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The Islanders reversed their season script last night, outshooting and outplaying an opponent while losing in regulation. (Hockey gods, they do that.) That ends a seven-game point streak, but the good news is they continued an upward trend in their overall play. (Also good news: Josh Bailey continued a beastly season, with two excellent goals; damn those JT coattail fumes last a looooong time.)
On to southern Florida, where they owe the Panthers some revenge on Saturday night.
Islanders News
- About last night: A late faceoff, all three forwards ran, the weak clearance bounced wrong, the Lightning converted the 3-on-2 that resulted, the Isles lost. [LHH | Newsday | Isles]
- The power play came up short — including a 5-on-3 to begin the second, though they later tied the game at 5v5 — and it’s a thing Barry Trotz will re-evaluate after 20 GP. [Newsday]
- Dan and Mike covered the gamut in the latest Islanders Anxiety podcast: Josh Bailey’s humility, the Isles coaching factory, silly media crap from up north. [LHH]
- The Dapper Valtteri Filppula faced some old mates in Tampa. Playing with four different organizations? It’s cool, “you get to meet a lot of different people.” [Newsday]
- Are the Islanders going to break ground on Belmont even earlier than imagined or did a random Lou quote get taken a wee bit out of context? [Islanders Insight]
- The Isles significant others contribute to a local food pantry. [Isles]
- The Sound Tigers Teddy Bear Toss is set for Nov. 23. [Sound Tigers]
Feeling in #Isles room was frustration over a missed opportunity. Bad 10 minutes in 2nd period, late Lightning goal and 0 for 5 PP.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) November 9, 2018
"We know we can play with anyone," Mathew Barzal said. "We know we can beat anyone. It's just unfortunate we didn't get any points tonight."
Barry Trotz: 59 pretty good minutes...that’s why the details are so important:
"You put in 59 pretty good minutes. You think you at least get a point, maybe two and you throw it away. That’s why the details are so important.”
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 9, 2018
Trotz post-game interview: pic.twitter.com/3JNOUejibB
Elsewhere
Last night’s NHL scores include the Isles’ next opponent, the Panthers, dispatching the Oilers.
- The Oilers had passengers, by the way. [Sportsnet]
- What’s the right way to “send a message” in today’s NHL? And is it even possible? Several players weigh in, including Cal Clutterbuck, Scott Mayfield and Clark Gillies. (tldr: You can’t be stupid like before.) [Athletic]
- Looking back: Those of a certain age may not remember Kieffer Bellows’ father Brian, who was a star with the North Stars (who were Stars before the Stars became Stars), and won a Cup in Montreal after a shock trade. [THW]
- John Tortorella discusses the innate desire that made a Hall of Fame career for Martin St. Louis. [NHL]
- INSIDER TRADING: Rumors ‘n stuff heating up. The Hurricanes, who traded Jeff Skinner over the summer, are in the market for a scoring forward. Weird. [TSN]
Meanwhile, Pierre
I was reminiscing on Pierre Turgeon last night, going down a YouTube wormhole and...while Isles fans who saw him in his prime will remember him as a magician behind the net — and I was fortunate enough to advertise and enjoy the same when he went to St. Louis — I had no idea that his final, otherwise unremarkable season with the Avalanche featured so many trademark goals from behind the net. Enjoy: