The Islanders got Wednesday off in California, but the injury picture around the team kept moving in the right direction.
Three players - Matias Maccelli, Ryan Pulock and Mat Barzal - practiced as regulars Wednesday, a sign they’re edging closer to returning as the Islanders continue their three-game trip in Los Angeles on Thursday. J-G Pageau, meanwhile, took a maintenance day.
That could mean the lineup shifts again before the trip is over.
The bigger message from the week is that the Islanders need to clean things up after Monday night in San Jose. The team was urged to play smarter and avoid getting pulled into the kind of chaos that took over that game.
There was also a little bit of edge to the night in San Jose, and the question hanging over it afterward was simple: how did we feel about Mason “the dirty doesn’t fall far from the tree” Marchment?
Elsewhere around the team, the Islanders’ letter-wearers were noted as a sign of the leadership group changing, and Kyle MacLean drew praise for his physicality.
And, yes, the fashion scene around Islanders games apparently remains a thing, with a report noting that Islanders games have become a new hot spot for female fans to make a fashion statement.
Around the league, Connor Hellebuyck was back in Winnipeg but did not play because of “win probability.” That didn’t stop fans from letting him hear it during warmups, with chants of “coward” and playoff-related jabs. Hellebuyck also spoke about loving Winnipeg while saying he and his family had experienced threats to safety, which was described as a “mixed message” to fans.
The Jets still gave their crowd something to cheer about, as ex-Devil trade piece Dawson Mercer scored twice against his former team. Fans chanted Mercer’s name, making sure he’ll never have to buy a beer in Winnipeg at least until he requests a trade.
The NHL is also looking at expanding replay assistance for officials in more situations, including when they miss a non-major high-sticking call. And the NHLPA and NHL are set to discuss smoothing out salary cap jumps over the next couple of years.
Elsewhere, the Maple Leafs continue to be not good. And despite what Kevin Weekes has reported, the Flyers are reportedly not looking to trade Matvei Michkov.
In Other News...
Islanders Keep Letting Sorokins Best Nights Slip Away
Ilya Sorokin has done his part during the Islanders recent skid, but the results have not followed. Over a 0-2-2 stretch, the goalie has turned in strong performances that should have given New York a chance to bank points, only for the team to come away empty too often and leave another night of quality netminding feeling wasted.
Bo Horvat and coach Pete DeBoer both praised Sorokins play, underscoring how much the Islanders have leaned on him while trying to steady their game. The bigger concern now is less about Sorokins form than whether the group in front of him can start closing out games and turn those standout nights into wins. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Suddenly Face A Bigger Problem Than Just A Losing Streak
The Islanders opened the season looking like the kind of team Pete DeBoer wants them to be, disciplined, structured and hard to break down. Lately, though, the results have turned. After a stretch of four straight losses, the bigger concern is not just the slide in the standings but the way their game has drifted away from the blueprint that gave them early success.
Captain Bo Horvat and DeBoer have both pointed to the same issue: the Islanders are no longer playing with the detail that made them effective. Turnovers have crept in, defensive lapses have followed, and the clean, organized style that was supposed to define this group has been harder to find. The next step is obvious enough, but getting back to it is the challenge as the Islanders try to steady themselves in the games ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Are Suddenly Tied To A Flyers Situation Worth Watching
A Flyers situation that surfaced late last night has naturally caught the attention of teams around the league, including the Islanders, even if nothing has moved beyond the rumor stage. Matvei Michkov remains viewed in Philadelphia as a central piece of the rebuild, and as of early last night the Flyers had not received a formal trade request from the young forward. There also have been no confirmed trade talks, which keeps this firmly in the realm of something to monitor rather than something already in motion.
Still, the mere possibility is enough to put the Islanders on the list of clubs worth watching here. Any team that might pry loose a player with Michkovs ceiling would have to come prepared with real value, and Philadelphia is not in a hurry to entertain the idea. For now, the story is less about an active market than about whether interest around the league eventually turns into something more concrete. [Read more 🡒]