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Islanders Anxiety - Episode 320 - Any Result is Possible

Islanders_Anxiety_Art___2023.0.jpg


Our number one takeaway from this entire Four Nations tournament is that Brock Nelson better come out of it healthy.

Mike and Dan recap where the Islanders are at the Four Nations break and discuss some recent rumors surrounding them.

Despite a hot January, the Islanders are still four points out of a playoff berth with a large group of teams surrounding them and a disconcerting amount of injured players. While the winning streak pulled them out of the basement, they still have a large hill to climb which means the rest of the season and the trade deadline come loaded with a lot of questions. There’s no telling what they might do or how the Eastern Conference will shake out, which is both exciting and scary.

In the second half, we look ahead (barely) to the Four Nations Face Off and analyze the trade rumors that have popped up around Noah Dobson and the extension rumors about Brock Nelson. The possibility of both or neither exists and only Islanders fans will see the many nuances in both topics that the professional liars, prejudiced fans and other assorted idiots won’t see.

We have no answers but at least we’ve watched this team play all season, which is more than we can say for most people who talk about it.

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.

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/20...winnipeg-jets-brock-nelson-noah-dobson-rumors
 
Islanders News: Barzal knee procedure doesn’t sound LTIR-circumvention-friendly

Toronto Maple Leafs v New York Islanders

Good night to all that... | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Even if you wanted to blow more assets for a lost season, the cap space isn’t really there.

The break has begun! The NHL now shuts down for a couple of weeks to make room for a “best on best” (sort of) international tournament among four teams that get together today and begin games Wednesday and Thursday.

(Oh, and something-something-Super Bowl if that’s your thing...congrats to the victors and commercial junkies.)

Meanwhile, the Islanders — outside of Team USA’s Brock Nelson — get a traditional all-star/bye kind of break, which should allow several of them time to advance their injury recovery.

Speaking of which...

Islanders News​

  • Mat Barzal reportedly had a “procedure” occurred on hisleft knee, the one that took that shot that sent him out of the lineup. There were musings over how Barzal’s $9.15M cap hit would sure make room for a nice big-ticket addition or two if he went on LTIR, but if he came back before the end of the regular season, they’d have to recreate that cap room. Pierre LeBrun said the normal recovery is six weeks, which would be after the trade deadline but well before the end of the season. [Newsday | Post]
  • The Skinny: “Max Tsyplakov has six assists in the last six games to move himself into the top five among rookies in both assists and points.” [Isles]
  • Five big questions for the Islanders at the break. [THN]
  • With a trip through Winnipeg and Minnesota, Brock Nelson received some back-home well-wishers as a sendoff to the 4 Nations. [Post]

Elsewhere​

  • What the hell is the 4 Nations anyway, and when and where does it happen? Montreal and Boston, first game is Wednesday, simple round-robin format with a championship game. [NHL]
  • After missing 47 games, Drew Doughty has been named to Team Canada to replace Alex Pietrangelo. [NHL]
  • Meanwhile, Quinn Hughes has missed four straight games and has decided to skip the 4 Nations. [Sportsnet]
  • More rough news for the Canucks, Thatcher Demko is hurt again, though they say it’s not the same knee and it’s not serious. [NHL]
  • Why separating Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner could work better for the Leafs. [Sportsnet]
  • The Canadiens have gone the opposite way of the Islanders, losing 8 of 9 to put them self in sell mode. (But wait, they’re only two points behind the Islanders...) [Sportsnet]
  • Can Elias Pettersson recapture his elite form? He’s got one point in four games since they traded his archrival. [Sportsnet]
  • The Ducks had custom tees and crocs for John Gibson’s 500th game in net. [NHL]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/2/10/24362291/islanders-news-barzal-knee-injury-hughes-nelson
 
4 Nations, Sort of a Cup

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off - Canada v Sweden

Photo by Andre Ringuette/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images

The made-for-...players(?) pilot program begins.

