NY Islanders Fire Head Coach Barry Trotz in Shocking Move

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May 9, 2022

In a shocking move announced Monday morning, the New York Islanders fired head coach Barry Trotz after four seasons with the team.

“It would be a tremendous understatement to say that this was not a difficult decision to make,” Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said during a conference call Monday. “It is my role to make the best decisions for the organization going forward and I believe that this group of players needs a new voice.

“This in no way is anything negative on Barry Trotz, who as each and every one of you knows… is a tremendous human being.”

Lamoriello continued to call the move “a business decision as far as hockey and winning,” and that it wasn’t made simply based on a difficult 2021-22 season.

This season was an immensely difficult one for both Trotz and the Islanders. While the team was spread thin by a 13-game season-opening road trip, COVID outbreaks that sidelined more than half the roster, and injuries, Trotz also dealt with the loss of his mother in January.

Meanwhile, the Islanders limped to a 37-35-10 record (84 points) to finish fifth in the Metropolitan Division. It was the first time in three years the team missed the playoffs and the first time since 2014 when he was coaching the Nashville Predators that Trotz didn’t lead a team to the postseason.

There currently is no timetable for when the search for a new head coach will begin, according to Lamoriello, but the current assistant-coaching staff is still with the organization, including top assistant Lane Lambert.

Trotz, 59, was brought onto the Islanders by Lamoriello prior to the 2018-19 season in a major franchise revamp that ushered in one of the team’s most successful periods since winning four-straight Stanley Cups from 1980-1983.

Trotz led the Islanders to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons with the team, including two consecutive Stanley Cup semifinal appearances against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.

In just four seasons with the team, he went 152-102-34. ranking third in franchise history in wins and second with 28 postseason victories behind the legendary Al Arbour. He is one of only three coaches in NHL history with at least 900 wins, ranking third all-time with 914 victories with the Predators, Washington Capitals, and Islanders.

“I think the record over the past four years speaks for itself,” Lamoriello said. “We’re very appreciative of that… These types of decisions are made for going forward, not for the backward. With this group we have — and they’re on notice right now — that new voice is necessary to have success… My opinion is what makes these decisions.”

This story first appeared on amNY.com.

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Mike Bossy, Islanders Legend and Hockey Hall of Famer, Dies at 65

By

Joe Pantorno

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April 15, 2022

New York Islanders legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Bossy, considered by many to be the greatest pure goal scorer in NHL history, has died at the age of 65 after a battle with lung cancer, the team confirmed on Friday.

“The New York Islanders organization mourns the loss of MIke Bossy, an icon not only on Long Island but across the entire hockey world,” Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello said. “His drive to be the best every time he stepped on the ice was second to none. Along with his teammates, he helped win four straight Stanley Cup championships, shaping the history of the franchise forever.

“On behalf of the entire organization, we send our deepest condolences to the entire Bossy family and all those who grieve this tragic loss.”

FILE – New York Islanders Mike Bossy holds a puck signifying his scoring 50 goals in his first 50 games, in Uniondale, N.Y., Jan. 24, 1981. Bossy, one of hockey’s most prolific goal-scorers and a star for the New York Islanders during their 1980s dynasty, died Friday, April 15, 2022, after a battle with lung cancer. He was 65. (AP Photo/Bennett, File)

The Montreal native announced in October of 2021 that he was battling the disease, forcing him to take a leave from his position as an analyst for TVA Sports in Canada.

“I can assure you that I intend to fight with the determination that you have seen me display on the ice and in my game,” Bossy wrote at the time. “That same determination that helped me achieve my dreams”

His condition had worsened in recent months before reports emerged on April 3 that he opted to enter palliative care.

Drafted by the Islanders in 1977, Bossy quickly developed into one of the most elite goal scorers the game of hockey has ever seen.

FILE – Mike Bossy, right, of the New York Islanders, reacts after he scored the winning goal in overtime to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., April 20, 1978. At left are Clark Gillies of the Islanders and the Maple Leafs’ captain Darryl Sittler. Bossy, one of hockey’s most prolific goal-scorers and a star for the New York Islanders during their 1980s dynasty, died Friday, April 15, 2022, after a battle with lung cancer. He was 65. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)

In a remarkable 10-year career, Bossy scored 50 or more goals in each of his first nine years in the pros before back issues cut his playing days short at just 30 years old — an NHL record that is one better than Wayne Gretzky’s best streak and a feat that likely will never be broken.

Those nine seasons of 50-plus goals are also tied with Gretzky for the most by any single player in a career — one better than Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin.

During that nine-year span, he led the league in goals twice with 69 in 1978-79 and 68 in a memorable 1980-81 campaign which saw him become just the second player in NHL history to score 50 goals in 50 games. Only Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Brett Hull have done it since.

Creating one of the most imposing lines ever alongside fellow Hall of Famers Bryan Trottier and Clark Gillies, Bossy was a centerpiece of an Islanders team that won four consecutive Stanley Cup titles from 1980-1983 — the last professional North American sports franchise to win that many championships in succession.

He posted a league-best 17 goals in each of New York’s final three Cup runs while winning the 1982 Conn Smythe Trophy for postseason MVP.

While retiring in 1987, he still holds Islanders franchise records with 573 goals, 180 power-play goals, 80 game-winning goals, and 85 playoff goals. He also ranks third in franchise history with 553 assists and second with 1,126 points.

FILE – Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame inductee and former hockey great Mike Bossy, smiles during a news conference in Toronto, Thursday Oct. 25, 2007. Bossy, one of hockey’s most prolific goal-scorers and a star for the New York Islanders during their 1980s dynasty, died Friday, April 15, 2022, after a battle with lung cancer. He was 65. (AP Photo/Frank Gunn, The Canadian Press, File)

His mark of 0.762 goals per game is an NHL record.

The Islanders retired Bossy’s number in 1988 before his election into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.

This has been an especially difficult year for the Islanders and their fan base having already suffered the sudden loss of Bossy’s linemate, fellow dynasty member, and Hall of Famer Clark Gillies in late January at the age of 67.

This story first appeared on amNY.com.

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2022 Belmont Stakes Capacity Cut to 50K Due to UBS Arena Construction

By

Joe Pantorno

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February 8, 2022

Attendance for the 2022 Belmont Stakes this summer will nearly be cut in half — and it’s not because of Covid.

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced on Monday that the 154th running of the third jewel of the Triple Crown, scheduled for June 11 at Belmont Park in Elmont, will only allow 50,000 spectators within its confines due to the construction and opening of UBS Arena — the new home of the New York Islanders that opened in November that is just a stone’s throw away from the track. Previous Belmont Stakes had seen the capacity hit the 90,000 mark.

While the in-house capacity of Belmont Park hasn’t changed, UBS Arena’s construction and opening have taken up a major portion of the venue’s backyard, where fans are able to mingle near the paddocks.

UBS Arena view — UBS Arena (left) is a few hundred feet from Belmont Park. (Photo courtesy of the New York Islanders)

The venue is already making strides to expand its viewing areas within the infield of the track, which will allow that attendance number to expand in the future.

“The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival is a celebration of the best of Thoroughbred racing, and we look forward to the return of fans in large numbers following last year’s considerable restrictions due to the COVID pandemic,” NYRA president Dave O’Rourke said in the release. “As the Belmont Park property continues to transition and evolve, NYRA is committed to providing our loyal fans the best possible experience now and in the future. The updated capacity will accomplish this goal while ensuring that fans are treated to an incredibly exciting three days of world-class racing and entertainment.”

Tickets for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which features three days of racing from June 9-11 and is headlined by the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, will be available on Thursday morning at 10 AM ET via Ticketmaster.

This story first appeared on amNY.com.

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2022 Winter Olympics Kick Off in Beijing: See Schedule, NY Connections

By

Joe Pantorno

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February 4, 2022

The Opening Ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing are officially kicking off the games on Friday, and competitions have already begun.

