The Islanders are in Toronto for what promises to be an enlightening evening of the hockey.
The Islanders are back in action tonight, visiting Toronto for Hockey Night in Canada (I assume? That’s still a thing, right?). Amid a busy schedule and after some deflating losses (the story of 2024-25), they appreciated having a few days to actually practice again.
They’ve made the moves to allow Anthony Duclair to return, though he’s still technically a gametime decision. So for the first time in three months, they could be “healthy” again. This is the roster Lou designed!
Leave First Islanders Goal picks here.
Islanders News
- Previewing tonight: “it’s great to get some practice time and work on some things, trying to get ready for an important game on Saturday.” [Isles]
- Ilya Sorokin looks like he’ll get a 10th consecutive start, which would be a career high. [Newsday | THN]
- The Islanders hope having their “stars” back will help. Cute. [Post]
- As discussed much the other day (and all season), Patrick Roy concedes maybe more training camp work on the Isles’ league-bottom special teams could’ve helped. [Newsday]
- Musing over how Bo and Barzal can thrive without one another. It’s almost like they were each strong NHL players before they were brought together. [THN]
#Isles at morning skate
Duclair-Nelson-Palmieri
Lee-Barzal-Pageau
Tsyplakov-Horvat-Holmstrom
Maclean-Cizikas-Fasching
E: Engvall, Martin
Romanov-Dobson
Pelech-Pulock
George-Mayfield
E: Cholowski
Sorokin (starter’s net)
Hogberg— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 21, 2024
Elsewhere
Last night’s NHL scores include the Capitals beating the Hurricanes and the Smurfs winning in Dallas, damn it.
- Maybe German health care is overrated. Auston Matthews is out tonight after re-aggravating his undisclosed injury. [Sportsnet]
- I actually believe him this time, but it’s still funny to hear the Kid Who Didn’t Win the Calder nor Art Ross say things like “I’ve said it before, I would love to stay and hope it works out,” because it’s very familiar code that was emitted by his program seven years ago. [NHL]
- Matt Rempe, tall idiot, has a player disciplinary hearing for a blatant hit from behind into the boards and an elbow. [NHL | Post]
- Matt Murray had an emotional, victorious return to an NHL crease for the Leafs. [Sportsnet]