I know a lot of hockey fans. I don’t know a lot who are particularly excited about the 4 Nations that begins tonight in Montreal with Sweden vs. Montreal.

Part of that is probably just the unfamiliar, discomfort with change, all that. Part of it is probably how few teams are involved. I’m sure lots will come around. Maybe I’ll even come around.

Over the years, almost as much as “salary cap” and “hockey related revenues” and “cost certainty,” we have heard how “the players really want to have a best-on-best tournament.” (Silly me, I thought that was the Stanley Cup playoffs...)

What they really want is to the national team thing, the Olympic-type thing, though the league has always understandably onted that the IOC gets all the glory and revenue without the risk — John Tavares’ Olympic injury while on the Islanders’ dime a prime example.

So the NHL has been aiming to force the issue by creating a tournament it can control. A bit like the Canada Cup and World Cup of yore. Tonight begins the first post-Russian-invasion-of-Ukraine step in that effort. And what a coincidence, though this as seen as a precursor to NHL players finally returning to the 2026 Olympics next year, the league has chosen this occasion to confirm and announce a 2028 World Cup will happen.

Enjoy. And if you’re not taking a break, feel free to chat up the games here.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/2/12/24364617/4-nations-canada-sweden
 
Wild 6 (EN), Islanders 3: Out of bounces, out of gas

New York Islanders v Minnesota Wild

Yeesh. | Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images

A strong first half disappears in a hail of North Star-colored volleys.

Finishing out a border-crossing back-to-back against two of the West’s best teams, the Islanders appeared to run out of gas as things bounced against them Saturday night in Minnesota.

The Islanders had a good first 30 minutes, with goals from two of their Minnesotans and a great pass from their newest third to give them a 3-1 lead, when Scott Perunovich made a deke-out-of-a-phone-booth move after catching the puck at the blueline, before a no-look backhand pass to Anders Lee. But some tough luck and some sagging had them trailing 4-3 by the second intermission.

In the third, their legs appeared to leave them, especially after the Wild made it 5-3 when Tony DeAngelo cleared the puck into his own net. An empty netter sealed the final at 6-3.

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

For posterity, here’s Perunovich’s moment (which actually followed another set of elusive moves at the blueline about 15 seconds prior):


Anders Lee taps in his 23rd goal of the year to extend the Islanders' lead! pic.twitter.com/ThaqGCQC1A

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 9, 2025​
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In retrospect, the pivotal and unfortunate moment came when the Wild got one back to make it 3-2 when Frederick Gaudreau scored on the power play following a probable offside entry. The Islanders decided not to challenge — it was one of those plays where the attacker bobbled the puck as his legs entered the zone before the puck — which was probably the right call because you never know in this league. (And also, that’s one of those “why are we here?” scenarios if we have to endure minutes of subjective video review for plays like that.)

But the goal itself was a little absurd — a shot going well wide hit off DeAngelo in front of the net, changing direction and flipping over Ilya Sorokin and into the net. It would prove not to even be DeAngelo’s toughest moment of the night, but the combo of bad bounce and no review was a portent of the doom to come.

Sure enough, the Wild tied it four minutes later with 2:01 left in the period, then really knifed the Isles with a go-ahead deflection 51 seconds later.

The Isles had one power play in the third that injected a little life back into their legs, again featuring good puck movement by the newcomers, but they couldn’t cash in. The Isles pulled Sorokin for a sixth attacker with over three minutes to go, but a Marcus Foligno backhand from long distance into the empty net finished the game.

Up Next and Now What?​


So the Isles got off to quite the tear in 2025 to climb back into the wild card picture. They finished a very tough stretch of the schedule — many (myself included) forecast them to be left for dead by the time they hit this tough back-to-back. Instead, they arrived in Winnipeg in promising position but come out of this swing with two regulation losses, trailing by four points and four teams for the second wild card spot.

