NYHN Daily: Sorokin a Star for Islanders, Thoughts Six Games in, & More

The New York Islanders have some time before they head to Nashville to face the Predators on Saturday. After dominating in between the pipes over his last four games, Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin was named the NHL’s third star of the week. It has been six games and we have learned quite a lot about the Islanders already. Robin Salo may have been who the eyes were on in Bridgeport this past weekend, but forward Anatolii Golyshev had himself a strong two-games.

These stories and more in today’s daily links!

Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin posted a 3-0-1 record this past week, with a .971 SV% and a GAA of 0.99.  Sorokin stopped 136 of the 140 shots he faced over those four games and even won both games of a back-to-back, the first back-to-back he’s ever played. Because of his play he was awarded NHL’s Third Star of the Week. (NYI Hockey Now)

After a slow start to the 2021-22 NHL campaign, the Islanders have picked up points over their last four games to improve to 3-2-1 before their break in action. Who’s been a positive? Who’s struggled? Here’s what we have learned so far through the Islanders’ first six games of the season. (NYI Hockey Now)

On a weekend chocked full of big moments for the Bridgeport Islanders, Anatolii Golyshev can make the case for standing out in their last two games. Golyshev scored two of Bridgeport’s three goals on Sunday and now has three goals in four AHL games this season. The Islanders forward had a good showing at training camp with the New York Islanders and has continued that with the Bridgeport Islanders. (NYI Hockey Now)

The Islanders only play one game over their next 10 days. Even though the Islanders are currently on a four-game point streak, this break will give the group time to reset. They will need to be well-rested as when the puck drops on Saturday, the second leg of this elongate road trip begins. The Islanders are looking to build off their last four games and return home to UBS Arena on the right side of the ledger. (Newsday)

With six games played, Arthur Staple of the Athletic has six thoughts about the Islanders thus far. Sorokin has been elite, despite still not getting support. Zdeno Chara has truly struggled, alongside anyone he has been paired with. Parise and Wahlstrom have chemistry with one another and they are only playing better as time goes on. Pelech was hurt in the final two minutes of Sunday’s game but Barry Trotz is not worried. Read the other thoughts here. (The Athletic)

With the Boston Bruins dealing with a handful of injuries, head coach Bruce Cassidy needed to see some players step up and help the team get through this. In the 4-3 win over the Sharks on Sunday, he got just that as Oskar Steen picked up his first career NHL point, while Jack Studnika played strong, centering the fourth line. (Boston Hockey Now)

The Pittsburgh Penguins cannot seem to stay healthy. With many players out, prospect Kasper Bjorkvist has been called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. This is the 24-year old’s first NHL callup, as he did not make the team out of training camp. He was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft, as he played for Providence College and in the Finnish Liiga. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The Florida Panthers remain undefeated as they beat the struggling Arizona Coyotes on Monday night. It was a close game on the scoreboard but the Panthers dominated for much of the contest, improving to 6-0-0. That is a franchise record to kick off a season and they became the 25th team in NHL history to accomplish this feat. (Florida Hockey Now) 

The Washington Capitals defeated the Ottawa Senators by a score to 7-5 on Monday night. This was a back and forth game, as it seemed every time Washington pulled away, Ottawa came marching right back. Here are the takeaways from the exciting action that has the Capitals now 4-0-2. (Washington Hockey Now)

The Toronto Maple Leafs headed to Carolina to face a friendly foe, in goaltender Frederik Andersen. In an effort to calm the panic in Toronto after a rather lackluster start to the season, the Hurricanes did not let that happen. Toronto lost 4-1 and are now win-less in their last four games, being outscored 16-5 over their last three contests. (Toronto Hockey Now)

The Montreal Canadiens have started the season 1-5-0 and currently sit in the basement of the Eastern Conference. With GM Marc Bergevin in the final year of his contract, and on the hot seat, there is talk about potential new candidates for the job. One of those candidates is none other than the infamous Patrick Roy, a Hall of Fame goaltender who played in Montreal before a nasty divorce saw him moved to the Colorado Avalanche. (Montreal Hockey Now)

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday by a score of 6-3. Defenseman Filip Hronek was a healthy scratch, but no one knew why. “Any message that I share with Fil will be kept between me and the player,”  Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “I don’t feel any reason to have public comment or any of that stuff.” (Detroit Hockey Now)

With the injuries that the Vegas Golden Knights have racked up already this season, it was predictable that the start would not be all too kind. But even before the injuries the loss of key players and the acquisition of certain players has not helped Vegas get better. Quite frankly the losses, which may have looked small on the surface, have really hurt the organization’s ability to play consistent hockey out of the gate. (Vegas Hockey Now)

On Monday morning, the Colorado Avalanche were without defenseman Sam Girard. Girard, in the 4-3 shootout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, took a big hit from Steven Stamkos. He seems to just be “banged up” and coach Jared Bednar called it a maintenance day. (Colorado Hockey Now)

Sheng Peng, the Editor in Chief of San Jose Hockey Now wants to thank all who supported him with tips as he traveled to Canada for the entirety of their road trip up North. It was not super expensive, but he’s still very thankful that his readers helped him shed some of the cost. (San Jose Hockey Now)

The Pacific Division has had an interesting first two weeks. Besides the Vancouver Canucks going 3-2-1 on their longest ever season-opening road trip, the Calgary Flames Monday night just reeled off their third straight win on the road, this time a 5-1 win at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. What else has gone on in the division thus far? (Vancouver Hockey Now)

The Calgary Flames came into Madison Square Garden on Monday and defeated the New York Rangers 5-1. The Flames showed killer instinct in a hostile environment as they took advantage of the Rangers’ sloppy play all night long. (Calgary Hockey Now)