Islanders Anxiety – Episode 345 – Another Absurd Week

SB Nation

Mike and Dan recap a busy week in which the Islanders stayed afloat in large part thanks to record-breaking super rookie Matthew Schaefer.

The week started very poorly, with another blown lead followed

by another blowout to a familiar bully. But what looked like a new bottom gave way to an unexpected rebound. A comeback win on Halloween and a miraculous last minute victory at home got us feeling good again and kept the Islanders in the thick of a packed Eastern Conference. That wouldn’t be possible without Scheafer, who continues to do things we’ve never seen in ways we don’t expect. This kid, who was barely alive when Iron Man was first released into theaters, is proving night after night to be the hero this team needs.

We also look forward to a week of opportunities to grab more points before a brutal road trip takes the Islanders through several Stanley Cup contenders for the next two weeks. Wins are crucial but these guys never do anything the normal way. Finally, we once again are forced to do another early season edition of Master Leaf Theatre focused on a milestone 500th NHL goal that has been treated with more pity then excitement. Perfect for a guy who lives a life of discipline and disappointment.

REFERENCES

Works Referenced:

Sportsnet, Leafs Hour: Questioning the Effort Real Kyper & Bourne Real Kyper & Bourne, Oct. 30, 2025
Sportsnet, Maple Leafs’ John Tavares hits rare milestone in most unfortunate way by LukeFoxJukeBox
The Athletic, Behind John Tavares’ fanatical drive to 500 NHL goals with the Maple Leafs by Jonas Siegel

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