News Islanders Team Notes

Rangers 9, Islanders 2: Seriously guys? Swept out and away

New York Rangers v New York Islanders

Oh, were we upset? | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Islanders took a whole period to wake up, then it got weird and uglier, on many fronts.

The New York Islanders gave up more goals than they ever have to the New York Rangers in a laughable, embarrassing and bizarre 9-2 loss on Long Island, completing a season sweep, out scored 23-5 in the season series.

I don’t care how meaningless the game was, you don’t do that against your rivals, and you don’t do that to your fans. What a joke, a “fire everyone” kind of game — one that also puts the Isles on the brink of elimination, though that was a foregone conclusion.

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

The Isles fell behind 4-0 in a horrible first period, as Marcus Hogberg continued some concerning play that puts his chances of being the backup-in-waiting in question. Though they played better in the second and the first part of the third — although too little, way too late — Hogberg continued to leak goals, including a peewee B-level wraparound.

They hit some posts and there were some weird bounces, but it was a messy, chaotic pond hockey display by that point. After the Rangers made it 6-2 midway through the third, Hogberg’s night was briefly interrupted by Tristan Lennox, the emergency callup making his NHL debut after a nightmare couple of years of injuries.

But after Lennox made one save, then looked frozen while giving up a five-hole goal on a 2-on-1, Patrick Roy pulled him from his debut and put Hogberg back in. No idea what that was about, but Hogberg would give up two more goals: one, a 2-on-1 that everyone — he, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock — played poorly, the other to Artemi Panarin on a fluke bounce from behind the net that ramped off Bo Horvat’s skate and then in off Hogberg.

But while that’s a lot of attention to the goalies, this was a full-team lack of effort. Hudson Fasching finally scored his first goal of the season, so that was funny and celebrated at (checks notes) 6-2.

This roster needs a major shakeup, and it probably needs a new coach. The pressure is on, surely, for the man who will make those decisions and does not appear to be going anywhere.

Quote of the Night​


Thomas Hickey does not hold back in wondering why Lennox was yanked two shots into his debut in a garbage game (Honestly, I also don’t get why Roy didn’t just put him in to start the third period, too, instead of waiting till he did):


“It rubs me the wrong way.”

Thomas Hickey comments on Patrick Roy pulling Tristan Lennox #Isles pic.twitter.com/YveaFbBmKH

— (@IslesFix) April 11, 2025​
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Up Next​


WTF cares?
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/10/24405823/rangers-vs-islanders-patrick-roy-hogberg-lennox
 
Flyers 4*, Islanders 3 (*SO): Elimination complete

New York Islanders v Philadelphia Flyers

The walking dead. | Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

And down they go.

The New York Islanders’ never-believable playoff push was officially put to rest with a shootout loss in Philadelphia, with the Isles delivering the kind of “played well in parts but not well enough” performance that typified so much of the 2024-25 season.

To give things a final bit of manufactured tension, they did equalize late with a sixth attacker and force overtime, as anything short of two points would self-eliminate them.

And indeed, that’s what happened. Team scoring leaders Anders Lee and Bo Horvat each inched closer to 30 goals, and they may have lost Pierre Engvall to injury, but everything is pretty much academic at this point. They have three games to go till the end of the season, which can’t come soon enough.

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

It was an uneven game, with the Isles outplaying Philadelphia in the first and even moreso in the second, which is when the first three goals happened. The Flyers got on the board first with a power play goal (one of their four shots in the period), but Anders Lee answered back on the power play for his 29th of the season.


Anders Lee is one goal shy of 30 on the year. #Isles pic.twitter.com/pCWtOeIVt2

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) April 12, 2025​
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Noah Dobson got his 10th — the fourth time he’s reached that mark — with a couple of minutes to go, sending the Isles to the second intermission with a 2-1 lead.


WHAT A PASS BY BO HORVAT.#LGI | @Ford pic.twitter.com/PQU379VSgz

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 12, 2025​
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Some sloppy play throughout the third let the Flyers turn the game around for a 3-2 lead. While it was generally a bounce-back game for Marcus Hogberg after the slaughter by the Rangers, I didn’t like how he played the (admittedly golden) scoring chances he faced as the Flyers equalized and retook the lead. He’s got a big body, he needs to come out and close down space.

