Islanders News: Capital loss, Barzal hype, Arbour tales

Last night the Islanders outplayed the Capitals by all accounts, but hockey is cruel like that and the Isles aren’t the only team who suffered that familiar fate last night. Not even a regulation point was salvaged.

Without exactly talking about the goaltending, coach Doug Weight said they deserved two points. Goaltender Jaroslav Halak conceded he’d like at least one back while calling others “weird goals.” The opener was a late deflection and the winner was a shot from distance but very well placed off the rush — both excusable but for the context of the others and the rest of the ngiht.

• Anders Lee tied it up two of the three times the Isles erased one-goal Capital leads, but in the end Lars Eller’s late (and second) snipe did them in. [LHH | Isles | Newsday | Japers’ Rink]
• “It’s hard to believe it’s at this point,” said John Tavares on the occasion of his 600th regular season game. No doubt. Don’t think about it, please Johnny, at least not in that way that some of us are. [Newsday]
• Josh Bailey’s point streak (8) continued, the Isles logged two power play goals for the third consecutive game (a first in the Tavares era), and Mathew Barzal reached eight points in his last eight games. [NYI Skinny]
• Five mostly possession and Corsi-related signs that Barzal will be a star, or at least a Calder candidate. [Red Line]
• On Barzal’s tireless old WHL teammate, the undrafted Scott Eansor, who leads Bridgeport and is tied for second in the AHL with seven goals. [BST]
• Sound Tigers injury notes: John Stevens is back, Tanner Fritz is close. [Soundin’ Off]
• And look for some mean ‘staches as the Sound Tigers do Movember for men’s health issues. [BST]
• Some great Al Arbour tales here from Chris Botta and Ray “seagull” Ferarro, on the occasion of what would’ve been Radar’s 85th birthday. [SNY]

Elsewhere

Last night’s scores: Vegas lost its third road game in a row (in Boston), the Smurfs passed the Lightning in OT, the Flyers won in St. Louis, the Canes lost in Colorado (despite 60 shots!), the Pens lost in OT to the Flames, and more.

• Going into last night the Isles were among the league’s hottest teams (though they, Toronto, Tampa, the Blues among this list all lost). [TSN]
• What do you know, Dan Girardi is adjusting to life after the Rangers just fine. [Post]
• Vadim Shipachyov is back in Russia awaiting termination and prepared to repay his signing bonus to be freed from Vegas, but it’s not quite so simple, and the NHLPA has a Mike Comrie precedent to uphold. [Sportsnet]
• Where will the Oilers’ non-McDavid goals come from? [Oilers Nation]
• Nine CHLers to watch rise up draft rankings for 2018 (when the Isles currently hold two first rounders, remember) [Sportsnet]