For the next two weeks, 15 different winter sports will captivate the athletics world where Team USA — as always — will bring a heavy contingent as they’ll attempt to top the medal count once again. There even will be some New York influence at these games to bring a local flavor.

Take a look at everything the Winter Games has to offer:

2022 Winter Olympics sports, schedule

1) Alpine Skiing

Dates: Feb. 3-17, 19
Events: Alpine Combined, Downhill, Giant Slalom, Super-G, Slalom, Mixed Team Parallel
New York Connections: Tricia Mangan, a 2-time Olympian, is from Buffalo, NY
US Medals, all-time: 47 (17 gold, 20 silver, 10 bronze)

2) Biathlon

Dates: Feb. 5, 7-8, 11-13, 15-16, 18-19
What is it?: Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
New York Connections: None
US Medals, all-time: None

3) Bobsled

Dates: Feb. 10-20
Events: Two-Man/Two-Woman Bobsled, Four-Man Bobsled (Men’s), Monobob (Women’s)
New York Connections: Hunter Church is from Cadyville, NY
US Medals, all-time: 25 (7 gold, 10 silver, 8 bronze)

4) Cross-Country Skiing

Dates: Feb. 5-6, 8, 10-13, 16, 19-20
Men’s Events: 15km Classical, 30km Skiathlon, 50km Freestyle, 4x10km Relay, Sprint Freestyle, Team Sprint Classic
Women’s Events: 10km Classic, 15km Skiathlon, 30km Freestyle, 4x5km Relay, Fprint Freestyle, Team Sprint Classic
New York Connections: None
US Medals, all-time: 2 (1 gold, 1 silver)

5) Curling

Dates: Feb. 10-20
Events: Men’s, Women’s, Mixed Doubles
New York Connections: None
US Medals, all-time: 2 (1 gold, 1 bronze)

6) Figure Skating

Dates: Feb. 4, 6-8, 10, 12, 14-15, 17-19
Events: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Pair Skating, Ice Dance, Team Event
New York Connections: Ashley Cain-Gribble (pair skating) represents the Skating Club of New York located at Chelsea Piers. Kaitlin Hawayek (Ice Dance) is from East Aurora, NY
US Medals, all-time: 51 (15 gold, 16 silver, 20 bronze)

7) Freestyle Skiing

Dates: Feb. 3, 5-10, 13-19
Events: Aerials, Slopestyle, Halfpipe, Moguls, Ski Cross
New York Connections: Chris and Jon Lillis hail from Pittsford, NY, Olivia Giaccio is from Mount Kisco, NY, Devin Logan (2014 silver medalist in slopestyle) was born in Oceanside, NY, and Dylan Walczyk is from Rochester, NY
US Medals, all-time: 25 (8 gold, 9 silver, 8 bronze)

8) Ice Hockey

Dates: Feb. 3-20
Events: Men’s, Women’s
New York Connections: Nick Abruzzese (forward) is from Slate Hill, NY, Aaron Ness (defenseman) was drafted by the New York Islanders 2008, Hayley Scamurra (forward) is from Getzville, NY
US Men’s Medals, all-time: 11 (2 gold, 8 silver, 1 bronze)
US Women’s Medals, all-time: 6 (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)

9) Luge

Dates: Feb. 2-10
Events: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Open Doubles, Team Relay
New York Connections: Jonny Gustafson (Massena, NY), Sean Hollander (Lake Placid, NY), Chris Mazdzer (Saranac Lake, NY)
US Medals, all-time: 6 (3 silver, 3 bronze)

Chris Mazdzer Winter Olympics — Chris Mazdzer (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

10) Nordic Combined

Dates: Feb. 6-9, 12-17
What is it?: Nordic Combined is a two-part competition that combines cross-country skiing and ski jumping.
Events: Individual Large Hill/10km, Individual Normal Hill/10km, Team Large Hill, 4x5km
New York Connections: None
US Medals, all-time: 4 (1 gold, 3 silver)