Adding injury to insult, Pierre Engvall left the game injured after spinning inside the Fleyrs blueline and buckling his knee. It looked bad, and he needed to be helped off the ice, but he apparently returned to the bench during the shootout.


That looked absolutely brutal for Pierre Engvall. Man. #Isles pic.twitter.com/ZuCzUWl4XC

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) April 12, 2025​
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With Hogberg pulled for a sixth attacker, the Islanders nearly fumbled it away several times. Finally, on their first stretch of possession in the Flyers zone, Bo Horvat did what I was shouting at him to do and sent a puck along the ice through traffic, which hit a stick and found its way past Samuel Ersson.

According to MSG, it was their sixth goal with an extra attacker this season, which surprised me to learn.

Overtime was a bore, and of course the shootout was too. No one converted until the fifth round when Bobby Brink finally put one past Hogberg with a series of nifty moves. Simon Holmstrom nearly beat Ersson with some nice moves, and Tony DeAngelo was put out there for a chance (and many boos) in his hometown against one of his former teams, but othing doing.

Up Next​


The Isles play again on Sunday afternoon in Newark.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/12/24407000/flyers-vs-islanders-shootout-playoff-elimination
 
Islanders Gameday: Sleepwalking into New Jersey

New York Islanders v New Jersey Devils

Embrace your fate. | Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images

What’s left to do?

The Islanders are in Newark for the second half of a road back-to-back after being eliminated via shootout yesterday afternoon in Philadelphia. With Ilya Sorokin on the shelf — and barring another shock appearance by Tristan Lennox — Marcus Hogberg has a chance to continue shaking off that 9-2 loss to the Rangers after he rebounded somewhat against the Flyers.

The Devils are already locked into a first-round matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes, who have home ice advantage secured, so neither team has anything to play for today. Leaguewide and lottery-wise, the Islanders are currently 23rd overall and could plausibly fall as low as 26th or climb as high as 20th.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • Previewing today: The Isles understand they’re playing out the string. [Isles]
  • After a scary twist and departure from the game, Pierre Engvall appears to be fine. [@AGrossNewsday]
  • Critical offseason decisions await. But for now Patrick Roy only wanted to talk about the game, with the ol’ “I thought we were the better team on the ice all day long.” [Post]

Elsewhere​


Saturday’s other finals included the elimination of the Rangers, too. The Leafs — with only 17 skaters and 5 healthy defensemen because of cap reasons — beat the Canadiens in overtime to keep Montreal from clinching just yet. The Blue Jackets torched the Capitals, 7-0, to stay alive in a game where Alex Ovechkin was rested.

  • No championship for Cole Eiserman as Western Michigan trounces BU in the NCAA final, 6-2. [USA Today]
  • Alec Martinez announces his retirement and is saluted in his final game in Chicago, where all kinds of careers go to die now. [NHL]
  • Playing a conditioning stint in the AHL, Gabriel Landeskog scores his first pro goal since the Avalanche’s Cup year. [TSN]
  • A blow for the Oilers as Mattias Ekholm appears to have a long-term injury. [TSN]
  • More Luke Fox Jukebox fanfic about the Leafs. [Sportsnet]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/13/24407269/islanders-gameday-news-new-jersey-devils
 
Islanders vs. Flyers Gameday: Technically alive but spiritually broken

New York Islanders v Philadelphia Flyers

Look out, Gatcomb’s coming. | Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

The Islanders open a turnpike back-to-back.

The Islanders are in Philadelphia Saturday afternoon because the schedule says they must be, but we’ll see who shows up after an embarrassing 9-2 loss on home ice to the other New York team.

Even the official team preview notes the Isles are only “technically” still alive in their extinguished playoff chase, since Montreal was unable to clinch against Ottawa last night.

One bright note for today is we see ol’ Isles assistant and interim Brad Shaw behind the bench. Happy for him, maybe they remove the interim tag and he gets a run with that squad?

