I think Islanders are the dark horse of the East this season.

[Axe Man]

Ugh

 

[Rehabguy]

1st shot on goal Bolts score. Lol

 

[Rehabguy]

Washington and Pens imploding early. Buffalo nearly lost a sizeable lead against the Bolts on multiple occasions. Looked bad against Toronto. They let in just as many goals as they score. Can’t see that team getting far. Red Wings are a little worrisome but other than that if Isles stay the course they should make it in.

The goal for the Isles from day one is to just get in. Nobody saw the team leading the division and the injuries to key players took their toll but the objective is just to get in and the season starts back to game 1.

Playoff hockey is Islander hockey.

 

[saintunspecified]

I watched a good part of last night’s game and thought it was odd they had Martin on the PP. I guess it’s not so much of a choice as a necessity at this point.

He wasn't on the first unit, but would get out there with 30-45 seconds left, when NYI shifted to trying to dump and chase on entries instead of their failed carry-ins.

I think NYI will make an acquisition or two of some sort, simply because there ought to be a lot of middle-6 forwards on expiring contracts available. Unlike last year, where Martin was hampered by an injury, he doesn't hurt the team out there when he plays up the lineup.

 

[Rehabguy]

Well this is it. This week decides the Isles fate to make the playoffs or not. The other teams have games in hand but the Islander's schedule is more favorable than the other teams vying for the playoff wild card. In recent weeks they've switched back to Trotz 1-1-3 system and they look much more like the team that made the Eastern Conference Finals 2 of the past 3 seasons and they are winning. The playoffs for the Islanders starts now. I like the Isles chances. I just didn't expect this many teams to be vying for 1 or 2 spots by the end of the season.

 

[mm11]

Well this is it. This week decides the Isles fate to make the playoffs or not. The other teams have games in hand but the Islander's schedule is more favorable than the other teams vying for the playoff wild card. In recent weeks they've switched back to Trotz 1-1-3 system and they look much more like the team that made the Eastern Conference Finals 2 of the past 3 seasons and they are winning. The playoffs for the Islanders starts now. I like the Isles chances. I just didn't expect this many teams to be vying for 1 or 2 spots by the end of the season.

they just have trouble scoring goals brother. The PP just does not do any damage. Time will tell if it is enough. Especially with Barzal and JPG out

 

[Rehabguy]

they just have trouble scoring goals brother. The PP just does not do any damage. Time will tell if it is enough. Especially with Barzal and JPG out

Agree, though I think the addition of Horvat is changing that story line too bad for the injury for Barzal but all indications are he'll be back sooner than later and I think they've lost only 1 or 2 games without him in the lineup? I am looking forward to the Islanders going to war with Trotz system reactivated but with the Barzal/Horvat duo to bring in the timely goals. They won't need many goals just one more than the opposition. In years past, that was the problem. We could never get that one more goal. The Horvat/Barzal duo changes all of that.

Kudos to Lou for bringing in Engvall essentially replacing what we lost when Leddy left the line-up- it was a noticeable loss in the transition game. I like the size and speed they brought up out of necessity with Fasching and Koivula. Koivula plays a much better game now I don't know who got through to him but he can be another important piece of the puzzle. Out of nowhere came these two 6'5 240 pound speedsters in their line-up and the dynamics of the team have changed. They look big and fast out there. This is something that I always felt was missing from the Isles line-up that made the faster teams difficult to play against. Most of the Isles had short compact bodies good for plastering bodies against the boards but they couldn't keep up with the fast skating teams like LA and the Devils. Fasching, Koivula, and Engvall change all that with their long legs and big strides and they also have Durandeau as another option. It's good to have options come playoff time. They are going to need this when they face the Bruins in the first round.

I think the biggest news in regards to the Isles is that they appear to have gone back to playing Trotz system and again kudos to Lou for choosing Lambert who knows the system inside out.

 

[Aurinko]

Idk about the Isles or east... but west has a strong Black Horse candidate: LAK

 

[The Management]

Agree, though I think the addition of Horvat is changing that story line too bad for the injury for Barzal but all indications are he'll be back sooner than later and I think they've lost only 1 or 2 games without him in the lineup? I am looking forward to the Islanders going to war with Trotz system reactivated but with the Barzal/Horvat duo to bring in the timely goals. They won't need many goals just one more than the opposition. In years past, that was the problem. We could never get that one more goal. The Horvat/Barzal duo changes all of that.

Kudos to Lou for bringing in Engvall essentially replacing what we lost when Leddy left the line-up- it was a noticeable loss in the transition game. I like the size and speed they brought up out of necessity with Fasching and Koivula. Koivula plays a much better game now I don't know who got through to him but he can be another important piece of the puzzle. Out of nowhere came these two 6'5 240 pound speedsters in their line-up and the dynamics of the team have changed. They look big and fast out there. This is something that I always felt was missing from the Isles line-up that made the faster teams difficult to play against. Most of the Isles had short compact bodies good for plastering bodies against the boards but they couldn't keep up with the fast skating teams like LA and the Devils. Fasching, Koivula, and Engvall change all that with their long legs and big strides and they also have Durandeau as another option. It's good to have options come playoff time. They are going to need this when they face the Bruins in the first round.

