Welcome to Episode 9 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig, as Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp dive deep into a chaotic stretch for the Rangers, Devils, and Islanders and the emotional whiplash that comes with three teams whose fortunes swing every 36 hours.

From overtime heartbreak against Vegas and Colorado, to Connor Sheary’s role in the top-six, to the debate over prospects being blocked, the guys break down why New York is suddenly defending like a Sullivan-built playoff team — and why back-to-back OT losses can still feel like progress.

The Devils’ slide, scoring drought, and fragile bench energy take center stage, along with the looming Quinn Hughes discussion and whether this is truly a Jack-Hughes-wait-it-out phase.

The Islanders’ depth, Cal Ritchie’s impact, and whether Pageau’s return shifts the forward structure round out a loaded show. Plus: officiating fury, and why the Metro can flip in a week.

00:00 – Rangers Talk

28:18 – Islanders Talk

35:18 – Devils Talk

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Presented by Novig: http://www.novig.us

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The Metro has officially turned into a street fight. The New Jersey Devils, once cruising atop the standings, are suddenly tense, battered, and staring down a full-blown identity check. Jack Hughes’ absence isn’t just hurting their scoring — it’s exposing fragility, lineup depth gaps, and a fan base losing patience with Tom Fitzgerald. As Quinn Hughes speculation simmers, the room is battling to keep pace while waiting on Pesce and others to heal, but the fan pressure, trade chatter, and fatigue are real.

Meanwhile, the New York Islanders have flipped the narrative from “grind and survive” to legitimately fun hockey. Brock Nelson’s return night delivered four-line buy-in, defensive activation, Barzal swagger, and one of their most confident showings of the season against powerhouse Colorado. They’re leaning into pace, attacking off the rush, refusing to sag after goals against, and proving night-to-night that engagement and structure can coexist with skill. No team in this three-club mix has been more honest in effort or more consistent in compete.

Across the river, the New York Rangers finally look like themselves — and it’s happening without Adam Fox. Igor Shesterkin has steadied the entire operation, the team is defending cleaner, pushing play with purpose, and seeing real production from depth and the back end. The panic button has been slammed shut for now as two straight complete performances signal that Mike Sullivan’s structure, pace, and accountability are taking hold. If this version sticks when Fox returns, the Rangers become more than just “dangerous” — they become layered.

00:00 Devils

20:27 Islanders

33:47 Rangers

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Presented by Novig: http://www.novig.us

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

Episode 7 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast is here, and it might be our most brutally honest breakdown yet. Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp dive into a chaotic week across the Devils, Islanders, and Rangers — three teams all dealing with major injuries, inconsistent performances, and a Metro Division that refuses to settle down. From Adam Fox’s setback to the Devils’ defensive gamble with Nemec and Hughes, nothing is off the table as the guys dissect which team is positioned to survive and which could be spiraling faster than expected.

We open with the injury conversation: who is hurt worst, who can actually tread water, and which front office may be forced into uncomfortable decisions long before the deadline. The Rangers’ situation becomes a focal point as they struggle to generate offense even with Fox, raising deeper questions about identity, leadership, and how a team with supposed playoff expectations can look this uncertain in November. Jonny also brings insider perspective from the building, explaining why the vibes at MSG feel more fragile than they have in years.

The Devils’ section shifts into full forensic mode, with breakdowns of the Nemec–Hughes pairing, how much Brett Pesce’s absence is altering their entire defensive structure, and why Jesper Bratt’s finishing slump is becoming a real problem. The crew digs into whether this roster is built to win right now or if a larger philosophical decision is coming — including the big one: is this finally the moment to explore a Nemec-for-Quinn Hughes conversation?

Then it's over to the Islanders, who are playing well on paper but not on the scoreboard. The guys examine why the underlying numbers say one thing while the results say another, why finishing talent remains their biggest obstacle, and which players (Duclair, Wahlstrom, Holmstrom, Šachov) need to elevate their games with Kyle Palmieri and Jean-Gabriel Pageau out. There’s also a deep dive into the Schaefer–Pulock revival, a much-needed bright spot on a team trying to find its offensive rhythm before the schedule tightens.

Finally, a listener voicemail sparks a full conversation about toughness, accountability, and team response after the Fox hit — raising the question: should clean hits still demand a reaction, and what does it say when no one steps up? It leads to one of the most honest identity discussions we’ve ever had about the Rangers and where this core truly stands.

If you’re a Devils, Islanders, or Rangers fan — or just love raw, unfiltered Metro Division hockey talk — this is a must-listen episode.

00:00 – Opening / Overview

01:00 – Which team is hurt most by injuries?

05:00 – Rangers talk: Adam Fox injury fallout + scoring issues

09:30 – Devils deep dive: Pesce absence, Nemec/Hughes pair, defensive breakdowns

17:00 – Should the Devils move Dougie or Nemec? Long-term roster construction

22:00 – Islanders segment: scoring drought, underlying numbers, finishing talent concerns

28:30 – Holmstrom, Duclair, Wahlstrom, and the Isles’ forward mix

31:00 – Schaefer–Pulock pairing surge & power-play adjustments

34:00 – Voicemail: Rangers toughness / identity questions

38:00 – Reaction to the Fox hit & team response debate

47:00 – Eastern Conference outlook: can all three teams still make the playoffs?