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • The preview in question. Also runs those Patrick Roy quotes about his handling of Tristan Lennox’s NHL debut. [Isles]
  • Different expectations but the same outcome: The Islanders and Rangers both sucked this year. [Newsday]
  • Island Ice podcast: Wacky rivalry game. [Newsday]
  • New York hockey is woeful this season. [Newsday]
  • Marcus Hogberg’s post-injury form and Semyon Varlamov’s season-ending something makes the summer shopping need clear. [Post]
  • Cole Eiserman (and Kamil Bednarik too) seeks a frozen championship tonight. [NHL]

Elsewhere​


Friday’s finals included the Red Wings and Flames also staying alive, to varying degrees of “technically.”

  • Brock Boeser says he expects to be allowed to walk as a UFA this summer. He should see a bidding war. [Sportsnet]
  • Michael Andlauer is thrilled to have the Senators in the playoffs in just his second season owning the team. [NHL | Sportsnet]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/20...eday-technically-alive-but-spiritually-broken
 
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 330 - Dead Rubber

Islanders_Anxiety_Art___2023.0.jpg


There’s nothing worse than this type of podcast.

Mike and Dan recap a week with three embarrassing losses that finally led to the Islanders’ official elimination from playoff contention.

After a wild 7-6 OT loss in Nashville, a butt whipping at home to the Rangers and a goofy shootout loss in Philadelphia, a season in which no one had any fun was put out of its misery. The players look mad, the coach thinks everyone played well and nothing has been done to show fans that this is not acceptable.

The hamster wheel we’ve been on for four years continues to spin, which has us almost nostalgic for other failed seasons we thought were worse than they actually were.

The two games left on the schedule don’t matter, but might have some small amounts of joy for someone. Right now, the only thing we can all enjoy is a new dumpster fire sparking up inside Madison Square Garden, started by a former Islander who has made his displeasure with his new team public in a way he didn’t expect. He joins a list of current and ex-Rangers in open revolt against a GM who was once praised for having a cutthroat countenance but now looks like he’s wearing clown shoes.

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

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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/20...elimination-patrick-roy-rangers-calvin-dehaan
 
Islanders Gameday: A Farewell to Marts?

Washington Capitals v New York Islanders

Encore! | Photo by Steven Ryan/NHLI via Getty Images

“I’m not brave anymore, darling. I’m all broken. They’ve broken me.”*

It’s tax day in the U.S. and the home finale for the Islanders. It also could and should be a chance for Islanders fans to give Matt Martin an appreciative sendoff for time served and punches endured in the name of the fabled and maddening New York Islanders.

The 5th round (148th overall) pick in that pivotal 2008 Islanders draft has logged 985 NHL regular season games (853 with the Isles) — and a whole season’s-plus worth (88) of playoff games (82 with the Isles) on top of that. If playoff games were included in “career NHL games” accounting, you could even say he well surpassed the 1,000 “NHL games” milestone. Alas, when it comes to milestones and accumulation, playoffs are considered cheating. Sorry!

Martin has scored at least once in every NHL season except this one and his initial 5-game callup in 2009-10. There’s almost no reason to watch tonight, as the Capitals even took care of the predestined Ovechkin milestone during their last visit; but it would be cool to see Martin get on the board and have the crowd erupt one last time.

This is all, of course, assuming he’s retiring and not brought back for another contract...right?

*Aside: “A Farewell to Arms” is chock-FULL of quotes that could aptly describe this Islanders season. Too many to choose from, really.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • Martin deserves a big hurrah from fans tonight. [Newsday]
  • The last-place Bridgeport Islanders just finished with the worst home record in AHL history, and a minus-70 goal differential. Someone give their GM a promotion! [THN]
  • Prospect Report: Cole Eiserman’s freshman season ends as the Frozen Four runner-up, while several others are in the juniors playoffs, including Xavier Veilleux in the USHL. [Isles]
  • “This team, it needed to be put to bed.” Islanders Anxiety podcast, dead rubber episode: Relief to be done with this season’s particularly dull dose of anxiety, and bewilderment that there were zero consequences for the embarrassment against the Rangers. [LHH]
  • Paul Cotter was suspended two games for his headshot on Adam Pelech. At least he didn’t mean it! [NHL]
  • Sad, though sadly not really surprising: The family of Chris Simon and a neuropathologist report he had severe CTE when he died by suicide. The good ol’ hockey game, right? [Athletic]

Elsewhere​


Monday’s NHL scores include the Canadiens gaining a standings point but losing in a shootout to sad Chicago, so their playoff spot is still not guaranteed. #GoColumbus. The Red Wings and Smurfs each won to push the Isles down to 23rd overall, which is now as low as the Isles can finish.

