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Islanders Gameday News: Lou milestone; safe to play in Buffalo, surely

The Islanders aim to keep rolling and spoil the Sabres’ return to play.

By Dominik
2020 NHL All-Star Skills
“Let’s play some hockey, eh?”
Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images

The Islanders are in Buffalo for two consecutive games against the Sabres, who haven’t played since Jan. 31 thanks to the Devils-associated Covid outbreak.

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Islanders News

Saturday’s win was the 1,300th regular season win in Lou Lamoriello’s history as a GM, which was occasion to come down from the mount and do some Zooming with media.

  • How did he get that far? An unending team-first focus. [Isles]
  • At age 78, the fire still burns. [NHL]
  • Here’s the full presser with Lou. [Isles]
  • Sort of actual news to come out of that availability: Don’t necessarily expect fans to be at the Coliseum on Feb. 23, the earliest possible date. Lots of care and safety measures to take care of. [Newsday]
  • The Covid-affected Sabres are slowly trickling back to practice, including their coach. The games will go on this week. I’m sure no one’s nervous. [Newsday | NHL | TSN]
  • Who were all the Sabres affected? Die By The Blade had a running tracker.
  • They still expect to use several taco squad players, however (which is the kiss of death for the Isles, surely). [Buffalo Hockey Beat]
  • Stan Fischler recalls how his late wife Shirley hammered through the glass ceiling in the press box. [Fischler Report]
  • Josh Ho-Sang has now been loaned to Linköping. [LHC] Lamoriello was also asked about this on yesterday’s call, but it’s basically the “opportunity to prove it” kind of thing. “God gave him talent but he just has to actuate it.”

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores were limited, but included the Penguins doubling up the Capitals to handle D.C. their fourth straight loss.

  • Is this Sidney Crosby slew-footing Nic Dowd? [Sportsnet on YT]
  • The league obviously hopes the Devils-Sabres outbreak is the worst of the season. Players and coaches reflect on adapting to protocols. [Sportsnet]
  • Old man Joe Thornton is back after a 10-game absence from a broken rib. [NHL]
  • New Jets acquisition Pierre-Luc Dubois is out with “a mechanism of an injury.” [TSN]
  • After their owner emphasized that he backs the team, the coach and the GM, the Canucks responded with a big win over Calgary. [Sportsnet]

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