Islanders Gameday News: Metro Boomin’; “Like any other game”

Tonight begins a stretch of 3 games in 4 nights, 2 of which will be against weaker opponents. Tomorrow night, against the Capitals, will be the most difficult game for a few reasons, but if everything breaks right for the Islanders, they could be sitting really pretty by the time the weekend starts.

Leave your FIG picks here for tonight’s game against the Devils.

Islanders News

• What do I mean by sitting pretty? They could grab a hold of the lead in the Metropolitan Division with some help. They sit three points back of the Blue Jackets and Capitals for first. Wins in this back-to-back, including beating the Caps in regulation, as well as a Columbus regulation loss Friday night, puts the Islanders in first. [Newsday]
• That Capitals game will be Barry Trotz’s first return trip to Washington since leaving them for the Islanders, but he’s treating it “like any other game.” [NHL]
• Jordan Eberle talked with Andrew Gross Brian Heyman (s/t to BaltimoreIslanders in the comments) about his and the team’s play, his contract situation, and scoring 200 NHL goals, a milestone he achieved Tuesday night against the Blues. [Newsday]
• 2018 Isles 2nd round pick Bode Wilde spoke with Gotham Sports Network about his development and the draft process. [GSN]
• LATE ADDITION: Just who exactly are the 2018-19 Islanders? Carey takes a stab at answering that. [LHH]
• LATE ADDITION PART II: Travis explains how the goaltending has led the Isles through their surprising first half. [LHH]
• Many ECHLers take summer jobs in the offseason, including Railers forward Woody Hudson, who this summer worked as a mover. He says this job was more interesting than his previous summer job, working at a restaurant. [RailersHC]
• Featured this week in the Alumni Corner: Swedish defenseman Kenny Jonsson, one of my first favorite Islanders. [Islanders]

VIDEO: Trotz addressed the media following Wednesday’s short practice:

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include a regulation loss for the Bruins to the Flyers, despite outshooting them 42-19, and an OT win for the Sabres on the road against the Flames.

• The NHL and NHLPA will not hold the 2020 World Cup of Hockey, which hopefully does not portend a lockout (but it probably does, right?). [NHL]
• Elliotte Friedman’s 31 Thoughts this week examines the trade market and its buyers and sellers as the Trade Deadline nears closer. The Islanders, run by notoriously tight-lipped Lou Lamoriello, were not mentioned once.
• Travis Yost calculates each NHL team’s strength of remaining schedule and what it might mean for playoff races. For what it’s worth, the Islanders have the easiest January in the NHL, a difficult February, and a manageable March. [TSN]