Isles Files
Your source for behind-the-scenes New York Islanders hockey news and information.
Capuano on must-win games and younger players
Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Jack Capuano is prepared for Tuesday’s game against the Panthers. He expects his Islanders team to be ready, too.
"We’re kidding ourselves if we’re thinking about it any other way than we have to be focused and committed to working hard,’’ he said. "At this time of year the teams that work the hardest and do the right things win hockey games. I don’t go in thinking 'must wins.' We...
Read more »John Tavares gets sentimental about Nassau Coliseum
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
The Islanders' move to Brooklyn isn’t scheduled to occur until the 2015-16 season, but an accelerated timetable is always possible.
Yet for John Tavares, the countdown for leaving Nassau Coliseum has already started. And he’s getting sentimental about it.
"There’s been a lot of special moments, a lot of great things have happened in this building,’’ he said after Monday’s practice....
Read more »Video: What Isles must do to make playoffs
Arthur Staple talks about what the Islanders must do during this playoff chase to qualify for the postseason. The video is embedded above....
Read more »Jack Capuano getting the most out of Isles players
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
BOSTON -- After the Islanders’ 2-1 win here on Thursday night, the loudest thing in the visitors’ dressing room was a bit of music -- and sarcastic booing from the stall of the reigning Good Guy Award winner when the media parade walked in, causing the music volume to be lowered.
But that’s all. No whooping, no hollering; maybe the Isles were done with that, but their post-game comments were...
Read more »Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov wins 20th game
Photo credit: AP
BOSTON -- Evgeni Nabokov continued his workhorse ways, winning his 20th game, one more than he had last season, when the Isles played the full 82 games instead of the 41 they've played so far.
Nabokov lowered his goals-against average to 2.54 from nearly 3.00 through the first half of this shortened season....
Read more »Jaromir Jagr making early impact for Bruins
Photo credit: Getty Images
BOSTON -- Jaromir Jagr had an assist on the Boston Bruins' lone goal against the Islanders, a power-play score by Tyler Seguin early in the second, to give Jagr six points in the five games he has played since the Bruins traded two prospects and a first-round pick to the Stars for the 41-year-old.
Jagr, the former Ranger -- and Penguin, Capital and Flyer -- is happy to be back in the Eastern...
Read more »Sore leg can't stop Islanders' Travis Hamonic
Photo credit: AP
BOSTON -- Travis Hamonic was warned not to watch the replay of his ugly fall in the first period of Thursday night’s 2-1 win over the Bruins. It was a small miracle that Hamonic, who had to be helped off the ice to the locker room, returned within minutes and played the rest of the game on a sore left leg that got caught underneath him as he fell.
“It just felt like my foot got caught and...
Read more »Islanders' Anders Lee sits again
Photo credit: Jim McIsaac
BOSTON -- Rookie Anders Lee was a healthy scratch for the second straight game and third time in the five games since he joined the team on April 1.
Capuano has been wary of dropping the 22-year-old into tough situations against speedy opponents. Lee was on the ice for all four goals against in the two games he played, though he did score a goal in his NHL debut.
Lee joined Marty Reasoner,...
Read more »Bruins shorthanded vs. Islanders
Photo credit: AP
BOSTON — Islanders coach Jack Capuano had a bit of a chuckle Thursday morning when asked if the Bruins were vulnerable because of some injuries.
“I don’t know how banged up they are," Capuano said. “They’re pretty deep.’’
That depth is being tested for the Bruins, who dropped into the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference after Thursday’s 2-1 loss. They are a possible candidate for...
Read more »Islanders Q&A: Ryan Strome, playoffs, Nabokov
Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Islanders beat writer Arthur Staple answered questions from Newsday readers on Thursday. Here’s some of the highlights from the chat:
Kyle: Do you think this team is capable of winning 1+ rounds in the playoffs?
Staple: Kyle -- The way they've played the last 9 games, it's hard to say "no chance" to that. The Bruins/Penguins first-round matchup will be tough, for sure, and...
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