New York Islanders forward Joshua Ho-Sang has matured and developed at a rapid pace.
The Islanders aren’t going to go down without a fight.
Sure, it might be too late, but Doug Weight’s squad has won two in a row. Jaroslav Hálak, who spent much of the second half in Bridgeport, was solid in both.
“We’re going to need a guy to come up, step in and contribute, and we need the guys who were better tonight to keep pulling the rope,” Weight said following his team’s 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.
Enter Joshua Ho-Sang, the outspoken rookie who has added newfound energy and speed to the flailing club. “His talent is formidable,” Weight said, via Evan Grossman of the NY Daily News. “He’s a difference maker.”
Ho-Sang, 21, tallied his tenth point (4 G, 6 A) on Sunday evening. He’s been the talk of the town thanks to his first-rate vision and nifty puck-handling. Most importantly, he’s matured at a rapid pace, stepping in at a time when Weight needed him most.
Writes Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News, “What I do see in Ho-Sang is a talented player who needed time to mature and develop, and he did so in Bridgeport. Ho-Sang was one of the Sound Tigers’ leading scorers when he got called up, which is pretty good for a rookie pro.”
NOTES
Ho-Sang’s tenth point was a beauty, writes Matt Di Giacomo. Immediately after Evander Kane knotted the game at one, Ho-Sang made a nifty double move to give New York the lead.
Anders Lee netted two goals and Jaroslav Halak made thirty-six saves as the Isles knocked off the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1. [Recap: ESNY | SNY | NHL | NEWSDAY ]
With John Tavares sidelined, Connor Jones made his NHL debut Sunday. Also, with Casey Cizikas scratched, Stephen Gionta and his brother, Brian, faced off (Stephen has beaten Brian in eight of their last nine matchups).