NYHN Daily: Islanders Win Again, Noah Dobson’s Impact & More

The New York Islanders enter their 12-day break on the right skate as they defeated the Edmonton Oilers by a score of 3-2 in overtime on Saturday. Defenseman Noah Dobson’s play has transcended the Islanders offense as of late. Islanders head coach Barry Trotz was not behind the bench for the contest due to personal reasons, while two coaches made their way into COVID-19 protocol.

These stories and more in today’s daily links!

Keeping it on the Island

The New York Islanders defeated the Edmonton Oilers by a score of 3-2 in overtime on Saturday. The win moves the Islanders to 10-12-6 on the season and 4-5-3 on UBS Arena ice this season. Here’s how it happened. (NYI Hockey Now)

Early this season, the New York Islanders had felt the loss of puck-moving defenseman Nick Leddy. No one on the backend showcased his skillset as the Islanders’ transition game lacked that type of player. When top offensive-defenseman Ryan Pulock went down with a lower-body injury, the Islanders needed someone to step up and provide offense. Noah Dobson has taken the opportunities and run with them as his play has transcended the Islanders’ defense. (NYI Hockey Now)

The New York Islanders took the ice Saturday afternoon against the Edmonton Oilers, Islanders head coach Barry Trotz was not behind the bench. Prior to puck drop the Islanders announced Trotz would miss the game due to personnel reasons. This reason was not COVID-19 related. Assistant coach Lane Lambert took over responsibilities behind the bench. The Islanders also announced that two coaches have entered COVID-19 protocol ahead of the game. (NYI Hockey Now)

The New York Islanders came off a strong showing in their victory over the Buffalo Sabes on Thursday night. Against the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, the Islanders would need to rely heavily on the play of their top defenseman Adam Pelech. He was Stefen’s player to watch during Saturday’s matinee at UBS Arena. (NYI Hockey Now)

Around the National Hockey Now Boards

Just when you thought the Boston Bruins might be completely over the COVID-19 issue, they had another blip on the radar screen after playing their first game in two weeks this weekend. In the hours following Saturday’s 4-3 overtime win for the Boston Bruins over the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden, reserve forward Karson Kuhlman was placed in the league’s COVID protocol. (Boston Hockey Now)

How will the NHL fix the growing number of postponements and reschedule those games? The Pittsburgh Penguins have a handful of games to make up, and the NHL continues to push Canadian games into the future based on reduced attendance requirements. And what of Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry, Evan Rodrigues, and their breakout starts to the season? 93-7 the Fan host Josh Rowntree quizzed our Dan Kingerski on the state of the Penguins and the NHL. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The Florida Panthers start off 2022 undefeated, beating a shorthanded Montreal Canadiens team 5-2 on New Year’s Day. Already having eight players on the Covid protocol list, the Habs also found out on Saturday morning that Brendan Gallagher was out of the lineup with a lower-body injury. So, Montreal had to take the ice with just 16 skaters, 11 forwards and five defensemen as the Panthers did against the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 16. Hey, a win is a win. (Florida Hockey Now)

The road to the NHL has been a long one for Lucas Johansen. Nearly five years after going 28th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, the 24-year-old made his long-awaited debut as the Washington Capitals closed out 2021 with a tilt against the Detroit Red Wings. After five seasons developing with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, Johansen earned the call-up to Washington’s taxi squad with the Capitals and the NHL fighting COVID-19. And, with three of the Capitals’ top-6 blueliners on protocol, he got the chance to play in his first career game. (Washington Hockey Now)

As Bo Byram sheepishly admitted Saturday, “I feel like I’ve had this conversation with you six times.” Here again is Byram, cleared to play for the Colorado Avalanche, and play he will on Sunday. Cleared to play, after an injury to his head, which the team did not call a concussion, but it’s a malady Byram had suffered multiple times before in his young NHL career. (Colorado Hockey Now)

Kidnapping. It is a parent’s worst nightmare and was nearly a reality for free agent San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau and his family. Marleau’s wife, Christina, used Twitter to tell the story. (San Jose Hockey Now)

The Vancouver Canucks, after dropping their first game under head coach Bruce Boudreau their last time out, were back in the win column Saturday. They beat the Seattle Kraken by a score of 5-2, due to a strong third period and key plays by depth pieces. Here are the takeaways from the win. (Vancouver Hockey Now)

League Business

The Winter Classic at Target Field occurred on Saturday night and in the freezing tundra that is Minnesota, the St. Louis Blues defeated the Wild by a score of 6-4. (NHL)

In a powerful story, the Vancouver Canucks equipment manager had his life saved by a Seattle Kraken fan. In Seattle’s first-ever game, a fan sitting behind the Canucks bench noticed something on the assistant equipment manager’s neck. A student in med school noticed a cancerous mole and with her phone, typed a message out to show him when he turned around to leave the bench. He noticed it and while he shrugged it off in the moment had it checked out. Turns out the fan was right and on Saturday, she was honored for saving his life. She was given a $10,000 scholarship by the Vancouver organization. (NHL)

The Montreal Canadians paused their season as their COVID-19 number reached 16 players. Their previous four games had been postponed and who knows when they will return to game action. (NHL)