  • The Kings clinched home ice advantage against the Oilers by dumping the Oilers, 5-0. Another compelling first-round matchup, that. [Sportsnet]
  • In that one, Darnell Nurse was given five and a game for crosschecking Quinton Byfield, prompting Corey Perry to utter a classic “Who, me?” quote: “We’re not out there to hurt anybody.” {John Candy face: “Sure, sure...”} [Sportsnet]
  • Dan and Mike talked about this on the podcast, but Carp lad Calvin de Haan has been forthrightly frustrated with his handling by the Rangers, who are a delightful mess. I for one feel like a lot of people are not respecting the transferability of skills from 1989 Little League World Series star to NHL GM. [Sportsnet]
  • Last summer’s 5th overall pick Ivan Demidov was excited for his Canadiens debut. [NHL] ...and he promptly scored and recorded an assist in the opening period. [Sportsnet | NHL]
  • Mattias Ekholm will at least miss the first round for the Oilers. [NHL]
  • The Sharks will hold a press conference today announcing Logan Couture’s retirement. [TSN]
  • What’s next for the terrible Rangers and Canucks, who are terrible and unlikeable? [Sportsnet]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/15/24408562/islanders-gameday-matt-martin-farewell-capitals
 
Islanders News: Sorokin returns, Pelech exits

New York Islanders v New Jersey Devils

This is what you get for wearing the ugliest “jersey” in the league. | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Nothing to play for but injury updates and milestones.

The Islanders won a snoozer in Newark Sunday afternoon, giving them two more standings points, which for lottery purposes put them in 21st overall and ensures they will finish somewhere between 20th and 24th.

If there was anything of interest about the afternoon, it was probably that Ilya Sorokin returned healthy — and got a shutout, pulling him into a tie with BIlly Smith for second all-time (22) for the franchise. Meanwhile, Bo Horvat scored the only goal to inch closer to 30, which is an attractive milestone in our base-10 system. And on the bad side, Adam Pelech left the game after another check to the head — one that drew a match penalty on Paul Cotter.

Islanders News​

  • On Pelech’s injury, and the many available replacements. Also: AHL suspensions for Cole Bardreau (six games), Tyce Thompson (three) and Chris Terry (two) for tomfoolery Saturday against Hartford: Bardreau and Thompson for leaving the bench during a fight, Terry’s for a match penalty for slashing.[Post]
  • Sorokin was ready and happy to play. [Post | Newsday]
  • Three takeaways: The Isles hit three posts. So really, like, they totally could’ve won 4-0 and we will take that optimism into the offseason. [Isles]
  • The Skinny: Sorokin reaches 30 wins for the second time; only Rick DiPietro (the all-time shutout leader) has done that twice for the Isles. [Isles]
  • In the interest of getting this season over with sooner, Tuesday’s meeting with the Capitals has been pushed up a half hour to 7:30. (Still have to play the finale two nights later in Columbus, however.) [Isles]
  • (Yester)day in Isles History: That John Tonelli Game. [Isles]

Elsewhere​


Yesterday’s finals also included Columbus beating the Capitals again to keep their by-a-thread chances alive. The Flames also won to keep their hopes alive in the West.

  • The Jets lost to shorthanded Edmonton but won the President’s Trophy anyway thanks to Washington’s loss earlier in the day. It’s Winnipeg (and Atlanta’s) first-ever NHL regular season title, an accomplishment that should be celebrated way more than it is (except when the Rangers do it, in which case it’s a rigged fluke and thin mask of what a crappy team they’ll prove to be in a year’s time). [Sportsnet | Illegal Curve]
  • This is the first time all four U.S. members of the “original six” miss the playoffs in the same year. [AP]
  • Zee Buium of DU signs his ELC with the Wild, will join them pronto. [ESPN]
  • Aaron Ekblad will be ready to help the Panthers’ title defense when his suspension ends after Game 2 of the first round. (Imagine a suspended Islander being allowed to speak to media? You’d sooner find a facial hair on a fifth-liner signed to a seven-year contract.) [NHL]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/14/24407670/islanders-news-sorokin-returns-pelech-exits
 
Islanders News: Palmieri stripped of alternate captaincy (...for a ceremonial night)

Washington Capitals v New York Islanders

Cheers to Matty Marts. | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Islanders players and fans pay tribute to Matt Martin, who wore a letter for his final home game.

The Islanders were able to give Matt Martin a proper quasi-sendoff, so they got that right. It was the final home game, traditionally “fan appreciation night,” so there was some fanfare as well as lots and lots of unused giveaway towels on unoccupied seats.

Oh, and the Islanders lost in regulation, conceding a (empty net-capped) hat trick to Dylan Strome and adding no points to their current 23rd-overall standing.

Matt Martin got to start the game, sporting an A for the first time in his long career, courtesy of the Islanders switching it from Kyle Palmieri’s to his chest for a one-night commemoration. He received a scoreboard tribute, and also at the end the Capitals gave him the Marc-Andre Fleury treatment, led by noted d-bag Tom Wilson, as if that makes headhunting bygones be bygones.

Alas, Martin did not score a goal, as the hockey gods were busy tending to other teams still in the wild card chase.

Islanders News​

  • It was more like Matt Martin Appreciation Night. “It’s great community here, a great place to live and a great place to play. And that’s pretty awesome.” [Isles]
  • Pre-game, Martin teared up when asked about what it all means [Isles | Newsday | Post]
  • Adam Pelech was ready to go. (Alex Romanov was not, ill, replaced by Scott Perunovich.) [Post]
  • Martin is the Isles nominee for the King Clancy. [THN]
  • And here’s the post-game shake:
The Caps stay to shake hands with Matt Martin and the whole UBS Arena crowd salutes him in his last game on Long Island pic.twitter.com/0aO5eTFqDx

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 16, 2025
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Elsewhere​


Much was decided last night — Minnesota tied it late to win in OT and get the West’s first wild card, the Blues won a blowout in regulation to claim the second, and that all made Calgary’s late shootout win moot.

Tonight the Canadiens can clinch the final spot with a point of any kind, but if they lose in regulation then the Islanders better be prepared to roll over for the Blue Jackets.

  • Lane Huston has passed Chris Chelios for most points by a rookie defenseman in Montreal history. [Canadiens]
  • Darnell Nurse received one of those “we’ll suspend you, but not for any playoff games” suspensions. [Sportsnet]
  • The Senators are looking forward to the next Battle of Ontario. Me too. [Sportsnet]
  • Auston Matthews notched his 400th(!) NHL (regular season) goal faster than Alex Ovechkin did. Yeah, but wrist maladies are not a good sign for attempting to do that for another decade. [Sportsnet]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/16/24409518/islanders-news-matt-martin-farewell
 
Islanders Season Finale Gameday: This one’s for none of the marbles

New York Islanders v Columbus Blue Jackets

Game #900 for the Smithtown lad... | Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images

Because the Canadiens are killjoy jerks, this game means nothing to anyone.

This one means less than nothing. It could’ve been a heartwarming moment where the Blue Jackets climb into the postseason to cap a season marred by tragedy — dumb officials even stole two points from the Isles a few weeks ago to help the BJ cause — but no, the Canadiens won on home ice last night so there is no suspense left in the 2024-25 regular season. All the playoff matchups are set.

The Islanders can’t be spoilers, they can’t be enablers, they just have to be passengers to the home team’s Fan Appreciation Night in Columbus.

In theory, however, Bo Horvat (28 goals) or Anders Lee (29 goals) could hit the 30-goal milestone. Lee could theoretically catch Horvat for the team points lead, though that would require a three-point swing. Kyle Palmieri will play in his 900th NHL regular season game and perhaps his last as an Islander.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • Ilya Sorokin’s goalie goal — which he did not shoot or direct — wins Islanders Goal of the Year, in a bit of suitable irony. [Isles]
  • Previewing tonight: There will be two teams, this we know. [Isles]
  • So...how many of the guys in the lineup tonight will we be seeing for the last time? [Newsday]
  • Staple mailbag: What will RFA Noah Dobson command? Which defensemen will go? When will Lou ever leave? [Athletic]
  • Tonight’s opponent: They’ve had a goaltending problem, but they may have found an answer. [NHL]

Elsewhere​


Last night’s scores, whatever man.

