Islanders Gameday News: A completely meaningless Game 82, in a good way
Palms is going for 30 goals tonight. | Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Unlike last year, the Islanders do not need to do anything in their last game of the season. Thanks to the New York Islanders taking care of business on Monday night and the Washington Capitals winning last night, tonight’s game, the last of the regular season, means absolutely nothing—for the first time all season long.
The Islanders clinched a playoff spot and third in the Metro by beating the New Jersey Devils on Monday, but you all knew that already. And you probably know too that the Capitals just had to win in any fashion last night to eliminate the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philadelphia Flyers, which they did to clinch the second wild card.
Had results broken a certain way, tonight’s game would’ve been critical for the Penguins, and they might have gone all out. But because Washington clinched, the Pens are done, and the Isles’ game against them tonight is just one game on the schedule. Since the Isles have nothing to play for except a final tune-up before taking on the Carolina Hurricanes again, they appear to be resting a couple of guys who might be a little banged up and giving a game to guys who have been sitting for a while.
We will have plenty of time to get mad at the Hurricanes and their crybaby coach soon enough. Tonight, let’s just enjoy a hockey game. Maybe Kyle Palmieri will notch his 30th goal of the season.
FIG Picks go here. Reminder that it’s a 7:00 p.m. start, not 7:30 p.m. like most home games.
Islanders News
A preview of tonight’s regular-season finale. It’s Fan Appreciation Night.
Here is tonight’s revamped lineup. Mathew Barzal got hit hard in the Canadiens game last week, and Pierre Engvall appeared to limp a little bit after he got his skate stuck where the boards meet the ice on Monday night, so let them rest. Simon Holmstrom, Oliver Wahlstrom, and Sam Bolduc will get a skate.
#Isles lines at morning skate: (looks like they're going 11F/7D)Cizikas-Horvat-WahlstromHolmstrom-Nelson-PalmieriLee-Pageau-ClutterbuckMartin-MacLeanRomanov-BolducPelech-PulockReilly-AhoBortuzzoSorokinVarlamov*No Barzal, Engvall or Fasching, Dobson still out— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) April 17, 2024
Just two or three weeks ago, the Islanders had somewhere between a five and ten percent chance to make the playoffs. Then they ripped off a 7-0-1 stretch to beat the odds, with some help along the way. [Islanders]
The Islanders’ season-long defense doesn’t portend good things, but many of the numbers include Lane Lambert defense, which has improved significantly—closer to the style they say is more successful here—under Patrick Roy. [Sportsnet]
The Islanders announced they signed Long Island native Marshall Warren, a defenseman who most recently played at the University of Michigan. [B-Isles]
Warren wants to give back to his community. [Michigan Daily]
Our very own Dan Saraceni joined the Nassaumen podcast to discuss the Islanders clinching a playoff spot. [YouTube]
Legendary Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling is retiring. Before he made his legend, he was the Islanders' radio voice. Stan Fischler remembers listening to Sterling call Islanders and New York Raiders WHA games. Brendan Burke paid tribute to Sterling with his memorable “ISLANDER GOAL! ISLANDER GOAL! ISLANDER GOAL!” call on the Isles’ fourth goal on Monday. [NHL]
Elsewhere
Last night’s NHL scores include the Capitals defeating the Flyers (more on the absurdity of it below) and the Red Wings doing their part to defeat the Montreal Canadiens, even though the Caps’ win made it null and void.
So the Flyers needed to win in regulation, and have both the Caps and Wings lose in regulation, in order to keep their hopes alive into today. That meant they needed to pull the goalie late in regulation even in a tie game. But of course, that allowed the Capitals to easily take the lead late in the game. The kicker: A minute in time before Philly pulled the goalie, Detroit tied their game with 3.3 seconds remaining, meaning they were going to get at least a point and eliminate the Flyers. So the Flyers ultimately pulled the goalie for no reason and allowed Washington to clinch. Wacky stuff! [Sportsnet]
The Caps are the second wild card, meaning they will face the New York Rangers in the first round. [NHL]
The Boston Bruins lost their last two games, and the Florida Panthers won last night, meaning the Panthers get the Atlantic Division and the Tampa Bay Lightning, while the Bruins get the Toronto Maple Leafs. Can’t help but wonder if Boston preferred that. Also, Battle of Florida! [NHL] The Leafs claim they’ll be ready. [Sportsnet]
A rundown of what we know at this point about the Arizona Coyotes' impending relocation to Salt Lake City. [ESPN]
The Coyotes brand will remain in Arizona, and it just needs some time away. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and hopefully if/when it comes back, it comes back with good ownership. [THN]
Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is confident that the core he has can lead the franchise to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years next year. Okay man! [NHL]
Cutter Gauthier, who made some ill-advised comments before getting shut out in the NCAA Championship game, will make his NHL debut with the Anaheim Ducks tomorrow. [NHL]
Long-time Bruins play-by-play announcer and general ass Jack Edwards announced that he is retiring once this season ends. [NHL]
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