Grit, Guts & Promise

Your New York Islanders (38-21-9) currently sit 2nd in the Metro and 3rd in the eastern conference, thanks to a 6-2-2 record in their last 10.  They have 85 pts in 68 games.  The latest stretch included a solid 6-4 effort against the Rangers and gutsy wins against Pittsburgh (2-1) & Florida (3-2).  There were a few stinkers, like a terrible 3-1 loss to the Oilers.

While they have had some lackluster periods, like the most recent game against Pittsburgh, points have been acquired.  Much of these efforts have overcome a troubled PK or an on and off again scoring touch.  These performances are not only built on the backs of guys named Tavares, Okposo, Nielsen or even Halak, they have come from those who continue to make an impression and carve a name for themselves in Brooklyn.  When looking at this year’s team, you have to acknowledge the contributions of the 4th line and the depth in goal.

The line of Martin, Cizikas and Clutterbuck have gotten the attention of everyone in and around the league, putting opponents on notice.  Since the 14-15 campaign, the trio of Matt Martin (7 & 9 for 16, +1 and leads NHL in hits with 323), Casey Cizikas (7 & 19 for 26 with a +4) and Cal Clutterbuck (13 & 7 for 20, +8 with 4 GWG) have made a huge impact.  Both Martin and Clutterbuck are NHL record holders for 300 hit seasons.  The 4th line has changed the pace in contests for quite a while now and is often tasked with managing the opposition’s top players during the most important parts of the game.  They have brought a gritty and physical game without the stigma of playing dirty.  "If the other team is starting to get any momentum," said Cizikas, "that's when we look at each other and say, ‘This is our time to step up, this is our time to get the guys going and get the momentum on our side.”

Jaro Halak (18-13-4 with a 2.30gaa and a .919Sv%) suffered a “lower body injury” and does not need surgery, but he will miss 6-8 weeks. That will take him out for the rest of the regular season and into the 2nd round of the playoffs should the Isles advance.  That is a big loss for New York who will miss their starters’ presence in the rotation.  What that will mean for the Isles remains to be seen.  I do know is that the Isles have one of the best “back-ups” in the NHL with Greiss and a 3rd rostered goaltender in Berube who has shown flashes of a solid NHL level keeper despite limited NHL experience.

Thomas Greiss has shown something all season long, going 19-7-0 with an impressive 2.25gaa (9th in the league) and an equally solid .928Sv% good enough for 2nd in the NHL behind Brian Elliott at a .929Sv%. He hasn't exactly played a backups’ role for the Isles this season and is as good as the team could have wanted.  He has never been the starter in a scenario like the one in front of him.  With Halak hurt and an AHL experienced goaltender behind him, Greiss should probably get the lion’s share of starts and be relied on as the one to take this team to the next level.  If the Islanders are successful into the 2nd round of the playoffs, it will be a tall order for Halak to replace him even if he is fully recovered from his injury.  Thomas Greiss has the reigns and Isles country is eager to see what he can do.  I am sure he has waited for this chance his whole pro career.

J.F. Berube's burden is yet to be measured and he will only show his true worth as the team fights to solidify their playoff position.  He simply needs to play to improve. That's the reality.  Berube is 1-1-1 with a 2.52gaa & a .924Sv%.  He looked very good in a 2/2 win vs the Wild and very capable in the Isles latest 2-1 S.O. loss to the Pens in which he was named the games’ 2nd star.  “I just tried to play as simple as I could, put my body in front of the puck, be square and be on top of the paint,” Berube said. “Just trying to focus on the little details and I knew I’d get my rhythm as the game went on.”  Berube looked focused and dialed in on the puck despite the loss and kept his team in the game.  That’s all you can ask from a netminder.  His inexperience will factor in, especially in the bigger games to follow, but you have to be encouraged by what you have seen so far.

No passengers.

Isles Notes:

The Isles are in Nashville on Thursday, 3/17 and Dallas on 3/19.  Both 8PM starts.

Brock Nelson had played 202 consecutive regular season games for the Isles prior to his scratch against the Pens on Tuesday.

Per @GregBalloch, “Ilya Sorokin had a .953 save percentage in 28 games this season, and did not win "KHL Goaltender of the Week" a single time.”

