What is the story about?
The Islanders opened the preseason schedule Sunday afternoon vs. the Devils with a lineup largely made of prospects and AHLers who mostly know they will not make the opening roster.
But Cal Ritchie — the only NHL regular from last year — and Victor Eklund impressed Pete DeBoer, according to his post-game scrum, and Cole Eiserman notched a goal. For the record, the Isles lost, 2-1, in Newark, with ol’ friend David Rittich making the stops for the Devils, including 12 in the first period.
Islanders News
- Takeaways from Sunday: Much of the above, plus Eiserman scoring (on a 4-on-3), Vitek Vanecek appearing, and an agnostic line on Pierre Engvall’s return, . [Isles]
- Post-game video: DeBoer | Eiserman | Ritchie, who gets to make a case for center and whom the coach said is clearly stronger
- Islanders season preview, and what it would take to make the playoffs (the “most intriguing addition” is Matias Maccelli, so…yeah). [NHL]
- The Islanders do not want to carry three goalies, though even if Semyon Varlamov’s partially replaced knees hold up, they’ll likely need Vanecek at some point to get through an 84-game season. [Newsday]
Elsewhere
- Brent Burns is ready for his 23rd season, with a much shorter beard. [AP]
- With Manitoba’s decision to keep Daylight Savings Time in perpetuity, Winnipeg Jets games will be on Eastern Time, essentially. [Sportsnet]
- Stripped of the captain “C” and missing time due to a workout injury, Dylan Larkin is not expanding on his trade request. [AP]
- Disgruntled Blue Jacket Kirill Marchenko is not hear to talk about the future. [Sportsnet]
- Just like your elders, Oilers fans were worried about Connor McDavid after a “scary fall.” Ahh, preseason news. [Sportsnet]
- A Wild fan won one of those shoot-from-center-ice contests to win season tickets and celebrated appropriately. [NHL]
- Howie Rose as he retires from calling the Mets, having thought maybe this year there was a chance. [Times]
