NYHN Daily: Kings Outplay Islanders, Pulock Skates, Zegras Magic

The New York Islanders were defeated by the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night by a score of 3-2. Thursday started off as a positive day for the Islanders as Ryan Pulock was back skating with his teammates for the first time in over nine weeks. Are the Edmonton Oilers interested in Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov?

These stories and more in today’s daily links!

Keeping it on the Island

The New York Islanders were defeated by the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night by a score of 3-2. The Islanders are now 15-15-6, with an 8-8-3 record at UBS Arena. Despite two goals late, the Islanders waited too long to show up. Here’s how it happened. (NYI Hockey Now)

On Thursday, New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock was back on the ice with his teammates for the first time since the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning back on Nov. 15. In that contest, Ryan Pulock blocked a shot while the New York Islanders were on the power play and while he tried to finish the game, he did not play in the final 10 minutes. The medical staff determined that the lower-body injury Pulock sustained would keep him out for about four to six weeks. His recovery lasted more than nine.  (NYI Hockey Now)

On the latest “32 Thoughts” podcast (written version), NHL insider Elliotte Friedman stated that the Edmonton Oilers have expressed interest in many goaltenders around the National Hockey League, including New York Islanders nemtinder Semyon Varlamov. If traded, what does that mean for the Islanders’ season? (NYI Hockey Now)

Around the National Hockey Now Boards

In a world with no enforcers, fewer and fewer hockey fights and instigator penalties becoming a rare occurrence, NHL teams like the Boston Bruins are being forced into situations where they need to fight after a clean, hard hockey hit. It almost happened in Wednesday night’s 4-3 overtime loss for the B’s against the Colorado Avalanche where Boston Bruins winger Taylor Hall clobbered Avs center Nathan MacKinnon with a punishing hit during his second shift of the game. (Boston Hockey Now)

The Pittsburgh Penguins (27-10-6) took their sweet time to score a goal on Thursday night. After a pair of ho-hum periods and only 21 shots, Evgeni Malkin buried a power-play wrister midway through the third period. It was the game’s first goal, but another Malkin turnover later in the third period led to the Seattle Kraken’s first goal with only four minutes remaining. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

It was a night for Knights on Thursday at FLA Live Arena. The Florida Panthers rookie goalie ended up being crowned King. Spencer Knight, Florida’s 20-year-old rookie, surrendered an early goal but no more as he led the Panthers to a rousing 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. (Florida Hockey Now)

Isaac Ratcliffe, the mammoth left winger selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the 2017 draft, will make his NHL debut Saturday afternoon against the visiting Los Angels Kings. “I’m pretty excited. I got the call from Lappy yesterday that I was going to be coming up here,” Ratcliffe said after Thursday’s practice, referring to Lehigh Valley Phantoms coach Ian Laperriere. “I’ve been working hard for a long time to get to this opportunity, and I’m just really excited for Saturday. It’s going to be a big day, and I’m going to go out there to prove that I deserve to be out there.” (Philly Hockey Now)

The Montreal Canadiens cut two three-goal deficits to one but could not complete the comeback in a 5-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at the Bell Centre Thursday night. Jake Evans had two goals, Artturi Lehkonen got his second in as many nights, but Cayden Primeau struggled and was pulled after allowing three goals on nine shots in the first period. (Montreal Hockey Now)

Partaking in line rushes at Detroit Red Wings practice on Thursday, forward Jakub Vrana has been medically cleared for shooting and stickhandling. Out all season due to shoulder surgery, he’s as close to playing in a game as he’s been since Vrana went under the knife. However, he’s still not that close. “He’s making progress,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “The next step is to come put and be part of the team skate, both him and Stech.” (Detroit Hockey Now)

Just posted on the AHL transactions log: Dylan Sikura has been recalled from the Colorado Eagles by the Avalanche, and will join the club for its flight to Chicago later this afternoon. This is a pretty big sign that Nathan MacKinnon won’t play against the Blackhawks. (Colorado Hockey Now)

The Vegas Golden Knights were defeated 4-1 Thursday night by the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena. Here are six takeaways from the game from Vegas Hockey Now’s Owen Krepps. The Golden Knights will travel to Tampa Bay next to take on the Lightning Saturday afternoon at 4:00 PST. (Vegas Hockey Now)

“I got caught by surprise a little bit this summer.” That’s what Evander Kane told TSN’s Kayla Grey of his thoughts when he learned the San Jose Sharks wanted to move away from him this summer. This is from Part One of the two-part interview on “The Shift”. (San Jose Hockey Now)

This updates our previous story regarding the sexual assault charge issued to former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen by the Vancouver Police Department. The following statement was issued after 2:30 pm Thursday by Kevin Epp, Virtanen’s NHLPA certified player agent on Titan Sports Management letterhead: (Vancouver Hockey Now)

Days after the Calgary Flames beat up on a team that looked tired coming off a game the previous evening, the St. Louis Blues returned the favor. The sting of a 7-1 loss to the Flames on Monday night still fresh in the Blues players’ minds, they responded in the rematch by grinding the Flames into submission on Thursday. (Calgary Hockey Now)

League Chat

Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras did it. He pulled off “The Michigan” against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night. You just have to watch. (NHL)