Islanders Gameday News: Barzal honored and appreciated

After a holiday off and a practice yesterday, the New York Islanders tonight return to action against the Washington Capitals. It will be the third game of the six-game homestand.

The Isles have won the first two games of the homestand, including the demolition of tonight’s opponent this past Thursday. Things got chippy by the end, the Caps likely sore about conceding eight goals. So, look for them to be their normal garbage selves tonight.

Look out for a new episode of Islanders Anxiety and listen for Paul Cartier, who returns to the Coliseum organ tonight.

FIG Picks go here.

Islanders News

• The team site previews tonight’s game. Based on the motif of the preview image, I suspect that the Islanders will wear the reverse retros.
• For his seven-point week that included a hat-trick and five-point night, Mathew Barzal was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week. [NHL, which also honored a Bay Shore nurse | Islanders | Newsday]
• Barzal enjoyed the honor. Also, Michael Dal Colle skated, but Barry Trotz said that he will not be available tonight. [Isles Day-to-Day]
• WATCH: Barzal’s first (the end-to-end rush) and third (home run!) goals from his hat-trick made Sportsnet’s Goals of the Week; so, too, did Matt Martin’s sweet power-play pass to Anthony Beauvillier on Saturday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
• Martin’s game, even at the age of 31, has expanded to include net-front power-play work. [Newsday]
• Noah Dobson revealed that he was fortunately asymptomatic during his bout with COVID-19. [Newsday]
• Dan’s Back & Forth this week highlighted Barzal’s brilliance and warned of Tom Wilson’s impending assholery. [LHH]
• With captain Anders Lee out for the season, the Islanders had an extra ‘A’ to distribute. It went to Brock Nelson, an important leader in the locker room. [Islanders]
• It was a bit of a quiet week for the Isles’ prospects, but Ruslan Iskhakov recorded a multi-point game. [Islanders Prospect Report]
• The Bridgeport Sound Tigers lost again to the Providence Bruins, but Kyle MacLean scored. [Sound Tigers]
• UBS Arena, as well as the Seattle Kraken’s new building, will embody the NHL’s green initiative. [NHL]
• Always good to hear from Barry:

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include the Flyers defeating the Boston Bruins in overtime, as well as Eric Staal, in his Habs debut, scoring the OT game-winner as the Montreal Canadiens knocked off the Edmonton Oilers. Also, the Colorado Avalanche extended their point streak to 15 games by beating the Minnesota Wild.

• Unfortunately for Montreal, Brendan Gallagher took a shot to his hand, breaking his right thumb and knocking him out of the lineup for the next few weeks. Big loss. [NHL | TSN]
• Bruins goalie and old friend Jaroslav Halak entered COVID-19 protocol. According to the Philadelphia broadcast last night, they believe it was a false positive, but best wishes to him just in case. [NHL]
• NHL GMs have been holding off from buying, anticipating that the sellers’ high prices will have to drop nearer to the Trade Deadline. Yeah, well, I’m bored; do something, someone!
• Oh, okay. Maybe there’s something here: there’s a “sense” that Taylor Hall trade talks have “escalated.” Okay, maybe there isn’t something here. [TSN]
• Old, old friend Brent Sutter fears for his son, Brandon, as he battles COVID-19. His team, the Vancouver Canucks, continues to deal with a rampant COVID-19 outbreak. [Sportsnet]
• And finally, three years after the Humboldt Broncos bus accident, a survivor, Kaleb Dahlgren, penned an inspirational book. Doctors said that his injuries should have rendered him incapable of speaking or walking, but there he was, writing with a ghostwriter. Amazing story. [The Athletic]