Head Coach, Jack Capuano had reached 203 wins as an Isles coach, 2nd only to Al Arbour with 740.

NHL Notes:

NHL, NHLPA expected to go ahead with ‘streamlined’ goaltender equipment.

GMs were given framework for possible expansion draft.

Trading Places: Shane Prince Acquired

As the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline fizzled out, your New York Islanders made a pair of moves that went under the radar to most NHL fans.  It wasn’t Mikkel Boedker as the rumors would lead you to believe or even former Isle, PA Parenteau, for whom Toronto wanted a 2nd round pick.  They did acquire Shane Prince and a 7^th round pick from the Ottawa Senators for the Isles 3^rd round selection in 2016.

The 23 year old forward has 12 points (3 & 9) on the season so far in 42 NHL games.  “In 2014-15, he led the Binghamton Senators in scoring with 65 points (28 goals, 37 assists) in 72 American Hockey League games.”  The native New Yorker from Rochester and former 2^nd round selection (61^st overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft, saw top minutes in his AHL career, totaling 148 points (67 & 81) in 206 games and had a successful junior career with the Ottawa 67’s and Kitchener Rangers.

‏@ShanePrince18  made his feelings known on Twitter: “Beyond excited to be a member of the @NYIslanders !! Thanks to Ottawa for everything the last few years.”  Prince may realize that he is on a team that just might have a plan that differs from the underuse he went through with the Sens.  He will wear #11 for the Islanders and should see action against the Vancouver Canucks tonight.  The team is in 3^rd place within the Metro with a 33-20-7 record with 73 pts good for 7^th in the eastern conference.

They also made a minor-league move by trading, F Taylor Beck to COL for F Marc-Andre Cliche.  Cliche was drafted by the New York Rangers, 56^th overall in the 2^nd round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.  He has 6 & 13 for 19 points in 38 games with the San Antonio Rampage.  He will wear #26 for the BST.

The trend of over payment at trade deadline and draft has always blown me away. While the Isles are a work in progress, they are certainly not desperate enough to panic and hemorrhage draft picks or assets for rental players with big names who don’t fit their scheme.  The trading of a player like Shane Prince has made the Ottawa fans and members of the blogosphere angry.  When you are a fan of the team that acquires said player, sit back and think on that.  It means the player may have more to offer than goals and assists.

The Isles are big into a player’s statistical numerical rating and many feel Prince is an underused and talented asset to add depth to the NHL level Islanders.  He wasn’t acquired with the intention to enhance the roster in Bridgeport.  B.D. Gallof wrote an informative piece on Prince and after reading it, you are helped to understand the move in a lot of detail.  After taking some time on the deal, I am reminded of the way Garth Snow does things.  Season after season, he shows a methodical persistence to his plan and the team has improved because of it.

Some fans are still angry that this is the Isles line up that the team will have the opportunity to take into the playoffs.  They watch as other teams trade for big name players and make attractive moves that they wanted their team to make.  I get it.  But I have learned that my fandom through the years doesn’t mean I know all the details or the real metrics of a trade.  For better or worse, we get to sit back and watch our talented team sink or swim and go into the first summer of new ownership.  Both Snow and Capuano are sure to be measured on not just their progression up until now, but how the season will finish.   I won’t tell you that I am confident that the team is sure to go far, but I am still looking forward to see what happens.  Call me a homer, but I am not ready to count them out in the first round.  The offense has its moments, the special teams are awesome, the defense is very good and the goaltending is as good as it’s been in a long time. Let’s see how the team goes into to the stretch.  I know there won’t be any shortage of fans ready to grab the pitch forks and torches on the way to Brooklyn.

Isles Notes:

Pulock on playing his first NHL game with the NYI (vs Oilers): "It's a dream as a kid to one day play in the NHL. Today's the day and it's exciting."

Pulock was sent down to the BST as a paper move to be sure he is eligible for the AHL playoffs, but has since been “recalled” by New York.

Thomas Greiss leads the NHL with a .930 Sv%.

KoC: 2016 Isles Trade Deadline Preview

Your New York Islanders are 6-3-1 in their last ten and had some big games, including a 4-1 win against Detroit and a 1-0 win on the road in New Jersey.  But right now, they are on a 6 game road trip that starts in Minnesota tomorrow and ends in Manhattan against their arch rivals on March 3rd.  The Isles sit in Metro’s 3rd spot behind the Rangers by 5 points and their conference standings battle won’t get any easier with the playoffs looming.

