The Islanders aren't boring

[Icarium]

The idea that "The Islanders play boring hockey and that's why the league has problems drawing new fans" is silly.... because people looking at hockey for the first time wouldn't know the difference.

New fans aren't going to appreciate the defensive structure the first time they watch hockey. They will understand the concept of "goals."

Which means 35 minutes of SUDDEN DEATH OT last night is more dramatic than the NBA/NFL/MLB/Soccer overtime rules. The only comparison you could make is to college soccer sudden death OT... and boring Islanders hockey is going to be more exciting that college soccer the first time these new fans see someone throwing a hit.

New fans would have probably checked out long before the game got to the OT, let alone the end of the OT. I am not one of those people who automatically points the finger at "boring" teams but that game almost put me to sleep.

 

[Mr Positive]

Are you even watching the Isles? This is one of our bread and butters.......

I saw a bunch of good ones but it was generally the strategy of knocking the puck down the ice whenever the Bolts get a groove. And of course there are moments where carrying it out is a high percentage play and they wont do icings then.

I'll also so maybe it had more to do with the Bolts than the Isles, that maybe any team would do it.

All I know from watching this game is that dump and chase and D zone focus is totally fine with me but there were so many icings and that's what drags it down to me

 

[Riseonfire]

I saw a bunch of good ones but it was generally the strategy of knocking the puck down the ice whenever the Bolts get a groove. And of course there are moments where carrying it out is a high percentage play and they wont do icings then.

I'll also so maybe it had more to do with the Bolts than the Isles, that maybe any team would do it.

All I know from watching this game is that dump and chase and D zone focus is totally fine with me but there were so many icings and that's what drags it down to me

Isles can be frustrating because they're okay with playing longer in their D zone if it means they didn't risk a pass through the middle. If Barzal gets the puck though, it's almost always an controlled exit and controlled entry.

 

[CSKA1974]

New fans would have probably checked out long before the game got to the OT, let alone the end of the OT. I am not one of those people who automatically points the finger at "boring" teams but that game almost put me to sleep.

 

[Mr Positive]

Isles can be frustrating because they're okay with playing longer in their D zone if it means they didn't risk a pass through the middle. If Barzal gets the puck though, it's almost always an controlled exit and controlled entry.

See that, I like. I enjoy feeling the momentum shift as a team in the offense zone gets all kinds of control but no shots and then the defenders get control. Even better when the team on offense had guys double shifting and now it goes the other way.

 

[Riseonfire]

See that, I like. I enjoy feeling the momentum shift as a team in the offense zone gets all kinds of control but no shots and then the defenders get control. Even better when the team on offense had guys double shifting and now it goes the other way.

THIS IS THE WAY.

 

[Chardo]

Islanders fans are probably the only people save for a select random few that will try to convince everyone else the Islanders' style is not boring.

Goals are exciting to the casual viewer. As a diehard fan, you might be enthralled by a low scoring, tight checking 2-1 hockey game - that's great for you. You aren't who the NHL cares about.

The NHL wants to cater to a casual audience as much as possible in order to compete with the other major sports in North America for viewers. The NBA is incredibly high scoring. The NFL more often than not focuses on offense than defence and even the great defences score points.

Casual viewers don't want to watch a defensive masterpiece. They want high scoring, high chance hockey. The Islanders are the farthest thing from that.

It doesn't mean they should stop. Their goal is to win, not entertain. If this is how they accomplish it, so be it.

Like one poster said earlier, the New Jersey Devils had the reputation from 95-03 as being the most boring team in hockey, yet I believe in 2001 they were the highest scoring team in the league. These reputations stick with teams for a reason.

Good thing the Islanders have scored more playoff goals than any other team.

 

[KevFu]

The NHL wants to cater to a casual audience as much as possible in order to compete with the other major sports in North America for viewers. The NBA is incredibly high scoring. The NFL more often than not focuses on offense than defence and even the great defences score points.

Casual viewers don't want to watch a defensive masterpiece. They want high scoring, high chance hockey. The Islanders are the farthest thing from that.

It doesn't mean they should stop. Their goal is to win, not entertain. If this is how they accomplish it, so be it.

Here's the thing, though... GOOD GOALS are exciting. Garbage goals on their own aren't exciting. The only exciting part of a garbage goal is that it changes the situation.

NBA is high scoring but it renders made baskets far less significant -- which is why the rep of the NBA is "you really only need to tune in for the last few minutes." There's a shot every 24 seconds. The dunks are exciting, but a put-back isn't exciting unless it's a buzzer-beating game-winning put-back. Billions of people watch soccer BECAUSE goals are rare.

And fans DO like defense: NFL Sacks, fumbles, interceptions, good tackles and hits. That's defense.
PITCHING in baseball is defense. You think anyone was like "You see that Chicago game last night? Lucas Giolito & Alec Mills were SO BORING that there weren't any hits!"


