{"time":1791027875535,"blocks":[{"id":"cTAr62Vzfq","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Hamilton Hammers finally hit the ice Friday night after much anticipation and dispatched the Belleville Senators 5-2 in CIBC Place, home of the AHL Senators."}},{"id":"xosoB_COO0","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The game was the first-ever in franchise history for the Hammers, and they made sure the history books recorded it as a Hamilton victory."}},{"id":"GVvC8rTIh4","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Pregame, the Hammers announced Matthew Highmore as the team's first-ever captain, with Daylan Kueffler (2022 sixth-round NYI draft pick) serving as a permanent alternate captain."}},{"id":"7crGxFR8oA","type":"embed","data":{"service":"twitter","source":"https://x.com/hammersahl/status/2106132976614420562?s=20","embed":"https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=2106132976614420562","width":600,"height":300,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"Hamilton Hammers (@hammersahl) on X","site_name":"X (formerly Twitter)","description":"YOUR 2026-27 INAUGURAL SEASON LEADERSHIP GROUP 🙌\n\n📺 https://t.co/Rv19MF3v3I","image":{"url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HTp8w8zXUAA0sqr?format=webp&name=large","type":"image/webp","width":"1080","height":"1350"}}}},{"id":"Ra-FUHMlOo","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Mitchell Chaffee, one of the tough, final waiver-requiring cuts for the New York Islanders, starred in the win. The veteran forward potted a hat trick, with two goals coming on the man advantage."}},{"id":"GrSUyqB1QL","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Cole Eiserman, the Islanders' 2024 first-round pick, plated two power-play assists, as did AHL veteran Liam Foudy, who provided three apples in the victory."}},{"id":"sAWD2GFHxF","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Foudy also celebrated his 200th-career AHL game on Friday night, an impressive milestone. "}},{"id":"Xv3_LWxjt6","type":"embed","data":{"service":"twitter","source":"https://x.com/hammersahl/status/2106229389297909789?s=20","embed":"https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=2106229389297909789","width":600,"height":300,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"Hamilton Hammers (@hammersahl) on X","site_name":"X (formerly Twitter)","description":"WELCOME TO THE 200 CLUB. 🔨\nCongrats to Liam Foudy on 200 career games!","image":{"url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HTrUc4nWQAAyPRU?format=webp&name=large","type":"image/webp","width":"1080","height":"1350"}}}},{"id":"ZSj5yJ80es","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Pierre Engvall and Joey Larson provided the other two goals for the Hammers, with Larson's coming with the net empty."}},{"id":"V1PPziFgRQ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Kashawn Aitcheson (2025 NYI first-round pick) posted his first-career professional point, a power-play assist on Engvall's goal."}},{"id":"Wtpgd9VKKj","type":"embed","data":{"service":"twitter","source":"https://x.com/KennyKaminsky/status/2106180355795615749?s=20","embed":"https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=2106180355795615749","width":600,"height":300,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"Kenny Kaminsky (@KennyKaminsky) on X","site_name":"X (formerly Twitter)","description":"#Isles #HammerTime \n\n🚨Engvall (1)\n🍎Highmore (1)\n🍏Aitcheson (1)\n\n*Kashawn Aitcheson’s first professional point*\n\n2-0 Hamilton 🔨 \n\n@TheElmonters","image":{"url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/2106180268780408832/img/nEQy3mKpuSjbXwca?format=webp&name=large","type":"image/webp","width":"2090","height":"1180"}}}},{"id":"0JoosgF41w","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"In net, Vitek Vanecek made just his third AHL start since the 2019-20 season and was outstanding, making Herculean saves."}},{"id":"2xA1wwXR0g","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Vanecek might've made the saves of the season on opening night:"}},{"id":"1SMJx4BuT8","type":"embed","data":{"service":"twitter","source":"https://x.com/stefen_rosner/status/2106193708341211493?s=20","embed":"https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=2106193708341211493","width":600,"height":300,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) on X","site_name":"X (formerly Twitter)","description":"First save was stellar. Second save was a jaw-dropper.","image":{"url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/2106192462800674816/img/rx_4mdMAQI94GiUk?format=webp&name=large","type":"image/webp","width":"2080","height":"1180"}}}},{"id":"J9XdztOa9Y","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"All told, Vanecek finished with 25 saves in the victory. "}},{"id":"6Wlmf6h14Y","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Hamilton Head Coach Jay McKee earned his first win as an AHL bench boss, just another milestone achieved on an outstanding night for the franchise."}},{"id":"QC5Qxpv3rA","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Breaking Down Chaffee's Hat Trick:"}},{"id":"rc0PgKGav4","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"When the Islanders and General Manager Mathieu Darche signed Chaffee to a one-year deal, there was no downside for the Islanders."