Islanders Playoff News: Onto Game 4, maybe with a new goalie

Hoo boy. Folks, I’m writing this at 10:45 p.m. ET after Game 3. I have to tell you: I’m still trying to calm down. To come back almost every time, only to give it right back—losing like that is so painful. My neighbors probably hate me. I may need a new remote.

Frustrating as the game was, though, the New York Islanders still managed to come back almost every time. They stuck with it. A loss like last night’s can be crushing, and it will be a battle to win the series now. But at least they did not get blown out. The Islanders were in it. If they beat the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow afternoon, it’s a best-of-three with the Isles coming off a win.

That being said, I hope that we see Ilya Sorokin in goal tomorrow. The goals scored against Semyon Varlamov weren’t all bad in a vacuum. The game-winner was a bit of a fluke. But five goals against on 27 shots is still five goals against on 27 shots. That’s .814. That’s not good enough. And it doesn’t help his case that they were all of the backbreaking variety, with three of them coming right after the Isles tied it. If nothing else, Sorokin just may feel more confident right now.

Islanders Playoffs News

Recaps from Game 3:

• Wasting three comebacks sucks no matter how you slice it. [LHH]
• It was an extremely intense game and it got everyone’s emotions going. [Islanders 5 Takeaways] Like this guy, a beat writer.

• Not only was it intense on the ice; it was intense in the building. It brought a sense of normalcy to the setting. [Newsday]
• It was a wild game. Well, a wild third period, at least. [Newsday]
• In the third period, defense was optional. [amNY]
• So, it’s a 2-1 series deficit. [NHL]
• Arthur Staple believes Sorokin will get Game 4. [The Athletic]
• Here is an attempt to explain why Sidney Crosby was allowed out of the box after the full-line penalizing. [Scouting the Refs]
• Mathew Barzal says they’re not hanging their heads at all:

• Barry Trotz wasn’t trying to blame Varlamov, but...

Onto some non-recap stuff:

• The Islanders want to “harness” the energy of the crowd while they’re at the Coliseum. [Islanders]
• Before last night, the Isles’ fourth line had yet to make its mark on the series. [Newsday]

Non-Playoffs Islanders News

• Kyle Palmieri and his father have roots on Long Island, and his father, an Islanders fan, has been thrilled to see his son in orange and blue. [The Athletic]

Beyond Long Island and Western PU

Last night’s NHL playoffs scores include the Florida Panthers coming back to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in overtime, the Montreal Canadiens taking Game 1 from the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Vegas Golden Knights roaring back to take Game 3 from the Minnesota Wild.

• Scary scene in Toronto: John Tavares took an accidental knee to the visor from Corey Perry as he was falling from another hit and had to be stretchered out and taken to the hospital. He is awake and communicative, thankfully. [NHL | Sportsnet]
• Keith Yandle missed his first NHL game since 2009 after being scratched for yesterday’s Game 3. His games played streak, though, remains unbroken. [NHL]
• Colorado Avalanche dumbass Nazem Kadri has been offered an “in-person” Zoom hearing for his headshot on St. Louis Blues’ defenseman Justin Faulk. The NHL gave itself the option to ban him for five games. [NHL]
• Ilya Samsonov and the Washington Capitals are hoping to recover quickly from their Game 3 double-overtime gaffe. [NHL]
• The Calgary Flames may leave unprotected Mark Giordano in the Expansion Draft. [NHL]
• John Davidson has returned as President of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he may be taking David Quinn with him. [NHL]