Islanders News: Ah, yes, that’s how this is supposed to be

On Thursday, the New York Islanders gave only one period of effort. But it was the third period, and it resulted, briefly, in a tied game. While they lost in regulation, you hoped that they would look at that period and say, despite having a record this season of 0-1-2 against Philadelphia Flyers, “we are capable of taking it to these guys.”

We saw exactly that. A four-goal first period, featuring two goals by Casey Cizikas and two assists each from Thomas Hickey and Oliver Wahlstrom (who also had his first career NHL fight against Oskar Lindblom), led to a 6–1 smackdown.

How sweet it is.

Islanders News

Recaps from a Philly throttling:

• Balanced scoring and a full-team game led the way. [LHH]
• I have not given enough love to Ilya Sorokin, who quietly won his seventh straight start. He has been superb and gets better with every game. And he rocked new pads last night! [Isles 5 Takeaways]
• Barry Trotz swapped out some players, changed some lines and some defensive pairings, and it worked like a charm. He has the magic touch. [Newsday]
• After that four-goal first period, the Islanders cruised to victory. [NHL]
• On the Philly side: BSH in pain (please be nice if you go there, they are usually nice to us) | Philly Inquirer on being drilled again in New York.

On Hickey’s emotional return, about which I gushed in the comments of the recap:

• Hickey had not played a regular-season game since April 4, 2019. [Newsday]
• It was his first multi-point game since January 2018. [NYI Skinny]
• It takes a lot of heart to come back after everything that Hickey has had to endure. To excel in that spot is even more laudable. [Islanders]

On some other notes:

• With the postponement of Tuesday’s game, the Islanders’ schedule may become even more jam-packed. It’s tough to navigate. [Newsday]
• Kyle Palmieri, who scored for New Jersey yesterday, would be a perfect fit on the ice and in the locker room for the Islanders. [Newsday]
• We love “Who Says No” trade proposals. The executives rejected your Filip Forsberg and Taylor Hall trade offers. [The Athletic]

Elsewhere

Yesterday’s NHL scores included the Penguins defeating the Devils in the afternoon and the Rangers stopping the Capitals in their tracks in the evening—each on the road, each in regulation, each by a score of 3–1. The Bruins and Sabres did not play tonight, as the game was postponed because Boston has four players in COVID-19 protocol.

• The Avalanche made a trade to shore up their goaltending depth, acquiring Jonas Johansson from the Sabres for a sixth-round pick. It may not be the tonic they need, though. Per The Athletic’s Sabres guy:

• The Maple Leafs put in Jack Campbell last night and he shut out the Flames. It might be time to hand him the crease over the struggling Frederik Andersen. [Sportsnet]
• WATCH: Old friend Derick Brassard recorded his first regular-season hat-trick last night for the Coyotes. [NHL]
• The Rangers lost Jack Johnson for the year. He underwent surgery to repair a core muscle. Good news for Isles fans that need the Rangers to spoil wins for the other top four teams in the East Division playoff hunt.
• Oskar Sundqvist suffered a torn ACL, ending his season for the Blues. Apologies to Dom. [NHL]