EXCLUSIVE: Rocky’s Fighting Words Made The Bridgeport Islanders Punching Bags No Longer Bridgeport Islanders head coach Rocky Thompson details how he changed the team’s culture, built accountability, and pushed a once-fragile group back into the playoffs.

Rocky Thompson once said, “We aren’t going to be the punching bags anymore.”

In Year 1, he backed it up—detailing how he reshaped Bridgeport's culture, demanded accountability & pushed a fragile group back into the playoffs.

@TheElmonters Exclusive ⤵️

www.theelmonters.com/p/bridgeport...

#Isles prospect Cole Eiserman is already seeing growth in his two-way game since joining Bridgeport.

www.theelmonters.com/p/cole-eiser...

Why Mathew Barzal Is Part Of The Islanders' Solution Moving on from Mathew Barzal won’t fix the Islanders. Here’s why he remains central to their future and long-term success.

Amidst the fan finger-pointing, Mathew Barzal’s role and importance have become a major talking point.

Why he’s still key to what comes next for the #Isles @TheElmonters ⤵️

www.theelmonters.com/p/mathew-bar...

Islanders Rookie Matthew Schaefer Describes First NHL Season in One Word New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer reflects on his first NHL season and sums it up in just one word. Teammates also share what makes him so special.

Ask #Isles Matthew Schaefer for one word on his season…he couldn't stop at one.

Ask his teammates, and you’ll get smiles, laughs—and a whole lot more @TheElmonters [Free Friday] ⤵️

www.theelmonters.com/p/islanders-...

From Islanders Debut To Bridgeport: 5 Takeaways On Victor Eklund’s Game Victor Eklund turned his Islanders debut into a statement—and carried it into Bridgeport. Here are five takeaways from his NHL debut and AHL follow-up.

Victor Eklund turned a meaningless game into a must-watch in his #Isles debut—and didn’t slow down back in Bridgeport.

Here are 5 takeaways from his game @TheElmonters ⤵️

www.theelmonters.com/p/islanders-...

Takeaways From Mathieu Darche's Season-Ending Presser, After His First Season As Islanders GM Mathieu Darche spoke with us on locker room cleanout day. Here's the latest.

Will be diving into a lot more from break-up day, but wanted to provide a takeaway piece on the important things #Isles GM Mathieu Darche touched on today @TheElmonters

www.theelmonters.com/p/mathieu-da...

#Isles Victor Eklund, who recorded an assist, two shots on goal, and two hits playing on the top line & top power play in his #NHL debut:

“I had the best time of my life. It was so much fun. Obviously, a really good league, the hardest out there. And think it went pretty well.”

#Isles HC Pete DeBoer on his four games behind the bench:

"I was fairly happy with how we defended. We didn't score. Power Play needs a ton of work. We're starting to put in some building blocks, and are ahead of the game that way for next year."

Eklund said he told Horvat that Horvat is keeping the puck. Horvat said he already told the trainers it's Eklund's, so he has no choice. Appreciates it, but he won't accept it.

#Isles

Asked #Isles HC Pete DeBoer about Isaiah George, who DeBoer saw play in person for the first time tonight:

"Big kid, real good feet, good skater, good first pass. He looks like an NHL defenseman to me."

#Isles Matthew Schaefer on crowd chanting his name following final buzzer:

"These are the best fans in the league. I don't think I've had this much fun ever playing hockey."

#Isles fall 2-1 to #CarolinaCulture in their season finale. Drop 7 of 8 to close their season.

#Isles to the PP with 13:41 to go in the third. 1-1. Schaefer gonna shoot, just a guess.

Pelech for cross-checking with 16:10 to go in the third. 1-1. #Isles

#Isles pushing hard here early in third for Schaefer to get the record-breaking goal. Almost led to Eklund getting his first NHL goal.

1-1 afer 2. Horvat scores the tying. #Isles

Bussi putting on a clinic. #Isles

Funny thing with Barzal feeding Horvat for the goal. Scored at 13:14 of the second. #Isles

Loud roar from #Isles faithful here when Eklund was announced for his secondary assist on Horvat's goal.

On a delayed penalty, Bo Horvat scores to tie the game at 1-1 with 6:46 to go in the second.

Immediately goes to get the puck for Victor Eklund, who recorded the secondary assist.

That's Horvat's 300th career goal, mind you. He'll be giving to Eklund, for sure.

#Isles

9:48 to go in the second. 1-0 CAR. #Isles

Back for the second. #Isles down 1-0.

1-0 CAR after 1. Eklund looks real strong. Shots are 9-7 NYI. #Isles

Schaefer just put on a clinic before his point shot through a screen went just high. #Isles

A stick was stuck behind #Isles net. Rittich fires the stick around the boards, and it keeps sliding, forcing CAR offside as the puck hit the puck carrier.

Ehlers flying down the right side off the rush beats Rittich blocker side with 16:55 to go in the first. #Isles down 1-0.

#Isles vs. #CarolinaCulture is a go.

Classy by DeBoer, starting Anders Lee.

Lee-Pageau-Heineman
George-Mayfield
Rittich

#Isles

This is Sound Beach's native Brandon Bussi's first game on Long Island. #Isles

#Isles lines vs. #CarolinaCulture are brought to you by @bullsmithsli:

Holmstrom-Horvat-Eklund
Schenn-Barzal-Ritchie
Lee-Pageau-Heineman
Foudt-Cizikas-Palat

Pelech-Schaefer
Soucy-DeAngelo
George-Mayfield

Rittich
Sorokin