With the NHL trade deadline closing in (2/29 at 3 p.m. eastern) and an uncertain salary cap for the 2016-17 season, GM’s should be even more guarded on player trades.  That doesn’t mean teams out of contention or those wanting to shed salary, wouldn’t consider moving a commodity if the price is right.  Especially those who deal in the Canadian dollar.  While they could be sellers to a point, your New York Islanders are in the hunt and will most likely ride out the deadline by keeping Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsend and Travis Hamonic on the roster and take their chances on resigning them in the summer or entertaining trades prior to free agency.  Snow won’t be likely to do much right now and isn’t likely to give up anything substantial unless the right deal could come around with similar returns.  They even let former D FA target, Christian Ehrhoff clear waivers instead of putting in a claim that would have only cost them the remainder of his $1.5M salary.

If a trade is done by the NYI, it would be for an upgrade that fits their plan.  Garth Snow isn’t the kind of GM that goes for a right now, big splash kind of acquisition.  While an aging, pending free agent to be could be a possibility, they would need to fit the scheme and be valuable enough for the Isles to give up only expendable assets.  Secondary prospects would be a more likely commodity, but their return probably won’t bring back a significant haul unless packaged with a few more pieces. And the Isles 1st round draft pick would be available, but only for a can’t-say-no deal in my opinion.

Sure, I’d like to grab P.K. Subban from MTL or guys like Nail Yakapov, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or a Jordan Eberle from the Oil, but their prices will probably be more than the Isles would give up at the deadline.  But I do have a short list of five good players that I could see in the lineup for the Islanders for the right deal.  While these guys are good and valuable players, I wouldn’t say all of them would exactly break the bank, but I would say they are good at particular areas of the game. 

1.  Andrew Ladd, WPG, LW, 6’3, 200#, 30 yrs old

As the current captain of the Winnipeg Jets, Ladd is the kind of player of may help the Isles take that final step in the forward position.  Ladd is deceptively efficient around the net with 40 goals and 95 points in 139 games over the last 2 seasons. Ladd fits the Isles character profile and can boast a 2 time Stanley Cup resume and provide grit, special teams and be rotated throughout the lineup.

2.  Scott Hartnell, CBJ, LW, 6’2, 214#, 33 yrs old

Hartnell is the kind of player you hate unless he is on your team. You might also say with guys like Martin, Cizikas and Clutterbuck, the Isles don’t need to trade for a player like him.  But he is a gritty player who makes goaltenders miserable with his play in front of the net and is defensively skilled enough to fill in on the PK.  He would add even more depth to a talented Isles squad.  Hartnell has 37 pts (18 & 19) in 57 GP so far this season.

3.  Jiri Hudler, CGY, C, 5’10,183#, 32 yrs old

Jiri Hudler is a small center, a player you can argue that the Isles do not need.  But keep in mind Hudler is a season removed from 76 points in 78 GP and boasts a lot of offensive skill.  He has 33 points in 51 games could add versatility to a talented forward group in Brooklyn.

4.  Brent Seabrook CHI, D, 6’3, 220#, 30 yrs old.

Seabrook is good enough to be a core player, but he is also playing a team with limited cap room and a very deep blue line.  Much like Leddy, Seabrook could possibly be pried loose for less than you might think and would immensely help the Islanders on defense and offensively contribute (37 pts so far) from the back end.  This would be especially true after the departure of Hamonic if he could be financially retained.  He is a steady and reliable defensemen who has a flair for the big goal.

5.  Mark Giordano, CGY, D, 198#, 32 yrs old

With 37 points on the season so far, Giordano has been one of the most reliable blue liners in the NHL over the past few seasons.  Although he is coming off injury, Giordano is a good leader and solid skater and has strong PP and offensive ability.  After a slow start to the season, he has come on in a big way including a streak of 27 points in 27 games at the start of February.

While its more likely that the Islanders hold fast and watch other teams make noise at the deadline, it is possible Snow decides to add a piece or two in Brooklyn.  Sometimes, the right player can make a good team even better and the NYI are starting to come down to the most crucial part of the 2015-16 campaign.  Do the Islanders have a roster Snow and Capuano will choose to ride into the era of the Islanders new majority ownership?

