Islanders News: Ho-Sang rewards, Isles roll through back-to-back

The Islanders received outstanding games from Brock Nelson, Josh Ho-Sang, Ryan Pulock and Robin Lehner among others to surge ahead in the second period for a 3-1 win in Arizona. That’s a three-game win streak, and regulation wins on back-to-back nights to start off a high-mileage western road trip. Pretty impressive.

Next stops: Vegas and Dallas.

Islanders Reading

• About last night, where they blitzed the Coyotes in the second on the way to another win: LHH | Newsday | Isles | NHL | AZ Central
• Nelson was an injury concern after taking an Ian Cole knee to the thigh in Colorado, but he felt better as yesterday went on (and he scored a key goal on his patented wrister).
• Production from Jordan Eberle would seem crucial to the Isles success. (Insight into Trotz there: “We’re not just playing the same way no matter what the score is. You don’t want to be a high-event team when you’ve got the lead. You want to make sure the events are happening in a predictable order for you.”) [Newsday]
• Down in Bridgeport, Stephen Gionta received a three(!)-game suspension for a collision that took out both players. [Soundin’ Off]
• The latest Islanders Prospect Report has your share of Blade and Bode. [Isles]

Josh Ho-Sang scored his first goal since his recall, in his third game, from a crazy angle right after he set up Valtteri Filppula with a golden chance. Barry Trotz said Ho-Sang is “playing the right way” and it would be “hard to send him anywhere” if he keeps it up:

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores ...

• How much difference can a new voice like ex-Isles coach Scott Gordon make for the Flyers? That’s why they play the games. [Courier]
• The Flyers won his debut, by the way, also goalie Carter Hart’s debut, over Detroit. [NHL]
• John Tavares is in the Metro area on a Leafs road trip and I’m sure you care he said nice things about the Isles and fans and the Coliseum and whatever. [Newsday]
• Nate Schmidt, back from suspension with the Islanders’ next opponent, is an entertaining quote (and Christmas DJ). [NHL]
• If Patrik Berglund wants out of Buffalo, heh, they should try to find a way. (Because he’s damaged enigmatic goods. The stories I could tell...) [Buffalo News]
• How does Luke Schenn go from “can’t miss” prospect to 30-year-old minor leaguer? (Shout out to the Isles fans I argued with in 2008 who acted like passing on Schenn and Filatov to trade down for Bailey was bad...the difference between him and the three defensemen taken before him was glaring at the time. And yet, years later the same management drafted Griffin Reinhart.) [Athletic]