Panic move? Starting Skarek would be a panic move. Sorokin is still our #1 goalie. Or "1A" I guess. Obviously they signed Varlamov for a reason and it's quite possible that Roy starts Varlamov every game. But if I were to guess, I'd say that Sorokin gets in this series. He can steal a game 1-0 and should be given the opportunity to do so.
What? What is the alternative? To hope the Islanders scrape their way into a 7 or 8 seed the next few years only to get embarrassed in the playoffs? The team will be forced to have a rebuild in about 4 years, only than they will have almost no assets to sell and it will be a long and a miserable rebuild, the sooner the team tears it down and starts it over and gets some young prospects the better this team will be in the long run
It’s a short list.
Disagree with this, the time to re-tool was 2 years ago, they blew that window and now a re-build is the only option, everyone outside of Dobson should be for sale
When has he stolen a game all season? That’s a wing and a prayer. He was also mediocre versus Carolina last year.
Myopia much? He's the #1 goalie who was signed to an 8 year deal less than 10 months ago. Yes he's had a down year (by his standards) but has some pretty impressive numbers in his NHL career, including 18 shutouts and Vezina-caliber season last year. The Islanders have obviously committed to him. He'll get his chance. And he deserves it. What do you suggest they do - get rid of him? Make him their $8M backup forever?
Nope, he can play when the current goalie falters. He lost the net. Let me him reboot in the offseason if Varly keeps playing the way he does. That’s the benefit of having these two.
Yeah, this is an under-appreciated aspect of having great or poor special teams. It alters the way you can play and also the way your opponent can play. Exactly as you described. When the dynasty team was cooking along at 33% or so on the PP the opposition had to be really careful about taking penalties. But the Isles had a great PK and didn't worry too much about the opponent getting a PP, so they could play a harder game.
That would be just like them to finally show up on a night they’re not scheduled to play
Funny thing on the way to unleashed…this team went farther and showed 100x more jam with Leo on it, then without him.
They were tweeting things like “CRY” and shit. Stupid, but utterly unprofessional behavior
If not for Dobson, Isles would not even make the playoff this year. Pelech had bad injuries this past two years and I think it impacts how he played the games. He used to dish out tough hits but now he is softer and hesitates to go into the high danger area. When you have a bad concussion and have a young family, you probably will not put yourself in "Danger" for their sake, He also never had the time to truly work out to get into top shape during the past two summers, with all these injuries and getting older.
Carolina will get the calls against Isles but not when they face the Rags. NHL wants a New York Cup, just not with the smaller market Isles team. If not New York, they would prefer Florida get it this year. Anyway it would not matter much when your special team is much worse than the other one.
He and Martin are cooked, trying but their bodies are failing them. Time to hang up in grace like Carter did. They should know themselves where their games are. Make room for the youngsters.