52:00 – Closing thoughts

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Presented by Novig: http://www.novig.us

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

Episode 6 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast dives straight into a wild Black Friday in the NHL, as Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple break down everything happening with the Rangers, Devils, and Islanders. The boys open with New York’s milestone 10th road win, J.T. Miller’s honest post-game comments, Brett Berard’s emergence, the Matt Robertson surprise, and the chemistry shifts happening under Mike Sullivan’s structure. From blue-line mobility to lineup trust decisions, the Rangers section is loaded.

Then it’s onto the Devils, where Simon Nemec steals another overtime winner and Nico Hischier drags the team through the mud on a night that could’ve gone sideways. The guys debate Jesper Bratt’s goal drought, what Nemec’s crazy value means for trade talks, and whether the Quinn Hughes rumors create real pressure inside the Devils’ locker room.

Finally, the Islanders take the stage after another grind-it-out battle with Boston. Jonny makes a point about how underrated this team has been for a decade, Rupp discusses Patrick Roy’s impact and why the Isles “have jam,” and Arthur breaks down the power-play tweaks, the goaltending consistency, and why this group looks so different than the Lambert era.

Stick around to the end as the guys debate which coach — Sullivan, Roy, or Keefe — is doing the best job right now across the Tri-State.

00:02:32 — Rangers Talk

00:28:23 — Devils Talk

00:44:17 — Islanders Talk

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Episode 5 kicks off with a full deep dive on the New Jersey Devils, fresh off a wild, emotional win over Detroit. Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp break down the post-buzzer chaos, the reaction to the JT Compher hit on Nico Hischier, and why this type of pushback may be exactly what the Devils needed after a flat stretch without Jack Hughes. The guys analyze the Luke Hughes–Šimon Nemec pairing, how much offense it can realistically generate, and whether the Devils can capitalize on a crucial upcoming four-game window before the schedule tightens.

The show shifts into a heated Rangers segment built around breaking news, as a roster move sends ripple effects through the organization. The crew explores the larger issues behind it — New York’s handling of its prospects, the limited runway given to young players, and why the team still feels far from true contention. Jonny goes on a passionate rant about development, lineup construction, and why it feels like the Rangers’ best internal options aren’t always the ones getting opportunity.

From there, the focus turns to the New York Islanders, who continue to play the most dynamic hockey they’ve shown in nearly a decade. The hosts dive into Matthew Barzal’s resurgence, Matthew Schaefer’s absurd impact, and how the system has evolved to let skill players breathe. They talk pace, transition, power-play structure, and why the Islanders suddenly look fast, dangerous, and legitimately fun every single night.

The episode wraps with listener voicemails — highlighted by a sharp question on the Islanders’ power play, its underlying numbers, whether poor luck or poor execution is the culprit, and how the coaching staff may tweak personnel going forward.

Timestamps

00:03:52 – Devils Talk

00:14:21 – Rangers Talk

00:30:25 – Islanders Talk

00:40:33 – Voicemails

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Episode 4 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast brings a packed breakdown across the Islanders, Rangers, and Devils as Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp dive into everything happening in the tri-state. The guys open with the Islanders, who are fresh off an impressive 6-1-0 road trip that included wins over the Rangers, Devils, Golden Knights, Mammoth, Stars, and Red Wings, with the only loss coming against Colorado. They discuss how this team has shifted from “proving they’re good” to “come see for yourself,” the buy-in from the players, the late-trip mentality, and why UBS Arena should be one of the loudest buildings in the NHL this weekend. The conversation continues with how the Isles executed at the end of a long trip, the structure, the mentality, the community piece surrounding the organization, and why this version of the Islanders feels different from the Trotz era.

From there, the guys move into the Rangers, and Jonny unloads on New York’s frustrating play in Colorado and their third three-game losing streak of the season. They break down how turnovers from the Rangers’ top players changed the game, why the gap between the Rangers’ stars and the league’s best continues to show, and how lineup balance completely shifted with Perreault out. They dig into Panarin’s costly decisions, Shesterkin’s inability to get the key save in a 3-3 moment, Lafrenière’s reliance on Trocheck and Panarin, and why the Rangers simply can’t win when their highest-paid players aren’t outplaying the opposition. The guys debate depth vs. star performance, New York’s inability to match elite players like MacKinnon and Makar, and the ongoing challenge of finding consistency in their top six.

