Stefen On Solving Blues Binnington The New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/new-york-islanders-matthew-maggio-prospect-point-streak-goals-highlights] are coming off a potentially monumental win, snapping a three-game slide with a 5-4 overtime win over the division-rival Pittsburgh Penguins. Now, they battle the current second-wild card St. Louis Blues Thursday night at Enterprise Center. The last time the Islanders were in St. Louis, it was a 5-2 victory, as they had goaltender Jordan Binnington singing the blues. It was a dramatic performance for the Oscar-winning goaltender, who continued his antics while allowing pucks to get behind him. Early in the first period, Binnington flopped after making a save, barely getting touched. Not only did he fail to get a penalty called, but he was rather lucky the play ended or New York was staring at a wide-open cage. The antics continued in the second period. After Oliver Wahlstrom went behind the net on the forecheck, he clipped Binnginton ever so slightly before exaggerating the contact and falling to the ice. The refs said, "Play on." At 12:45 of the second, Islanders captain Anders Lee dropped the gloves with former Blues defenseman Niko Mikkola near Binnington's crease. While punches were being exchanged, Binnington decided to stick his stick between the legs of the Islanders' captain: After allowing four goals in the middle frame with New York taking a commanding 4-1 lead into the third, Binnington decided to clip Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin on the way off the ice, which New York was not thrilled about in the slightest: "Oh yeah, it's funny. I was relaxed," Ilya Sorokin shared following the game. Binnington is a very talented goaltender, but if the Islanders can get under his skin early on Thursday, that bodes well. In 39 appearances this season, the 30-year-old backstop owns a 19-15-2 record with a 2.93 GAA and a .908 SV%. Binnington is expected to square off against Semyon Varlamov on Thursday night. TOP STORIES
