Islanders Back-to-Back News: In Ottawa after a big win over rivals

Have I mentioned how much I hate the Canes before?

Color me shocked. I thought last night’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes spelled disaster for the New York Islanders. It was written all over it: injured, broken team at (what hopefully was) rock bottom going up against its kryptonite opponent, who has caused some of the Islanders’ most spectacular blown leads over the last couple of years, including in the playoffs.

However, the Islanders pulled it off, scoring all four goals in the second period en route to a 4-3 victory in which they did not blow the lead. Carolina pushed really, really hard in the third—in some ways, it reminded me of 2023 Game 6—but the Islanders held on.

This evening, the Isles are right back at it, flying up to the Canadian capital to revisit the Ottawa Senators, who are ahead of the Isles in the standings by points percentage and won last night at home against the still-reeling Nashville Predators. The Islanders won up there last month in one of their more “normal” games of the season, so hopefully, they can do it again and put together only their second two-game winning streak in the process.

FIGs go here.

Islanders News

About yesterday evening:

• Somehow, they did it. Hockey is a funny game. [LHH]
• The new-look top line of Max Tsyplakov and J-G Pageau on Bo Horvat’s wings was dynamite in the second period, accounting for three of the second-period goals, including one that finally snapped Horvat’s goalless drought. And Oliver Wahlstrom scored(!). [Islanders]
• Not only did they score four goals in the middle frame, but they also won the battles and got to the high-danger areas against the normally stingy Canes. [Post]
• You can bet there was some extra juice for the Islanders after how the last two playoff years have gone against Carolina. [Newsday] And just the fact that they played a division rival, but Carolina has become a hated foe. [THN]
• Horvat was not having fun during his drought, but what a relief he must have felt last night, and he said hockey feels “fun again.” [Post | THN]
• “Maxim Tsyplakov now has 16 points, which is the most by an Islander rookie since Oliver Wahlstrom had 21 points in 2020-21.” I’d say he hits that mark and then some. [NYI Skinny]

Onward:

• A preview of this evening’s game. Even though it’s a back-to-back, Ilya Sorokin—who was brilliant last night—is expected to start again because Semyon Varlamov remains day-to-day.

• Tsyplakov has been a revelation, making any line he’s on better. [THN]
• Tony DeAngelo, yes that one, complimented the Islanders’ play in the playoffs last year under Patrick Roy, having been on the Canes at the time. [THN]

Elsewhere

Yesterday’s NHL scores include the Bruins defeating the Flyers in OT, the Penguins topping the Maple Leafs in regulation, and the Avalanche holding on against the Red Wings in regulation. The Sabres also lost on home ice in regulation to Utah.

• Sabres fans have had enough and are frustrated with GM Kevyn Adams, who recently copped out and said players don’t want to go there so what is he supposed to do. [Sportsnet]
• The Rangers made it official, announcing Igor Shesterkin’s record-setting eight-year, $92-million extension which kicks in next season. [NHL]
• Players are going to start focusing on getting no-move clauses and have the PA try to negotiate it as the only protection, whether partial or full, so that a team on a no-trade list can’t acquire them on waivers. [32 Thoughts Saturday Headlines]