RSS Islanders Team Notes

Islanders Anxiety – Episode 356 – Calming the Waters

Islanders_Anxiety_Art___2023.jpg


Mike and Dan recap a productive week for the Islanders and celebrate the performances of Ilya Sorokin, Anthony Duclair and Simon Holmstrom.

The Islanders grabbed five of a possible six points in three very different games this week. One was a blowout that starred Duclair and also required 44 saves from Sorokin, giving him a new franchise record. The other was a tight shootout loss in Nashville that could have gone either way right up to the end. And the last was the rarest of all Islanders games – a win in Minnesota that was both a breakout game for Holmstrom and an even better performance for Sorokin than the shutout was. We asked for breathing room and got a tiny bit of it as some divisional rivals struggled.

In the second half, we look at the heart and dangers of their latest long road trip that takes them to Central and Western Canada. We also debut a new feature for our PBS system, Master Sens Theatre, in which some (alleged) Telenovela-esque drama comes to Canada’s capital and the team’s ham-handed way of squashing it just makes it worse. Finally, we get to laugh at both the Devils, and their continued sulking about a trade that didn’t involve them, and the Rangers, who had a bad week and an even worse weekend that was full of the kind of “BS” they were supposed to be without this season.

REFERENCES


Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more. Or follow us for free to get announcements and our weekly release calendar. Try a free 7-Day trial of our Country Club tier to sample what we offer.

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.
  • The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.
  • Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.
  • Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).

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.

All Islanders Anxiety podcasts are available on:

Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...holmstrom-sorokin-duclair-master-sens-theatre
 
Islanders Gameday: Into Winnipeg, trust for Boqvist

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The Islanders are in Winnipeg, the Land of Butchie, where the Jets are just above the league basement but have finally won two in a row. Meanwhile, the Jets’ former coach landed a new gig after the NHL’s latest firing.

For the Islanders, a lineup change that is consistent and a non-change that is out of character.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • Lineup news and rationales for tonight: Kyle MacLean goes back in for Max Tsyplakov, with Patrick Roy saying he wants to keep both involved; and Adam Boqvist gets a consecutive game for the first time since November, as Roy says he and the defenseman have talked about “building trust.” [Isles day to day | Preview]
  • Islanders Anxiety podcast: On creating a little breathing room with five out of six points, the road ahead, putting Emil Heineman in a proper role, and more drama in Ontario and around the Metro. [LHH]
  • Prospect Report: Jacob Kvasnicka gets WHL Rookie of the Week twice in a row. [Isles]
  • More on the team outing at Anders Lee’s pond: Here’s the writeup (video and photos linked yesterday). [Isles | Newsday | Post]
  • The Islanders noted that Simon Holmstrom’s big game brought him to 100 NHL points. That puts him in the top 100 of all-time Islanders by points, with Andre St. Laurent and Arron Asham and a whole bunch of defensemen (Lachance, Morrow, Langevin, Martinek…Hickey) next in his sights. [Hockey-Reference]
  • Speaking of whom, Holmstrom’s benefited from being back with J-G Pageau [Post], whose resigning would probably help him. [Newsday]

Elsewhere​


Last night’s scores included the Lightning winning their 10th straight (and sweeping Philly), while the Devils won in Minnesota.

  • FIRED: Dean Evason doesn’t last long in Columbus, is replaced by Rick Bowness at age 70. [AP | NHL]
  • The Smurfs lost again, and dropped the “inconsistent” Alexis Lafreniere in the lineup. [Post]
  • Detroit and Sergei Fedorov finally make up. [Sportsnet]
  • The next (still decentralized) NHL Draft will be hosted in Buffalo. [NHL]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...nders-gameday-into-winnipeg-trust-for-boqvist
 
Jets 5, Islanders 4: Comeback squandered

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The Islanders reversed a 3-0 deficit in the second period but promptly fell behind by two in a sloppily played second period by both sides that typified their Tuesday night in Winnipeg.

The result was a 5-4 regulation loss — the Isles got one back with a sixth attacker after several never-give-up efforts to prevent an empty net goal — and the best news of the night was seeing Matthew Schaefer survive it after needing to leave the ice twice due to impacts.

Ilya Sorokin and Connor Hellebuyck, two of the best goalies in the league, were largely the victim of loose play in front of them, although Hellebuyck should’ve stopped Anthony Duclair’s shot that helped get the Isles back in the game.

In the end, in addition to leaky play in the neutral zone that led to a second-period track meet, the Isles suffered also from another vacant power play (0 for 1) while giving up one on the Jets man advantage, and nearly two.

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

Schaefer took a hit to the ribs or chest or possibly stick to the head on the Jets opening goal and fell to the ice, needing trainer’s help to eventually get up. Talk about a heart attack for Islanders Nation, especially before we saw the replay and realized it wasn’t a leg or knee issue. Schaefer was forced to leave the rink for a bit for concussion protocol, but that did not seem like a real concern by that point.

Schaefer takes a stick up high from Morrissey. pic.twitter.com/X6RlMwBbm0

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 14, 2026
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On that goal, Ilya Sorokin left an easy rebound, but that was likely because two Islanders were right there. Mathew Barzal picked up the rebound and turned to go, but Isles killer Kyle Connor was there to lift his stick from behind and sweep the puck into the open net.

The Isles gave up two in quick succession in the second period: The first was a Josh Morrissey point shot after a rush and mad scramble where Sorokin had made a couple of good saves and tried to fight through screens.

That made it 3-0 just 6:23 into the second period, which felt like it was already 10 minutes of pond hockey with back-and-forth rushes. Duclair got them on the board just over a minute later, and then a soft penalty shot call for Emil Heineman — who hit the crossbar on the live-action play — allowed the #51 to do Frans’ work. His successful penalty shot was a thing of beauty, and Thomas Hickey rightly recalled to the Feast of St. Frans for inspiration.

Emil Heineman with a little shake and bake on the penalty shot! 🕺 pic.twitter.com/rlOGHjQYpX

— NHL (@NHL) January 14, 2026
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Kyle MacLean — yes, that guy! — finished the three-goal comeback 90 seconds later after a great Casey Cizikas forecheck, takeaway and pass to the slot. But the loose play returned, or should I say continued.

Dylan DeMelo’s point shot found its way in for a Jets 4-3 lead two minutes later. Sorokin’s blocker was clearly impeded by a Jet in the crease and the Isles challenged but were denied. It’s a 50/50 since the Jet didn’t initiate contact, but he was in the crease which did keep Sorokin from getting his stick arm/blocker set. Patrick Roy was puzzled by the decision and shared his opinion with officials during the next TV timeout.

