After two awful losses and one wobbly win in a crucial week, Mike and Dan discuss how this Islanders season has felt like a huge waste of time for everyone. Sure, Adam Pelech (of all people) scoring in overtime against the Penguins felt good. But the goal came after yet another blown third period lead and gave away a point to another team in the same playoff chase. Instead of using the win as a springboard to a streak, the Islanders lost winnable games against the Blues (in a shutout) and Lightning (at home, in a matinee), that left them seven points back of a playoff berth and left us questioning why we're even still watching. If you’re not building towards something and not contending, what even are you? How can you waste some legitimately great seasons from Mat Barzal and Noah Dobson like this? And why is one team’s bad loss “unacceptable,” while the Islanders can have months of them? We ask these burning questions and look ahead at a week that could mean the difference between meaningful games in March or a sale at the deadline.

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Mike and Dan react to the Islanders' gut-wrenching loss in the Stadium Series game against the Rangers at Met Life Stadium and a season full of gut-wrenching losses. For 55 minutes, the game was a fun one for Islanders fans who braved the travel and the cold to see the spectacle that only comes around once every 10 years. Then in the blink of an eye, it happened as it has so many times this season. Sloppy plays, penalties and powerplay goals against, then an incomprehensible giveaway seconds into overtime. Another lost point and another blown win, this time on the biggest stage of all. It all points to something rotten inside the roster, and although they're still mathematically alive, there are no moments of rest left for them. In the second half, they look at the announcement of the 2026 NHL All Star Game coming to UBS Arena, review the broadcast of Sunday's outdoor game and look ahead the next week of games.

Don’t forget about our live event at the brand new Offside Tavern in NYC on March 30th at 4 pm. Bring your Weird Islanders jerseys, shirts and swag because we want to hear your stories for a live podcast to be released soon after.

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Joined again by podcaster and actor Michael Paul Smith, we remember when the Islanders were gifted two time Stanley Cup champion goalie Chris Osgood, who helped their quick transformation in the early 2000’s.

The late 90’s Detroit Red Wings and Islanders were barely playing the same sport. One was the best team of its era and the other was all but dead in the water. But after making splashy trades for centers Michael Peca and Alexei Yashin, the Islanders - now owned by billionaire Charles Wang - were in position to take advantage of the Red Wings having to put Osgood on waivers after they signed Dominik Hasek. With “Ozzy” giving them the best netminding they had seen in years, the Islanders emerged as a force and rolled into a classic playoff series against Toronto.

Mike, Mike and Dan talk about where they were when they heard about Osgood’s acquisition (shoutout to Cheesecake Factory) and how wild it was to see such a respected, decorated player wearing the blue and orange. Well, at least some blue and orange... with Osgood’s mismatched pad set-up being just as memorable as the team he played on. We talk about how quickly he fell into the Islanders mindset, how his trade away a year later let the air out of an exciting run and how Osgood remembers his short time on Long Island (Spoiler: it’s occasionally painful).

Thanks again to Michael for coming on again. It’s always great catching up with him. Listen to his hilarious sketch comedy podcast Ted and Michael Read Sketches into Microphones wherever you get your podcasts.

Don’t forget about our live event at the brand new Offside Tavern in NYC on March 30th at 4 pm. Bring your Weird Islanders jerseys, shirts and swag because we want to hear your stories for a live podcast to be released soon after.

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Mike and Dan look back at an eventful week for the Islanders and elsewhere, with big wins, a frustrating loss, controversies up north and maybe some light tax evasion. They start with Saturday's sleepy loss to Calgary, another missed opportunity for a team that can't afford any, and how things could have been worse if not for a friendly out-of-town scoreboard. Then they go back to electric wins of the Lightning and Leafs last week that had us believing in Patrick Roy and Patrick Roy loving his new favorite "heart people." There's still time, but it gets shorter every day for Roy and the Islanders, and seems all but up for one player. In the second half, they look ahead to a suddenly important game against the inconsistent Kraken and then Sunday's Stadium Series tilt against the Rangers. With the Islanders needing every point they can get, the spectacle of the big outdoor stage is all but lost on us. Let's hope it's memorable in a good way. Finally, they get to the madness emanating from Toronto - between the Leafs captain's battle with the Canadian IRS, to disrespectful empty net goals to a little blindside cross checking between rivals, it's a lot and had to be memorialized with a new edition of Master Leaf Theatre.

Don’t forget about our live event at the brand new Offside Tavern in NYC on March 30th at 4 pm. Bring your Weird Islanders jerseys, shirts and swag because we want to hear your stories for a live podcast to be released soon after.

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Mike and Dan come out of the NHL All Star Break with no idea how the Islanders will fare in the crucial next few games and with an epic edition of Master Leaf Theatre. While the team was on break (sans Mathew Barzal, who was part of the winning All Star team), Lou Lamoriello was making moves, including (officially) hiring Patrick Roy's new assistant coach, waiving frustrating forward Julien Gauthier and activating both Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech, who might be in the lineup on Monday in Toronto. The Islanders are going to need all hands on deck and a string of wins to get back into the drivers seat in a crowded playoff race. Will a long leash for Oliver Wahlstrom, a bunch of home games and a French Canadian Revolution be enough? We have no idea. But we do know that the cringe factor was high during an all-Toronto All Star Weekend, gifting us a three-part Master Leaf Theatre for the ages. At least some players get it, even if the people covering them don't.

Don’t forget about our live event at the brand new Offside Tavern in NYC on March 30th at 4 pm. Bring your Weird Islanders jerseys, shirts and swag because we want to hear your stories for a live podcast to be released soon after.

Subscribe to our Patreon! Plans start as low as $2 a month and patrons get ad-free episodes of the shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more.

