Articles in New York Islanders

The New York Islanders Have Hit Their Stride

03/05/2024 at 7:31pm EST

Cory Wright of the Islanders website,

The Isles have won three straight games, all against playoff teams in Dallas, Detroit and Boston with two of those wins – a 5-3 victory over Detroit and a 5-1 triumph over Boston – coming in regulation. With the Isles improving their game under Head Coach Patrick Roy, whose line shuffling was a catalyst for the three-game run, Lamoriello feels like his group deserves a chance to make a playoff push, rather than sell-off at Friday’s deadline.

“They're playing where they're capable of playing right now,” Lamoriello said. “We'll have to continue that. As far as adding, if you can, you do. Are we thinking of subtracting? Absolutely not.”

The Islanders were pleased to hear that Lamoriello isn’t planning on pawning off players, but effectively endorsed the current group.

“The last three games especially have shown [Lamoriello] and even proved in our locker room that we're good squad in here,” Mathew Barzal said. “It's been some ups and downs here, but it's all about finding your groove at the right time. And seems like we're playing our best hockey right now.”

The Isles (66 points) currently sit six points out of a playoff spot, chasing both the Philadelphia Flyers (72 points) for third place in the Metro Division, as well as the Tampa Bay Lightning (72 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Isles hold three games in hand on both teams and will meet both the Lightning and Flyers once more each this season.

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Videos- The New York Rangers Come All The Way Back Against The New York Islanders

02/18/2024 at 7:00pm EST

via Sportsnet's YouTube page,

Watch as New York Rangers forwards Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad score two power-play goals, with the goaltender pulled, in the final five minutes of their Stadium Series game against the New York Islanders to help force overtime.

Then 10 seconds into OT, the Rangers score again...

The New York Islanders Will Host The 2026 All-Star Weekend

02/18/2024 at 4:53pm EST

NEW YORK (Feb. 18, 2024) – The New York Islanders will host the 2026 NHL® All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena, in Elmont, N.Y., the National Hockey League® announced today. Additional information on the League’s midseason showcase, including its dates, ticketing and broadcast information, will be announced when available. Fans can sign up to receive news and updates on the 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend here.

“The National Hockey League is thrilled to have the best and brightest of our game hosted at the spectacular UBS Arena for the 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend,’’ NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “We have been looking forward to UBS Arena playing host to one of our major League events since before construction of this wonderful arena began. We have every confidence that the Islanders organization, led by Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky, will deliver a celebration that will make the greater New York region and the NHL proud.”

Islanders Play The Patrick Roy Way

02/09/2024 at 1:28am EST

from Ethan Sears of the New York Post,

In their first five games under Patrick Roy, the Islanders looked, understandably, like a team in transition — taking to a new system well, but hitting stumbling blocks along the way.

In the sixth game, they looked like a team that had wholly embraced what the new head coach has preached.

And they got the result to show it, beating the Lightning 6-2 on Thursday at UBS Arena in an offensive explosion for their second-straight win following the All-Star break, with the crowd chanting Roy’s name as time ticked down in the third period.

On a night where everything went right for the Islanders, even injury luck was in their favor with Casey Cizikas back in the lineup and Brock Nelson returning for the third period after spending part of the second in the dressing room following a hit from Emil Martinsen Lilleberg.

Just as important, they played perhaps their best all-around game of the season.

continued

Watch the game highlights below.

The Return Of Patrick Roy

01/28/2024 at 11:29am EST

from Larry Brooks of The New York Post,

Patrick Roy did not have to talk about the “magnitude of me,” to borrow a phrase from Reggie Jackson of 1978 vintage. The Canadiens took those words out of his mouth upon the iconic No. 33’s return to Montreal on Thursday when he strode behind the Islanders bench in his capacity as head coach.

We have always known that Roy is Royalty in Montreal, but a national monument across the border? Conflating the Hall of Fame netminder with the country of Canada was a bit much, don’t you think, when the Habs welcomed him back with a video tribute synched to the national anthem?

Roy was back in his element in the Montreal rink at which he had not been featured since Nov. 14, 2015, when he coached the Avalanche against the Habs. Nearly nine years of hearts growing fonder for the legend who somewhat incongruously returned with the Islanders.

