For the second straight year, the New York Islanders will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes in round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Since 2019, the Islanders have played the Hurricanes twice in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Islanders have struggled immensely against the Hurricanes in the postseason, going 2-8 in 10 playoff games. In 2019, the Hurricanes swept the Islanders. In just four games, the Hurricanes outscored the Islanders 13 to five. Hurricanes captain Justin Williams scores to give the Hurricanes the lead in Game 3 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 1, 2 ..read more

As the Islanders head into the postseason for the second consecutive year against the Carolina Hurricanes, the team needs to have a big postseason performance from Bo Horvat. Horvat’s leadership presence and natural goal-scoring abilities have the potential to provide a significant boost for the Islanders. Last season, at about the halfway mark of the NHL season, the Islanders decided to shake things up. The Islanders traded fan favorite Anthony Beauvillier as well as Aatu Raty, a conditional first-round draft pick to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for their 28-year-old captain ..read more

Regardless of how the Islanders finish out the 2023-24 season, one thing remains clear: The team is simply not a playoff team. The Islanders are not the same team that went to two straight Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021. Over the last three seasons, the philosophy of the Islanders’ management has been one of throwing stuff at the wall, hoping that something will stick. In other words, trying to add different players to a group is just not good enough. The Islanders have not been shy about pulling the trigger on trades and trying to infuse key players into the lineup. Three differen ..read more

Although, this season has been disappointing for the New York Islanders. Multiple players on the team have elevated their game to new levels. One player who has raised their level of play this season is Long Island native Kyle Palmieri. Palmieri’s strong play this season rivals his point production levels to his New Jersey Devils days, arguably the best years of his career. However, when analyzing Kyle Palmieri’s overall time with the New York Islanders, his play has been slightly underwhelming. The Islanders acquired Palmieri from the New Jersey Devils right before the 2021 trade deadline. Th ..read more

Most people go their entire life without launching an app, releasing an album or signing a professional hockey contract. Joshua Ho-Sang did all three in one week. But he told Drive4Five that this did not happen overnight — it was the culmination of a lifetime of hard work, adversity and growth. “I really appreciate how people have tried to see past the mistakes that an 18-year-old made and the mistakes that a 22-year-old made,” Ho-Sang said. “I really appreciate the people who give me space to grow and who support me through that growth.” Those mistakes have been well-documented. In 2015, Ho-S ..read more

There is a famous quote by mixed martial artist Connor McGregor. During a press conference before a fight, McGregor opined that his opponent “should have killed…[him]… when he had the chance. Because now…[he is] back and” out for vengeance. While the New York Islanders do not play in an Octagon, the teams in the NHL failed to kill the Islanders’ playoff hopes when the team was struggling. Even during the Islanders’ most brutal stretches this season, the team still managed to pick up points in overtime and shootout losses. Connor McGregor dropped the ceremonial puck pre-game before the Columbus ..read more

As the New York Islanders continue into their final stretch of the season, one player who has put together a solid season thus far is Brock Nelson. While Nelson remains very much under the radar, the Minnesota native is on pace for another 35-goal season. Brock Nelson took a massive jump for the Islanders during last season. In 2022-2023, Nelson put up a career-high 75 points in 82 games, scoring 36 goals and notching 39 assists. Because of Nelson’s stellar play, he was selected to attend his first NHL All-Star Game. Nelson represented the New York Islanders in Sunrise, Florida for the 2023 NH ..read more

Despite flashes of success throughout the 2023-24 season, the Islanders  are heading for another early end to their season. The Islanders are on track to miss the postseason for the second time in three seasons. Missing the playoffs will signify a significant blow to the Islanders standing as a team with the capacity to pose a significant threat in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders are no longer the team that went to three straight postseasons from 2019 to 2021 and was a single game away from the Stanley Cup Final. While the Islanders are not yet eliminated from playoff contention and ..read more

The Stadium Series is finally here. And FOCO, a leading manufacturer of sports and entertainment bobbleheads, has a perfect way to celebrate. FOCO just released their 2024 NHL Stadium Series bobblehead collection, a must-have for hockey enthusiasts and collectors alike. This exclusive collection celebrates the fierce rivalry and camaraderie within the Metropolitan Division, featuring iconic players and beloved mascots from the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers. The collection boasts intricately designed bobbleheads for two of the most notable faces ..read more

Over a month ago, on New Year’s Day, the National Hockey League hosted its 15th annual Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington. The 2024 Winter Classic saw the Seattle Kraken face off against the Las Vegas Golden Knights. Today, the NHL announced Wrigley Field for the 2025 Winter Classic with a matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues. The Winter Classic is a yearly event with players taking to the ice on New Year’s Day with rinks fashioned in baseball and football stadiums. The Winter Classic first emerged in 2008 when the Buffalo Sabres played against the Pi ..read more