Islanders News: Sweeping the Sens, honoring Torrey; path to 800

It wasn’t pretty nor comfortable, and there were crazy line combos incorporating Ross Johnston and Tom Kuhnhackl and the brigade, but the Islanders managed to get four points and at least one regulation win from their week with the 31st-place Senators.

It’s one of those modern-NHL-accounting sweeps, where the Isles were 2-0 yet the Sens were 0-1-1.

Back into (a tie for) first place, for now.

Islanders Reading

• About last night: They got the bounces when they needed them. [LHH] | Trotz: “We haven’t been as sharp. That happens. It’s how you respond.” [Newsday | NHL | Post | Isles] | That’s two Isles goalies with at least 19 wins, the first time since Smith and Hrudey in 1985-86. [NYI Skinny]
• Staple on Trotz’s 800 (now 801) wins: Players, other coaches react, with ample love for Al Arbour too. [Athletic]
• Following the previous day’s post here by Carey about how Dal Colle and Ho-Sang can help, here’s Dimitri Filipovic on how to maximize the Isles’ chances. [ESPN]
• Injury updates on Lehner [Newsday] and a note on Ladd (scratched, “not there yet” for the PK). [Post]
• Saturday the Islanders will again honor Bill Torrey, “the Architect” who died last year. Stan Fischler’s latest Maven’s Memories considers his impact. [Isles]
• The Sound Tigers are in Rochester tonight, Toronto on Sunday. [CT Post]
• Your NHL power rankings include the Islanders at #9. [NHL]
• The Islanders shouldn’t be this good, says a 538 piece that kind of gets into things we’ve covered all season but doesn’t really cover new or nuanced ground. [538]
• One-time Islander (long, long ago) Mattias Weinhandl is now a “business angel” after his KHL career. [KHL]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include the Penguins shutting out the Blue Jackets, adding to the anxiety in Columbus after they went all in at the deadline. (Oh yeah, they are carrying three goalies and decided to healthy scratch Sergei Bobrovsky.) The Bruins also enjoyed a last minute comeback regulation win over the Panthers to extend their points streak. Alexander Radulov scored a hat trick after being scratched the previous game for being late.

• David Backes has had some pretty jarring concussions in his career, but now for some reason as his skills and speed decline he’s decided to become the Bruins’ designated enforcer. That’s maybe a really risky bad idea? [THN]
• Why are the Hurricanes finally looking like a playoff team? They’ve long had the better share of overall shots, but this year they’re finally getting good goaltending and they’re near the top of the league in high-danger chances. [Sportsnet]
• Jordan Binnington didn’t make his season debut until Dec. 16, but now he’s a Calder candidate. [TSN]
• The Sharks were outplayed by the Canadiens but had the benefit of facing Antti Niemi. Who has not been good. [Sportsnet]