Amid an injury crisis that should’ve finished the team off, the trio of new mobile defensemen have given them a new look; and Sorokin had been on fire before these last two games, where he returned to being just really good.

After the 4 Nations tournament, they’ll have six games before the trade deadline. Lou Lamoriello is always going to try to make his team competitive, so you figure if they’re in shouting distance he’s going to try to add rather than sell off.

But it would be a desperate run, yet again, for them to even get to the wild card among a pool of similarly middling teams, which would only set them up, yet again, to face one of a quartet of true contenders in the East. Whichever way Lou goes, we probably won’t know until at the deadline because they’re too close for him to bail now.
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/2/8/24361961/wild-vs-islanders-lee-nelson-perunovich
 
4 Nations Face-Off, Round 1: Thoughts?

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off - United States v Finland

No peace. | Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

Also: Brock Nelson discusses the ins, the outs, the what-have-yous of his free agency status.

Well, what do you think? The first round* of the 4 Nations Face-Off is complete, with Canada beating Sweden in overtime (really? they’re doing 3-on-3?) in an apparently thrilling, high-paced game that I didn’t see.

*I know it’s not really “a round” in the “advance past X round” sense, but in a round-robin setup where teams face each opponent only once, it’s helpful to describe them this way. Finland could theoretically be eliminated after Saturday’s “second round,” fore example.

The next night, Team Tkachuk, or rather Team USA took it to Finland in the third period of what became a blowout. Finland kept it close till the third, but the many U.S. weapons always looked like they were ready to erupt.

Brock Nelson actually hit the crossbar for the first great U.S. chance, but our Islanders representative in this tournament is a secondary player to the top six the U.S. happily runs out there. Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes and the Tkachuks all looked like they were having way too much fun.

Some intense and potentially pivotal games in this short tourney will come Saturday, with a double-header of bitter rivalries, USA vs. Canada and Sweden vs. Finland.

Are you entertained?

Really glad to hear Ray Ferarro call Niko Mikkola "Mikko Mäkelä" because I do that all the time. #Isles

— Lighthouse Hockey (@lhhockey.bsky.social) 2025-02-14T03:25:19.097Z
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Another fun one from Ferarro, regarding Drew Doughty calling the first game “the fastest he’s ever played”:

“Yes it was a track meet, but Drew has also played only eight games this season, he’s 35, and they played with five defensmen. So I think he was just feeling that.”

Random News​

  • Brock Nelson discusses his uncertain future with the Islanders. [Sportsnet | Newsday]
  • Anthony Duclair says South Florida left an impact on him, and he’s happy to build dry ice rinks in what he considers his home. [NHL]
  • Noah Dobson switches agents, ahead of key RFA contract talks. [THN]
  • Evidently there is an Ilya Sorokin debate. [THN]
  • The NHL and NHLPA are psyched to get back on the World Cup cycle. [NHL]
  • The USNTDP has become “a factory.” As intended. [NHL]
  • The U.S. players at the 4 Nations have the Gaudreaus in their hearts. [NHL]
  • Just because there’s a pause in the NHL schedule and a semi-international tournament going on doesn’t mean teams can’t make trades of random AHLers. [TSN]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/2/14/24365442/4-nations-face-off-round-usa-finland-canada
 
Islanders Gameday: Entering the break with the Wild

New York Islanders v Minnesota Wild

Let’s say hello to family and friends. | Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images

The Islanders bring their ever-growing Minnesota contingent for a visit home.

The Islanders enter the 4 Nations break with a final game in Minnesota, where the Wild will get one last look at Brock Nelson before acquiring him later this month/signing him next summer, in accordance with the Buccigross ‘Worst-Kept Secret’ Prophecies.

They’re coming off a slightly heartbreaking loss last night in Winnipeg — they hung with the West-leading Jets and led 2-1, were undone by a poor three-goal second period, but then showed quite a bit of fight in pulling back to within one and pressing for an equalizer till the end of a 19-shot third period.

