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Islanders News: Team wins lead to early points and confidence

Noah Dobson is picking up some of the latter.

By Steven E. Smith

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New Jersey Devils v New York Islanders
The more he plays, the more fluid his style becomes.
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Tonight would have been a good night for Islanders hockey. Shame they don’t play until tomorrow evening.

In a season that has so few two-day breaks, the Islanders have had two in the first week-and-a-half. Boy I wish I was a schedule-maker.

Islanders News

  • In a season this short, early points make a world of difference. The Islanders, off to a fast start, understand that all too well. [Newsday]
  • Noah Dobson is gaining confidence rapidly as he has been allowed to work through some hiccups on the ice during his first four games. [The Athletic]
  • The Sound Tigers released their training camp roster with no real surprises—neither Oliver Wahlstrom nor Kieffer Bellows appeared on the list, meaning they are staying up for now.
  • In case you were looking for it yesterday, here is Eric Hornick’s NYI Skinny from Thursday night’s victory over the Devils.
  • One of the best playoff series of the last twenty years, Stan Fischler re-lives the 2002 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Isles and the Maple Leafs. [Maven’s Memories]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include, locally, the Capitals and Penguins beating the Sabres and the Rangers, respectively, in shootouts, and the Stars scoring five power-play goals en route to a 7–0 over the Predators in their COVID-19-protocol-delayed first game of the season.

  • First, some big news: apparently, NBC has told its affiliated distributors and sports leagues that it plans to shutter NBCSN at the end of the year. Allegedly, it works for the NHL. They could negotiate a deal to appear on another national network. [Newsday | The Athletic]
  • And now, the major news: the Blue Jackets have nearly completed a trade of Pierre-Luc Dubois. The Jets, who could potentially send back Patrik Laine and/or Jack Roslovic, appear to have the inside track. [Sportsnet | Yahoo | TSN Video]
  • UPDATE: And the deal is now done. Dubois goes to Winnipeg with a third-round pick, and Laine and Roslovic go to Columbus. Since there is some border-crossing involved, the players will likely have to quarantine. I am not sure what the protocol is, though.
  • This first-period glide back to the bench at the end of his last shift Thursday night, and subsequent benching, escalated the tension within the organization. [Bourne @ Sportsnet]
  • Earlier in the day yesterday, Dubois said that he had to “be better” following his benching. [NHL]
  • But it seems like he will not have that chance, as Columbus will likely keep would have kept him out of the lineup today when it hosts the Lightning had he not been traded already.
  • Pierre LeBrun addressed what the NHL’s options would be if they cannot fit every single game in this season. Mainly, the league is concerned with next season and the Olympics.
  • In his mailbag, Eric Duhatschek answers questions about NHL expansion and realignment, as well as the logistics of some trades. The latter might be a bit outdated by the news above. [The Athletic]

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