Time will tell.

Isles Notes:

Ryan Pulock has been recalled from loan (Bridgeport).

Hockey Notes:

The KHL is expanding to China.

Cerberus In Brooklyn

Your New York Islanders are 4-3 in the month of February following the All-Star break.  While they have some games at hand over teams ahead of them in the playoff race, the 29-19-6 Isles have fallen to 4^th in the Metro and 8^th in the eastern conference.  That puts them just 1pt ahead of the 9^th place Penguins.  They enjoyed an 8-1 thumping of the Oilers last Sunday and helped J-F Berube to his first NHL win a couple of days later against the Wild.  They are doing a lot of things well, but still suffering from inconsistencies that are limiting their performance against eastern conference teams.  While special teams (11^th ranked PP w 6 goals in last 5 games and 2^nd ranked PK at 86.6%) are still holding and their offense is surging a little bit behind the improved play of John Tavares (6 & 9 for 14 in last 9 games) and the first line as a whole (Grabovski 25pts & Strome 21pts.)

Jaroslav Halak has a 13-12-0 record with a .914Sv% and a 2.42gaa so far this season.  Halak has had some very strong games, but has fallen off a bit after breaking the team record for wins last year.  Thomas Greiss has slowly outpaced Halak from the back up spot going 15-6-0 with a .930Sv% and a 2.21gaa in slightly less games between the pipes for New York.  Greiss has been very good when called upon and is certainly a solid safety net for his team just past the midpoint.  It must also be noted that Halak has missed some time due to injury and has not played a starter’s share of games for Capuano’s Islanders so far.  In his last outing against the Carolina Hurricanes, Halak was pulled after two periods of play in a 6-3 loss behind a shaky defensive effort.

Isles prospect goaltender, J-F Berube got his first NHL win vs the Minnesota Wild in a strange call-up, coming directly after the All-Star break.  The reports had Berube recalled by Jack Capuano for his prior 4-0 performance the week before in Bridgeport (0.97 GAA and .967 SV%) and will apparently be one of the Islanders 3 goaltenders going forward according to the coach.

So how secure are the Islanders in net if the coaching staff needs to rely on their back up so heavily and use a 3^rd goaltender in the rotation for the rest of the season?  Is Jaro Halak still the number one? Is he more injury prone than the team wants to admit and will their apparent stability in goal start to become suspect as April gets closer?  Will the Isles uncertainty with Travis Hamonic and the future plans of free agents Like Okposo and Nielsen be ignored until the off season?  As the trade deadline approaches, the Islanders are still in the thick of things with no reason to panic, but I think they have some serious concerns to reflect on in the coming weeks.

Will a three headed monster in net be enough to make it past the 1^st round of the NHL playoffs for this year’s team?

Isles Notes:

Brett Yormark’s comments about fans being able to use the jumbo-tron and cell phones to make up for obstructed views and the Barclays apparent ban on “If You Are Happy And You Know It” chant are just the latest topics are really not making positive strides among the fan base.  

UPDATE:  Yormark responded on Twitter by saying the song was not banned and fans would hear it on Monday.  This may be another concession based on the fans outcry.  If that is the case, good job by Barclays.

Per Arthur Staple, Kyle Okposo's 500th NHL game on 2/9 vs Columbus made only him the second African-American player to come up through the US amateur ranks to do so.

The New York Islanders game against the Philadelphia Flyers that was postponed on Saturday, January 23, has been rescheduled for Sunday, April 10 at 7PM and will be their final regular season game of the season.

“Isles equipment manager Scott Boggs named Team Europe's head equipment manager for 2016 World Cup.”

The Islanders have 1-1st Rd, 1-3rd, 1-4th, 1-6th & 1-7th round pick in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft.

@swedishislander “Congrats to @jsundstrom12 and @frolunda hc to the Champions Hockey League European Trophy today! #Isles #Soundtigers”

Accountability Equals Consistency: My Five Keys

So in the past few days, I’ve had 2 articles partially written to analyze the Isles and their play a little more than half way into the season and heading into the All-Star break.  I’ve had to change them around and do some re-writes to bring you the current version of this article.  I had to do so in hopes of not retelling much of what many of my colleagues or those in the local media have written about the team.  Sometimes, not a very easy thing to do at all. But know that my delays in writing have come at expense of caring for my Dad, a trade I happily make without hesitation.

