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Good Morning, Islanders Country.
We’ve all done things we wish we could take back.
An instant where our emotions got the best of us or when usually sound judgment became unexpectedly absent. In those times, you might crave a way to erase your memory or that of those around you.
The Islanders don’t have anything to be remorseful or apologetic about this season. Nevertheless, it’s been a season to forget - but to do so would be an error in judgment. Rather than write the year off and assume it was an aberration, a simple deviation from what’s expected, GM Lou Lamoriello & co. need to acknowledge the Isles’ shortcomings, learn from what the team wasn’t this year, and remember that past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Coming up, signs point to Sorokin missing time, and Panik is no longer at the affiliate. Plus, the Isles are finalists for an NCAA standout from LI, more Lou sound bytes, and the Brock and Lee duo “march” towards new monthly heights.
Let’s dive in.
📰 NEWS: The Islanders did not practice on Monday so there was no official word on Ilya Sorokin’s status (upper-body) for Tuesday’s game in Columbus. However, Cory Schneider was added to the roster on the team’s website, a strong indication that Sorokin will miss at least one game. The team has a morning skate scheduled for today so we’ll learn then if there is a timeframe for his return.
LIKELY DIAGNOSIS:
Hockey injuries are rarely revealed. We might not hear the specifics behind Sorokin’s injury status tomorrow, but indications are that he suffered a concussion and is currently in protocol.
◾️Sorokin took a Pat Maroon shot to the cage in the first period of Sunday’s 4-1 loss and in the words of Brendan Burke, the straps “exploded” off his mask.
◾️ The 26-year-old netminder stayed in the game and played well, stopping 18 of 20 shots, but also took another shot to the mask, this time from Steven Stamkos in the second period before not coming out for the third period.
🔁 RE-ASSIGNED: The Islanders have reassigned forward Richard Panik to the Chicago Wolves, the Carolina Hurricanes affiliate, of the American Hockey League. Panik, acquired in the trade that sent Nick Leddy and a second-round pick to Detroit has played 28 games with the Bridgeport Islanders this season. The 31-year-old has recorded seven goals and five assists for 12 points. In four games with the Islanders this season, he had one assist.
⏭ NEXT UP: The sixth-place Islanders are in Columbus tonight to battle the fifth-place Blue Jackets. Face-off is set for 7:00 PM.
📊 STANDINGS:
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According to the New York Post’s Mollie Walker, the Islanders, Rangers, Florida Panthers, and Nashville Predators, are the finalists to sign the UMASS forward and team captain Bobby Trivigno.
The 23-year-old is one of 10 players vying for the Hobey Baker Award, which the NCAA hands out annually to its top men's hockey players. Through 37 games in his senior season, Trivigno is tied for third in Division I with 49 points.
“Everybody can talk about Cale Makar,” UMass head coach Greg Carvel told The Post in a recent phone interview. “But the guy who will, for me, go down in history for changing this program, is Bobby Trivigno. “He’s not the hockey player Cale Makar is, but what he did for four years here — two Hockey East Championships, a regular-season championship and a national championship — he is more responsible for the success of this program than any other player.”
Broadway Bound?
◾️ Trivigno is another Long Island-born Rangers fan (don’t you hate those?). He is from Setauket, N.Y. in Suffolk County and his family had season tickets at Madison Square Garden growing up. Yuck.
◾️ According to Walker, the 5’8 Trivigno has been on the Rangers’ radar for a while and would’ve participated in the Rangers’ development camp this year if not for NCAA rules that prohibit players from missing school for NHL events.
🎤 Lamoriello on the Mic: Lou continued his PR tour this past weekend, speaking to season ticket holders. He touched on familiar lines, which he’s been stating since early March, and drove it home again with those closest to the team.
◾️ UNDERPERFORMING: Lamoriello reiterated comments from deadline day stating (without naming names) that multiple players have had disappointing years, but management remains confident in the group.
◾️ DECISIONS, DECISIONS: An interesting question that was raised in reference to lineup decisions. As fans, we quip about every line combination and dissect ice-time. Here Lamoriello explains that the inner circle isn’t without varying opinions, but when a decision is made, everyone is behind it.
📚 SOUND SMART: Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, Brock Nelson and Anders Lee are reaching goal totals this month rarely seen by an Islander in recent years:
Nelson scored his 12th goal today, becoming the first Islander since Zigmund Palffy (13 in March 1996) to score at least 12 goals in any month.
They are the first Islander teammates since Matt Moulson and Michael Grabner (February 2011) to reach double figures in the same month.
They are the first Islander teammates since Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier (January 1986) to each score at least 11 goals in a month.
They are the first Islanders since Lee had eleven goals in December 2017 to score at least 10 goals in a month.
🗓 ISLE REMEMBER: On March 28, 1992, the Islanders defeated the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers 4-1 at Madison Square Garden. After a scoreless first period, the Islanders exploded for three goals against Mike Richter as Benoit Hogue, Derek King, and Claude Loiselle each found the net. Then in the third, Ray Ferraro put the game out of reach, converting a 2-on-1 with Hogue to extend the lead. Ferraro had a sensational 91-92 season, scoring 40 goals and adding 40 assists for a career-high 80 points.
🎧 Hockey Press Pass: Kevin Kurz of The Athletic: From PR to the NHL Beat; Chris Shares a Personal Story About Al Arbour with Chris Botta “Get to learn more about his career, process, and approach, and his early views on the Islanders.”
🔗 Zdeno Chara says he still believes in the Islanders by Andrew Gross, Newsday “Lamoriello hasn’t indicated whether he’d consider re-signing Chara and Chara has not indicated whether he intends to play next season. Suffice to say, it’s no sure thing Chara will be an Islander next season after starting his career with the franchise in 1997”
And we leave you with this…here’s a couple of slaps from the 2018-19 season that are absolutely real and uncontroversial! P.S. Uncle Leo deserved an award for his role as best supporting actor for 3 seasons.
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