Hockey Night In New York - A New York Islanders Podcast · Hockey Night In New York

11/30/25 - Home Woes. Guest: Chris Johnston, The Athletic

December 1, 2025·1 hr 9 min·4 clips

Johnston says Matthew Schaefer’s start is “so overwhelmingly good” that Canada is talking Milan and the Olympic long list.

Sean Cuthbert opens the show from Florida Media in Rockville Center with Arthur Staple beside him. The tone stays loose, local, and firmly centered on Islanders hockey. They begin with Thanksgiving, which keeps the first stretch conversational and easygoing. The show then moves through sponsor spots before the hockey talk takes over again. From there, the discussion settles into the Islanders’ current situation and the difficult stretch ahead. The hosts keep circling back to the idea that the schedule is not about to get easier. Colorado comes up as a tough matchup, with the conversation pointing to the scoring depth and star power they are facing. Brock’s return is treated as an emotional moment, and the hosts expect the reception to be warm. That kind of fan memory fits right into the show’s lane. They then shift toward the weekend slate. Florida enters the discussion as a team that is struggling but still dangerous, with injuries part of the picture. The hosts make clear that the Islanders cannot treat them lightly. Tampa follows as another hard draw. The show keeps stacking opponent context against the Islanders’ road and home rhythm. CJ’s comments about the Leafs’ struggles also come up as part of the wider hockey conversation. The episode keeps moving quickly from one point to the next. It feels like two informed Islanders fans trying to sort through the week in real time. By the close, the focus is still on what the Islanders need to solve next.

As heard by us

A focused Islanders conversation that turns a Thanksgiving check-in into schedule-driven hockey talk.

Hockey Night in New York uses a Thanksgiving-week check-in with Sean Cuthbert and Arthur Staple to stay centered on the Islanders and the games ahead.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want Islanders talk that keeps the pressure on, from Thanksgiving chatter to a tough Florida stretch?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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