And, like I said earlier, the Islanders this season surrendered more goals per game than NINE OF THE LAST 10 CUP CHAMPIONS. Everyone who wins plays good defense. But Chicago had Kane and Toews, the Pens had Crosby and Malkin, the Caps with Ovie.

It's just that no one knows our names and the narrative of the team was "Trotz! Defense! Structure!" that has led to this ridiculous backlash.

 

[57special]

I find the NYI's to be a thrilling watch.

signed,
A Wild Fan

 

[islesnyc]

I totally get the boring perspective from non-fans of the team. Other than Barzal, there is not much flash and is very systematic and structured. I have no issues with people feeling that way.

From my perspective, the team has won games this playoffs in different manners: at times speed, goaltending, physicality, structure, sometimes all the above. We Isles fans have not seen that in almost 40 years.

Trotz is a tactician by nature and Tampa has far greater skill than the Isles. So for this series the tactic in particular has been safe plays, a lot of chipping out and counter attack when the rare opportunity arises.

For those of you who cannot fathom how the fanbase can find this at all exciting or even watchable hockey (a lot of comments about 24 shots in 5+ periods), I give you this perspective. There was a classic Islanders game where they played a far superior team and were out shot 39-16 but won the game. 16 shots for an entire game they spent chipping and defending and grinding while counter attacking opportunistically and relying on good goaltending. They had no superstar at the time and so needed to play a strong team game. Of the 16 shots they somehow managed to eke out 4 relatively pedestrian goals while giving up 3. ——- Of course this was not an Islanders game but the 1980 US-Soviet game. Probably viewed by most as a Top 5 sporting event of all time. So you see , the game looks and feels a lot different when you are emotionally invested in a team.

 

[Chardo]

I saw a bunch of good ones but it was generally the strategy of knocking the puck down the ice whenever the Bolts get a groove. And of course there are moments where carrying it out is a high percentage play and they wont do icings then.

I'll also so maybe it had more to do with the Bolts than the Isles, that maybe any team would do it.

All I know from watching this game is that dump and chase and D zone focus is totally fine with me but there were so many icings and that's what drags it down to me

There were more icings than usual last night. A product of Islanders struggling to exit and spending entire shifts in their own zone.

I do think linesmen call too many icings in general.

 

[KevFu]

Here's Playoffs, per game stats for five teams: 2020 Islanders, 2019 Blues, 2017 Penguins, 2015 Blackhawks, 2015 Lightning

A. 31 Shots, 34 shots against (65 total); 10 high danger chances, 11 HD chances against; 3.00 Goals, 2.60 Goals Against (5.60 total Goals)
B. 30 Shots, 28 shots against (58 total); 13 high danger chances, 11 HD chances against; 3.10 Goals, 2.33 Goals Against (5.43 total Goals)
C: 30 Shots, 29 shots against (59 total); 10 high danger chances, 10 HD chances against; 2.89 Goals, 2.69 Goals Against (5.58 total Goals)
D: 28 Shots, 28 shots against (58 total); 9 high danger chances, 9 HD chances against; 2.50 Goals, 2.38 Goals Against (4.88 total Goals)
E: 29 Shots, 31 shots against (60 total), 11 high danger chances, 10 HD chances against; 3.08 Goals, 2.28 Goals Against (5.36 total Goals)

Tell me which line is the stats for boring teams and which lines are the stats for exciting teams?

 

[dahrougem2]

Here's the thing, though... GOOD GOALS are exciting. Garbage goals on their own aren't exciting. The only exciting part of a garbage goal is that it changes the situation.

NBA is high scoring but it renders made baskets far less significant -- which is why the rep of the NBA is "you really only need to tune in for the last few minutes." There's a shot every 24 seconds. The dunks are exciting, but a put-back isn't exciting unless it's a buzzer-beating game-winning put-back. Billions of people watch soccer BECAUSE goals are rare.

And fans DO like defense: NFL Sacks, fumbles, interceptions, good tackles and hits. That's defense.
PITCHING in baseball is defense. You think anyone was like "You see that Chicago game last night? Lucas Giolito & Alec Mills were SO BORING that there weren't any hits!"


And, like I said earlier, the Islanders this season surrendered more goals per game than NINE OF THE LAST 10 CUP CHAMPIONS. Everyone who wins plays good defense. But Chicago had Kane and Toews, the Pens had Crosby and Malkin, the Caps with Ovie.

It's just that no one knows our names and the narrative of the team was "Trotz! Defense! Structure!" that has led to this ridiculous backlash.

There is a stark contrast between NFL defense which is heavily based on sacks/interceptions/big hits, and NHL defense which is primarily based on trapping, boxing out, clogging up lanes, and blocking shots.