11) Short Track Speed Skating

Dates: Feb. 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16
Events: 500m, 1,000m, 1,500m, 3,000m relay (women’s only), 5,000m relay (men’s only)
New York Connections: None
US Medals, all-time: 20 (4 gold, 7 silver, 9 bronze)

12) Skeleton

Dates: Feb. 7-12
Events: Men’s, Women’s
New York Connections: None
US Medals, all-time: 8 (3 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze)

13) Ski Jumping

Dates: Feb. 3-7, 9-14
Events: Normal Hill Individual, Mixed Normal Hill Team, Large Hill Individual (Men’s), Large Hill Team (Men’s)
New York Connections: None
US Medals, all-time: 1 (bronze)

14) Snowboard

Dates: Feb. 5-12, 14-15
Events: Big Air, Halfpipe, Slopestyle, Parallel Giant Slalom, Snowboard Cross
New York Connections: Hagen Kearney born in Buffalo, NY, Julia Marino born in Brooklyn NY
US Medals, all-time: 31 (14 gold, 7 silver, 10 bronze)

15) Speed Skating

Dates: Feb. 5-8, 10-13, 15, 17-19
Events: 500m, 1,000m, 1,500m, 3,000m (women’s only), 5,000m, 10,000m (men’s only), Mass Start, Team Pursuit
New York Connections: None
US Medals, all-time: 68 (28 gold, 22 silver, 18 bronze)

This story first appeared on amNY.com.

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Islanders Continue Dropping Points to Above-.500 Teams

By

Joe Pantorno

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January 31, 2022

The Islanders simply cannot beat good teams this year — a disturbing trend that continues to damage wafer-thin playoff hopes.

Their latest loss came on Sunday night against the Minnesota Wild; a 4-3 decision that saw New York playing catchup all game after a difficult start in which they were trailing 2-0 five minutes into the game.

It didn’t come without a push. The Islanders recorded a season-high 43 shots on goal but couldn’t make up the deficit.

“It’s frustrating as hell for everybody involved and you don’t get a point,” head coach Barry Trotz said. “That’s the frustrating point. There are some mentally tough men in that room and we’ll get after the next game.”

“I’d take our chances a lot of nights when we play like that,” forward Brock Nelson added. “Put up 40 shots… You get the lead and play like that, you’re probably going to win most nights.”

In 21 games against teams over .500 this year, the Islanders are now 4-14-3 this season while getting outscored 67-36.

They’ve made zero ground in the playoff race as they sit 17 points out of a playoff spot — a nightmare season that has featured a 13-game road trip to start and a COVID outbreak that sidelined nearly half the roster.

“We lost wiggle room at the start of the year,” Trotz said. “I don’t think that’s changed. We have almost 45 games left. I can’t tell you what the other teams are going to do, but obviously, we have to gain some ground. We just have to worry about the next game.”

[ALSO READ: Islanders waiting for Ryan Pulock to give green light for return]

The Islanders have exactly 45 games remaining and getting a top-three spot in the Metropolitan Division already seems like a lost cause. They trail the third-place Pittsburgh Penguins by 25 points with eight games in hand. It makes the Boston Bruins’ status as a wild-card team 17 points ahead with five games in hand a more feasible target.

“We’re not running out of time but we realize that we need to get points,” Nelson said.

They host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night in the first leg of a back-to-back that ends with a Wednesday meeting with the Seattle Kraken.

This story first appeared on amNY.com.

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Back at .500, NY Islanders Will Try to ‘Climb Out of the Pool’

By

Joe Pantorno

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January 19, 2022

ny islanders — Jan 18, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Islanders right wing Oliver Wahlstrom (26) reacts after scoring the game winning shootout goal against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Mitchell Leff-USA TODAY Sports

Barry Trotz likened this season for his Islanders to someone in a swimming pool.

After an 11-game losing streak from Nov. 7-Dec. 5, they were taking on water in the deep end as COVID sapped their ranks and began creating a chaotic schedule.

Then began the ascent.

