The Constant

Bailey's milestone; Bellows claimed by Flyers

Good Morning, Islanders Country.

There’s Islanders history happening tonight, and for a generation of fans, it’s the first time they’ll have seen a player skate for his 1,000th game - all with the New York Islanders.

Josh Bailey has been through A LOT with this franchise, or, as LHH’s Dan Saraceni once wrote, he’s had the “The Full Islanders Experience.”

“This has been home for a long time now. I’ve lived a majority of my life here. My kids were born here. My wife and I love it here. It’s been an honor to wear the jersey for this many years.” - Josh Bailey

In a feature for NewYorkIslanders.com, Cory Wright’s long-read is entitled “Bailey A Bridge Between Islanders Eras.” He’s been that. Besides change, he’s been the only other constant. Players, coaches, jerseys, arenas, and owners have all come and gone, but the one continuous presence through it all has been Josh Bailey.

He's been an Islander when they were dreadful, played a role when they returned to relevance and was at times indispensable when they became a Stanley Cup contender. He’s scored highlight-reel goals and has put one in his own net.

His relationship with the fanbase is complicated. Who else can simultaneously have fans serenading him while others sit on their hands and wish he was scratched? Who else can rank among Hall of Famers and franchise legends in multiple statistical categories and yet be viewed as an underachiever?

There’s been no more polarizing Islander than No. 12, but perhaps for a night, Isles Nation could put aside their grievances and applaud a lifelong Islander that grew up in front of our eyes on Long Island. He deserves it.

Coming, time runs out on Kieffer’s time with the Isles, and MSGNetwork adds some depth to their lineup. Plus, the PK can set a record; Trottier hits 1,000, and Matt Martin’s brother-in-law tells it like it is.

Let’s dive in.

📰 NEWS: Kieffer Bellows won’t be reporting to Bridgeport. The Philadelphia Flyers claimed the 2016 1st rounder off waivers, ending a disappointing Islanders career that could never sustain any momentum. With the open roster spot, D Robin Salo is being brought back from Bridgeport (AHL).

“I am confident that I can play, Bellows said on Tuesday. “I just gotta be given… let out there [on the ice], and once I do that, then I think good things will come.”

If that happens, it will now be in Philadelphia.

Bellows was a healthy scratch in six straight games after logging a game-low 7:16 TOI in the season-opening 3-1 loss to the Panthers at UBS Arena. As a restricted free agent, he re-signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal with the Islanders in the offseason as a restricted free agent. Across parts of four seasons with the Islanders, he had 11 goals and 14 assists, including a career-high six goals and 13 assists last season in 45 games played.

The Flyers’ forward group is battling injuries with Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson out. Patrick Brown and Bobby Brink have not appeared in any games this season, and James van Riemsdyk is out with a broken finger for over a month. There are spots to fill, and Bellows will have the chance at one.

⏭ NEXT UP: After tonight’s game in Raleigh, the Islanders have a quick flight home to welcome the Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche to UBS Arena.

📊 STANDINGS:

📺 THE NATURAL: After sounding like a seasoned TV pro during his ‘tryout’ earlier in this season, MSGNetworks announced that former Isles D Thomas Hickey will officially join the Islanders broadcast team as a studio analyst for this season. Hickey will team up in the studio with host Shannon Hogan for Islanders pregame, intermission, and postgame coverage on MSGSN. Hickey had been released from a PTO with the New Jersey Devils in early October.

THRILLED: “It’s truly an honor to join MSG Networks as an Islanders studio analyst and begin this next chapter of my career,” said Hickey. “I’m thrilled for the opportunity to now cover the team I was fortunate enough to play for, as well as connect with the fans in a new way.”

---

📚 SOUND SMART: Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, the Isles killed all three Rangers power plays on Wednesday and have killed 25 of 25 this season; St. Louis (11-11) is the other NHL team not to allow a power play goal. The Isles have matched the NHL record by not allowing a PPG in their first seven games.

🗓 THIS DATE YESTERDAY IN ISLANDERS HISTORY: Hall-of-Game center Bryan Trottier played his 1,000th career game on Oct. 27, 1988, in a 5-2 loss to the Flyers in Philadelphia, joining Denis Potvin (1,060) as the only two Islanders to ever accomplish this feat. He played in a franchise-record 1,123 games on LI before signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990.

WATCH: Pat LaFontaine also scored a pretty sweet goal in that game.

🎧 Hockey Night in NY: The Fisherman Strikes Back! Guest: Darius Kasparaitis “A day we thought would never come - a leaguewide unveiling of the latest Reverse Retro jerseys marked the official return of the Isles infamous fisherman! Special guest & Islander great Darius Kasparaitis joined hosts Sean Cuthbert & Chris Botta to discuss the biggest controversy in Islander fashion and reminisce about his days playing for the New York Islanders”

🔗 Significance of 1,000th career game seeping in for Islanders’ Josh Bailey by Joe Pantorno, amNewYork “Josh Bailey has never been one to stray from the task that’s directly in front of him. It’s what makes him such an intellectual hockey player that has been a fixture of the New York Islanders for the last 15 seasons.”

---

And we leave you with this…the truth will set you free and Matt Martin’s brother-in-law and New York Rangers fan Gunnar Esiason let his followers know on Wednesday night that when it came to rinks, UBS Arena had won his heart.

Gunnar Esiason @G17Esiason

First time at UBS Arena tonight. Way better than MSG… not even close.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on Twitter for regular updates until the next newsletter.

And please check out our newsletters about the Knicks and Mets, too.