News Islanders Team Notes

Islanders News: Flyers fire Tortorella in time to help the Isles

New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning

A strictly business trip to Florida. | Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images

The Isles get a boost from an old friend behind Philly’s bench.

The Islanders are idle for one more day but last night’s relevant results were in their favor for pursuit of the second wild card spot, with both Montreal (one point ahead) and Detroit (two points behind) falling in regulation — though the Wings lost to Ottawa, who holds the first spot, at least it was only a two-point game.

The Isles’ dwelling on the loss to the Canucks focused on lack of “details,” while our reporters turned the focus to the infinitely disappointing power play.

Islanders News​

  • That power play, it stinks, and it’s holding them back. [Newsday]
  • Three Takeaways: Well, I mean, the third line played well! [Isles]
  • Andrew Gross on the Isles missing the opportunity on that 1-1-2 homestand. [Island Ice podcast]
  • The Skinny: “The Isles went 0-2 on the power play and are 2-27 over the last nine games; the Isles have been outscored 21-10 on the power play over the last 40 games.” [Isles]
  • Cole Eiserman continues to pile up goals. Damn, we need a true sniper real bad. [THN]

Elsewhere​


Yesterday’s scores included the Canadiens losing in regulation to the Flyers, who finally broke their winless streak with a new coach bounce.

  • The big news yesterday was the firing of John Tortorella by the Philadelphia Tailspins, replaced in the interim by former Islanders interim and general good guy Brad Shaw, who led them to a refreshing win. “I really hope that this is the bottom,” Danny Briere said. “This is rock bottom for us today, and this is the turnaround.” Some of us hope not. [NHL]
  • Five Flyers who are surely happy Torts is gone. [Broad Street Hockey]
  • They need a patient, teaching coach for their next hire. [Sportsnet]
  • The Lightning paid tribute to Mikhail Sergachev in his return to Tampa and then promptly destroyed his new team, 8-0. [NHL]
  • Sidney Crosby continued his points streak and passed Gretzky’s mark for point-per-game seasons as his team lost 7-3 to the Sabres. [NHL]
  • Players have mixed feelings about empty net goals (Alex Ovechkin has a ton of them, as did Gretzky), but ultimately they help seal the win, so feast away. [Athletic]
  • Several of his former coaches (including Barry Trotz) recall him being very coachable. [Athletic]
  • Oh sweetheart, that’s not gonna help that team. [NHL]
  • Max Pacioretty was magically hurt when the Leafs needed cap space and will magically be healthy for the playoffs when cap restrictions disappear. [Sportsnet]
  • The Capitals lost to the Wild but stayed out to salute Islanders playoff hero Marc-Andre Fleury as he nears retirement. [NHL]
  • Some top non-Isles prospects to watch in the NCAA playoffs. [Sportsnet]

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/3/28/24395700/islanders-news-flyers-fire-tortorella-power-play
 
Islanders Gameday: Matinee in Tampa

New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning

Yeah, well, we’ve got all the talent. | Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images

The Islanders begin a tough southeast back-to-back

The Islanders begin a difficult road back-to-back against two of the top teams in the East with a stop in Tampa Bay, where the Lightning are coming off a demolition of the white flag-waving Utah Hockey Clubs.

Faceoff for today is 2 p.m. EDT, so don’t let it pass you buy or, alternatively, ruin your day.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Results affecting the wild card chase last night include Montreal losing in regulation, Columbus winning in a shootout (to hop back into the wild card position) and the Rangers blew a late two-goal lead to fall in Anaheim in OT (tee hee). The latter two are also in action tonight.

That leaves the Isles a point behind Columbus (same GP), the Rangers (but with two games in hand) and the Red Wings (with one game in hand on them).

But that games in hand factoid doesn’t look so advantageous when they’re looking at an afternoon with the Lightning today followed by a late afternoon/early evening start in Raleigh against the Hurricanes on Sunday.


Lightning 15-2-1 at home since Jan. 1, outscoring opponents 69-32 in that span.
But #Isles did win 3-2 in OT in Tampa on Feb. 1. That game was notable for D Adam Boqvist scoring in his Isles' debut, capping a 7-game winning streak and injuries to Mathew Barzal and Scott Mayfield

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) March 29, 2025

Some links:

  • Previewing tonight: Patrick Roy will put Adam Boqvist back in, hoping to boost the lifeless power play. [Isles]
  • But time is running out to fix that “power.” [Post]
  • Ilya Sorokin was pulled — more to goose the team than due to his performance — but for him it’s a new day, fresh mood. [Newsday]

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/3/29/24396553/islanders-gameday-news-vs-tampa-lightning
 
Lightning 5 (EN), Islanders 3: Isles can’t complete third period comeback

New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning

Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images

After going down 4-0, third period goals from Pulock, Gatcomb, and DeAngelo gave the Isles some life, but they came up short.

Another game with a chance to grab a playoff spot, another game where the New York Islanders fall flat on their faces... sort of.

After a terrible first period and an uninspiring second period, the Isles made things lively starting six minutes into the third period.

Goals from Ryan Pulock, Marc Gatcomb, and Tony DeAngelo came in quick succession, giving the Isles a fighting chance, but ultimately Tampa would pick up an empty net goal to seal the win as they celebrated Ryan McDonagh’s 1000th NHL game.

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

Originally, Andrei Vasilevskiy seemed poised to start the game, but Jonas Johansson was in net instead after warmups, which had the MSG broadcast wondering if the Isles would be able to take advantage of a goalie who hadn’t played in a while.

That question was answered early, as it only took seven and a half minutes for the Isles to be down 2-0 thanks to Nikita Kucherov and Nick Perbix, despite outshooting Tampa 8-3.

