Islanders Announce Preseason Schedule

Statement from the Islanders website.

The New York Islanders 2016 preseason schedule will consist of eight games, including three home games at Barclays Center and one at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT. 

The Islanders home games at Barclays Center are set for Monday, Sept. 26 against the Philadelphia Flyers, Monday, Oct. 3 against the New Jersey Devils, and Tuesday, Oct. 4 against the New York Rangers. All three contests in Brooklyn will start at 7 p.m.  

Tickets to Islanders preseason games at Barclays Center will go on sale on Friday, June 10.  To purchase tickets, fans are encouraged to visit www.ticketmaster.com orislanders.nhl.com. Tickets are also available for purchase at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center beginning Saturday, June 11 at noon. To purchase group tickets, call 844.ISLES.GP.

The games in Brooklyn feature three key divisional matchups, including the first ever preseason meeting at Barclays Center between the Islanders and Rangers. The Islanders will host the Devils at Barclays Center for the fourth consecutive season. 

Webster Bank Arena, home of the Islanders American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, will host a preseason game on Sat., Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. against Metropolitan Division rivals, the Washington Capitals. Tickets go on sale to the general public starting on Friday, June 3, 2016 at 10am and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800.745.3000 or at the Webster Bank Arena Click It Or Ticket Box Office. For group ticket information please call 203-345-2300 ext 7. Executive suites & premium seat packages are also available by calling 203-345-2300 ext 8.

The Islanders four road games include stops at Madison Square Garden, Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA, Prudential Center in Newark, NJ and Verizon Center in Washington D.C.

Sebastian Collberg clears waivers, Islanders terminate contract

"Long Island Faceoff" Staff Report

Islanders forward Sebastian Collberg cleared unconditional waivers on Saturday. His standard player contract has been terminated.

Collberg was placed on waivers by the Islanders on Friday.

Collberg had three goals and seven assists for ten points, and a -4 plus-minus rating in 42 games for the Islanders AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers this season.

Islanders eliminated from playoffs with 4-0 loss to Lightning

"Long Island Faceoff" Staff Report

The Islanders were eliminated from the 2016 Stanley Cup
Playoffs on Sunday.

TAMPA, FL – The New York Islanders are officially eliminated from the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Islanders went into their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday in a do-or-die situation. Down 3-1 in the series, the Islanders either would win and keep the series going, or lose and be eliminated from the post-season.

They lost 4-0.

The Tampa Bay Lightning had goals from Victor Hedman (2), Brian Boyle and Nikita Kucherov to breeze past the Islanders.

"Brutal," Islanders captain John Tavares said after the game. "It's hard to believe it's over."

With the win, the Lightning will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season.

Thomas Greiss made 21 saves for the Islanders, while Ben Bishop made 25 saves for the Lightning.

The Islanders outshot the Lightning 28-25.

GAME NOTES:
Officials:
Referees: Dan O'Rourke, Frederick L'Ecuyer, Chris Lee
Linesmen: Michel Cormier, Matt MacPherson, Steve Miller

Head Coaches:
Jack Capuano (New York Islanders)
Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay Lightning)

New York Islanders Scratches: Steve Bernier, Eric Boulton, Marc-Andre Cliche, Michael Dal Colle, Justin Florek, Christopher Gibson, Mikhail Grabovski, Jaroslav Halak, Bracken Kearns, Anders Lee, Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech, Brian Strait, James Wright, Marek Zidlicky


Tampa Bay Lightning Scratches: Dylan Blujus, Mike Blunden, J.T. Brown, Erik Condra, Anthony DeAngelo, Adam Erne, Kristers Gudlevskis, Tye McGinn, Nikita Nesterov, Matthew Peca, Brayden Point, Tanner Richard, Steven Stamkos, Anton Stralman, Matt Taormina, Joel Vermin, Adam Wilcox

Game 4 Recap: Lightning 2, Islanders 1 (OT)

Game Recap from the Islanders website.

When you get down to eight teams, hockey becomes a game of inches.

