Islanders Gameday News: They’re carrying their point streak into Anaheim

The Islanders continue their California trip tonight in Anaheim as the Ducks play host. The Islanders’ point streak sits at 17 games after getting to overtime Saturday night against the Sharks. Tonight, of course, will be another late one.

FIG Picks go here. Puck drop is at 10:00 p.m. ET, so a little earlier than two nights ago.

Islanders News

Recaps from Saturday’s sharkbite: LHH | Islanders | Newsday | NHL GC | NHL Recap | NYI Skinny

Barry Trotz thought they played well and that’s hockey sometimes:

More Barry, because why not?:

• How about a preview of tonight’s game?
• The Islanders are finally getting more power plays, but it hasn’t translated to an increase in production for Anders Lee. [Newsday]
• But, he’s not too worried about it. He’s had these streaks before. [The Athletic]
• His linemate, Mathew Barzal, is a true student of the game. He’s always reviewing game video. [Newsday]
• Trotz gave rookie Otto Koivula some nice praise and has kept him in the lineup since last Saturday. He has Trotz’s trust in the defensive zone. [Newsday]
• The Islanders and Stars rode point streaks into Saturday night’s games and extended them. [NHL]
• Josh Bailey, Cal Clutterbuck, and Derick Brassard all crossed the 800-game plateau in the early part of this season and have reflections on their careers. [Islanders]
• The Sound Tigers beat the Hershey Bears on Saturday night in Bridgeport behind Mason Jobst’s first professional goal. [Soundin’ Off pregame | Sound Tigers recap]
• And, to finish off the three-in-three, Jared Coreau conceded only one goal as the Sound Tigers topped the Springfield Thunderbirds on Sunday afternoon at home. [Soundin’ Off pregame | Sound Tigers recap]
• An excellent feature on Bruce Bennett, the director of hockey photography for Getty and a man who got his start on Long Island at the Coliseum. [Sportsnet]

The Islanders hosted a record-breaking 13th Annual Mite Jamboree on Sunday afternoon. 32 teams played this year, 15 more than last year. [Islanders]

Elsewhere

Saturday night featured 14 NHL games, including a wild comeback for the Rangers, who trailed the Canadiens 4-0 and won 6-5, and tonight’s opponent, the Ducks, getting beat up on the road against the Lightning—which means the Ducks had to travel further for tonight’s game than the Islanders did from their most recent destinations, respectively.

And yesterday, there were only a few games, including the Metro Division foe Hurricanes shutting out the Red Wings and Connor McDavid extending his point streak to 11 games and scoring the only shootout goal as the Oilers beat the Coyotes in the skills competition.

• VIDEO: Ugly scene on Saturday as Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo cross-checked Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson into the Blues net and then, while Arvidsson is down on the ice, violently drove himself cross-check-style into Arvidsson, for... being kind of near his goalie, I guess? The NHL also thought it unjustifiable and gave Bortuzzo four games. [NHL]
• And, as a result of the cross-check, Arvidsson will miss four-to-six weeks. [On the Forecheck]
• The ESPN analysts buy-or-sell Alex Ovechkin hitting 50 goals this season, the Blackhawks’ playoff chances, and whether the Oilers’ duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will outscore the Bruins’ duo of David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. [ESPN]
• Now that they’ve traded teams, Maple Leafs defenseman Tyson Barrie and Avalanche center Nazem Kadri have also traded homes: they’re renting each other’s houses in Toronto and Denver, respectively. [NHL]