Brayden Point would also add another goal on top of that at the end of the first, giving the Lightning a 3-0 lead after one.

Alex Romanov delivered a crushing hit on Anthony Cirelli that attracted Nick Paul’s attention, but no penalties came out of that. Later, though, Anthony Duclair drew a penalty, sending Darren Raddysh to the box for tripping, but the Isles couldn’t convert on the man advantage.

At the end of the second, Point would score again, making it 4-0 Tampa, a massive hole for the Isles to climb out of in the third.

But... Cirelli took a penalty about five minutes in to the third, and Ryan Pulock converted on a blast from the point to make it 4-1.

Less than two minutes later, Marc Gatcomb would make it 4-2, after picking up Johansson’s clearing attempt around the boards.

Just a minute later, Max Tsyplakov took a shot that was saved, but Tony DeAngelo got to the rebound first, putting it past Johansson to make it 4-3.

Ilya Sorokin made a big save on Jake Guentzel to keep the Isles in it, but then after pulling him for the extra skater, Guentzel would be the one to get the goal to seal the win for Tampa.

Up Next​


Next, the Isles head up to Raleigh to take on the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow at 5pm EST. It’s another tough team to face as the Isles hope to stay in the playoff race.

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/20...mb-deangelo-kucherov-point-guentzel-johansson
 
Islanders Gameday: In my mind, we’re going to (lose in) Carolina

Carolina Hurricanes v New York Islanders

Are we sure this isn’t goalie interference? | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The road remains wide open for any wild card contender trying to piss it away.

After suffering an entirely expected if not predictable (who expected a 4-0 deficit to be followed by a 4-3 comeback?) loss in Tampa, the Islanders now have 10 games left on the 2024-25 schedule as they head into Raleigh for the back end of this tough road back-to-back.

With results last night, idle Montreal fell back up into the wild card spot thanks to Columbus losing in regulation to the Senators, but in the late game the Rangers jumped both of them to claim that spot with a win in San Jose.

Of course, all three teams have two games in hand on the Smurfs, so in a vacuum this race would look like a toss-up. But we’re not living in a vacuum, we’re living in a dystopia where all of these teams are trying to cough it up, which means...well damn, it really is still a toss-up.

Tonight’s First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • The Isles made a surprising comeback against the backup goalie, but it was too little and all that. [LHH | Newsday]
  • Three Takeaways: “Sometimes the bounces just don’t go your way,” says the guy who scored and is just glad to be here. Sure, sure. Also: “Aside from Boqvist drawing in for Reilly, the other defense pairs were shuffled as well. Alexander Romanov played with Noah Dobson and Adam Pelech played with Tony DeAngelo.” [Isles]
  • “Details” and the same mistakes. [Post]

Elsewhere​


Saturday’s full slate of NHL scores also included the Red Wings beating the Bruins, and Toronto hopping into first in the Atlantic.

  • The Rangers face a fun dilemma with the conditional first rounder they traded for J.T. Miller. Bonus gratuitous mention of Hugh Jessiman. [Post]
  • Shane Pinto and the Senators are betting they can handle the pressure to make the playoffs. [Sportsnet | TSN]
  • With Minnesota being dumped from the NCAA playoffs, some of their top players inked ELCs, including Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel with the Blackhawks [ESPN] and Jimmy Snuggerud with the Blues. [ESPN]

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/3/30/24396969/islanders-gameday-news-carolina-hurricanes
 
Hurricanes 6, Islanders 4: Isles come up short in second weekend loss

New York Islanders v Carolina Hurricanes

Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images

The Isles can’t make use of Engvall’s two-goal game as the Hurricanes close out a back and forth game.

The New York Islanders showed a lot of fight in this game after yet another sluggish start where they dug themselves into an early hole. Kyle Palmieri continued his power play hot streak, Pierre Engvall picked up apparently his first ever multi-goal game in the NHL, and Marcus Hogberg played a solid game, making some excellent saves to keep the Isles in this one as the score went back and forth over the first two periods.

But the Hurricanes pulled away in the third, and the Isles couldn’t make the most of their chances to get back into it, ultimately dropping both games this weekend and dropping behind multiple teams in the wildcard race.

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

Much like in Tampa, this one opened with two even quicker goals from the Hurricanes, with Mark Jankowski and Logan Stankoven getting on the board within a few seconds of each other, less than five minutes into the period.

But just a couple of minutes later, Pierre Engvall got one back, picking up the puck in the defensive zone and springing a 2 on 1 with Casey Cizikas, before shooting it past Pyotr Kochetkov.

Then, Andrei Svechnikov took an interference penalty, and Kyle Palmieri converted to tie the game. Palmieri gloved Noah Dobson’s pass and set it up for himself for a beautiful shot.

And early into the second, Engvall would strike again, wristing it past Kochetkov from the faceoff dots to give the Isles their first lead of the night.

But that lead would be short-lived, as Sebastian Aho tied the game after Tsyplakov took a hooking penalty.

The Hurricanes nearly made it 4-3, but Alex Romanov cleared the puck off the line to avoid a sure goal, then drew a four minute double-minor for high sticking. But... Seth Jarvis would then score to give the Hurricanes the lead for real this time.

Continuing the early goals trend, though, Anders Lee put the puck in to tie the game, picking up a cross-ice pass from Bo Horvat.

But Dmitri Orlov scored five minutes later to restore the Carolina lead at 5-4 nearly midway through the third. And despite some solid saves by Marcus Hogberg to keep the Isles in it, Seth Jarvis picked up his second of the game to extend the lead to 6-4.

