Crucial weekend for Islanders

Maple Leafs add some grit as they prepare for Stanley Cup run

The Charlottetown Islanders are heading into two games with serious playoff implications: March 9 at home against Moncton and March 10 in Bathurst to play the Titan.

It’s a crucial weekend for the Islanders as they trail the Gord Dwyer-coached AcadieBathurst club by seven points with two games in hand. They have a single game later this month with the Titan and five other games, including two with Saint John and a pair with Cape Breton.

The Islanders will have to sweep the Titan to have any chance at seventh place in the Eastern Conference and avoiding the first-place BaieComeau Drakkar, who have lost only five games all year.

I’ve seen Islanders head coach Jim Hulton pull hockey miracles out of his hat, but the task this weekend, while not like the “loaves and fishes” story in the Bible, will still be monumental. Goaltender Carter Bickle has been outstanding down the stretch, and he’ll have to continue his strong play.

ADDING GRIT

The Toronto Maple Leafs added another defenceman in 6’5, 220-pound Joel Edmundson from the Washington Caps. Not flashy, he’s like unheralded Simon Benoit, one of Toronto’s better defenders, who clears out the front of the Toronto goal and likes to hit. Edmundson played a similar role when the St. Louis Blues won the 2019 Stanley Cup.

The Stanley Cup is a marathon grind, and winning teams have plenty of grit, so this is a good move for Toronto. The Leafs last won the Stanley Cup in 1967 with Tim Horton and Marcel Pronovost, a couple of guys who could lug the puck and hit, and with a grinding and physical cast of Allan Stanley, Larry Hillman and Kent Douglas. I see similarities in today’s Toronto blueline of Edmundson, Benoit and newly acquired Ilya Lyubushkin.

Goaltenders Joseph Woll and Ilya Samsonov have played well in recent weeks. Leafs fans should be happy as they head down the NHL stretch as the team now has both skill and a physical presence.

Meanwhile, getting out of the Eastern Conference just got a lot tougher. Florida Panthers grabbed one of Ottawa’s top forwards Vladimir Tarasenko for a couple of mid-round future draft picks. Tarasenko had a no-trade clause in his contract and wanted to go to Florida.

The New York Rangers acquired 29-year-old centre Alex Wenneberg from Seattle for a second- and third-round future draft pick. The Rangers will be without Filip Chytil and Blake Wheeler for the rest of the season, so the deal with the Kraken for Wenneberg, who has nine goals this season, was necessary.

The Boston Bruins have looked just so-so of late in double losses to the Kraken and being spanked by the Islanders and Washington in recent weeks.

Tampa Bay, Detroit, Philadelphia, New York Islanders and New Jersey appear to be on the outside and not capable of a long Stanley Cup run. The always strong Carolina Panthers are in need of more scoring, and it’s certain they are trying to land Pittsburgh star Jake Guentzel, but he’s a much-sought-after commodity.

In the West, almost every playoff team expects to get past the first round, and each has a legitimate chance. Vegas sits fourth in the Pacific West, behind Vancouver, Edmonton and LA Kings while in the Central West, Dallas, Colorado and Winnipeg are separated by just two points, 85-83-83 respectively.

Vegas traded this week for Calgary star defenceman Noah Hanifin for a firstround pick in 2025, a thirdround pick and defenceman Daniil Miromanov and then landed forward Anthony Mantha from Washington. The Oilers added veteran forward Adam Henrique, who can defend and score, plus grinder Sam Carrick from Anaheim Ducks. Vancouver recently traded for Elias Lindholm from Calgary, but that hasn’t worked out and the Canucks are said to be willing to include Lindholm in a package for Guentzel or another top six forward. Winnipeg secured Sean Monahan from the Montreal Canadians, and he has scored eight goals in 12 games and strengthened the Jets powerplay. Dallas Stars acquired defensive specialist Chris Tanev and they think they can win the West.

ON THE TRACK

… There’s plenty of Islandand Maritime-related horses campaigning at major tracks in Canada and the U.S. At Mohawk this past week, Margogotthecargo, a three-year-old filly by Big Jim, came from off the pace to win for James MacDonald in 1:53:1. She remains unbeaten for owner-trainer Andrew Moore. The Blaine Thibeau-bred Western Wish was third in 1:53:2 (purse $28,000) while Woodmere Xspeedia was closing fast but made a break in an $18,000 overnight. Saulsbrook Victor had the rail in the $32,000 top class and cut the trip finishing third to Soaring Now (James MacDonald) in 1:50:4, the winner home in 26 flat. Stratford owner Brady Doyle must be smiling as his pacer Cabot Beach continues to show great form, storming home from far back to be third March 2.

… Don MacRae’s Bee Too Bee was fifth in the $28,000 class but closed with authority and March 9 at Mohawk is dropped in class where he can win.

… American History came from 10th at the head of the long Mohawk stretch and was a fast closing third in 1:50:3. He’s back in tonight where he should win.

… On March 4, J J’s Tommy bred by Jamie MacKinley (by Tobago Cays) stepped to a new record of 1:50:3 in an $18,000 overnight.

… Brookside Johnny was a sharp winner in 1:52:4, a hot trip for owners Doug Polley Sr. and Jr. of Amherst.

… P.E.I. leading driver Marc Campbell is in Saratoga this week driving six on today’s card, including Maritime-bred Soul Assassin in the $15,000 Open vs. an old rival in Twin B Tuffenuff who won last month in 1;54:2 over the half-mile track. He’ll win at least one today, bet on it.