Islanders Gameday News: It is, in fact, a gameday

The New York Islanders, as of now, will play the Boston Bruins tonight at TD Garden. These two clubs had been scheduled to meet at the same location on Tuesday night (itself a COVID-19 schedule adjustment). I believe that three Bruins came off the COVID-19 protocol list and that Boston practiced last night.

Thankfully, the Isles’ Noah Dobson came off the COVID-19 protocol list, as well. Even though he will not be on the three-game road trip that commences tonight, it is good to hear that he is no longer testing positive.

FIG Picks go here.

Islanders News

• The team site previews tonight’s contest, the first time that these teams will meet in Boston.
• Tuukka Rask may start in goal tonight. He has not played since grabbing his neck near the end of his start on March 7 against the New Jersey Devils. [NHL]
• Pierre LeBrun spoke with Islanders GM and President of Hockey Operations Lou Lamoriello. LeBrun expects that Lou will be busy at or before the Trade Deadline, but his list of targets is shorter than we may think. [The Athletic]
• Ilya Sorokin is the sixth Isles goalie, and third in the last three seasons, to embark on an eight-game winning streak. [NYI Skinny]
• Despite the refereeing controversy, Barry Trotz remains confident in NHL officiating—spoken like a man that knows that kindness is the best way into the refs’ good graces. [NYI Hockey Now]
• LISTEN: On the latest episode of Dimitri Filipovic’s The Hockey PDOcast, he hosts Dom Luszczyszyn to discuss, among other topics, the analytic darling Islanders and their spectacular top defense pair of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock.
• Speaking of Pelech, by the numbers, he earned the midseason Norris Trophy over Sam Girard and Cale Makar. [Last Word on Sports]
• This week’s Bridgeport Report highlights the lone game that the Sound Tigers played last week, an overtime win over the Hartford Wolf Pack.
• LISTEN: On the latest episode of Islanders Anxiety, Dan and Mike gush over Sorokin and ponder what the Islanders will do at the Trade Deadline. [LHH]
• WATCH: The Isles teamed up with a TikTokker to create a video of falling sand becoming the Islanders logo. It’s both cool and relaxing. [Islanders]
• Man, I can’t believe this was three years ago already.

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include the Pittsburgh Penguins handing the Buffalo Sabres their fifteenth loss in a row (nine of which have been by three or more goals) and the Winnipeg Jets riding a four-goal game by Andrew Copp to a win over the Vancouver Canucks.

• Philadelphia Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher spoke with the media yesterday and said that he has been on the lookout for a defenseman. [NHL]
• The Tampa Bay Lightning traded Alexander Volkov to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a prospect and a late pick. [NHL]
• Speaking of the Ducks, they wore the jerseys from the Mighty Ducks movies on their way into the arena last night. [NHL]
• Bruce Boudreau and Troy Brouwer translate what was said by St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube and captain Ryan O’Reilly during post-game Zoom conferences. [The Athletic]
• The NHL punished Tim Peel not for finding a make-up call, but because he got caught doing it. And firing him solved nothing. [The Faceoff Circle]
• Francesco Pinelli, a 2021 draft prospect from Canada, played in Slovenia this season to avoid the fractured and/or lost season in the OHL. [ESPN]
• The Anti-Racism Incubator event raised over $1,000 that will go toward the costs of hockey camps for Indigenous youth while sharing the hard work that helped them get there. [Hockey in Society]
• Terrible news: beloved former Blue Bobby Plager passed away at the age of 78 after a car accident. Our condolences go out to him and his loved ones. St. Louis Game Time thanked him for everything that he had done for the franchise.