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NYHN Daily: Islanders Return Home For Game 3 & More

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After splitting the first two games in Pittsburgh, the Islanders are back home at Nassau Colisuem for Game 3. Are Islander fans confident as the series shifts to Long Island? Should head coach Barry Trotz have started Semyon Varlamov in Game 2? These stories and more in today’s daily links!

Just how confident are the 6,800 Islander fans that will pack Nassau Coliseum and the many, many more watching at home? The power play has struggled even before the playoffs and slow starts have clearly been an issue. We’re letting Islanders fans sound off here on NYI Hockey Now before the puck drops on Game 3! (NYI Hockey Now)

There was plenty of second-guessing on social media over New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz’s decision to start Semyon Varlamov in Game 2 over Ilya Sorokin. The Islanders dropped the second game of their First Round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, but Varlamov’s rough first 10 minutes were not the reason the Islanders fell 2-1. (NYI Hockey Now)

Steve Valiquette had bounced around the NHL for several years, including time with the Islanders and Rangers, by the time he found himself a 28-year-old goaltender toiling for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Russian Superleague. This was in 2005-06, when he regularly shared practice ice with a 17-year-old prospect then playing for the club’s second team. His name was Semyon Varlamov. (Newsday)

It will be loud. Now, it’s up to the Islanders to feed off of — and sustain the energy — from what surely will be a raucous crowd at Nassau Coliseum for Thursday night’s Game 3 of their first-round series against the Penguins. (Newsday)

The Islanders had a few hiccups in Game 2, including a big mistake by Semyon Varlamov, a bad game from Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, to name a few. Here are five things the Islanders need to do to regain control of this series in Game 3 writes Arthur Staple. (The Athletic)

After a miscommunication behind the Capitals net in double overtime by Samsonov and Schultz, Ovechkin let his teammates have it after a bad play led to Boston Bruins winger Craig Smith scoring an overtime goal to give the Boston Bruins a 3-2 OT win in Game 3 at TD Garden. (National Hockey League Now)

Here are the Talking Points from the Boston Bruins 3-2 double-overtime win over the Washington Capitals in Game 3 at TD Garden on Wednesday night. (Boston Hockey Now)

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ East Division playoff series against the New York Islanders has been physical. Perhaps you’ve noticed. The Islanders have been credited with 118 hits through two games, compared with 84 by the Penguins. When Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan was asked about this, he did not seem thrilled with the question. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

One of the top moments for the Panthers in Sunday night’s loss to the Lightning was the play of Jonathan Huberdeau as he broke out his Spin-O-Rama move to help Florida take the lead in the third period. This is not the first time Huberdeau has pulled off that move. (Florida Hockey Now)

How much did trade rumors affect Philadelphia Flyers Scott Laughton? He spoke on that, his take on his performance this season and more in his exit interview. (Philly Hockey Now)

How’s everybody’s heart rate? A little elevated? Yeah, playoff hockey can do that. So can the play of Nathan MacKinnon. MacKinnon had the hat trick in leading the Avalanche to a 6-3 win, a game that was a lot closer than that score would indicate. (Colorado Hockey Now)

The NHL issued the following statement yesterday in regards to several positive COVID-19 tests on both the Vegas Golden Knights and St. Louis Blues. (Vegas Hockey Now)

Well, at least one San Jose hockey team is making the playoffs this year. The San Jose Barracuda overpowered the Colorado Eagles in the Pacific Division play-in finale 5-1, booking their trip to Henderson. The San Jose Sharks’ AHL affiliate will take on the Vegas Golden Knights’ beginning this Friday night. (San Jose Hockey Now)

Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves for the Winnipeg Jets in a 4-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup First Round at Rogers Place on Wednesday. Connor McDavid did not get on the scoreboard. (NHL)

Alex Nedeljkovic made 32 saves for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-0 win against the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup First Round at PNC Arena on Wednesday. (NHL)

The 2021 NHL Draft Lottery will be held on June 2. It will determine the order of selection for the first 16 picks in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft. It includes the 15 teams that failed to qualify for the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs and the expansion Seattle Kraken, who begin play next season. (NHL)

Montreal Canadiens captain Shea Weber will play in their series opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday after battling an injury to end the regular season. (NHL)

Evgeni Malkin traveled to New York for Game 3 and could be back in the lineup. He is a game-time decision. (NHL)

Joe Thornton said the Toronto Maple Leafs are poised to make their own history rather than dwell on Stanley Cup Playoff failures when they host the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup First Round on Thursday. (NHL)

The Minnesota Wild said they feel confident despite a 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup First Round at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday. (NHL)

Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs led the NHL with 41 goals to win the Rocket Richard Trophy. The 23-year-old center, who played 52 games, scored eight more goals than Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, who was second. Matthews became the first Maple Leafs player in 75 years, and the first United States-born player in 24 years, to lead the NHL in goals. (NHL)

Jussi Jokinen retired from professional hockey Wednesday. The 38-year-old-forward played for nine NHL teams in 13 seasons. He spent the past three seasons with Karpat in Liiga, the top professional league in his native Finland. (NHL)

Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri received a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues defenceman Justin Faulk in the third period of Game 2 Wednesday night. Kadri hit Faulk high moments after the Blues defenceman took a shot on net. (TSN)

A couple of noteworthy ‘firsts’ as well as a major ‘last’ were on full display Wednesday in Calgary as the Flames and Vancouver Canucks concluded their disappointing 2020-21 seasons. (TSN)

 

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