Islanders’ overtime win over Bruins a tease of what could be
BOSTON — Lately, it seems like the Islanders have been able to do this every three or four games. In a way, that makes it even more frustrating that they've had such a bad past four weeks. They know they can play like they did Sunday against the Bruins. He entered the playoff team's building […]
Islanders drop tight game with Maple Leafs as spiral continues
As always, when the Maple Leafs visited UBS Arena, the loudest boos were directed at John Tavares. But for the Islanders, Public Enemy No. 2 on Thursday night was Max Domi. And while the Islanders were furious with Domi after he was ejected from the game in the second period for an elbow to the […]
Islanders’ Anders Lee not surprised his game-tying goal didn’t count
Anders Lee wasn't too upset that his supposed game-tying goal was canceled after the Islanders' loss to the Maple Leafs on Thursday. reason? Lee said that if the Islanders had gotten the break on the first call — the puck was ruled frozen before Joseph Wall stuffed it — the goal would have been ruled […]
Islanders in tricky Anthony Duclair spot with season at critical point
Anthony Duclair has been through many injuries and knows that returning mid-season is rarely a smooth process. He was sidelined for two months with a suspected groin injury and was undergoing rehabilitation, but was told it would take time for him to return to full normalcy. In that sense, it's no shock that Duclair's long-awaited […]
Islanders need stars to step up before season spirals out of control
For six long weeks, the Islanders' plan was to wait for injured players to recover. If they can keep the NHL around .500 on the fringes of the playoff race, the pending returns of Mathieu Barzal, Anthony Duclair, and Adam Pelech can certainly help them break through the middle of the Eastern Conference and make […]
Islanders fall in predictable fashion after getting called out by Patrick Roy
TORONTO — At the end of 2024, the Islanders are out of contention for the 2025 playoffs. In the final stages of the season, just two days after Patrick Roy questioned the team's mental strength, the Islanders' resiliency didn't suddenly appear to be back on this matinee in Toronto. Instead, on a day when they […]
Simon Holmstrom injured for Islanders with season slipping away
TORONTO — The Islanders lost Simon Holmstrom in their final game of 2024 on Tuesday afternoon, but the Swedish forward suffered an upper-body injury two days earlier in Pittsburgh. Holmstrom missed the final 8 minutes and 46 seconds of the 3-2 loss to the Penguins, and coach Patrick Roy said he was day-to-day with an […]
Islanders could use Lou Lamoriello’s Toronto blueprint if they sell
TORONTO — If the Islanders were being led by a general manager without a 40-year history of constant fighting, there would be little doubt they would be on track to sell at the trade deadline. But Lou Lamoriello has only gone in that direction once in recent memory. The deals were signed in quick succession […]
Islanders’ Marcus Hogberg shines in net for emotional first NHL start in nearly four years
TORONTO — It's been almost four years on the calendar since Marcus Hogberg led an NHL team out of the tunnel for warm-ups. He had returned to Sweden during that time and was largely off the NHL's radar. By all accounts, his career on this side of the Atlantic appeared to be over. Yes, even […]
Islanders’ struggling penalty kill allows two goals in loss
PITTSBURGH — How bad is the Islanders' penalty kill right now? It's so bad that even the most unlucky 4-on-5 goals, like the deflected goal credited to Evgeni Malkin on Sunday, feel like empty excuses. After the Isles lost 3-2 to the Penguins, Patrick Roy was furious: “When they shoot a shot six feet wide […]