YearlyLottery
The Pooch Report
Why don’t you just do it now?
Maybe I'll change my profile picture to Tavares then, he acted like one this past summer.
Why don’t you just do it now?
There's no such thing as acceptable losses but there was one good thing that came out of last night's game. Last year after the 3rd goal one of us would have poste "ANOTHER DOUGIE BLOWOUT INCOMING".
That didn't happen last night.
Instead the Isles stopped the bleeding and started competing long enough to get back into the game. That would not have happened the last 2 years. I have to believe Barry Trotz's message to the team during the first intermission got them going. That's part of the culture change that needed to be instilled here.
The Islanders will lose games because they aren't talented enough. They won't lose games because they didn't try to compete for the full 60 minutes.
Jumping around this thread and noticed the typical criticism of Hickey and Pelech. Not really suggesting it isn’t warranted.
But am I the only one who thought Pulock looked horrific in this game? He had a few good plays (which was brought up already).
But his puck management was terribad!
I didn't see the game at all so I can't comment but plays like that are a big problem for Pelech. He seems to panic with the puck at times. Usually the game slows down for players as they gain more experience. It hasn't seemed to happen yet for him though. While the non-shot against SJ was just one (bone-headed) play, its indicative of his questionable decision-making still. He still doesn't make the quick, safe play to get the puck out of the zone. When in doubt, he pins it against the boards or sends it back.I've always been a huge Pulock fan and that was the worst game I've personally seen him play.
Pelech wasn't doing him any favors though. I have no idea how that guy is on an NHL roster.
There was one play that stuck out that Pulock moved the puck from behind the goal line to Pelech on the half wall assuming he would move the puck out of the zone but Pelech was being pressured. Instead of chipping it out he made a quick pass back to Pulock who looked like he was not expecting it. He then had to take on the pressure from the forechecker himself and had to react to a poor play. He eventually turned the puck over.
Looked bad on Pulock but it was all Pelech imo. I wasn't at ice level so it was hard to tell what his options were but from where I was watching looked like he hung his teammate out to dry. I mean, we've seem him make some poor decisions when there is an obvious good decision right in front of him. Shooting at an empty net seems like a good decision, no?
As soon as they were on the bench a member of the coaching staff (Gruden?) was in both their ears.