Merry Christmas and Happy Channukah!
Ilya Sorokin chat
The New York Islanders have a hefty Christmas wishlist.
Hard work was put into this, so enjoy!
- A Barzal 5-on-5 point: For as good as the Islanders’ brand-new first line looked before Duclair’s injury, No. 13 was without a point and now, in four games back from his upper-body injury, he still hasn’t recorded a point at 5-on-5 and they need him to get going.
- A competent PK: Their shorthanded unit is historically bad, sitting dead-last at 64.4% and they will be going nowhere unless someone steps up.
- A whistle for Roy: The Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender turned head coach creates a whistle noise on his own. But for the number of times he’s had to make the noise, he should have a metal one.
- A power play quarterback: Noah Dobson may be the point man on the power play, but the team is in need of a quarterback, who can direct plays. There’s no excuse to have a power play at 12%.
- A Bridgeport turnaround: The Islanders AHL squad is 6-18-2-2. These youngsters don’t know how to win and that’s a problem for development.
- Windex: The Islanders have said they need to look in the mirror a few times after devastating losses. Maybe the mirror is foggy?
- The league to change games to two periods: The Islanders have blown too many third-period leads to count, so just stop the games after 40 minutes, eh?
- A backup goalie: Ilya Sorokin has made 12 straight starts and if Semyon Varlamov is going to miss more time, the team needs a trustworthy backstop to provide some type of
- A trade: It’s likely time for the team to shake up the group and the Islanders have two players who will bring back first-round picks-plus.
- Never-ending supply of DVDs of Groundhogs Day: Self explanatory.
- Mike Reilly: The Islanders aren’t fully healthy just yet and while there’s no reason to rush this defenseman back after his heard procedure, the team is missing his presence as a transitioner.
- A win streak: Most fans may be throwing in the white towel, but, five points out of a wild-card spot with 47 games to go isn’t by egregious. They just need to string some wins together.