Islanders News: The California Swing – Lighthouse Hockey

The New York Islanders ended a bright week in disappointment, losing 5-1 on home ice. Washington Capitalsostensible contenders for the wild card spots in the East.

Scoreit was an expensive weekend for the Isles, as two Penguins wins combined with a regulation loss to the Caps helped Pittsburgh jump into the first wild card spot with two points and two games to play.

Now the Isles head west for a trip to California that includes SoCal back-to-back Tuesday and Wednesday nights. In theory, this trip will work out nicely: The tough game is first in Los Angeles, and a tough opponent awaits in Anaheim the following night. They then head to San Jose to face the Sharks on Saturday.

After the Islanders face the Kings on Tuesday, the Penguins close out their next game at home against the Canadiens.

Islanders news

• Three takeaways from the 5-1 loss: Cal Clutterbuck was back. [Isles]
• However, he was not permanently on the identity line. [Post]
• Which brings up the question of the day: With Clutterbuck and soon JG Pageau returning, what is the optimal lineup combination for the Isles, and how does Lane Lambert find it? [Post | Athletic]
• And that leads us to candidates to sit…like Pierre Engvall, who scored his first Islanders goal, but he’s still adjusting to what they want to see. [Newsday]
• Bo Horvat wants to return to the electricity of the playoffs. Outside of a crowd-free bubble year, he hasn’t experienced that since 2015. [Post]
• They are all important, but yes, the Islanders California trip is important. [Newsday]
• Casey Cizikas TOI has been growing lately, but he’s keeping the energy up. [Isles]
• Brooks’ Sunday column, shots fired: The Smurfs might be the metro area’s third-best team. [Post]
• The latest Q&Isles has to do with pets: some islanders have them, some don’t. [Isles]
• Some of them also drink coffee. [Isles]

Elsewhere

Sunday’s main results including the Penguins overtime win over the Rangers. The Senators lost in Calgary 5-1 after one night in Vancouver as well. A lighter schedule today, including the Sabers in Toronto. Here is updated rankings.

• You Gods: Nick Bonino is out weekly a ruptured kidney. [TSN]
• Paul Maurice reflects on how tough the East is and how some good teams miss the playoffs. The Islanders have a unique style of play and they can win with that style of play alone. Buffalo is a dynamic team and they have gotten better… [Sportsnet]
• Danny Briere has no doubt he can lead Flyers… (I pretty much doubt that the guy who lost his shit and got dirty in Frans Nielsen (c. 2010) has a temperament for work. [NHL]
• At least Briere admits they need a rebuild! [Sportsnet]
• John Tavares was fined $5,000 for the slash. When reached for comment, he said: We have to be better, and that starts with me. Likely. [NHL]
• James van Riemsdyk wasn’t moved at the deadline, but Trevor got a three-year extension from the Capitals soon after. [TSN]
• The Canucks re-signed Phil Di Giuseppe to a two-year contract extension. [TSN]