The Isles survived the ensuing power play — though a goal had to be called off after Mark Scheifele knocked it in with his glove. An easy call, but also symptomatic of the Isles being exposed by multiple Jets left free on the doorstep during several man advantages.

Hockey gods provided the insurance goal, with another screen shot changing direction just enough off Adam Lowry’s leg to elude Sorokin.

After a tame third period, Schaefer finally got one back to get the Isles within one with 45 seconds left. It was his 13th goal at age 13, and Barzal’s 26th assist of the season. The Isles made one more push, but it wasn’t meant to be on this night.

Still, it was good to see Schaefer out there again in critical minutes and contributing. If the protocol exit wasn’t scary enough, he took a shot later off the side of his knee that left him limping off. The officials blew the whistle before the Isles got real possession, prompting boos from the Jets crowd and a rant from Scott Arniel.

Matthew Schaefer struggling after blocking a shot. pic.twitter.com/tF76ZIUGNc

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 14, 2026
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Up Next​


The Isles stay in Canada a bit as the seven-game trip continues. Next stop: Alberta, with Edmonton on Thursday and Calgary on Saturday.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/game-recaps/43755/jets-5-islanders-4-comeback-squandered
 
OH MAN what a roller coaster of emotions this week has been!! That Wild game was absolutely BEAUTIFUL - Holmstrom finally showing up when it matters and Sorokin being an absolute WALL. That's the kind of hockey that makes you proud to be an Isles fan even when we're getting outplayed for stretches.

But then Winnipeg happens and I'm sitting here pulling my hair out. You're up 3-0 and you let them back in? Against a team that's been in the basement most of the season?? Come on boys!! The second period was painful to watch - looked like a beer league game with all that back and forth nonsense.

And don't even get me started on the power play. 15.3% conversion rate is absolutely PATHETIC for a team with Barzal and Schaefer. Like how do you have that much talent on the ice and can't figure out how to put the puck in the net with a man advantage?? It's maddening!!

Speaking of Schaefer though - kid's a STUD. Watching him take those hits and come back out there to score in the final minute? That's the kind of heart this team needs. 13 goals at 18 years old is insane. The future is bright with this kid.

The pond hockey pics at Lee's place were awesome too. Love seeing the boys having fun and staying loose on a long road trip. That team chemistry matters.

Sorokin continues to be absolutely elite. Dude is carrying this team on his back some nights. If the power play ever figures itself out, watch out Metro division!!
 
Islanders Gameday: Stopping for oil

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The Islanders’ road train is in Alberta for the end of the week, with a meeting vs. the Oilers in Edmonton on the docket.

The goalie matchup looks like Ilya Sorokin opposite Connor Ingram. It appears the lineup will remain the same as the 5-4 loss in Winnipeg, including Max Tsyplakov as a scratch and Anthony Duclair riding up top next to Anders Lee and Mat Barzal.

#Isles at morning skate
Lee-Barzal-Duclair
Drouin-Ritchie-Heineman
Shabanov-Pageau-Holmstrom
MacLean-Cizikas-Gatcomb
Extra: Tsyplakov
Schaefer-Pulock
Pelech-DeAngelo
Boqvist-Mayfield
Extra: McWard
Sorokin (starter’s net)
Rittich

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) January 15, 2026
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First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News

  • Previewing tonight: After an up-and-down start, the Oilers season is back on track. [Isles]
  • Cole McWard remains out of the lineup but has been selected for the AHL All-Star Game. [THN]
  • Skating fight! Who has the correct number of “t’s” in their name is the best skater, Mathew Barzal or Matthew Schaefer? [Newsday | Island Ice podcast]
  • Schaefer, by the way, is okay after a couple of dings in Winnipeg. [Post]
  • Danny Nelson and Quinn Finley reflect on going to the Spaengler Cup in Switzerland. [Isles]
  • Ranking all the “prospects” under 23: The Islanders have several on the list, for a change. Schaefer (#4, “Tier 2”), Kashawn Aitchesan (#36, “Tier 6”), Calum Ritchie (#47, also “Tier 6”), Victor Eklund (#49), Nelson (#99), and so on… [Athletic]

Elsewhere​


Only four games last night, with Buffalo and Ottawa both picking up wins.

  • Tee hee: Rangers are “falling apart,” season “spiraling out of control.” [Post]
  • Lots of speculation around Artemi Panarin as the Smurfs’ season swirls down the toilet bowl. [TSN]
  • How the Olympics affect potential trade activity. [NHL]
  • How an elder from each team is faring. [Sportsnet]
  • The Leafs are trying to act like it’s no big deal seeing Mitch Marner again. [Sportsnet]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/islanders-news-headlines/43762/islanders-gameday-stopping-for-oil
 
Islanders 1, Oilers 0: Sorokin makes 36 saves in shutout

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After an even first period, the Edmonton Oilers really took over the game tonight and the New York Islanders looked lost. But while Connor Ingram was pretty good for the Oilers, turning away 17 of 18 shots, he was no Ilya Sorokin.

Sorokin rebounded nicely from a rough night in Winnipeg, picking up his fifth shutout of the season and extending his franchise record total, all while turning away 36 shots and getting a little help from the post and crossbar along the way. He was by far the best player on the ice for the Islanders tonight, and it was his play that ultimately made the Isles’ one power play tonight an impactful one.

On that power play, Anthony Duclair scored the game winner, giving him a goal in back to back games for the first time this season.

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

This game could’ve been very different early on, as Marc Gatcomb had two chances saved by Connor Ingram after Kyle MacLean set him up on a breakaway early.

And at the other end, Ilya Sorokin made a great save on Connor McDavid, who came into the game with a 20 game point streak.

It was all about the goalies in the first period, with Sorokin and Ingram both making 12 saves to keep the game scoreless.

But in the second period, Edmonton turned up the heat, peppering Sorokin with 13 shots to the Islanders’ measly four.

Adam Pelech took a late slashing penalty that carried over into the third period, and the Islanders killed that with some excitement along the way. It looked like Evan Bouchard had scored, and the goal light and associated celebrations started, but it actually hit both the post and the crossbar and never went past the goal line. This happened in another game fairly recently, so some hockey god seems to be looking out for the Isles right now.

Emil Heineman took a tripping penalty, and the Islanders were able to kill that.

Then, Leon Draisaitl took a penalty for tripping Matthew Schaefer, and the Islanders would get a power play with eight minutes to go in the third.