I think the biggest news in regards to the Isles is that they appear to have gone back to playing Trotz system and again kudos to Lou for choosing Lambert who knows the system inside out.

We'll see how they perform for you in the playoffs, but as somebody who quite liked Pierre Engvall in Toronto, his game just did not translate in the postseason. The ice gets smaller and the physical play ramps up.

Getting Pageau back should be a big plus for you guys.

 

[Rehabguy]

We'll see how they perform for you in the playoffs, but as somebody who quite liked Pierre Engvall in Toronto, his game just did not translate in the postseason. The ice gets smaller and the physical play ramps up.

Getting Pageau back should be a big plus for you guys.

Individual player's games rarely if ever translate in the playoffs and that's all the more true for the "star" players. In the playoffs it's all about team work with each player feeding off the players around them. If the entire team plays soft the individual players will play soft. If the entire team plays a two way, back checking, hard skating game, the individuals follow suit. If your star captain doesn't fight through checks, let's up on the back checking, plays a perimeter disinterested game, the rest of the team feeds off that as well. In the couple of games I've watched Engvall play he quickly adapted to the Islander's game and it looks like he's going to fit right in and play an important role. He feeds off what he sees his fellow players are doing. The hard work ethic. The responsible defensive game. The attention to details. They didn't have that in Toronto and I'm not sure if they have it yet. The regular season matters little. The playoffs requires a different mindset altogether.

I've seen no evidence that Marner's, Nylander's or Matthews game translated in the post season. I don't know why we should focus on Engvall only.

 

[bert]

Well this is it. This week decides the Isles fate to make the playoffs or not. The other teams have games in hand but the Islander's schedule is more favorable than the other teams vying for the playoff wild card. In recent weeks they've switched back to Trotz 1-1-3 system and they look much more like the team that made the Eastern Conference Finals 2 of the past 3 seasons and they are winning. The playoffs for the Islanders starts now. I like the Isles chances. I just didn't expect this many teams to be vying for 1 or 2 spots by the end of the season.

If thats how they are playing hopefully for the rest of the hockey world they dont make it.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Well this is it. This week decides the Isles fate to make the playoffs or not. The other teams have games in hand but the Islander's schedule is more favorable than the other teams vying for the playoff wild card. In recent weeks they've switched back to Trotz 1-1-3 system and they look much more like the team that made the Eastern Conference Finals 2 of the past 3 seasons and they are winning. The playoffs for the Islanders starts now. I like the Isles chances. I just didn't expect this many teams to be vying for 1 or 2 spots by the end of the season.

Well that's odd...based on your ordinal post it seemed like they were just going to destroy the competition this season and should have had a playoff spot locked in months ago? Didn't you say they would be much better than the Rangers too? Yikes.

Though I find it funny they are playing some of their best hockey now that Barzal is out of the lineup, Mr Overrated himself.

 

[Rehabguy]

Well that's odd...based on your ordinal post it seemed like they were just going to destroy the competition this season and should have had a playoff spot locked in months ago? Didn't you say they would be much better than the Rangers too? Yikes.

Though I find it funny they are playing some of their best hockey now that Barzal is out of the lineup, Mr Overrated himself.

Whoa whoa whoa. That's is not what I said. I made it very clear a team built like this is not built to necessarily do well in the regular season and that other team's playing their loose unstructured styles oftentimes end higher in the standings because it difficult to maintain this level discipline throughout an 80+ game season. But when it comes to the playoffs defense wins championships. The Islanders are team purposely built for the playoffs from the goaltender out. This is not a team built to do particularly well doing the regular season. All they had to do was to make the playoffs. That is what I said.

What the Rangers are doing with their fancy chemistry destroying, living in the past, fragile trades is exactly what I thought they would do- find a way to make an early exit out of the playoffs. How's it working so far?

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Whoa whoa whoa. That's is not what I said. I made it very clear a team built like this is not built to necessarily do well in the regular season and that other team's playing their loose unstructured styles oftentimes end higher in the standings because it difficult to maintain this level discipline throughout an 80+ game season. But when it comes to the playoffs. Defense wins championships. The Islanders are team purposely built for the playoffs from the goaltender out.

What the Rangers are doing with their fancy chemistry destroying fragile trades is doing exactly what I thought they would do- find a way to make an early exit out of the playoffs. How's it working so far?

You mean after....2 games? Game where we played with 5 defenseman and 11 forwards and missing 2 of our top 4 dman? Those games? Realllllyyyy reaching aren't ya?

 

[miscs75]

Whoa whoa whoa. That's is not what I said. I made it very clear a team built like this is not built to necessarily do well in the regular season and that other team's playing their loose unstructured styles oftentimes end higher in the standings because it difficult to maintain this level discipline throughout an 80+ game season. But when it comes to the playoffs defense wins championships. The Islanders are team purposely built for the playoffs from the goaltender out.