Patrick Roy pulled Hogberg for the extra skater, and then Carolina was called for too many men on the ice, giving the Isles a 6 on 4 power play opportunity. They couldn’t convert, and ultimately dropped yet another game.

Up Next​


Next, the Islanders head back to UBS Arena to host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, hopefully to earn a better result than Saturday’s game.

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/20...ven-palmieri-lee-aho-jarvis-hogberg-kochetkov
 
Islanders Sign NCAA Free Agent Joey Larson, Michigan State Forward

Michigan State v Notre Dame

What penalty? | Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images

The Isles add another college free agent to the pipeline.

The New York Islanders have signed another college free agent, inking Michigan State forward Joey Larson to a one-year entry level contract for the 2025-26 season.

Larson, 24, just completed his junior season with 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 37 games. The right-handed shooter is a Michigan native listed at 6’1, 196 lbs. As a late bloomer he took the U.S. junior route to the NCAA with stops in NAHL New Mexico and USHL Muskegon (a point per game player in both) before heading to Northern Michigan, then transferring to Michigan State.

For a bit of trivia, he’s a nephew to former NHLer and NCAAer Jim Storm, who had NHl stops with Hartford and Dallas in the mid ‘90s.

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/20...free-agent-joey-larson-michigan-state-forward
 
Islanders Gameday News: In the hole, with Lightning poised to strike again

Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders

I’m sure this will all be fine. | Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images

April begins with the Islanders reeling.

It’s April Fool’s and the Islanders have another date with the Lightning. Tampa is chasing something they can actually attain, the first spot in the Atlantic Division, so they should continue to bring real play.

The Islanders are chasing something they were never very likely to attain, and another challenging opponent could shove them further back in the sad wild card-chasing pack. They’re winless in five, including three consecutive regulation losses. So it’s been eight days since they added a standings point.

Trailing the Canadiens by three points with nine games to go, no Monday games affected their standing either way. But tonight’s schedule includes the Red Wings (visiting the Blues) and the Blue Jackets (hosting the Predators). Still, even if those go their way, an Islanders win tonight (lol) would not move them into wild card position.

First Islanders Goal picks for tonight go here.

Islanders News​

  • “I had a feeling they had at least one more losing streak in them.” Dan and Mike digest the last week on the Islanders Anxiety podcast. [LHH]
  • The Isles signed another NCAA free agent, right-handed forward Joey Larson out of Michigan State. He’s 24, so this is a one-year ELC for next season. [LHH | Isles]
  • Prospect Report: Cole Eiserman heads to the Frozen Four, Jesse Pulkkinen heads to...Bridgeport. [Isles]
  • The Islanders missing the playoffs cannot be blamed on the goaltending. [Newsday]
  • Nevermind, the goaltending is totally to blame. [Post]
  • Pierre Engvall “carrying” the offense is a stretch. [Post]
  • Hey, I know we can be a credible publication! Let’s stalk the Isles’ wives social media to go all TMZ on a bachelorette party. [Post]

Elsewhere​


Last night’s schedule included four games.

  • Hobey Baker candidate Ryan Leonard has left college to sign his ELC with the Capitals and is expected to get his debut tonight. [NHL]
  • Fellow NCAA signing Jimmy Snuggerud is expected to make his debut with the Blues, even though they’re in a nine-game win streak. [NHL]
  • Six theories on why penalties are down across the NHL. [ESPN]
  • The NHL has reportedly reached a 12-year, $7.7 billion rights deal in Canada with Rogers. [AP]
  • Looking at wild card odds. (Pssst: The Isles’ are not good.) [Sportsnet]
  • Nikko Makkela was fined for firing a temper-tantrum slapshot at the Canadiens after the buzzer. Don’t do that, man, that is the path to becoming D*le H*nter. [Sportsnet]

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/1/24398485/islanders-gameday-news-lightning
 
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 328 - The People in the Corner

Islanders_Anxiety_Art___2023.0.jpg


You know what else is pretty f***ing embarrassing? Rooting for these guys.

Mike and Dan talk about bad calls and blown games as the Islanders erase their recent charge towards the playoffs.

In the first of four losses this week, the Islanders were the victims of an egregiously bad no goal decision but did themselves no favors by once again playing like assholes for the two periods before and overtime and shootout periods after it. They followed that up with an inexcusable performance against another desperate playoff team, then hit the road for two losses in places they never win.

It was a disastrous week for fans but according to the players, broadcasters and coach, they played great and just didn’t get the results. That didn’t fly in November and it’s not flying in March.

In the second half, we look at the three difficult games ahead this week (with one potentially historic one) and finish with a special Western Canadian version of Master Leaf Theatre that also managed to drag the Islanders as well. Frankly, they deserve the insults.

To support Brian Compton in the Walk MS: Long Island 2025 on May 17, click here.

REFERENCES

  • A new classic from a legend:

Who wore the biggest pair of clown pants of any goalie ever, when he played?
Who brought us the size XXXXL jersey, which he wore like a tent?
Who checked players behind his net, when they were not allowed to touch him?
Karma sucks, eh? https://t.co/QvaAzgCnU9

— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) March 25, 2025



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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.



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Lightning 4 (EN), Islanders 1: Slide reaches six.

Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders

Is this where we go to roll over? | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Met expectations.

The New York Islanders winless streak extended to six, with four regulation losses in a row, as they lost for the second time in four days to the Tampa Bay Lightning and descended further from their wild card dreams.

It wasn’t a great game for anyone — Anthony Duclair fully entered the doghouse, the terrible power play went 0 for 4, Adam Pelech pinched sloppily to lead to the odd-man rush that created Victor Hedman’s backbreaker — but it was hardly unexpected. The Lightning got on the board first in the first period before Bo Horvat answered quickly with a shorthander, but the Lightning got two quick goals midway through the second period to pull away and never look back.