The coach had been exiled from the NHL following his messy exit from Colorado and unkempt split from Joe Sakic following the 2015-16 season. Job after job came up. Job after job went without Roy getting an interview, even last summer after coaching the QMJHL Quebec Remparts to the Memorial Cup. Somehow, Roy had become radioactive. Somehow, Roy had become too big for an organization.

Until Lou.

continued and more hockey talk too...

An OT Win For Patrick Roy In His First Game As The NYI Coach

01/22/2024 at 1:30am EST

from ESPN Wire Services,

Bo Horvat scored 41 seconds into overtime and the New York Islanders defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Sunday night to win new coach Patrick Roy's debut.

Alexander Romanov and Hudson Fasching also scored for New York, and defenseman Noah Dobson had two assists. Ilya Sorokin finished with 41 saves in front of a raucous home crowd.

Roy, who went 130-92-24 in three seasons coaching Colorado from 2013 to '16, was hired Saturday to replace Lane Lambert after the Islanders went 0-3-1 on a four-game trip.

"I was very nervous, I won't lie," Roy said. "You always want to win that first game, and I am very thankful to the players for the effort they put out there. I was just hoping to give a good show to our fans as well."..

"We're doing it for each other in there, and that's his main message," Horvat said of Roy. "And winning some games, that definitely helps."

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Highlights are below.

Patrick Roy Is The New Head Coach For The New York Islanders

01/20/2024 at 5:48pm EST

via the New York Islanders,

New York Islanders President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Lou Lamoriello announced today that Lane Lambert has been relieved of his coaching responsibilities. Patrick Roy has been named Head Coach of the New York Islanders.

Noah Dobson Should Be In The Norris Conversation

12/20/2023 at 11:38am EST

from Arthur Staple of The Athletic,

The Connor McDavid assignment when the Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders meet has fallen to Adam Pelech, McDavid’s old OHL teammate, the last few years. Pelech has burnished a reputation as one of the better shutdown defensemen in the NHL and the McDavid challenge is the biggest on the calendar.

But Pelech is out. So is Ryan Pulock, traditionally Pelech’s top-pair partner. Ditto Scott Mayfield, who has been one of the better defensive-zone Islanders.

That left Noah Dobson to face the McDavid train. Without fanfare — and honestly, is there any other way an Islander does something deserving of league-wide notice — Dobson had put together a first 30 games that have been as good as the two defensemen most often discussed as Norris Trophy candidates, the Canucks’ Quinn Hughes and the Avalanche’s Cale Makar.

Dobson came into Tuesday’s visit from the Oilers third in the league among defensemen in assists (27) and points (32) and fourth in plus-minus (plus-17) — that last stat is as flawed as they come, but in this case represents how Dobson, who leads all NHL defensemen with 21:30 of even-strength time on ice per game, is controlling play when on the ice.

continued ($)

The Hot New York Islanders Take Down The Toronto Maple Leafs

12/12/2023 at 3:54am EST

from Ethan Sears of the New York Post,

It’s New York, New York at the top of the Metropolitan Division.

And the Islanders, who moved into second place with a 4-3 overtime win on Monday over John Tavares and the Maple Leafs courtesy of Bo Horvat’s game-winner, are playing as well as any team in hockey.

It looked as though their repeated capitulations in the third period could derail the season, and the Islanders endured a seven-game losing streak through the first two weeks of November that prompted questions about the head coach’s job status.

Now, they are reaping the reward with five wins in their last six and a 8-1-2 record since a shootout win in Calgary broke the losing streak.

“You can play as well as you want and do a lot of good things. But if you’re not getting wins, it’s frustrating,” Horvat told The Post. “To see where our hard work’s been going and the results that have been coming out of it definitely feels great.”

continued

Watch the game highlights below.

The New York Islanders Suffer A Third Period Breakdown And Lose In Overtime

12/06/2023 at 2:56am EST

from Ethan Sears of the New York Post,

Here was a game that looked straightforward, except to this year’s Islanders there is no such thing.

One of the traits that has defined these Islanders through 24 games is that they are the George Costanzas of the NHL, always doing the opposite.

So you get a successful road trip with two impressive wins, and then you get Tuesday — where the Islanders face-planted at home against the woeful Sharks by a 5-4 score on William Eklund’s winner at the end of overtime following a disastrous collapse in the last 12 minutes of regulation.

“We had the game under control with 8 ½ minutes left,” coach Lane Lambert said. “To lose that hockey game is a sin.”

continued

Catch the highlights below.

