RSS Islanders Team Notes

Islanders Gameday News: Crashing into D.C.

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The Islanders’ fruitless four-game road trip continues in Washington after an eminently forgettable loss to the Hurricanes last night in Raleigh.

They enter the evening last in the Eastern Conference — by points percentage as well as raw points now after last night’s regulation loss — and for many Isles fans, that’s quite according to plan: We can enjoy Matthew Schaefer’s talent and maturity at age 18 while also accepting and inviting results that will get him some help in next summer’s draft.

Whatever your stance, games last night are to be ignored, avoided as most meetings with the Hurricanes should be, and many meetings with the Capitals aren’t too different.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

NOTE: Trying a different approach today with just direct hyperlinks rather than descriptions with the source in brackets. Personally, I don’t like not seeing the source pub with links, but please let me know your preferences, if you have any, in comments.

Islanders News​

Hurricanes 6, Islanders 2: Barzal scratch punctuates no-show
Takeaways: Islanders Drop Third Straight Game with 6-2 Loss to Hurricanes | New York Islanders
Islanders hammered by Hurricanes after Mathew Barzal's benching
Isles' Barzal benched for disciplinary reasons
Islanders punish Mat Barzal for being late by scratching him vs….
Islanders scratch Mathew Barzal for being late: ‘That’s the culture of our team’
Isles remain winless on road trip after loss to 'Canes
Reilly's interest in Islanders return was not reciprocated
Hurricanes' Mike Reilly gets early revenge after not being re-signed…
Calum Ritchie Doesn't Miss A Beat In Return To Bridgeport Lineup

The top prospects in the NHL, including Schaefer at #1. [ESPN]

Elsewhere​


Another busy night in the NHL, with last night’s scores including the Flyers, Rangers and Penguins picking up two points.

Necas signs 8-year contract with Avalanche | NHL.com
Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis 'doesn't look great' after injury vs. Islanders
NHL Power Rankings: Every team's 'Mr. October' so far this season
Penguins take over NHL's top spot with win over Wild
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...3046/islanders-gameday-news-crashing-into-d-c
 
Weird Islanders: The Podcast! – Episode 73 – Three Cards in a Shop (with guest John Muir)

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Our friend John Muir is back to talk about three hockey cards of inaugural Islanders he came across in an unlikely location.

While on a hunt for Pokémon cards with his kids, John found some NHL trading cards from 1972 that captured the soon-to-be-hapless Islanders in all their haplessness. One was a depth forward who gave what he could before getting traded just as the team turned the corner. One was a collegiate star whose NHL career never quite took off. And one was a goalie who never actually played for the Islanders, but who once won a major award, outplayed a Hall of Famer, had an even more successful sibling and was traded for a host of other notable netminders. We also throw in a bonus Weird Islander who spent two miserable seasons with them before finding success (and possibly new romantic adventures) somewhere else.

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We let John and the cards take us on this journey of discovery. Along the way, we discuss the origins of the EBUG, the joys of thrift shopping on vacation and the very real guacamole recipe of a Hollywood horror icon. This is a chill, hang out episode that, while not specifically Halloween-themed, feels like a trick-or-treat bag of random goodies.

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(uh… Atlanta Flames?)

Thanks again to John for coming on again, and for inspiring the entire episode. And thanks to Chewy’s Cards and Collectibles in Indian Trail, NC for providing the cards we spent over an hour discussing. Check them out if you’re in the area.

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL

  • At one time, Craig Cameron was considered a “scoring threat” for the inaugural Islanders. He also had a 20-game goal drought that first season.
  • He did score in first regular season Islanders-Rangers game on 10/21/72 (a 2-1 Islanders loss)
  • He also scored to break up a team-wide 115:44 scoring drought with an early season goal against the Bruins and scored a hat trick against the Golden Seals on January 23, 1974 (an 8-1 win)
  • Cameron was apparently nicknamed “Boris” because he looked like Boris Karloff (he did not look like Boris Karloff)
  • The Islanders were able to acquire Dennis DeJordy (and Germain Gagnon and Chico freaking Resch) from the Habs in exchange for them not selecting one of the guys Sam Pollack didn’t want to lose: Bob Murdoch, Dale Hoganson and Chuck Lefley. Okay.
  • DeJordy and Gerry Desjardins would not only be traded for each other in 1970 but they would both find themselves at Islanders training camp in 1972. Desjardins and a young Billy Smith would make the cut. DeJordy would be traded to Detroit in early October.
  • I wrote about Desjardins in my Islander of the Day series. Getting traded to Buffalo was the best thing that ever happened to him.
  • Desjardins’ eye injury in 1977 led to the end of fiberglass masks.
  • Tom Miller’s NHL career might have been brief but his NCAA career was long and distinguished. He won two championships with the University of Denver in the late 60’s.
  • He was also once beat out in Rangers camp by his coach with the Islanders, Phil Goyette. That’s gotta be a little embarrassing…

What makes a “Weird Islander?”

We’re always open to suggestions about other Weird Islanders to discuss. Remember the criteria. Candidates must fulfill one of the two of the following:

  • Played one (1) season or less for the Islanders or very short stints over multiple seasons.
  • Be a veteran NHLer who is not generally associated with his time on Islanders.

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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/ny...on-tom-miller-dennis-dejordy-gerry-desjardins
 
Hurricanes 6, Islanders 2: Barzal scratch punctuates no-show

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The Islanders lost easily in Raleigh, a fairly predictable result made moreso by the pre-game news that Mathew Barzal would be scratched as discipline for being late to the morning skate.

