Islanders News: TV schedule, Dobson and depth

The NHL announced the TV schedule for the opening qualifying round games. In New York MSG+ will have Games 1-3 vs. the Panthers, but nationally those will be on NBC Sports (U.S.) and Game 1 is on Sportsnet 1 & TVA (Canada). Here’s the first two days of NHL qualifying games. NBC Sports will also carry the exhibition game vs. the Smurfs.

Islanders News

• The Islanders are excited about their depth and health (knock on wood) [Isles]
• Pretty much everyone who’s dealt with Ilya Sorokin speaks highly of him. [Newsday] That includes his friend and future rival in the Rangers’ crease. [Newsday]
• NEW! Arthur Staple reaches out to Sorokin teammates and rivals to get their scouting reports on him. Featuring Ilya Kovalchuk, Max Talbot, Nikolai Kulemin and Kirill Petrov. There’s a name you haven’t heard in a while... [The Athletic]

“He’s the top goalie — the Islanders are getting one of the best,” Petrov said via text through a Russian friend. He’s about to begin his second year with Ak-Bars Kazan, where he’ll be teammates with Dawes. “With the (Barry) Trotz system, the way the team plays defense, it will help him succeed the same way he did at CSKA. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to jinx him, but he will help the Islanders.”

• Noah Dobson stayed in New York during the pandemic pause to work on his strength, and you can partly thank Dennis Seidenberg for that. [Isles]
• As much as he enjoyed time in the kitchen and with family, Anthony Beauvillier is psyched to be back with his teammates. [Isles]
• Podcasts: Andrew Gross [Island Ice] | Arthur Staple with Shannon Hogan [No Sleep Till Belmont]
• It’s possible Sorokin heads straight to Toronto to satisfy quarantine and bubble needs. That and other camp notes. [Athletic]
• Joseph Nizza is your Community Star of the Week and one impressive ninth-grader, in memory of his mother. [Isles]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include...not yet, grasshopper. But soon.

• Here are the Hart finalists for MVP. [NHL]
• A coach, an executive and a scout make their play-in picks (and are unanimous on the Isles’ chances). [Athletic]
• After more injuries interrupted his season, Brock Boeser was “on a mission” to come into the resumed season strong. [NHL]
• Tuukka Rask has been managing a broken finger on his glove hand but it’ll be fine, he says. [NBC Bahhhston]
• You might’ve forgotten that six coaches were fired and replaced mid-season, now benefiting from the layoff to get to know their team better. [TSN]
• Debate, rinse, repeat: If losing the qualifying round gives you a 12.5% chance at the first overall pick, how do you feel? [Athletic]