Results elsewhere made it a maximally damaging night for the Isles, as the wild card holding Montreal Canadiens beat the Panthers in overtime and the Blue Jackets beat the Predators to keep pace.

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


Roy says Anthony Duclair was “god awful” and he’s “lucky to be in the lineup.”

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) April 2, 2025

Up Next​


This season-crippling homestand continues Friday with a visit from the Wild, who are also flailing but will have every incentive to sturdy their own wild card position with a win against a spiraling Isles squad.

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/1/24399289/lightning-vs-islanders-six-game-slump
 
Islanders News: Mentoring Ritchie, talkin’ Parise

Carolina Hurricanes v New York Islanders - Game Four

Takedowns happen. | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Ah, it feels like home: The Isles are as close to the wild card as they are to last in the conference.

Are the Islanders dead men walking yet? It feels that way after going six games without a win and four without a standings point.

Crazier things have happened in late surges to become wild card fodder, but trailing by five points and four teams with eight games to go requires bending reality at event horizon levels. But they’re also five points above the bottom of the conference, so...maybe there’s some draft lottery interest?

The remaining opponents include a couple of fellow downtrodders (Nashville, Philadelphia) and teams that are either playing for a spot (Minnesota, Rangers, Columbus) or for history (Washington), some theatre of macabre is still in store.

Islanders News​

  • This was alluded to when he was acquired, but Calum Ritchie’s support team includes Andrew Ladd and Brock Nelson’s old college teammate, Arthur Staple reports. [Athletic]
  • Zach Parise talks about his career, his dad, his time with the Isles and Lou Lamoriello. [Talkin’ Isles]
  • The Skinny from Tuesday’s loss: “The Isles allowed the first goal for an NHL-leading 47th time.” [Isles]
  • Was the terrible goalie interference call that took away a regulation win vs. Columbus the season turning point for the Isles? (No.) [Newsday]
  • Patrick Roy volunteered that Anthony Duclair has been “awful” lately, but I don’t think him finally calling out a player he’s known for a long time is all that dramatic. Still, the team cut that from video of his postgame. [Newsday | Athletic | Po$t+ | ESPN]

Elsewhere​


Wednesday’s relevant scores: Wild Card Watch — Smurfs won; Tank Watch: Kraken won

  • The Hurricanes clinched a spot by beating the Capitals, which allowed them to see it as “cool” that Ovechkin scored. [NHL] But the game was also filled with cheapshots and violence. [Post] And the Caps lost Logan Thompson to an “upper body” injury. [ESPN]
  • The Chatfield takedown (during a fight, so...?) is not expected to yield supplemental discipline. [Sportsnet]
  • The NHL confirmed a 12-year, $11 billion extension with Rogers in Canada. [NHL]
  • How Brad Marchand is fitting in wit— oh, you know, I do not care, not at all. [Sportsnet]

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/3/24400405/islanders-news-mentoring-ritchie-talkin-parise
 
Weird Islanders: The Podcast! - Tom Chorske (with guest Tyler Gildin)

Weird_Islanders_art.0.jpg


From the first “Mr. Hockey” of Minnesota to “How did I get here?”

Joined again by friend Tyler Gildin, we remember Tom Chorske, a useful player and ace penalty killer who gave both an undermanned Islanders team and a kids summer camp some important depth.

Chorske came from a Cup winning organization in New Jersey and played on some blossoming Senators teams before landing on The Island via waivers. The 1997-98 Islanders had all the makings of a playoff team, except they didn’t. But they came closer than any team of that era and employed some damn good players, including Chorske. By early the next season, he was gone in a minor trade.

But in the short time he was on Long Island, he somehow made a stop at a kids’ summer camp, where he made an impression on a young Tyler (who might have been the only kid there who knew who he was). We’re confident that Chorske, who has gone on to do work on TV and in the private sector, no doubt totally remembers this (because it might have ruined his life):

Tyler Gildin

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL!

  • A proud Minnesotan, Chorske was the state’s first ever Mr. Hockey Award winner as the best high school player in the state.
  • Chorske was lost on waivers from the Devils to the Senators on the same day New Jersey traded Claude Lemieux to Colorado (by way of the Islanders, who acquired Wendel Clark).
  • After good seasons (and a Stanley Cup) with New Jersey and Ottawa, Chorske came to Long Island via a busy waiver draft Sunday.
  • The quality of this video is terrible but scoring a penalty shot against Patrick Roy in 1998 was very, very good.
  • He was pretty productive for a depth player on a bad team, with 35 points in 82 games with the Islanders, including this tying goal against the Bruins.
  • Again, this man scored 12 goals for an Islanders team that missed the playoffs. In this era, those were almost All Star numbers.
Tyler Gildin


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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Islanders 3, Wild 1: Winless streak ends at six for some reason

Minnesota Wild v New York Islanders

You two, you are fine. | Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Getty Images

The Islanders finally rebounded, against an opponent that could really use the points — but it’s too little, too late.

The Islanders extended their time in purgatory by picking now to end a six-game winless streak, beating the wild card-eligible Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Long Island.

Except for those holding out hope for a miracle, this was a perfectly empty result, coming after four consecutive regulation losses that sent them careening from the wild card chase.

The win does not change their place in the Eastern standings, as with 76 points they still trail the Red Wings (who also won), Blue Jackets and Rangers — all of whom trail Montreal (81 points) for the second wild card. For the lottery odds watchers, the two points put them four ahead of Pittsburgh, five ahead of Philadelphia and six ahead of the Sabres.

