New York Islanders
Rosner Wrap: MacLean Defends Räty, Weathering Pelech Storm
The New York Islanders had Sunday off following the split of their back-to-back on Friday and Saturday. They are back on the ice this morning as they gear up for a five-game road trip, and remain shorthanded.
Since Adam Pelech’s injury last Tuesday, the New York Islanders have kept his status under wraps, and the longer he is out, the more the Islanders’ resiliency will be tested. We should get more of an update on the statuses of all injured personnel (Adam Pelech, Kyle Palmieri, Anthony Beauvillier).
Before we get to the stories to know for today, let’s make a pit stop in Bridgeport.
The 40. The 30. The 20. The 10…tackled at the eight-yard line by Bridgeport Islanders forward Kyle MacLean?
In the Bridgeport Islanders’ 5-2 win over the Providence Bruins, New York Islanders top prospect Aatu Räty notched a goal and two assists.
In the dying seconds of the second period, Räty won a faceoff against Providence’s John Beecher and pinned in him to the ice. Beecher, not happy about it, forces Räty to fight, but before punches could be thrown, Bridgeport’s Kyle MacLean tackles Beecher, which led to a brawl:
Absolute chaos in Providence as Aatu Raty pins Beecher down after a faceoff, followed by Beecher dragging him into a fight before McLean absolutely launches himself at Beecher mid-fight with Raty. Don’t remember the last time I’ve seen that. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/M4hwoJfG1l
— Bruins Network (@BruinsNetwork) December 11, 2022
MacLean was ejected for his actions, but his actions go to show how he feels, and likely the Bridgeport team feels about Aatu Räty and his importance.
NYI HOCKEY NOW
Classified as a day-to-day upper-body injury after being demolished while off-balance by St. Louis Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo last Tuesday, the injury to Adam Pelech is undoubtedly head-related based on how his helmet bounced off the end boards behind netminder Ilya Sorokin, with the neck potentially being a cause for concern as well. Can the Islanders fill the hole? New York Islanders.
Whether you are a fan of the Fisherman Reverse Retro or not, the wait is now over, as the New York Islanders hit the ice for warmup wearing their newest sweaters: New York Islanders.
NATIONAL HOCKEY NOW
Washington Hockey Now: The Washington Capitals had a wild Sunday in Manitoba filled with injury news, updates, roster transactions, and finally, an interesting game against the Winnipeg Jets. And for Washington, it ended on a positive note: Washington Capitals.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Pittsburgh Penguins weren’t always at their best during the past week, but they were always good enough to win. They went 3-0, with a pair of victories against Buffalo and another against Columbus, and got their No. 1 defenseman back less than two weeks after he suffered the second stroke of his NHL career. A look back at the week that was: Pittsburgh Penguins.
Philly Hockey Now: Playing in a college rink didn’t change the Philadelphia Flyers’ fortunes Sunday night. Morgan Frost had the first four-point game of his NHL career, but the Flyers dropped a 5-4 overtime decision to the Arizona Coyotes at Arizona State’s Mullett Arena. Philadelphia Flyers.
Boston Hockey Now: Here are the Talking Points for the Boston Bruins 4-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes at the very “intimate” Mullett Arena on Friday night before an announced crowd of 4.600 fans. Boston Bruins.
Vegas Hockey Now: In an incredibly fast-paced game between two good teams, the Vegas Golden Knights (20-9-1, 41 points) lost to the Boston Bruins (22-4-1, 45 points) 3-1 Sunday afternoon in the battle between the top team in the East and the top team in the West. Vegas Golden Knights.
San Jose Hockey Now: It’s good news for the San Jose Sharks and Logan Couture. Couture left Friday night’s 6-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks after blocking a Cam Fowler shot on the penalty kill midway through the third period. San Jose Sharks.