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Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Bandcamp and on Spotify.

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Mike and Dan catch up with NHL.com editor and all around Islanders luminary Brian Compton and remember Michael Dal Colle, a high first round pick who took the long road to become a fine defensive forward.

With a pedigree that included bushels of goals and a Memorial Cup, Dal Colle seemed like the perfect pick for the still building Islanders. But before he could take his place on John Tavares’s wing, the young forward would experience a series of demoralizing setbacks. Whether it was injuries, getting cut from Team Canada or frustrating slumps, Dal Colle just couldn’t catch a break for years. Then a funny thing happened: he emerged from the minors as a defensive wizard, helping lock down other teams and playing a key role in the Islanders two recent semifinal seasons (albeit mostly in the regular season).

Compton walks us through his interactions with Dal Colle during his time covering the Islanders, and tells us what Dal Colle was expected to be and how he changed his game over time. We also talk about how Dal Colle’s family played a huge role in his story, which is still ongoing as he tours Europe on a number of teams.

Thanks again to BComp for coming on. While he’s not on the Islanders everyday beat anymore, his presence and influence is still all over Islanders Twitter, blogs and podcasts. And yes, the Mets are still ruining his life.

Don’t forget about our live event at the brand new Offside Tavern in NYC on March 30th at 4 pm. Bring your Weird Islanders jerseys, shirts and swag because we want to hear your stories for a live podcast to be released soon after.

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Our theme is "Knuckles" by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp.

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With a bye week for the Islanders looming, Mike and Dan look at a potpourri of topics including more irritating losses, small strides and the team's big picture outlook. New coach Patrick Roy is trying to get his players on the same page, but hasn't had much time. And so many of the problems that plagued his predecessor are still costing the Islanders points. With a tough but not insurmountable deficit staring at them when they resume play, it makes us wonder about both the present and the future. We also discuss the upcoming All Star festivities, the newly-revealed Stadium Series jerseys, the surprising faces of Alumni Night, Roy using this week to find a place to live on Long Island and other issues. It's a supersized episode and just the beginning of what we have coming out this week.

Don’t forget about our live event at the brand new Offside Tavern in NYC on March 30th at 4 pm. Bring your Weird Islanders jerseys, shirts and swag because we want to hear your stories for a live podcast to be released soon after.

Subscribe to our Patreon! Plans start as low as $2 a month and patrons get ad-free episodes of the shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more.

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Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Bandcamp and on Spotify.

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Mike and Dan recap the first game of the Islanders' Patrick Roy experience, and reflect on some of the bigger stories at play in this new era. While their 3-2 overtime win over Dallas featured a lot of the same mistakes they've been making all season (as well as a fantastic game-winning goal by Bo Horvat), there was a noticeable uptick in energy. That might be just players trying to make a good first impression, but with post game comments from both them and the new coach, it's hard not to be excited at the Islanders' new direction. They also talk about Roy's redemption arc and how him being on the Islanders might not be so crazy to comprehend after all. In the second half, they look ahead at three big games this, including one in Roy's hometown, the sudden emergence of French language media following the team and the misunderstood comedic stylings of one Louis Anthony Lamoriello.

Don’t forget about our live event at the brand new Offside Tavern in NYC on March 30th at 4 pm. Bring your Weird Islanders jerseys, shirts and swag because we want to hear your stories for a live podcast to be released soon after.

Subscribe to our Patreon! Plans start as low as $2 a month and patrons get ad-free episodes of the shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more.

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Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Bandcamp and on Spotify.

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Mike is back from Mexico, Lane Lambert is finally out and Patrick Roy is the Islanders' new coach. We try to unpack it all in a special emergency episode. After a dreadful, dreary loss in overtime a barely AHL-quality Blackhawks squad and some pointed comments afterward, Lou Lamoriello finally decided that his team needed a new voice. So on a Saturday afternoon, he decided to not only pull the trigger but bring in a big name that's spent years in Junior after a short, mixed NHL coaching stint. No one saw Patrick Roy - a player who seemed to be on a different planet than the Islanders teams of his hey day - walking through the doors of Northwell Health Ice Center. His first press conference already gave us a lot to talk about but we also discuss why Lambert wasn't the right fit, what Roy might bring to the job and just how surreal this whole thing is. Oh, and there's a game Sunday night against Dallas.

Don’t forget about our live event at the brand new Offside Tavern in NYC on March 30th at 4 pm. Bring your Weird Islanders jerseys, shirts and swag because we want to hear your stories for a live podcast to be released soon after.

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Joined by producer and podcaster Tyler Gildin, we remember forward Peter Regin, who came to Long Island to play with his countryman Frans Nielsen and left soon in a deal that quietly remade a few teams.

Signed as a budget free agent with a small chance of upside, Regin started the 2013-14 season with a great goal and high hopes, then quickly went cold for months. Even depth and good vibes seemed too much to ask from him, and he faded into the background of a disappointing team going nowhere. When he and another sideways summer signing were dumped for a draft pick at the deadline, it seemed like a merciful end to a sad short story. But that was only the beginning... and it turns out the Islanders are still haunted by the episode even today.

Thanks so much to Tyler for coming on. It was a long time in the making but it resulted in an episode for the ages. Check out his funny fatherhood podcast, Father Material, and keep an eye out for some of the film projects he’s created over his career.

Don’t forget about our live event at the brand new Offside Tavern in NYC on March 30th at 4 pm. Bring your Weird Islanders jerseys, shirts and swag because we want to hear your stories for a live podcast to be released soon after.

Subscribe to our Patreon! Plans start as low as $2 a month and patrons get ad-free episodes of the shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more.

Visit our friends:

Our theme is "Knuckles" by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp.

Drum sfx via Zapsplat.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices