The Islanders’ Handling Of Alexander Romanov
No. 28 is so important to the success of the team that giving him extended time to get healthy was the right play despite truly needing him with all the other injuries the team is battling through.
They say all things must come to an end.
For the New York Islanders, that thing is their elongated 12-day, five-game road trip, which concludes in Detroit tonight.
The trip has been a mixed bag. The Islanders stole a point in Edmonton before blowing out Vancouver, only to blow a third-period lead in back-to-back games, earning a point in their latest loss, a 3-2 shootout defeat against Calgary.
The record isn’t a pretty one, going 1-1-2 so far, but a win against a putrid Red Wings team could have the Islanders returning to Long Island feeling good about where their game is at while still missing Mathew Barzal, Anthony Duclair, Adam Pelech, and Mike Reilly.
Puck drop tonight is at 7 PM ET on MSGSN2.
Let’s catch you up on Wednesday's stories before diving into my column on Alexander Romanov finally being healthy despite it taking more time than expected.
ISLANDERS NEWS
Should Varlamov Start Again? Islanders' Goalie Debate Ahead Of Detroit Matchup - THN
Islanders Pierre Engvall Showing Just How Good He Can Be When He's On His Game - THN
Islanders Collecting Points To Stay Alive In Wide-Open Wildcard Race Despite Critical Injuries - THN
Islanders Should Send Down Grant Hutton Over Travis Mitchell With Alex Romanov Back - THN
With Islanders' Injured Players Not Skating Yet, Depth Will Continue To Be Tested - THN
Islanders Prospect Cole Eiserman Named Hockey East Rookie Of The Week - THN
Islanders Can't Close Out Game In Calgary, Fall To Flames 2-1 In Shootout
The New York Islanders were hoping that they could put their sour loss in Seattle behind them, a game where they blew a slim one-goal lead in the third period before falling in the final few minutes.
But, against the Calgary Flames, the Islanders did the exact same thing.
They took a 1-0 lead into the third period but failed to hold on, ultimately losing in the shootout to move to 1-1-2 on this road trip.
Read how the game unfolded HERE.
After Ilya Sorokin proved to head coach Patrick Roy and the New York Islanders early in 2024-25 that he was back to his true form, starting him three of every four games made the most sense.
It made even more sense, given Semyon Varlamov's slow start to the season.
However, there's been a shift in performance over the last week or so.
Sorokin has gone 1-2-2 over his last five games, with a 3.51 GAA and an .898 SV%. He has allowed three or more goals in each start.
On the flip side, Varlamov has been absolutely brilliant over his last three games, sporting a 2-0-1 record with a 1.63 GAA and a .943 SV%, allowing two goals or fewer in each start.
He made 30 saves on 31 shots to help the Islanders snag a point in Calgary on Tuesday night in a 2-1 shootout loss.
Do we have a little goalie controversy on our hands?
Read the rest at The Hockey News.
The Islanders’ Handling Of Alexander Romanov
Do you know the expression, “You didn’t know what you had until it’s gone?”
There’s no question that the New York Islanders value Alexander Romanov’s game but I think the fans truly realized just how important No. 28 is to the success of the team when he’s been out of the lineup.
After getting injured against the New Jersey Devils in a game where Romanov showed off his resiliency, bouncing back from a big hit to make a statement in a 4-3 overtime win at the Rock, his presence was surely missed when he was sidelined for the next three games.
So, when he was ready to return against the Buffalo Sabres on a morning when the team announced another big loss to their lineup with Mathew Barzal heading back to Long Island due to an upper-body injury, there was certainly an energy boost incoming. You could feel it in the locker room talking to players about No. 28 and the man himself, who was revved up to return.
His return to the lineup was short-lived, taking a hit by Jordan Greenway in the third period, which forced him to leave the game. He returned, telling me that he couldn’t leave his team shorthanded when he saw Adam Pelech and Mike Reilly also go down with injuries.
Romanov battled for his team, clearly not at 100 percent, to help them get a 4-3 victory. However, his valient effort had consequences.
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