Islanders prospects daily: Ruslan Iskhakov has a big game in semi-finals

Here’s you’re daily New York Islanders prospects report. You’ll find out who played yesterday (and how they did), who’s playing today (and what to look for), and every few updates I’ll tell you how these prospects have moved up (or down) in my prospects rankings.

New York Islanders prospects in action yesterday (30/4/21)

• Ruslan Iskhakov (TPS)
  • Stats: 1G, 1A, 4SOG, 50 FOW%, 16:20TOI
• Reece Newkirk (Winterhawks)
  • Stats: 1A, 5SOG, 60 FOW%

Yesterday I said that both Iskhakov and Newkirk’s teams had to have better outings today, and they certainly did.

Ruslan Iskhakov had a much better game for TPS. He played his role as creator in chief with a nice setup for Josh Kestner’s tally and then put the team on his back for the OT game-winner. He started the goal with an outlet pass from the D-zone and finished it by seemingly willing it into the net.

Justifiably, he was pretty hyped after the goal. His celly afterwards was…original.

Newkirk’s side pulled out a 5-2 win over the Silvertips. It’s their first win over Everett this season. With the win, the Winterhawks are now second in the WHL’s US division, nine points back of Everett.

There are only six games left on Portland’s 20-21 WHL season. I expect Newkirk to get a deal within the Isles organization after the season based on how he’s continued to grow in the minors. I’d expect that deal could be an AHL deal to have him play with Bridgeport.

Prospects in action today (1/5/21)

• Reece Newkirk (Winterhawks)

No rest for the wicked. Newkirk is back on the ice today to face the Tri-City Americans. They’ve faced Tri-City only twice so far, today marks game one of four over the Winterhawks final six games.

The last time these two teams met, Portland came away with a 6-2 win. Newkirk was kept quiet with a single point, a -1 on the night, and 50% in the faceoff dot. Ideally, Newkirk isn’t kept quiet again today.