The New York Islanders (#Isles) are preparing to face the Texas Hockey team on Monday night. With Casey Cizikas healthy, Kyle MacLean has been sent back to Bridgeport. The line of Nelson-Horvat-Barzal showed strong performance in the previous game. Ilya Sorokin is expected to start in goal against Texas Hockey. Barzal, Nelson, and Horvat form a dynamic top line for the Islanders.
A strong start for #Isles. Up 1 after 1 courtesy of Pulock’s second goal under Roy.
End of one #Isles 1 (Pulock) #Stars 0 Stars up on shots 13-11 Top line has five of Isles shots. Isles will start second with 1:53 of PP time remaining.
Couple nice pad saves by Sorokin to keep this at 1-0 for #Isles, including Dellandrea one-timer from slot.
When #Isles put their top three forwards on the top line, getting offensive from the d-men became so important. Since returning from his injury, Pulock is hitting the net at a higher rate than we've seen in quite some time. Doesn't look to be gripping his stick as tight.
Ryan Pulock with the wrister from the slot 🎯 https://t.co/w6CbXznOPk
Ryan Pulock. Slot wrister, stick side. 1-0 #isles with 4:01 to play in the first. Holmstrom did the Barzal, to peel back and hit Pulock.
Isles up 1-0.
Ryan Pulock in the slot from Simon Holmstrom and it's 1-0 #Isles at 15:59 of the first.
#Isles moving as a 5-man unit tonight. Another thing that's been an issue.
#Isles have been smart with their sticks this period. It helps that they aren't chasing the Stars. Strong passing and fewer turnovers, which, in part, usually means fewer penalties.
Clutterbuck crushes Pouliot.
#Isles lines have survived 10+ minutes. And they're looking strong, despite a skate and a period together. 9:31 to play in the first. No score.
Pulock with a strong start to his o-zone game. #Isles
#Isles have four shots. Top line has three of them, with Horvat having two and Barzal having the other.
#Isles top line has a breakaway and a few 3-on-2's in transition already through a few minutes of action.
Barzal doesnt score on the breakaway but that's the point of this line. Creating high-danger chances. Second straight breakaway for Barzal that's stoned by goalies' glove hand. #Isles
First shift for Nelson-Horvat-Barzal yields a breakaway for Barzal...And a save by Wedgewood
Let's see how this #Isles new-look top line does. Game vs. #TexasHockey starts now.
ICYMI The Nelson-Horvat-Barzal line represents 38.3% of all #Isles goals this season. https://t.co/sePRl2bTC4
#Isles Ilya Sorokin (17-13-11, 3.14 GAA, .909 save pct.) and #Stars Scott Wedgewood (13-6-4, 2.97, .899) lead the teams onto the ice here in Big D. Patrick Roy's first game behind Isles bench was a 3-2 OT win over Stars at UBS Arena on Jan. 21. Roy is 4-5-3 with team.
Coming up at 6:15, #Isles chat ahead of game vs. #TexasHockey at 8. I have a hockey game at 7 that finishes at 8 so the rink is my office for first period. Talk soon. https://t.co/9NQ7FS6qAy
Expected #Isles lines for tonight vs. #TexasHockey based on Sunday's practice: Nelson-Horvat-Barzal Lee-Pageau-Palmieri Engvall-Cizikas-Holmstrom Martin-MacLean-Clutterbuck Romanov-Pulock Pelech-Dobson Reilly-Aho Sorokin Varlamov
Based on line rushes at Sunday's practice, JG Pageau will be the #Isles second-line center tonight vs. #TexasHockey. This will be the first time he's playing a top-six role since playing for the #GoSensGo before 2020 #NHL Trade Deadline deal to LI: https://t.co/3RdSUaen9C
Based on line rushes at Sunday's practice, JG Pageau will be the #Isles second-line center tonight vs. #TexasHockey. This will be the first time he's playing a top-six role since being acquired from the #GoSensGo at the 2020 #NHL Trade Deadline: https://t.co/3RdSUaen9C
#Isles Ilya Sorokin (@ethan_sears) vs. #TexasHockey Scott Wedgewood (@BrienRea) tonight at American Airlines Center. Learn more about DAL ahead of tonight's 8 PM puck drop @TheHockeyNews @matthewpage24 ⤵️ https://t.co/wottl48dAW
Last time #Isles faced #TexasHockey, Bo Horvat made a heads-up play in OT, asking Mat Barzal to bounce the puck off the boards before he went bar-south on Scott Wedgewood via the breakaway backhander for the 3-2 comeback win to begin the Patrick Roy Era on LI.