It was never really close, with the Isles down 2-0 just over five minutes in — ex-Isles Mike Reilly adding a WTF shorthanded wraparound on David Rittich — and 3-0 by the midway point of the first period. When the dust settled it was 6-2, a jovial night for Hurricanes Andrei Svechnikov and Logan Stankoven who answered the lone Isles goals by Matthew Schaefer and Simon Holmstrom.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

One bright spot: Alex Romanov back healthy and delivering some entertaining, nearly Kasparaitis-like blowup checks. Hey, if we’re going to be out of it before the game is a few minutes old, at least there was that bit of fun…

The loss makes three out of three on this four-game road trip, with the finale in D.C. Friday night to conclude the back-to-back.

This season could get ugly pretty quickly in a Scott Gordon, West Coast freefall kind of way.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/ga...islanders-2-barzal-scratch-punctuates-no-show
 
Islanders Gameday News: Back home vs. the Blue Jackets

The Islanders return home for a brief spell with an early 5 p.m. EST start — though maybe not so early, given body clocks still on EDT — with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are coming in on a back-to-back. The Blue Jackets beat the Blues at home, 3-2, last night, behind 37 saves by Jet Greaves.

After a stumbling start to their four-game road trip, the Isles made amends with a 3-1 win over the Capitals in D.C. to finish the road trip 1-2-1. Ilya Sorokin had a sterling first period to pave the way for the win and hopefully get him back on track.

The Isles enter the day still last in the Eastern Conference with a .500 points percentage.

First Islanders Goal picks for tonight go here.

Islanders News​

  • Takeaways from the first 10 games. [Newsday]
  • If Calum Ritchie sticks around a while, and if they use him at center, that could open up more opportunities to load up with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal together. [Post | THN]
  • Matthew Schaefer was named NHL Rookie of the Month for October. [Isles]
  • With the Toronto Blue Jays involved, lots of Isles were following along with Major League Baseball’s World Series, which is evidently the championship round in that league. [Newsday]

Elsewhere​


Yesterday’s 13 games included the Capitals losing again (but via shootout) and the Blue Jackets picking up two regulation points.

  • Chris Tanev was stretchered off Saturday vs. the Flyers. [Sportsnet | NHL]
  • David Kampf, assigned to AHL Toronto due to cap and roster crunch, is pondering his future. [Sportsnet]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...1/islanders-gameday-news-blue-jackets-ritchie
 
Islanders 3, Blue Jackets 2: Inspired third, sudden turn

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The Islanders capped an impressive third period with a stunning reversal of fortune in a 29-second span to steal back a 3-2 win over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.

The Blue Jackets were playing back-to-back, after withstanding a similar third-period surge at home the night before. With a pretty entertaining and physical game tied at 1-1 in the third period, the Isles looked like the rested team and had the better of play for long stretches.

But hockey being hockey, it only took a couple of counter-surges by the Blue Jackets to make all that look moot. When Denton Mateychuk broke the tie on a rebound with 7:50 to play, it looked like a “one of those nights” outcome even with a decent amount of time remaining.

But with 1:07 left, Matthew Schaefer — first star of the game with two goals — had multiple good keep-ins under pressure, the final one converted into a hopeful point shot that took a couple of lucky bounces on the way to the net to tie the game. Then the Isles kept pressing, Anders Lee spun and launched a short-side shot off the post that Elvis Merzlikins thought he had, before an alert Simon Holmstrom pounced on the loose puck to give the Isles the 3-2 lead with 39 seconds to go.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

Schaefer opened scoring just 5:53 into the game, on a power play (yes, a power play goal!), part of a first-period that was both dominant and ominous: The Isles outshot Columbus 18-3, yet emerged with only the 1-0 lead.

That omen found its prophecy fulfilled late in the second when the Isles still could not get another one past Merzlikins, and Miles Wood tied it by getting behind Scott Mayfield at the doorstep to redirect a laser from Adam Fantili.

The Isles came out in the third like they knew the opportunity was theirs, but Merzlikins wasn’t allowing it…at least not until after his team took the lead. The tying goal from Schaefer was tough luck, and the winner sent Merzlikins into a classic paddle-vs.-crossbar bout of frustration.

Two fun trivia stats from the NHL:

  • The Islanders’ comeback win with 1:07 to play in regulation (58:53 elapsed time) was the latest comeback win in regulation in franchise history.
  • Schaefer became the third-youngest player in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to record two goals in a game. Only Jordan Staal (18 years, 41 days on Oct. 21, 2006) and Pierre Turgeon (18 years, 54 days on Oct. 21, 1987) did so at a younger age.

Up Next​


That’s a modest string of two regulation wins to build on for the Isles, whose homestand continues Tuesday with a visit from the Bruins.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/ga...s-3-blue-jackets-2-inspired-third-sudden-turn
 
Islanders Anxiety – Episode 345 – Another Absurd Week

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Mike and Dan recap a busy week in which the Islanders stayed afloat thanks in large part to record-breaking super rookie Matthew Schaefer.

The week started very poorly, with another blown lead followed by another blowout to a familiar bully. But what looked like a new bottom gave way to an unexpected rebound. A comeback win on Halloween and a miraculous last minute victory at home got us feeling good again and kept the Islanders in the thick of a packed Eastern Conference. That wouldn’t be possible without Scheafer, who continues to do things we’ve never seen in ways we don’t expect. This kid, who was barely alive when Iron Man was first released into theaters, is proving night after night to be the hero this team needs.

We also look forward to a week of opportunities to grab more points before a brutal road trip takes the Islanders through several Stanley Cup contenders for the next two weeks. Wins are crucial but these guys never do anything the normal way. Finally, we once again are forced to do another early season edition of Master Leaf Theatre focused on a milestone 500th NHL goal that has been treated with more pity then excitement. Perfect for a guy who lives a life of discipline and disappointment.

REFERENCES

Works Referenced:


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PLUGS!​

  • Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.
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Theme song: “Morning Haze” by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Spotify.


