Islanders News: 6-pack in home opener

The Islanders scored six goals last night, so we’ll forgive them for not helping get John Tavares a hat trick. They’ll be back at it tomorrow afternoon when the Blues visit.

Islanders Reads

• About last night: We reacted the way we do. [LHH] The Isles felt they held command, were faster. [Newsday] It was a different game. [Post]
• Three takeaways from the win: Goals, Tavares/Eberle, and some work to do on that power play. [Isles]
• Tavares is giving his all. “We like our hockey club and we believe in ourselves.” [Newsday, Herrmann column]
• And Kyle Okposo checks in with him to make sure the contract status isn’t getting to Tavares. (It’s not.) [Newsday]
• Jordan Eberle appreciated the home crowd’s energy and Nick Leddy’s nickname is... Tarzan? [NY Post]
• But you know, a lot of those fans want the team back in Nassau. [Newsday]
• Kyle Okposo and Matt Moulson still have a lot of love and respect for their old time. [Buffalo News]
• The Sound Tigers fell to the Devils, 2-1. [CT Post]
• It’s fine, the ECHL Railers are saving their goods for the regular season. [Railers HC]
• Reviewing “Ice Wars,” a Gil Martin book about the Islanders-Rangers rivalry. [THW]
• Travis Hamonic and his wife have taken their awesome charitable program to Calgary, helping kids who have lost a parent at an early age. [Calgary Herald]
• Prospect David Quenneville notches three assists in a WHL win. [Medicine Hat]

Jagr Party

The Traveling Jagrs were being interviewed during intermission so The Real Jaromir Jagr (“new guy!”) crashed the interview and had a great time. [SB Nation]

Elsewhere

• Last night’s NHL scores: The Hitchcock Defense is not yet fully operational in Dallas, Vegas won again, the Leafs put up eight on the Rangers, Frans scored the shootout winner for the Wings, Ovechkin scored four, and an Australian scored one.
• Here’s that Australian, the first in NHL history. [SB Nation]
• The amazing story of the rise and fall and rise of Derek Sanderson, ‘70s party boy and highest-paid athlete, at one time. [Sportsnet]
• Brooksie always rips owners/teams for holding anything over the players, but now he’s pissed at the owners/teams/GMs who blew up the concept of bridge contract and gave guys like Eichel huge deals instead. [Post]
• On that note, the Panthers signed defenseman Michael Matheson to an 8-year deal. [TSN]
• They’re already 2-0 now, but their first win was an emotional night for the Golden Knights, representing Vegas at a suddenly traumatic time. [Golden Knights]