Islanders Gameday News: Breaking out the thirds tonight with the Bruins in town

The Islanders, riding a five-game point streak, host the Bruins, riding an eight-game point streak, tonight at the Coliseum for the first time in nearly a month. The two teams met previously on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Coliseum; it ended in a 1–0 Islanders win, courtesy of a Jean-Gabriel Pageau home run.

The Bruins played that game without David Pastrnak, though. He should be available tonight, which gives Boston considerably more firepower. The Isles will have to work hard tonight to earn two points.

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Islanders News

• A preview of tonight’s game.
• The Isles will be wearing their third jersey tonight—in fact, they will wear their thirds six times this season, and the reverse retro only thrice, and not until March. Shows you what President and GM Lou Lamoriello thinks of the reverse retro jersey. [Islanders]
• Tonight’s game is also a Hockey Fights Cancer game. [Islanders]
• They may have available to them Anthony Beauvillier, who yesterday returned to practice. [Newsday | Islanders]

• Arthur Staple has five thoughts on the Islanders’ season thus far, including potential worries with the new second defense pair of Nick Leddy and Scott Mayfield. [The Athletic]
• The Islanders signed D prospect Robin Salo to a two-year entry-level contract. They originally selected him with the 47th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. [LHH | Islanders]
• The Isles cannot wait for fans, even the paltry few that will be allowed, to sit in the Coliseum. [Newsday]
• Today is Hockey in Canada Day. I mention it only because the NHL site picked the best player from each province and our collective son Mathew Barzal was selected as the top British Columbia-born NHLer. [NHL]
• Graeme Townshend, the Islanders’ first Black player, endured pervasive racism throughout his career. [Newsday]
• Please welcome to the Alumni Corner Paul Boutilier.
• Let’s follow Mike Bossy’s path to the Islanders with Stan Fischler. [Maven’s Memories]
• And finally, on a positive note—the Islanders’ decreased depth this season has reduced their fans’ confidence in them. [LHH]

Elsewhere

Two NHL scores from last night: tonight’s opponent blanking 1–0 the Rangers; and the Blues taking down the Coyotes by a score of 4–1.

• After two weeks without any games and with half the roster still in COVID-19 protocol, is it realistic to suggest that the Devils this season fit in 56 games? [AATJ]
• The Sharks return to San Jose tonight for the first time this season. They played 12 games on the road to start the season. [NHL]
• Lightning captain Steven Stamkos appeared on the COVID-19 protocol list last night.
• Speaking of all this COVID-19 talk: the NHL and the NHLPA agreed upon new COVID-19 protocols to combat and prevent in the future the spike in cases we have seen around the league. [LHH]
• As happens everywhere he goes, John Tortorella’s antics have worn out his welcome among Blue Jackets fans. His benching of Patrik Laine put them over the edge. [The Cannon]
• Once again, the NHL may change the Draft Lottery format. Though no details surrounding the plans have emerged. [The Athletic]
• Rangers associate GM Chris Drury has been named the GM of the US national team for the 2021 IIHF World Championship. [NHL]
• If next weekend’s Lake Tahoe games go off without a hitch, we could see more just like them in the future. [NHL]
• Kings prospect Akil Thomas continues to reshape what it means to be young and Black in professional hockey. [Sportsnet]