Rosner’s Wrap: The Lee & Nelson Combo, Lightning Even Up Series & More

The New York Rangers have blown their 2-0 series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning as the series heads back to New York all knotted up. The New York Islanders showcased a new duo this past season, with Anders Lee and Brock Nelson as linemates. Just how good were they?

These stories and more in today’s daily link!

New York Islanders head coach, now ex-bench boss Barry Trotz uses the “pair” plan when deciding his lineups. For example, Anders Lee and Mat Barzal had been a pair with rotating right-wingers since Trotz cam ashore in 2018. But after clear signs of struggles between the two, Trotz elected to break up the duo and saw success with a new duo in Anders Lee and Brock Nelson. Just how dynamic were these two in their time together? (NYI Hockey Now)

Islanders In Review assesses every player from the 2021-22 New York Islanders season. We’ll be looking at the highs and lows they experienced during the just-completed campaign and what the future holds for them on the island. Today, we feature centerman Casey Cizikas. (NYI Hockey Now)

After taking a 2-0 lead over the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning, the New York Rangers now find themselves heading back to New York with the series knotted at two. They were flat-out dominated in Game 4, writes Mollie Walker of the New York Post. (NY Post)

After our thorough review of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ coming decision with top prospect P.O Joseph, a couple of external sources admitted there was more to the Joseph story, which could impact some of the NHL trade chatter this summer. An NHL source with direct knowledge admitted the New York Islanders did some poking around before the NHL trade deadline and graded Joseph well. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

As if there has not been enough chaos in the first three weeks of the offseason for the Boston Bruins, their leading goal scorer David Pastrnak has become the subject of rampant NHL trade rumors. As far as the Bruins are concerned they will do everything to ensure that doesn’t happen and ink the key piece to their future to a long-term extension. (Boston Hockey Now)

Just call former Montreal Canadiens winger Artturi Lehkonen the Western Conference Clincher! For the second straight year, Artturi Lehkonen scored the overtime winner to clinch the Western Conference Final and send his team to the Stanley Cup Final. He became the first NHL player to clinch a Stanley Cup berth with an overtime goal in two straight seasons since Gordie Drillon did in 1938-39 for the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Montreal Hockey Now)

The Colorado Avalanche may have swept the Edmonton Oilers to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2001. Unfortunately, Andrew Cogliano is injured, wearing a cast on his left hand, Also head coach Jared Bednar is not set on a goaltender as of yet, having relied on Pavel Francouz to get through the first round when Darcy Kuemper was injured in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. (Colorado Hockey Now)

Since Kadri had thump surgery, he’ll be out for a while. Colorado has slipped Mikko Rantanen into the pivot spot, and they’re OK…for now. (Colorado Hockey Now)

Colorado is a rebuild done right, and very well. When the Pittsburgh Penguins were winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, Colorado hit the big red reset button. Patrick Roy bailed as head coach. The team had a mere 48-point season. They were dark days. Yet, here they are. (Colorado Hockey Now)

Welcome back to Vegas Hockey Now’s season in review series where we look at every player on the Vegas Golden Knights and their 2021-22 season from Michael Amadio to Zach Whitecloud. Today’s player is Alex Pietrangelo. Pietrangelo had yet another solid season in 2021-22, putting up 13 goals and 44 points. With the massive list of injuries to the VGK had this past season, Pietrangelo was the only player to reach 80 games. His two missed games came only because of COVID-19 protocols. (Vegas Hockey Now)

Mike Morreale of NHL.com has seen his share of Draft Combines. “If you go back 10 to 15 years, a lot of these players, they were more overwhelmed [by the Combine]. But it seems like now, it’s impressive how well the players get the support of the junior teams, their agents prepare them for this event. There used to be a time when all these guys had that deer in the headlights look,” he told San Jose Hockey Now, laughing. Morreale also shared his favorite draft interview questions as well as who the Sharks interviewed at the 2022 NHL Draft Combine. (San Jose Hockey Now)

Canucks Roll Call is assessing every player who held a significant place in the fortunes of the 2021-22 Vancouver Canucks season. We’ll be looking at the highs and lows they experienced during the recent campaign, as well as what the future holds for them in Vancouver. Today we feature D-man Oliver Ekman-Larsson, a.k.a. OEL. (Vancouver Hockey Now)