Good Morning, Islanders Country.
Waking up excited to watch the Islanders tonight? Me too. It hasn’t always been that way this season, but lots of goals and a winning streak can change things.
The NHL trade deadline is six days away. We’ll know this time next week how much or little the roster has changed for the short-term or maybe even long-term. But for now, for this week, let’s settle in and see if the positive vibes can stick around this team a little longer.
Coming up, the captain earns NHL honors and Puck Daddy says Lou is at the crossroads. Plus, Adam Pelech is on the plus side, an epic comeback before the Easter Epic and the 50th Anniversary logo is revealed.
Let’s dive in.
📰 NEWS: Captain Anders Lee has been red hot as of late and earned NHL’s third star of the week. Lee recorded seven goals and eight points in four games played. Through 50 games, Lee has 21 goals and seven assists.
Lee recorded his 29th career two-goal game on Monday, March 7 vs Colorado, including his 200th NHL goal. Three nights later, on March 10, the 31-year-old scored his first career hat trick, recording consecutive multi-goal games for the first time in his career. He added another goal in Sunday’s win vs. Anaheim.
🛣 I'LL SEE YOU AT THE CROSSROADS: Over at ESPN.com Greg Wyshynski lists the Islanders as one of eight teams with decisions to make for the present and future at the trade deadline.
It's been a disastrous year for the Islanders, who followed back-to-back trips to the conference finals with what's assuredly going to be a trip to the draft lottery. In recent interviews, GM Lou Lamoriello has referenced extenuating circumstances this season -- like COVID-19 interruptions -- for the team's lack of success, as well as unexpectedly underwhelming performances from previous reliable veteran players. He's also voiced support for the team's core. But it's Lou. We've been trying to figure out where he's zigging for 30 years, and then he zags.
Wyshynski mentions Semyon Varlamov as the player with the most value alongside pending UFA Cal Clutterbuck and veterans Zach Parise, Andy Greene, and Zdeno Chara. Interestingly, he also names Scott Mayfield as a player whose name keeps coming up due to his terrific contract but cautions that the Isles might be better holding on to him for the 2022-23 campaign.
⏭ NEXT UP: The Islanders are in DC tonight to take on Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals. The Caps have also won each of their last four home games against the Islanders dating back to Jan. 26, 2021, of last season. The puck drops at 7 PM.
📊 STANDINGS:
📚 SOUND SMART: We know Adam Pelech was named an All-Star this season, but in a year where so much has gone wrong for the Islanders, it might be surprising to learn that ‘Pelly’ is on track to have the best +/- of any Islander in nearly 20 years. Per Eric Hornick, Pelech is now +21 on the season; no Islander has finished a season better than +25 since Adrian Aucoin went +29 in 2003-04.
🗓 ISLE REMEMBER: On March 14, 1987, the Islanders pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in team history, rallying from down four goals in the third period to defeat the New Jersey Devils 7-6 in overtime at the Nassau Coliseum. After Mikko Mäkelä scored with just 11 seconds left to tie the game at six, it was Pat Lafontaine winning it 1:01 into the extra session.
Mike Bossy had brought the Isles within one at 13:36 with his 38th goal of the season; it was the 573rd and final goal of his career. “It’s on the border of the ridiculous”, Bossy told the New York Times’ Robin Finn. “It’s nice to win, but why wait until the third period when you’re down so far that it almost becomes a meaningless game?”
🎧 Nassaumen Hockey Podcast Episode 100: On the 100th episode of the Nassaumen Hockey Podcast, James and Jon dive into the New York Islanders three-game winning streak, Brock Nelson and Anders Lee staying hot, Ilya Sorokin's solid play, Oliver Wahlstrom getting a crack at playing next to Mathew Barzal and Zach Parise, and calling our shots before the NHL trade deadline next Monday.
🔗 Barzal, Wahlstrom duo solid in debut, by James Nichols, The Fourth Period: “(Parise-Barzal-Wahlstrom) led all Islanders forward lines in total possession numbers and high danger chances.”
And we leave you with this…the Islanders sent out an e-mail to their fans with the exclusive 50th Anniversary benefits for season ticket members including a meet the team event, legacy brick program, and my favorite, a members-only jacket.
You can see all the details HERE
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