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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Episode 32 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by No Vig, is a full voicemail edition as Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple let the listeners drive the conversation.

The guys open with a Rangers-heavy discussion on Chris Drury’s lack of visibility with the fanbase before diving into Alexis Lafrenière’s recent offensive surge, what’s real, what’s situational, and whether his chemistry with Gabe Perreault could be a meaningful sign for the future.

They also shift to the Devils and break down Jack Hughes’ recent growth as a leader following his Olympic experience, what Sheldon Keefe had to say about it, and why winning at a high level can change a player’s voice inside a room.

Then the show turns heavily toward the Islanders, with multiple voicemails focused on Mathieu Darche, the Brayden Schenn trade, J.G. Pageau’s extension, prospect timelines, roster flexibility, and whether Mathew Barzal is part of the problem on the power play or still central to the solution. A fun, opinionated, fan-driven episode with strong debate from all three hosts.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro / Episode 32 voicemail edition begins

0:58 Rangers voicemail: Why doesn’t Chris Drury talk directly to fans?

7:40 Rangers voicemail: Alexis Lafrenière’s production without Artemi Panarin

8:50 Jonny breaks down why Lafrenière’s recent run needs context

13:13 Gabe Perreault’s emergence and what it could mean for Lafrenière’s future

16:19 Did the Rangers mishandle Lafrenière’s development on the power play?

19:07 Devils discussion: Jack Hughes’ leadership jump after the Olympics

21:17 Why learning how to win matters for elite young stars

27:19 Jack Hughes, leadership, and what it really means to be a veteran

31:44 Islanders voicemail: Why is there backlash to Mathieu Darche’s deadline?

36:48 Are the Islanders’ future draft picks trade chips or keepers?

41:33 Islanders voicemail: Will Schenn/Pageau block the path for young players?

48:49 Islanders voicemail: Is Mathew Barzal actually hurting the power play?

50:27 Why the power play may need to run through Mathew Schaefer

53:18 Islanders power-play predictability and the missing shooting threat

56:31 Final voicemail: Should the Islanders keep all of their top prospects?

Presented by Novig

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The Tri-State Hockey Podcast welcomes its first ever guest, as New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche joins Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple to break down the Islanders’ trade deadline moves, the decision to acquire Brayden Schenn, and how the organization is pushing toward the playoffs. Darche dives into his philosophy as a first-year GM, why players are increasingly willing to waive no-trade clauses to come to Long Island, and how the emergence of young star Matthew Schaefer has accelerated the team’s timeline.

The guys also discuss extending Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the leadership of Anders Lee, building a playoff-ready roster, and what Darche learned from his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning during their Stanley Cup runs. Plus, Jonny gets called out as a Long Island “traitor” for being a Rangers fan… and reveals a wild bet that he’ll get an Islanders sleeve tattoo if the Isles win the Stanley Cup.

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro & first ever Tri-State Hockey Podcast guest

0:35 – Islanders trade deadline & acquiring Brayden Schenn

3:08 – Jonny the Long Islander… who cheers for the Rangers

5:33 – Darche’s first NHL trade deadline as GM

9:37 – College hockey scouting & the development pipeline

14:07 – Extending Jean-Gabriel Pageau & building the roster

18:22 – Darche’s management style & Islanders culture

21:47 – Lessons learned from Tampa Bay’s Cup teams

33:49 – Jonny’s Islanders tattoo bet if they win the Cup

Presented by Novig

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Episode 30 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast is all about NHL Trade Deadline Day. Jonny Lazarus is joined by Mike Rupp and Arthur Staple as the trio dives into what to expect from the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils as the clock ticks toward the deadline. Will the Rangers hang on to Vinny? Could the Islanders shake things up to stay in the race? And are the Devils buyers, sellers, or somewhere in between? The guys break down the latest buzz, potential moves, and the biggest storylines surrounding the Tri-State teams on one of the most chaotic days on the NHL calendar.

Presented by Novig

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Today’s Tri-State Hockey Podcast is packed as Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple rip through Trade Deadline week storylines across the Tri-State. The guys open on the Vincent Trocheck trade chatter and why his candid comments shouldn’t surprise anyone, then pivot into the bigger Rangers-picture conversation around Adam Fox and what a “retool” really looks like right now. From there, it’s into the mailbag and voicemails before a deep Islanders deadline segment — including which young pieces might actually have to move if the Isles want a true needle-mover. The show wraps with a Devils check-in, lineup decisions, and more listener questions as the deadline inches closer.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:14 — Intro + Trade Deadline week setup and Rangers headlines

00:01:08 — Vincent Trocheck comments: honest or too honest?

00:04:38 — Trocheck no-trade list, leverage, and potential landing spots

00:11:36 — Quick Devils aside: would NJ consider adding term right now?

00:13:30 — Adam Fox comments + Rangers retool vs rebuild debate

00:26:23 — Developing the kids vs pushing for wins: who should be playing?

00:33:37 — Islanders segment begins + voicemail from Chris (Hicksville)

00:42:16 — Islanders voicemail from Scot (Massapequa) + deadline wish list

00:58:39 — “This is an Islanders podcast” moment + transition to Devils

00:59:02 — Devils voicemail: Jesper Bratt benching discussion

01:02:08 — Devils voicemail: biggest sibling swing-and-miss debate

01:04:20 — Final thoughts + wrap up

Presented by Novig

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Team USA captures Olympic gold — and the Tri-State lens makes it even sweeter.

Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple are back with a special gold medal edition of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast breaking down the Americans’ championship run at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The guys dive into how the United States men's national ice hockey team handled the pressure on the biggest stage, the defining moments in the gold medal game, and which performances will be remembered for years to come. From the emotional tone-setters to the unsung depth pieces, they analyze what separated this group from the rest of the field and what this win means for the future of USA Hockey. Plus, they examine the ripple effects across the Rangers, Devils, and Islanders — and which Tri-State connections came up biggest when it mattered most.

Presented by Novig — sports betting without the juice.

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