Islanders Gameday News: Brock hits 900 (and 78); Jets next
Will he stay or will he go? | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The Islanders have yet another chance to confirm who they are. (They are not that good.) It’s the merciful final Islanders game before the NHL trade deadline.
Thus far, including last night’s second crooked-number loss to the Rangers in a week, they hold a 27-26-7 record, which is not the kind of ledger that screams “Buy! Make a run!” especially with Mat Barzal out long term and so many teams between them and the right to take a first-round loss.
Tonight’s opponent is the Winnipeg Jets, who arrive leading the entire league with 88 points.
First Islanders Goal picks go here.
Islanders News
About last night: 0-4 to the Rangers. Inexcusable. But Brock Nelson played his 900th NHL game, which we celebrate because it’s a nice round number in our base-10 system, even though we are taught to value Stanley Cup playoff games more (he’s got 78 of those), though those don’t count for milestones like this. [LHH | Newsday]
Tough outcome for Brock in 900 (and 78). “I’ve loved playing here — I love playing here. I’m still playing here. Until somebody tells me differently...” [Post | THN]
Gross: The Isles need to scrap this season and weigh the best trade offers. [Newsday]
Previewing tonight: Will they go with 11-7 again after Scott Mayfield returned and both Anthony Duclair and Pierre Engvall were scratched? [Isles]
Patrick Roy scratched Duclair but did not torch him. [Post]
Prospect Report: Marcus Gidlöf gets his first shutout. [Isles]
Meet one of your favorite Islanders from history and also Josh Bailey or Steve Webb. [Isles]
Elsewhere
Monday’s other NHL scores included the Sens losing to the Caps and Spencer Knight stopping 41 shots in a victorious debut with the Blackhawks.
Charlie Lindgren makes good, signs three-year, $9M deal with the Capitals. [NHL]
Players to watch at the deadline include Nelson of course, among many others. [NHL]
Matthew Tkachuk will be out “a while,” i.e. a convenient length to allow them LTIR to acquire Seth Jones and hopefully have Tkachuk back for the playoffs. [NHL]
Jones’ new teammates like him already. [AP]
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