Islanders Gameday: Finishing the long road trip in Detroit
One guy is streaking. | Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
If the Islanders want to be taken seriously by anyone, they probably shouldn’t blow this. The Islanders’ long-winding five-game road trip is back in the Eastern time zone but not yet finished until they wrap things up with the Red Wings in Detroit Thursday night.
The Red Wings, in Year 19 of the Yzer-plan, sit in seventh place in the Atlantic with a .444 points percentage. They have a minus-14 goal differential and thus far are as meh at home as they are on the road and in general.
The Islanders meanwhile head into this one 1-1-2 on the road trip, with some promising 5-on-5 moments despite their injuries yet a frustrating continual struggle to score, convert on the power play or kill penalties.
Whatever happens tonight, the prevailing sentiment from one side or the other will be “I can’t believe we didn’t get two points from those guys.”
First Islanders Goal picks go here.
Islanders News
Previewing tonight. [Isles]
In a word, the Isles cannot be content with “moral victories” on this trip. [Post]
Because almost 20 games in, the Isles are yet again stuck in the mushy middle. (Note: That is the current roster’s ceiling, no?) [Athletic]
Talkin’ Isles with Bret Sutter as he prepares to enter the Islanders Hall of Fame. [Isles]
Pierre Engvall is streaking since his return from Bridgeport. Or, at least since the last few games anyway. [Post]
Alex Romanov returned to the lineup and a pairing with Noah Dobson. That left promising Isaiah George to move to a partnership with Ryan Pulock. [THN]
George continues to log lots of minutes and learn from each scenario Patrick Roy puts him in. [Newsday]
Good to see Mike Reilly smiling after his heart surgery, and things apparently going well. [THN]
Elsewhere
Last night’s NHL scores include five games, with the Hurricanes depositing the Flyers easily.
Barry would NEVER...: The Predators were penalized for starting the wrong lineup. [Sportsnet]
The Blues were interested in Jim Montgomery before the Bruins knocked off the Leafs last spring. Now that he’s fired and they are struggling again, would they make a move? [Athletic]
Patrik Laine has skated with the Canadiens for the first time since his injury. [TSN]
Thatcher Demko’s troublesome recovery is “moving in the right direction.” [Sportsnet]
In the other direction, Alex Ovechkin is on IR. [TSN]
The Leafs lost Matthew Knies to a hit to the head. [TSN]
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