With the roster almost back to 100% and finally jelling, the Islanders are showing the sort of form and resiliency that made them back-to-back Stanley Cup semifinalists.

A home-and-home sweep over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday and Tuesday nights brought the Islanders back to .500 (13-13-6) to continue a solid run in which they’ve gone 8-3-1 — collecting 19 of 24 possible points during that stretch.

“That’s a starting point,” Trotz said. “We have our nose just at the water level now and let’s see if we can climb our way out of the pool.”

A steep climb still awaits an Islanders squad that still sits at the very bottom of the eight-team Metropolitan Division. They’re 21 points behind the third-place Washington Capitals — who possess the final playoff spot in the division.

Even veteran forward Matt Martin admitted that he doesn’t look at the standings because “it would be a little more daunting than it necessarily is.”

[ALSO READ: Barry Trotz on return to Islanders bench: ‘It felt very strange’]

The Islanders do have an advantageous schedule moving forward, though; even if it is compressed. Their next seven games — which comes over an 11-day stretch — come at home with only two of those matchups pitting them against teams that are currently in a playoff position.

“We have to do well on them just to give ourselves a chance,” Trotz said. “We’re looking up at the rest of the division.”

“It’s definitely big,” fourth-line center Casey Cizikas, who scored his first two goals of the season in each of the last two games, added. “It puts us in a good position to keep moving forward and keep climbing those standings.”

Finally, a bit of consistency to a schedule that saw the Islanders play just twice over a 24-day span from Dec. 20-Jan. 12.

“I tell you, it’s been a really difficult year for us in particular because we feel like a part of the league and then we’re not,” Trotz said. “I describe it as we’re the independent college teams that were randomly playing and had all these breaks.

“Getting rhythm for us is really key. We have to make up some games so they’re going to be compressed. It’s a challenge, but I think this group is up to the challenge.”

The Islanders are next in action Friday night against an Arizona Coyotes team that has won just nine of 37 games this season before a Saturday clash against the high-powered Toronto Maple Leafs.

It’s sink or swim time.

This story first appeared on amNY.com.

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Islanders Owner Jon Ledecky on Fans as UBS Arena Opens: ‘This is Their Home’

By

Joe Pantorno

-

November 19, 2021

Jon Ledecky was all smiles as he overlooked the observation deck near the recently-dedicated seat for veterans of war.

The New York Islanders owner has done what many others before him could not: Secure a long-term, state-of-the-art home for the hockey club while keeping them in Nassau County.

UBS Arena’s doors open to the NHL Saturday night, giving fans a first glimpse at the 18,000-seat, $1.1 billion venue that is strictly dedicated to the Islanders — something the franchise has not experienced since the opening of Nassau Coliseum 50 years ago.

The road to get this for the Islanders was arduous and plenty bumpy. Opposing politicians, the striking down of the Lighthouse Project, rumors of moving out of state (whether it be Oklahoma City, Kansas City, or Quebec), and even an ill-fated move to Brooklyn dotted the past two decades of uncertainty.

But that’s all firmly in the rearview mirror, though there was just one more little challenge of getting UBS Arena built during a pandemic after ground broke on the project in September of 2019.

All the more reason to celebrate the doors opening for Ledecky.

“The pandemic, all the different sacrifices that all of us had to make. For this to rise up and represent all that America and this area after the pandemic — what a great symbol of the resilience of New York, the resilience of the Metropolitan area, and the resilience of our fans,” Ledecky said. “I’m so excited that we can host the Islanders fans… where they can have a proper home to watch the team play. It’s been a long time coming and a lot of people tried.”

Ledecky, co-owner Scott Malkin, and Oakview Group CEO Tim Leiweke were not just able to keep the Islanders on Long Island, toeing the Nassau, Queens border at Belmont Park in Elmont, but they managed to blend in the Islanders’ history and the culture of New York.

An expanded arena features a ceiling that is only seven feet higher than that of the Nassau Coliseum to ensure that the intimate feel and deafening noise will be carried over to UBS Arena. Photos of glory days past adorn the walls, working intricately with designs that are set to harken back the old days of Grand Central Station and the original Madison Square Garden.