  • The playoffs will start Saturday, with two series from the West. [NHL]
  • The Battle of Ontario, whenever it starts, should “be a bloodbath.” [Sportsnet]
  • But good lord, the Stars. Limping to the postseason, and now Jason Robertson is injured, too. [Sportsnet]
  • Calvin de Haan tried to calm the storm after his aside was made into a big story. “I understand I’m not a top four, $10 million guy anymore in this league, and I might not have huge impact on the games.” [Post]
  • Kris Letang had surgery to address a hole in his heart that can only be filled by you. [TSN]
  • Brock Boeser claims he’s still holding out hope to re-sign with the Canucks. [Sportsnet]
  • As plugged in comments yesterday: Marc-Andre Fleury’s surprise and very on-brand final appearance (barring playoffs, er, playoffs don’t count), in overtime. [Athletic]
  • Justin Bourne analyzes the western playoff matchups. [Sportsnet]
  • Who exceeded, and who fell short of expectations this season. [Sportsnet]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/17/24410310/islanders-season-finale-gameday-blue-jackets
 
Islanders Season-Ending News: Mercy killing

New York Islanders v Columbus Blue Jackets

Their season died as they lived, doing shit-all-jack about nothing. | Photo by Kirk Irwin/NHLI via Getty Images

They rolled over in a perfectly appropriate finish to a perfectly forgettable season.

I am trying to think of a season where I had lower expectations for the New York Islanders, and I’m having trouble recalling it. During the nadir of the Garth Snow rebuild, there was at least managed expectations about collecting and hoarding assets, trading your Andy Suttons (because I’m an expert) for a pick that was later packaged to move up and draft Brock Nelson.

(Snow had a very mixed record of trading up and down, such as the time he traded up to select Calvin de Haan by spending picks that were used on Nick Leddy and Erik Haula. But sometimes it worked out. Nikita Filatov was not our bust.)

Anyway, I had bubble-at-best expectations for the Isles this year and that’s about as high as they ever got. Yes, there were injuries, but there were also healthy Islanders who did inadequate but completely predictable loss-facilitating things given their talent and teammates. They returned last year’s uninspiring roster plus Anthony Duclair and Max Tsyplakov, two nice additions but not the kind that would make you think anything has meaningfully changed.

And it hasn’t. Last night they mercifully put an end to this season with an embarrassing, odd-man-rush-heavy 6-1 blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who finished the season winning six in a row while barely missing the playoffs.

Playing like dog slobber in the finale seems oh so appropriate for 2024-25. Hudson Fasching getting the only goal to double his season total was {chef’s kiss} a masterclass in summing up the season in one event. True, this team had some bright spots (e.g. Anders Lee in a major bounce-back year while trying to captain them to relevance), and overall I like a lot of the players and don’t blame them for their collective fate. But overall the season reflected the narrow, delusional “believe in this group” nature of the man at the helm.

If Lou Lamoriello is in charge of their offseason (and all signs suggest he will be), then it better involve major surgery, and not the kind that entails firing off 1st-round picks for middling vets or to subsidize cap dumps. Hopefully there is a realization that was not there last summer, so we don’t have to again endure 82 games of someone else’s misplaced hope while the realistic outcome stares us in the face, like Patrick Roy praising a team that outshot the opposition while losing badly.

I’ll say one last time that the contrast between Lou’s approach and Doug Armstrong’s with the Blues is eye-opening. One will admit mistakes and be aggressive in fixing them, the other is really, really thorough about making sure no one talks to the media.

It’s almost as if you can build a strong team culture without policing haircuts and uniform numbers. Just imagine!

Islanders News​

  • Post-mortem: “Missing the playoffs stinks,” says Bo. [Newsday]
  • Three Takeaways: 1. You suck. 2. You suck. 3. You collectively suck but it’s not your fault. [Isles]
  • The Skinny: The Isles finished at NHL-.500 for the first time since 1993-94, when they went 36-36-12 in an 84-game season. [Isles]
  • The Islanders have a lot of defensemen and should probably have fewer in the future. [Post]
  • Some of the nice things Boomer (Blowhard) Esiason said about his son-in-law as he likely concludes his NHL career. [THN]
  • An actually neat story coming out of Bridgeport! Ross Mitton and Marshall Warren. [B-Isles]

Elsewhere​


None of last night’s scores mattered in the least, other than ensuring the Isles finished with 10th-best lottery odds.

