Islanders prospects daily: Iskhakov and Rajaniemi clash today

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.

Prospects update from yesterday

• Bridgeport Sound Tigers
  • Otto Koivula: 1A, 1SOG,
  • Mitchell Vande Sompel: 1A, 2SOG
  • Parker Wotherspoon: 1A, 2SOG,

  It was another loss for Bridgeport yesterday, but they played a strong game and took the Bruins to overtime. Providence’s Oskar Steen scored the OT game-winner just 2:31 into the extra frame. Brent Thompson will certainly be pleased with his team’s performance even in a loss.

  After being a healthy scratch by Thompson, Koivula has responded well enough with three points over his last three games.

  Simon Holmstrom, the Isles first-round pick from 2019, has been pointless and shotless over the last two games.

  New York Islanders prospects in action today

  • Ruslan Iskhakov (TPS)
  • Matias Rajaniemi (Pelicans)

  Both Islanders prospects take the ice to face off against each other today. Yes, that means Matias Rajaniemi is listed on the team sheet. I’m still waiting on word from the team on what took place the other day when he was listed but didn’t actually play.

  A win for Rajaniemi’s side could vault them up to sixth in the Liiga standings. A win for TPS would just cement their top-three status more.

  Both teams (and players) are having opposite levels of play at the moment. TPS is 8-2-0 over their last ten games while Lahti is 5-4-1.

  While Rajaniemi is being rotated in and out of the lineup, Ruslan Iskhakov is a staple of TPS’s potent attack. Over his last ten games, Iskhakov has nine points (three goals and six helpers).

  Collin Adams signing watch

  Adams teams mate and UND captain Jordan Kawaguchi just signed a one-year ELC with the Dallas Stars yesterday, I suspect that Adams will be signed by the Islanders soon enough.

  We’ve signed forward Jordan Kawaguchi to a one-year, entry-level contract. Kawaguchi will report to the @TexasStars. #GoStars https://t.co/GMD5xZP9I5

  — Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) March 31, 2021

  Bridgeport still has half an AHL season to play so there’s time for him to get set and have an impact this season. We’ll see if Lou and Chris Lamoriello feel the same way. But with the way Bridgeport has played this season, and seeing how missing talent down the middle, bringing him, even for a bottom-six role, would be a welcomed addition.