“I want them to appreciate that they’re at home. This is their home,” Ledecky said. “We built this with hundreds of feedback points from each and every fan. We wandered around the Nassau Coliseum and Barclays Center and took copious notes on what they wanted.

“They wanted a supporters section, they wanted to be able to stand and enjoy the game together and have a meeting place. They gave us details far and wide, very niche things that we needed to do.”

That’s exactly what they’re getting.

UBS Arena is one of the premier sporting venues in North America while somehow, someway instituting everything that the Islanders and their fan base are about: A blue-collar work ethic, an incurable passion for hockey, and a tight-knit community that resembles family more than fanaticism.

“Inclusion was the word that our fan base said. We want everyone to feel like they can participate and be a part of it,” Ledecky said. “We don’t want to see corporate suits. We want to be part of the fans and they can interact with each other whether they’re buying the best seat in the house or the Bob Uecker seat [last row], the democratization of the fan base was incredibly important to them.”

This story first appeared on amNY.com.

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‘It Absolutely Blew Me Away’: Islanders Get First Taste of UBS Arena

By

Joe Pantorno

-

November 19, 2021

It wasn’t just another pre-practice huddle on Thursday morning for the New York Islanders.

As head coach Barry Trotz directed the flow of proceedings, he and his Islanders stood at center ice of their new home, UBS Arena, for the first time ever as construction crews put the finishing touches on the new state-of-the-art home of New York hockey.

“It was cool. The best I could describe it to anybody is that it felt like the Winter Classic, those NHL series games,” Trotz said. “It has a different feel. So there’s a little pep in the step. Getting lost in it, figuring out every office, every room. That’s probably what it feels like, which is good. Those are great experiences.”

“It absolutely blew me away,” star center Mathew Barzal added. “The entire facility and the rink and how it’s set up is so high-end, I can’t even tell you how nice it is down here. We’re a pretty lucky group.”

“The boys are home!” a faceless Islanders yelled from the middle of the huddle as it broke off into sections of drills.

And one might add the word “finally” to those sentiments.

The Islanders staggered home from a 13-game road trip after losing four straight games, opening the doors of UBS Arena with a 5-6-2 record to start — a disappointing early last-place standing slapped upon their ledger after two straight Stanley Cup semifinal appearances.

But .500 hockey on the road normally translates to playoff hockey. It’s just up to the Islanders, though, to take advantage of a heavy home schedule that sees 15 of their next 20 games played at UBS Arena.

“We haven’t had a chance to play a home game yet this year and [you see] how much we feed off our crowd and the impact they have on us,” Islanders captain Anders Lee said. “We’ve seen it in the playoffs… now we get to be back in front of them. After that, you look at it, it’s a brand-new building that this franchise has been looking forward to for a long time… It’s an extremely exciting time for this organization.

“There’s a lot that’s gone into it. It’s going to bring a lot of life and I know that we’re going to feed off that life from the crowd. It will be needed.”

That home slate starts rather poetically against a Flames team that they took on 17,941 days earlier — when that franchise was in Atlanta — in what was the Islanders’ first-ever game as an NHL team at their brand-new home at the time, the Nassau Coliseum.

“The Coliseum served us well, the Barclays served us well,” Trotz said. “The guys on this team the last four, five years, they built this. It’s helped that we’ve been a competitive team the last couple of years and we have to continue that.”

This story first appeared on amNY.com.

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LI Native to Appear in All Elite Wrestling Show at New UBS Arena at Belmont

By

Joe Pantorno

-

September 7, 2021

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) continues to make a strong push into what has always been the heart of WWE, announcing a second event near the city on Dec. 8 at the soon-to-be-opening UBS Arena on the Nassau County/Queens border at Belmont Park.