Ain't No Place For A Nervous Person

12/03/2023 at 10:29am EST

from Stan Fischler of The Hockey News,

New York Islanders games toughen your nervous system; at least last night's 4-3 melodramatic win over the Panthers did it for The Maven. (And all this minus Mat Barzal.)

If Hollywood had scripted the last two games, it would have been two-for-two in the Oscar Department; and especially last night's performance in Sunrise under the sheltering palms of Amerant Bank Arena.

Of course, Ilya Sorokin -- the leading man -- would get the lead Oscar thanks to a 42-save performance.

Oscars for Best Supporting Actors go to The Grit Guys.

* Anders Lee -- Scored the big opening goal on the power play at 12:36 of the first period. (Thank You, Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson, for assisting.)

* Pierre Engvall -- His third red light of the season made it 2-1 at 4:37 of the middle frame. (Thank You, Alex Romanov and Brocktober-December, for helping out.)

continued

A Change Needed For The New York Islanders

11/21/2023 at 2:22pm EST

from Shayna Goldman of The Athletic,

Shaking up the front office right now may seem like a recipe for chaos considering how tricky a transition can be — and there isn’t a ton a new general manager could do, considering the cap constraints the roster is now facing. But letting Lamoriello have free rein to deepen the hole he put the Islanders in isn’t the answer, either.

When Lamoriello was brought to Long Island in 2018 to replace Garth Snow, it brought a level of credibility to a struggling team. There was the name recognition element and success as evidenced by three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils.

In the NHL, reputation often overshadows actual ability. That’s been the case for Lamoriello, especially heading into his Islanders tenure. His time in Toronto and those later years in New Jersey were far from sterling, but he was essentially given the keys to running the team by being named both president and general manager. And the Islanders have paid the price since.

It hasn’t all been bad in the Lamoriello era. This team did get to the Eastern Conference final twice. And not every hurdle was self-inflicted — no one could have anticipated a flat cap that challenged a team like the Islanders.

Lamoriello’s best move may have been one of his earliest: Hiring Barry Trotz to instill defensive stability that this team sorely lacked. And with Trotz came the likes of Lane Lambert, and maybe most importantly, director of goaltending Mitch Korn.

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Problems On Long Island

11/13/2023 at 7:45am EST

from Arthur Staple of The Athletic,

The New York Islanders hit the ice on Monday in Edmonton in a precarious spot. They have lost three straight, are 1-3-2 in the last six and left UBS Arena with echoes of Isles fans calling for the general manager’s head (that was Tuesday) and then the coach’s head (that was Saturday). We’re 13 games into the season and somehow it’s a very crucial four-game road trip already on the docket.

Perhaps Lou Lamoriello wants to listen to those fans chanting “fire Lane Lambert.” OK — what are your options? The Oilers, Monday’s hosts, just dipped into another team’s coaching depth chart in making the first coaching change of the NHL season, hiring Connor McDavid’s old junior coach Kris Knoblauch. Leaving aside what it means when a team (the New York Rangers) lets their minor-league coach walk free during a season to coach another club, this is an unorthodox fix.

As an aside: Bo Horvat’s junior coach, Dale Hunter, is still running things in London of the OHL. And Steve Konowalchuk, Mat Barzal’s junior coach, is an assistant with the Avalanche’s AHL team. Just saying.

But aside from Lamoriello running that curious playbook, who exactly is out there to take over midseason? John Hynes, late of the Nashville Predators and the runner-up for the Rangers job, is available. So is Claude Julien, perhaps. Same for Patrick Roy. If you’re hiring an experienced coach currently out of work, you’re not getting them cheap or short-term. So that’s a 2-3 year commitment without much of a proper search.

continued

Mathew Barzal Fined For High-Sticking

11/05/2023 at 11:53am EST

NEW YORK (Nov. 5, 2023) – New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for high-sticking Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Tony DeAngelo during NHL Game No. 167 in New York on Saturday, Nov. 4, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 2:56 of the second period. Barzal was assessed a minor penalty for high-sticking.

The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

NYI Radio Crew Will Call Road Games From Home

10/17/2023 at 8:11pm EDT

from Ethan Sears of the New York Post,

Chris King and Greg Picker will only travel to games against the Devils, Rangers and Flyers — all of which are driving distance — and call the other 36 road games remotely. Newsday was first to report the news.

