
Islanders News
Recapping the comfortable win over the Senators:
The young forwards get it done. [LHH]
Great to see Ryan Pulock back. [Newsday]
“It was a little different” seeing the full lineup intact. [Post]
Three Takeaways: Pulock’s return, Sorokin sharp, four-goal burst. [Isles]
Isles overcame another bad start. [NHL]
Meanwhile:
It's the Legendary Jiggs back on the call tonight for the #Isles. Here's a heartwarming moment between himself and @brendanmburke (this was somehow 5 years ago?!?) pic.twitter.com/IuUIgvQ270— Isles on MSG+ (@IslesMSGN) February 2, 2022
Notes for tonight’s game, which Jiggs will call on MSG. [Isles]
Finally, Jordan Eberle gets to see his old mates. “That’s a special group to me.” [Newsday | Post]
Expansion fanbase look at the Islanders, including an absolutely delightful highlight reel of Adam Pelech ruining forwards’ dreams again and again. [Davey Jones Locker Room]
Jakub Skarek gets the AHL Goalie of the Month nod. [BP Isles]
The response to this Islanders fan’s plea for help locating a kidney donor has been “overwhelming.” [Newsday]
(Yester)day in Isles History: Denis Potvin’s #5 to the rafters. [Isles]
Bridgeport played this morning and nabbed a 4-1 win over the Phantoms:
great passing ➡️ great goal https://t.co/SZ4jmBaD9m pic.twitter.com/UZRbiQrra7— Bridgeport Islanders (@AHLIslanders) February 2, 2022
Elsewhere
Last night’s other NHL scores included the Kraken losing in Boston, the Rangers knocking off the Panthers, and the Penguins and Capitals playing a three-point game.
Mailbag: How do the buy-first, ask-questions-later Knights fit Jack Eichel’s cap hit? [NHL]
A strange and disappointing first half for last night’s victims. [Sportsnet]
NHL players are pretty excited to not do nasal swabs every day. [TSN]
Players and team execs around the league express anonymous frustration with the lost revenue that will come as the Coyotes have worked themselves into considering a 5,000 seat temporary home. [Athletic]
Not much earthshaking in 32 Thoughts, though it does include a bit about two upcoming meetings that are important to the Coyotes’ arena dreams. [Sportsnet]
One thing that never changes with the Coyotes, where so many NHL legends have retired: They will happily eat your cap hits at the deadline. [TSN]
Rich guy has backyard rink, lives out dream with other rich guys. [Athletic]
Auston Matthews, brave and groundbreaking pioneer in individual athlete endorsement of gambling sites. [Sportsnet]
The Oilers expect to have Mike Smith back after the All-Star break, and that should surely fix everything. [TSN]
...
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.
