Islanders Gameday News: Lee has been around lately

Late start to my Saturday, folks. Apologies for the delay.

Tonight, the New York Islanders host the Philadelphia Flyers, who last played on Wednesday night. In that game, they lost 6–1 to the Buffalo Sabres, snapping the latter’s 18-game win streak. That should tell you how Philadelphia is doing this season, but you know they’ll be fuming about it.

They also will put Carter Hart back in net after being scratched for two games to rebuild his shattered confidence. Time to break some more glass?

FIG Picks go here. It’s Nickelodeon Night! Prepare to get slimed.

Islanders News

• The team site previews Nickelodeon Night.
• Normally, GM Lou Lamoriello doesn’t allow injured players around the team, just as he doesn’t allow media on the team charter flights—no distractions—but it looks like he has relaxed that rule for his captain. You wonder if that played a role in the noticeably increased confidence the team had on Thursday night.

• Kyle Palmieri still strikes Arthur Staple as the Isles’ best fit, but Taylor Hall remains in the mix. No matter what, though, the Islanders recognize that they have to acquire someone for the wings. [The Athletic]
• But Barry Trotz believes it will be tough for every team to make a trade. He expects a flurry of deals on April 12. [Newsday]
• I noted this in yesterday’s comments and Andrew Gross picked up on the same thing I did: it sounded like Trotz was hyping up Kieffer Bellows for other teams yesterday. [Newsday]
• Samuel Bolduc and Cole Bardreau recorded power-play goals, and Otto Koivula assisted on both of them, but the Bridgeport Sound Tigers dropped a 5–2 game to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
• Assuming the NHL allows its players to participate, Team USA in 2022 would easily be the best team they have ever iced. Anders Lee makes the cut on this projection, but Brock Nelson does not. [Sportsnet]
• To celebrate his 89th birthday this week, Stan Fischler identified 17 of his favorite Islanders memories. What a treasure; happy birthday, Stan. [Maven’s Memories]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include the Washington Capitals taking a 2–1 overtime decision from the New Jersey Devils, avenging their blowout at the Isles’ hands.

• Brandon Carlo returned from his Tom Wilson-induced concussion and promptly suffered another “upper-body injury.” He’s concussion-prone now, I’m sure. What a shame—as always, we hate Tom Wilson. [Bruins]
• The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Illinois-boy Vinnie Hinostroza from the Florida Panthers. [NHL]
• You may have noticed a slew of college hockey players signing with NHL teams—new rules have enabled more players to make the jump. They’re also able to transfer more easily to other schools. [College Hockey News]
• EA Sports NHL has said repeatedly that they would include women in their new games. But that has yet to happen.
• Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin was traded twice at the Trade Deadline in his career: in 2007, he went from the St. Louis Blues to the San Jose Sharks, and in 2009, he went from the Isles to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Those trades represent the opposite ends of the deadline acquisition spectrum. It’s this experience that helps him process his deadline plans.