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With a 2-1 win over the Devils Tuesday night, the Islanders beat a team they should beat, though not exactly comfortably so. Now they’ll welcome a team that’s an absolute mess for the next three dates on the schedule.
Islanders News
About last night: “Never got to our game, but managed it well.” [LHH | Isles | Newsday | The Skinny]
Something of particular interest from The Skinny:
Under Barry-#isles have scored 10 6-on-5 goals and 22 5-on-6 (empty net) -both are right at league average.
— Eric Hornick (@ehornick) March 3, 2021
They have allowed 17 6-on-5 goals (empty net) among fewest in #NHL and have allowed 11 5-on-6 goals (middle-third of league)
- In the latest Islanders Anxiety podcast, Dan and Mike are in a good mood, sharing appreciation for Oliver Wahlstrom and the “operatic” Ilya Sorokin. [LHH]
- On No Sleep Til Belmont, Art and AJ discuss Wahlstrom’s growth, among other topics. [Athletic]
- The Islanders know they have a very congested schedule ahead, but they’re still going to treat it one game at a time. [Newsday]
- That means continuing to proceed carefully with Ilya Sorokin as he adjusts to the NHL. [Newsday]
- Sit back and enjoy this wonderful tour of international Islanders fans and their stories — and if you’re one of our readers, do say hello in comments. [Isles]
- Diving into the Sound Tigers’ season, where they don’t always play games, but when they do they play Providence. [Isles]
- Hockey Night in NY podcast: Debating live fans’ impact on games. [Twitch]
- More on the Islanders and USB Arena sustainability push. [NY Sports Day]
Thus Spake Trotzathustra
Variations of this are in the Isles 5 Takeaways link and elsewhere, but...Barry on the progress of Oliver Wahlstrom, who says he’s “enjoying the details” of the pro game: “He’s finding that being on the right side of pucks and being in the right position, he’s getting more offense out of it. Instead of waiting for the puck to come to him, he’s part of the solution in getting it back so you can have it more. ... His participation in the game as a complete hockey player has come miles from where it was in two years.” More here:
“I think we had a lot of poise… I thought we managed the game. We didn’t get to our game all game, but we managed it pretty well.”
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 3, 2021
Trotz ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/fYtOw6qqMj
Elsewhere
Last night’s other NHL scores include the Crosby-less Penguins beating the Flyers, and the Rangers beating a lifeless Sabres squad, coming to a Coliseum near you.
- John Torotorella has received the ol’ GM vote of confidence. [ESPN]
- 31 Thoughts on that, and a whole lot about “Top Shots” and I’m sorry, I can’t be bothered. [Sportsnet]
- “Make no mistake,” the Rangers want and need Jack Eichel, Larry Brooks writes for the 432nd time. [Post]
- Derek Stepan is out for the season with a torn labrum. [NHL]
- Ryan Ellis is out 4-6 weeks for the Predators. [NHL]
- Sidney Crosby is on the Covid Protocol list. [PensBurgh] And that’s a helpful reminder to people maybe? [Athletic]
- The Canadiens got their first win under their new coach and this says his impact is all over it. [Sportsnet]
- For the Leafs, it sure helps to have “salary cap unicorns” like Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza juicing their depth. [Sportsnet]
- Every mid-season coaching change of the cap era, categorized and semi-ranked. [Athletic]