New York Islanders News: Carolina sucks!

Do you believe these loser Carolina Hurricanes? They’re about to get swept in the one matchup where we have to “root” for them. God, I hate these losers.

I feel confident in saying that if it was the New York Islanders playing the New York Rangers in Round 2, it would not be a 3-0 series deficit. The rivalry factor, the fact that they can score against Igor Shesterkin and counter their 5v5 game—now that we are past the point of jinxing anything, I can say I wanted the Rangers over the Hurricanes in the first round for all these reasons.

But despite all that, I did think Carolina would give the Rangers a fight even if they lost the series. Yeah, the games have been close, but so were the games between the Islanders and ‘Canes last round. No one cares about how well you’re playing if you don’t win any games, Rod. Just like you really really did get swept in the Eastern Conference Final last year.

So yeah, thanks for absolutely falling on your face the one time Islanders fans actually want you to win. This is what that loser franchise gets for making t-shirts to troll the Islanders, a team they outpaced by almost 20 points in the regular season.

Islanders News

• The Islanders have reached a crossroads, in between two cores and saddled with long contracts. But going with Patrick Roy finally means a clean break from the Barry Trotz era, one that probably should’ve happened when Trotz left. Arthur Staple breaks down how to work through it. [The Athletic]
• Mike Reilly wants to stick around. What a coincidence! I also want Mike Reilly to stick around. [THN]
• Stefen Rosner says that the Islanders shouldn’t hesitate to trade their first-round pick in the right deal. [THN]
• A new episode of Weird Islanders! It’s Jorgen Jonsson, brother of Kenny. [LHH]
• Congratulations to Brock Nelson.

Elsewhere

The other playoff game last night was the Dallas Stars this time managing to hold off the Colorado Avalanche’s comeback attempt to even the series.

• The Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Sheldon Keefe at long last. [Sportsnet]
• But that is only the tip of the iceberg. [NHL]
• Possible candidates to replace him include Craig Berube and Bruce Boudreau. [The Athletic]
• The Vancouver Canucks called their Game 1 comeback over the Edmonton Oilers “character.” [Sportsnet]
• The Oilers might be without Adam Henrique and Leon Draisaitl for tonight’s Game 2. [NHL]
• Sure, getting a ton of guaranteed money is nice, but the pressure of expectation once he gets that new contract is a lot for an NHL player to handle. [The Athletic]