As the New York Islanders see out the 2017-18 season, some of the club’s top prospects are impressing in their respective post-season series.
Firstly, the New York Islanders will play host to the Philadelphia Flyers tonight at 7 p.m., and Doug Weight made some adjustments to the Isles lineup.
Doug Weight says Cal Clutterbuck and Josh Bailey will be in lineup tonight and Thomas Greiss in net. Dennis Seidenberg and Brandon Davidson the healthy scratches on defense. Jaro Halak the backup goalie. #Isles
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) April 3, 2018
Additionally, the Isles returned Chris Gibson back to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, ending his eight-game stay in the NHL. Gibson went 2-3-2 with a .908 save percentage and a 3.65 GAA.
Fritz Proves His Worth
Tanner Fritz may be one of a handful of rookie Islanders on the current roster, but he’s hoping to prove his worth and earn a permanent roster spot for next season.
Fritz’s comfort level has grown with each passing game he played in the NHL, and has plenty of optimism per Andrew Gross of Newsday:
“I think I’ve had some opportunities to go up and down the lineup,” Fritz said. “My first 10 games, I was a little slow, a little hesitant, just kind of nervous. I feel like the last 15 games, I kind of have proven I can play up and down. I don’t think I’m going to be a guy that plays top minutes.”
Fritz’s adjustment is reflected in his coach’s confidence in him. In his first 18 games in the NHL, Fritz was given a little over 11 minutes of average ice-time, in which he scored two goals to go with a -8 rating.
In his last 15 games since, his ice-time was bumped up to about 14 minutes, with two goals and six points with a +5 rating.
Quenneville to Bridgeport?
It appears that David Quenneville will be AHL-bound to help the Sound Tigers wrap up their remaining games of the season. Quenneville posted a goal and eight points in six playoff games for the Medicine Hat Tigers, who dropped game 6 of their first-round series to the Brandon Wheat Kings, 4-3 in overtime and couldn’t hold on to a 2-0 series lead in the WHL playoffs.
#Isles 2016 7th-rounder David Quenneville just had his WHL season end. Team trying to get him signed and in BPT on an ATO sometime this week. Quenneville led all WHL D-men in scoring, 26-54-80 in 70 GP.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) April 2, 2018
In 70 regular season games, Quenneville has 26 goals and 80 points.
Kiefer Bellows and the Portland Winterhawks suffered a 5-2 loss to the Spokane Chiefs on Monday night, evening their series and forcing game 7 which is tonight at 10 p.m. EST for those interested after the Isles loss tonight.
SKA take the lead in WCF. #CSKvsSKA pic.twitter.com/MkNsSz6Rek
— KHL (@khl_eng) April 2, 2018
Lastly, Ilya Sorokin and CSKA Moscow find themselves down 2-1 in their Western Conference Final series agianst the favored champions. Former Isles prospect Kirill Petrov netted a goal in the 5-2 loss and Sorokin rocked a humbling .810 save percentage. Still, the hgihly-regarded netminder has an overall save percentage of .940 with a 1.34 GAA in the post-season alone.
Barzal headed to IIHF
While the Isles are stuck playing meaningless hockey for the next couple of days, Mathew Barzal’s preparation for the IIHF World Championships is only beginning.
#Isles rookie Mathew Barzal will play for Team Canada in World Championships. Barzal tells me he’s particularly excited to get a chance to be Connor McDavid’s teammate.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) April 3, 2018
The soon-to-be Calder Trophy winner is wrapping up his first full NHL season of action as the Islanders have just three games remaining including tonight’s contest.