On that power play, Mat Barzal passed the puck off to a stick-tapping Cal Ritchie at the goal line, who did a slight spin around to back pass(!!) the puck to Anthony Duclair in the slot. Duclair snapped the puck past Ingram, and the Islanders took the lead, breaking the deadlock. That secondary assist was also Barzal’s 500th NHL point.

View Link

The Oilers pulled Ingram, and Draisaitl put the puck off the bar with about 30 seconds to go, missing a nearly sure goal. The Isles couldn’t score on the empty net, but they were able to seal the win (their first in Edmonton since 2017) and Sorokin’s 27th career shutout.

Up Next​


Next, the Western Canada Road Trip Extravaganza continues as the Islanders head to Calgary to take on the Flames at 3pm EST on Saturday.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/ga...ders-vs-oilers-sorokin-duclair-barzal-ritchie
 
Islanders vs. Flames Matinee News: In praise of Ilya; Bo still home

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I am still reeling from that Ilya Sorokin performance on Thursday in Edmonton. Ye gods, that was a masterpiece.

But anyway, on to the next one. The Islanders are in Calgary for an afternoon meeting, and David Rittich will start against his former team (though as he noted, there aren’t a lot of former teammates in the other room).

The Flames are a couple steps above the Western basement and seven points below the final wild card spot. They’ve been better-ish of late (5-5 in their last 10) but are still expected to basically tread water for the lottery.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • With no Bo Horvat, the Isles are getting by on great goaltending. [Newsday]
  • Some timely improvement from Anthony Duclair has also helped. [Post]
  • Takeaways, Barzal on Sorokin: “There’s not enough words to describe how good that guy is.” [Isles]
  • More discussion of Sorokin on the Tri-State podcast with Arthur Staple. [YouTube]
  • Confirmed now, Horvat will not be joining them on this trip. [Post]

Here’s a selection of practice media availabilities from yesterday, including Tony DeAngelo noting that Adam Pelech “may look like a stay-at-home defenseman, but he breaks out like an offensive defenseman,” and Andrew Gross asking Czech David Rittich if he’s “a sentimental guy” as he returns to Calgary:

Today’s opponent: Presented without comment, other than to be rude earworm for your afternoon:

Elsewhere​


Last night’s scores included Carolina thumping Florida NINE to one and Tampa Bay finally losing, but still getting a regulation point.

  • Another letter! Chris Drury signed a letter to fans about the Smurfs disaster, and I believe he actually wrote it because it was worded weirdly and included em dashes and en dashes within the same sentence. It’s weird how J.T. Miller did not save them. [NHL]
  • Dean Evason was blindsided by his firing in Columbus. [Sportsnet]
  • Supposedly trade talks are heating up for Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson. [TSN]
  • This is an old story resurrected, but: How Moncton got Ted Nolan back into coaching, and eventually a call from the Isles. [Sportsnet]
  • The Sabres are feeling the magic. [AP]
  • Bourne: Why the Leafs have trouble holding leads. [Sportsnet]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...ders-vs-flames-barzal-duclair-sorokin-rittich
 
Flames 4, Islanders 2: The yin and the yang in Alberta

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Some nights your goalie stands on his head and stuns an offense led by the most dangerous forward in the world, some afternoons you’re down 4-0 before the other team has gotten its 12th shot.

The Islanders lost 4-2 in Calgary despite outshooting and outchancing the Flames, though still making enough mistakes to do themselves in. They outshot the Flames in the first period 10-4, then gave up a second goal early in the second right after Jonathan Drouin missed a golden chance to tie it. The Flames added two more by the midway point to basically put the game out of reach.

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

After Yan Kuznetsov made it 4-0, J-G Pageau did answer with a sizzler just 32 seconds later to open a little daylight. The building was still announcing Kuznetsov’s goal, and few seemed to realize Pageau’s shot scored.

That’s just a wicked shot from Pageau. Fooled everybody. #Isles pic.twitter.com/5ztVq0j3fZ

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) January 17, 2026
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But overall, the Isles’ chances were rarely dangerous enough, even after pulling David Rittich (15 saves on 19 shots) for a sixth attacker with eight minutes left to go, a stretch that included a power play to skate 6-on-4.

On me for not expressing question correctly but I tried to ask Patrick Roy if he uses analytics or his gut more in determining when is the right time to pull a goalie for an extra skater. Don't think he got what I was asking: "I don't give a shit about analytics, to be honest."

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) January 17, 2026
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Anders Lee added one consolation goal to reach the 300-goal milestone with three minutes left, while Dustin Wolf narrowly missed getting a goalie goal despite all that time and the fat lead to chase one.

Overall, it just wasn’t the Islanders’ day, and it felt like a bit of Albertan karmic payback after they stole the two points in Edmonton a day and a half prior (not that aggrieved Oilers nor pleased Flames fans would see it that way).

On this trip, the Islanders are stealing some games against better teams (Minnesota, Edmonton) and finding things difficult against weaker teams (Nashville, Winnipeg, Calgary), and that’s probably just and fitting for a team whose higher-risk approach often turns on whether they’re getting a great 60 minutes from their goalie.

Up Next​


And the next weak team on the docket is Vancouver, where they’ll meet the Canucks late Monday night.

The Canucks are at the bottom of the league with just 37 points. Hell, they’re even worse than the Rangers…someone in British Columbia should write a strongly worded, poorly proofed letter.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...78/flames-vs-islanders-rittich-anders-lee-300
 
Islanders Gameday: Need the points

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The Islanders have two games left on the big seven-game trip, with tonight in Vancouver feeling like a “gotta have it” two points. With the Olympic break nearing, these next two games could be big for not only how the trip ledger balances out but also where the season heads. Dan and Mike talk about that on the latest Islanders Anxiety podcast (along with some epic Master-foe Theatre).

Tonight, it’s an opponent (16-27-5, 37 points) that is so far in the league basement, they’re even 11 points behind the “Strongly Worded Letter” Rangers.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • Day to Day: Ilya Sorokin is due back in net, and it looks like Max Tsyplakov will get a chance next to Cal Ritchie and Emil Heineman, with Max Shabanov coming out. [Isles | THN]
  • Line shuffling for Patrick Roy is a matter of necessity. [Newsday]
  • The Skinny: Anders Lee’s 300th goal was the first for the Islanders since Miro Satan. [Isles]
  • Takeaways from the loss to the Flames: Just didn’t bear down on chances, and what-not. [Isles]
  • Health has been huge for Adam Pelech’s bounce-back season. [Post]
  • Roy isn’t worried about Cal Ritchie hitting a rookie wall. [Post]
  • He’s not worried about analytics either. [Post]
  • On Isaiah George working back into form following multiple injury stints. [THN]
  • Catching up with Wade Dubielewicz, who’s loving life. On poke-checks, which were a massive part of his game: “I was an undersized goalie, not in the greatest physical condition either.” [Isles]
  • R.I.P. Phil Goyette, 92, the first coach of the Islanders who made his mark as a Cup-winning Canadien, Lady Byng-winning Blue and briefly a player with some other team. [NHL]

Elsewhere​


Yesterday’s scores were few — evidently there were other sports in action? — but they included Detroit getting an OT win with Ottawa picking up the consolation point.