Please subscribe, download, rate, review or spread the word about Islanders Anxiety, Weird Islanders: The Podcast! and all of our podcasts any way you can. All of it helps to raise the show’s profile and maybe could get us another fancy sponsor to sell out to in the near future. Leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...surd-week-matthew-schaefer-tavares-500th-goal
 
Islanders vs. Bruins Gameday News: Riding the Schaefer wave

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The Islanders will try to make it a win streak tonight when they host the Bruins. For a change, they do not enter the evening in last place…they’re just among five teams tied for last in the East with 13 points.

First Islanders Goal picks for tonight go here.

Islanders News​

  • Dan and Mike recap another strange week and the latest “oh my god!” Schaefer moments, while also being forced to check in on the latest Toronto amateur poetry. [LHH-Islanders Anxiety]
  • Practice updates: No surprises, Cal Ritchie getting another look, Ilya Sorokin will get the start. [Isles]
  • Previewing tonight: The Isles need to get some revenge on the Bruins, who have won three in a row and are coming off a win over the Hurricanes. [Isles]
  • If Ritchie sticks around and solidifies the top nine, the Isles still have a puzzle to figure out on the fourth line. Maybe don’t…don’t rely on MacLean? [THN]
  • Matthew Schaefer and an improved penalty kill are “signs the Isles could be contend—” oh come on, who wrote that headline? [Newsday]
  • Thought this happened last year, but it appears (again?) Simon Holmstrom is coming into his own. [Post]
  • Prospect Report: Four goals and two consecutive OT winners for Kashawn Aitcheson. [Isles]
  • Bridgeport Report: They won a game! Also Marshall Warren is their leading scorer. [Isles]
  • Anders Lee trivia: Provide your data for a chance to win a thing. [Isles]
  • (Yester)day in Isles History: Al Arbour returns for his 1,500th game. [Isles]

Elsewhere​


Four games last night, including the Penguins blowing a lead to lose in regulation in Toronto.

  • This somehow passes for a story: “Crosby Among Those Sad About Blue Jays Loss.” Ye gods. [Sportsnet]
  • Q&A with an Islanders fan who did a documentary on late Flyers goalie Pelle Lindbergh, who died in his prime 40 years ago. I can still picture ESPN anchor Tom Mees (who also died young-ish) announcing the tragedy. [NHL]
  • The Leafs won but played terribly for two periods, so there’s no joy in T.O. [Sportsnet | TSN]
  • The Stars will host a Stadium Series game at the Cowboys’ stadium and you will pretend to care. [NHL]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...-bruins-gameday-news-riding-the-schaefer-wave
 
Islanders News: Protecting the prized asset, who continues to charm

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The Islanders had an extra day (and day off) to stew over missed opportunities in the shootout loss to the Bruins, and also for Matthew Schaefer to go on TNT and haze Henrik Lundqvist for being a Ranger.

Speaking of which, tomorrow’s home game vs. the Wild is the start of a back-to-back that ends Saturday at the Garden.

(By the way, sorry for the lack of post-game post after the Bruins game, which featured Bo Knows Goals and the Isles defending Schaefer, who was lightning-entertainment with Mat Barzal in the ultimately unsuccessful 3-on-3 OT. Watched the game, passed out, then had to tend to the real job.)

Islanders News​

  • Takeaways from the loss vs. the Bruins: Played well but didn’t get the second point. Defended Schafer against Nikita Zadorov’s crosscheck-to-the-face d-baggery. [Isles]
  • Isles reactions to that incident. [THN]
  • Zadorov goes after Isles fans who went after him on social media. That’s productive. [Newsday]
  • Schaefer’s getting the attention (rightfully so), but man Horvat is off to a good start. [THN]
  • Cal Ritchie is learning and absorbing. [Isles]
  • Island Ice podcast: The Isles through 13 games, and Jonathan Drouin. [Newsday]
  • Ryan Pulock has the hardest shot of the season thus far. [NHL]
  • The service dog Jethro finds his partner and purpose. [Isles video]

Framing the Schaefer-Lundqvist interaction [Post]…which you can just watch in full here:

Matthew Schaefer is already an Islander at heart… he's NOT HAPPY that the Rangers legend @HLundqvist got to ask the first question and not @liam_mchugh, the Long Island native 🤣 pic.twitter.com/1Av6wOXQTN

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) November 6, 2025
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...cting-the-prized-asset-who-continues-to-charm
 
Islanders vs. Wild Gameday News: Busy schedule ahead

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The Islanders are back in action for a hyperlocal back-to-back, with the Wild at home tonight followed by a visit to the Rangers on Saturday night to tee up a long and dreaded Western trip.

The Wild are coming in on a back-to-back after losing in Raleigh last night, but we know quite well that the Isles don’t automatically take advantage of those.

Leave First Islanders Goal picks here.

Islanders News​

  • Barzal and Bo may be back together for a while (especially with Ritchie up). [Newsday]
  • Signs of PK progress? [Post]
  • A few Isles bits in 32 Thoughts, including an unnamed Capital {cough, Beauvillier} leaving an alarm clock in Barzal’s locker. [Sportsnet]
  • Previewing tonight: Rittich gets tonight’s start. [Isles]
  • Luke Rowe is a Bridgeport defenseman and once-and-future military drone pilot. [Isles]
  • Cole Eiserman should be back on NCAA ice in a few weeks. [THN]
#Isles Patrick Roy says Max Shabanov (upper body) is progressing as he continues to skate on his own. No timetable for him to be able to play but team is hoping Shabanov travels for upcoming seven-game road trip. No guarantee he would play in those seven games.

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) November 7, 2025
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Elsewhere​


Lots of games last night, including the Penguins topping the Capitals, the Flyers taking the easy points over the Predators, and multiple three-point games in the East.

