Tavares & Bailey are All-Stars, Bellows & Sorokyn Impress

John Tavares and Josh Bailey are heading to Tampa Florida and will be representing the New York Islanders January 27-28 on All-Star Weekend at Amalie Arena. Tavares will be making his 5^th appearance and Josh Bailey will be making his well-deserved, 1^st career appearance as an NHL All-Star.

Per Release, “Tavares, 27, scored four goals for Team Toews during 2015 All-Star weekend in Columbus, OH, tying an NHL All-Star Game record as the sixth player ever to score four. In 2016 in Nashville, TN, Tavares won the Accuracy Shooting contest during the Skills Competition while serving as the Metropolitan Division team captain. Last year, he helped the Metropolitan Division team win the 2017 All-Star Game in Los Angeles.”

John Tavares leads the Islanders at the break with team leading 51 points (22 & 29 in 43 games) and good enough for 2^nd in goals and assists on the team. Per release,
“He's averaging over a point per game (1.19) and currently is tied for sixth in the NHL in scoring. In 630 career NHL games, spanning nine seasons with the Islanders, Tavares has 588 points (257 goals, 331 assists).”

Josh Bailey, 28, was recently named 2^nd star in the month of December. He has certainly made a huge splash over the course of this season. With 50 points (12 & 38) in 43 games, Bailey is tied for 2^nd in the NHL for assists and 8^th in total points. Per release, “Bailey has totaled 356 points (118 goals and 238 assists) in 681 career games. Bailey was quoted as saying, "This was my first real time having a shot at it, so I'm honored." He added, "I'm looking forward to the experience and going down there and sharing it with my family."

Both nominations are well earned.

But since we’re on the subject, where was the nod for Anders Lee? Anders Lee is part of the Isles 1^st line that has helped them rank among the tops in the NHL team scoring totals. At the time of this article and being idle for 3 days on their mandatory NHL break, the Isles rank 3^rd overall with 143 goals for (TBL,WPG).

Lee has contributed 40 points (25 & 15) and has been instrumental in New York’s goal scoring. His contributions include, but are hardly limited to, physical play, screening opposing goaltenders and contributing to numerous scoring opportunities. Anders Lee is 3rd in NHL goals behind Kucherov and Ovechkin and is in the top 25 in the league for points, 1st on the Isles in goals, has been a leader and top contributor for his team, doing all the types of things that are not counted on the score sheet. Per The Hockey News, Anders Lee has the most goals in the NHL per 60 minutes played. Oddly enough though, that doesn’t seem to qualify him for an All-Star appearance. The Isles are slumping, I get it. But you cant downplay the kind of game brought by Anders lee this season. It's just not right.

Team USA was disappointed to fall short of defending their Gold medal title at the 2018 WJC in Buffalo. However, Isles prospect, Kieffer Bellows (1^st round, 19^th overall, 2016 NHL Entry Draft) and Team USA dug in and bested the Czech Republic by a 9-3 score to capture a bronze medal at the World Junior Hockey Championship last week. Bellows also led the tournament in scoring and set a Team USA record formerly held by Jeremy Roenick, with nine goals. It was also the most goals scored by any player in the tournament.

Per Jeremy Roenick, “Congrats to @BellowsKieffer on tying my record for most goals in a single WJC tournament with 8 goals. Pretty awesome! #USA #WorldJuniors” Even Kieffer’s Dad, Brian had something to add to his son’s performance in the 2018 Juniors. Per Eric Hornick, “Brian Bellows on his son Kieffer: "There is no way I could shoot the puck like that".

With his 2018 Bronze and the Gold medal from last year with team USA, it makes 2 career medals at the WJHC for Bellows. It also marks the first-time team USA has medals in its 3 consecutive appearances.

On more from the prospect front, Top Isles goaltending prospect, Ilya Sorokin recorded back-to-back shutouts last week (ties KHL lead) and extended his winning streak to 5 straight.

Ilya Sorokin has roared into 2018. The Russian goalie recorded back-to-back shutouts last week, surrendering one goal in his last 3 games, extending his win streak to five straight games in the process.

“The Islanders' 2014 fourth-round pick is tied for the KHL lead in shutouts with eight on the season, and is second in goals-against average with a 1.39. Sorokin is 22-6-4 this season with a 1.39 GAA and a .935 save percentage.”

The Isles other top goaltending prospect, Linus Soderstrom has had shoulder surgery, but is expected to return to HV71 and not miss remainder of the season in the Swedish Elite League as first reported.

Isles notes:

Islanders return to action at the Rangers on Saturday, January 13th @ 1pm. 

Aho, Fritz and Beauvillier were returned to the BST for the NHL break. Anthony Beauvillier (F) has been emergency recalled from Bridgeport. It is expected that Aho & Fritz may recalled by the Islanders when play resumes.

Per Arthur Staple, “Devon Toews out for the year is a big blow. Org sees him as a top-4 D-man next season and this is a big setback for his development.”

Gary Bettman visits Nassau Coliseum to assess its suitability for Islanders as temporary home.

Per Jim Baumbach, “Wondering why Isles were 'conditionally' designated as Belmont RFP winner? Here's explanation given at ESD board meeting: "Formal designation does not happen until after all of the environmental review has been completed and we have a general project plan to bring to the board. Little has been revealed thus far about timeline for Islanders' Belmont arena. But know this. Environmental review process goes first, and ESD said at its board meeting last month that is expected to take "probably a year plus," with traffic and transportation study a main issue.

ESD officials also said at the board meeting they've already been in touch with @MTA and @LIRR "to start conversations" about upgrading the train station. ESD's Holly Leicht at board meeting: "We will have the formal environmental process, we look to do the scoping hearing for that to start that process in March.

What we know re Islanders/Belmont: - Isles/Barclays discussing interim arena plans. NHL open to Coliseum. Decision likely in matter of weeks. - At Belmont, environmental review process to start in March, expected to last "year-plus," after which Isles are "formally" designated. ESD expects to be ready to do an official lease with Islanders group at Belmont in spring 2019 after an environmental review process that should last "12 to 16 months."

Per Arthur Staple, “Isles reached the halfway mark last night. 44 points — four more than they had halfway through last season. And that first half cost Jack Capuano his job.” Isles remain at 46 points right now.

Per Dimitri Filipovic, “The Islanders have a window here where their top two centers and wingers and wingers are making just $13M combined which is both ridiculous and about to end. With each passing day it becomes more and more indefensible that they’re sitting tight and not doing anything.”

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