Islanders News: Eight is enough...isn’t it?

Depending on your outlook as an Islanders fan, last night was either fun in a curious way — Christopher Gibson having a good night! Defense showing poise! A decent effort that doesn’t sabotage proper tanking! — or a totally unfun routine addition to a miserable run and season that just needs to die.

Obviously I stayed up for it and was kind of in the former camp. Losses and backbreakers are expected at this point. I don’t expect much future for but feel bad for Gibson, but I enjoyed watching him do what was worth a shutout, and came a couple minutes and a bounce short.

Islanders Reading

• About last night. [LHH] “It keeps on stinging not getting two points,” said the goal scorer. [Isles] “Nothing. I can’t.” said the coach. [Newsday] Also: Islanders | NHL.com | Copper & Blue | Edmonton Journal | Oilers Nation
• Under the spotlight and comparisons to the man he was traded for, Ryan Strome says he can roll with Canadian media scrutiny. [Newsday]
• And why yes, Jordan Eberle is enjoying his time with the Isles. [Isles]
• All kinds of Isles-Oilers connections last night. One overlooked one was the common youth hockey (and summer training) bond between Mathew Barzal and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. [Isles]
• Doug Weight said Gibson earned this start after his excellent work against the Penguins, and Gibson is trying to show he’s recovered from the injury that ruined his 2016-17. [Newsday]
• Injuries have created opportunities and development for Parker Wotherspoon. [CT Post]
• Yale captain Ryan Hitchcock gets an ATO with Bridgeport. [Soundin’ Off]
• Corey Pronman looks at one prospect from each team, with David Quenneville of the Isles in his sights: “Quenneville is still unsigned and could re-enter the draft in a few months. The Islanders have a lot of young defensemen in Bridgeport, and with Sebastian Aho, Mitchell Vande Sompel and Parker Wotherspoon being puck-moving types, I can see why they may feel Quenneville might not have a place. He’s a small defenseman who isn’t a dynamic skater, but he’s so clever with the puck, has nice skills and has a big shot. I’d take that gamble.” [The Athletic]
• Since he has no idea what will really happen, Darren Dreger continues his radio tour of rampant speculation over where John Tavares will sign. [FanRag]
• The NCAA tournament brings back memories for some Worcester Railers. [Worcester Mag]
• Connor McDavid “definitely looked up to” Tavares and stuff. [TSN]
• Anders Lee is a good dude, raising money for pediatric cancer research. [Long Island Report]

Elsewhere

Last night’s scores include all kinds of bad news for the Isles’ playoff chances, including Blue Jackets, Hurricanes and Panthers wins, so losses by the Flyers and Devils kinda don’t soften the blow.

• Meanwhile, John Tortorella suggested some Blue Jackets players are just happy to let the season wind down. [Dispatch]
• Chris Kreider awoke one morning from uneasy dreams to find himself turned into a cockroach, er, to find he didn’t recognize half his team. [Post]
• On the Oilers and a decade of magic beans. [Copper & Blue]
• Speaking of which...are the Oilers really showcasing an injured defenseman on a team-friendly deal?! [Copper & Blue]
• More on the Hurricanes firing/promoting their GM: For want of throughput, Ron Francis was lost. [The Athletic] Now what? [Canes Country] The owner “doesn’t want to make decisions.” [Sportsnet]
• The HockeyPDOcast also talked about the Canes, who again suffer from bad goaltending, and ponder the theory about whether teams with bad goalies play worse out of mistrust. [PDOcast]
• Money alone won’t determine how Oliver Ekman-Larsson handles free agency. [Sportsnet]
• The NHL and NHLPA have a program for getting players to consider and plan for life after hockey, but...eliciting participation is half the battle. [ESPN]
• Part of what makes Patrik Laine lethal is his teammates back the defense off to set him up, and his reach and deception makes goalies think he’s going one place (like glove) when he’s really going blocker. [The Athletic]
• Hilary Knight returns to the NWHL, joining Montreal. [Ice Garden]