Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp are back for Episode 20 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig — and the Metro couldn’t feel more split right now.

The New York Islanders are rolling, fueled by elite goaltending from Ilya Sorokin, a calm, unflashy dominance that has him firmly in the Vezina conversation. From shutting down Connor McDavid in Edmonton to the continued emergence of Matthew Schaefer, the Isles are winning with belief, structure, and timely offense — forcing real questions about whether this is the moment to push in chips or stay disciplined at the deadline.

On the other side of town, the New York Rangers have hit a breaking point. Defensive structure has collapsed, confidence is gone, and the path forward is suddenly clear but painful. The guys debate whether major pieces like Vincent Trocheck or Artemi Panarin could be on the move — and what Rangers fans are actually watching for the rest of the season.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Episode 20 intro & Metro mood check

02:30 – Islanders shut down Edmonton & Sorokin’s Vezina case

08:00 – What makes Sorokin different + elite calm factor

14:30 – Matthew Schaefer vs McDavid & Islanders’ belief

20:00 – Islanders trade-deadline dilemma: buy, sell, or tweak?

31:00 – Rangers hit rock bottom: defense, confidence, identity

36:30 – Why the Rangers’ path forward is finally clear

40:00 – Trocheck vs Panarin: who actually brings trade value?

47:30 – Fan voicemails & Rangers’ uncomfortable reality

55:00 – Wrap-up & what’s next

Presented by Novig

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