Islanders Gameday News: Back in action

The 2020–21 season officially began last night. But tonight we will see what we really want to see. The Islanders take the ice for a game for the first time since Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Last time they came out of a long break, back at the end of July, they hit Madison Square Garden and beat the Rangers 2–1. They exit this long break on the same ice. Will they have the same result?

LATE ADD! FIG Picks—apologies again for forgetting this tradition—go here.

Islanders News

• Matt Martin knows there is nothing quite like Islanders vs. Rangers. [Newsday]
• And he always planned to stay on Long Island. [Islanders]
• LISTEN: Arthur Staple introduced AJ Mleczko as his new co-host on No Sleep Til Belmont. They talked about the division, the roster, breakout players, and more. [The Athletic]
• Staple has some bold predictions; including that the Isles will make the playoffs, but will bow out in the first round. [The Athletic]
• NEW! The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranks the Islanders prospect pool for 2021. Spoiler: they are not highly-ranked.
• On the roster, you will find both Oliver Wahlstrom and Kieffer Bellows (the latter on the taxi squad, but could still be activated tonight). They made an impression. [CT Post]
• On this (yester)day in Islanders history: Bill Torrey’s bow-tie rose to the rafters (2001) and Mathew Barzal notched five points against the Rangers (2018). [Islanders]
• Spizz got an exclusive look at GM Lou Lamoriello’s Gmail inbox. He took a screenshot. Check it out before we get sued! [LHH Zeitgeist]

Elsewhere

For the first time this season, last night’s NHL scores. They include the Flyers topping the Penguins in a back-and-forth affair to open things up; the Maple Leafs beating the Canadiens 5–4 in OT; and the Lightning revealed (but did not raise) its Stanley Cup banner in an empty arena and walloping the Blackhawks 5–1.

• Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella poured gasoline on the embers of Pierre-Luc Dubois’ trade request in a way only he can. And you wonder why he (and everyone else) wants to leave. [NHL]
• The Panthers remain uncertain as to whether goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will be available to them tonight against Chicago. [NHL]
• The Golden Knights named Mark Stone the first captain in franchise history. A wise choice. [NHL]
• And the Red Wings tapped local boy Dylan Larkin as the 37th captain in team history. [NHL]
• NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly suffered from COVID-19 last month but has fully recovered. [The Athletic]
• Amazon Prime Video will document the Leafs’ season in a show called All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs. I am not the first one to make the following joke. But of “all” or “nothing,” which do you think Toronto will choose? [NHL]