Islanders prospects daily: Sound Tigers look for second win over Bruins

Welcome to your daily recap for New York Islanders prospects! You’ll find an update on stats from prospects in action yesterday, a round-up of who’s playing today, and I’ll tell you how some of those prospects in action yesterday are doing in my prospects rankings.

With little action on the prospect front, there’s no movement in my rankings to report today.

Prospects update from yesterday

• Ruslan Iskhakov (TPS)
  • Stats: 4SOG, 70 FOW%, 14:06TOI
  • Season stats: 48GP, 9G, 26A, 35Pts, 15:09 ATOI
• Matias Rajaniemi (Pelicans)
  • Stats: N/A
  • Season stats: 44GP, 3G, 6A, 9Pts, 15:36 ATOI

  With a 2-1 loss, TPS dropped only its second game in twelve matches. Ruslan Iskhakov didn’t register a point in the loss but was strong in the faceoff dot for the first time in a long time. His 70% efficiency was the highest in five games.

  I’m not sure what else to say about the Isles 2018 second-round pick. He’s a very creative and offensively gifted forward who’s taken big strides in his defensive game under head coach – and former Islanders player – Raimo Helminen.

  I’ve said it for a while now, but I expect him to sign a deal with the Islanders for 2021-22 and start in Bridgeport.

  Matias Rajaniemi didn’t play yesterday. I’ve reached out to the team to figure out what’s going on with the Isles prospect. He was on the team sheet a few days ago but didn’t actually play. I would imagine his absence isn’t related to any sort of squad rotation. Hopefully, the team will get back to me soon on the matter.

  New York Islanders prospects in action today

  • Bridgeport Sound Tigers

  The Sound Tigers take on the Providence Bruins today. Bridgeport is 1-6-0 against the Bruins AHL farm team this year. Over their last three games, the Bruins have run a 3-0 record against the Sound Tigers and hold a +9 goal differential.

  Samuel Bolduc now shares the team lead in points. Cole Bardreau is now also at seven points on the year after two goals against the Hartford Wolf Pack. Bolduc is clearly having a strong year, but it must be a relief for Brent Thompson to see a veteran start to play well.

  Simon Holmstrom is having a slightly better year. His production rate has gone up from 0.32 points-per-game to 0.46 this year (five points in eleven games). That might sound low for a first-rounder, but Holmstrom was always going to be a bit of a project. At least it’s trending in the right direction.