  • In a pleasant surprise, Dougie Hamilton returned to the Devils lineup just in time for playoffs. Still probably losing to Carolina, but I hope they don’t. [NHL]
  • Is Connor Bedard a Toronto guy? (No.) Is that why it’s a thing to speculate he wants out of miserable Chicago? Enough to elicit this quote: “if I looked a little sad on the bench or something, maybe people can take it out of context.” [NHL]
  • Son of Bourne predicts the Eastern matchups. [Sportsnet]
  • The Jets signed Neal Pionk to a six-year, $7M AAV extension. With a similar points total (but not quite UFA), could that please be the ceiling for Noah Dobson’s next contract? [NHL]

A Note to Readers​


Hey, everyone. Thanks for reading and commenting all season. Thanks for even occasionally being civil or gracious to one another even though you harbor Very Strongly Held Beliefs About A Professional Sports Team. The “Someone on the Internet is Wrong” vibe is strong with this bunch, but so is the sense of humor, the sense of absurdity, and the gallows existential “Why are we here? Yet we are here.” of it all.

Those of us who write with bylines here pretty much do it as a labor of love and to facilitate conversation about our favorite team/tormenter. We’re all busy and only getting busier in our respective lives, so thanks for coming back and being patient when we post late or get something wrong. (Thanks also for assuming the worst when your comments are moderated by robots beyond our immediate control.)

I’m really excited for the NHL playoffs as a neutral, so we’ll try to keep posts up about that in tandem with important Islanders topics. It’s a pivotal offseason ahead, and I’m glad you all will be here to help digest it.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/18/24411011/islanders-season-ending-news-mercy-killing
 
Islanders/NHL Postseason News: The playoffs begin (for some...)

New York Islanders v Columbus Blue Jackets

Let’s hear some more apologies. | Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

The Islanders reflect on their season as the NHL’s second season begins without them.

Today is Islanders cleanout day, so we’ll get some maddening quotes and other stuff from that.

Bit it’s also the day the NHL playoffs begin, with a first round that should be two weeks of sheer fun. Lots of great matchups, and of course a maximum slate of games each night to keep us entertained even when one or two games are a dud.

Things begin with two Western playoff series:

Winnipeg vs. St. Louis​


The President’s Trophy winners take on the upstarts who had a 12-game win streak (ended by these Jets) to resurrect their season. The Blues have improved vastly under Jim Montgomery, but they’re still an 8 seed (sorry, “wild card”) that is missing Dylan Holloway, one of the keys to their resurgence. Of trivial note, the Schenn brothers will face each other in the playoffs for the first time.

How the Jets will win: Talent superiority (despite missing Lars Ehler), attention to detail, and Connor Hellebuyck matching Jordan Binnington “clutch” save for clutch save. This team has been building up for this moment.

How the Blues will win: Past Vezina winner and likely finalist Hellebuyck has a “playoff flop” reputation, though 4 Nations may have chipped away at that. But if he falters, or if the anxiety of the President’s Trophy “curse” or memories of 2019 (when the Blues dumped the Jets on their way to a Cup) become a firestorm after the first bad bounce or bad game, then the Blues have the horses to finish the job.

Colorado vs. Dallas​


The Stars and Jim Nill just keep knocking on the door, doing the right things year after year, and this looked like (yet another) year when things might work out for them. Then they drew the Avalanche in the first round, and experienced an end-of-season skid made worse injuries to Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson. It’s really not fair.

But the Stars have Mikko Rantanen, who is ripe for a Revenge Series against the team that wouldn’t make him the highest player in the world, or whatever he was looking for.

Dallas has depth to mitigate those injuries a bit — even Matt Duchene is having a renaissance season like his fellow draftmate who shares a name with an arena football star — meanwhile the Avalanche are pretty healthy, even maybe getting Gabriel Landeskog back for the first time since they lifted the Cup. However, the Stars have experienced playoff gamebreaker Jake Oettinger while the Avalanche are relying on the former Devils law firm tandem of Mackenzie, Blackwood & Wedgewood.

