Islanders' potential trade chips help them cruise past Predators
Share and Follow

Maybe the Islanders should consider more day games.

In the lone afternoon game at home this season, the team came out strong, defeating the Predators 7-4. It was their second consecutive win, which included an empty-net goal by Ilya Sorokin as the trade deadline approached.

As speculation surrounded Lou Lamoriello’s potential decisions at the trade deadline, key players on the team showcased their value. Brock Nelson netted two goals, while Kyle Palmieri and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each contributed one.

The Islanders may have benefitted from the Predators’ struggles, as they were missing Gustav Nyquist due to trade discussions (he was later traded to the Wild) and their top defenseman Roman Josi was placed on injured reserve.

Those inconvenient caveats aside, this was as good a start as the Islanders have put together all year. All four lines played north, attacked the crease and forechecked.

Hudson Fasching, who rejoined the lineup two nights prior in Boston and played Saturday on the third line while Max Tsyplakov sat as a healthy scratch, proved just what Casey Cizikas and Pageau needed to come alive as the trio put together shift after shift in the offensive zone, scoring twice.

It took just 2:37 of play for Cizikas to feed Pageau from behind the net for a 1-0 lead, kick-starting a dominant first in which the Isles outshot their opposition 19-3.

Fasching later picked up an assist to Cizikas on a goal early in the third.

The Isles put up a rare three-spot in the first 20 minutes, including a power-play goal from Palmieri that snapped a six-game scoreless streak on the man advantage dating back to the start of February. Bo Horvat netted the third goal with just under 30 seconds left in the period, cleaning up the garbage on Anders Lee’s rebound.

Nelson came alive in the second, scoring a pair of goals — one of them coming shorthanded — to keep Nashville at arm’s length as Colton Sissons scored and picked up an assist.



It was career game No. 899 for Nelson, all of which have come in an Islander uniform, and if the team chooses to trade him, it will be one of his last at home.

Should that be the case, this was a good reminder of what he’s given the Islanders since debuting in 2013, as Nelson finished off Simon Holmström’s shorthanded feed before scoring his second after corralling Alexander Romanov’s diagonal pass to the lower right circle.

The Predators got within one in the game’s final minute on Cole Smith’s power play goal, but never looked like a threat to win before Sorokin’s empty-netter.

While the club’s assets getting a boost is one way to view this, another is that the Islanders, by winning, are giving Lamoriello a reason to think about holding on for a playoff push.

The Rangers, who are ahead of the Isles in the standings, dealt Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey on Saturday to signal they will prioritize the future instead of going all-out for a wild-card spot, but that is not how Lamoriello has viewed things in the past.

If he still thinks the Islanders have a shot on March 7, the Islanders could be in for another trade deadline of standing by the group they have.

Saturday may have inched them a little closer to that outcome.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Tennessee Highway Patrol debunks viral claims protester was struck by trooper vehicle

Fact Check: Tennessee Highway Patrol Clears the Air on Viral Protester Incident

Dashcam footage has surfaced showing a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer deftly maneuvering…
Bears game time Sunday: Chicago Bears to take on Los Angeles Rams in NFL playoffs at Soldier Field at 5:30 p.m.

Chicago Bears vs. LA Rams: Sunday Showdown at Soldier Field – 5:30 PM NFL Playoff Clash

CHICAGO (WLS) — The city of Chicago is abuzz following the Bears’…
LA County eyes 'ICE-free zones' on government property despite $1B in federal funding at risk

LA County Considers ‘ICE-Free Zones’ on Government Properties, Risking $1B in Federal Funds

Officials in Los Angeles are deliberating on establishing “ICE-free zones” to restrict…
Jacksonville reporter explains viral message to Jaguars coach after loss, responds to critics

Jacksonville Reporter Breaks Silence: The Viral Message to Jaguars Coach and the Critics’ Backlash

Lynn Jones-Turpin, a veteran journalist from the Jacksonville Free Press, has sparked…
Leonardo DiCaprio's Golden Globes exchange is decoded by lip reader

Lip Reader Reveals Details of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Golden Globes Conversation

Leonardo DiCaprio sparked a wave of excitement among fans following his appearance…
Iran is now slaughtering civilians who aren't involved in anti-regime protests, witnesses warn -- as death toll surges into the thousands

Iran Escalates Civilian Deaths Amidst Rising Tensions: Witnesses Report Surge in Non-Protester Casualties

The Iranian regime, notorious for its brutality, is reportedly targeting civilians uninvolved…
Philadelphia shooting: Khyon Smith-Tate, 16, found shot to death in Chipotle bathroom near Temple University

Philadelphia Incident: 16-Year-Old Khyon Smith-Tate Discovered Fatally Shot in Chipotle Restroom Near Temple University

In a tragic incident near Temple University, Philadelphia, a teenager was found…
Linda Brown, Chicago teacher found dead in Lake Michigan at 31st Street Harbor, died by suicide, drowning: medical examiner

Tragic Loss: Chicago Teacher Linda Brown’s Passing at 31st Street Harbor Ruled Suicide by Drowning

CHICAGO — The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed on Tuesday that…