Islanders News: Trotz liked the way his team played yesterday

Only one game left until the All-Star break, and boy does everyone need it. They got a point out of yesterday’s game against the Hurricanes, and if they could score goals more consistently, the Islanders probably could have won that game. They played well enough to win.

It was a good response after their last two meltdowns that left them with no points, but they really need two points against the Rangers going into the break tomorrow night.

Islanders News

Recaps from Carolina: LHH | Islanders | Newsday | NHL | NYI Skinny

Barry Trotz liked the team’s effort yesterday and said he’ll take that any night:

• Trotz isn’t a fan of when some of his players start focusing on the individual rather than the team. He didn’t mention Devon Toews by name, but he wasn’t a fan of mocking Evgeny Kuznetsov. Toews, for his part, was embarrassed by the incident. [Newsday] Man, just think: if they went on to shut down the Capitals in the third period, it would have gone down as a legendary chirp.
• VIDEO: Meet the folks behind the Isles Meetup in Carolina, the first of many such nationwide meetups. Always cool to see how many Islanders fans are around the country. There was an audible “Let’s Go Islanders” chant last night, too, and I thought I heard the Josh Bailey song. [Islanders]
• Scott Wheeler is going through every team’s prospect pool day-by-day in reverse order of strength, and the Islanders come in at no. 24. Too many boom-or-bust type players and lower likelihood of elite talent. Oliver Wahlstrom is clearly the top prospect, and even he doesn’t seem like a sure-thing top-line guy. But there’s depth here. Enough depth to use some darts in an NHL depth trade, for sure. Ahem, Lou? [The Athletic]

Elsewhere

Yesterday’s NHL scores include the Bruins blowing a three-goal lead and losing for the second time in a week. Last week it was to the Flyers and they lost in the shootout; yesterday, it was to the Penguins and they lost in regulation. Not just us! Not just us! Also, for a little taste of their own medicine, the Rangers lost in the last 30 seconds of regulation on Oliver Bjorkstrand’s second goal of the game to give the Blue Jackets the regulation win. It isn’t good for us in the playoff race but is really funny otherwise.

• The Blackhawks beat the Jets yesterday, as well, and Patrick Kane recorded his 1,000th NHL point, becoming the youngest American ever to reach the plateau at age 31. [NHL]
• Gerard Gallant is “disappointed and surprised” about his dismissal from the Golden Knights. I wager he’ll end up with the Red Wings—he played the bulk of his career with them and with Steve Yzerman, who just so happens to be Detroit’s GM. [Sportsnet]
• The Athletic surveyed almost 400 current NHLers about who they feel is the best player, the best and worst referee, the most underrated, and who to have a beer with—if you’d guess Alex Ovechkin for the last one, you’d be correct.
• The fans have voted and the Game of the Decade is Game 7 of the 2013 First Round, where the Maple Leafs led 4-1 in the third period. The Bruins tied it in regulation, including two goals in the final minute, and won it in overtime. [NHL]