Their final power play was eye-openingly good (granted, by their low bar), as they moved the puck around really swiftly and smartly under the pressure of an aggressive Jets penalty kill. They kept the puck in the zone for nearly two full minutes, tiring the Jets PKers to the point their aggression let up. It’s the kind of movement that hints to at least theoretical progress on that front.

Anyway, tonight they’ll aim to ride Ilya Sorokin for both nights of the back-to-back before he can rest during the international tournament, on the account of his country of origin’s authoritarian leader invading and bombing a neighbor for imperialist sport.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News​

  • About last night: Eight in a row for the Jets, with Hellebuyck preserving the win. [NHL | Game stats | Newsday | Isles | Post]
  • Previewing tonight. The Wild and the Predators are the only teams they’ve yet to face this season. They went 0-2 against the Wild lastyear. [Isles]
  • “It feels like a brotherhood.” The three new Isles defensemen have had no trouble fitting in, even with the team’s affinity for old game shows and chess. [Isles]
  • With a daunting task to climb back into wild card contention, the Islanders are “staying in the moment.” [Newsday]
  • Devon Toews’ long late-blooming road to a prime spot on Team Canada. It will always sting, what a failure it was to ship him off — but this article implies the Isles weren’t willing to sign him at RFA, when it was more cap-crunched asset mismanagement. [NHL]

Elsewhere​


Friday night in the NHL, the Smurfs lost to a Crosby-less Penguins.

  • The Rangers have also lost Igor Shesterkin for 1-2 weeks (upper body). [NHL]
  • Long Island made: How top 2025 prospect James Hagens became and continues to be an Islanders fan, at least for a few more months. [Athletic]
  • For the Jets as they continue to roll, it’s contributions from everyone. [Sportsnet]
  • Alex Ovechkin’s first NHL coach gave up Wayne Gretzky’s first NHL goal, which somehow eluded the ol’ two-pad stack. [NHL]
  • Classic Taranna media approach: Should the Leafs just acquire everyone? and various other thoughts. [Sportsnet]
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/2/8/24361564/islanders-gameday-minnesota-wild
 
Rivalry Day at the 4 Nations

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off - Canada v Sweden

Tournament, or TV station logo? | Photo by Andre Ringuette/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images

Saturday features two games of historic rivals.

Outside of Thursday’s championship final (where they’ll be given a medal or lift a trophy or something?), Saturday’s doubleheader of traditional rivalry games is the moment the 4 Nations organizers and their “broadcast partners” have really been building toward:

Sweden vs. Finland (1 p.m. EST), and USA vs. Canada (8 p.m. EST), both in Montreal before they switch to Boston for the rest.

The four teams helpfully each had a different result in their openers, yielding a current standings of 3-2-1-0 from 1st-place USA to 4th-place Finland. All of that can change today, which would set up the final round of games on Monday to determine who goes to the final.

  • Let us hyperbole: US-Canada could be “the best hockey ever seen.” Okay. [Sportsnet]
  • Three storylines for US-Canada. [Sportsnet] Or Son of Bourne’s take. [Sportsnet]
  • Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett will put their mutual dickery aside, er rather combine their dickery forces to target the Americans rather than each other. [NHL]
  • Goalie change: Finland will start A Finn Named Kevin in goal after Jussi Saros gave up six against the ‘Muricans. [NHL]
  • Already having lost Shea Theodore, Canada’s blueline was missing Cale Makar at practice due to illness. [NHL] They were allowed to call up Thomas Harley just in case.
  • Jon Cooper once gave his mom a “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” button. [NHL]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/2/15/24366162/rivalry-day-at-the-4-nations
 
Weird Islanders: The Podcast! - Weird Islanders Quarter Century Team

Weird_Islanders_art.0.jpg


A conversation we would have had even if we didn’t record it as a podcast.

Mike and Dan make their picks to each create a team of Weird Islanders from the past 25 years.

