Islanders News: Defensive autopsy, Sound Tiger rebound, Soderstrom returns

The Islanders got a day off in Western Canada and good for them.

Islanders Reading

• Andrew Gross begins life as an Islanders beatwriter, with some post-Canucks observations. [Newsday]
• Arthur Staple on how the Isles have improved their defensive work with a strategic change, they’re just not seeing results yet (too little, too late), and Thomas Hickey: “Most of the year it’s been more man on man, though we didn’t call it that. It was more like what Jersey does – you get a guy and basically tackle him in the D zone. Now it’s more of a zone, you have an area on the ice you have to take care of and when it goes back to their D, the center plays soft like we used to do – where you’d see Frans (Nielsen) swallow up a wrist shot and get moving out of our end.” [The Athletic]
• Also at The Athletic, Tyler Dellow on Barzal, the Calder race and one of our favorite topics, secondary assists.
• The Isles will try to enjoy the beauty of Western Canada and try not to think about their season slipping away. [Newsday]
• Spizzwolf’s latest video wonder takes on some of Adam Pelech’s worst pinches. [LHH]
• A revived power play has helped the Sound Tigers on their road trip. [CT Post]
• Kieffer Bellows and Nick Pastujov highlight the Isles prospect report. [Isles]
• Dealing with apathy bout the current state of the team. [Altar of Bossy]
• Linus Soderstrom, who rehabbed from his surgery here in New York, stopped 29 of 30 in his return to action back in Sweden. [HV71]
• Mathew Barzal, darling of the Northwest. [MyNorthwest]
• An interview with That Other WHL Seattle alum, Thomas Hickey. [WHL]

Elsewhere

Last night’s scores include lots of OT games, and the Blue Jackets beating the Knights, the Panthers (Nick Bjugstad hat trick alert) picking up a regulation point in an OT loss, the Devils thumping the Canadiens, the Hurricanes losing in regulation to the Wild, the Smurfs falling to the Jets (Patrik Laine hat trick alert).

• So that Brock Boeser injury was kind of bad, but kind of okay: small fracture, out 4-6 weeks. [Sportsnet]
• Laine has that hideous beard thanks to a bet. [NHL, 5 Questions With...]
• Stan Fischler shares some of his fondest memories from the job. [MSG]
• Some dick stole two championship rings Paul Kariya donated to the Hall of Fame. [Deadspin]
• Roberto Luongo is digging life, and comfortable in his own skin. [NBC Sports]
• Proof that you can be both an amazing hockey player and a believer in sorcery. [NHL]
• Charlie McAvoy has a shoulder injury, but the Bruins can afford to let it heal. [Boston Globe]
• Jim Rutherford was the hard driver to find away to make the Brassard trade. [Post-Gazette]
• Devante Smith-Pelly, target of recent racist crap in Chicago, meets Willie O’Ree. [NHL]
• Kevin Stevens is sharing his story, and warning, of addiction. [Post-Gazette]
• Jonathan Cheechoo announces his retirement. [NHL]
• Jason Spezza has had to adjust to a reduced role under Ken Hitchcock. [Ottawa Sun]