Looks like #Isles didn't hit the ice this morning for an optional morning skate in DAL. Had a really strong practice Sunday before flying out, focusing heavily on PP/PK.
Ilya Sorokin tonight at Dallas, per Patrick Roy.
Sorokin starting tonight, per Roy
#Isles hit the ice for morning skate shortly in Dallas. Expecting those new-look lines to debut tonight, with Sorokin between the pipes. We'll see how long they last.
Keeping It Real About #Isles Brock Nelson & Trade Deadline @TheHockeyNews https://t.co/wsNrpelVeu
"I saw him after Tuesday's game, and he had that look on his face where he didn't look like things were too good. But then, 48 hours later, he was playing." #Isles Barzal 'Shocked' That Cizikas Only Missed One Game After Blocked Shot https://t.co/GUbeKR6Bzs
"After the game, I spoke with our guys, and they all said that Brock played left wing before, so now, having Brock with Horvat and Barzal, I'm curious to see how things will go." -- #Isles HC Patrick Roy https://t.co/XTbqFbOGv0
#Isles will hold a morning skate in Dallas ahead of their game vs. #TexasHockey Monday night at 8 PM ET.
"We were joking that Bo is the center of all centers. I think it'll work well." #Isles Explosive, New-Look, Loaded Top Line Share Thoughts @TheHockeyNews https://t.co/XTbqFbOGv0
Everyone was shocked to see Casey Cizikas back in the #Isles lineup so soon after blocking a shot off the hand Tuesday against #LetsGoPens, including teammate Mathew Barzal @TheHockeyNews https://t.co/GUbeKR6Bzs
Everyone was shocked to see Casey Cizikas back in the #Isles lineup so soon after blocking a shot off the hand Tuesday against #GoPensGo, including teammate Mathew Barzal @TheHockeyNews https://t.co/XTbqFbOGv0
"I like having Lee with us. I think he does a lot of good things for me and Bo, but I think Nelly...this is going to be very dynamic." More from Barzal, Horvat, and Nelson, the #Isles new-look top line after Sunday's skate @TheHockeyNews https://t.co/XTbqFbOGv0
Will have a story later today on the #Isles new-look top line. Also spoke to Barzal about Cizikas not needing to miss time, which was a shock to him and, well everyone after Tuesday night. #Isles @TheHockeyNews
#Isles HC Roy on Nelson-Horvat-Barzal decision and why he's sticking with it: "I really liked the energy they brought in that third period. So, it's very tempting to continue the experience."
#Isles Mat Barzal: "Bo's the center of all centers." Barzal believes that he, Nelson, and Horvat will be a very dynamic line.
#Isles Ilya Sorokin is first goalie off the ice and is expected to start against #TexasHockey tomorrow.
Sorokin first goalie off.
#Isles lines at Sunday's practice: Nelson-Horvat-Barzal Lee-Pageau-Palmieri Engvall-Cizikas-Holmstrom Martin-MacLean-Clutterbuck E: Wahlstrom Romanov-Pulock Pelech-Dobson Reilly-Aho Sorokin Varlamov
#Isles practice Nelson-Horvat-Barzal Lee-Pageau-Palmieri Engvall-Cizikas-Holmstrom Martin-MacLean-Clutterbuck Rotating D
Nelson remains up with Horvat and Barzal at practice. #Isles
With Casey Cizikas healthy, #Isles have sent Kyle MacLean back to Bridgeport, per #NHL media site @TheHockeyNews https://t.co/6VkrhSHWEQ
With Casey Cizikas healthy, #Isles have sent Kyle MacLean back to Bridgeport, per #NHL media @TheHockeyNews https://t.co/6VkrhSHWEQ
The Line of Nelson-Horvat-Barzal played 4:57 last night. When on the ice, #Isles owned a 62.5 CF%, outshooting #GoBolts 3-2, with 2 high-danger chances. They looked pretty strong, but most of the team's scoring on one line isn't ideal.
#Isles will hit the ice for practice later this morning. Face #TexasHockey on Monday night at 8 PM ET.