}},{"id":"y_0pdNwl6n","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Chaffee is as good as it gets for a veteran forward. Not only has he proven he can be an effective bottom-six player at the NHL level, but he's also proven to be an elite AHL player. "}},{"id":"je3O7-8zhF","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Chaffee is a perfect veteran mentor for a younger, still-learning Hamilton forward group."}},{"id":"qQY4IXAgyX","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"It took one game for Chaffee to prove it with an impressive hat trick:"}},{"id":"-j9tK3i89Y","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Chaffee's first goal came after a slick drop pass from Foudy:"}},{"id":"lGjp5seXNX","type":"embed","data":{"service":"twitter","source":"https://x.com/KennyKaminsky/status/2106171316323930120?s=20","embed":"https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=2106171316323930120","width":600,"height":300,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"Kenny Kaminsky (@KennyKaminsky) on X","site_name":"X (formerly Twitter)","description":"#Isles #HammerTime \nThe first goal in Hamilton Hammers history! \n\n🚨Chaffee (1)\n🍎Foudy (1)\n🍏Warren (1)\n\n1-0 Hamilton 🔨 \n\n@TheElmonters","image":{"url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/2106171280420487168/img/Oed2f_AFPGXI3gJi?format=webp&name=large","type":"image/webp","width":"1180","height":"976"}}}},{"id":"3_dOuPzHjW","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The next two goals both came on the man advantage, in a game where Hamilton scored not one, not two, but three goals on the power play."}},{"id":"4FH_V8pF3n","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The first of those two comes on a bang-bang play. Eiserman uncorks a howitzer of a shot that banks off the end wall, caroms off a defender's skate, and finds Chaffee's stick."}},{"id":"rdw-4MOTC_","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Chaffee made no mistake."}},{"id":"7VvgcpQY4P","type":"embed","data":{"service":"twitter","source":"https://x.com/KennyKaminsky/status/2106190837118062705?s=20","embed":"https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=2106190837118062705","width":600,"height":300,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"Kenny Kaminsky (@KennyKaminsky) on X","site_name":"X (formerly Twitter)","description":"#Isles #HammerTime \n\n🚨Chaffee (2)\n🍎Eiserman (1)\n🍏Foudy (2)\n\n3-1 Hamilton 🔨 \n\n@TheElmonters","image":{"url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/2106190753768546304/img/ltgnjlBWsRCbG6_O?format=webp&name=large","type":"image/webp","width":"2072","height":"1180"}}}},{"id":"Y0fyzYg5WW","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Some might call it luck, and while luck plays a role, Chaffee's positioning is outstanding. "}},{"id":"ncfchV7OE6","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"He consistently keeps himself in the soft spot of the defenders, keeping himself as an option for a pass, or just waiting to pounce for any rebounds or loose pucks that squirt free."}},{"id":"rI3HddOELx","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"When a guy like Eiserman's shooting, it's a pretty decent bet the puck's gonna either score, or become a juicy rebound. Chaffee took advantage that time."}},{"id":"4FVGHKdjQ8","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The third goal is an incredible tic-tac-toe passing play with Eiserman, Foudy, and Chaffee."}},{"id":"qztpbz-MUV","type":"embed","data":{"service":"twitter","source":"https://x.com/KennyKaminsky/status/2106197833929953656?s=20","embed":"https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=2106197833929953656","width":600,"height":300,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"Kenny Kaminsky (@KennyKaminsky) on X","site_name":"X (formerly Twitter)","description":"#Isles #HammerTime \n\n🚨Chaffee (3)\n🍎Foudy (3)\n🍏Eiserman (2)\n\n*Mitchell Chaffee Hat Trick*\n\n4-2 Hamilton🔨","image":{"url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/2106197773536083968/img/gKUyMov6wHnJyIIc?format=webp&name=large","type":"image/webp","width":"2076","height":"1180"}}}},{"id":"9jCgHvY8Fm","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Not only are the passes from Eiserman and Foudy just terrific, the positioning is terrific. That's a credit not only to the players, but to McKee and his staff."}},{"id":"5c1XyuImvt","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Chaffee again holds his soft spot on the far side and just waits for the puck to find him. Once it does, he lets rip for the road hat trick."}},{"id":"VwGPs3gv7x","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Chaffee's debut in the Islanders' organization should turn plenty of heads. He's a strong candidate to be the team's first call up in a given situatioon."}},{"id":"ChHgWlh2EK","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Next up for the Hammers is a late-afternoon puck drop against the Toronto Marlies, scheduled for just after 4 PM ET on Saturday."}}],"version":"2.31.6"}

Source: 2023-2024 Islanders Season Opener, Other Notable Dates

High Anxiety for the Islanders in the Wild Card Sprint

Islanders Blow Chance, Blanked by Sabres 2-0