  • We have a trade: Rasmus Andersson finally gets his trade, and the Flames finally get their price, from Vegas: Zach Whitecloud, a first-rounder and a second that could become a first if Vegas wins the Cup. [NHL]
  • An original Knight, Whitecloud is excited to be a Flame. [Sportsnet]
  • Craig Conroy felt the time was right to make the deal, with Andersson saying he would not entertain sign-and-trade scenarios. [Sportsnet]
  • Will that trade, and the Rangers throwing in the towel, open up the trade market a bit? [Sportsnet]
  • Ol’ friend Nick Leddy is on waivers, again. [NHL]
  • Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchment are close to returning for the Panthers. [TSN]
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...ders-flames-sorokin-tsyplakov-andersson-trade
 
Islanders Anxiety – Episode 357 – Putting Guys on Watch

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Mike and Dan recap a week of bizarre Islanders games and bring forth an epic Master Leaf Theatre/Ranger Piece Theater double feature with special guest Dominik Jansky.

The Western Canada portion of their road trip has seen one exhilarating and miraculous win and two disappointing losses full of missed opportunities. By playing in fits and starts, the Islanders kept themselves alive but haven’t yet fully crossed over the line and made themselves safe in the playoff hunt. After a strange near blowout/comeback/deflating loss in Winnipeg, they took a 1-0 win in Edmonton thanks to a tremendous Ilya Sorokin performance and a timely powerplay goal (!). They followed that up with a sloppy loss in Calgary where they looked almost guilty for stealing one elsewhere in the province. It all leads to the final two games of the trip – in Vancouver tonight and Wednesday in Seattle (on TNT) – to determine how the pre-Olympics schedule shakes out. Two wins and they’re in good shape. Two losses and it’s time to worry. Throw in a home return game against the Sabres and it’s a lot of weight to put on three winnable-on-paper contests. So players who’ve been quiet on the scoresheet will need to step up, even if they get Bo Horvat back.

In the second half, we welcome back friend and Lighthouse Hockey founder Dominik Jansky to read an amazing edition of Master Leaf Theatre, in which “The Charles Dickens of Master Leaf Theatre” goes on a stalking trip to find out what life is like in Las Vegas for Mitch Marner before his first game against the Leafs. What we find is a normal guy working in a new city, which, of course, is impossible to comprehend when you only think about living in Toronto. We also get some audio clips of a pissy pre-game Auston Matthews and a mysterious “Mikey from Long Island” who called into Sportsnet’s Real Kyper & Bourne Show.

But, wait! There’s more! (after a second commercial break). We also have Dom read pieces for a brand new Ranger Piece Theater about that team’s latest white flag letter that no one is buying as the start of a new retool. Owner James Dolan is repeating himself and GM Chris Drury inches closer to Mike Milbury territory. And only one man has the guts to call this latest gambit what it truly is: APPLESAUCE.

REFERENCES

Master Leaf Theatre material:


Ranger Piece Theater material:


Also: This great piece on Wade Dubielewicz by Cory Wright


Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more. Or follow us for free to get announcements and our weekly release calendar. Try a free 7-Day trial of our Country Club tier to sample what we offer.

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.
  • The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.
  • Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.
  • Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).

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.

All Islanders Anxiety podcasts are available on:

Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...arner-master-leaf-letter-ranger-piece-theatre
 
Islanders 4, Canucks 3: Got the points, but barely

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The Islanders needed to win in Vancouver — home of the last-place Canucks — and they did but it was not pretty nor reassuring as they squeaked by with a comeback 4-3 victory over a team that was winless in its last 10 coming in.

Anthony Duclair continued his One Hot Road Trip with a pair of important goals, while a couple goals from the defense provided the go-ahead and then insurance they ended up needing to get both points.

Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves for his well-earned 16th victory of the season.

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

Things started ominously when the Canucks opened scoring inside three minutes. Someone by the name of Max Sasson — no relation to the jeans brand for whom Ron Duguay sold his last thread of pride — scored his 10th goal of the season on a tic-tac-toe cross-slot passing play by Vancouver.

Thankfully, Duclair is alive and well and appears fully healed from last season’s major groin injury. The winger finished again from two identical spots to recent goals. The first tied the game at 1-1 from the right wing circle after a cross-slot pass by Tony DeAngelo. It’s good to see Duclair moving around to smart, dangerous places, getting fed, and burying them. With Kyle Palmieri done for the season for quite some time, this would be a welcome awakening.

But Evander Kane regained the Canucks’ lead, tipping in a point shot shortly after he was robbed by Ilya Sorokin on a clear-cut breakaway.

Evander Kane gets stopped by Ilya Sorokin on the breakaway.

🎥: Sportsnet | #Canucks pic.twitter.com/SzHH6WqAPG

— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) January 20, 2026
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For a moment, it looked like Matthew Schaefer had tied it on yet another sweeeet play by the 18-year-old, but an easy challenge was upheld since he had stepped over the blueline just a beat before Simon Holmstrom carried the puck across. So instead, the Isles headed to the intermission trailing 2-1, despite a few more late chances.

Very unfortunate this was offside, Schaefer had some fun with a Canucks fan right after pic.twitter.com/7gZkClzcSW

— MF Isles (@MF1sles) January 20, 2026
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Late in the second, and just when things were starting to feel dreadful, the Isles finally tied it on another Duclair re-run: This time he made the Isles power play look competent again, re-enacting his one-timer from the left low slot after another setup from Cal Ritchie.

Ritchie to Duclair for a PPG🚨is becoming a thing. #Isles
pic.twitter.com/wtg5mpVdJp

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) January 20, 2026
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That was at 14:34, and just over a minute later the Isles got the go-ahead goal that made it feel like balance with the Force had been restored against the league’s 32nd-place team. Ryan Pulock walked down the slot on a simple setup from Schaefer and wristed his second goal of the season to give the Isles a 4-2 lead.