  • Insider Trading pushes hard to get Steven Stamkos on the trade block. [TSN]
  • Patrick Kane is close to returning after missing several games because he’s old. [NHL]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...ders-vs-wild-gameday-news-busy-schedule-ahead
 
Minnesota 5, Islanders 2: Not wild about that one

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Woof.

The Islanders were thoroughly outplayed by a team that was on the back end of a traveling back-to-back, looking like a rusty, uninspired squad. It wasn’t laziness or lack of trying, rather it just looked like no one was in sync, no one could make or catch a pass — save for a couple nice plays on their goals — in a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild.

They started okay, but when the Wild got on the board at 7:24 of the first, they controlled play for the next five to six minutes and doubled their lead. The Isles never recovered.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

The Isles did get one back early in the second period to provide a brief moment of hope, after Emil Heineman finished a pretty combo from Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat, but just over a minute later the Wild had a two-goal lead again. Three minutes beyond that Brock Faber tally, they made it 4-1.

The only other Isles highlight was a lofting backhand outlet pass by Anders Lee that J-G Pageau caught up to and made a great, patient move to cut the score back to 4-2 late in the second.

There’s not much more to say. This one wasn’t fun to watch and wasn’t often in doubt. Missed opportunity for the Isles, who need to do better tomorrow visiting the Rangers to kick off a string of seven games on the road.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/game-recaps/43104/minnesota-5-islanders-2-not-wild-about-that-one
 
Islanders 5, Rangers 0: Bouncing back, mopping up at the Garden

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Yeah, I think I’ll accept a flat home loss to the Wild in exchange for a Garden-silencing shutout of the Rangers any weekend.

The Isles bounced back from a poor Friday night in front of home fans by pleasing plenty other home fans at Madison Square Garden with a 5-0 shutout of their pajama-clad rivals. It was especially poignant since the Smurfs honored a bunch of their franchise’s greatest moments and memories before being suffocated by their longtime rivals.

Ilya Sorokin had 33 saves for his first zero of the season, Bo Horvat had two more goals (to tie for 2nd in the league), and childhood buddies Jonathan Drouin and Anthony Duclair hooked up for a pretty combo that put an exclamation point on the first period.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

It was only 2-0 after Drouin’s goal with 33 seconds left in the first, but it made the first 20 minutes feel like a proper opening to a good evening, which it turned out to be.

The first period was arguably the toughest, with Sorokin shutting the door early, though the Rangers did manage 18 shots against him in the third with the game mostly out of hand. But the game stayed changeable through most of the second, until the Isles converted on a late power play with 1:18 left — on the 11th penalty Matthew Schaefer has drawn this year.

J-G Pageau actually scored into an empty net to make it 4-0 with 2:01 to go — Igor Shesterkin had been pulled around the 15:00 mark — while Anders Lee delivered the final blow with Shesterkin back in the net, on yet another 2-on-1 conversion by the Isles.

#Isles Bo Horvat on 5-0 win over #NYR: "Getting the lead was huge. But we didn't let ourselves sit back. We just kept pushing. And they've had our number in the past and we've been up in a lot of games. Tonight felt different. We were more aggressive. We stayed aggressive."

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) November 9, 2025
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Other Notes​

  • Sorokin’s shutout was his 23rd all time (regular season), pushing him past Billy Smith for second in franchise history, two behind Chico Resch.
  • We had Butch Goring back in the booth for this one, always fun to have him in for these.
  • One of Butch’s better moments was frankly noting a Max Tsyplakov drive-by, which is not the route to getting more ice time or a regular spot.
  • Lines and D pairs were mixed up a little bit to start, and throughout the game. I’m sure they’ll land on something one of these nights.
  • Damn, the Isles needed this one. It’s the first of seven on “the road,” though these first two are at the Garden and Newark. But starting Monday against the Devils and then heading out to a murder’s row of Western opponents, the rest of this road trip is against the league’s top teams before concluding in Detroit.
  • What a night for Horvat, but Drouin too. This was filthy awareness on the power play:
Bo Horvat's 11th has him tied with Crosby, Gauthier & Caufield for the #NHL lead.

What a pass by Drouin 🍎 #Isles pic.twitter.com/JPWExj4aZu

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) November 9, 2025
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Here was his finish from Duclair:

An outstanding sequence right here.

Heads up stick from Mayfield
The strength from Pageau
Fantastic feed from Duclair and finish from Drouin#Isles pic.twitter.com/DVhYaTZGZX

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) November 9, 2025
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/ga...gers-0-bouncing-back-mopping-up-at-the-garden
 
Islanders vs. Rangers News: 1st derby of the season

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The Islanders and Rangers have their first meeting of the season in Manhattan tonight, with both teams playing the second half of a back-to-back.

In theory the Isles have the advantage, since they played at home (but poorly) last night, while the Rangers are coming back from Detroit, where they beat the Red Wings handily.

Both combatants are among the eight teams that are currently outside of the Eastern playoff spots and separated by two points or less. There could be a lot of meh-ness in the East this season, but at least it will be competitive meh-ery.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • Previewing tonight. [Isles]
  • About last night: Not much to say, “poor execution” and “ugly” and “sloppy” and “outworked,” etc. [Newsday | LHH | Post]
  • Three Takeaways: I mean…the first five minutes were okay! [Isles]
  • This is actually a really, really good Q&A with Matthew Schaefer. What a level-headed kid. [Post]
  • They mentioned this during last night’s broadcast, but Ilya Sorokin sought a little shootout advice from Patrick Roy. [THN]
  • Cal Ritchie is ready for his first Isles-Rangers duel. [THN]

It’s the first derby game for Schaefer, too, so it should be exciting to see how our new additions take to the atmosphere on a Saturday night.

