On Episode 35 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple dig into a huge stretch run across the New York hockey landscape, with the New York Islanders taking center stage after a massive bounce-back win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The guys break down Ilya Sorokin’s Vezina-caliber season, Matthew Schaefer’s standout late-game defending, the Islanders’ blue line decisions, and whether Tony DeAngelo could be a long-term fit on Long Island. They also get into Mathew Barzal showing some fire in Montreal, the ongoing confusion around goalie interference, and what it all means for the Islanders’ playoff push.

Later, the conversation shifts to the New Jersey Devils, where the focus turns to Sheldon Keefe, the team’s form down the stretch, and whether coaching should even be part of the offseason conversation.

To close the show, the guys discuss Mika Zibanejad skating in his 1000th NHL game, revisit the trade that brought him to New York, and reflect on where he belongs in Rangers history.

Presented by Novig.

Timestamps

0:00 Intro

0:12 Welcome to Episode 35

0:33 Islanders bounce back with huge win over Columbus

1:05 What the Islanders proved in a must-win spot

3:31 Islanders back above the playoff cut line

4:18 Tattoo bet and Islanders logo talk

4:58 Is Ilya Sorokin locking up the Vezina?

7:43 Islanders blue line adjustments and Matthew Schaefer’s impact

10:09 Tony DeAngelo’s fit and future on Long Island

15:14 Mathew Barzal showing fire vs. Montreal

19:23 How the Islanders are changing post-Lou Lamoriello

21:00 Patrick Roy’s offside challenge and why it caused debate

22:19 The latest NHL goalie interference confusion

28:39 Voicemail from Chris in Hicksville

30:08 Victor Eklund and whether the Islanders should bring him over now

33:18 Does Sorokin need the playoffs to win the Vezina?

36:07 Are Sheldon Keefe’s final games deciding his future in New Jersey?

41:40 If not Keefe, who would even make sense for the Devils?

46:31 How much say do players really have in exit meetings?

48:56 Keith Yandle’s hilarious J.T. Miller exit meeting story

50:10 Mika Zibanejad skates in his 1000th NHL game

51:11 Looking back at the Mika Zibanejad trade

53:43 Where Mika ranks in Rangers history

57:25 What makes Mika such an important Ranger

#TriStateHockey #NewYorkIslanders #Islanders #NewYorkRangers #Rangers #NewJerseyDevils #Devils #NHL #HockeyPodcast #JonnyLazarus #MikeRupp #ArthurStaple #IlyaSorokin #MikaZibanejad

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Episode 34 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by No Vig, sees Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple break down a chaotic stretch in the Eastern Conference as all three Tri-State teams sit outside the playoff picture. The guys open with the Islanders’ brutal late-game collapse and what it means for their playoff push before diving into a Devils-heavy segment driven by voicemails, including Jack Hughes’ impact, his evolving leadership, and the ripple effects of his injuries. They also unpack the Olympic gold medal puck controversy and what it reveals about NHL players, the IOC, and the future of international hockey. Later, the conversation shifts back to the Islanders’ trade deadline decisions, their ageing core, and whether they’re truly built to contend. The show wraps with a full Rangers segment, highlighted by one of Rupp’s best stories yet involving John Tortorella, lineups, and old-school rivalry chaos at MSG.

00:00 – Welcome + Tri-State playoff picture chaos

01:00 – Islanders collapse + falling out of playoff spot

03:30 – Late-game mistakes + mentality debate

06:00 – Devils voicemail: Jack Hughes injury impact

09:00 – Hughes return + elite production

12:00 – Leadership, maturity, and expectations

15:30 – Olympic gold medal puck controversy begins

20:00 – IOC vs NHL control + bigger picture

24:30 – Crosby comparison + handling star moments

28:30 – What makes a true NHL leader?

32:50 – Devils voicemail: system under Sheldon Keefe

36:00 – Why Devils look different lately

40:00 – Goaltending concerns + team inconsistency

42:30 – Islanders voicemail: trade deadline moves

46:00 – Aging core vs staying competitive

50:00 – Playoff race outlook + wildcard scenarios

54:00 – “Just get in” mindset + Islanders ceiling

58:30 – Transition to Rangers discussion

1:04:30 – Rupp’s Torts lineup story (MSG rivalry moment)

1:10:00 – Old-school hockey vs today’s NHL

1:18:30 – Wrap-up, sponsor, and closing

Presented by Novig

#TriStateHockey #NHL #NewYorkIslanders #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkRangers #JackHughes #HockeyPodcast #NHLPlayoffs #MikeRupp #ArthurStaple #JonnyLazarus

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Episode 33 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig, features Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple breaking down the latest around the Islanders, Devils, and Rangers before being joined by special guest Peter Laviolette.

The guys open with a major night for Matthew Schaefer as he returns to Toronto with a massive crowd of support behind him, and what that moment means both personally and in the context of the Islanders’ playoff push. They also dive into Semyon Varlamov’s emotional return to the ice and what it signals about the end of his career.

From there, the conversation shifts to the Devils, focusing on team identity, players standing up for one another, and what positives can still be taken from a season that’s slipped away, including Jack Hughes’ recent surge.

Then, Peter Laviolette joins the show for an in-depth interview on coaching culture, leadership, the pressure of New York, and what really goes on behind the scenes in an NHL locker room.

0:00 Intro / Episode 33 begins

1:05 Matthew Schaefer’s return to Toronto and massive support crowd

3:00 The pressure and significance of Schaefer’s big moment

5:10 Islanders playoff race and importance of every game

7:55 Semyon Varlamov returns to the ice after major surgeries

9:30 What Varlamov means to the Islanders organization

11:00 The importance of closure for players nearing retirement

12:25 Devils discussion: team identity and sticking up for teammates

14:30 Why playing for each other still matters late in the season

16:00 Jack Hughes’ recent surge and impact on the Devils

18:00 What Devils fans should watch for down the stretch

21:55 Rangers discussion and Artemi Panarin storyline

25:30 Peter Laviolette joins the show

31:00 Laviolette on Rangers culture and playoff run

40:00 Coaching philosophy, leadership, and handling adversity

46:00 Olympic experience and USA Hockey growth

48:30 Laviolette on USA Hockey development and grassroots impact

51:00 The evolution of American players in the NHL

53:30 Laviolette on coaching staff, assistants, and building a bench

56:00 Dan Muse’s rise and coaching impact

58:30 What makes a great NHL assistant coach

1:01:00 Final thoughts with Laviolette

1:03:00 Episode wrap-up

Presented by Novig

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