It all comes down to accountability.  I need to take care of business in my own life and still manage the immense burden of caring for an aging parent with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Sometimes, it seems like a losing battle, but it doesn’t deter me one bit.  If I am not there to care for him, no one else will. I am OK with that obligation.  What I am trying to do here is draw attention to the different responsibilities and accountability.  While the example is my own, its merits can be applied to many other examples, even a hockey organization like the New York Islanders.

Recently, your New York Islanders defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 4-2 in O.T at home, the Senators 5-2 in Ottawa, had their home game against the Flyers snowed out (no make-up date announced yet)  and lost a 4-2 game at home to the Detroit Redwings, since we talked last.  It was an up and down, back and forth 9 days of hockey.  They seem to dominate each period with a physical edge or were forced to play catch-up for much of the game after a slow start during that time.  They now find themselves 3 points behind the 2nd place Rangers (25-16-6 with 56pts in 47 games) and 7th in the eastern conference.  They have gone just 7-8-1 in their last 16 games, but have been outscored 29-9 in those 9 loses.  All season long, lines have been changed, guys called up and injuries endured for what still amounts to a successful 2015-16 campaign for New York so far.  Adjustments must be made in the best way that the GM, coaching staff and players are able to accomplish.  But you have to wonder how good the team would be if their shortcomings were properly addressed and they found a way to evolve even more than they have managed so far this season.

I am acquainted with a professional coach in a major sporting league.  This coach has managed to have a very successful career in his chosen sport and has even won a title at the pro level.   When I asked about his opinion on Jack Capuano, he basically said he wasn’t the biggest fan and feels that under his guidance, the Isles fail to consistently play with energy.  He also sighted that the staff doesn’t hold guys accountable and although he is a fan of Doug Weight, like most of us, he doesn’t feel the PP (now 19th in the NHL at 17.5%) unit is a legitimate threat game in and game out at this time.  He feels that some more moves need to be done by Garth Snow and the first should be finding a legitimate winger for star center, John Tavares.  Greg Cronin has been good for most of the season with the PK, now 2nd at 87.2% (including a consecutive 22 game kill streak) and has helped the team win close games for much of the campaign.

It seems the consistency is still missing and it must start taking a toll on every level of the organization.  Accountability that includes, but goes beyond the players on the ice while this talented squad in burning their limited time as one of the better, but underachieving units in the league.  Capuano has the respect of his players per reports and he has non-specifically called out his team on more than one occasion.  He has also made it a point to mention that personnel decisions are something Garth Snow will need to think on because he feels certain players are just not getting it done.  I have questioned Capuano on decisions, but no one is getting fired or moved with the success that the team is having now - unless the shortcomings continue as the trade deadline approaches.  But I think they are continuing and will continue without the proper adjustments.  This will be especially true when you look into next season with new ownership taking majority control of the team.  Charles Wang will remain as a minority owner and advisor, but Garth Snow will need to continue to take strides in team depth and try and find a way to help the Islanders reach the consistency they so desperately need.  Not an easy thing to do and I am far from an NHL level GM or Coach for that matter, but I am confused by the same shortfalls that we take exception to as fans.  I do have 5 keys that could help the Islanders in the 2nd half of the season and into what should be a playoff push.

5.  More balanced scoring.  The Isles need it in bunches and need to score first.  Per Eric Hornick, “The Isles are 21-2-0 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 4-14-6 when they do not.  The Isles were 40-8-4 when they scored at least three goals (including SO winners) last season and the Isles are 17-3-2 when they score first and are 8-13-4 when they allow the opening goal.”  The Isles need their stars (Okposo 35, Tavares 34 & Nielsen 30 pts) to continue to lead by example and offensive contributions need to come from everywhere.  Like how Brock Nelson’s 11 goals in his last 19 games have him 1st on the team in goals (19) scored and one off his 20 goal high from last season.  Mikhail Grabovski has managed 21 points in 47 games and is looking better as of late.  They need even more from Anders Lee (20), Ryan Strome (17), Josh Bailey (20).