Sorokin will be in net after David Rittich handled last night’s sleeper Faceoff is theoretically 7 p.m. EST at the World’s Most Self-Congatulatory Arena.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...nders-vs-rangers-news-1st-derby-of-the-season
 
Islanders Anxiety – Episode 346 – Everything is a Thing

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Mike and Dan recap a week of great, bad and ugly as the Islanders follow-up a no-show performance at home with a hilarious win on the road.

The week started with an eventful, entertaining game against the Bruins that didn’t go the Islanders’ way, and also included some social media drama. All of that was more palatable than the embarrassing zombie walk they took on Friday against Minnesota. Hosting a team on a back-to-back with travel and needing points before a daunting road trip, the Islanders chose to simply let the Wild do what they wanted for a full 60 minutes, which is the kind of game that keeps fans away from the arena.

That set up a game at Madison Square Garden against a Rangers team still looking for its first home win of the season and hosting a celebrating group of alumni. All in attendance were treated to one of the Islanders’ best games of the season, as they shutout the home team 5-0 to continue their scoring misery. Not only was the victory satisfying, but it provided us with some fresh Ranger Piece Theater material that we dive into.

We also look forward to the aforementioned daunting road trip and hope the Islanders can stay afloat and win in some places they’ve pulled points out of before.

REFERENCES


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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...g-is-a-thing-schaefer-zadorov-rangers-shutout
 
Islanders 3, Devils 2 (OT): Barzal nets winner after late Jersey equalizer

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The Islanders at the as-yet-undefeated-at-home Devils right where they wanted them: Having killed off a fourth Devils power play late in a tied game, the Isles finally got a power play of their own, and after a middling start, Kyle Palmieri cashed in for the would-be winner.

But after missing several empty net tries and the icing punishment that comes with it, the Isles gave up an equalizer on a point shot through traffic with 4 seconds left on the clock.

Fortunately, Mat Barzal made that late heartbreak an afterthought when he streaked up ice and finished a give-and-go with Jonathan Drouin for the OT winner 77 seconds into the bonus frame. The Isles handed New Jersey its first defeat on home ice, and more importantly they started a seven-game road spell with an important 2-0 head start.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

That OT sequence could’ve easily gone the other way. Ryan Pulock made a bit-too-predictable back pass across the slot in the Isles zone that a predatory Jack Hughes nearly intercepted. But Barzal was alert to the risk, and poked the puck just by Hughes, enabling the beginning of his sprint. Jesper Brett helpfully just kind of watched Barzal go the length of the ice rather than defend him; it was surely a nice view of the winner.

barzal rescues the isles from near disaster at one end, calls game at the other pic.twitter.com/6486wY5tSM

— Liam McHugh (@liam_mchugh) November 11, 2025
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Sorokin Stands Tall Again​


Recency and elation point to that moment as key, but it was really a great night — another 33 saves — for Ilya Sorokin to hold the Isles in it. He made several stops and squaring off dangerous chances as the Devils pushed for the equalizer. The tying goal was through several bodies and took a deflection.

It would’ve been a harsh result for Sorokin to not get at least a point out of tonight.

Per @NatStatTrick , #NJDevils generated 25 high-danger chances in 3-2 OT loss to #Isles, 11 coming with teams skating five-on-five and 10 coming on Devils' four power plays. Ilya Sorokin makes 33 saves for the win.

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) November 11, 2025
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#Isles Ilya Sorokin thinks 3-2 OT win at #NJDevils might have been best defensive effort of the season.

"It was a tough game tonight. Tough shots."

Sorokin makes 33 saves for win, same as he had in Saturday's 5-0 win at #NYR

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) November 11, 2025
Click to expand...

Up Next​


Now the real road begins. Vegas on Thursday, Utah on Friday, then Colorado, Dallas and Detroit next week.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/ga...arzal-nets-winner-after-late-jersey-equalizer
 
Islanders vs. Devils News: ‘Road’ trip continues

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The Islanders have a daunting November road trip ahead, but the travel part doesn’t kick in until later this week. For now, and tonight, they’re just over in Newark to complete the weekend’s metro area tour.

That started with a thud at home on Long Island in an uninspiring loss to the Wild, but rebounded wonderfully with shuffled lines the next night in a shutout of the Rangers at the Garden. Tonight begins the real competition, starting with the 11-4-0 Devils.

There are so many crazy things happening in the NHL right now — the Pacific-leading (!) Ducks have won seven in a row! — that the Devils going toe to toe with Carolina for the Metro Division lead is relegated to a “they’ve been due to arrive” footnote.

And then over here you have the in-transition, retooling Islanders, who go as Bo Horvat, Ilya Sorokin or Matthew Schaefer go. They are in the thick of a large mass of average wild-card chasers in the East. Even if this western road trip goes south, they’ll probably still be there when they return home six games from now.

First Islanders Goal picks for tonight go here.

Islanders News​

  • Previewing tonight: The Isles did not lose in Newark last season, but the Devils haven’t lost there at all this season (7-0). They are without Dougie Hamilton. [Isles]
  • Ilya Sorokin is in a much better stretch, leaving us to wonder if the goalie coach change had any effect on that. [Post]
  • Relishing some trivia in The Skinny: “J Drouin to J Drouin: A half-century ago, Jude Drouin’s pass to JP Parise ended the Rangers’ 50th anniversary season; [Saturday], as the Rangers were having one of their Centennial celebrations, Jonathan Drouin had one goal and two assists.” [Isles]

Elsewhere​


Sunday’s NHL scores included a Penguins loss, a Hurricanes win, a Red Wings loss and five points for Nathan MacKinnon.