It’s been quite a journey for the team since 2000, from highs and lows to mercenaries and stalwarts to kids and veterans and three home arenas. And through all of it there were weird players who only wore the blue-and-orange for a short time. So we each put together a starting six based on gut feelings, good memories and attempted representation of where the Islanders were as a franchise at the time. Some we’ve talked about before and some are new but all of them made an impression despite quick exits.

From big playoff goals to unmet expectations to truly anonymous players to first round picks to bad facial hair, we cover a lot of ground to build the best rosters we can from the Weirdest Islanders we could find.

And we want to hear from you! Who do you think built the better team? We didn’t make it easy on ourselves (because we almost never do and it’s the Islander way).

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL!


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.

Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more.


Visit our friends!

  • Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys featuring hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as Islanders Anxiety merch, and our Al Arbour and The Island shirts. Our portion of the sales benefit the Center for Dementia Research. Use the code ANXIETY20 to save 20% off an order of two items.
  • The Pinot Project has Rosé, Pinot Grigio and a Pinot Noir that was named a 2024 Top 100 Best Buy by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. All are under $15 a bottle and are available at local wine shops and at UBS Arena.
  • Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).
  • Theme song: “Knuckles” by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp.
  • Drum sfx via Zapsplat.com. Jingle bell sfx also via ZapSplat.

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:

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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/20...isode-61-weird-islanders-quarter-century-team
 
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 321 - There’s a Pretty Clear Path

Islanders_Anxiety_Art___2023.0.jpg


Lou has a boss.

Mike and Dan chat with Arthur Staple of The Athletic about Brock Nelson, Noah Dobson, James Hagans and a number of Islanders topics.

After briefly discussing on the Four Nations Face-Off (yes, we gave in), we dive into the uncertainty surrounding the Islanders on an off the ice. Nelson’s free agency is first, of course, and Art maintains his feeling that Nelson will be traded at or before the deadline on March 7. But there are many considerations in doing so that make the spot a difficult one for GM Lou Lamoriello. The same goes for Noah Dobson and his next contract, while a trade of the young defenseman seems unlikely.

In the second half, we talk about Hagans, the Islanders fan who will be a high pick in this year’s draft, as well as Cole Eiserman, Danny Nelson, Quinn Finley and other reasons for optimism in the Islanders’ generally dismal development system. We end with questions about the coach and the integration of the new players into the team’s historically tight locker room.

As always, we can’t thank Art enough for his time and insight and we’ll try to get him on again after the dust settles.

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.

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/20...ar-path-brock-nelson-noah-dobson-james-hagans
 
4 Nations: Choose Your Own Adventure Day

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off - Finland v Sweden

Destiny is in your hands...maybe. | Photo by Andre Ringuette/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images

This thing is almost over, but the NHL break is not.

The 4 Nations “Let Some of the Top Players Have Their Day” tourney has shifted to Boston, for another doubleheader day and the conclusion of the preliminary round.

The U.S. has locked its place in the final, while the other three teams all have two points each. The NHL has issued tiebreaker procedures, and since it will be impossible to have a three-way tie, we know the scenarios as the U.S. takes on Sweden and Finland takes on Canada. Basically, if two teams tie for second, their head-to-head result will rule the day.

So...

  • If Finland and Sweden are tied in points, Finland advances to the championship since they beat Sweden in OT head-to-head (this would be from a scenario where Finland and Sweden both win their games in the same way today).
  • If Sweden and Canada are tied, Canada advances since they beat Sweden in OT head-to-head. So if Canada or Finland win in regulation today, the U.S.-Sweden tilt in the evening means nothing.
  • If Canada-Finland goes to OT, then Sweden will know a win in regulation will get it to the final.
  • Canada and Finland cannot end up tied because they face each other.

An Islanders Note​


This was nicely done:


The guys did their best

We asked the #Isles to show us their best Long Island accent! pic.twitter.com/7M3OrE1ryb

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 16, 2025​
Click to expand...

