Daily Links
NYHN Daily: Islanders Rebound, Three Takeaways, Trotz Returns & More
The New York Islanders defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on Monday and are back at it again Tuesday night again tonight in Philadelphia. Kieffer Bellows was shaky in his first stint on the Islanders’ top line. Casey Cizikas and Matt Martin end goal droughts, while the penalty kill was perfect for a second straight night. Islanders head coach Barry Trotz was back behind the bench after missing the last three contests.Â
These stories and more in today’s daily links!
Keeping it on the Island
The New York Islanders defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 in the first of back-to-back meetings on Monday at UBS Arena. With the win, the Islanders move within three points of the Flyers in the standings. With the win, the Islanders improve to 12-13-6, and 6-6-3 on home ice. Here’s how it happened. (NYI Hockey Now)
In a bounce-back winning following a tough loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday, the Islanders had a new member on the top line, the fourth line play to their identity, and the penalty kill was perfect for a second straight contest. Here are the three takeaways from the win. (NYI Hockey Now)
After missing the last three contests, New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz was back behind the bench for the contest against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, Jan. 17. Trotz did not join the Islanders for their morning skate on Monday, as he rarely is on the ice unless it is a full-team practice. He was not on the ice for warmups but made the dramatic entrance as the Islanders took the ice for the start of the game. (NYI Hockey Now)
When the puck drops for the New York Islanders contest against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, forward Kyle Palmieri (IR) will not be in the starting lineup. That will mark his sixth consecutive game missed as he works his way back from a lower-body injury sustained against the Boston Bruins on Dec. 16. Despite returning to the group on Jan. 3, his absence from the lineup has become a cause for concern. (NYI Hockey Now)
Around the National Hockey Now Boards
The Pittsburgh Penguins stared at a 3-0 deficit after a period against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday. Rather than hang their head, they found a way to crawl back as they scored five unanswered goals to win by a score of 5-3. Here’s how it happened. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)
New location. Same result for the skidding Philadelphia Flyers. In other words, another loss. That’s eight in a row if you’re scoring at home. Playing for the first time ever at UBS Arena, the Flyers fell to the New York Islanders on Monday, 4-1. Here are some impressions. (Philly Hockey Now)
Sam Bennett will skate onto the ice at the Saddledome on Tuesday night for the first time since the Calgary Flames traded him to the Florida Panthers last April. Bennett spent seven seasons in Calgary after the Flames made him the fourth overall pick of the 2014 NHL Draft. (Florida Hockey Now)
The 2021-22 campaign has been far from an easy road for Nicklas Backstrom. However, the 33-year-old center has been putting early adversity behind him, and with each game, he appears to be making more progress toward a return to full strength for the Washington Capitals. (Washington Hockey Now)
Captain Dylan Larkin continues to be a five-tool player for the Detroit Red Wings. He gives his team leadership, speed, faceoff excellence, assists and goals. Big goals. Very big goals Dylan Larkin scored his 17th and 18th goals of the season, the second coming in overtime, to give the Red Wings a come-from-behind 3-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres in snowy Buffalo. It ended a five-game road losing streak. It was their first win away from Little Caesars Arena since winning in Boston on Nov. 30. (Detroit Hockey Now)
In a battle of the two worst teams in the NHL, the Montreal Canadiens lost their sixth straight game on Monday, falling 5-2 to the Arizona Coyotes. The Canadiens are now 0-4-2 during this winless streak and haven’t won in regulation since a 6-3 win over the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Nov. 27. They are now 1-9-3 since that loss to the Penguins. (Montreal Hockey Now)
The Vegas Golden Knights finally were able to resume play in the 2021-22 NHL season after an extended six-day break due to COVID-19 cancellations. The Golden Knights (23-15-2) took on the Pittsburgh Penguins (23-10-5) Monday night and blew a three-goal lead. The Penguins scored five unanswered goals ad the Golden Knights lost the game 5-3. (Vegas Hockey Now)
Well, that was a great game. It was back and forth, with plenty of animosities and, for the Avs, a Zapruder tape to send to the NHL after a headshot to their starting goalie. Can we just get an Avalanche-Wild playoff series starting, like, now? First, the update on Darcy Kuemper. (Colorado Hockey Now)
Timo Meier made San Jose Sharks history this afternoon, becoming the first Shark to record five goals in a game in a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Just four San Jose players had scored four: Evander Kane on Mar. 16, 2018 versus Calgary, Patrick Marleau on Jan. 23, 2017 in Colorado, Tomas Hertl on Oct. 8, 2013 against the Rangers, and Owen Nolan on Dec. 19, 1995 in Anaheim. (San Jose Hockey Now)
The Vancouver Canucks will enjoy a day off between games before taking on the Predators in Nashville on Tuesday night. With back-to-back matinee games over the weekend, it gives them a little extra recuperation time before the evening affair in Tennessee. It’ll be about 51-hours between the conclusion of the victory over the Capitals on Sunday afternoon and puck drop against the Predators. It’s maybe a 90-minute flight from DC, so that part isn’t too taxing either. (Vancouver Hockey Now)
League Business
On Monday night, the St. Louis Blues retired Chris Pronger’s no. 44. The Hall of Famer became the eighth player retired by the Blues, as in nine seasons in St. Louis Pronger had 85 goals, 272 assists, was a four-time All-Star, and won the Hart and the Norris Trophy in the 1999-2000 season. (NHL)
Carey Price has not played a game for the Montreal Canadiens this season. The 34-year old had been working his way back from knee surgery, but because of COVID-19. He is at the same point he was at before the Christmas Break and there is no timetable for his return. (NHL)