Pulock!!! pic.twitter.com/Bjbcc01VjP

— YESUV🚙 (@IslesWhiteSUV) January 20, 2026
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Alas, the Islanders started the third looking like they wanted to promptly give the lead back. They survived an early Canucks push, however, which set them up to squander some 5-on-3 time.

After Drew O’Connor went off for tripping DeAngelo, Tyler Meyers made it a two-man advantage with an obvious crosscheck on Emil Heineman. Often, they ignore that blatant penalty to avoid creating a 5-on-3 opportunity (especially since O’Connor had a penalty complaint right before he was whistled), but the Canucks are in last place, so the officials act like they deserve their fate.

The Isles did okay with the 5-on-3, which got even more appetizing when Elias Pettersson broke his stick, but their passing was always just a bit off, and they never pulled a trigger in full stride. Right as O’Connor came out of the box, he had a breakaway stopped by Sorokin, but it was moot since play was called dead for a hand pass.

After the dust cleared, the Islanders finally started to look like they were playing an organized, disciplined game again. Sustained pressure and cycling from the top line led to a DeAngelo insurance goal setup by good work around the net from Barzal and Anders Lee.

Unreal shift from the first line leads to a DeAngelo goal! #Isles pic.twitter.com/iOYPIQrLAd

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) January 20, 2026
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The Canucks pulled goalie Kevin Lankinen with nearly five minutes left, which to my mind meant they should please the hockey gods by prioritizing attempts at a goalie goal or a Duclair hat trick.

But none was in the offing. The Isles missed a few openings, and Schaefer had a long try called for icing, then the Canucks worked the puck around the zone for a solid minute. It ended with a point shot deflected in by O’Connor to cut the lead to one.

Things remained hairy for the final 1:51 that followed, with Pettersson continuing to win every key faceoff and the Canucks creating traffic that tested every Gumby limb in Sorokin’s arsenal.

It was not pretty, but they got the regulation win, rewarding everyone who stayed up to suffer through it till 12:35 a.m. EST.

Up Next​


One more border crossing and game to go on this trip, as the Isles are in Seattle to meet the Kraken on Wednesday.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/game-recaps/43808/islanders-canucks-sorokin-duclair
 
Islanders vs. Kraken Gameday News: Getaway day

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They’re almost finished! The Islanders will finish their season-long seven-game road trip in Seattle tonight, with a chance to make it 4-2-1, which would be a success no matter how they get there.

Seattle has lost three in a row and is just outside the wild card in the West. But they feel like they’re healthy for the first time all season. (Don’t wanna hear it, try losing a top-six winger and top-four D for the whole season.)

Reminder that tonight’s 9:30 start is on TNT/HBO Max. First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • Previewing tonight: The rematch of an epic…1-0 shootout win in November on Long Island. [Isles]
  • The Islanders are hoping to end this road trip with two victories. They’re halfway there. [Newsday]
  • The secret to Anthony Duclair’s recent surge is he did what any of us would do when slumping: try Casey Cizikas’ stick. [Post]
  • Max Tsyplakov’s second season has been a tough one, and being essentially benched in the second half of the game in Vancouver doesn’t help. Patrick Roy wants to use him again (and more) though. [Post]
  • Roy (and players) reflects on two years since his hiring: “I’d rather them see me as a coach than who I was as a player,” Roy said. “Appreciate their respect and everything for what I did, but today it’s about them. And it’s about what can we do as a coaching staff to help these guys.” [Isles]
  • Prospect Report: Kashawn Aitcheson continues to roll. [Isles]
  • ICYMI: This week’s Islanders Anxiety podcast featured an epic MasterLeafs Theater that I personally joined to narrate, because I am a great appreciator of fine literature. [LHH]
  • Matthew Schaefer continues to make history in his rookie year. [THN]
  • Islanders coaching legend John MacLean reflects on (finally) getting into the Devils’ Ring of Honor. [NHL]

Elsewhere​


Last night’s NHL scores include wins for the Canadiens, Senators and the Sabres, who now have an identical record with the Islanders.

This goalie fight between Bobrovsky and Nedejlkovic was warranted and beautiful:

GOALIE FIGHT!!!!

— Hockey Out of Context Loves Canada (@nhloutofcontext.bsky.social) 2026-01-20T02:03:25.705Z
Click to expand...
  • We have a trade to announce: Kiefer Sherwood goes to the Sharks for a couple of picks and such. [NHL]
  • Stan Fischler digs into the archives from 1979 and an interview with the late Glenn Hall on how he became a goalie and developed “the butterfly.” He loved playing on the ponds as a kid: “Forwards didn’t have to worry about staying in their lanes and coaches weren’t around to bother us.” [NHL]
  • How did the Rangers rebuild fail — despite gobs and gobs of good fortune — so badly? By being the Rangers. Team APPLESAUCE. [Gretz Substack]
  • Speaking of which, the Tri-State Hockey Podcast with Arthur Staple takes on the Rangers Applesauce letter, the Islanders road trip and probably something about the Devils, too. [YouTube]
  • Adam Foote receives a vote of confidence from management in Vancouver, and honestly I wouldn’t want to waste an epic tank opportunity either. [NHL]
  • And coincidentally, he called out the team’s veterans for a bad culture after the loss to the Isles. [Sportsnet]
  • Darcy Kuemper is injured again. [Sportsnet]
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...s/43806/islanders-vs-kraken-duclair-aitcheson
 
Kraken 4 (EN), Islanders 1: Listless power play sinks Isles

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Well, that sucked. While the power play has been an issue for this team for a while, with multiple different coaches struggling to find a combination that works consistently on a team that’s struggled to find finishing talent, it still seems like something’s got to change with this current coaching staff.

1-for-7 against the very worst penalty killing team in the NHL is just unacceptable in a game that was this close through most of two periods. The Islanders had their chances and squandered them, and even took lazy penalties of their own to counteract the one power play goal that Anthony Duclair scored. Sure, we’re missing Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri, but it’s not like the power play was great with them, anyway.

One goal just isn’t enough to win games, and there are too many guys like Jonathan Drouin (who hasn’t scored in TWENTY-EIGHT games) getting regular minutes with this team.

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

Anthony Duclair continued his hot streak early, making it 1-0 on the power play, assisted by Cal Ritchie (yet again) and Mat Barzal.

View Link

The Isles went on their second power play of the game shortly after, when Ryan Lindgren was called for tripping, and then got six seconds of 5 on 3 when Anders Lee was taken down in the slot.

