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NYHN Daily: Islanders May Get Wahlstrom Back for Game 3 & More

Published

3 years ago

June 2, 2021

The New York Islanders have to wait another day before Game 3 against the Boston Bruins on Nassau Coliseum ice. The NHL released the Vezina nominees on Tuesday and Islanders Semyon Varlamov did not make the cut. Islanders rookie Oliver Wahlstrom may get back into the lineup tonight as he is deemed as “possible” after the latest update. These stories and more in today’s daily links!

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz knows where his biases lie when it comes to Vezina Trophy candidates for this season. He made no bones about pointing it out, but that didn’t take away any of the disappointment he had when it was announced that Semyon Varlamov was not named a finalist for the award for the NHL’s best goaltender on Tuesday. (NYI Hockey Now)

Could Oliver Wahlstrom be back in the New York Islanders lineup for Game 3? There’s a least a chance of that happening when the puck drops between the Islanders and Boston Bruins on Thursday, according to head coach Barry Trotz. Wahlstrom is still day-to-day after taking an awkward hit along the boards in Game 5 Against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. (NYI Hockey Now)

The New York Islanders and Boston Bruins now know what time the puck will drop for Game 5 of their best-of-seven series. The NHL announced on Tuesday that Game 5 will start at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 7. The Islanders forced the need for a Game 5 when they defeated Boston in overtime on Monday night, 4-3 to even the series at one. (NYI Hockey Now)

It was the save that put the wheels in motion for Casey Cizikas’ game-winning goal on Monday night in the New York Islanders 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins in Game 2. Semyon Varlamov stopped not one but two prime chances the play prior to keep the Islanders alive. (NYI Hockey Now)

The biggest change from Game 1 to Game 2 of this Islanders-Bruins series — aside from the result, of course — was that the Islanders deserved to win Game 2 writes Arthur Staple. Here are his takeaways from the Islanders Game 2 win. (The Athletic)

The New York Islanders woke up Tuesday feeling pretty good about what’s ahead in the Stanley Cup Second Round after a potential series-changing 4-3 overtime victory against the Boston Bruins in Game 2 at TD Garden on Monday. (NHL)

The NHL announced Tuesday afternoon that Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk has been fined $5,000 for cross-checking New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield with just over seven minutes left in regulation of the Islanders’ 4-3 overtime win in Game 2. (Boston Hockey Now)

It’s an honest question without objective answers. The Pittsburgh Penguins management is undoubtedly debating and discussing the same thing. How much weight should the Penguins playoff performances count towards their final grade? (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Marc-Andre Fleury has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender for the first time in his future Hall of Fame career. The award is voted on by NHL general managers at the end of the regular season and awarded following the completion of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Vegas Hockey Now)

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Philipp Grubauer was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy on Tuesday. After all, the Avs goaltender has been one of the most consistent and effective goalies in the NHL this season. It was, however, a surprise to the man himself. “Never thought in my life I’d be in that group,” Grubauer said Tuesday. “It’s a huge honor.” (Colorado Hockey Now)

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 31 saves, and the Tampa Bay Lightning extended their lead in the Stanley Cup Second Round with a 2-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 at PNC Arena on Tuesday. (NHL)

Vincent Trocheck sustained an unspecified injury late in the second period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Second Round on Tuesday, and the Carolina Hurricanes forward’s status is uncertain for Game 3. “It doesn’t look good,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said after Carolina lost 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning at home. (NHL)

The 2021 NHL Draft Lottery will set the order for the first 15 picks of the 2021 NHL Draft when it is held Wednesday. The first round of the draft will be held July 23, with rounds 2-7 on July 24. (NHL)

Marc-Andre Fleury, Philipp Grubauer and Andrei Vasilevskiy were named finalists for the Vezina Trophy on Tuesday. The award is given annually to the goalie voted the best at his position by NHL general managers and the winner will be announced as part of the 2021 NHL Awards presented by Bridgestone during the Stanley Cup Semifinals or Stanley Cup Final. (NHL)

The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs features eight teams in four division-based best-of-7 series, which started Saturday. Today, NHL.com previews the Stanley Cup Second Round between the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens. (NHL)

Tuukka Rask should be available to play for the Boston Bruins in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Second Round against the New York Islanders, but the goalie is dealing with some injuries, coach Bruce Cassidy said.”They’re nagging. Not unique to just Tuukka for that position,” Cassidy said Tuesday. “… And right now, I don’t believe there’s any reason to think that he won’t be ready to go Thursday. So that’s where we’re at with Tuukka.” (NHL)

Nathan MacKinnon is producing offense in the Stanley Cup Playoffs at a pace better than all but the greatest players in NHL history. We’re talking all but the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr. The Colorado Avalanche center has scored 66 points (28 goals, 38 assists) in 45 playoff games in his NHL career entering Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Second Round against the Vegas Golden Knights in Denver on Wednesday. (NHL)

Zach Parise said he plans on attending training camp for the Minnesota Wild next season even though his future remains unclear. Parise said he will speak with Wild general manager Bill Guerin and coach Dean Evason during the offseason. The 36-year-old forward has four seasons left on a 13-year, $98 million contract ($7.54 million average annual value) he signed with Minnesota on July 4, 2012. (NHL)

Last week, the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc First Nation in Kamloops, B.C. announced that the remains of 215 Indigenous children were found on the site of a former residential school. The news shocked and devastated much of the country. Indigenous communities grieved openly and looked inward to their communities for comfort in light of the horrific news. (TSN)

A former high school hockey player who alleges he was sexually abused by a former Chicago Blackhawks coach is suing the National Hockey League franchise for allegedly providing a positive employment reference to the coach despite knowing he was a sexual predator. (TSN)