Then it’s Devils talk, where they examine how New Jersey played well enough to win against Florida but were beaten by a brilliant Sergei Bobrovsky performance. They get into Lindy Ruff’s lineup decisions, how the Timo Meier – Dawson Mercer – Connor Brown line struggled, the spark created when Bratt, Hischier, and Meier reunited late, and whether Markstrom or Allen has earned the net going forward. Luke Hughes’ online criticism becomes a major topic — the guys push back on the unfair blame placed on him for Reinhart’s highlight-reel goal and emphasize the reality of a young defenseman carrying big responsibility. They also talk about Jesper Bratt’s recent cold stretch, what Hischier needs to do without Jack Hughes, and why these next five games against Philly, Detroit, St. Louis, Buffalo, and Columbus will reveal whether the Devils can stay afloat in the playoff race while they wait for Jack’s return.

Finally, the show shifts into a massive voicemail segment loaded with fan questions. Topics include contract projections for Nemec and Gritsyuk, whether the Devils should pursue Filip Forsberg, what Quinn Hughes’ “I’d love to play with my brothers” quote really means, the perception of young players based on NHL experience, and whether a big-name defenseman trade is even realistic in today’s league. They close out the episode with more voicemails on the Isles’ playoff outlook, Holmstrom and Engvall’s play, and a fun surprise pulled from Jonny’s old Facebook statuses. It’s a full tri-state rundown from start to finish.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Islanders segment begins

29:10 – Rangers segment begins

46:29 – Devils segment begins

58:56 – Voicemail segment begins

Presented by Novig: https://app.novig.us/AppEntry

#TriStateHockeyPodcast #NHL #Rangers #Devils #Isles #JonnyLazarus #MikeRupp #ArthurStaple #DailyFaceoff #HockeyNews #NewYorkRangers #NewJerseyDevils #NYIslanders

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Episode 3 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast presented by Novig dives into a packed week across New Jersey, New York, and Long Island. Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp break down the Jack Hughes situation and what his absence means for the Devils’ lineup, leadership, and long-term outlook.

They move into a heated Rangers discussion after the Jonathan Quick empty-net incident, questioning the team’s emotional response, development concerns, and whether the core still lacks that true “alpha.”

The guys then shift to the Islanders, unpacking power-play decisions, Anders Lee vs. Kyle Palmieri on PP1, and what the Horvat/Barzal setup should look like.

They wrap the episode with your voicemails, taking on development vs. drafting, coaching trust, expectations on young stars, and how teams build identity in the Tri-State market.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Show Open

02:11 – Devils Segment

13:58 – Rangers Segment

47:32 – Islanders Segment

55:16 – Voicemail Segment

Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday on the Daily Faceoff Network, and join the conversation by sending in your own voicemails for next week’s show!

Presented by Novig: https://app.novig.us/AppEntry

#TriStateHockeyPodcast #NHL #Rangers #Devils #Isles #JonnyLazarus #MikeRupp #ArthurStaple #DailyFaceoff #HockeyNews #NewYorkRangers #NewJerseyDevils #NYIslanders

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Episode 2 opens on a meaningful note as Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple remember and honour the great Larry Brooks after his passing. The guys reflect on his impact, his legacy, and what he meant to the New York hockey community before diving into a massive night across the Metro division.

We start with the Islanders, who have ripped off three straight wins — all on the road — capped by an electric finish last night where Mat Barzal tied it late and J-G Pageau buried a shorthanded OT winner. With the team perfect on its seven-game road trip so far, the boys debate whether this run could influence Mathieu Darche’s approach to the season. Not necessarily turning the Isles into buyers, but maybe softening how aggressively they sell. We also hit the Dobson-for-Heineman discussion, and whether the team truly misses Dobson at all. Plus, a look ahead to tonight’s matchup in Utah and what expectations should be.

Then it’s over to the Rangers, who suddenly look dangerous again on a two-game win streak. Vinny Trocheck has returned and the Rangers offense has exploded with 13 goals in two games, raising the question of whether he’s playing himself into way-too-early Hart Trophy conversations. More importantly, Artemi Panarin looks like the prime version of himself, racking up six points over his last two outings. We break down what’s clicking, how Mike Sullivan’s system talk has quieted, and what Spencer Martin’s two-year deal might signal as Jonathan Quick’s future becomes a storyline. The guys also tee up tomorrow’s game in Columbus.

The Devils round out the metro trifecta with a win that feels like it happened a month ago but still deserves attention. Simon Nemec has arrived, Jacob Markstrom delivered one of the most ridiculous OT assists you’ll ever see, and Gritsyuk logged a career-high 20:39 as his development continues to trend upward.

And to close things out, as always, we hit your voicemails — the best reactions, rants, questions, and chaos from around the Tri-State fanbases.

00:01 – Larry Brooks Tribute

13:20 – Islanders Talk

29:16 – Rangers Talk

43:05 – Devils Talk

55:15 – Voicemails

Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday on the Daily Faceoff Network, and join the conversation by sending in your own voicemails for next week’s show!

Presented by Novig: https://app.novig.us/AppEntry

#TriStateHockeyPodcast #NHL #Rangers #Islanders #Devils #JonnyLazarus #MikeRupp #ArthurStaple #DailyFaceoff #NHLPodcast #MetroDivision #HockeyPodcast

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