Random News​

  • The Tkachuks’ Hanson Bros. performance vs. Canada had many remembering their dad’s fight with Claude Lemieux at the 1996 World Cup, where the U.S. stunned Canada and made so many, many cry delicious tears of arrogance undermined. [NHL]
  • That said, Matthew Tkachuk couldn’t complete the third period; it’s short-term, so maybe his sits tonight but returns for the final? [NHL]
  • It’s a short tourney, so even though the U.S. has their position secured, they don’t figure they’ll take tonight’s first game on U.S. ice lightly. [NHL]
  • Cale Makar would really like to be able to play today. [Sportsnet]
  • The 4 Nations tournament allows the European teams to speak their own language — even within the borders of the United States! As far as I know. [NHL]
  • Jon Cooper was not disclosing his starter in goal. [Sportsnet]
  • Bourne on how the U.S. defended well, and how supercharged the game-opening fights were. [Sportsnet]
  • WHY ARE WE DOING THIS. The NHL issued the “quarter century team” for Team USA. [NHL]
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/2/17/24367092/four-nations-doubleheader-makar
 
NHL Vacuum News: Waiting so we can wait some more

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off - United States v Canada

Let us fight. | Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

I’m sure the braintrust will figure things out.

In the Year of Our Bossy 2025, the New York Islanders have officially had 33 power play opportunities which have produced four power play goals. And that’s an improvement.

Recently, with Mat Barzal and Noah Dobson injured, the Isles have had to put together a makeshift unit that has not improved results. But it has arguably improved the threat. Adam Boqvist in particular has added a new dimension, making assertive passes through the interior that the legacy unit has consistently shied away from. They didn’t convert, but they looked better.

It reminds me of something Justin Bourne wrote recently about separating Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, to keep the team from predictably forcing it to its go-to guys.

Watching Toronto’s power play without Marner against Calgary on Tuesday night, it was borderline strange watching the Leafs snap it around so well in his absence.

Much like the Leafs’ power play without Matthews, it was like the team was freed of the burden of “Mitch has to pass it, Auston has to shoot it” when one of them isn’t there. They could take the best option that was available, which doesn’t sound like a wild concept but is maybe one they’ve skirted in the past while they tried to force plays on their biggest stars.

[...]

With the Leafs, you don’t need to watch a second of video. Everybody in the building knows what Marner wants to do, and they know where Matthews is trying to go. As good as they are at those things, if you work hard at shutting them down, it’s the equivalent of forcing a mediocre basketball player to go to their bad hand on a drive.
Click to expand...

That is way more ink about the Leafs for context about the Islanders than we should ever do here, but we are in the midst of a very long break of no Islanders hockey, and even that break now has a break before we see the 4 Nations final. Take it for what it’s worth.

The 4 Nations final is set with Canada’s regulation win over Finland yesterday, which made the Sweden-U.S. nightcap moot, though it cost them Brady Tkachuk. The final is Thursday, then the Islanders are back in action Sunday, Feb. 23, for a disheartening loss to the Stars.

Random NHL News​

  • Arthur Staple joined Dan and Mike for Islanders Anxiety and still thinks Brock Nelson will be traded. [LHH]
  • Canada is both excited and relieved to get to face USA again for the final. [Sportsnet]
  • Now both Tkachuks are facing injury issues? Matthew was already sitting out a no-stakes game, now Brady left the game vs. Sweden, prognosis undisclosed. [NHL]
  • Who wins the U.S.-Canada rematch? I don’t know, maybe we’ll find out Thursday. [ESPN]
  • Denna Laing, who suffered a devastating spinal injury during a Winter Classic weekend in 2015, is honored for her work. [NHL]
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Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/2/18/24367723/nhl-vacuum-news-four-nations-brock-nelson
 
Islanders & 4 Nations News: Someone will take this game to their graves

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off - Sweden v United States

Rooting for this dude. | Photo by Brian Babineau/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images

But probably just fans, not anyone actually playing it.

