Intense Practice Brings Out Islanders’ Frustrations After Brutal Loss

 The intensity level was noticeably raised for the New York Islanders at practice this morning following their brutal loss less than 24 hours ago.

The Pittsburgh Penguins came into UBS Arena and kicked their feet up on the table without bothering to take off their shoes, leaving the Islanders with a 7-0 loss.

“You have to come every night and do the things that you need to do in order to win hockey games,” head coach Lane Lambert said. “We got shown that last night, and we learned a hard lesson.”

To ensure that lesson was learned, Lambert put his players through 45 minutes of exhaustive work at Northwell Health Ice Center, where the energy on display was more than any they had at UBS Arena last night.

The practice was cathartic for the team as they exerted their frustrations from the loss on each other and their equipment. A few sticks were the victims of being swung into the boards with forceful anger.

“Nobody’s happy with how things went last night,” Bo Horvat said. “It was a perfect practice for after a game like that. A lot of battle, a lot of compete, and taking frustrations out of your teammates, but in a good way. We needed it.”

In a cruel way, the Islanders may have needed to suffer a loss like they did.

Prior to facing Pittsburgh, they had collected points in 17 of their last 19 games. Wednesday’s loss was only their third loss of a multi-goal margin during that stretch.

“It was a humbling game,” Horvat said. “Just when you think you’re playing well and doing well, the hockey gods come and kick you right back down to keep you level-headed.”

As much as the practice was about learning from the loss to Pittsburgh for the Islanders, it was equally about preparing for their next game.

Against the Washington Capitals tomorrow night, the Islanders’ performance will speak volumes regardless of the result.

Gauthier and Wahlstrom Continue Battle For Spot In Lineup:

It’s nearly at the halfway point of the season, and the right wing on the Islanders’ third line still hasn’t been officially claimed by anyone.

For the last month or so, Julien Gauthier and Oliver Wahlstrom have traded opportunities playing in the seemingly forever open position next on the Islanders’ third line. Neither, though, has asserted themself over the other.

Gauthier appeared to in recent weeks, playing in a stretch of 12 straight games until he took an inadvertent high stick to the eye against the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 19.

Since then, he and Wahlstrom have returned to their usual back and forth.

“I thought I was playing well,” Gauthier said. “Maybe it’s just like one of those things that you don’t play. I hope I’ll get back into it soon.”

Wahlstrom was in the lineup for the Islanders against Pittsburgh last night, enduring the beatdown with the rest of the team.

“As far as Wahlstrom goes, he was like everybody else,” Lambert said. “I didn’t really give anybody a high mark last night.”

To read the tea leaves for a moment, Wahlstrom was still out on the ice after practice. That’s usually a pretty clear indicator that a player won’t be in the lineup for their team’s next game.

Injury Notes:

Goaltender Semyon Varlamov did not participate in practice this morning. He is considered day-to-day with maintenance, and his status for tomorrow night has not yet been determined.

Because a team needs two goalies to practice, the Islanders called up Ken Appleby from AHL Bridgeport to work in Varlamov’s place for the time being. In a corresponding move, defenseman Grant Hutton was sent down.

Casey Cizikas was absent from practice with an illness. Lambert said he expects him to play against Washington.

Scott Mayfield continues to participate in drills at practice while he works his way back from an upper-body injury that has sidelined him since Dec. 11. There is no expectation for Mayfield to be taken off of injured reserve at this moment, according to Lambert.