Tri-State Hockey Podcast · The Nation Network

Episode 36: Islanders Hockey Podcast

March 27, 2026·1 hr 13 min·5 clips

Arthur Staple says Ilya Sorokin would be on his short list for the Vezina and even the Hart Trophy.

1. Tri-State Hockey Podcast episode 36 centers on the Islanders' 2-1 win over Dallas and the team's inconsistency against Chicago. 2. Johnny Lazarus hosts with Arthur Staple, a longtime NHL reporter, and Mike Rupp, a Stanley Cup champion and former player. 3. The episode asks why the Islanders can look simple and structured against Dallas but chaotic against Chicago. 4. Arthur Staple says the Islanders win when they play simple hockey and mentions the 1-0 Columbus win and the 2-1 Dallas result. 5. Mike Rupp says the Islanders are often their own worst enemy when bad puck play leaves goaltenders exposed. 6. The hosts spend time on Ilya Sorokin, David Riddick, and Matthew Schaefer because those names explain the recent results. 7. Riddick is criticized for not stopping enough chances in the first period against Chicago. 8. Sorokin is praised for leading the league in shutouts and several goalie metrics. 9. Schaefer is credited with two assists against Dallas and with fingerprints on key moments almost every night. 10. The panel also breaks down Matthew Schaefer's habit of dropping to one knee to block shots. 11. Rupp calls the one-knee block an art and says he preferred staying on both feet when possible. 12. He tells a story about blocking a shot against the Islanders at the Coliseum and hitting a dead nerve on the outside of his knee. 13. He also recalls taking a shot from Jake Wallman at Providence and limping to the bench. 14. A replay clip shows Rupp diving headfirst at Maine and getting mocked by teammates for a week. 15. A voicemail from Rob in Farmingdale asks why the Islanders' games against Dallas and Chicago looked so different. 16. The hosts answer that opponent quality, early goals, and game state all change how the Islanders play. 17. They also discuss a voicemail from John in Smithtown about the Vezina Trophy and whether favoritism affects the vote. 18. Arthur Staple explains that general managers vote on the Vezina, not the hockey writers, and he points to SportLogic and Clear Sight Hockey data. 19. The tone is conversational, argumentative, and statistics-heavy, with frequent player examples and a few player-story tangents. 20. Islanders fans who want award talk, goalie metrics, and lineup talk will get the most from this episode, while listeners seeking a tight, game-by-game recap may skip it.

As heard by us

A cut-line Islanders discussion about simple hockey and Sorokin's value.

The Islanders come through as a team caught between a sharp night against Dallas and a sloppier one against Chicago, and the panel uses that contrast well.

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Why you'd press play

You want the Islanders' playoff picture explained through the Dallas and Chicago swings.

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