The Daily: Penguins Nipping At Islanders Again; NHL News

Here’s your latest New York Islanders and NHL news in The Daily:

New York Islanders

By beating the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Wednesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins (80 points) leap-frogged the Florida Panthers (79 points), and pulled to within two points of the New York Islanders (82 points), for the top Wild Card slot in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers host the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight, and the Islanders will be idle until they play the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.

Former New York Islanders goalie and TSN analyst Jamie McLennan dishes on his time with the Islanders, being coached by Butch Goring, and being mentored by the great Billy Smith during his time on the Island.

National Hockey Now

MTL: The Boston Bruins will be doing their arch-rivals a favor if they beat them tonight as the Montreal Canadiens are still alive in the ‘Tank for [Connor] Bedard’ sweepstakes.

BOS: Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand is still that player you love to hate, unless he’s on your team.

PIT: Veteran Pittsburgh Penguins center Jeff Carter shut his critic up for a night in Denver on Wednesday.

PHI: The Philadelphia Flyers may trade away a right wing in the offseason?

FLA: Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart is proving once again how important he is to his team

DET: The Detroit Red Wings won’t make the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they never really expected to make it anyways. Hope still springs eternal in Motown as the team looks to the future.

COL: Someone tell Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, one bad call in the second period of a 5-2 loss to the Penguins isn’t why you lost on Wednesday night.

VGK: What would a potential Vegas Golden Knights-Calgary Flames first round playoff series look like. …even if it likely won’t happen. Owen Krepps examines.

SJS: What does the future look like between the pipes for the San Jose Sharks? Do they have one

NHL

The Chicago Blackhawks became the latest NHL team to ditch their Pride jerseys for their annual Pride/Hockey Is For Everyone Night.