Vancouver completes a run of four straight meetings with wild card chasers.
The Islanders host yet another team chasing a wild card spot when the Vancouver Canucks visit Long Island tonight.
Last night, the Western wild card-pursuing St. Louis Blues did the Isles a solid by rattling and destroying the Montreal Canadiens, so it would only be right for the Isles to return the favor by dumping the Canucks in regulation.
Vancouver trails the Blues by five points for the last Western wild card spot, but the Canucks have two games in hand.
Meanwhile, how are the Isles (and Habs) here in the Eastern wild card race? Fellow chasers the Rangers (3-5-2 in their last 10), Blue Jackets (2-7-1), Red Wings (3-7) and Bruins (2-7-1) have all dipped hard.
First Islanders Goal picks go here.
Islanders News
- Prospect Report: Calum Ritchie was named Oshawa’s MVP (no surprise), while a couple of NCAA prospects’ teams are still alive. Cameron Berg’s North Dakota is not. [Isles]
- The Skinny: “The Isles are 4-0-3 in their last seven home games (second-longest point streak in UBS Arena history) and 10-2-3 in their last fifteen home games (which started with a 6-0-0 stretch).” [Isles]
- As noted yesterday…the Isles were pretty pissed and continually confused about goalie interference. (It seems an overzealous call on the ice ties Toronto’s hands, the way things are currently adjudicated.) [Athletic | Newsday | Post | AM NY]
- …but they also know they need to move on quickly from that disappointing loss. Another big meeting tonight. [Post]
- Adam Boqvist had a nice game at forward against Columbus…keep him there instead of dressing Hudson Fasching? [THN]
Elsewhere
Lots of relevant results in last night’s scores, including that Habs regulation loss plus the Rangers and Red Wings also losing in regulation. Ottawa lost in regulation too, if you want to put them back in your sights. Also, Winnipeg beat the Caps in OT in the battle of the league leaders.
- The Capitals signed Jeff Chychrun to an eight-year extension with a $9M AAV. He’s 26 and would’ve been a UFA this offseason. (Implications for Noah Dobson are there, though Dobson is a pending RFA who could bet on himself on a short extension if the two parties don’t work something long term this summer.) [NHL | TSN]
- The Flyers are in a 1-8-1 tailspin and John Tortorella blames himself for not getting them ready to play out the string: “I’m not really interested in learning how to coach in this type of season where we’re at right now, but I have to do a better job. So this falls on me, getting the team prepared to play the proper way until we get to the end.” [Sportsnet]
- The Isles have had some come-from-behind OTLs lately, but they have company: Calgary just got their fourth comeback win in a row. [Sportsnet]
- Barry Trotz reflects on how Nashville’s “fantasy hockey” UFA summer has not panned out. [Athletic]
- The Oilers have maybe finally found a role for Jeff Skinner, or vice versa. [Sportsnet]