What the Rangers are doing with their fancy chemistry destroying fragile trades is doing exactly what I thought they would do- find a way to make an early exit out of the playoffs. How's it working so far?

You’re trying to argue with the equivalent of the drunk 50 year old guy in the college bar. Not worth your time and effort. He has some AHL 3rd line wing to brag about like they’re the next great thing.

 

[TheDoldrums]

In the couple of games I've watched Engvall play he quickly adapted to the Islander's game and it looks like he's going to fit right in and play an important role. He feeds off what he sees his fellow players are doing. The hard work ethic. The responsible defensive game. The attention to details. They didn't have that in Toronto and I'm not sure if they have it yet.

LOL

The Islanders have goddamn Sorokin and have still allowed more goals per game than the Leafs, but yeah Toronto doesn't have a responsible defensive game or details, etc. Well spotted!

The Leafs picked their goalies off the scrap heap and are top 5 in goal prevention and you still have proles who haven't updated their defensive takes on the team since 2019.

 

[Rehabguy]

You mean after....2 games? Game where we played with 5 defenseman and 11 forwards and missing 2 of our top 4 dman? Those games? Realllllyyyy reaching aren't ya?

Well, we're playing without our #1 playmaker for 3 weeks now, a bunch of AHL'ers on the 3rd and 4th lines. Did without our #1 defenseman through nearly a 1/4 of the season but oddly enough there were never any excuses. They're just quietly winning hockey games. Shouldn't sporting Panarin, Kane, and Tarasenko be enough for you guys, or should we dig Lundquist out of the grave as well?

LOL

The Islanders have goddamn Sorokin and have still allowed more goals per game than the Leafs, but yeah Toronto doesn't have a responsible defensive game or details, etc. Well spotted!

The Leafs picked their goalies off the scrap heap and are top 5 in goal prevention and you still have proles who haven't updated their defensive takes on the team since 2019.

Well, I'm just observing what transpired the last 5 playoff seasons. If I missed something please educate me.

Meh, it doesn't matter. All this fan friction is just a good sign that playoff hockey is just around the corner. It doesn't get any better than that! May the best team win!

 

[MetM]

Well if they get the last spot for the PO's, Boston take them out in 5 I say.

 

[Rehabguy]

Well if they get the last spot for the PO's, Boston take them out in 5 I say.

Is it a tradition for Boston teams to take the winning team out to dinner after they lose a series? How wonderful!

 

[Rehabguy]

Doing my part

 

[mm11]

Rehab guy fighting the good fight. Isles are depleted but still playing hard adjusting to what's in the lineup. Leafs are great and and so are the rangers.

 

[Rehabguy]

Interesting take on Isles versus Sabres tonight. I happen to agree with Roarke but I think this applies to all the teams the Islanders will be facing from now on and through the playoffs. I don't agree however with the idea that the Isles played this defense first mindset all season long. I haven't seen full throated Trotz hockey until the last 3 weeks or so. I wonder if this was by design or by desperation.

State your case

"The Sabres don't have a goalie as good as the Islanders' Ilya Sorokin, who should be a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. We are entering the part of the season where goaltending becomes a difference-maker. The wide-open play of January and February begins to recede as teams realize it's time to clamp down. New York knows how to do that because it has been playing that way all season, with little margin for error. Sorokin, who has a .926 save percentage, is third in the NHL behind Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins and Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild among goalies who have played at least 25 games. He is the ultimate security blanket for a team that plays all season a style that is ideal for the playoffs."

"We are in a five-week slog to the postseason where every game for teams on the bubble is going to resemble the style played in the postseason. What happens to teams that can score a lot but can't defend when the screws get tightened? They lose. Can Buffalo outscore its goalie deficiency in a game down the stretch? Yes, but can they do it consistently? I am not buying what you are selling. We both know that pedigree is important when the weather starts to warm in the spring. The Sabres are learning what meaningful late-season hockey is about. The Islanders know. The experience gap is huge here. New York's top-10 active scorers have played in a combined 565 NHL postseason games. The top-10 scorers for Buffalo? 90 Stanley Cup Playoff games; forwards Alex Tuch (66 games) and Kyle Okposo (24) account for all of it. The rest of the integral players for the Sabres? They will be experiencing the crucible of fine-line hockey for the first time down the stretch. Good luck with that!"

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

We'll see how they perform for you in the playoffs, but as somebody who quite liked Pierre Engvall in Toronto, his game just did not translate in the postseason. The ice gets smaller and the physical play ramps up.

Getting Pageau back should be a big plus for you guys.

*Lou waves hand*

"Pageau is the trade deadline acquisition you're looking for"

 

[Martin Skoula]

I’m mostly just annoyed that Detroit is going to get 13th overall this year with the Isle’s pick, their rebuild is annoying enough already.

 

[miscs75]

I’m mostly just annoyed that Detroit is going to get 13th overall this year with the Isle’s pick, their rebuild is annoying enough already.

Detroit is going to purposely implode the 2023-24 season to draft Cole Eiserman just so he can wear #79 and be the future captain of the team. It’s only fitting honestly.