Then, the Islanders were called for too many men on the ice, and 45 seconds later Simon Holmstrom took a tripping penalty, giving Seattle 1:15 of 5 on 3 time. Jared McCann put the puck off the post in a close call, and Matty Beniers deflected a Vince Dunn shot to tie the game for the Kraken.

It was all Seattle after that, until Berkley Catton took a hooking penalty. On that power play, the best chance came from Jonathan Drouin, who hit the post.

The second period gave us more even strength hockey, until Dunn made it 2-1 after 13 minutes.

After that, the Islanders got a power play for just eight seconds before Duclair was called for slashing. After 4 on 4, Kaapo Kakko scored right after the tiny Kraken power play expired. It looked like Seattle had iced the puck prior to the goal, but the Islanders didn’t get the call, and the Kraken took advantage.

The Isles got yet another power play as Ryan Winterton went to the box for slashing, but the power play continued to be ineffective against the league’s worst penalty killing team.

Early in the third, Anders Lee took a hooking penalty that the Isles killed. Shortly after that, Chandler Stephenson took a penalty, and the Islanders couldn’t convert on that, either, going 1 for 7 on the power play in the game.

With about 4 minutes left, Patrick Roy pulled Ilya Sorokin for the extra skater, and McCann scored into the empty net to make it 4-1, as the Islanders closed out this road trip with a 3-3-1 record.

Up Next​


Next, the Islanders head home to UBS Arena to take on the suddenly-improved Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, January 24, at 1pm EST. Hopefully they can shake this off with a few days back home and playing in front of the home crowd.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/ga...ken-duclair-dunn-beniers-kakko-mccann-sorokin
 
Weird Islanders: The Podcast! – Episode 79 – Robin Salo (with guest AJ DeVito)

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Joined by Skates at the Stakes’ AJ DeVito, we remember defenseman Robin Salo, who never seemed to get a real chance with the Islanders and then disappeared without a trace.

Many sports fans have their favorite “pet prospects” that they root for to make it in the pros. Not only does AJ count Robin Salo as his favorite draft pick, he was the reason AJ became an Islanders fan in the first place. Highly touted by respected prospect watchers, Salo seemed to have all the tools to become an NHL regular. When he finally got to Long Island, all of that promise went unfilled as he got little playing time over the course of a few years. He would have flashes of talent then disappear for months due to healthy scratches and demotions to lovely Bridgeport. Once Salo finally left the Islanders to sign overseas, it felt like we barely knew him.

AJ tells us about his connection to and affinity for Salo, and we break down the mysteries surrounding him and how it all got so strange. Of course, we also examine the pairing of Robin Salo and Sebastian Aho, two guys who played the same position the same way on the same team and often felt like the same person. Along the way, AJ makes a bold prediction about Salo’s future that we’ll be interested to see come true.

Thanks again to AJ for coming on, and be sure to listen to he, Ryan and Jake at Skates at the Stakes.

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL

  • Of all the Islanders prospects to get spotlighted by Scott Wheeler in his series on “The Gifted,” I don’t think anyone would have guessed Robin Salo would be one. And yet…
  • Maybe ol’ Scott was on to something. Salo made a big leap with Orebro of Liiga in Finland and got his ELC with the Islanders locked down. He would end up being one of the Infamous Innominate Islanders to play in the first ever game at UBS Arena.
  • Salo’s first NHL goal came in a game against the Flyers on ESPN (Warning: contains slight amounts of John Buccigross).

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...-aj-devito-scott-wheeler-sebastian-aho-salaho
 
Islanders News: Resetting before the Olympic break

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The Islanders have emptied their suitcases, reacquainted themselves with family and hopefully got a good nap in as they returned from an epic but so-so seven-game road trip out west. They’ve got seven games left before the Olympic break, all fairly local (trips to D.C. and Philly are as far as they go), and the East remains as congested as ever.

While they were away, the Sabres kept winning and now Pittsburgh, Boston and Buffalo are all ahead of them by a hair. Meetings with those Sabres, the Flyers, Capitals and a home-and-home with the Rangers are on the docket.

One thing that continues to be a puzzle: getting the most out of the Islanders’ two Russian wingers. Max Shabanov returned to the lineup after a one-game scratch — ostensibly to allow Max Tsyplakov some more reps — and with Marc Gatcomb coming out, but the entire team looked sleepy in that final game in Seattle.

How will that situation settle in these next seven games? (Or, as so often happens, will an injury make a temporary decision for them…)

Islanders News​

  • Takeaways from the Seattle loss: The Isles were disappointed in how it ended out west. [Isles]
  • Or three takeaways from the trip, if you will. [Newsday]
  • Island Ice podcast: On Duclair heating up, the road trip overall. [Newsday]
  • Roy reflected on changing the lines a bit to get Shabanov and Tsyplakov in. [Post]
  • This Olympic run-up is a chance to “make a statement.” [THN]
  • Not much made of this yet — minor league moves happen all the time — but it does highlight how rare and lucky the Isles have been to go 25 years with an AHL affiliate in the same location. Once upon a time, there was Fort Worth and Indianapolis and “Capital District” and Denver and Salt Lake City and Springfield (a couple of times), then (not) suddenly a quarter-century in Bridgeport.
They are moving to Hamilton. It's happening.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) January 22, 2026
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#Isles #ReturnoftheRoar
Frank Seravalli has just confirmed that the Bridgeport Islanders are moving to Hamilton, Ontario, next season.

Absolutely gutted for the loyal fans in Bridgeport.

— Kenny Kaminsky (@KennyKaminsky) January 22, 2026
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Elsewhere​


Last night’s scores included some wild ones, with a Steven Stamkos hat trick, Boston scoring 3 in 54 seconds on Vegas, and Pittsburgh scoring 3 in 37 on Edmonton.

  • Why those barbarians in Toronto are going to boo Mitch Marner tonight. [Sportsnet | NHL]
  • Under-the-radar trade targets teams should consider. [Sportsnet]
  • Seattle would listen to offers for Shane Wright. [TSN]
  • The Wild and the Swedes will miss Jonas Brodin, who requires surgery. [TSN]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...43836/islanders-news-bridgeport-hamilton-move
 
Islanders Matinee News: Sabres are good now, Bo’s back

gettyimages-2252271596.jpg


The Islanders are back from the road and primed for that classic “first game after the trip” letdown, although several games on their Western sojourn were a letdown, so hopefully they don’t feel like they can ease into things.

Meeting them this afternoon in Elmont are the Buffalo Sabres, who have been on an absolute tear taking them from the basement to passing the Islanders in the Eastern standings. The roster’s the same, so the fired Kevyn Adams must be wondering what it was about him that they were able to turn it on as soon as the GM was fired.