  • Mats Sundin is excited to see his Leafs franchise goal mark soon eclipsed by Auston Matthews, who curiously put Darcy Tucker in a group with Sundin, Darryl Sittler, Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour as guys who “paved the way.” [NHL]
  • Behind women’s legend and former Isles broadcaster Jennifer Botterill’s path to the Hall of Fame. [NHL]
  • The PWHL’s Seattle and Vancouver expansion teams announced their names. [NHL]
  • The Oilers are “full of excuses” after being blown out by the Avalanche. [Sportsnet]
  • The Leafs were “immature” and “didn’t check anyone” in blowing a lead to the Canes. [Sportsnet]
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is.../islanders-vs-devils-news-road-trip-continues
 
Islanders in Vegas News: Shabanov inching back

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The Islanders’ seven-game road trip really gets down to business tonight with the opening of a back-to-back at Vegas and then Utah.

Sorry for the mid-week gap in posts — I had something planned about the crater in the fourth line but an ill-timed broadband outage scrapped that. Dan and Mike touched on it in the latest Islanders Anxiety podcast, how it’s painful to watch Nystrom Award-level Islander Casey Cizikas struggle, along with Kyle MacLean and whoever else they rotate in. You’ve got two guys who are limited (one always has been, one is late career), which itself isn’t a recipe for success for whoever joins them, be it Anthony Duclair or Max Tsyplakov.

A casual scan of the Islanders’ individual rankings in Corsi percentage, goals for/goals against, scoring chances for/against, high danger for/against percentage — all these categories do not flatter that group. And it’s not like they’re being used in a defensive zone role either.

Having an unresolved or underwater fourth line is not uncommon for your average or below-average NHL team. But it does highlight a weakness this squad has at 5-on-5.

Anyway, they’ll be tested in Vegas tonight starting at 10 p.m. EST. First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • Another area of concern, then penalty kill has perhaps turned a corner under Bob Boughner. [THN]
  • Another way of looking at all that: Who are these Isles? Some good, some bad. [Newsdsay]
  • Previewing tonight: Ilya will start in goal. He stopped 63 of 64 against Vegas last season [Isles]
  • Scott Mayfield is a question mark for tonight, as he missed practice in anticipation of the birth of his first child. [Isles]
  • Bo Horvat is good at hockey, and is hot right now. [Isles]
  • Jonathan Drouin has continued to be a great fit for the Isles. [Newsday]
  • Prospect Report: Kashawn Aitcheson had his first OHL hat trick, and in a 5:07 span. Meanwhile, Dmitry Gazmin had back-to-back KHL shutouts. [Isles]
  • Of course, in other Aitcheson news…he’ll learn from getting a suspension for tossing water at a harassing fan as the team left the ice following a heated battle. The fan probably deserved it, and there were three suspensions handed out, but he should and will know better than to cross that line. [THN]
  • The Isles are ready to bond and all that on this long trip, and Matthew Schaefer looks forward to a proper cross-country trip. [Post]
  • Max Shabanov is with the team in Vegas and skating, though in a non-contact jersey. [Isles | THN]
  • Bridgeport Report: On the bright side, the Artists Formerly Known as Sound Tigers won both games against Springfield, who included Milan Lucic on a PTO. On the down side, Springfield is absolutely terrible. [Isles]
  • Agree or disagree with Anders Lee and Bo Horvat. [Isles video]

Elsewhere

Last night’s scores include just four games, but the Rangers won in Tampa, while the Devils won in OT over Chicago and the Flyers picked up a regulation point.

  • Tomorrow’s opponent, Utah reversed an 0-2 deficit to the Sabres to win 5-2. [NHL]
  • Uh-oh: Thatcher Demko is injured again. [Sportsnet]
  • I guess the Predators and Penguins are in Sweden. [NHL]
  • Are Utah and Anaheim really this good? [ESPN]
  • Bourne: What’s truly ailing the Leafs? (Whatever it is, I assure you “it starts with me.”) [Sportsnet]
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...islanders-in-vegas-news-shabanov-inching-back
 
Islanders 4, Vegas 3 (OT): Pageau’s shorthanded stunner caps win

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The Islanders pulled off multiple stunning escapes to take both points in Las Vegas, capped by J-G Pageau’s dramatic shorthanded solo effort to win the game in overtime, 4-3.

Twice when things looked set for a loss, the Isles flipped the script, including Mat Barzal tying it with 2:37 left in regulation after his team had blown an opening 2-0 lead. Even that lead itself was against the grain, as Vegas got the first six shots on net in the game before the Isles somehow emerged from the first period with that two-goal lead.

Through it all, Ilya Sorokin made fantastic saves, occasionally aided by his posts, on the way to another win over the Golden Knights.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

Emil Heineman opened scoring at 14:03 of the first with his sneaky release from distance…

HORVAT TO HEINEMAN! #Isles | @Ford pic.twitter.com/DcQgCF8pZF

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 14, 2025
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That was the first hint it might be an against-the-grain night. Then four minutes later, Matthew Schaefer sizzled a wrister through traffic to cash in on a late power play. (And yes, that caption says he’s now tied with Cale Makar for the league lead in goals among defensemen. He’s 18.)

MATTHEW SCHAEFER 🗣️

He's now tied with Cale Makar for the League lead in goals by a defenseman with six! pic.twitter.com/O4nyvdVJdt

— NHL (@NHL) November 14, 2025
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The second period was not a case of the Isles sitting on the lead, but rather the teams alternating five power plays without converting. It seemed the Isles could be headed toward a good position in the third until Shea Theodore finally broke through for Vegas with just over a minute remaining in the period, sending the game to the second intermission at 2-1.

Shots on goal in the third period were only 8-5 Vegas, but the Knights were tilting the ice as they tied it at 8:23 on a Tomas Hertl rebound after some dangerous setups down low. Then they pulled ahead at 10:45 after Reilly Smith finished a sequence he started with a nifty move.