The New York Islanders feel they lost Game 4 by that margin, falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in overtime, now trailing the series 3-1.

Jason Garrison scored the OT winner 1:34 into the extra frame, again leaving the Islanders feeling like they had been the better team for at least a majority of the contest.

“I thought we outplayed them most of the game,” said Kyle Okposo. “They made some plays and got some timely goals.”

Okposo had the Islanders up 1-0 early on a power-play goal and they held that lead for most of the contest. But like Game 3, another game where they felt they played well enough to win, the Lightning scored a third period goal sending the game to overtime.

“They were probably our two best games of the playoffs,” Matt Martin said. “When you let teams hang around, they find ways to come back.”

Nikita Kucherov tied the game at one 7:49 into the third period, beating Thomas Greiss with a slap shot, short side. Kucherov and Garrison were the Lightning goal scorers, but the real culprit on this night was the Islanders inability to convert on their chances.

“Scoring one goal against this team it's going to be tough [to win], but I was pleased with the effort the guys put forth tonight,” head coach Jack Capuano said.

John Tavares hit a post, Okposo was denied on a two-on-one rush with Tavares and Ben Bishop plugged enough holes in the Lightning dam to keep the Islanders from breaking through. The Islanders also had a golden opportunity in the first period, when Ryan Callahan took a four-minute roughing minor, but were unable to convert on the long man advantage.

“Especially four minutes you want to try to take advantage early in the game,” said Ryan Strome, who was back in the lineup after being scratched in Game 3. “We have to capitalize. They are such a good team that we aren’t going to get too many of these opportunities."

Greiss made 20 saves in the loss, while Bishop made 27 saves in the win. The Islanders peppered Bishop early as they outshot the Lightning 16-5 in the first period, with Tampa coach Jon Cooper saying Bishop “saved” his team.

With the loss, the Islanders head down to Tampa for Game 5 facing elimination for the first time. The Islanders spoke of their resiliency after the game and said the objective is clear now.

“Nothing needs to be said, we know what has to be done now,” Shane Prince said. “We have to win three straight and it starts next game in Tampa.”

The comeback starts Sunday at 3 p.m.; one inch at a time.

NOTES: JF Berube made his NHL playoff debut Friday, playing 4:47 in the second period while Greiss was deal with a skate issue. Berube made two saves, both shorthanded.

Isles lose to Lightning 5-4 in OT, trail series 2-1

NEW YORK (AP) Brian Boyle scored at 2:48 of overtime to lift the Tampa Bay Lightningto a 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night for a 2-1 lead in their second-round series.

Nikita Kucherov tied it in the final minute of regulation, and Ryan Callahan, Victor Hedman and Vladislav Namestnikov also scored for the Lightning. Ben Bishop stopped 35 shots.

On the winning goal, the Lightning were on an odd-man rush and Hedman fired a shot from the left side that was wide, but the rebound came off the boards and right to Boyle in front at the right side of the goal and he tapped it in for the win.

Josh Bailey, back after missing the first two games of this series with an upper-body injury, had two goals, and Nick Leddy and Cal Clutterbuck also scored for the Islanders. Thomas Greiss finished with 36 saves.

Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night.

Islanders lose to Lightning, series tied up at 1

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Johnson had two goals and an assist and Tampa Bay beat New York to even the second-round series at a game apiece.

Lightning goalie Ben Bishop rebounded after being pulled in second period of Game 1 to make 19 saves. He gave up four goals on 13 shots Wednesday night in a 5-3 loss.

Jonathan Drouin and Victor Hedman each had a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay.

Nikolay Kulemin scored for the Islanders, and Thomas Greiss 27 stopped shots.

Game 3 is Tuesday night in Brooklyn.

After Islanders teammates Cal Clutterbuck and Nick Leddy collided at the Tampa Bay blue line, the Lightning got an odd-man rush that resulted in Johnson's backhander that opened the scoring 6:03 into the game. Johnson extended the Tampa Bay advantage to 4-1 with a late empty-netter.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This game took place on Saturday, April 30, 2016.