Islanders Choke and Lose Game in Nashville; Playoff Chances Gone
The Show-Stealing Marc Gatcomb Talks His Big Game, Witnessing History
Sorokin & Ovechkin Discuss Their Moment; Roy & Cizikas Reflect
Islanders, Gatcomb Spoil Ovechkin’s Party, Beat Caps 4-1
WATCH: Ovechkin Breaks All-Time Scoring Record Against Islanders
Health The Biggest Help For Islanders Kyle Palmieri (+)
OTR: What Would A Horvat Extension Look Like? (+)
OTR: Will Blues Be Sellers? Chychrun May Be Moved Soon (+)
Off the Record: Bruins ‘All In’ on Trade Market, Devils Target Canucks Star (+)
New Injuries For Islanders, Are Old Ones Still Lingering? | NYHN+
Islanders Sign Long Island Native to ATO, Entry-Level Deal
NYIHN Exclusive: One on One with Grant Hutton
Islanders Game 9: Brent Thompson Chats; Lines & How to Watch
NYIHN Exclusive: One on One with Aidan Fulp
Rookie Camp Update: One Player Who Really Stood Out
Russell’s Roundup: NHL Returns; Pulock Officially Activated
Russell’s Roundup: USA Defeats Canada, Holmstrom’s Extension Projection
Russell’s Roundup: Rivalry Matchups; Rest of Season Predictions
Russell’s Roundup: Nelson Chatter Everywhere; Eiserman’s Goal
Russell’s Roundup: Islanders Trade Option; Crosby Injury Update
Published
on
By
The New York Islanders (34-32-11) lost 7-6 in overtime against the Nashville Predators (28-42-8) Tuesday night in Bridgestone Arena. Simon Holmstrom recorded a career-high four points in the victory. It was certainly an April hockey game. That’s the easiest way to describe the game in downtown Nashville.
In reality, the Islanders seized 1-0, 3-2, and 6-4 leads, and failed to hold every single one of them. Against a team that’s lost six straight and sits 30th in the NHL.
They took the 6-4 lead with 3:41 left and still blew it to the 30th-placed team in the NHL. It’s enough for this season. The defense stunk all night long with Anthony DeAngelo and Alexander Romanov struggling the most until Ryan Pulock’s late-game “performance” stole the headlines.
The Islanders entered tonight with a measly 3% chance of making the playoffs, but that hinged on the Montreal Canadiens losing and the Islanders winning. Now, they’re a loss or a Montreal win away from elimination.
Those Canadiens received the best possible news in the afternoon: Stud prospect Ivan Demidov is joining for the rest of the year.. Then, the Habs stuck a dagger in the Islanders by beating the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 in Montreal. With that, the Ottawa Senators officially clinched a playoff spot.
With the overtime loss to the Predators, the tragic number for the Islanders is down to three. As soon as Montreal picks up another win and if the Islanders fail to go 4-0-0, the season officially ends.
Despite the overall negativity on the night, there are some serious reasons for positivity.
First, Simon Holmstrom had a big game. He recorded two goals and two primary assists. With the two goals, he eclipsed the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career. He becomes the first Lou Lamoriello-drafted New York Islander to score 20 goals in the NHL. Holmstrom’s also the first Islanders’ draft pick since 2015 (Mathew Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier) to hit the 20-goal mark.
Despite hitting a bit of a rut production-wise after the Trade Deadline, his underlying numbers remained very strong and he looks every part of a top-six, if not a middle-six winger. Holmstrom’s continued development is quintessential for the Islanders’ future.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau recorded three assists. He’s done his job since the Brock Nelson trade and is one of the main reasons this team did not fully implode. He could fetch a strong return this summer if the Islanders opt to move on from him.
Finally, the third member of the line, Maxim Tsyplakov. He had another strong performance in the top six and snapped a 10-game goalless streak.
Scott Mayfield has very quietly gone about his business professionally and played very well each time he’s been inserted into the lineup. The team is 7-1-1 with him in the lineup in the last nine games he’s played. That means they’re 1-5-2 without him. He got rewarded tonight with the dagger short-handed goal late in the third. He finished a +2.
Adam Pelech was the only other good defenseman on the ice for New York. He finished a +3 and seemed like the only guy interested in playing defense tonight, aside from Mayfield and at times, Noah Dobson.
Anthony DeAngelo and Alexander Romanov. In the words of Paulie Walnuts on The Sopranos, “Oof, Marone!” It was that kind of night for the pair. Bad turnovers, no positional awareness, and big ol’ negatives across the board. DeAngelo has undeniable offensive talent, but he just brings nothing defensively. Adam Boqvist should play the last four games over DeAngelo. Give the youngster some heavy minutes and he will sink or swim. DeAngelo has nothing left to give or show, he just is what he is at this point.
Ilya Sorokin had a weak game and then got hurt. Postgame, Islanders’ Head Coach Patrick Roy called Sorokin’s status upper-body but said he should be ok. Michael McCarron bulldozed through Sorokin as he tied the game 4-4 in the second period. Sorokin remained in for the rest of the second period, then exited at the start of the third period. Sorokin underwent back surgery last summer. The last thing he needs is another rehab-filled summer.
The fourth line struggled today. They can’t be heroes every game and they’ve done more than their fair share down the stretch. These are very likely the final games of Matt Martin’s NHL career, so it’s best to just enjoy seeing #17 for the final time.
Ryan Pulock took a brutal penalty that turned his okay night into a bad one. He took the late third-period penalty, which initially yielded a Mayfield shorty, but finished with a Steven Stamkos power-play goal. Then, he was on the ice as Michael Bunting tied it with 39.2 seconds left.
On that final goal, both he and Romanov essentially just sat around and didn’t tie up any man in front, creating the opportunity for Bunting to tie the game.
If you looked for the word “mediocrity” in the dictionary, this season is what would be pictured. In a microcosm, this game had it all. A bad power play, an atrocious penalty kill, and a blown multi-goal third-period lead.
It was a hodgepodge of everything fundamentally wrong with the team this season, and it’s all the reasons this team won’t make the playoffs.
There will be time for a reckoning and reflection in 10 days. For now, there are five more games left in this season. The next one is a battle of “who’s more miserable?” when the New York Rangers visit UBS Arena for the final time this season on Thursday night.
The Show-Stealing Marc Gatcomb Talks His Big Game, Witnessing History
The Show-Stealing Marc Gatcomb Talks His Big Game, Witnessing History
Sorokin & Ovechkin Discuss Their Moment; Roy & Cizikas Reflect
Islanders, Gatcomb Spoil Ovechkin’s Party, Beat Caps 4-1
Enter your email address to get all of our articles delivered directly to your inbox.
Copyright © 2023 National Hockey Now
