Isles Files
Your source for behind-the-scenes New York Islanders hockey news and information.
Islanders lacking playoff experience
Photo credit: AP
It's obvious that the Isles' homegrown core never has experienced a playoff series — 16 of the 27 players on the roster never played in an NHL playoff game.
But even their veterans are fairly inexperienced. Evgeni Nabokov leads the way with 80 playoff games, all with the Sharks; next is Marty Reasoner with 23 games, his last coming in 2003.
The Islander with the most recent playoff run:...
Read more »Islanders call-ups won't include Rick DiPietro, Nino Niederreiter
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Islanders' AHL affiliate in Bridgeport missed the playoffs and its season ended Sunday.
Once the Isles' regular season ends -- provided they reach the postseason -- several of the team's prospects will join the big club to skate with the team's extras and be on hand in case of injury.
Two fairly prominent players will not be among the call-ups: Rick DiPietro and...
Read more »16 Islanders on verge of first NHL playoff experience
Photo credit: AP
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Islanders can clinch a playoff spot Tuesday night, and we’ve discussed over and over how it would be the first appearance for the long list of homegrown players on this roster.
Of the 27 Isles currently on the roster, 16 would be in an NHL postseason for the first time. That includes John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, Travis Hamonic and the other obvious ones.
But...
Read more »Islanders' NHL playoff picture after Monday night
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Isles got some help to stay in sixth in the Eastern Conference playoff race on Monday night when the Penguins beat the Senators, but received no help toward clinching a playoff berth with Winnipeg winning in Buffalo.
But the Islanders can still clinch a spot Tuesday night with a loss by the Jets in Washington and a win here against the Hurricanes, who sit 13th in the East.
The...
Read more »Visnovsky-Hickey pairing playing big
Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Andrew MacDonald jokingly called Lubomir Visnovsky and Thomas Hickey the Isles’ “Twin Towers” defense pair.
But the 5-10 Visnovsky and the 5-10 Hickey have been perhaps the Isles’ steadiest defense pair at even strength. Visnovsky leads the Isles with a plus-12 rating and Hickey is right behind at plus-10.
Five or 10 years ago, no NHL coach would dream of pairing two under 6-foot defensemen...
Read more »Islanders players in contention for NHL awards
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
It’s NHL awards season -- which means lots of deliberating over who gets my fifth-place Selke Trophy award vote.
This season is different than recent ones, however, because the Islanders have more viable candidates for NHL awards than at any time in perhaps 15-20 years. It can be a difficult balance in a regular, 82-game season to highlight teams you only see once or twice; with no inter-conference...
Read more »Nagging injuries won’t keep Bailey, Cizikas out
Photo credit: AP
Josh Bailey was asked if he’s 100 percent healthy, and smiled.
“I’ve been cleared,” was all Bailey would say. Bailey was banged up (his words) at the end of Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Panthers.
Casey Cizikas missed the second half of that game after blocking a shot with some part of his left side, but he too says he will play Thursday night.
“Been icing, resting, so I’m able to...
Read more »Islanders playoff chase: Where are we now?
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Lots of NHL games Thursday night among the teams in and around the Islanders and Rangers that could change things by the time we hit 11 p.m. Here’s what the chase looks like as of Thursday morning:
5th place -- Toronto Maple Leafs, 53 points (24-14-5)
Magic number to clinch playoff spot: 3
5 games remaining: 4/18 vs. Islanders, 4/20 at Ottawa, 4/24 at Tampa, 4/25 at Florida, 4/27...
Read more »Watch highlights from Isles' win over Florida
Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Islanders scored five goals in the opening 24 minutes of their final regular-season home game at Nassau Coliseum of the year.
The Islanders are now three points ahead of the Rangers and just one point behind Ottawa for the No. 6 seed.
Watch highlights from Tuesday night's game below.
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Read more »Talk of ages getting old for Nabokov
Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Evgeni Nabokov has basically had it with the elder statesman role.
At 37, the goaltender is about ready to retire from the age-old question of experience being the best teacher.
"I’m not a babysitter, everybody’s a grown man here,’’ he said after practice Monday.
The question had to do with his steadying influence on the younger players. He wasn’t so much annoyed as a bit...
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