Outside of the COVID-19-induced hiatus, when nearly all of sports media halted travel, King and Picker have regularly been on the road, including last season....

Since the Islanders’ TV and radio crews don’t travel on the team charter — one of general manager Lou Lamoriello’s rules — there is a significant added cost that most other teams do not have.

Last season, the Maple Leafs, Flames and Canucks’ radio broadcasts did not travel, nor did the English language broadcast for the Canadiens.

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Goodbye Long Island

09/13/2023 at 11:13am EDT

from Josh Bailey at The Players' Tribune,

Over the past couple of months, there have been quite a few moments that have brought me to a pause. I think what has hit the hardest is realizing that this chapter has come to an end. All of the things that I love about putting on the Blue and Orange are now just a memory. Although it has made me emotional at times, I will always cherish those memories.

I want to thank not just this great fan base, but the people of Long Island as a whole.

This place is special. From the outside, I think a lot of people would agree. What’s not to love? But what really makes this place unique is the people. All of you. That’s why Long Island will always be home for me and my family.

From playing my first game in the Isles sweater at 19 to my last at 33, it has been quite a ride. Not always the smoothest of rides, but I wouldn’t change a thing. The tough times make you stronger and allow you to enjoy the good ones that much more, and we had plenty of good ones. I do recall some rather funny moments at the Coliseum. Some nights, if I was starting, the national anthem could be a vulnerable 90 seconds standing there at the blueline. (I heard it all — the encouragement and the “encouragement.”)

continued

Zach Parise Makes A Decision On His Immediate Future

09/11/2023 at 3:10pm EDT

from Rachel Luscher of NewYorkIslanders.com,

With the on-ice portion of rookie camp set to start on Thursday, New York Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello held a season-opening press conference on Monday morning at Northwell Health Ice Center. ...

While Zach Parise will not be on Long Island when the Islanders begin training camp on Sept. 21, the 39-year-old winger has also not announced his retirement from the NHL. Lamoriello made it clear on Monday – as well as over the summer – that there will always be a home for Parise on Long Island, should he make the decision to play this season.

“Zach will be with his family,” Lamoriello said. “We'll see how the rest of the season goes. Right now it's important for him to be there [after] he spent a couple of years away. That is the decision at this point.”

Parise has played 18 seasons in the league, including two with the Islanders, 21 goals and 34 points last season. Lamoriello drafted the Minnesota native 17th overall in the 2003 NHL Draft for the New Jersey Devils.

“I think everybody knows the relationship that I have with Zach,” Lamoriello said. “I understand, appreciate and respect the decision of where he's at. He made the right decision for his family and we’ll leave the door open for him.”

more on the Islanders...

Is Long Island The Destination For Tomas Tatar?

09/04/2023 at 7:50pm EDT

from Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News,

Silence.

That's been the New York Islanders since they signed a trio of depth forwards on July 5 after retaining their own free agents a few days prior.

Currently sitting $486,625 above the allotted salary cap, the Islanders are more than likely -- out of necessity -- to subtract a player from their roster rather than add.

However, there is one player still on the market after two months of free agency that's a real head-scratcher: Tomas Tatar.

The 32-year-old is coming off a 48-point season (20 goals, 28 assists), his second in New Jersey. Tatar is a rather versatile player, as he played up and down the Devils' lineup, even seeing minutes on the top line.

So, why does he remain unsigned?

Well, do we know that is the case?

Is it possible a certain team signed Tatar, with the announcement not being made public yet?

It's not impossible.

continued

Garth Snow Unfiltered

08/21/2023 at 10:39am EDT

from Ethan Sears of the New York Post,

Garth Snow is free to speak his mind.

It has been five years, after all, since he was let go as Islanders general manager.

“I’m not under anyone’s control,” Snow said, and proceeded to speak his mind on how the Islanders have fared in recent years.

On John Tavares leaving the Islanders a month after Snow was fired in June 2018: “He didn’t do anything wrong.”

On the Islanders playing home games at Barclays Center, starting in 2015: “If Charles [Wang] didn’t go to Barclays Center, the Islanders wouldn’t have remained on Long Island. … But logistically it was a hot mess.”

On co-owner Scott Malkin: “There were things I’d recommend that got shot down. And then I chuckled when Lou [Lamoriello] got hired and well, they’re gonna go do the things I recommended.”

