Our New York Islanders: More Naughty Than Nice

Our New York Islanders took a positive two game winning streak into the Christmas break, but some feel they still deserved coal in their stockings.

They have gone 2 & 5 in their last 7 games, sitting 14th in the east and last in the Metro. Although they have improved over the last few games, especially in a 5-1 win vs the Sabres in Okposo’s return to Brooklyn, the Isles continue to struggle on the road (3-7-2), on special teams (27th at 14.3% on PP and 24th on the once dominant PK, now at 79.1%) and holding on to leads, especially late in the game. None of this is new and it’s a recurring, frustrating pattern for the team as they approach the half-way point of the season.  Coach Capuano still has hope, “When teams lose it, they start quitting, there's no emotion. That hasn't happened with this group." While they haven’t quit, we keep hearing about “passengers” and “guys struggling,” but the only changes we have seen aside from the occasional call-up was off-season depth pick-up, Brian Gionta (Per Staple, ‘Gionta's two-way deal is for a prorated portion of $575K/$200K’) being signed to a two-way deal after playing in Bridgeport. @garick16 mentions, "Ironically Steve Bernier would've been a much better call up at 9-5-14 in 18 games.” 


When I polled my readers on twitter, most believe that the new ownership needs to replace the GM first, then the coaching staff while others want to trade veterans like Hamonic and a few top prospects like Ho-Sang and Barzal to get a much needed winger to play with Tavares.

Follower @OneCrazyD mentions, “GM drafts using analytics(possession), hires coach w/no analytical skillset, strategy O dump n chase D collapse block shots … GM at fault for letting coach reduce players skillset with horrid strategies & the coach cant adjust BOTH need to go.”  So does the new ownership of the Islanders continue to stay with the plan, do they just add another executive to the management in the President’s seat to shake things up from the top?  Do they consider making some intermediate or big roster changes?

Credit the team with working on their problematic slow start tendencies. Eric Hornic mentions a few stats that we should consider. The Isles have scored first for the 12th time in their last 14 games. It’s also been nice to see Ryan Strome make some noise for the third time in 5 games and Anthony Beauvillier scored for the second time in his last three and John Tavares returned to the score sheet for the first time in six games.  Even more importantly, “The Isles have scored at least four goals in consecutive games for the first time this season; their nine goals over the last two games matches a season high.”

The other side of the blue line is having a tough time in some areas of the game. Goaltending is mostly suspect and defensively, the Isles are reeling a bit.  Jaroslav Halak has struggled. He is 5-8 with a 3.13gaa & a .907Sv%. But Thomas Greiss has won two in-a-row and is (2.48gaa & .922Sv%) with an 8-5-0 record (6 & 2 in his last 8) has allowed two goals or less in five of those six wins. JF Berube hasn’t gotten a big enough sample size to judge his season so far. An OT loss and tough team effort in front of him against Ottawa has kept him from getting a win, but he has looked comfortable and made some big saves.  As a defensive unit, the Isles “have been tied in the third period in nine of their 14 regulation losses (and 15 of their 20 overall losses) but have allowed the lead goal in the final 3 minutes of regulation five times.”

That’s a losing plan for a coach that says his squad hasn’t quit. I am not sure how long they will be permitted to underachieve despite the talent and efforts of many throughout the organization. We all want to cheer on this team, but we also expect something to cheer about from top, down.

Isles Notes:

The Isles have the Capitals at home tomorrow night at 7pm, at the Wild on Thursday, 12/29 and finish 2016 in Winnipeg against the Jets at 7pm on the 31st.

Casey Cizikas is out indefinitely with an upper body injury. Cizikas is an impact player with 4 goals, 13 points, +7 and 71 hits to his credit in 29 games this season.

Isles prospect, Kieffer Bellows makes team USA for WJC. 

Could the islanders really come back to Long Island?

Former Islander, D Marc-Andre Bergeron signs professional tryout contract (PTO) with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL.  

Sound Tigers Notes:

Per hornick, “The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are spending the Christmas break with a 16-11-0-0 record, despite a 4-game losing streak.

Bracken Kearns continues to lead the Sound Tigers in scoring (8-14-22), while Steve Bernier leads the team in goals with nine.  Toews leads the team with 16 assists and is second on the team in points (4-16-20); fellow rookie Eamon McAdam leads the team with 7 wins (7-1-0).

Toews leads all AHL rookie defensemen with those 16 assists, and is tied for the AHL rookie defenseman lead with 20 points.”