Daily Links
NYHN Daily: Islanders Welcome Health Care Workers Tonight & More
The New York Islanders (16-6-4) welcome the New Jersey Devils (8-11-3) to town for the first of three consecutive meetings. There will be Islanders fans in the stands of Nassau Coliseum tonight, as health care workers are being honored. Islanders captain Anders Lee was not as dominant against the Bruins as he was against the Sabres. These stories and more on today’s daily links!
The New York Islanders announced on Wednesday that the first seven home games at the Nassau Coliseum had sold out with fans returning to the building beginning this week. The Islanders will welcome 1,000 Northwell Health first responders into the building on Thursday when they host the New Jersey Devils. (NYI Hockey Now)
Islanders captain Anders Lee dominated the Buffalo Sabres. While he was not at his best against the Bruins, Lee still put together a strong performance in the victory. (NYI Hockey Now)
Laura Zelenka-Dufresne still has a hard time believing she’ll be going to Thursday night’s Islanders’ game against the Devils, or anywhere else, without her husband, Bob Dufresne, an avid sports fan who passed away at age 55 on Jan. 22 because of COVID-19. “No one should have to really experience this,” Zelenka-Dufresne said. “But we did. And I’m thankful to Northwell Health for letting us have this experience.” (Newsday)
The Islanders’ massive run of home games, with nine of their last 10 outings coming at Nassau Coliseum, comes to an end on Thursday night when they host the struggling New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET). But from a sentimentality standpoint, this one might mean more than any previous home game so far this season. (AMNY)
Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney addressed the media on Wednesday and gave an update on injured defensemen Kevan Miller and Jeremy Lauzon as well as, forward Ondrej Kase. (Boston Hockey Now)
The Philadelphia Flyers’ special teams were, well, special late in the game against the Buffalo Sabres. Both units came into the game among the worst in the league, but the power play (17.95%, 22nd) scored the game-tying goals and the penalty kill (72.22%, 28th) came through in the final minutes of the third period. (Philly Hockey Now)
‘It Takes a Toll…But It’s Fun’ says Penguins defenseman Kris Letang about playing essentially every other day following reconfigured schedule due to COVID 19. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)
Sergei Bobrovsky certainly seems to be settling into a groove with the Panthers lately. Tuesday night was one of Bobrovsky’s best games of the season as he made 38 saves in the Panthers 4-2 win over the host Columbus Blue Jackets. (Florida Hockey Now)
Vegas Golden Knights rookie Coghlan scored his first three career NHL goals in a 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild. He became the fourth defenseman at the turn of the century to record a hat trick in a loss, the first since Dougie Hamilton in 2018. (Vegas Hockey Now)
San Jose Hockey Now has learned that Ivan Chekhovich will be heading back to San Jose to continue his resurgent year. (San Jose Hockey Now)
Artemi Panarin was back with the Rangers on Wednesday afternoon for practice in Boston after a 2 ¹/₂ week-long absence in the wake of a politically motivated article from Russia that accused the star winger of assaulting an 18-year-old Latvian woman in 2011. (NY Post)
The NHL, The Walt Disney Co. and ESPN on Tuesday announced an agreement on a seven-year, U.S. television, streaming and media rights deal beginning next season and running through the 2027-28 season. (NHL.com)
Troy Grosenick won his first NHL start in more than six years when the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 at Honda Center on Wednesday. (NHL.com)
Leon Draisaitl had a hat trick and two assists for the Edmonton Oilers in a 7-1 win against the Ottawa Senators at Rogers Place on Wednesday. (NHL.com)
The Tampa Bay Lightning are the unanimous No. 1 in the NHL.com Super 16 power rankings. The Lightning are 8-0-1 since Feb. 22. The New York Islanders made the biggest move up, jumping five spots to No. 5. They’ve won six games in a row with eight goals against. (NHL.com)
The hottest player in the National Hockey League has hit the TSN Trade Bait board. Teams have been calling the Anaheim Ducks about Rickard Rakell, who has racked up 12 points in his past six games, and joins the list at No. 3 because GM Bob Murray isn’t hanging up the phone. (TSN.ca)
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews missed practice on Wednesday. The 23-year-old has been dealing with a hand/wrist injury all season. (TSN.ca)