Good win last night. They are beating some really good teams even going back to the 7-game road trip. Keep stacking those wins and we might get playoff hockey at UBS this coming spring.
Islanders are my family's favorite hockey team somehow. No love for Rangers and Devils in the family. I just don't care about hockey much. But it grabbed my attention. Islanders beat some good teams like Avalance and Lightning. Is there hope for a good run in playoffs? 2 years ago I took my wife and son to Islanders game all the way from New Jersey. It was a cold December night. I hope to do the same in the playoffs for Islanders.
The biggest problem they will have if they make the playoffs is the lack of experience for their young players. That is a huge deal in NHL since playoff games are usually close and teams play a very conservative, gritty game. There is a lot of hockey left in season, other teams are not going to play islanders soft, they will be treated like a benchmark team and that will grind this team down as season goes on. There are so many positives with team but this team is far from being the finished product, they will be a different team by season end. I’m just enjoying the ride, it’s been a while since we have seen this type of hockey from islanders.
Hard to think our fortunes aren’t changing when we’re winning shootouts. And at least for a few hours Sorokin carries us to the top of the eastern conference.
It’s amazing that the odds actually worked in islanders favor this year, Lamorello is fired, Darche comes from winning organization, the lottery falls in islanders favor. The candiens overpay for Noah Dobson, Heineman and two draft picks, Schaefer, Cal Ritchie, Holstrom, Shabanov, have given this team speed, skill and youth. I recently read an article about islanders, last year they dumped the puck in more than any team in NHL, this year they skate in with possession of puck and are in top percentage of teams that skate the puck in. Darche had a blueprint for this team and everything fell into place for him.
Tough loss last night at Detroit but with two very winnable games coming up vs Vancouver and at Buffalo the Isles should (hopefully) get back to their winning ways.
They need to stick to the blueprint and keep adding quality pieces to the roster through the draft. Stop giving away picks and keep building a good roster, the QB will fall into place eventually. I know people hate Woody but it’s not like he hasn’t tried different strategies to build a winner. I actually like this GM Mougey so far, not crazy about Fields, but I think that was a move of hubris by Glenn thinking he can do the impossible. This off season in particular the draft will be a pivotal turning point for Jets.
All hail Rittich! probably not a popular opinion but I’d trade the Colorado pick for Stamkos if that’s all it would take.
I don’t think he fits the blueprint of Darche, 8 million a year for a 35 year old who is declining in skill, his stats are same as Isles are getting from their 3rd line players. Also can’t take away ice time from the young players who have earned it and are producing. If islanders were one piece away from being a Stanley cup winning team like Panthers were then I would be on board, but they are not there yet, the young guys in the farm system are going to determine where this team goes next year.
The east is winnable; Darche has to be a buyer. The two remaining years on his contract are why I’d bring him in.
Nice win yesterday, but they clearly ran out of gas in the back-to-back today - the last 10 minutes of the third period was some of the worst hockey they've played all year. I knew they were going to lose once CBJ tied it, but was just hoping it would be in OT, so they'd get the point. Oh well.