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

After a scoreless first period, Mats Zuccarello of the Wild accidentally opened scoring early in the second. But the Isles answered quickly and had the only lead they’d need within 2:20 of that fluke. Zuccarello’s goal is the kind you expect to happen against the Islanders, but in a much more high-leverage situation than this night.


MATS ZUCCARELLO FROM BELOW THE GOAL LINE! Down 1-2 now #mnwild #isles pic.twitter.com/M32O5ogp8C

— brendan durand (@Bdurand_16) April 5, 2025

Anyway, Casey Cizikas answered quickly with a mid-slot tip for his seventh of the season...


#Isles even things up.

Casey Cizikas tips Dobson’s shot with 17:42 to go in the second. pic.twitter.com/TSMELkExkL

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) April 5, 2025

Simon Holmstrom, who inadvertently provided the ramp on Zuccarello’s goal, got a couple of fortunate bounces of his own to break in and score the eventual winner, his 18th of the season.


Simon Holmstrom is closing in on 20 goals #Isles pic.twitter.com/nU2DE0lDxs

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) April 5, 2025

Early in the third, the Isles got a power play goal (!!!) on a Dobson one-timer after a nice exchange with Tony DeAngelo. A useful insurance goal, but one they ultimately didn’t need.


Noah Dobson plays catch with Tony DeAngelo at the blue line then scores the PPG.

3-1 #Isles with 16:24 to go. pic.twitter.com/CqeKoeJUnX

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) April 5, 2025

Ilya Sorokin made 27 saves to get back in the W column, while Matt Martin logged a team-low 7:49 in his return to the lineup after 30 games as a scratch.


Roy thought that this was one of Dobson's better games in quite some time.

Was really happy for Martin and thought that Mayfield played really well.

Loved how his team played. #Isles

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) April 5, 2025

Up Next​


As a bonus, elsewhere around the league Alex Ovechkin scored twice to tie Wayne Gretzky’s all-time regular season goals record, which means he’ll be primed to break the record against the Islanders in Elmont on Sunday afternoon...

...in accordance with the prophecies.

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/4/24401601/islanders-vs-wild-losing-streak-over
 
Islanders Gameday News: Duclair takes time away

Calgary Flames v New York Islanders

Lucky guy gets to take some time away from this. | Photo by Steven Ryan/NHLI via Getty Images

Matt Martin returns to the lineup for the first time in 30 games, but that’s not a white flag.

The Islanders are in action tonight — it’s true, I checked the schedule and everything — to face a Minnesota Wild team that has been ravaged by injuries but is still on track for a wild card spot. The Islanders are looking to avoid a seventh straight loss, but the damage appears to already be done by a slump that has sunk their season.

We know the Isles will have a lineup change, and that has to do with the big story of yesterday.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • The story: Anthony Duclair, who has never looked the same since returning from a leg injury and was torched by Patrick Roy in post-game the other night, is taking a leave of absence. [Elmonters | Post | Newsday | CBS]
  • Or as the official site puts it: “Matt Martin to return to the lineup” after 30 consecutive healthy scratches. [Isles]

Elsewhere​


Thursday night’s scores included some relevant finals:

  • Wild card “chase”: The Canadiens and Senators won in regulation, Blue Jackets lost
  • Tank/lottery spiral: The Penguins lost but got a regulation point for taking the Blues to overtime (where St. Louis tied a franchise record 11-game win streak).
  • Damn, Cale Makar is just the second defenseman this century (Mike Green) and ninth all-time to reach 30 goals in a season. [Sportsnet]
  • Jamie Benn’s iron-ish man streak ends at 371. [TSN]
  • I guess it’s news that Craig Button thinks Jalen Chatfield should be suspended for throwing down in a fight? No one seems to acknowledge the absurdity of trying to instill rules of engagement in a combat fight-or-flight situation where one errant (or perfect!) punch can end a guy’s career. [TSN]

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/4/24400894/islanders-gameday-news-duclair-takes-time-away
 
Islanders Gameday: History can take a rain check, please

Washington Capitals v New York Islanders

What a terrible etch-a-sketch jersey to use for historic moments. | Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images

Ovechkin and a hype entourage come to Long Island.

The Islanders are back in action for a mid-day game and if you have tickets, you should totally sell them for $700 or whatever some history-chasing sap will pay.

The eyes of the hockey world are on this game vs. the Capitals because Alex Ovechkin has now tied Wayne Gretzky’s all-time (regular season) goal mark, so Ovechkin’s next goal will break the record. They’ll probably stop the game and ask Gretzky to give a dull-ass vanilla speech and everything.

Hoping it doesn’t happen today, but anyway: First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • Previewing tonight: The Isles have to ignore the potential history and just focus on their game. [Isles]
  • Islanders players have “great respect” for Ovechkin, so that’s swell. [Newsday]
  • Three Takeaways: Man, the Isles hadn’t beaten the Wild since before the pandemic. [Isles]
  • An honor in memory of and tribute to Clark Gillies. [Isles]
  • Matt Martin on shaking off rust and returning after 30 games as a scratch. [Post]

Elsewhere​


There were 13 games around the league on Friday, including the Rangers and Blue Jackets getting blanked while the Canadiens scraped by the Flyers. The Bruins also ended their 10-game winless streak while the Blues broke a franchise record (set in the year they beat Boston for the Cup) with their 12th consecutive win.

  • Nick Suzuki is proving he’s “one of the best players in the world.” Okay. [Sportsnet]
  • Matthew Tkachuk is targeting the start of the playoffs for a return. [TSN]

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/6/24402196/islanders-gameday-capitals-ovechkin
 
Islanders 4, Capitals 1: Gatcomb makes history with first 2-goal game

Washington Capitals v New York Islanders

The King of the RBK Edge fashion era salutes worthy opponent Marc Gatcomb on his big day. | Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Also: There was some kind of mid-game and post-game fuss about Alex Ovechkin?

