Daily Links
NYHN Daily: Trotz Satisfied with Lines, Islanders Odds to Win East & More
The New York Islanders look to pick up their third consecutive win as they are in Pittsburgh to face the Penguins tonight at 7 PM. Islanders head coach Barry Trotz stated that he is comfortable with his lines in Anders Lee’s absence. The Islanders currently sit atop the East Division and hold the best odds to be there once the regular season ends. These stories and more on today’s daily links!
Don’t expect the New York Islanders’ lineup, or lines for that matter, to look much different when they hit the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Head coach Barry Trotz has found the line combinations that he believes works best without Anders Lee. (NYI Hockey Now)
The rest of the NHL may not be giving the New York Islanders their due respect, but the oddsmakers seem to be jumping on board the hype train. They are now the favorites to win the East Division. (NYI Hockey Now)
The Islanders hope to have defenseman Noah Dobson, who tested positive for COVID-19, back next week writes Andrew Gross. He has been removed from the NHL’s COVID List but did not join the team on their road trip in order to undergo more tests. (Newsday)
The Boston Bruins went back to work on Friday at TD Garden after a frustrating OT loss, and they did it while once again missing a few bodies due to injuries. (Boston Hockey Now)
The Philadelphia Flyers’ 2020 draft picks are off to roaring starts. While first-round pick Tyson Foerster and fourth-round pick Zayde Wisdom are impressing in the AHL, it’s a later-round pick that is showing off in the QMJHL. Fifth-round pick (135th overall) Elliot Desnoyers had his third hat trick of the season on Thursday night. This one was a natural hat trick. (Philly Hockey Now)
If you were the Pittsburgh Penguins general manager, what would you do at the trade deadline. Dan Kingerski has some ideas. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)Anton Stralman is not the first veteran player to be placed on waivers by the Florida Panthers this season and, due to the odd circumstances of 2021, may not be the last. Still, the news that the Panthers would waive a veteran defenseman who plays as much as Stralman does did come as a surprise Friday. (Florida Hockey Now)
Matt Calvert underwent more evaluation today, and the news wasn’t great. The veteran depth forward will be lost “week to week”, coach Jared Bednar said. (Colorado Hockey Now)
There wasn’t much good to say about Thursday night’s game. Getting beat 5-1 by the Colorado Avalanche and putting forth one of your worst efforts of the season certainly doesn’t sit well in the craw of the Vegas Golden Knights. “I don’t think you can move on when you lose a game 5-1,” Mark Stone said after the game Thursday. (Vegas Hockey Now)
Eric Staal was traded to the Montreal Canadiens by the Buffalo Sabres on Friday for a third-round and a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. (NHL.com)
Alex Ovechkin scored twice for the Washington Capitals in a 4-0 win against the New Jersey Devils at Capital One Arena on Friday. Ovechkin has scored nine goals in his past eight games for Washington (22-7-4), which has won nine of 10. (NHL.com)
Phil Kessel scored in his 1,100th NHL game to help the Arizona Coyotes defeat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 at Gila River Arena on Friday. At 33 years, 172 days, Kessel is the youngest United States-born player to reach that mark. (NHL.com)
John Gibson made 33 saves to help the Anaheim Ducks to a 4-1 win against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center on Friday. Gibson returned after missing six games with a lower-body injury. (NHL.com)
NHL players acquired by a team in Canada from a United States-based team before the NHL Trade Deadline on April 12 will have to quarantine for seven days, down from 14, according to reports Friday. The decision by the Canada government was made “under national interest grounds,” according to The Canadian Press. (NHL.com)
Tuukka Rask will be out at least two games for the Boston Bruins because of an upper-body injury. The goalie will not play in home games against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; SN1, NESN, MSG-B, NHL.TV) or the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. Rask played one period before leaving a 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday. (NHL.com)
As we gear up for the NHL Trade Deadline, the Edmonton Oilers have locked in their target. (TSN)
The Buffalo Sabres announced Friday interim head coach Don Granato and assistant coach Matt Ellis have cleared COVID-19 protocol and will rejoin the team in Boston. (TSN)