Good Morning Islanders Country,
Oliver Wahlstrom is an amazing hockey player.
The 21-year-old was noticeable all night and scored two third-period goals to lift the Islanders to a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks and helped them avoid falling to 0-3-0 for the second time in franchise history (2006-07).
More importantly than any game, the Islander and NHL family took a punch to the gut with news of Mike Bossy’s lung cancer diagnosis. We’ll share what the Hall of Famer had to say as he begins his private fight, but first a recap of last night’s win.
🏒 IN SHORT: Ilya Sorokin made 39 saves and Oliver Wahlstrom scored twice in the third period, lifting the Islanders to 4-1 win over Chicago Blackhawks.
The Islanders were outshot and outplayed badly in the first period, but Sorokin stopped all 18 to keep the game scoreless. Anthony Beauvillier gave New York a 1-0 lead at 4:08 of the second period when he collected a loose puck behind the net and pushed it past Marc-Andre Fleury for an unassisted goal — the first of three without a helper for the Isles. After Wahlstrom’s two goals gave New York a three-goal cushion, Cal Clutterbuck would add another unassisted goal with a wrister off the post, cross-bar, and in to extend the lead. Sorokin lost the shutout with just 26 seconds left to play when MacKenzie Entwistle scored for Chicago.
Matt Martin was activated before the game and made his season debut, but Anders Lee was a late scratch with a non-COVID-related illness putting Kieffer Bellows on the top-line to start the game. [BOX SCORE]
🗣 QUOTE BOOK:
DESERVING: “I really felt bad for him. I wanted him to get the shutout. He deserved the shutout. But we failed him in the last few seconds.” - Barry Trotz on Sorokin not completing the shutout (amNewYork):
BAILED OUT: “He definitely bailed us out in that first period. He's a world-class goalie. It's tough to score on him in practice. It was really good for him to get that win. He played unbelievably. He bailed us out a couple of times and I'm happy for him." - Wahlstrom on Sorkin
HE CAN SHOOT: “When Wally gets open, he can shoot it as well as any young player in the league.” - Trotz on Wahlstrom’s big night (amNewYork):
URGENCY: “We had some urgency. We were sitting here with no points and we're still on the road trip for the next month. We knew we had to get something going.” - Trotz on the team’s performance (New York Islanders)
🔑 KEY MOMENT(s):
🔹 With the Islanders up 1-0 and on the power-play late in the second period, the Blackhawks Alex DeBrincat was sent on a breakaway with a chance to tie the game. Sorokin made the blocker save, his 31st through two periods, to maintain the Islanders lead heading into the dressing room. “He made a huge save on that shorthanded breakaway,” Barry Trotz said. “That was a game-changer.”
🔹 Just 48 seconds into the 3rd period, Wahlstrom made this nifty move and his quick release beat Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Islanders some breathing room. From there, the team took off and dominated the period.
3 TAKEAWAYS
❶ SOROKIN SHARP: Ilya Sorokin shook off his underwhelming first two games and stole the show making 39 saves, including 31 in the first two periods for his first win of the season. His 18 save first period was highlighted by stopping a two-on-one rush within the first two minutes and denying a point-blank chance for Seth Jones to convert a feed from Patrick Kane.
❷ THIRD LINE: The line of Wahlstrom, J-G Pageau, and Zach Parise was outstanding. Wahlstrom scored two goals in a game for the first time in his career and had a game-high eight shots. His centerman, J-G Pageau won 13 of 19 faceoffs and had the only assist of the game on a cross-ice pass to Wahlstrom for his second goal. “I'm playing with really good players on my line right now with 'Pager' and Zach (Parise),” said Wahlstrom. “Just learn from them and just build off of it and just stay consistent.”
❸ MATTY’S BACK: Matt Martin played in his first game of the season after missing the first two contests this season while rehabbing from an ankle injury. Martin brought balance to the lineup, allowing Barry Trotz to roll four lines throughout the game. Martin also recorded four hits and fought Chicago’s Jujhar Khaira in the third period.