Marc Gatcomb reached a milestone by scoring two goals in a game for the first time in his young career as the New York Islanders defeated the Washington Capitals 4-1 on an otherwise uneventful afternoon on Long Island.

The Isles pick up another pair of what are almost certainly too-little, too-late points in their longshot wild card chase, while the Capitals failed to clinch a Metropolitan Division title that will inevitably be theirs in a few more days anyway.

Oh, crap, wait, there was one other thing: You probably didn’t hear anything about this ahead of time, but Alex Ovechkin scored the lone Capitals goal, on a power play and from his office but not on his patented one-timer, to pass Wayne Gretzky and claim the NHL all-time regular season goals (895) record. Countryman Ilya Sorokin goes down as the official victim.

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

In an event that was hyped all season, it was kind of fitting that it happened in an afternoon game that probably means nothing in the standings, so the NHL could interrupt proceedings with pomp and salute and circumstance without threatening the “integrity” of the competition and all that. The Isles were up 2-0 when Ovechkin scored to make it 2-1, but the Isles reclaimed that two-goal lead within three minutes and added another in the third for the 4-1 final.

So cheers to Gatcomb for being able to brag to his grandkids that yeah, he was not only there for Ovechkin’s record...he outscored him. Indeed, with the crowd still abuzz or else relieved by watching history — many Caps fans and “I was there” chasers in the audience plunked down $600-1,000+ in hopes of seeing it — Gatcomb scored to turn attention back to the game. His goal set off the horn as the national broadcast was still talking about the “unbelievable excitement and appreciation...”


The Marc Gatcomb game pic.twitter.com/CW9Dt2iXRG

— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) April 6, 2025

And if the Islanders can pull off a miracle, who knows? Gatcomb could even say it meant something to the Islanders season. (Heh.) No but really, the Islanders remain five points behind the Canadiens, who hold the wild card and play pushover Nashville later in the evening.

So surely not — and many fans will be mad at the Isles for again finishing in the blah middle in a season when they’ve actually held on to their first-round pick and would have little chance against a top-seed opponent. (Ignore for the moment that they just defeated that top seed; this game wasn’t about that.)

Anyway, here’s the moment, one the Isles will be relieved to at least obscure with a W and the Capitals will be relieved to be able to celebrate with a few games to spare in the regular season:


Sorokin said Ovi asked for his stick when he skated over to the crease after ceremony. Sorokin not asking for anything in return.

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) April 6, 2025

Sorokin said he never saw Ovechkin’s shot through traffic. He said Ovechkin usually shoots glove side so he was a little surprised Ovi went other way with the shot.

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) April 6, 2025

What an embrace between Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Sorokin. Forever linked pic.twitter.com/EK8WNtYCGr

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 6, 2025

Apparently Ovi asked Ilya Sorokin for his stick after scoring his record breaking goal, and Ilya has obliged pic.twitter.com/2IwrktVHEb

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 6, 2025

So 895 (and counting) will be the number hyped as the new and unattainable threshold, though of course Ovechkin should sail well past 900 before he’s done — and frankly, that number sells him short. I get on this soapbox all the time for Mike Bossy, so I’ll get on it for Ovechkin: In a league that pretends the grueling regular season’s President’s Trophy is an afterthought but the playoffs mean everything, it will forever boggle my mind that they focus on regular season-only career records. Ovechkin has 72 playoff goals in his career, which means with 967 thus far, he has a decent chance at accumulating 1,000 total NHL + regular season goals — a particularly sexy number in our base-10 system!

To apply this lens to the other greatest pure goal scorer of my lifetime: Bossy had 573 regular season goals (in a little over half as many games as Ovechkin has played thus far), and added 85(!) playoff goals for a total of 658 in his NHL non-preseason career — it’s that combined number that always will always awe me and make me mourn that his career ended at age 30.

Gretzky, by the way, had 122 NHL playoff goals, so he finished 1,016 regular season + playoff goals. So maybe they resume the “GR8” hype chase when Ovechkin nears 1,000 or even 1,016.

Anyway, that’s that for now. The record is eclipsed, the hype can settle back down, the playoffs are imminent for half the league.

Up Next​


The Islanders hit the road to visit Nashville on Tuesday. With six games to go and today’s result, they are flirting seriously with not even having a top-10 pick in the draft.

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/20...vs-capitals-marc-gatcomb-alex-ovechkin-record
 
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 329 - Fulfilling the Islanders Destiny

Islanders_Anxiety_Art___2023.0.jpg


This is what we signed up for.

Mike and Dan examine the Islanders’ role in Alex Ovechkin’s record-setting day and Anthony Duclair’s time off.

By beating the Capitals and Wild, the team remains mathematically alive for a playoff berth while realistically out of it. But the big story on Sunday (and for the rest of time) was Ovechkin passing Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s all time leader in goals. The Islanders showed a great deal of class during the extra-long in-game ceremony even if the game’s real star - two goal scorer Marc Gatcomb - wasn’t given his proper due.

We also discuss the decision to let Duclair take some time off following Tuesday’s dismal loss to Tampa Bay, and how it’s not nearly the PR disaster a lot of people are making it out to be.

In the second half, we look ahead at four winnable game that might not matter and enjoy a second edition of The Michael Russo Mysteries all about how catastrophic the Wild’s loss to the Islanders was, which is just an extra treat.

To support Brian Compton in the Walk MS: Long Island 2025 on May 17, click here.

