Episode 34: Puck Gate, Isles Fall, Laf Legend?
From Tri-State Hockey Podcast by The Nation Network
March 20, 2026 · 1h 20m · Season 1 · Episode 34
About this episode
The episode discusses the struggles of Tri-State hockey teams, focusing on the Islanders' playoff hopes, Jack Hughes' impact on the Devils, and the Olympic puck controversy.
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. Timestamps: 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…
People in this episode
Hosts: Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, Arthur Staple
Topics covered
- Eastern Conference playoff picture
- Islanders collapse
- Jack Hughes impact
- Olympic gold medal puck controversy
- NHL leadership
- trade deadline decisions
- rivalry chaos
Keywords
- Eastern Conference
- Islanders
- Jack Hughes
- Olympic puck controversy
- NHL leadership
- trade deadline
- Rangers
Sponsors
No Vig
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NHL, IOC, Devils, Islanders, Rangers
More episodes of Tri-State Hockey Podcast
- Episode 49: Gerard Gallant · May 27, 2026 · 1h 2m
- Episode 48: Tony DeAngelo · May 20, 2026 · 51 min
- Episode 47: Sweet Lou Lamoriello · May 13, 2026 · 57 min
- Episode 46: Rangers Drop, Devils Big-Game Hunting · May 6, 2026 · 43 min
- Episode 45: Hughes Drama & Lottery Preview · May 1, 2026 · 40 min
- Episode 44: Islanders Post-Mortem · April 28, 2026 · 1h 16m
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