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

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Enniskillen said:
Isles as a wild card team can do some damage and stop boston in the first round. Sorokin should play like a madman.
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It would take more than Sorokin to stop Boston. When NYI beat BOS in the playoffs, they focused on holding down that top line + Taylor Hall, and then took some chances against the weak links in Boston's D. Those holes simply do not exist anymore. And big wingers down the lineup - guys like Zacha & Foligno, are matchup nightmares for the Islanders beyond what they'll be able to deal with even when they control matchups at home.

I'm a NYI fan, btw. Best chance for NYI to win a round + is in the playoffs is to be the 7th seed. Not that the Hurricanes are a good matchup for NYI, but I'd rather them than Boston. A chess match vs skilled players vs. all those heavies down the lineup is much better.
 
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saintunspecified said:
It would take more than Sorokin to stop Boston. When NYI beat BOS in the playoffs, they focused on holding down that top line + Taylor Hall, and then took some chances against the weak links in Boston's D. Those holes simply do not exist anymore. And big wingers down the lineup - guys like Zacha & Foligno, are matchup nightmares for the Islanders beyond what they'll be able to deal with even when they control matchups at home.

I'm a NYI fan, btw. Best chance for NYI to win a round + is in the playoffs is to be the 7th seed. Not that the Hurricanes are a good matchup for NYI, but I'd rather them than Boston.
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The Islanders have the boogey man to stop Taylor Hall though. Scott Mayfield just has to be on the ice with him and he’s MIA
 
miscs75 said:
The Islanders have the boogey man to stop Taylor Hall though. Scott Mayfield just has to be on the ice with him and he’s MIA
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I mean, sure, but my point precisely was that Hall WAS the only real matchup to account for beyond the top line the last time they played in the playoffs. Debrusk, Zacha, Foligno, etc. etc. are going to eat Aho/Dobson for breakfast on the cycle. NYI would have to shelter that pairing BIG time. It doesn't take a whole lot to see.
 
saintunspecified said:
I mean, sure, but my point precisely was that Hall WAS the only real matchup to account for beyond the top line the last time they played in the playoffs. Debrusk, Zacha, Foligno, etc. etc. are going to eat Aho/Dobson for breakfast on the cycle. NYI would have to shelter that pairing BIG time. It doesn't take a whole lot to see.
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I’d honestly like to see Wotherspoon in over Aho at this point. That might help balance the pairs out due to size difference alone. It’ll be interesting to see what happens come April. If they keep playing like this and squeaking out wins, they might wind up in a matchup with the Devils. Carolina and Boston are the only teams I could see being a massive problem for the Islanders. The Rangers (and the refs), Devils, Tampa and Toronto don’t impress me at all.
 
Stickpucker said:
Damn you're faster than McDavid....that was a 10 second edit.

I'm not getting into a pistole duel with this feller.
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I’ve got the old guy with the dollar on the fishing line sitting next to me right now.

As for Horvat, he’s doing amazing. Guy just brings it every game and doesn’t quit. His chemistry with Barzal before Mat got hurt was probably the best between two guys since Tavares and Moulson.
 
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miscs75 said:
I’ve got the old guy with the dollar on the fishing line sitting next to me right now.

As for Horvat, he’s doing amazing. Guy just brings it every game and doesn’t quit. His chemistry with Barzal before Mat got hurt was probably the best between two guys since Tavares and Moulson.
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Do you think Vancouver fans mentioning him as worthy of Selke considerations was fair?

What rate do you think he'll score at in Vancouver the next few seasons?
 
Stickpucker said:
Do you think Vancouver fans mentioning him as worthy of Selke considerations was fair?
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Great at faceoffs, very very good in the neutral zone/against the rush, not Selke worthy defending against possession in the defensive zone. He's okay, but not a top option, on the PK. That's my current low-sample impression. It will take him time to get up to speed on NYI's defensive system. Not Selke worthy imo.
 
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Stickpucker said:
Isles fans....how is Horvat working out for you so far?
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He’s a beast. Carrying the team without Barzal. 2nd most points in the NHL since he joined.

A80C00E4-1463-4B53-8774-9B22F5CA7038.jpeg
 
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Very good team who has clearly bounced back from last years hugely dissapointing year. But I don't think this team has the offensive weapons to do damage in the playoffs. Barzal and Horvat down the middle aren't going to scare anyone.
 
SeanMoneyHands said:
Very good team who has clearly bounced back from last years hugely dissapointing year. But I don't think this team has the offensive weapons to do damage in the playoffs. Barzal and Horvat down the middle aren't going to scare anyone.
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Barzal moved to the wing since Horvat came. It’s actually Horvat/Nelson/Pageau/Cizikas down the middle. Casey looks like he gained 5 years of youth recently and has been playing like a madman.
 
SeanMoneyHands said:
Very good team who has clearly bounced back from last years hugely dissapointing year. But I don't think this team has the offensive weapons to do damage in the playoffs. Barzal and Horvat down the middle aren't going to scare anyone.
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Scare? Maybe not. However now that the team has seemingly rediscovered its inner Barry Trotz it could bore some of them right out of the playoffs.
 
SeanMoneyHands said:
Very good team who has clearly bounced back from last years hugely dissapointing year. But I don't think this team has the offensive weapons to do damage in the playoffs. Barzal and Horvat down the middle aren't going to scare anyone.
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Well that’s the thing, Barzal is now a perimeter playmaking winger like he always should have been instead of pretending he was a viable center. So it’s Horvat-Nelson that’s supposed to scare people.
 
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Martin Skoula said:
Well that’s the thing, Barzal is now a perimeter playmaking winger like he always should have been instead of pretending he was a viable center. So it’s Horvat-Nelson that’s supposed to scare people.
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Nelson is 26th in the NHL in goals in the last 5 seasons. Horvat is 21st.

Teams with better combos at C: Lightning, Leafs, Oilers.

NYI still have a serious lack of dynamic play on the wings - that's really the problem, and it will still be a problem even if the Barzal move to wing works out. It was the first thing LL tried to address via UFA when he took over the team. That's simply the reality. LL made a bet to make lemonade out of the lemons he had.
 
WetcoastOrca said:
I could see them sneaking in and maybe even stealing a round if Sorokin stands on his head. . But that’s about it.
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If they steal a round from the Bruins I think they are a true Cup contender and should at least make their 3rd conference final in 4 years. This time with Sorokin and Horvat- that would be exciting!
 
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