Good Morning, Islanders Country.
For the third straight game, the Islanders will be the rested team when they host the St. Louis Blues tonight at UBS Arena. In a scheduling quirk, all three of their opponents during the homestand played a game against an NYC metro area opponent a night before visiting Long Island, meaning the Isles had time to sit back and relax before trying to make it two in a row.
According to statistician Eric Hornick, it is the first time in Islander history that a rested Islander team has hosted a team that has played at another metro-area opponent for three straight games. Nashville played at New Jersey, while both Chicago and St. Louis visited UBS Arena the day after playing at MSG.
Coming up, Simon Holmstrom hones his defense while waiting for his offense, and Hudson Fasching makes a fast impression. Plus, expansion ideas for the Isles Hall of Fame, the 2016-17 team showing signs of life, and Anders Lee is spreading holiday cheer for families in need.
Let’s dive in.
📰 NEWS: The Islanders had the day off on Monday, but their opponent didn’t. The Blues were defeated 6-4 by the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden after allowing three unanswered goals in the third period. "Thought we played two great periods, but the third--when it's on the line--we didn't play with confidence,” said Blues head coach Craig Berube
St. Louis has now lost four straight games and is sixth in the Central Division with an 11-14-0 on the season. Tonight will be the second and final meeting between the two teams this year, as the Isles defeated St. Louis 5-2 on Nov. 3.
When 1st round draft picks make it to the NHL, fans expect offense; they want to see goals. After all, why else would a forward be picked that high? Well, the scoring hasn’t come yet for 2019 1st-round pick (23rd overall) Simon Holmstrom. In fact, it wasn’t until Sunday that he registered his first two shots on goal in his first six games (he picked up an assist at CBJ on Nov. 25).
“It’s one of the most important things here,” Holmstrom said in The Athletic last week. You’ve got to be (trusted). You can’t take too big a risk, so I take a lot of pride in that. He’s certainly done that.
In NYI Hockey Now, Stefan Rosner points out that through six games (66:54 minutes), Holmstrom has yet to turn the puck over and has three takeaways. Per Natural Stat Trick, he ranks first amongst forwards who have played 50-plus minutes with a 1.27 Expected Goals Against when he is on the ice (at 5-on-5).
Playing recently with JG Pageau and Zach Parise has fit this version of Holmstrom’s game, but there’s a better offensive player yet to come out (he had 43 points (12G, 31A) for Bridgeport last season) But in the meantime; he’s keeping himself on the ice and in the lineup with strong and responsible defensive play.
“I’ve said it since camp last year, how good of a player he is and how good of a player he’s going to be, but he puts himself in good positions to get the puck, and he makes good plays with it,” Parise told NYI Hockey Now. “And he could have had a couple of goals tonight, and he’ll get them soon.”
If the goals come soon, the Isles have a well-rounded player that will be hard to send back down to Bridgeport.
👔 FASCHINOABLE: The makeup of the Islanders’ four lines has been in flux since the injuries to Kyle Palmieri and Cal Clutterbuck, and on Sunday, it was Hudson Fasching’s opportunity to show Lane Lambert that he deserves to stick as long as regulars are out of the lineup.
“I’ve done this a few times, up and down quite a bit with Arizona last year,” said Fasching after receiving the call-up. “I think I can step in and play right away, be low maintenance to them, be helpful, and contribute right away.”
Fasching played 13:04 with two shots, two hits, and a block on a line with Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas. But most importantly, it looked like he belonged. Fasching has the reputation of being a strong skating, big-bodied forward with high character, and as Joe Pantorno wrote for amNewYork, he fit seamlessly in on the fourth line with Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas.
KNOWS WHERE TO BE: “I thought he played really well,” Lambert said. “What I saw was a real structural guy, knows his position, knows where to be, and I thought he used his big body to protect pucks, create scoring chances. He went to the net hard. I thought he played very well.”
If you want to learn more about Fasching, here are 7 facts about the 27-year-old.
⏭ NEXT UP: The Islanders wrap up their three-game homestand tonight against the St. Louis Blues. Face-off in Elmont, NY, is set for 7:30 PM ET.
📊 STANDINGS:
🏆 CLAIM TO FAME: This topic isn’t new, but it will remain up for debate until the organization makes an announcement. For WFAN.com, Peter Schwartz weighs in on who should be the next member(s) of the Islanders Hall of Fame.
The last two additions, Butch Goring and John Tonelli were added coinciding with their numbers being retired in February 2020. Having your jersey hanging from the rafters is not a prerequisite for the Islanders’ HOF. Eddie Westfall, Patrick Flatley, Ken Morrow, Bob Bourne, and Kenny Jonsson all previously received their honors.
Schwartz thinks outside of the box for his pick for the next spot in the Hall of Fame. He’d like to see the Islanders’ first owner, Roy Boe, the man that brought professional hockey to Long Island, recognized.
What do you think? Leave a comment.
📚 SOUND SMART: Per NHL PR, after three assists on Sunday night, Islanders defensemen have registered 19G, 40A - 59P this season. Only four teams have collected more points from their blueline in 2022-23: San Jose (14-55—69), Vegas (9-55—64), Florida (17-47—64), and Los Angeles (10-51—61). The Islanders’ 19 goals from the blue line remain the tops in the league.
🗓 THIS DATE IN ISLANDERS HISTORY: On December 6, 2016, the Islanders improved to 4-0-1 in their last five games with a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers at Barclays Center. Andrew Ladd scored in the second period, and Jaroslav Halak stopped 36 shots in the win. John Tavares, Jason Chimera, and Scott Mayfield also scored for the Islanders.
"We're playing a lot better hockey, and we know we can still be a lot better, so I think that's really the mindset," Tavares said. "Lot of games here before Christmas. ... We know we can still do a lot of good things `til then. We're just starting the second quarter of the season."
🎧 EOI Podcast: Keeping Up Appearances w/ Joe Buono & Andy Francess
🔗 Who is next for the Islanders' Hall of Fame? by Peter Schwartz, WFAN.com “Bill Torrey, Al Arbour, Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies, Billy Smith, Butch Goring, and John Tonelli, are all part of the New York Islanders Hall of Fame. All of the individuals who have banners of their own hanging in the rafters, along with some of the other greats in team history, have their names on the Islanders Hall of Fame banner”
🔗 Holmstrom Honing His Defensive Game, Lack of Offense Concerning? by Stefan Rosner, NYIHockeyNow “New York Islanders’ 21-year-old forward Simon Holmstrom may have just one point through his first six games and two total shots, but the former 23rd overall pick in 2019 has put on a clinic on the defensive side of the puck and his lack of offense is not a concern at this time.”
And we leave you with this…as he’s done in years past, the Islanders captain is working with Jam Kancer to help out those dealing with a cancer diagnosis during this holiday season. If you, or someone you know, is in need of support, please e-mail info@jamkancerinthekan.com with details.
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Trottier is not in the Isles HOF?
.....KNOW it'll almost certainly NEVER happen, as far as HE's concerned - but, would REALLY like to see them honor Ziggy - SOMEhow as yet to be determined; was one of THE most popular (and highest-goal-scoring, if for TOO short a time) Islanders.....