#Islanders, Rangers discussing their own ‘Moment of Solidarity’

As the NHL’s exhibition schedule officially kicked off Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers opened the first game of the day by lining up alongside each other during the national anthem as opposed to as individual teams in what was referred to as a “Moment of Solidarity.”

Asked if the Rangers and Islanders would have something similar planned for their exhibition matchup Wednesday in Toronto, Islanders captain Anders Lee said he was sure the teams would coordinate some sort of gesture.

“I’m sure we’ll be in touch with the Rangers and try to figure something out here, probably something similar,” he said on a Zoom call following the Isles’ practice Tuesday. “I think it’s awesome to see. It’s a great reason to come together as rivals and teams and show really the true importance of coming together and standing up for justice and what is right.”

Lee said the Islanders hadn’t discussed the idea as a team yet, but said he had taken note of what the Penguins and Flyers did. He also gave credit to the Boston Bruins, who released a statement earlier Tuesday to announce that they will lock arms during the national anthem “as a sign of solidarity with the Black community.”

“Over the past several months we have been trying to educate ourselves and learn more about racial injustice in our country and around the world,” the Bruins’ statement read. “As a team we have decided to lock arms during the playing of the United States and Canadian Anthems as a sign of solidarity with the Black community.

“This action is solely intended to be a positive sign of support for the Black community, and a way for us to use our platform to help end racism.”

With the second-to-latest exhibition game on the NHL’s Wednesday schedule at 8 p.m., there is ample time for the Isles and Rangers to figure out the details of their on-ice gesture.

“Being able to have that opportunity here on TV and with our game as players and have platforms to try and make this world a better place,” Lee said.

As far as the hockey is concerned, the Islanders are just itching to play against someone other than themselves. It’s been 140 days since the Islanders competed in a real game and a little more than a month of playing against just one another in training camp.

“I think everybody just wants to play a real game,” Matt Martin said. “When you’re playing scrimmages, you’re trying to make it as game-like as possible but you’re obviously letting up on guys in the corner, letting up when people are coming through the middle of the ice. You’re not trying to be overly physical on your own guys. You don’t want any injuries going into this thing.

“To play an exhibition game, little bit of a tuneup game before the real thing starts I think will be good for everyone’s timing, speed of the game and then obviously the physicality of the game.”