NYHN Daily: Islanders Lock Up Pulock, First Game & More

The New York Islanders kick off the 2021-22 regular season tonight with a matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. Puck drop is shortly after 7 PM ET on MSG +.

Here are the stories to know in today’s daily links!

Islanders and Ryan Pulock have come to terms on an eight-year extension worth $50 million. He joins his linemate Adam Pelech, who too got an eight-year deal earlier in the offseason. (NYI Hockey Now)

Islanders captain Anders Lee missed the second half of the regular season and the entire postseason run after tearing his ACL in mid-march. As Lee enters this season, healthy, he has a new perspective, new appreciation after watching from above last season. (NYI Hockey Now)

The Islanders will begin their season without number one netminder Semyon Varlamov and a key piece of the fourth line in Matt Martin. Both are on IR and have made the trip to Carolina. The news came directly from the mouth of general manager Lou Lamoriello, who spoke with the media on Thursday. (NYI Hockey Now)

The Islanders first opponent, the Carolina Hurricanes, had a whirlwind of an offseason. It will take time to see if their moves paid off, but the Hurricanes enter the season as a team that is expected to be near the top of the Metropolitan Division. Take a look at what changes the Hurricanes made as we get ready for Game 1 of the season. (NYI Hockey Now)

The Islanders are getting set to embark on their 13-game road trip, the longest such stretch to kick off a season in NHL history. Forward Brock Nelson believes the team can lean on their experience in the bubble to get through the trip. The mindset is one game at a time. (NHL)

The Islanders have been known as a deep club. It is a major reason for the success over the last three years, especially the elongated postseason runs in 2020 and 2021. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said this is the deepest team he has had since his arrival in 2018. (Newsday)

The Boston Bruins will be without forward David Krejci and goaltender Tuukka Rask this season. Krejci decided to play in his home country of the Czech Republic. Rask is dealing with a long-term injury and there is no timetable for his return. With his pending UFA status following this season, his return is not guaranteed. But team president Cam Neely told the media that the door is open for both to return to the Bruins. (Boston Hockey Now)

Pittsburgh Penguins starting netminder Tristan Jarry had a nightmare of a postseason in 2021. Despite his struggles, general manager Brian Burke made it clear that he has faith Jarry can bounce back. He also added that the rumors the club was looking to bring in a netminder this past offseason were not as serious as some made it out to be. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals got off to a rather strong start to their season as they defeated the New York Rangers 5-1 on home ice. Ovechkin netted two goals, tying Marcel Dionne with the first one and passing him on the second, as he sits alone in fifth place in goals scored.  (Washington Hockey Now)

The Montreal Canadiens were defeated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in both teams’ first games of the 2021-22 campaign. While it was a tight game, a 2-1 score, Montreal’s inability to produce on the man-advantage was their ultimate downfall as they went 0-4 on the powerplay. (Montreal Hockey Now)

The Toronto Maple Leafs let goaltender Frederik Andersen walk this past offseason after Jack Campbell shined and played well in the postseason. Campbell continued right where he left off, as he stopped 31 of 32 shots in the win over the Montreal Canadiens. (Toronto Hockey Now)

The Detroit Red Wings got a tough draw to kick off the season as they face the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bu, that does not mean the result can’t go in the Red Wings favor. Here are seven reasons why Detroit can take down the back-to-back Stanley Cup winners. (Detroit Hockey Now)

Calgary Flames head coach Daryll Sutter is using all the time he has to finalize his starting lineup ahead of their matchup with the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Centerman Sean Monahan is ready to go after hip surgery, as he has worked his back and feels as good as he can feel. (Calgary Hockey Now)

The Vegas Golden Knights were victorious in their season-opener against the Seattle Kraken. With a handful of players out for Vegas, Pete DeBoer looked for his veterans to help carry the team. His two top lines were dominant in the win. (Vegas Hockey Now)

The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 4-2. Darcy Kuemper, the netminder acquired this past offseason, was stellar. Here are the takeaways from the win. (Colorado Hockey Now)

The San Jose Sharks and NBC Sports California have unveiled their 2021-22 TV coverage plans. NBC Sports California is scheduled to carry 74 of the team’s 82 regular season games. The other eight games will air exclusively on ESPN or ESPN+/Hulu. (San Jose Hockey Now)

The Vancouver Canucks found themselves in a 2-0 hole early against the Edmonton Oilers. They battled back, forced overtime, before ultimately losing in a shootout. Here are the takeaways from the loss. (Vancouver Hockey Now)