Reilly Smith picks up his 300th point with the Golden Knights with the lead goal in the third#VegasBorn   | @GoldenKnights pic.twitter.com/GVHaYeSRi5

— VegasHockeyFreak (@VGKHockeyFreak) November 14, 2025
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Things looked ominous at that point. Patrick Roy even made a thinly found, desperate challenge for goalie interference: Kyle Palmieri had been pushed into Ilya Sorokin’s area, but it was hard to find anything more than a paper argument for that being a factor. The video review quickly rejected the challenge, and the Isles were now on the penalty kill already trailing by a goal.

I figured the Isles had fully coughed up a 2-0 lead they didn’t totally deserve, and blown their chance to walk out of Vegas with a point or two, and a Golden Knights power play insurance goal would finish them off.

But things were far from over. Barzal tied it on a one-timer, set up by Schaefer and aided heavily by Anders Lee’s disruptive net-front presence…

MATHEW BARZAL TIES THE GAME LATE 😳 pic.twitter.com/2GnLX7ATUr

— NHL (@NHL) November 14, 2025
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Then they survived some scares during the final two minutes to make it to overtime, which itself was a glorious, chaotic back-and-forth scramble at both ends. Sorokin made some outstanding stops and also had some post luck.

In one desperate sequence, the Isles “changed” way too early to stem a Vegas counterattack, and they were called for too many men on the ice. They’d spend essentially the final two minutes of overtime shorthanded, if they could even survive the 4-on-3.

Enter Pageau, pursued by a bear.

Thomas Hickey on the MSG broadcast talked about how hard it is to win a 3-on-4 faceoff when you have no support. Then he saluted Pageau, who won the draw by himself, somehow completed the defensive zone exit on his own, rushed up ice, used a “I’m just gonna burn some time” decoy before launching a shot that ramped off a defending Mitch Marner’s stick and over Akira Schmid’s shoulder for the stunning, improbable, shorthanded winner.

JG PAGEAU! SHG OT WINNER! HOLY SHIT! pic.twitter.com/NFHwLj3NZo

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) November 14, 2025
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What just happened? That just happened.

The sustained post-game mob celebration captured the moment and the full-team effort. The Isles had come back from the dead a couple of times and secured two crucial points on a daunting road trip. Their third road win in a row — following two local wins at the Rangers and Devils — means they are in position to make this a successful trip but will go no worse than 3-4 if they crater over the next four.

Up Next​


Speaking of which, it’s back to back on the road here, with Friday night in Salt Lake City.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/game-recaps/43172/islanders-vs-vegas-recap-pageau-overtime
 
Islanders Gameday News: Back-to-back concludes in Utah

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If you didn’t stay up late last night, you missed quite the stirring against-script conclusion. Shorthanded in OT, having blown a 2-0 lead and then scored a late 6-on-5 goal just to make it to extra time, the Isles pulled off another one on the back of Ilya Sorokin and a tremendous individual play by J-G Pagaeu.

Now they try to keep this road streak rolling tonight in Utah.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • About last night: Taking a shot in Vegas. [Newsday | LHH | Post | NHL]
  • Post-game takeaways. [Isles]
  • The Skinny: “Matthew Schaefer now has 14 points, tying David Chyzowski for second among 18-year-olds in club history, trailing only Tim Connolly (34); he tied Gerald Diduck for the second-highest assist total (8) among Islander teenage defensemen.” Also: “Ilya Sorokin earned his 131st win, passing Rick DiPietro for 3rd in club history.” [Isles]
  • Not real sure about that (unless “contend” just means for a wild card spot, a playoff round or two): Isles can contend if Mathieu Darche adds pieces. [Newsday]
  • Behind the marketing of and instant buzz around Matthew Schaefer. [Newsday]
  • Islanders dynasty members who were there remember Larry Brooks, longtime Post reporter who passed away at 75 from goddamned cancer. [Post]
  • Tony DeAngelo also paid tribute. [Post]

Elsewhere​


Last night’s other nine scores included the Capitals falling to the Panthers and the Blue Jackets outlasting the Oilers, also the Bruins finally lost.

  • Pretty cool: How some specific in-shoe/skate sensor technology aided Gabriel Landeskog’s long, long comeback. [TSN]
  • Adjust your fantasies: Auston Matthews is on IR for a week at least. [NHL]
  • Jim Rutherford on to rebuild or not to rebuild. [Sportsnet]
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...s-gameday-news-back-to-back-concludes-in-utah
 
Islanders 3, Mammoth 2 (OT): Another one down

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Hey all, good to be back writing recaps! I spent the early part of the season in Tokyo, so the disastrous 0-3 start to the season happened in the early morning for me. It’s a weird experience to get notifications on Islanders goals while eating breakfast.

But like I said, good to be back, and even better to get to see Matthew Schaefer play hockey. That nifty little move he pulled bouncing the puck off the boards (twice!) to get out of the zone and create an odd-man rush is just another example of how special he is as a player beyond the goals and points he’s putting up directly.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick | HockeyViz]

The game did not start nicely for the Islanders, who really looked like a team that played last night as David Rittich had to turn away 9 shots just 6 minutes into the first period.

Adam Boqvist took a holding penalty, but that was negated around 15 seconds in by Adam Pelech, who drew a penalty, sending Logan Cooley to the box and giving us some 4 on 4 hockey. On that 4 on 4, Emil Heineman improved his Salt Lake City fortunes (last season, he was hit by a car here while on a scooter) and deflected a bouncing puck past Karel Vejmelka to make it 1-0 Islanders.

View Link

Then, it looked like Clayton Keller might have tied the game, but Rittich got a piece of the puck, deflecting it under the bar but not past the goal line, overturning an initial goal call on the ice. Not too long after that, though, the Mammoth would tie the game for real, as JJ Peterka deflected the puck in past Rittich.

