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Islanders News: Split-squad results in split; Barzal and the yout'; Joffrey Loophole

Also, the China Games are beginning as you read this.

By Steven E. Smith

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Eyyy, the new guy's doin' somethin'.
Eyyy, the new guy's doin' somethin'.
Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports

Today, the Islanders will not be playing a game, nor will they be playing two. Last night, they played a split-squad game against the Flyers, with half the training camp roster in Brooklyn and the other half went to Allentown, PA.

On Friday night, they will play the Rangers in Bridgeport, in the Sound Tigers' Webster Bank Arena.

Islanders News

  • In Brooklyn, the Islanders prevailed 3-2. Johnny Boychuk provided the game-winner, while Jordan Eberle recorded his first point as an Islander. Eberle also commented on the commute and ice, saying neither were an issue for him without even being asked. Take that, media. [NHL.com]
  • In Allentown, the Flyers came out on top, 3-2 in OT off the stick of Shayne Gostisbehere; they only reached the extra period because of Anders Lee's goal to tie it up with only 24 seconds remaining. [NHL.com]

Despite the loss, the youth blessed us with this beaut (to be fair, it's a preseason 5-on-3, but it was still pretty):

  • Plenty of other notes to be gleaned from the admittedly pointless split-squad matches, including Michael Dal Colle's late scratch for "tightness" that Doug Weight isn't worried much about. His replacement? Defenseman Devon Toews, playing left wing. [Islanders]
  • John Tavares, Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck, and Thomas Hickey all sat out the games last night (though did take a full skate after practice). Because of this, the lines were all sorts of mixed up. [Newsday]
  • Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier might be competing against each other - and the salary cap, and their ability to be sent to the minors without waivers - for a roster spot, but they don't let that get in the way of their friendship. [Newsday]
  • Tanner Fritz is making a bit of noise at Islanders training camp. [CT Post]

The Great Un-(?)-known

  • For those who care about preseason league action, this information on all of last night's games will surely have you giddy. [NHL.com]
  • Joffrey Lupul releases a statement via social media apologizing for accusing the Maple Leafs of cheating on physicals. That being said, he probably wasn't wrong when he said it - or at least it wouldn't surprise me if Lou Lamoriello was pulling something like this. [SBN]
  • The China Games will be "an event within an event." Local organizers have planned quite the spectacular, it seems. Unrelated: our very own Brendan Burke will handle play-by-play duties for the first Kings-Canucks game there, which you can find on TV at 7:30 a.m. on NBCSN; Game 2 is on Saturday at 3:30 a.m. on NHL Network, so a bit less accessible.
  • Corey Pronman goes through some of the prospects impressing him at training camp. I do not yet have a subscription to The Athletic, so I can't say for sure who else made this list, but the only name I can see before it's cut off is Mathew Barzal, a player Pronman cannot fathom not being in the lineup opening night. So that's good, I think. [The Athletic]
  • Remember Jason Blake? Of course you do. Like Brian Boyle, Blake was diagnosed with cancer in the middle of his career, so he knows what Boyle is about to go through, but he believes he'll get through this. Let's hope he's correct. [Sportsnet]

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