“AEW: Dynamite” and “AEW: Rampage” will be filmed at the future home of the NHL’s New York Islanders as the wrestling organization continues making massive moves within the sport’s landscape. AEW announced earlier this summer that they would make their first-ever appearance in New York on Sept. 22 at Arthur Ashe Stadium — the famous home of the US Open tennis tournament.

Over the last month, AEW has brought in former WWE stars in CM Punk — who had been inactive for the last seven years — up-and-coming star Adam Cole, formerly of NXT, and a former WWE champion in Daniel Bryan. Both Cole and Bryan made their debuts last week.

What a moment and what an ovation when @bryandanielson appeared last night at #AEWAllOut! If you missed the historic All Out PPV, order the replay: https://t.co/29mWMvL76S pic.twitter.com/tQTrxSfzul

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 6, 2021

They will be featured amongst a loaded list of wrestlers at UBS Arena that also includes Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Jon Moxley, Sting, Dr. Britt Baker, and Plainview, NY native Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF).

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 10, at 10 am ET via AEWTix.com and Ticketmaster.com. Tickets start at $30 plus fees.

This story first appeared on amNY.com.

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Islanders Playoff Run Ends in Game 7 vs. Lightning

By

Joe Pantorno

-

June 25, 2021

81AB6FBE-B965-4504-906B-79B81B8D5446 — Jun 25, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde (37) celebrates his goal with center Anthony Cirelli (71) during the second period against the New York Islanders in game seven of the Stanley Cup Semifinals at Amalie Arena. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Undone by a misfiring power play that went 1-for-17 in the series, the New York Islanders allowed the game-winning shorthanded goal to Yanni Gourde in the second period to fall 1-0 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup semifinals to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night at Amalie Arena.

With it, the Islanders season ends in heartbreak in the same round against the same team for a second-straight season while the Lightning are off to meet the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Islanders were only able to muster 15 shots on Andrei Vasilevskiy’s goal in a timid offensive showing as they spent a majority of the night trying to keep up with the high-powered Lightning.

Had it not been for the heroics of Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov — who made 30 saves in the loss — the scoreline would not have been nearly as flattering for New York.

Similar to Game 5, the Islanders were on their heels for most of the first period as they were outshot 15-5 by the Lightning. But Varlamov was strong, turning away the host’s chances that — for the most part — came from the perimeter as the Islanders settled into their patented defensive structure to get out of the opening 20 minutes scoreless.

The Islanders seemingly were given a lifeline early in the second period when Barclay Goodrow was called for a crosscheck in the New York zone, but a tentative power play blew up in their faces.

An unwillingness to shoot led to a shot block from Ryan McDonagh which started a break by Anthony Cirelli down into the corner of the Islanders’ zone. He was able to turn with loose defense by Nick Leddy where he fed Gourde, who beat Varlamov glove side for a shorthanded goal just 1:49 into the frame.

Anthony Beauvillier, who scored the overtime winner in Game 6, almost came up with a quick reply when he redirected a shot from Vasilevskiy’s right post. But the power-play chance rang off the post to keep Tampa’s lead intact.

The Lightning proceeded to dominate play once back at even strength, but Varlamov continued to keep the Islanders in it.

It wasn’t until the 17-minute mark of the second that the Islanders finally started showing some offensive life to gain sustained pressure in the Tampa Bay zone — suggesting that there was something to build off of heading into the third.

While the play wasn’t as tilted in Tampa’s favor in the third, the Islanders had tremendous difficulties breaking down the Lightning’s organization, only recording two shots in a 24-minute span that ended midway through the third.

With desperation setting in, their defensemen began to pinch in the offensive zone while lines were shuffled to try and find something. They nearly did with five minutes to go when a rebound squirted to Mathew Barzal at the left post, but the puck squirted over his stick with the net gaping.

It was as close as the Islanders would get, as they received a taste of their own defensive medicine with the Lightning stacking up play in the neutral zone, shutting down options along the boards, and making zone entries and sustained zone time nearly impossible for their opponents.

And so the Islanders’ 37-year wait for an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final continues.

This story first appeared on AmNY.com

Joe Pantorno

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