Tonight is the league-cospiracy-dictated much-anticipated 4 Nations final between USA and Canada. (I know what you’re thinking, that these two TV ratings darlings just happen to be the two best teams in a short four-team tournament. Yeah, yeah, sure, if you don’t believe the NHL fixed this tournament’s two finalists eight months ago, then I* have seven decades of totally forged public health vaccine efficacy data to sell you.)

*just kidding, not actually an idiot

After this is over, we can look forward to real NHL hockey resuming Saturday. The Isles are back in action Sunday, for six games in a 10-day span leading up to the trade deadline, with results that will probably influence what Lou Lamoriello does or does not do to this team and franchise. Bossy help us.

Islanders News​

  • These six games are critical, maybe. [Newsday]
  • Anthony Duclair and Marcus Hogberg are among the many lingering injury concerns. [Newsday]
  • Meanwhile, Scott Mayfield and Ryan Pulock are hoping the break has healed them. [Newsday | Post]
  • Max Tsyplakov’s agent tells Russian media they’re working on an extension, around $3M AAV. [THN]
  • There is the Brock Nelson question and then there is the Kyle Palmieri corollary. [THN]

4 Nations:

  • Charlie McAvoy is out (shoulder joint injury and infection), but Quinn Hughes is not coming to the rescue. [NHL]
  • But the injured forwards, Matthews and the Tkachuks, will be good to go. [NHL]
  • Brandon Hagel threw shade at the Tkachuks, saying he fought for “the flag” and not for “the cameras.” Some of the media following this sport want so desperately for it to sound like a Kardashian or Housewives show and I’m so glad it’s not. [NHL | Sportsnet]
  • Something-something Team USA inspired by “Miracle.” The real revelation here is that the movie is 21 years old...like almost as old as the real event when they dramatized it. [NHL]
  • Is Connor Hellebuyck the best U.S. goalie ever? The case may sneak up on you. [ESPN]
  • Sweden feels hard done by, having been eliminated without losing in regulation. Then again, it’s a short round robin tournament. [NHL]
  • Jordan Binnington has allowed some shaky goals mixed with stellar saves, which has Jon Cooper trusting him and Brad Marchand saying he likes his confidence. He’s returning to the scene of his career-defining moment, where he beat Marchand’s Bruins in Game 7 of the Cup final. [NHL]
  • Marchand says this U.S. team is the best he’s ever faced. [Sportsnet]
  • The Bruins, who are managed by Team Canada GM Don Sweeney, are upset with how McAvoy’s injury was handled and made a point to say it was treated by Team USA staff. [Sportsnet]

Not 4 Nations​

  • Evgeni Malkin, who isn’t at the 4 Nations because his country has invaded a neighbor that it pretends does not exist, is looking to return from injury: “Of course, I [do] not feel great about my season and team, but still, it’s not over.” [NHL]
  • Bobby Hull apparently had CTE when he died, though that does not explain the terrible spouse-and-father stuff during his playing career. [Post]
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/20...rs-4-nations-final-tkachuks-tsyplakov-duclair
 
Weird Islanders: The Podcast! - Episode 62 - Jamie Heward (with guest Pinholes Graham)

Weird_Islanders_art.0.jpg


A “Need to Know Guy” that many seem to have forgotten (but not us).

Along with NHL documentarian Pinholes Graham, Mike and Dan remember Jamie Heward, a quality defenseman whose super power was simply showing up everywhere.

Drafted by the Penguins and spending years in the minors, Heward got his big break with the expansion Predators before joining the Islanders for just one year. That undermanned and underpaid team needed a lot of help, but Heward provided timely scoring and some defensive awareness where he could. After two seasons in Columbus and a sojourn to Europe, Heward returned to the States to play for the Capitals, who were just beginning their Ovechkin Era. That was where a young Pinholes Graham kept seeing Heward’s name appearing throughout Caps box scores and began wondering, “what’s the deal with this guy?” The answers might surprise you.

