Mathew Barzal finally resembling old self in needed Islanders boon
To say the first half of the season was a disappointment for Matthew Barzal would be an understatement. This comes after he missed six weeks with an injury and is coming off his best season in years, but he hasn't produced results when healthy, struggled before the injury, and has made a full recovery since […]
Islanders’ Marcus Hogberg comes up big in place of ailing Ilya Sorokin
SALT LAKE CITY — The Islanders had a disaster in the crease on Saturday, but Marcus Hogberg got through it. Hogberg, the organization's third-string netminder, had been on reserve since early December when Semyon Varlamov was injured, but he was called back for just the second time after Ilya Sorokin became ill and missed the […]
Mathew Barzal’s game-winner propels Islanders to third straight
SALT LAKE CITY — Finally a come-from-behind victory. It's finally a winning streak. Finally, there is real hope that Islanders can address this issue. Matthew Barzal celebrates with his parents in attendance as he scores the game-winning goal late in the third period of the Islanders' 2-1 win over Utah Hockey Club on January 11, […]
Alexander Romanov’s offense emerging as Islanders X factor
SALT LAKE CITY — Patrick Roy knew Alexander Romanov was in his element when he saw the defenseman lay down after a check. So by the time Romanov took down Jonas Lombjorg with an old-fashioned hip check during the second period of Thursday's 4-0 win over Las Vegas, it wasn't already clear that this was […]
Islanders show spark but still searching for consistent identity
SALT LAKE CITY — Lou Lamoriello said Thursday morning when reporters entered the Islanders' locker room and found a rubber chicken toy in Anders Lee's stall, the team was still unidentified. He had just admitted that he was looking for one. The captain found it unclaimed inside T-Mobile Arena. “It’s coming to us, too,” he […]
Lou Lamoriello isn’t ready for Islanders trade deadline hypotheticals
LAS VEGAS — There are two months until the NHL trade deadline, but selling assets is “not even on the mind” of Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello. That's consistent with his history, as the Islanders woke up Thursday morning with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri both on expiring contracts and in 15th place in the […]
Islanders’ Brock Nelson snaps 17-game scoring drought
LAS VEGAS — During Thursday's Q&A, the equivalent of a State of the Islanders Q&A with reporters midseason, Lou Lamoriello talked about the recent progress of Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri and Noah Dobson. I thought it was interesting that the question about his struggles came from two former national team players. MSG, Butch Goring, Thomas […]
Islanders roll to statement win over Golden Knights
LAS VEGAS — Two in a row is no big deal. But you can believe it means a lot to the islanders. On the same day, general manager Lou Lamoriello expressed his belief that the Islanders could turn their season around, as the team defeated the NHL's top team, suffering its fifth home loss of […]
Islanders’ Scott Mayfield now thriving after last year’s injury
SUMMERLIN, Nev. — The player who currently leads the Islanders in plus-minus may be the least talked about regular on the team. Some of that is due to role, and some of that is due to injuries and underperformance of many of the Islanders' star players. But no one can deny that Scott Mayfield has […]
Islanders need elusive win streak to get back into playoff hunt
SUMMERLIN, Nev. — The Senators did it. Canadians did it. The Red Wings are right in the middle of it. Why can't the islanders do that? “I think if we're going to have a chance, we need to win some.” [on a] ” Jean-Gabriel Pageau told the Post. “It’s not just two times in a […]