Phil “Factz” Farber (@PhilzFacts) and Dave Tuchman (@TuchOnSports) are back to get you ready for the start of the 2023-24 season tomorrow night when the Islanders open their season against the Buffalo Sabres at UBS Arena.
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In today’s episode, Simon Holmstrom gets a shot with the top guys while Oliver Wahlstrom is still searching for his game. Plus, Pierre Engvall and his contract are looking damn good, Hudson Fasching earning his way, a new home for Ross Johnston, and early observations on the first slate of NHL games.
Coming, Mathew Barzal’s request to play on the left wing is granted and Igor Shesterkin thought Ilya Sorokin should’ve won the Vezina. Plus, Bridgeport makes a pair of signings, Mike Bossy scores his first NHL and two human interest stories on Hudson Fasching and Stan Fischler you should read.
Take a listen and dive in.
📰 NEWS: Winger Mathew Barzal admitted that he asked head coach Lane Lambert to move to the left wing after finding playing on the right side a bit tougher to play with his stick consistently exposed. The request came during the Islanders’ final exhibition game against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 6.
“I asked if I can hop on the other side, and he said yeah, go ahead, switch it up, said Barzal. “Two shifts later, Holmstrom was on the right, and he just zipped a pass over to Bo, who ended up burying it, and that was because we were on our offsides, and we couldn't make that play.”
Barzal went into great detail on other advantages of playing on the left side, including being able to generate more speed from that side.
◾️ For The Athletic, old friend Arthur Staple documents the friendship between Igor Shesterkin and Ilya Sorokin, arguably the two best goaltenders in the league who have shared a lot of experiences and success throughout their professional careers. Sorokin quipped that they weren’t friends on the ice, but they both had complimentary things to say about their friendly competition.
Ilya on Igor
◾️ A WARRIOR OUT THERE: “What I like most about his game is how he works to keep his team in every game,” Sorokin said. “He is warrior out there. I don’t watch too much technical things with him because we have different styles. But I very much enjoy watching him play.”
Igor on Ilya
◾️ DESERVING THE VEZINA: “Last year, I think he deserve Vezina. Linus (Ullmark) have an amazing season, but Boston also have an amazing season. Islanders I think don’t make playoffs without Sorokin. But I don’t get to pick.”
◾️ The Bridgeport Islanders made official the signing of forward Jackson Cates to a professional tryout (PTO) after he had a PTO with the NHL Islanders. Bridgeport also announced the signing of F Samuel Asselin to an AHL contract.
The 25-year-old Asselin joins Bridgeport after spending each of the last four seasons with the Providence Bruins. He recorded 65 points (23 goals, 42 assists) in 166 games with Providence. Cates recorded 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 65 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season. The 26-year-old also played five NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers.
⏭ NEXT UP: It’s the regular season! The Islanders open up the 2023-24 campaign at home against Tage Thompson and the Buffalo Sabres. Face-off from UBS Arena in Elmont is tomorrow night at 7:30 PM EDT.
📊 STANDINGS: The Rangers, Devils, and Flyers were all victorious on Thursday night. The Islanders and Capitals are the two teams still waiting for Game 1.
📚 SOUND SMART: The New York Rangers opened their season with a 5-1 win in Buffalo. Chris Kreider became the third player in team history to score a PPG and SHG on Opening Night, joining Adam Graves in 1996 and Mika Zibanejad, who did it last season.
🎥 ISLES REWIND: On Oct. 13, 1977, Islanders’ legend Mike Bossy made his NHL debut and scored his first goal in a 3-2 loss at the Buffalo Sabres. The one goal was the first of 53 goals for Bossy during the 1977-78 season, as he became the first rookie in NHL history to score 50 in a season. The prolific scoring propelled him to win the Calder Trophy for being the rookie of the year.
🔗 Islanders’ Mathew Barzal gets left-wing move he asked for: ‘You can get a little more creative’ by Joe Pantorno AMNY “Just two days before the start of the regular season on Thursday, though, Barzal practiced on the left wing with Horvat and Simon Holmstrom — the most premeditated suggestion that he could be shifting once more before the start of the 2023-24 campaign.”
🔗 Islanders’ Hudson Fasching motivated by siblings: ‘Be grateful for everything you can do’ by Ethan Sears, NY Post “I think it’s given me perspective, even from a young age, of just gratitude,” Fasching said. “Just be grateful for everything you can do and try to do everything to the max ability that you can, because there are other alternatives to life. I was obviously very close to being them.” “
And we leave you with this…Stan Fischler, who lives in Israel, has struggled for days to write something in the aftermath of the events that have transpired and the pain and suffering that continues. But, as he writes, hockey is the best medicine for him, and is thankful for all of those around the hockey world that have checked in on him.
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