Islanders News: Kings send Isles to the road on a losing note

A riveting two-game win streak came to an end for the New York Islanders last night, as they couldn’t mount even 20 shots at home against a team playing its backup goalie on the back half of a back-to-back.

Now they head on the road for a tough two-game swing in Winnipeg Sunday afternoon and Minnesota Tuesday night.

With many, many apologies to the Moon who represents the interests of our most loyal readers, what follows are links to external coverage of the New York Islanders hockey club and the National Hockey League in which they play.

Islanders News

• “Against a supposedly tired team and the now-bad Jonathan Quick, the Islanders still managed only 18 shots, and Matt Martin had five of them.” [LHH]
• I mean, well, the comeback fell short but hey at least they extended their recent run of third period success. [Isles]
• The loss reaffirms, once again, that the Isles are missing pieces. [Newsday]
• One of them, of course, is Mat Barzal, which really hits the power play. [Newsday]
• Brock Nelson now has points in 15 of his last 16 games; his 59 points match his career high. Meanwhile Matt Martin matched his own career high with 19 points. [NYI Skinny]
• In a very special episode of Weird Islanders, Dan and Mike talk to a guy who is not only a Weird Islander himself but also a legacy, hockey show host and now author, Justin Bourne. The discussion includes several other Islanders Bourne encountered in 2007 camp. [LHH]
• Three games in, Arnaud Durandeau hasn’t lost the trust of Lane Lambert. Nor Casey Cizikas: “[Durandeau] brings a lot of energy. He’s fast, he hounds pucks, he gets in on the forecheck.” [Athletic]
• The Islanders are going to ride Ilya Sorokin in their wild card push, but they still need Semyon Varlamov to be ready when called. [Newsday]
• Josh Bailey is still “day to day” but he returned to the ice for Friday’s optional morning skate. [Isles]
• Yesterday in Isles History, the anniversary of Islanders legend and one-time Bruin Zdeno Chara breaking the NHL record for games played by a defenseman. [Isles]
• After a 5-1 win over the Baby Sens on Thursday, the Bridgeport Islanders are back in action tonight and will wear fisherman jerseys. [B-Isles]

“Give them credit, their structure was very good. We made a couple of mistakes, they made us pay for it.”

Elsewhere

Other NHL scores last night include a win for the Sabres, and a loss for the Senators.

• The Rangers have been slumping, which — I mean, that’s never not funny, right? — but it increases their push to get Patrick Kane. I’m sure that will work out great. [Post]
• Kane sat out of practice, but the Hawks swear it was just a “maintenance” day and his agent insists he had made no decision on his future. [NHL] But for real though: A resolution on Kane is expected “within 24 hours.” [TSN]
• Way more impressive than Chara, Craig Anderson is still doing it at age 41, and he tied a career high with 53 saves in a win over the Panthers. [NHL]
• Brad Marchand, whom we were assured is a heroic story because at age 32 he finally grew up and learned not to be a d-bag, is fined $5,000 for a dangerous trip — and by “dangerous trip” they mean “literally kicked the leg out from under an opponent.” [TSN]
• After Craig Berube and a rookie torched the team’s effort and passion with some serious #realtalk, Blues GM Doug Armstrong tried to calm the waters. [NHL]
• The Penguins GM says “Fire Hextall” chants are understandable, not like he can say anything else about it. He plaed Kasperi Kapanen on waivers though. [Sportsnet]
• Supposedly Mike Sullivan wants Hextall to acquire Jakob Chychrun, because the only guy who can afford to burn long-term assets on short-term improvements more than a GM is a coach. [Athletic]
• Cole Perfetti, which is a festive product offered at Party City, will be out eight weeks. [NHL]
• Panthers goalie Spencer Knight has entered the NHL-NHLPA player assistance program. [NHL]