Thanks again to Pinholes for coming on. We are huge fans of his YouTube videos on weird or forgotten NHL tidbits and we cannot recommend them enough. Check them all out at youtube.com/@PinholesGraham.

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL!

  • This story sums up the 1999-2000 Islanders experience. A team, in this case - the Sharks, come into the Coliseum, beat the Islanders in front of a few thousand people and are bored to tears. This was the zenith (or the nadir) of the “Nassau Mausoleum” era that guys like Jamie Heward and his defense partner Jamie Rivers had to deal with.
  • Jamie Heward scores in overtime to give the Islanders a 2-1 win over the Canadiens in November of 1999:
Jamie Heward, Need to Know Guy
Pinholes Graham
  • As a Capital, Heward was unfortunately involved in the neck injury that ended the career of Islanders farmhand Kevin Colley. Heward was involved but mainly moved out of the way while Colley went into the boards:
  • These days, Heward is an assistant coach with the Henderson Silver Knights, and got to run the bench for the big club in Vegas back in 2021.
  • To gain an appreciation for Pinholes’ work, start here on the 2002 Islanders-Leafs blood feud:

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.

Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more.


Visit our friends!

  • Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys featuring hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as Islanders Anxiety merch, and our Al Arbour and The Island shirts. Our portion of the sales benefit the Center for Dementia Research. Use the code ANXIETY20 to save 20% off an order of two items.
  • The Pinot Project has Rosé, Pinot Grigio and a Pinot Noir that was named a 2024 Top 100 Best Buy by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. All are under $15 a bottle and are available at local wine shops and at UBS Arena.
  • Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).
  • Theme song: “Knuckles” by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp.
  • Drum sfx via Zapsplat.com. Jingle bell sfx also via ZapSplat.

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/20...st-pinholes-graham-kevin-colley-alex-ovechkin
 
Islanders News: Back to the grind

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off - Championship

That guy, mostly stopped him. | Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images

The 4 Nations ends, Brock’s Team’urica comes up just short

The 4 Nations is over, Brock Nelson and Team’urica fell just short.

As one of the many skeptics of the short and limited tournament, I’ll confess I enjoyed what I saw. I’m not sold on the “epic, historic” billing it received, because it’s a small tournament, brief, with teams thrown together with little prep and practice.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of play. The hockey IQ was off the charts and helped tie players together who only became “a team” less than two weeks ago. I gained new respect for Auston Matthews’ defensive game (unfortunately), and even more grudging respect for Jaccob [sic] Slavin’s monstrous dream-killer D.

Even though he scored the tournament OT winner, I also was impressed by how much uber-talented speed demons like Connor McDavid (and Nathan MacKinnon) can be stopped when they’re playing against a lineup chock full of top defensemen. They were so mortal.

Anyway, the Islanders are already back to work, the NHL resumes Saturday, and the Isles are in action Sunday for the first of six games in 10 days leading up to the deadline.

Islanders News​

  • Ryan Pulock was a full participant in practice. Dennis Cholowski was put on waivers. [Isles]
  • Arthur Staple’s mailbag addresses the question of Lou Lamoriello’s future and how Bridgeport can be so terrible. [Athletic]
  • Brock Nelson had a quiet tournament after he nailed the crossbar early in the first game, but he was playing fourth line among superstars. [THN]
  • Simon Holmsrom on his growth. [THN]

Elsewhere​

  • The 4 Nations came together in a rush, in spite of some serious logistical obstacles. Here’s how it came about. [Sportsnet]
  • Now that the 4 Nations distraction is over, the NHL has a season to complete. Here are some storylines. [NHL]
  • R.I.P. Mike Lange. [NHL]
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2025/2/21/24369768/islanders-news-back-to-the-grind
 
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