Snow’s 12-year tenure as Islanders GM covered a strange era in team history.

The Islanders hadn’t seen much on-ice success until the last few years, they dealt with a disastrous arena situation and they changed owners.

continued

Lane Lambert On The Hot Seat On Long Island

08/16/2023 at 4:45pm EDT

from Adam Proteau of The Hockey News,

For each team, we’ll pick out one player, GM, coach or team owner to put on the hot seat as someone facing considerable pressure to put up excellent results this coming season or be relocated to their team’s doghouse. A second individual will go on the warm seat as someone who may not facing a firing or trade anytime soon but who the team has very high expectations for in 2023-24 and beyond. A third individual will be assigned to the cold seat, labeling them as highly likely to stay on their current team for a very long period.

ISLANDERS’ HOT SEAT: LANE LAMBERT, COACH

Lambert is entering his second season as Islanders coach. GM Lou Lamoriello has given him a lineup that isn't the most talented inside or outside their Metropolitan Division, so he’s got to find ways they can win. The Isles are capped out on the salary cap front, with a current payroll of $83.2 million in 2023-24, per PuckPedia. Lamoriello is famous for quickly replacing his coaches, and if the Islanders wobble and disappoint, Lambert is going to be under a massive microscope and have his tactics questioned.

The Isles went 42-31-9 last season and just barely squeaked into the final wild-card berth, earning it by only two standings points over the Metro's fifth-placed Pittsburgh Penguins. That’s where we expect they’ll be in 2023-24 – only this time, it could be the Islanders on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. If that’s how it goes for the Isles, Lambert could get the chop from Lamoriello. Most of their lineup is locked in for the long term, and it’s always much easier to change direction by taking out the coach instead of the players.

Coaching is a cutthroat business, and Lambert is well aware of the extremely high stakes he’s dealing with this season. To keep his job safe, Lambert has to deliver at least another Stanley Cup playoff appearance – and once he’s there, he must guide them far past the first round. Lamoriello’s itchy trigger finger when it comes to coaches should always give Lambert pause to appreciate his current surroundings. It could all end relatively quickly for him if his team underachieves.

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The New York Islanders Would Have To Move Salary To Sign Vladimir Tarasenko

07/16/2023 at 7:24am EDT

from Ethan Sears of the New York Post,

If the Islanders wish to add a big name who can fill a hole of a 30-goal scorer before the season begins, there is still one option left: Vladimir Tarasenko....

As currently constructed, the Islanders are in essence zeroed out, in need of clearing space just to bring back Oliver Wahlstrom and Zach Parise, if the latter decides to return.

Adding Tarasenko — who The Post reported was unhappy with offers ranging from $5.5 million-$6 million at the onset of free agency — would require maneuvering that is not at all simple in a flat-cap league.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau remains the most logical candidate to be on the move if such a thing were to come to fruition.

Moving the 30-year-old would take $5 million off the Islanders’ books without creating a major hole, since Mathew Barzal could be moved back to center.

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Islanders Sign Many Of Their Own

07/01/2023 at 4:50pm EDT

The New York Islanders Will Look The Same

06/22/2023 at 5:15pm EDT

from Kevin Kurz of The Athletic,

Put another way, the 2023-24 Islanders’ identity will almost certainly be similar to what it was in the second half of last season, and other seasons past, as they continue to attempt to defy where the league seems to be going. That is, an elite goalie tandem, strong penalty killing, physical play and structured defense, all in the name of grinding out low-scoring affairs.

Not that any of this should be overly surprising. There are decades worth of evidence that points to how Lamoriello prefers to build his teams, along with the fact that he doesn’t have many options to make big changes anyway due to the Islanders’ salary cap situation and the plethora of limited and full no-trade clauses.

What makes it notable, though, is that there was a distinct attempt less than a year ago with the installation of Lane Lambert as head coach to make some alteration to the Islanders’ style that would, in theory, help them go punch-for-punch with the increasingly high-powered offenses that other teams employ, or at least are attempting to employ. Lambert and some players in the dressing room seemed genuinely excited to play a more up-tempo style in which the defensemen would be more aggressive in keeping plays alive, while the forwards would have a little more freedom to try and create offense.

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Video- The Off Season Plans For The New York Islanders

06/07/2023 at 9:03am EDT

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