Islanders Prospect Report: May 4, 2023

Welcome to the Islanders Prospect Report, a weekly roundup of the Islanders' junior, collegiate and European prospects. Visit our In the System page for more prospect content.

Here are this week's updates on Islanders prospects:

FINLEY'S BREAKAWAY GAME WINNER

Quinn Finley was the hero for the Chicago Steel on Sunday night, scoring the overtime-winner in a 5-4 OT victory over the Dubuque Fighting Saints to sweep the Eastern Conference Semifinal.

The Islanders' 2022 third-round pick (78th overall) capitalized on a breakaway opportunity, burying the series-clinching goal 15:15 into the extra frame.

The 18-year-old has three points (1G, 2A) through two postseason games in his second career playoff run in the USHL. Last season, Finley collected 10 points (5G, 5G) through 14 appearances for the Madison Capitols.

The Steel were victorious 2-0 in the best-of-three series and will advance to face the Youngstown Phantoms on Friday in the best-of-five Eastern Conference Final.

GEORGE MAKES HEROIC SAVE IN GAME TWO

Isaiah George and the London Knights are tied at two games apiece with the Sarnia Sting in the OHL's Western Conference Final.

After 4-1 and 3-1 victories on Friday and Sunday respectively, the Knights let a 2-0 series lead slip away, dropping a 5-3 decision on Tuesday and a 6-3 contest on Wednesday. The Islanders' 2022 fourth-round draft pick (98th overall) made a huge save in the first period in Game Two to keep the game scoreless in dramatic fashion, scooping the puck inches before it crossed the goal line.

The 19-year-old defenseman has one point (1A) through 12 games in his first career OHL postseason run, taking 13 shots over that span.

George and the Knights will face off against the Sting for a pivotal Game 5 on Friday.

KUEFLER EARNS FIRST STAR OF THE GAME

Daylan Kuefler and the Kamloops Blazers trail their best-of-seven series to the Seattle Thunderbirds two games to one, earning a 4-1 win on Tuesday to get on the board after falling behind 2-0 in the series.

The Islanders' 2022 sixth-round pick (174th overall) earned the first star of the game on Tuesday, opening the scoring with a deflection on the power play in the first period. The Blazers had 39 shots on goal in the win.

Kuefler has six points (3G, 3A) through 10 games in the playoffs, including two points (1G, 1A) in the series against Seattle. The 21-year-old winger recorded an assist in Sunday's Game Two loss. Kuefler took 31 shots over the span of 10 games in his second career postseason run.

Kuefler and the Blazers will look to keep the momentum going to even the series in Thursday's Game Four contest slated for 7 p.m.

STATS

CHL:

Isaiah George | London (OHL) | 54GP, 7G, 15A, 22P, 14PIM

Isaiah George | London (Playoffs) | 10GP, 0G, 1A, 1P, 4PIM

Daylan Kuefler | Kamloops (WHL) | 54GP, 31G, 30A, 61P, 85PIM

Daylan Kuefler | Kamloops (Playoffs) | 9GP, 2G, 3A, 5P, 12PIM

USHL:

Quinn Finley | Madison (USHL) | 23GP, 10G, 17A, 27P, 12PIM

Quinn Finley | Chicago Steel (USHL) 32GP, 15G, 23A, 38P, 14PIM

Quinn Finley | Chicago Steel (Playoffs) | 2GP, 1G, 2A, 3P, 0PIM