Good Morning, Islanders Country.
It’s all fun and games until you have to play 50 games in 99 days.
The Islanders are back at .500 and with a win tonight against Arizona will find themselves out of last place for the first time since November 10th. If that happens, we’ll all have something to smile and laugh about.
Coming up, the Isles mentally and physically prepare for the road ahead and two fan-favorites are Beijing bound. Plus, we revisit longest shootout in Islanders’ history and Ralph Macchio visited Jimmy Fallon to talk about that time they attended a playoff game at the Nassau Coliseum, and maybe some Cobra Kai too.
Let’s dive in.
📰 NEWS: With the announcement of the Islanders’ revised schedule, Barry Trotz and his players are preparing to play a ton of hockey in the coming months and feel that two of their strengths - goaltending and balance, has them prepared for what awaits.
Per Neil Best in Newsday:
(Zack) Parise noted the Islanders have an edge because of their strong duo in goal with Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov. “When you have that ability to play one the first night and then the other one plays just as well the second night," Parise said, "that goes a long way for us."
Another potential help for the Islanders is their balance. Trotz said he generally does not "overextend" on playing time. But he and his staff will be mindful of workloads and likely move players in and out of the lineup more than usual.
"It’ll be the extra game a week for seven or eight weeks that may have more of an impact than any back-to-backs or anything like that," Trotz said. "Hopefully not. I think we’re in good shape physically and mentally. I think we’re fine in our game and we’re inching along and trying to climb here."
Despite their place in the standings, the Isles being prepared for what’s to come should provide solace for the fans. This actually isn’t new territory for most of the roster, as the Islanders were faced with circumstances when in the bubble two years ago and had navigated COVID the last year and a half.
Having Barry Trotz — and Lou Lamoriello to a certain degree — to help guide them through also is certainly an added plus. The two have mastered the art of dealing with the changing landscape over the past few seasons. The players have also done their part to be ready for any situation thrown at them.
⏰ BACK TO BACKS: The Islanders’ schedule will see them play in plenty of back-to-backs the rest of the way starting tonight with Arizona and Saturday versus Toronto. Just like other adversity faced this season, the players are embracing the challenge.
"I think back to backs are more mental than anything else, “ defenseman Scott Mayfield said after the team’s practice Thursday morning. “You know, it can be a grind whether you're traveling between or whatnot... It's about the game that's happening first and then you know, it's a mental grind that you just get through."
🇫🇮🇩🇰 OLYMPIC NODS: Former Islander fan-favorites Frans Nielsen and Leo Komarov will be heading to Beijing to represent their countries at the Winter Olympics. For Komarov, this will be his second Olympic appearance with the first coming with Finland back in 2014, where he won a Bronze medal.
As for Nielsen, this will be the first time he suits up for Denmark in the Olympics after previously participating in other international events including World Championships. Good luck to both!
⏭ NEXT UP: The Arizona Coyotes (10-24-4, eighth in the Central) visit the Islanders (13-13-6, eighth in the Metropolitan) at UBS Arena. After going winless in their first seven at home, the Isles are 6-6-3 at their new arena.
📊 STANDINGS:
📚 SOUND SMART: The nine-round shootout on Tuesday was memorable for it’s lack of goals, but it wasn’t longest shootout in Islanders history - not even close. On November 22, 2016, while many of us were sleeping, the Isles and Anaheim Ducks went tick for tac for 14 rounds! Four times the Ducks scored only to have the Islanders match including a “upon further review” goal by Thomas Hickey.
Finally, in the 14th round, Nick Leddy waited out Jonathan Bernier before snapping in the winner By the way, the longest shootout in NHL history was 20 rounds, when Florida beat Barry Trotz’s Washington Capitals on Dec. 17, 2014.
🗓 ISLE REMEMBER: More Anaheim Ducks memories! On this date three years ago, the Islanders defeated the Ducks 3-0 in front of a sold-out Nassau Coliseum. Robin Lehner recorded his third shutout of the season — the second of back-to-back shutouts — while Cal Clutterbuck scored two goals 5:06 apart in the first period.
From the New York Times: “The victory was the 15th in 18 games for the Islanders, who have surged past Washington and Columbus into first place in the Metropolitan Division over the past month. The Islanders have one game remaining, Tuesday at Chicago, before the All-Star break.”
🎧 Island Ice Podcast Ep. 123: Reasons for hope, Eric Hornick, trade talk, by Andrew Gross, Newsday “Andrew Gross has reasons for hope as the Isles reached NHL .500 this week, plus an interview with team statistician/historian Eric Hornick and Andrew's Answers delves into trade talks.”
🔗 Adversity, glory and ‘that drive to win’: How the Islanders’ Mathew Barzal took the next step in his final WHL season, by Kevin Kurz, The Athletic “Now starring for the Islanders, Barzal has not lost his affection for his junior hometown. He was originally scheduled to make his NHL debut there against the expansion Kraken in early January. That game was one of many the league postponed, but it is now back on the calendar for Feb. 22.”
🔗 ILYA SOROKIN IS GETTING THE JOB DONE DURING A TOUGH ISLANDERS SEASON, by Steven Ellis, The Hockey News “Sorokin has been magnificent for the Islanders, holding a 10-7-0 record with three shutouts and a base save percentage of .927. Among all goalies with at least 10 games played, Sorokin's .937 save percentage at 5-on-5 is tied for second with Thatcher Demko, with only Vezina Trophy favorite Igor Shesterkin looking better with a .940.”
🔗 Islanders Zach Parise hoping second-half surge is reward for ‘reliable’ play, by Joe Pantorno, amNewYork “Despite Parise’s lack of offensive production, he’s been one of the Islanders’ most important players during a 12-game stretch that has seen them go 8-3-1 while recording minutes on the power play and penalty kill.”
And we leave you with this…Ralph Macchio and Jimmy Fallon reminiscing about the playoff game they attended last spring. They talk about the fans singing national anthem, the overall atmosphere at the Nassau Coliseum and Jimmy breaks out Ralph’s Islanders’ hockey card.
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