This should be an excellent series, it’s just a shame there are some stars (pun purely coincidental) who will miss it.

Islanders News​

  • Five questions facing the Isles offseason. [Newsday | Post]
  • In a very special Weird Islanders podcast, Dan and Mike talk with a Canucks podcaster about their soap opera season, Pius Suter (once an Isles training camp invitee) and others like Cliff Ronning. [LHH]
  • He only played 11 games for the Isles, but that convenient fact means that Scott Perunovich officially was acquired for free. [THN]

Elsewhere​

  • The Canucks had their cleanout day, and all eyes were on Elias Pettersson after the divorce with J.T. Miller. [Sportsnet]
  • Connor Bedard reiterates his “love” for playing in Chicago. Is he Toronto-born? (No.) Why are they giving him the Tavares treatment? [NHL]
  • The Oilers are getting healthier almost just in time. [NHL]
  • The Leafs are hoping their different approach under Craig Berube means different results in the postseason. [NHL]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/4/19/24411768/islanders-nhl-postseason-news-playoffs-opener
 
Weird Islanders: The Podcast - Pius Suter & The Training Camp All Stars (with guest Ryan Schaap)

Weird_Islanders_art.0.jpg


All of these really dumb expectations were placed on a lot of Canucks, but Pius Suter was definitely not one of them.

Along with podcaster and Canucks fan Ryan Schaap, Mike and Dan learn about Pius Suter, who attended a training camp with the Islanders before starting a productive NHL career for three other teams.

Suter came over from his native Switzerland to try the NHL on for size and attended camps for both the Senators and Islanders before finally signing a contract with the Red Wings. After two solid years in Detroit and one in Chicago, he settled in Vancouver, where he’s become a valued utility player. Ryan tells us how much Suter means to the team, other players he’s reminiscent of and what life is like for Canucks fans during a trying, drama-filled season like this one.

We also talk about other “Training Camp All Stars,” like Miks Indrasis and Jan Kovar who circled the Islanders but never quite landed. Along the way, we chat about other weird Islanders-Canucks connections and why Cliff Ronning remains awesome.

Thanks again to Ryan for coming on. Since recording the episode, his podcast Pucks on Net has decided to end its incredible 11-year run, but you can still check out episodes and follow him on Bluesky at @schaaptop.bsky.social. He has since started a new project about the music of The White Stripes called The Hardest Podcast to Podcast. Check it out here.

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL!

  • In 2017, Suter was invited to camp by the Ottawa Senators and played in their rookie tournament. He wasn’t offered a contract and returned to Zurich in Switzerland, where he won a championship that season.
  • A year later, the Islanders brought him over for their training camp. Again, he returned to Zurich without an NHL contract. He explained in 2023 that the camp appearances were about getting a taste of the NHL before making a commitment to come over.
  • Finally, Suter signed a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2020 and joined the club in January of 2021. In his sixth NHL game, he scored the first three goals of his NHL career, becoming the first Blackhawks player to score his first three NHL goals in the same game since Bill Kendall in 1933 and the first since Art Somers in 1929 to record a hat trick within his first six career NHL games. Those dudes are old.
  • Despite scoring 14 goals and 27 points in 55 games (some of them spent on the top line), Chicago let Suter go at the end of the season. He hooked up with the Red Wings the next season and had another 15 goals and 36 points in 82 games.
  • Of course, you knew the guy who attended Islanders camp just had to score a goal against them. Here’s his shorthanded score against Ilya Sorokin in 2022, while Suter was with Detroit.
  • After a second season in Detroit (and another 14 goals), the Red Wings also let him go. He signed a two-year deal with Vancouver and in his first season scored, you guessed it, 14 goals. But he also had a hat trick for Vancouver early in 2024.
  • Miks Indrasis came over from the KHL to attend training camps with the Blackhawks (2012), Canucks (2013) and Islanders (2014). But he never signed in the NHL and played his career in the KHL, DEL, SHL and the Swiss NL. He’s currently with Brynäs IF of the SHL and won a bronze medal with Latvia at the 2023 WC. And he scored a Michigan! Maybe we should call it the “Miks.”

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/20...ing-camp-all-stars-ryan-schaap-indrasis-kovar
 
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