The Isles will try to ride Ilya Sorokin through two tough midwestern tests.
The Islanders start a pivotal back-to-back in Winnipeg, birthplace of North Stars turncoat Norm Green, where the high will be 10 degrees F today and the low -14. This, and the less than stellar nightlife (and perhaps, like Nassau Coliseum of yore, the route from airport to rink) make the Jets consistently the least desirable destination according to NHL player polls.
All the more respect then for guys like Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele who did the “obviously I hope it works out here” UFA routine and meant it, the nostalgic tug of pajamas be damned.
The Jets are tops in the Western Conference with a .718 points percentage (and an absurd +67 goal differential, which is not inflated by shootout “goals,” because they’ve somehow not gone to one).
Are they that good? It’s always a little strange with this team, outperforming metrics one year, underperforming the next. To my mind, it would be awesome if they finally went on a long playoff run and upset all the “big markets grow the game” pearl clutchers who will point to U.S. TV ratings and call it a disaster. A Jets-Panthers Cup final sounds hilarious — and even funnier if “Canada’s Cup drought” finally ended with the redheaded stepchild finally taking the prize.
First Islanders Goal picks for tonight go here.
Islanders News
- Previewing tonight: The Jets have a seven-game win streak (pshh, is that all?) but their captain will miss tonight. [Isles]
- Patrick Roy confirms what most of us recommended: The plan is to play Ilya Sorokin in both games. [Post]
- Two final challenges before the break. [Post]
- After being exiled to the KHL and then
exiled“family reasoned” from there, too, Tony DeAngelo says he wasn’t expecting another NHL shot. He appreciates Lou Lamoriello sitting down with him (presumably discussing uniform numbers and hair protocol) and just wants to help these guys win. [Athletic] - We’re calling it a “playoff drive,” are we? (I apologize for being unconvinced.) The Pageau-Holmstrom-Cizikas line has been key. [Newsday]
- Or maybe goaltending and the defense has been key. (I’m so confused! This is a problem only our LHH commentariat can solve, in calm, rational fashion.) [Newsday]
- Post+ Ex$tra: Isles fans should stop fretting and just enjoy the run. Okay.
- Brock Nelson on John Buccigross saying he’s all but signed in Minnesota this summer: “That’s part of the outside noise…I think it’s also just an easy one to say that for any Minnesota guy they’d love to go back.” [THN]
- Hudson Fasching has been activated from IR. [THN]
- The Isles should have a lot of cap space this summer. (Until they re-sign all their old men.) [THN]
Elsewhere
Thursday’s NHL scores include the Hurricanes losing in Minnesota, and Vancouver beating San Jose on an overtime penalty shot.
- The rising cap represents a new landscape for the NHL. Player agents are salivating, while some teams are nervous. [32 Thoughts]
- The NHL records website now has historic data across all the Canada Cups, World Cups, and soon whatever the hell they’re calling this next one. [NHL]
- The Canucks signed newly acquired Marcus Pettersson to a six-year extension. [TSN]
- Heh, the NHLPA is appealing Ryan Hartman’s 10-game suspension. [TSN]
- Connor Bedard, struggling in Chicago, says he doesn’t care about outside criticism. Bruce Boudreau says no team fears him right now. [TSN]
- At long last, is Thatcher Demko back in form? Like Ilya Sorokin on the opposite of the continent, that could make a big difference.