⏭ NEXT UP: After an off-day on Wednesday, the Islanders return to action against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Thursday night at 7:00 pm.
📊 STANDINGS:
🙏 #BOSSYSTRONG: In an open letter released Tuesday afternoon, Islanders legend Mike Bossy announced he was stepping away from his TV job at TVA Sports due to a battle with lung cancer.
READY TO FIGHT: “I assure you that I intend to fight with all the determination and all the ardor that you have seen me display on the ice and in my game,” Bossy wrote. “That same determination that has helped me achieve my dreams and my goals, the one that propelled me to the top of my sport when I still put on my skates.”
MOTIVATION: “The battle I am about to wage will not be easy,” Bossy wrote. “Know that I will give my 100%, nothing less, with the objective of meeting you again soon, after a very eventful hockey game. You will never be very far in my thoughts. On the contrary, you will occupy a privileged place and you will be one of my motivations to get better.”
Bossy, 64, won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 1977-78 and the Conn Smythe as the playoff MVP in 1982. He was also awarded the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship in 1983, '84, and '86. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
🙏 Our prayers are with Mike Bossy and his family.
Give cancer hell, Mike. Beat it the way you beat goalies.
In other news…
👋 BRIDGEPORT! HELLO! As expected, F Leo Komarov cleared waivers on Tuesday and was re-assigned to Bridgeport to make room for Matt Martin who was activated off Injured Reserve ahead of the game against the Blackhawks.
Dmytro Timashov cleared unconditional waivers and will have his contract terminated. It was then announced early this morning that Timashov has officially signed with Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). We wish you all the best, Dmytro!
👏 CROSSTOWN: First there was Glenn Healy, then Pat LaFontaine, Tom Poti, and now Arthur Staple. Tuesday morning, the long-time Islanders beat-writer announced he was transitioning to a new role with The Athletic as New York’s hockey columnist. He is still covering the Islanders but has to also give time to the Blueshirts.
🏝 The change comes a day after Rick Carpiniello, New York Rangers beat writer, announced he was hanging up his… keyboard. Rick has been one of the best in the industry we congratulate him on his retirement. We hope you’re reading this with a drink in hand under the sun and on a beach (or on your couch watching hockey).
🆙 BANNER DAY: Photos from inside UBS Arena at Belmont Park showed the Stanley Cup and retired number banners being raised to the rafters.
👩🏫 SOUND SMART: Per Eric Hornick, Tuesday was the first time the Islanders scored three unassisted goals in a game since the 1998-99 season (4/17/99). That night, they did it four times, two unassisted goals each for Trevor Linden and Ziggy Palffy in a 7-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the team’s final game of the season.
🔗 Schwartz: Matt Martin's return restores the Islanders' identity by Peter Schwartz, WFAN.com. “Martin’s return to the fourth line completes the four-line look that the Islanders expected to have coming into the season, and now it’s just a matter of the Isles finding their game and executing.”
🔗 LeBrun: Why NHL players and teams are agreeing to more long-term contracts by Pierre LeBrun, The Athletic: “I think it’s a risk-reward,’’ (Lou) Lamoriello said. “But I think you start off first of all with the player and the organization. Is the organization happy with the player and what he’s shown up to this point to make this decision and is the player happy with the organization, which direction they’re going, is it where they want to spend just about the rest of their career? Once you get that, then you work out what a fair number is.”
🎧 No Sleep Til Belmont: Arthur Staple and Michael Grabner break down the Islanders’ slow start, some positive and Grabs tells the world all about breakaways.
🎧 Island Ice Podcast: Andrew Gross shared his thoughts on why it’s not time to panic even with the Isles’ two losses to open the season. He also speaks with NHL Network’s Billy Jaffe about buying the Islanders hype and Zdeno Chara.
And … we leave you with this, during the game we learned that Dan King had passed away. Dan was the president of Baymen’s Association on Long Island and was asked by the Islanders to help debut the “Fisherman” jersey and logo in 1995.
Our condolences to his family.
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