Oilers at Islanders, G4 2025-26

The Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders are forever associated with each other in my brain. The first Final between the two (1983) featured an upstart Edmonton team versus an Islanders squad that took just three seasons from expansion to make the playoffs, and eight seasons from expansion to win Stanley. The 1980’s Oilers did even better: Made the playoffs year one after expansion and won Stanley in year five.

It’s more than that, though. In the 1983 FInal, I noticed for the first time that “let’s go, Islanders” and “let’s go, Oilers” sound identical coming out of the television. Damndest thing.

Both teams had brilliant architects (Bill Torrey in New York, Glen Sather in Edmonton), both had multiple Hall of Famers and both won many championships in a short period. Both were arrogant, both could be filthy and both scored gorgeous goals and hard-work goals. Both had two outstanding goaltenders for their Stanley runs.

This year’s Islanders look more like the 1972 version of the team than the 1980 edition. The two leading scorers are Kyle Palmieri (age 34) and Matthew Schaefer (who just turned 18). Emil Heineman is getting plenty of playing time. The team is 0-3-0 and has been outscored 13-7. This should be a victory for the Oilers, but the visitors have had some tough times on the road versus the Islanders over the years.

I don’t like the lines from practice yesterday. The No. 1 unit (Mangiapane-McDavid-Tomasek) is intriguing, and Nuge-Driasiatl-Roslovic should have success. The third line is Podkolzin-Frederic-Kapanen and that line could be a load. The fourth line has Howard-Henrique-Savoie and has a snow ball’s chance in hell of seeing 10 minutes together tonight. You kids out there, don’t play both blue-chip rookies together on the fourth line! I doubt it lasts.

Jake Walman won’t play, he’s day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day-day-to-day. Latest word has him playing on the weekend, so that’s probably March.

Oilers are suppressing opposition offense at incredible levels, but they’re not scoring in a dynamic fashion. Tonight is a great opportunity to fill the net.

On the Lowdown, our feature guest is Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation. We’ll talk Oilers-Islanders and the new lines. We’ll also talk Jays and CFL, and preview the NFL weekend. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.