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

Subscribe, turn on notifications, and drop your Islanders / Rangers voicemails for future episodes.

#NYIslanders #NYRangers #NHL #HockeyPodcast #TriStateHockey #IlyaSorokin #VezinaTrophy #MatthewSchaefer #RangersRebuild #Novig

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Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple and Mike Rupp are back for episode 19 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig!

Finally, we hear from Tom Fitzgerald, and what classifies a player as a veteran?

PLUS ALL THE VOICEMAILS YOU CAN HANDLE!

Presented by Novig

Subscribe, turn on notifications, and drop your Islanders / Rangers / Devils voicemails for the bonus episodes.

#NYIslanders #NJDevils #NYRangers #NHL #HockeyPodcast #TriStateHockey #IslandersPondHockey #SorokinVezina #DougieHamilton #Zibanejad

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Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple and Mike Rupp are back for episode 18 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig — and the vibes are wildly different across the Metro once again.

The Islanders are riding high: incredible team camaraderie (that viral Anders Lee pond hockey video!), depth scoring, elite goaltending from Ilya Sorokin, Simon Holmstrom stepping up huge, and serious "Miracle"-level belief. Are they ready to push all-in before the window closes with Matt Schaefer's ELC?

The Devils finally show signs of life with a strong 60-minute effort against Minnesota — Nico Hischier dominant, Jesper Bratt snapping out of it, and Dougie Hamilton delivering when it mattered most. But the drama lingers: is the Hamilton healthy scratch / return saga salvageable, or is the point of no return already here?

The Rangers continue tiptoeing toward rock bottom: brutal turnovers, no pushback, self-doubt creeping in, questionable roster decisions, and a franchise feel that's completely off (no welcome-back video for Ryan Lindgren?!). Mika Zibanejad is on fire — but is anyone else even trying?

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & quick check-in

00:49 - Islanders pond hockey magic & team vibes

02:19 - Holmstrom shorthanded wizardry & depth heroes vs MIN

04:39 - Sorokin Vezina case & "someone always steps up"

08:23 - Patrick Roy clip & Islanders' special sauce

14:39 - Should the Islanders go for it now? (window with Schaefer's ELC)

19:36 - Devils bounce-back vs MIN — Hischier, Bratt, Hamilton

23:32 - Dougie drama: showcase mode or point of no return?

27:34 - Fitz job security report — root for wins or tank for change?

30:32 - Rangers self-doubt & "looking for answers in the room"

36:49 - Mika carrying everything + roster holes exposed

38:50 - No Lindgren welcome-back video — vibes & culture concerns

43:08 - Playoff math reality check: must-win territory

50:33 - Laf demotion, no fire, and offensive future questions

55:30 - Novig pick (Islanders ML) & wrap-up

Presented by Novig

Subscribe, turn on notifications, and drop your Islanders / Rangers / Devils voicemails for the bonus episodes.

#NYIslanders #NJDevils #NYRangers #NHL #HockeyPodcast #TriStateHockey #IslandersPondHockey #SorokinVezina #DougieHamilton #Zibanejad

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.