4.  Get even more defensive and gritty.  The defense needs to continue to jump in on the rush and help change momentum, but a priority on defense must be kept from within their own zone.  The Isles must keep finishing checks, agitating opponents and neutralizing scoring chances by the opposition to result in more odd man rushes the other way and SHGs (4).  The 4^th line of Martin, Cizikas and Clutterbuck are infectious with their physical play and need to continue to frustrate the competition along with their team mates on both sides of the ice.

3.  Goaltending needs to stay sharp.  The Isles are 10-5-6 in games decided by a single goal.  They have stayed in the playoff hunt by their depth in net.  Jaroslav Halak (ranked 24th) is 12-9-4 with a 2.14gaa & .923Sv% while back-up, Thomas Greiss (ranked 22nd) is 13-6-2 with a 2.32gaa & .927Sv%.  The goal tending the Isles get has given the team confidence in most games and is sometimes the only reason the team stays in the games in which they are struggling.  The net minders need to improve even more, especially Jaroslav Halak who must emerge as the clear #1 going into the post season.

2.  Power Play must improve.  It has been up and down all season long as is currently in the bottom half of the league at 19th.  The Isles need their extra man to take advantage of close game and turn momentum when it is needed most.  It is necessary to add points within a game and by default, in the standing of a close eastern conference race to the post season.  If changes need to be made to direction or tweaks to their PP units, then it needs to be done.

1.  They must stay healthy as a team.  This is a huge need for any team and it’s a credit to the depth built by Garth Snow that time lost to Jaro Halak, Travis Hamonic, Johnny Boychuk, and Thomas Hickey wasn’t too much to overcome for the Islanders so far.  The depth and improved play provided by Thomas Greiss, Calvin de Haan & Adam Pelech have helped New York stay in the hunt, but key players need to stay healthy so they can focus on the task at hand.  Competing at a high level for a better chance of winning games.

Let’s hope that the injuries, fatigue and focus can improve over the All-Star break and some rest and film work can be done to sharpen the team for the conclusion of the season.  I still feel they have the talent and players to make a splash, but without the accountability necessary to keep their edge, the team may not have what it takes for that next step towards Stanley.  That accountability must be owned at every level.

Consistency is sure to follow.

Isles Notes:

The All-Star game is this weekend and John Tavares (4 goals in the game last year) has been named Captain of the Metro Division squad to represent New York again.  The game will feature a 3 on 3 format style of play.  Tavares credited his team mates when he spoke about attending the weekend for the Isles.  “There are a few guys from our team who could be going instead of me,” Tavares said. “Kyle [Okposo], Frans [Nielsen], Nick Leddy and our goalies have had some outstanding seasons. I’m really the beneficiary of many guys.

The Isles return to action on 2/2 at home against the Minnesota Wild at 7pm before a two game road trip against Washington (2/4) and Detroit (2/6) before coming back to face the Oilers on 2/7.

Islanders Latest Gut-Check

Your New York Islanders dropped a pair of ugly games against the Capitals & Flyers last week to raise more flags about their consistency and legitimacy on being a top team in the east.  The streaky play and shaky resolve has become an issue for them at different times this season.  While I feel the team is a real contender, I have always felt they lacked the consistency necessary to be a serious threat in the playoffs.  Especially now that they have a much deeper roster and more experience playing together as a squad.  With the new ownership of Jon Ledecky & Scott Malkin coming to power next season, the margin for error for everyone in the organization is closing in.

So much so that head coach, Jack Capuano had questioned the resolve of players and making mention of “compete levels,” far too often.  Capauno had this to say after the 4-0 loss vs. the Flyers, “I think the top guys that are here are playing pretty good hockey to be honest with you, the experienced guys,” Capuano said. “It is some of the other guys that need to find their game. That is a decision that Garth [Snow] will have to make as far as personnel. But we are going to have to sit down and talk about it going into Columbus as far as what we are going to do. Obviously it is not working with some of the guys we have now.”  But even team captain, John Tavares has been off this season and simply needs to be better.  He has 15 & 16 for 31 pts and a -7 in 41 games played this season.  Still good enough for 2nd in points on the team, but not good enough for Tavares.  “We’ve (coaches & players) got to be better,” Tavares said.

So with the back and forth play, the Isles need to try and find the formula to a more consistent effort.  Everyone is indeed accountable and need to direct their efforts to a more focused approach.

So what can they do to be better?  How about win.  They came back and won their next two games against the Columbus Blue Jackets (5-2) and New York Rangers (3-1) to stand alone in second place for the Metro division & 4th in the east with a 24-15-5 record for 53 points in 44 games played.  Brock Nelson scored his first career hat-trick vs the CBJ and helped start the surge the Isles rode into Thursdays tilt against the Rangers.

After benefiting from some dumb luck in their defensive zone and being outplayed in much of the first half of the game, the Isles were able to shrug off a NYR goal with :45 seconds remaining in the second and mount a 3 goal third to beat the Rangers.  They did so with a physical edge and controlled play on both ends of the ice in the period.  Brock Nelson, Nick Leddy (PPG) and Kyle Okposo (ENG) scored for the home team in front of a well-represented, but still mixed sellout crowd.  Nelson now leads the team in goals with 18 and has stepped up to be an offensive force for the Islanders.  They improved their play in the neutral zone and took over the battle for loose pucks late in the game to seal the win.  The Islanders broke the Rangers 15 game winning streak when leading after two periods and won their second straight against their arch rivals at the Barclays Center.

Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves and was absolutely the main factor in the win.  He improved to 12-6-0 vs the Rangers and has an 11-8-3 record (2.17gaa and .923Sv%., 2 s.o) on the season. Halak now has an 8-0-0 streak vs Henrik Lundqvist in their last 8 head-to-head match ups.  Leddy, Nelson and Pelech were named the three stars of the game.  The play of Calvin de Haan continues to improve, especially with the top pairing minutes made available by injuries to Boychuk and Hamonic.  And defensive call up, Adam Pelech is playing well & was credited with assists on the tying and ENG in the Isles big offensive 3^rd period outburst.  It was Pelech’s first NHL points in a game where he took a skate to the face and got back out on the ice after getting patched up.  To me, if Pelech’s play continues to be at this level, it should be hard to take him out of the blue line rotation.

So when you look at the latest game against the Rangers, you can see a microcosm of the Isles season so far.  They had elements of offense, suffered defensive breakdowns and got steady goal tending and gritty physical play.  This time, they had scoring from different parts of the line-up and had a strong PK showing with a sometimes erratic PP.  These Islanders have showed a little of what they need to do to be better in their overall game, but still need to find that mark consistently to be taken as serious contenders in this league.  As long as they are able to dig in and give the kind of effort they were able to find late in the game against their arch rival throughout the second half of the season, they should find themselves in just about every game.

“I thought it was a gut-check for our team tonight,” Capuano said. “I thought our team played extremely hard against a good team.”  They are home against Vancouver at 4:00 this Sunday to see if they can do it again.

Isles Notes:

New York Islanders Head Coach Jack Capuano has been named an Assistant Coach of Team USA for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Tavares was named to 2016 NHL All-Star Team:  "I'm excited about participating again. It's a reflection of our team and our team's success." –Tavares

The team has moved its practices to Ice Works from morning arrivals at the Barclays Center.  The team was vocal on the strain that the time away from home can bring, "Just long days," forward Anders Lee said. "Being out all day, I think it got a little long. This way we're home -- can eat around (there) and go in a little bit later for the game."

Isles prospect Söderström auctions off #WJC2016 equipment for children's cancer fund.

The Isles have VAN this Sunday at 4pm and are away at OTT next Friday and back home for a rematch against PHI next Saturday.

Isles fans are making a difference in Maya’s memory.

Sound Tigers Notes:

Ryan Pulock and Joe Whitney are the BST 2016 All-Stars! 

NHL Notes:

Blackhawks extend streak, Joel Quenneville passes Al Arbour for second all-time in wins.

Isle Be There: Paul Cartier

In a series of articles, called Isle Be There, my intention is to focus on the different social groups that support your New York Islanders team & its players. This will also include current events, situations and personalities in and around the team as it relates to its fan base and community.

Happy New Year Isles fans!

The biggest thing we have as fans is a team to rally behind and a very likeable collection of personalities both in front of and behind the scenes.  Whether it’s the BOA, the return of Sparky the Dragon or the hundreds of passionate fans that I have met over social media, Islanders Country bleeds orange and blue every day of the year.  I want to tell you about someone who I have gotten to know from a distance, but strikes me as a good guy.  Even the legendary Jiggs McDonald wished him a Happy Birthday on Sunday’s broadcast.