There was some lineup news from practice yesterday as Bo Horvat was a full participant and is expected to play today. Ryan Pulock, however, is listed as day to day.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • Day to day: Those lineup updates, plus appreciation for Horvat, and an opportunity for Cole McWard if Pulock can’t play. [Isles | Post]
  • “Phenomenal teammate” Tony DeAngelo on turning what could’ve been a blip appearance into a year and counting with the Isles. [Newsday]
  • Athletic “sources” now confirm the prior reports of the Islanders’ plan to move their AHL affiliate from Bridgeport to Hamilton. A few key steps remain, however. [Athletic]
  • On the Island, Episode 4, including Marshall Warren’s debut as family and friends cheer him on:

Last night’s NHL scores included the Flyers, Devils and Capitals picking up wins — and yes, Mitch Marner was booed in Toronto and yes Vegas beat the Leafs.

A “tense” reunion as boos “rained down” on Marner. Barbarians. [Sportsnet]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...ers-news-sabres-bo-horvat-deangelo-bridgeport
 
Sabres 5 (EN), Islanders 0: Home cooked

gettyimages-2257986291.jpg


The Islanders returned home and fell to the surging Sabres in what evolved into a 5-0 blowout after a competitive period and a half.

Bo Horvat returned to the lineup but was one of 13 Islanders shooters who failed to beat Alex Lyon — indeed, Horvat logged four SOG while Emil Heineman had six — and the trio of Mat Barzal, Anders Lee and Anthony Duclair was even benched for the third period. That came after their backchecking sin on Tage Thompson’s goal that made it 2-0 as the second period wound down.

The game was essentially put away 25 seconds into the third, when David Rittich made a stick poke reach that left him unequipped to stop Jason Zucker’s sweeping shot, Zucker’s second goal of the game. After Patrick Roy pulled Rittich for a sixth attacker with over seven minutes to go, Rasmus Dahlin put in an empty netter at 14:02 to make it 4-0, then the Sabres tacked one on less than a minute later for the final margin.

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

The Islanders had a few good chances and looks when it was still close, most notably a Max Shabanov breakaway that Lyon turned away. And it wasn’t a great night for Rittich, who conceded four on 20 shots.

But overall, an unimpressive afternoon for the whole squad. Everyone was on for at least one goal against except Adam Boqvist.

If there was any bright spot, it’s that Horvat returned and looked healthy while logging over 19 minutes.

#Isles Patrick Roy said backchecking doesn't require talent, just will. Obviously he was trying to send a message to the entire bench.

"First of all, I don't like to do this," Roy said. "I'd rather come here and just coach a game and not worry about those things."

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) January 24, 2026
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#Isles Mathew Barzal after being benched for third period for not backchecking on Sabres second goal: "Patrick (Roy) is just doing what he thinks needs to be done to make us a winning team."

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) January 24, 2026
Click to expand...

Up Next​


The Isles are in Philly for a meeting on Tuesday. The Flyers are just two points behind (as are the Leafs, and New Jersey one point behind them), and the Isles’ current run of form is not so hot. They survived the seven-game road trip at .500-ish, but two of their wins were absolute Sorokin Stole-it shows while their defeats left a lot to be desired.

They’ve been riding in playoff position for a while now, but in the congested East they’ll drop back to the outside if they don’t pile up some wins on this pre-Olympic stretch.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/game-recaps/43853/sabres-5-en-islanders-0-home-cooked
 
Islanders Anxiety – Episode 358 – Barely Breathing (Parts 1 & 2)

Islanders_Anxiety_Art___2023.jpg


Mother Nature isn’t the only one capable of bringing down a storm. We had so much to discuss that we broke this episode into two parts.

In Part 1, Mike and Dan find the Islanders at a low point after an average road trip and a disastrous return game.

In three games this week, the Islanders left us with layers of anger and frustration. They finished their trip with two bad games, one that somehow yielded a win and another that landed like a lead balloon. They then came back to UBS Arena to face the surging Sabres and once again no-showed a matinee game full of kids, an all-too familiar scenario for them over the last decade-plus. The Isles are still in a playoff berth as of now, but only because the teams below them are scuffling. Management has made no indications that any changes are coming, and the same assortment of deck chairs keeps getting rearranged, leading to no surprises and predictable outcomes.

A game against a Flyers team hunting for the same playoff berth on Monday is huge for both clubs. The Islanders follow that with back-to-back(!) games against a Rangers team that would love to play spoiler, even as they wave their second white flag in seven years. Then it’s a game against Nashville, that old boogie man. With just two weeks before the Olympic Break, these winnable games will all have an effect on how the rest of the Islanders’ season should be treated.

In Part 2, we react to the first concrete reporting on the Islanders moving their AHL team from Bridgeport, CT to Hamilton, ONT, and also wrap up the Mitch Marner Chronicles in another massive Master Leaf Theatre.

The Bridgeport Islanders leaving their home of over 25 years was first teased months ago, but a recent report in The Athletic put out a lot of details we didn’t know already. While the team has yet to make anything official, we give our initial reactions and concerns about the move, while also feeling sympathy for the fans who supported the Sound Tigers/Baby Islanders organization during an usually long time for one minor league team to stay in one place.

Then it’s on to another epic-length Master Leaf Theatre, as Mitch Marner makes his return to his hometown and his former favorite team’s home rink. As expected, the takes afterward were equal parts dramatic and ridiculous, with some writing about the fan reaction in delusional or Shakespearian terms, and others calling out the evening’s failings, including those of the Leafs themselves in a gutless 6-3 loss. We add some new voices to the Master Leaf Theatre canon, which is always a treat, and enjoy some unexpected twists from classic artists of the genre. We had so much to get to that we forgot to mention the Leafs selling an autographed Marner Knights jersey on the concourse during his return game. That tells you all you need to know about how this “hostile” this environment was.

We’ve done a lot of this over the last two weeks, so we’re going to take a little hiatus unless something crazy happens.

Thanks for listening to this two-part episode. The severe weather impacted us in a few way and this was the best solution.

REFERENCES


Master Leaf Theatre material:


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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...-bridgeport-hamilton-move-master-leaf-theatre
 
Islanders 4, Flyers 0: Pageau strikes twice, Sorokin gets sixth shutout

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There were some lineup swaps tonight with Cal Ritchie (lower body injury) and Simon Holmstrom (illness) out. Max Tsyplakov and Marc Gatcomb drew into the lineup, giving both of them an opportunity to make an impression after a tough game for the Islanders against Buffalo.

