Catch of the Day: Apr '25

All the Islanders news that's fit to print!

The Iceman Cometh

When shipping out a hefty package of futures (NYI 1st 2026, VGK 2nd 2025, MIN 2nd 2025) in order to bolster their middle-six depth, the Islanders were surely expecting big things from new acquisition Troy Terry.

Instead, the 27-year-old right winger started his Islanders tenure ice-cold, contributing no goals, 3 assists, and just 11 shots through his first 8 games.

Things looked slightly better after Terry finally potted his first goal for the Isles in their most recent game against Columbus, while also contributing 3 SOG. Nevertheless, Terry knows he has more to give, especially in light of the plum opportunity he is getting alongside Nathan MacKinnon on the Isles' second powerplay unit.

"Yeah I mean it hasn't been the start anyone wanted, myself included," said Terry. "It's been a bit of an adjustment, especially now that I'm playing farther down the lineup than I was in New Jersey.

"But that just means I have to make the most of my chances when they do come. If I concentrate on that, things will work out over the long haul."

Heading into the second half of the season, the Islanders will be counting on it.

Things Going Swimmingly

Just like their parent club on Long Island, the Toledo Walleye are also exactly halfway through their schedule, and things couldn't be going much better in making up for a disastrous 2023-24 campaign.

With 36 games in the books, the Walleye sit first in the American Hockey League standings, giving them a clear path to the playoffs as long as they can avoid any major stumbles over the final 36.

On that front, the club and its fans can be encouraged by the "underlying" numbers the team is posting on a per-game basis, with the Walleye producing 3.78 goals (2nd in the AHL) on 33 shots (also 2nd).

Things are slightly less rosy on the defensive side of the ledger, with the team surrendering 30.6 shots against per game, placing them 23rd in the AHL. However, thanks to some excellent tandem work from goaltenders Magnus Hellberg (.907 Sv%) and Jaxson Stauber (.930 Sv%), the Walleye have surrendered just 2.78 goals against per game, good for 5th best in the league. 

Throw in a league-leading powerplay that's clicking at an outstanding 26.1% and a penalty kill that sits 5th in the league at 85.5%, and there's nothing under the hood to suggest that Toledo is in for a big second-half regression. 

Naturally, it's on the players and coaches to turn that optimism into reality. But for a club seeking some redemption after two playoff misses in three years, it's all going swimmingly so far.