REFERENCES




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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/20...-destiny-ovechkin-goal-record-anthony-duclair
 
Islanders News: Isles add historical footnote to footnote of a season

Washington Capitals v New York Islanders

Were you there when? | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Six games remain, seven points out.

The New York Islanders became the historical footnote, the Vancouver Canucks to Wayne Gretzky’s #802 (in a L.A. Kings uniform), as Alex Ovechkin finished his chase of Gretzky’s regular season goal record Sunday afternoon in a 4-1 loss to the Isles on Long Island.

The Isles’ win means their remote wild card chances stay alive a little while longer, but this season seems destined to be a footnote that most will happily forget. Montreal won again last night, extending their win streak to five and their lead over the Isles to seven points.

Islanders News​

  • Putting yesterday into proper historical perspective: Big day for Marc Gatcomb. [LHH]
  • All joking aside, it was cool to see Gatcomb get some love. A setup from Matt Martin (even if it was meant for elsewhere) was icing on that curiosity cake:

Matt Martin in Gretzky’s office feeds Gatcomb for an #Isles 3-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/6Ci1JH1dUz

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) April 6, 2025
  • With the record broken and an Isles win, “all fans went home happy.” I wouldn’t be so sure...[Newsday]
  • A “huge” win for the Isles, if you are still hopeful. (I apologize for not being thus.) [Post]

Elsewhere​


As noted, in Sunday’s other games the Canadiens and Red Wings both won, though the Blue Jackets lost. Seven points and three teams stand between the Isles and a playoff spot. They have one game in hand on the Canadiens.

  • The Senators also won to inch closer to clinching...and closer to catching struggling Florida, too. [Sportsnet]
  • Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie were emotional and thanked by Ovechkin during the mid-game ceremony. They thought it fitting that d-bag Tom Wilson assisted on the goal. [NHL]
  • Indeed, the NHL has an entire section devoted to Ovechkin coverage, if that’s your thing. [NHL]
  • Among those is Ted Leonsis’ pre-penned letter about the ride the two of them have been on together, and how incredible it’s all happened with one franchise. (Indeed...if only they didn’t put him in such terrible uniforms for the length of his career!) [NHL]
  • Ranking the top 20 goals in Ovechkin’s NHL career, including playoffs (Wait! That’s not allowed!) [ESPN]
  • The milestone is “bigger than the game of hockey.” [Sportsnet]

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/20...ews-ovechkin-record-sorokin-wild-card-quixote
 
Islanders Gameday: Season-ending must-win loss

NHL: MAR 26 Islanders at Bruins

What would you do if I sang out of tune...? | Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The patient isn’t dead yet, but you should get your affairs in order.

The Islanders have one of those must-win games that would otherwise be a season-ending loss in Nashville tonight, although even if they win they’ll still be deep long shots and even if they lose they won’t quite be eliminated just yet.

Still, they enter the night seven points behind Montreal for the final wild card with six games to go.

For lottery interests, Columbus, Anaheim, Buffalo(!!!), Seattle and Pittsburgh are all still within four points’ striking distance of catching the 22nd-place Isles.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • Previewing tonight: Suddenly the Isles are gunning for three in a row. The Predators, meanwhile, continue to struggle and both special teams are slumping. [Isles]
  • Marc Gatcomb is part of some historic trivia, but his impact is bigger than that at the moment. [Newsday | Post]
  • Islanders Anxiety podcast: The Isles fulfilled their destiny by giving up a record-breaking goal, but the afternoon wasn’t quite as painful as Dan and Mike expected. [LHH]
  • Prospect Report: Calum Ritchie and Jesse Nurmi advance, and Quinn Finley commits to another NCAA year at Wisconsin. [Isles]
  • Ilya Sorokin could smile about his footnote moment in history. [Athletic]

Elsewhere​


Five finals in the NHL last night included the Rangers losing (teehee), the wild card-chasing Flames winning and the Blues’ 12-game win streak ending in Winnipeg. For lottery purposes, Anaheim beat Edmonton and Seattle beat Los Angeles. You never know.

  • They’re already bothering Auston Matthews about chasing the all-time regular season goals record, even though Alex Ovechkin’s body isn’t even cold. [NHL]
  • Greg Millen, a low-key strong goalie of the ‘80s who once understandably refused a trade to Quebec, has died at age 67. He had a long second career as a beloved broadcaster in Canada. Sportsnet colleagues reflect. [Sportsnet]
  • The Rangers are on the brink of humiliating history as they could be the fourth President’s Trophy winner to miss the playoffs the following year. I still have no idea how they won that supporters’ shield last season, it does not compute. [Post]
  • The latest Luke Fox Jukebox galaxy brain is that the injury-rattled Panthers are sandbagging so they face the Leafs again...that’s not how this works, that’s not how any of this works. [Sportsnet]
  • Johnny Gaudreau’s wife announced the birth of their third child, about seven months after his tragic death. [NHL]

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/8/24403603/islanders-gameday-news-nashville-predators
 
Predators 7, Islanders 6 (OT): Crazy ending spoils Holmstrom’s 4-point night

New York Islanders v Pittsburgh Penguins

Yep. | Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images

And yet it was all completely fitting.

The New York Islanders somehow lost to one of the league’s worst teams in a game they led by two goals with a little over two minutes to go, although it was all somehow appropriate for a crazy game and a persistently disappointing season.

The final, 7-6 in overtime to the Nashville Predators, spoiled a four-point night for Simon Holmstrom — one of this season’s few bright spots — who hit the post in his bid for a hat trick in overtime. He and linemates J-G Pageau and Max Tsyplakov had a plentiful night, though the former two were on the ice for the overtime goal after nearly generating the winner at the other end.

