After a 3-0 trip, a lengthy homestand provides hope, somehow.
The Islanders return home from a successful 3-0 road trip (never mind the warts) feeling pretty good out themselves, as if they’re on the cusp of a run they desperately need.
Nothing about this team has given the impression that they could pull such a run off, a feeling influenced by their failure to string three straight wins together until now. But of course in today’s game that is influenced by the coin flip feel good/feel bad dynamic of 3-on-3 OT and shootouts, so maybe some of those coins flip the other way for a bit.
Still, the story remains: If their special teams don’t improve drastically, it’s going to be hard to consistently turn “played well [at 5-on-5]” nights into wins, much less turn “we didn’t have it but Ilya saved us” nights into points.
Islanders News
- Three Takeaways: “Now we feel it.” [Isles]
- Big save from Pelech, big late heroic from Barzal, big first win for Hogberg. [Newsday | LHH | Post]
- The Skinny: “they complete a sweep of a road trip of at least three games for the first time in over six years.” [Isles]
- Smile a bit, enjoy this “cinematic” recap. [Isles]
- Barzal is starting to feel back to normal. [Post | Newsday]
- Three takeaways from the road trip. [Newsday]
- And now this homestand is a golden chance to prove they are who they say they are. [Post]
- The new (latest) top line has been key. [THN]
- This Day in History: The Architect, Bowtie Bill Torrey’s banner is raised in 2001, Mat Barzal puts up five on the Smurfs in 2018. [Isles]
Elsewhere
Sunday’s NHL scores include wins again for the Red Wings and Senators, theoretical rivals for the theoretical wild card race.
- Rookie watch: The Sharks have nine of them. [NHL]
- The Senators’ recent upturn gives Steve Staios reason not to panic. [Sportsnet]
- That’s even with Linus Ullmark on the shelf. [TSN]
- The Hurricanes retired Eric Staal’s number. [Sportsnet]
- Evgeni Malkin is on IR. [Sportsnet]
- Erik Brannstrom continues to bounce around, now placed on waivers by the Canucks. [TSN]