One of the top requests on the list of things that fans wanted brought over from the sacred grounds of the NVMC to the state of the art Barclays Center was organist, Paul Cartier.  Paul has been the team organist for years and he has been the master of anthems throughout several of the team’s most memorable games.  He got the attention of Mike Bonner and the New York Yankees from his work with the Isles and has been Yankees official organist since 2004.  Since retiring as an air traffic controller after 27 years, Paul is grateful for his time playing for the fans and the team he has cheered for since he was a kid.

Paul has been an Isles fan since ‘72 when he attended the first Isles game ever played against the Atlanta Flames with his brother Rudy. It was then that he embraced the idea of playing organ for the team.  Afterwards, if he couldn’t get tickets, he did anything he could to see John Tonelli, Bryan Trottier and the rest of his team play, including sneaking in to the NVMC.  His strongest memories of the old barn was the atmosphere and passion of the fans cheering for their team.  Whether it was Mike Bossy’s 50 in 50, the 19 consecutive playoff series wins, the team’s first Stanley Cup victory or the clutch come-from-behind wins, the memories he associates with his early fandom are a precious part of growing up on the Island.

At 8 years old, his first experience on a small Korg organ was enough to sell him on the power of music.  At 15, he went to the NVMC to try and win the job of team organist, but was told he was too young.  Not being someone who gives up on what is important to him, Cartier kept working at it until he was invited to play during intermissions by Dr. Fred Mendolson, who by coincidence, happened to be his brother’s music instructor.  Cartier got opportunities later on filling in at Islander games and got most of his professional experience by playing for the New York Arrows indoor soccer team who played at the Coliseum. In 1981, Paul finally landed the job with his beloved Islanders and stayed through 1985.  Later he came back to fire up the fans at home games, where he has remained for the last 15 years.

Whether it’s as a member of the South Hempstead Volunteer Fire Department for 37 years or playing the organ at Our Lady of Hope church, Paul enjoys doing his part in the community.  At the Barclays Center, Cartier mentioned to me that, with his new set up playing out in the open, he has had a much better connection to the fans. This has enabled them to meet on social media and at the games.  Even his commute on the train to games has turned into a time to talk Isles hockey with fellow fans on the way to Bklyn.

Paul hopes to reunite with long time Islanders NVMC anthem singer, Joe Duerr to properly represent the national anthem at Islanders games in their new home at the Barlclays Center.  He told me about @organistalert, a Twitter group that connects fans to the “starting organist” at specific sporting events and serves as a place to talk about the music that they play during games.  Feel free to say hello to Paul at the Barclays Center, look him up on Facebook or say hello to him @PaulGCartier on Twitter.

Paul is a fan of John Tavares and loves the new attitude of the current Isles team.  “They seem to be back and I enjoy watching them win again.  The fans respond when the team wins and when the place (Barclays Center) is full, you can’t beat it.”   When you can make an Isles home game, be sure and stop by and say hello to Paul.

He will be the guy starting a certain chant that has become a crowd favorite.  You know, the one about clapping your hands?

Isles Notes:

The Isles lost to the Penguins on Saturday, 1/2 by a 5-2 score and beat the NHL leading Stars, 6-5 at a packed BC in Brooklyn on 2/3.  They are 3^rd in the east with 49 pts after 40gp with a 22-13-5 record.  They have the Capitals on Thursday 2/7 and then visit the Flyers for an early game on Saturday 2/9.

Jaroslav Halak has been activated off the team's IR list and participated in a full team practice today.  Christopher Gibson has been returned on loan to Bridgeport.

Per John Kreiser, Johnny Boychuk “out 4-6 weeks with upper-body injury. Have allowed 84 SOG, 10 goals, 3 PPG in 1st 2 games without him.  Adam Pelech was recalled on loan from Bridgeport to fill in on defense.

The #BST have signed Patrick Cullity to a PTO. Two other players up from #MoMavs, three players down.

Hockey Notes:

Finland wins the gold at the WJC gold over Russia while team USA wins the bronze over Sweden.  Isles prospect, Linus Soderstrom wasn’t in goal for Sweden for the final, but finished tournament with an impressive 1.42gaa.