The Habs are young and wounded and don’t defend well. The Isles need two points.
The New York Islanders return home for five of their next six games, beginning this evening against the Montreal Canadiens. This is a game that the Islanders should take two points from. Montreal is a young and fun team but one that does not play much defense. The Islanders’ new attacking style should be able to exploit them. But Sam Montembault is a pretty good goalie.
Roy confirms Varlamov tonight for #Isles. Goalie choices now all about keeping both Varly and Sorokin sharp.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) October 19, 2024
Roy said Gauthier in for Wahlstrom isn’t about Wahlstrom, but about how he wants everyone to play.
Added that Gauthier brings more speed while Wahlstrom is stronger in front of goal. #Isles
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 19, 2024
The Isles’ net belongs to Semyon Varlamov tonight, as Patrick Roy wants to keep both guys fresh. He claims a similar logic is behind the decision to insert Julien Gauthier for Oliver Wahlstrom tonight, as well as adding some speed. Even though Roy said it didn’t factor in, it still feels appropriate for the Québecois to play against Le Bleu Blanc et Rouge.
Even though it’s at UBS Arena, the puck drops on tonight’s contest at 7:00 p.m. rather than the usual 7:30 p.m. start time. If I had to guess, it has something to do with Hockey Night in Canada, although aren’t the Habs on RDS and/or TVA? Perhaps one of our Canadian readers can correct me if they feel it is important. It probably isn’t.
Islanders News
- A preview of tonight’s game.
- These next two games are a chance to get right and stuff would-be wild-card challengers into their lockers. [NY Post]
- The Habs will definitely be without top defenseman Kaiden Guhle and might be without Mike Matheson and Juraj Slafkovsky. [Sportsnet]
- I would’ve waited a few more games to write this story, but I guess getting shutout in half of the first four games brought this on: Andrew Gross wonders if the Isles have a goal-scoring problem. But as he writes, they entered yesterday’s play with the third-highest number of shots per game. The chances are there; they just need to start falling. [Newsday]
- This Day in Isles History: The Islanders won their first-ever shootout against the Rangers (2005). If you can believe it, because the Islanders won so many shootout games with Frans Nielsen in the fold, they still have the most shootout wins of any team all-time.
- WATCH: After two more goals last night, including a beautiful one assisted on by fellow 2024 Isles draft pick Kamil Bednarik, Cole Eiserman has four goals in his first three NCAA games. God I would love for this kid to pan out and make everyone regret letting him slip to no. 20 overall. [THN]
Elsewhere
Last night’s NHL scores feature the Hurricanes throttling the Penguins on the road and the Avalanche finally getting their first win over the Ducks.
- Another man down for the Blue Jackets, thanks to a “not short-term” injury to Kent Johnson. Damn, they get injured so much. They can’t catch a break. [TSN]
- Chris Tanev was a wise signing for the Maple Leafs, and both Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have greatly improved the team’s blue line. [Sportsnet]