The Islanders enter the 4 Nations break with a final game in Minnesota, where the Wild will get one last look at Brock Nelson before acquiring him later this month/signing him next summer, in accordance with the Buccigross ‘Worst-Kept Secret’ Prophecies.
They’re coming off a slightly heartbreaking loss last night in Winnipeg — they hung with the West-leading Jets and led 2-1, were undone by a poor three-goal second period, but then showed quite a bit of fight in pulling back to within one and pressing for an equalizer till the end of a 19-shot third period.
Their final power play was eye-openingly good (granted, by their low bar), as they moved the puck around really swiftly and smartly under the pressure of an aggressive Jets penalty kill.