Good Morning, Islanders Country.
What’s old is new again. The big news off the ice is that the Fisherman logo is back as part of the NHL Reverse Retro 2.0 collection - more on that later.
The purpose of the Reverse Retro collection is to give teams an opportunity to come up with a unique design that blends the best of the past with the best of the present. The Islanders are a team trying to do that on the ice, taking the lessons learned the past four seasons with Barry Trotz while adding new elements to their game under Lane Lambert.
The early returns have been encouraging - 12 goals in their last two games, both wins, albeit versus struggling teams. Players seem to be enjoying their new free and aggressive style but haven’t discarded the defensive details and structure that forged their identity and winning culture in recent years.
So far, it’s been the right mix.
Coming up, some initial reaction to the retro jersey, Trottier’s “breakable” record, and Barzy loses a race. Plus, Noah Dobson aims for a defenseman first tonight, a look back at the Islanders’ first shutout (in their third season!), and Shannon Hogan is a really, really good sport.
Let’s dive in.
📰 NEWS: After setting a UBS Arena record with 46 shots on goal (and 80 shot attempts) against the San Jose Sharks, the Islanders were given a full day off on Wednesday ahead of tonight’s match-up with the New Jersey Devils.
◾️ The Isles tied for fifth in the NHL, averaging 4.3 goals per game through their first three games after finishing 24th in scoring a season ago.
◾️ Defenseman Noah Dobson (two goals, two assists), center Brock Nelson (four assists), Anders Lee (one goal, three assists), and Oliver Wahlstrom (3 goals, one assist) are all tied with a team-high four points.
The long-standing rumor that the Islanders Reverse Retro 2.0 jersey would feature the fisherman logo came to fruition on Wednesday night when an image of the 1995-inspired sweater leaked online. The new jersey features a minimal amount of teal in the logo, a dark navy base, and more orange than the original.
There is no lighthouse, the one part of the wave jersey that seemed to be universally liked and appreciated. The logo itself has a minor change aside from the color scheme. The “I” and the “S” at the beginning and end of “Islanders” is now the same size as the other letters. We’ll find out if the jersey is 100% accurate later this morning.
Icethetics, among the go-to sources for all things hockey logos and uniforms, called the design a "really sharp, modern update to that '90s design."
Something tells me not everyone will feel the same.
😝 BIG TEASE: On Wednesday afternoon, each NHL team gave their fanbase a teaser video indicating that the jersey will be unveiled soon. Later in the afternoon, the teams sent out a second video revealing a bit more. If you freeze the video, you can see the fisherman font on the arm sleeves.
2️⃣ 7️⃣ LONG SHOT: Matt Larkin via Daily Fantasy took a look at “The 10 greatest individual streaks in NHL history,” and Bryan Trottier’s 27-game playoff point streak found its way in there.
Larkin tiered his list from breakable to long shot, untouchable, and beyond untouchable. Trottier’s streak was placed in the second-lowest category; however, “longshot” doesn’t exactly indicate anything like Trottier’s incredible 27-game run could ever happen again. As Larkin said, the next highest streak was 17 games across 2020 and 2021, which was eventually broken.
⏭ NEXT UP: The Islanders welcome the New Jersey Devils to UBS Arena for the first time this season. Both teams are coming off a win on Tuesday night.
📊 STANDINGS:
📝 TOUGH QUESTIONS: Is the NHL finally trying to market their superstars? Wyatt Ross, a “junior reporter” for the NHL, cut a fun, light-hearted video with the Islanders’ Mathew Barzal. Wyatt jokes with Barzal that he has him on his fantasy squad this year and that he expects him to score some points (so do we, Wyatt), followed by a race in which Barzal… loses?!
📚 SOUND SMART: Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, the Islanders have now scored 12 goals over the last two games. It is the first time since November 2018 that the Islanders have totaled a dozen goals in a two-game span.
Noah Dobson has a three-game point streak to open the season (he has had two longer streaks- both were five games); no Islander defenseman has ever had a point in the team's first four games.
🗓 THIS DATE IN ISLANDERS HISTORY: On October 20, 1974, after 161 games, the Islanders finally got their first shutout in franchise history in a 5-0 win against the Washington Capitals in Landover, MD. Billy Smith made 26 saves for the first of his 22 shutouts during his Hall of Fame career.
From the New York Times: Smith said the possibility of a shutout was not on his mind as he entered the third period with the Islanders five goals ahead. But Al Arbour, the Islander coach, said Smith's teammates on the bench were saying: “Let's work out there for Smitty. Check hard, and don't give them anything.”
🔗 Islanders’ vaunted ‘Identity Line’ showing that it’s not done just yet, by Kevin Kurz, The Athletic: “Whether the linemates will be able to maintain the style of play they’re known for at this stage of their careers and over the course of an 82-game season will be determined. But for now, they are as big a reason as any that the Islanders have gotten off to an encouraging start.”
🔗 New York Islanders: 3 Talking Points Through First 3 Games, by Stefen Rosner, NYIHockeyNow: “Production or not, some players have looked rejuvenated this season, a promising sign for a New York Islanders team that needs all hands on deck if they are going to make their way back to the postseason in a tough Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference.”
And we leave you with this…MSG Networks Host Shannon Hogan told her followers she has re-evaluated her jewelry choices, specifically necklaces, for the rest of the season. Why was this necessary? You can find out for yourself 😉
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.....thinking it might not be the WORST idea (if you HAVEN'T already) to let people part of the 'Four On The Isle' group even familiar with this blog / newsserve, to remind them you're / it's BACK, Joe - feel just now like I've got a MONOLOGUE going here.....LOL
.....AS for SH's.....CURIOUS accessorizing - just NO idea; was it SUPPOSED to represent a MICROPHONE or something? Australian designer's LIGHT suit jacket is MUCH less SUSCEPTIBLE to such misinterpretation.....