Mike and Dan recap the Islanders’ good week that ended in a wet fart, then take a look at a benchmark game coming up and the latest trade request from an NHL star.
The Islanders started the week with two huge but unlikely wins – in a shootout over Nashville and in overtime in Minnesota. Both games featured great performances and the structure we’ve come to expect from them this season. Matthew Schaefer got most of the notices, but his five minute shift in overtime against the Predators wasn’t even
close to the most impressive thing he did this week. A return Halloween home game against the Oilers started off bad and devolved into a circus before settling as a 4-0 loss. The best thing they can do now is wipe the slate clean of it and make it just a blip in this long season.
They’ll get the chance to do that this week against the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes. If they can hang with Carolina or even beat them, it will go a long way in determining how the rest of the season goes. Then it’s another home game against the Devils and their new goalie, Connor Hellebyuck. They need to win at least one before heading to California next week.
Finally, we discuss Nikita Kucherov’s surprise trade request and how it ties back to Dylan Larkin’s ongoing trade saga. Kucherov hasn’t set his career on fire the way Larkin has, but the way these have been covered is as annoying as the knowledge that the Islanders will not be a landing spot for them or any other premier player who’s available.
More than anything, this team needs a talent upgrade. But between their own slow pace, locked in contracts and status outside of the rest of the NHL, they’re going to need to get creative.
REFERENCES:
- Red Wings suspend star forward Dylan Larkin as team explores trade options (ESPN)
- Sources: Kucherov requests trade; Lightning have ‘no intention’ of dealing star (ESPN)
- Maple Leafs talk Kucherov trade possibility after win over Canucks (Sportsnet, of course)
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