Nine-Game Benders Case Study

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As the trade deadline has now come and past, players can relax that they have not been moved and fans have had a night’s sleep to recuperate from the anxiety that the day expectedly brings.

General manager Garth Snow made no moves yesterday, choosing to not meet the exorbitant price set on number one target, Matt Duchene, by Colorado general manager Joe Sakic, who was under no pressure to move a highly skilled, coveted player with two years remaining on his contract.

The focus now, for all involved, must quickly shift to the continuation of a brutal road trip the team currently finds itself on, as they play game four of the nine-game bender, tonight in Dallas against the Stars. After winning the first two, 3-1 in Detroit and 3-0 in Montreal, …show more content…

It does not get any easier upon returning home for a back to back with the Carolina Hurricanes on March 13-14 as the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers await them in the weeks to close out March.

Sitting one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs with a game in hand, the Islanders can jump into playoff position with a point tonight, along with a Leafs loss in regulation against the Los Angeles Kings and a Florida Panthers loss of any kind to the Flyers. To add to the drama, Joshua Ho-Sang makes his long awaited National Hockey League debut, as Doug Weight made it official following the team’s optional morning skate.

Ho-Sang, the mercurial 21-year old from Toronto, has been tearing up the American Hockey League with Bridgeport, with 10-26-36 in 48 games leading to his recall, and was just named AHL rookie of the month for February, accumulating 15 points in 12 games for the month to go with a +9 rating. He will skate on a line centered by struggling Brock Nelson and Andrew Ladd, who has collected four goals in his last six …show more content…

Can he revive Nelson’s game, which for the third straight season, has hit the skids in the second half (no goals last ten games, four assists)? With Ryan Strome being held scoreless in six of his last seven games and no more help seemingly on the way, he might have to be. For as dominant the Islanders first line of John Tavares, Josh Bailey and Anders Lee has been, it’s fairly easy to stop a team that is getting no other complimentary scoring.

“It’s a simple game, you get your feet wet and just start running with it. For me, I just want to contribute any way I can. The team is in a huge playoff push right now, and I want to help them get there. Play my role, and do what Dougie (Weight) asks.” Ho-Sang told the Islanders official site. [https://www.nhl.com/islanders/video/islanders-recall-ho-sang/t-277437420/c-49874803]

The stretch run is here. And the Islanders are very much alive in the chase for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. With Cal Clutterbuck and Shane Prince returning to the lineup tonight as well, in addition to Ho-Sang, they are hoping that is all the boost they need to get invited to the

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