Islanders News: J-E-T-S loss, loss, loss

The New York Islanders played a good first period last night but emerged from it down 2-1. Things didn’t get better. A “pivotal” “momentum swing” coach’s challenge by Doug Weight reversed a Jets power play goal that shouldn’t have happened anyway because Jason Chimera was tripped right before that, but there was no storybook momentum to be had.

With the loss, the Isles drop out of wild card position. Till next time.

Islanders Reads

• Recapping the damage: Steve shares an evening of angst. [LHH] That’s a hit to the playoff chase. [Newsday] You might call it listless. [Post] Too Little, too soon. [NHL] Don’t call it a comeback...’cause it was well short. [Isles]
• Brock Nelson returned from a one-game upper body absence, Anthony Beauvillier was a scratch, and Jason Chimera digs Joshua Ho-Sang’s confidence. [Newsday]
• Dan and Mike’s latest podcast takes on their early love affair with Ho-Sang, plus a side of Halak. [LHH Islanders Anxiety]
• Arthur Staple of Newsday did a Reddit AMA (that’s Ask Me Anything, for you old folks), providing answers on life on the road, Halak, prospects, and the expansion draft. (On the latter, it’s nice to hear someone say “it depends,” since, well, so much really depends on current unknowns, though there’s an interesting Johnny Boychuk note there.) [Reddit | LHH recap]
• Mumps or no mumps, Mathew Barzal for WHL MVP. [My Northwest]
• Spizzwolf is back with some more true gems in the latest edition of Garth Snow’s inbox. [LHH FanPost]
• Mike Bossy. Bryan Trottier. The Stanley Cup. Made for each other. [NHL]
• Throwback column: In 2002, when Pat LaFontaine penned a column of advice for the recently (again) concussed Eric Lindros. [THN]

Dan was there last night in person, which should’ve been a warning.

Elsewhere

• The Leafs thumped the Lightning, so they take wild card honors for the night. At least it was in regulation. [PPPunnery | Raw Charge]
• The Oilers put up SEVEN on the Bruins. [NHL]
• It’s been eight years since Martin Brodeur passed Patrick Roy for the all-time wins, and even though I kind of loathe Roy I feel like it needs an asterisk or footnote thanks to the shootout “the people demand a winner” era. [NHL]
• And 20 years ago, NYC boy Joey Mullen made history as the first American to score 500 regular season goals. Of course he was a former Blue traded to save money. #myhockeylife [NHL]
• The NWHL playoffs will stream via ABC. [NWHL]
• A minor leaguer suspended for shooting the puck into the opponent’s bench. Don’t do that. On purpose, I mean. [Puck Daddy]
• On the balance of old school intuition and modern analytics: How much control should Dale Tallon have in Florida? [HockeyBuzz]
• The next Winter Classic looks like it will be at CitiField for the Sabres vs. ... the Rangers. [Newsday]
• History time: When the Black Hawks (it was two words back then) battled the Sesame Street bus. [NHL]