The Islanders bounced back tonight in Philadelphia, with JG Pageau scoring twice, including one shorthanded goal, Mat Barzal responding well to his third-period benching with a goal and an assist, and Ilya Sorokin recording his league-leading sixth shutout this season.

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

Early on in the first, though, Tsyplakov’s impact was just a hooking penalty, which the Islanders killed.

Noah Cates went to the box for holding, and we were treated to two very bad mixed up power play units, which bumped Barzal to the second unit, separated from Bo Horvat and Matthew Schaefer. That power play went poorly, and the Flyers killed it.

Then, the other swap in the lineup, Gatcomb, went to the box as well, but JG Pageau scored short handed, assisted by Casey Cizikas.

View Link

In the second period, the Flyers got an early power play after Adam Boqvist was called for high sticking. Before that started, Ilya Sorokin was down in the crease, but seemed to shake it off, after a Matvei Michkov shot hit him in the back of the leg and went in after the whistle blew.

With 30 seconds left on that power play, Scott Mayfield and Owen Tippett were both sent to the box for slashing and crosschecking respectively. The Islanders killed all of that, despite being down two defensemen.

Later, Barzal got a tip on an Isaiah George shot, putting it past Samuel Ersson after some cycling in the Flyers zone.

View Link

Cam York was called for tripping, and the Islanders took advantage of a shorthanded turnover at the blue line and Anthony Duclair passed the puck to Barzal who set up Tony DeAngelo to make it 3-0.

View Link

At the end of the second, Jonathan Drouin took a puck to the face and went right down the tunnel. Drouin came back for the third with some stitches, but otherwise was fine.

Emil Heineman collided with a ref behind the play and labored to the bench, but it wasn’t anything more serious as he played his normal shifts the rest of the game.

Schaefer drew a high sticking penalty, sending Tippett to the box, but the Isles couldn’t convert on the man advantage.

Tsyplakov then set up Pageau for his second of the night (and Tsyplakov’s first assist of the season!) to make it 4-0 and entirely bury any chance of a comeback from the Flyers.

View Link

The Islanders closed out the game and Ilya Sorokin picked up his sixth shutout of the season and extended his franchise record total, while Barzal, Duclair, and Pageau each scored two points (1G/1A, 2A, 2G respectively) and Isaiah George got his first assist of the season in just his second game back up in the NHL.

Up Next​


Next, the Islanders have a home-and-home back-to-back with the New York Rangers starting Wednesday at UBS Arena. There’s been a rare trade between these two teams (not yet officially-official at time of posting, but Carson Soucy to the Islanders for a 2026 3rd round pick) so Soucy will likely debut against his old team and become the stable bottom pair defenseman this team has been missing almost all season.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/ga...flyers-pageau-sorokin-barzal-deangelo-duclair
 
Islanders News: Sorokin shutout; Soucy acquired from Team Applesauce

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The Islanders rebounded from a blah road trip and a worse return home by shutting out the Flyers — with a goal from each special team! — but the most interesting news of the day was confirmation that they were making a trade…with the {plugs nose} Rangers, of all teams. They acquired pending UFA defenseman Carson Soucy for a 2026 third-round pick, an interesting move for a few reasons:

  • It addresses the Islanders’ season-long issue of replacing Alex Romanov, after trying many, many candidates from Bridgeport following his major injury.
  • It’s the first trade with the Short Island Smurfs since 2010, and only the fourth in their history.
  • It does help ignite the Rags’ teardown promised in Letter 2.0, but not in an egregious way.
  • Indeed, it comes right before the teams meet for a back-to-back this week. (It’s also helpful to Soucy to stay in the area, with two-year-old twins and a newborn due any day now, although Team Applesauce GM Chris Drury likely gives zero shits about that, given his track record in player relations.)

In the “sell, or compete?” debate on whether to reward a team that has exceeded expectations, Mathieu Darche effectively answers it with: We’ll fill the injury hole, but not at a crazy price. A third-round pick is modest, but effectively a premium for doing the deal now rather than at the deadline. However, you hope the news for right-side D-man Ryan Pulock is truly just “day to day” rather than something more serious to prompt this reinforcement.

I’m in the camp of enjoying this season’s surprises while not hoping they spend too much on trying to beef this team up for a playoff push, but solidifying the blueline at this price is a reasonable move. It’ll be fun to watch to see if Soucy makes a difference.

There would not seem to be roster room to re-sign him even if he loves it and things work out great, so this probably becomes only a short-term marriage of convenience. Plus, Soucy gets to enjoy a few months of playing in front of a better goalie. He is a short-term Ranger — acquired last year for a third-round pick — so the Stench of Ranger should be mild for him.

Islanders News​

  • The Islanders got back on track with a 4-0 blanking of the Flyers, and another shutout for Ilya Sorokin. This one was a relatively lighter load for the net king, just 21 saves required. [LHH]
  • It was a much-needed win, played with “playoff-like” focus. [Post]
  • Takeaways: sparked by a shorthanded goal, a classic example of Cizikas and Pageau taking advantage of an opponent’s lazy power play. Patrick Roy also called it probably Max Tsyplakov’s “best game of the year.” [Isles]
  • Gross: The response they needed after the shutout and benching vs. the Sabres. [Newsday]
  • The Soucy trade begins the Red Pants’ selloff. [Post]
  • Yet more line shuffling paid off, but they need to find a groove here sometime. [Post]
  • Islanders Anxiety podcast: Lamenting the present and inadvertently predicting the future: It wouldn’t cost much to get a reinforcement. [LHH]
  • In other injury news, Simon Holmstrom was sick and Calum Ritchie missed officially for an injury. [Isles]
  • Also linked in the intro above: seven facts about Soucy, international softball star. [Isles]

Hey Carson, come with us — however this goes, you’re certain to enjoy a more fun locker room than that toxic stew Drury’s got going on Short Island.

Elsewhere​


Last night’s other NHL scores included just three other games, including the Rangers beating the Bruins in a three-point game, and an Oilers defenseman hat trick.

  • This was supposed to be a year where the Senators took the next step. Now what? [Sportsnet]
  • Auston Matthews says the U.S. has the ingredients to win in Italy. [NHL]
  • William Nylander was fined $5,000 for his pressbox middle finger. [Sportsnet]
  • A middle finger, by the way, that was “symbolic of their lowered standard.” [Sportsnet]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/is...ade-sorokin-shutout-soucy-acquired-applesauce
 
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