Islanders News: Can’t have it every night

The New York Islanders fell to the New York Rangers by a score of 4–1 last night. And frankly, the better team won. The Islanders have looked like garbage over the last two games since acquiring Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac. They haven’t been able to connect on anything and they haven’t been able to play their game.

For example, the Isles entered the third period—their best period—down 2–1. Normally, you’d expect the Islanders to turn it on if they hadn’t yet played their best. But they couldn’t keep the puck on their own stick throughout the period and registered only one high-danger chance to the Rangers’ five. High-danger chances are supposed to be the Isles’ bread and butter, but they got owned in that department in the third period. Second period, too.

Yes, the Islanders played the night before. But, so did the Rangers. So there’s no excuse. They need to be better next game against these guys.

But it was just one game, after all. The Isles had won their previous four games. They can’t win every single one. I just can’t stand losing to those Rags.

Thankfully, it appeared that Barry Trotz recognized that Leo Komarov didn’t belong on the first line. In the third period, he swapped out Komarov for Palmieri and, for one shift, Zajac. Still, they didn’t generate much.

Islanders News

Recaps from last night:

• The Isles are still adjusting to the new guys. [LHH]
• They were sloppy throughout the game. [Newsday]
• They may not have played particularly well, but they also didn’t get many bounces. Many pings yet again. [Isles 5 Takeaways]
• And it didn’t help that Alexandar Georgiev, who has had a pretty bad season otherwise, continues to be kryptonite to the Islanders. [Newsday]
• One bright spot: The Islanders managed to snap Adam Fox’s point streak at 12 games. [NHL]
• And it was only the Isles’ third regulation loss in the second half of a back-to-back under Trotz. [NYI Skinny]
• Trotz said that in the grind of a season, you can’t expect to have it every night. I suppose that’s especially true with a condensed schedule.

Onto the regular news and notes:

• Though the team has struggled to adjust to its new players, the new players’ transition has been smoothed by having around a couple of former teammates in Andy Greene and Cory Schneider. [Newsday]
• Oliver Wahlstrom again did not play last night as the Islanders continue to maneuver their roster ahead of the Trade Deadline. I hope he is in next time. [Newsday]
• This day in Isles history: Ken Morrow scored his overtime series winner against the Rangers (1984) and Josh Bailey scored his overtime winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins to give “Game 1 to the Island” (2019).
• The Sound Tigers sport one of the worst records I’ve seen in a while, but some of the young guys are scoring. Bode Wilde recorded his first professional goal, for example. [Bridgeport Report]
• Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of the last time a goalie wore a bucket helmet in an NHL game, courtesy of our very own Rick DiPietro. He and Glenn Healy spoke about wearing it. [ESPN]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include the Washington Capitals defeating the Buffalo Sabres to pull back into a tie for first place in the East Division. Also, the Penguins knocked off the New Jersey Devils.

• The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired injured defensive center Riley Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a late pick. He is LTIR relief in the short-term and is center depth for the playoffs. [NHL] Because of LTIR, expect more moves for Toronto. [Sportsnet]
• The Detroit Red Wings dealt depth defenseman Patrik Nemeth to the Colorado Avalanche for a mid-round pick. [NHL]
• The Vancouver Canucks expect to play all 56 games on their schedule, despite their prolonged COVID-19 pause. [NHL]
• Alex Ovechkin will almost assuredly re-sign with the Capitals this summer when his current 12-year contract expires. But what will that deal look like? [The Athletic]
• The new Mighty Ducks series on Disney+ has apparently gotten some strong reviews, as has the performance of Dylan Playfair, a former junior hockey player and one of the show’s stars. [NHL]