The Islanders went to the power play after Utah had too many men on the ice, but they couldn’t convert. Then, Matthew Schaefer went to the box for interference, followed closely behind by Simon Holmstrom for putting the puck over the glass, giving Utah a nearly full two minute 5 on 3 power play, which Dylan Guenther converted on to make it 2-1 Utah.

In the second period, the Isles had some chances early, but couldn’t take advantage. Mathew Barzal had his shot saved on a 2 on 1, and Casey Cizikas missed the net while out in front of Vejmelka.

Barzal drew a penalty on Logan Cooley, and despite some good chances, the power play couldn’t convert.

Schaefer took a low hit and left the ice limping, and then left the bench briefly, but then returned seemingly okay.

Tony DeAngelo took a high sticking penalty, and the Isles killed it, but closed out the second period still down a goal.

In the third, Calum Ritchie took a tripping penalty, and Holmstrom had a shorthanded chance blocked. DeAngelo went to the box again shortly after, for hooking.

Schaefer blocked a shot and was with the trainer after, but did play his next shift.

After the back to back kills, Jack McBain went to the box for interference. Holmstrom had a great chance, but Vejmelka made the save, and ultimately the Mammoth killed the penalty.

Jonathan Drouin kicked the puck and it deflected off Nate Schmidt and into the net. Originally on the ice it was called a good goal, then no goal for the kick, and then it went under review, which deemed it a good goal. While the goal was under review, Tony DeAngelo picked up a 10 minute misconduct penalty.

View Link

Rittich made a great save on Mikhail Sergachev to keep the game tied late. Schaefer had a good chance but shot the puck wide, and Vejmelka stopped a Horvat wraparound, and so in back to back games, the Islanders picked up a point and headed to overtime.

In overtime, Barzal set up Schaefer for the overtime winner, a one-timer past Vejmelka.

View Link

Up Next​


Next, the Islanders head to Colorado to take on the Avalanche on the 16th as the gauntlet road trip continues.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/game-recaps/43190/islanders-vs-utah-schaefer-overtime
 
Weird Islanders: The Podcast! – Episode 74 – Josef Vašíček (with guest Sab)

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Joined again by their friend Sab, Mike and Dan remember Josef Vašíček, the big, versatile, likeable center who left us far too early in the Lokomotiv airplane disaster.

Vašíček only spent one season on Long Island, but he made a lot of fans in that short time, bringing goals and a big smile to a patchwork team about to enter a full rebuild. In Al Arbour’s historic return game, it was Vašíček who led the Islanders to a victory in front of a packed house and the legendary coach. In a season that isn’t fondly remembered or marked by consistency, Big Joe was one of the team’s most reliable players.

Years before that, he made his reputation playing for the Hurricanes at both their bizarre beginnings and in their best seasons. He was part of their Stanley Cup finals team in 2002 and, after a quick jaunt to Nashville, was on their championship team in 2006. As usual, Vašíček contributed positively on the ice, even if it wasn’t with a goal or an assist.

Following his time with the Islanders, he signed on with the nascent KHL so that he could play closer to his home in Slovakia. Even there, he helped lead Lokomotiv to the first Gagarin Cup finals and proved he could win anywhere. Tragically, in September of 2011, Vašíček died as the team’s plane crashed soon after take-off, killing 44 passengers. The shocking loss of life still reverberates to this day, especially for those of us who were fans of the many players on board, including and especially Josef Vašíček.

Sab tells us about his memories of and connection to Vašíček through the years, including some rare personal stories that might be forgotten. As always, we thank him for coming on and for his invaluable YouTube channel, which is packed to the gills with Islanders history.

To hear more of our conversation with Sab about Lou, Kashawn Aitcheson and other topics, head over to our Patreon and sign up for the Country Club tier to access our latest Weird Islanders Extra! bonus podcast.

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL

  • Vašíček was an important player in the early history of the Carolina Hurricanes, helping the franchise break out of the shadow of the Hartford Whalers. In both their Stanley Cup runs of the early 2000’s, he played a vital role as a checker and occasional scorer, and is well remembered among fans and writers.
  • The versatile (and large) Vašíček was just what GM Garth Snow and coach Ted Nolan wanted for the 07-08 Islanders.
  • Vašíček had a great game on November 3, 2007 against the Penguins, which was Al Arbour’s 1500th game behind the Islanders bench:

  • Here’s the post game ceremony for the coach and his new banner
  • Vašíček also had two points, including an assist on Trent Hunter’s overtime winner, in an eventful (aka bonkers) game in Atlanta against the Thrashers in February of 2008.
  • “Big Joe” was well-liked everywhere he played and left an impression. Here’s the Kraft Hockeyville video Sab mentioned, where Vašíček met up with some friends from an old stomping ground.
  • He brought all of those skills to Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the KHL and became a leader on the ice as well as they went to the first Gagarin Cup finals.
  • On Sept. 7, 2011, a plane carrying the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv KHL team crashed soon after takeoff. Among the 44 people aboard who died were NHLers Vašíček, Pavol Demitra, Karel Rachunek, Karlis Skrastins, Ruslan Salei, Igor Korolev and former Islanders Alexander Karpovsev and assistant coach Brad McCrimmon. It was an unspeakable tragedy then and now. What started out as confusing became a time of great sadness and reflection for those left in its wake.
  • Here’s a video of various Vašíček highlights from his one season as an Islander. The big center often made it look too easy.

What makes a “Weird Islander?”

We’re always open to suggestions about other Weird Islanders to discuss. Remember the criteria. Candidates must fulfill one of the two of the following:

  • Played one (1) season or less for the Islanders or very short stints over multiple seasons.
  • Be a veteran NHLer who is not generally associated with his time on Islanders.

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All Islanders Anxiety podcasts are available on:

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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/ny...-vasicek-guest-sab-hurricanes-lokomotiv-crash
 
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