Islanders News: Flyers fire Tortorella in time to help the Isles
A strictly business trip to Florida. | Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images
The Isles get a boost from an old friend behind Philly’s bench. The Islanders are idle for one more day but last night’s relevant results were in their favor for pursuit of the second wild card spot, with both Montreal (one point ahead) and Detroit (two points behind) falling in regulation — though the Wings lost to Ottawa, who holds the first spot, at least it was only a two-point game.
The Isles’ dwelling on the loss to the Canucks focused on lack of “details,” while our reporters turned the focus to the infinitely disappointing power play.
Islanders News
That power play, it stinks, and it’s holding them back. [Newsday]
Three Takeaways: Well, I mean, the third line played well! [Isles]
Andrew Gross on the Isles missing the opportunity on that 1-1-2 homestand. [Island Ice podcast]
The Skinny: “The Isles went 0-2 on the power play and are 2-27 over the last nine games; the Isles have been outscored 21-10 on the power play over the last 40 games.” [Isles]
Cole Eiserman continues to pile up goals. Damn, we need a true sniper real bad. [THN]
Elsewhere
Yesterday’s scores included the Canadiens losing in regulation to the Flyers, who finally broke their winless streak with a new coach bounce.
The big news yesterday was the firing of John Tortorella by the Philadelphia Tailspins, replaced in the interim by former Islanders interim and general good guy Brad Shaw, who led them to a refreshing win. “I really hope that this is the bottom,” Danny Briere said. “This is rock bottom for us today, and this is the turnaround.” Some of us hope not. [NHL]
Five Flyers who are surely happy Torts is gone. [Broad Street Hockey]
They need a patient, teaching coach for their next hire. [Sportsnet]
The Lightning paid tribute to Mikhail Sergachev in his return to Tampa and then promptly destroyed his new team, 8-0. [NHL]
Sidney Crosby continued his points streak and passed Gretzky’s mark for point-per-game seasons as his team lost 7-3 to the Sabres. [NHL]
Players have mixed feelings about empty net goals (Alex Ovechkin has a ton of them, as did Gretzky), but ultimately they help seal the win, so feast away. [Athletic]
Several of his former coaches (including Barry Trotz) recall him being very coachable. [Athletic]
Oh sweetheart, that’s not gonna help that team. [NHL]
Max Pacioretty was magically hurt when the Leafs needed cap space and will magically be healthy for the playoffs when cap restrictions disappear. [Sportsnet]
The Capitals lost to the Wild but stayed out to salute Islanders playoff hero Marc-Andre Fleury as he nears retirement. [NHL]
Some top non-Isles prospects to watch in the NCAA playoffs. [Sportsnet]
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