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

Both goalies were generally sieves in this game, getting beat repeatedly on clean looks, though their defenses did not provide much help in preventing golden scoring opportunities to make it a goalfest.

The game was 2-2 after one, 4-4 after two and of course 6-6 after three, but the final five minutes were the crazy part.

Kyle Palmieri gave the Isles their fourth lead of the game with just under five minutes left in regulation on a very good backhand that nonetheless shouldn’t have puzzled Justus Annunen, who somehow allowed six goals on 22 shots for the win.


Kyle Palmieri with a beauty of a backhand! pic.twitter.com/UDyF2Y4DVS

— NHL (@NHL) April 9, 2025

But rather than kill the game, the Isles made things difficult for themselves when Ryan Pulock took a hooking penalty that Steven Stamkos may have created by clutching Pulock’s stick in front of the Isles goal.

Still, an uncalled high stick on Alex Romanov in an awkward three-way collision during the penalty kill led to an Isles shorthanded rush. Of all people, Scott Mayfield sniped the insurance shorty on a great heads-up feed from Holmstrom, who found the trailing man rather than forcing a shot.


What a snipe by Mayfield. #Isles pic.twitter.com/aiKSbOS7e7

— Isles Territory (@IslesTerritory) April 9, 2025

The Predators were absolutely livid at the missed call and the sequence, and the refs let them carry on a bit before play resumed, Stamkos leading the way in berating the refs. But it apparently got worse, so much that the refs blew play dead after it resumed to give the Predators a bench minor to put things at 4-on-4.

At 6-4, and given a reprieve from Pulock’s penalty, that should be it, right? Heh.

No, of course not: 21 seconds into the 4-on-4, Bo Horvat let his stick get in the skates of Brady Skjei, putting him in the box for tripping and initiating the ominous music.

The Predators pulled the goalie to make it a 5-on-3, and 50 seconds into that Stamkos just barely kept a clear inside the zone, and was allowed to waltz down the slot to rifle one past a screened Marcus Hogberg. That made it 6-5 with 2:07 to go.

Back at full strength, the Predators pulled the goalie again and a Stamkos point shot was deflected in from the low slot by Michael Bunting.


BUNTS SENDS IT TO OT!! pic.twitter.com/s2Y8NbtGJj

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 9, 2025

That tied it at 6-6 and sent the game to overtime — where again, Holmstrom in particular nearly won it. Of course, the Predators also had some glorious chances in OT that they didn’t finish, before Fedor Svechkov finally did after only 1:56 of 3-on-3 chaos.


FEDOR SVECHKOV WINS IT FOR THE PREDATORS IN OVERTIME!#Smashville pic.twitter.com/EmVbQqetC2

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 9, 2025

A suitable ending, all in all. If the Isles still had a significant rather than only mathematical chance at a playoff spot, this loss would’ve been crushing. Instead, it’s just kind of more of the same from this season, which still has five games to go as they trail the wild card by eight points.

Quote of the Night​


“I think this game not for goalies.”

Enjoy OT winner Fedor Svechkov’s post-game, a moment of laughter amid the futility:


Just really delightful stuff from Fedor Svechkov in the post game. He’s just so happy and hilarious. pic.twitter.com/fXNRJY9A3B

— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) April 9, 2025

Up Next​


The Isles return home Thursday to host the Rangers, who are in an identical position. Which team wants to flush the toilet more?

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/8/24404384/predators-vs-islanders-simon-holmstrom
 
Islanders Gameday: Tonight we’re gonna rivalry like it’s 1999

New York Rangers v New York Islanders

Let’s not push too hard here... | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

You both are zero, zero, party over, oops, out of time.

Tonight the Islanders and Rangers face off for a late season “battle” in which both are theoretically chasing a playoff spot but are realistically just finding new or repetitive ways to torment their fanbase.

It’s not quite the late ‘90s, when both teams were really bad and missing the postseason for multiple seasons in a row, but there are echoes. Each team sits — slouches, really — at 79 points, eight points behind the final wild card-holding Canadiens who have won six in a row.

Punctuating how much they don’t want this, the Smurfs even lost 8-5 last night to the Flyers(!), leaving them with just four games to go and zero margin left. Both teams are in that Everything Must Go Right spot when we know full well it will all go wrong.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • Previewing tonight: I guess there is some incentive to avoid a season sweep. The Isles have been bad in these meetings thus far. [Isles]
  • Mike Reilly, coming back from in-season heart surgery, gets the Isles Masterton nomination. [Isles | Newsday]
  • Patrick Roy said in postgame that he pulled Ilya Sorokin (upper body) as a “precaution” after the collision he suffered in Nashville but I guess we’ll learn more today. [@AGrossNewsday]
  • J-G Pageau’s play since the trade deadline and departure of Brock Nelson has been a plus. [THN]

Elsewhere​


Last night’s NHL scores...don’t really matter anymore now do they? Chris Kreider scored his 21st, likely his last in front of home fans at the Garden.

  • Another loss in the NHL family this week; R.I.P. Ray Shero. [NHL | Athletic]
  • The Devils clinched a playoff spot and a first-round meeting with the Hurricanes. [NHL]
  • Gabriel Landeskog’s longshot comeback attempt continues with an AHL conditioning assignment. [NHL]
  • Brady Tkachuk makes two Tkachuks not expected to play again until the playoffs. [NHL]
  • Budweiser sends special cans to the few dozen goalies who faced Alex Ovechkin without ever giving up a goal. Ilya Sorokin was this close. (Did anyone check if Kid Rock is okay with this?) [NHL]
  • When players who fight each other end up as teammates. [Athletic]

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/20...eday-tonight-were-gonna-rivalry-like-its-1999
 
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