That isn't what fans like.

 

[Brunomics]

Boring..... Exciting..... I don't give a shit as long as they get a W when time expires. You play the game to win.

 

[T REX]

Perfect timing. Thank you.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

There is a stark contrast between NFL defense which is heavily based on sacks/interceptions/big hits, and NHL defense which is primarily based on trapping, boxing out, clogging up lanes, and blocking shots.

That isn't what fans like.

Good point, flip the NFL analogy to the offensive side of the ball. Take last year's super bowl teams - one is a high flying throw the ball all over the yard and the other is run-run-run and dink n dunk.

Both are obviously great teams since they made the super bowl but one is definitely more exciting to watch for most fans. Now, some football fans love blocking schemes, motions and misdirection playcalls, but they are a special breed. Similar to those hockey fans who marvel over a suffocating systematic defense.

I agree with the Isles are boring bandwagon. But I just don't care.

 

[Cygnusx1018]

Is there a reason Komarov is still wearing the full cage?

Gotta be medical, no? I figured the league only allows it if he just had his jaw surgically repaired or something like that.

Just seems like he's had it for some time now.

He broke his jaw less than 2 months ago.

 

[ScaredStreit]

As Islander fan starting around 92 or 93 when I was in elementary school I can tell you this team is not boring to me. This is easily the best Islanders team I've witnessed in my fandom. I've seen 15 year contracts, owners who were scammers, the team play in an outdated crappy arena, seemingly on the verge of leaving, having a playoff drought for 7 years; playoff series victory drought for 22 years, and ECF drought for 27.

I understand why some might see the team as boring (except for watching Barzal). But us Islander fans are completely entertained and after all isn't that the Islanders's job (and to win)?

 

[HugginThePost]

What if you like watching smart hockey? What if you get a rise out of an excellent defensive play and smart breakouts?

Why does 'entertaining' need to be trading odd man chances every other play? There is more to a hockey game than a 2 on 1.

Riiiiigggghhhhhtttttt........watching a team get off 5 shots a period for 5 periods is the height of "smart" hockey!!

 

[Dr Pepper]

He broke his jaw less than 2 months ago.

When, in the play-in round?

 

[KevFu]

Riiiiigggghhhhhtttttt........watching a team get off 5 shots a period for 5 periods is the height of "smart" hockey!!

1. We won, so looks pretty smart.

2. I post detailed stats of shots for/against, high danger for/against, and goals for/against compared to other Conference/Cup finalists vs the Islanders and zero responses! So it's blatantly obvious no one cares about an objective measure of "boring" vs "exciting," it's just pre-existing narrative: "You ice the puck 0.34 times per game more than the Stars, so you're boring!"

 

[DVon Du Nord]

Gotta be honest, I don't care what other people think when my team is winning. I'm having fun watching this group of guys work their butts off for each other to win games. We're one of 3 teams left at this point, I'm enjoying the ride and no random "hockey fan" is going to tell me being in the final 4 is boring. Debate away friends.

 

[JoemAvs]

As Islander fan starting around 92 or 93 when I was in elementary school I can tell you this team is not boring to me. This is easily the best Islanders team I've witnessed in my fandom. I've seen 15 year contracts, owners who were scammers, the team play in an outdated crappy arena, seemingly on the verge of leaving, having a playoff drought for 7 years; playoff series victory drought for 22 years, and ECF drought for 27.

I understand why some might see the team as boring (except for watching Barzal). But us Islander games are completely entertained and after all isn't that the Islanders's job (and to win)?

Yeah that is the correct take IMO. I believe the Isles are boring and I don't really enjoy watching them. But if I were an Isles fan I wouldn't give a damn about that and be very happy with my team right now...
And atleast you are not as bad as the Wild have been for the last 10 years

 

[HugginThePost]

1. We won, so looks pretty smart.

2. I post detailed stats of shots for/against, high danger for/against, and goals for/against compared to other Conference/Cup finalists vs the Islanders and zero responses! So it's blatantly obvious no one cares about an objective measure of "boring" vs "exciting," it's just pre-existing narrative: "You ice the puck 0.34 times per game more than the Stars, so you're boring!"

Nah, I take a much simpler approach to the issue.

I turned off the TV prior to the 2OT period because I could no longer watch it.

I'm not alone in this. Have you listened to any of the talking head sports shows this morning? It was universally acknowledged that this was the worst playoff game any of them had seen in over a decade.

Yes, your team won, and that's great for you guys, I'm not disagreeing with you at all.

All I'm saying is that as a fan of the game, whose team is out, I look forward to good hockey games. Last night was the first time in my 45 years of watching playoff hockey that I turned off the TV before the game ended.

 

[holy]

Yeah they used to call me boring too. Now I’ve been voted HFBoards most exciting poster for 3 years running.