Islanders Harpoon Sharks

With the 10th straight regulation road loss (Ducks) for the Isles this season, they are winless in 10 (0-8-2).  Arthur Staple reminds us, "Isles franchise record winless streak is 15, longest road losing streak is also 15 -- both set in inaugural 1972-73 season."  Tuesday night, the Eastern Conference's 15th place Islanders faced the Western Conference's 3rd place San Jose Sharks.

Forwards:  Vanek-Tavares-Okposo, Grabner-Nielsen-Clutterbuck, Bailey-Nelson-McDonald, Martin-Cizikas-Boulton.

 

D-Pairings:  de Haan-Hamonic, MacDonald-Hickey, Ness-Carkner.

 

Kevin Poulin gets the start with Anders Nilsson on the bench.

The Islanders played pretty well early in the game, with Kevin Poulin somehow keeping a 0-0 tie into the first intermission with some epic saves early that could have ended things for New York right there.  In the second period however, they found themselves down, 2-0 to the mighty San Jose sharks who have a 16-1-1 record when leading after two periods.  Exactly the type of scenario that seems to terrify them and unravel their composure.  Usually, they seem unequipped to retool their game plan and mount a sustainable comeback.

 

But this game would be different.  When a gut check was needed, everybody seemed to buy in.  The Isles still struggled on the PP going 0 for 1, they didn't get a well balanced offensive assault or a start to finish, solid away game.  What they did get was a resilient comeback win behind a goaltending prospect who was willing to stand on his head in net.

 

 

 

 

 

In the third period, the ever improving Thomas Vanek (Okposo & Tavares) scored in the opening minute and Team U.S.A. Olympic hopeful Kyle Okposo (Tavares) scored in the final two minutes to preserve the Isles chances in this game.  Kevin Poulin was perfect in preserving the Isles come back and looked as confident as ever with his chaotic style game.  Going to overtime got them a point.  They would need to endure overtime and score in the sessions to get the other point.  It was here that Kevin Poulin really came to play.  Poulin (going 46/48 and a .958Sv%) looked to hurt himself on a save in the shoot out.  It looked as if he suffered an injury to his knee or his leg, but it was probably a cramp, and he stayed in the game to close things out.  Shortly after that, Kyle Okposo scored again in the 4th round to give the Isles a much needed 3-2 win and stop the 10 game losing streak in a powerful way.

 

Thomas Vanek is really starting to click with John Tavres and Kyle Okposo.  Their line can be as good as any first line on certain nights.  Brock Nelson did his thing and looks pretty good in big situations.  Hopefully, he and Ryan Strome will be paired up again soon (with Anders Lee) and regain some line magic from the AHL up here with the big boys.  Calvin de Haan continues to look solid on the Isles blue line in a time where things aren't going easy for anyone back there.

 

What can be done for this team to show up all the time?  Maybe just a few more tweaks and a handle on consistency and we might have ourselves a team here.  Or, it was just one game and the wheels will fall off again and back to square one.

 

I say the season gets back on track soon. 

 

 

 

Isles Notes:

 

Per Daniel Friedman, "John Tavares is four points away from moving past Ed Westfall for 20th on Isles' all-time leaderboard."

 

Per Matt Saidman, "Isles in stat categories: Tavares 6th in NHL in points (34), MacDonald leads NHL in blocked shots (103), Martin leads NHL in hits (154)."

 

"Isles now 72 man games lost due to injury this season (31 team games). 81 man games lost last season (48 team games)."

 

Per Brett Cygalis, "Before the Isles gutsy 3-2 SO win in San Jose, The Post learned that Capuano was not going to be fired - for now."

Islanders Falter Again In Anaheim

On Monday, your New York Islanders faced the Anaheim Ducks in game 2 of their western road trip.  It was an opportunity to get a big win against a good team and build some momentum.  With Pierre-Marc Bouchard on waivers to make room for Ryan Strome, things could be happening for New York.  More opportunities for the Isles blue chip prospects can mean an injection of hope into the stagnating line up.

 

Forwards:  Vanek-Tavares-Okposo, Nelson-Nielsen-Bailey, Grabner-Regin-Clutterbuck, Martin-Cizikas-McDonald.

D-Pairings:  de Haan-Hamonic, MacDonald-Hickey, Ness-Carkner.

 

Anders Nilsson is in net with Kevin Poulin on the bench.

 

In the first period, the Islanders were keeping pace with the Ducks.  They were using their speed, cycling the puck and trying hard to get something going offensively.  John Tavares (Vanek & Nielsen) gave NY a 1-0 lead only to have the game tied a few minutes later.  Thomas Vanek (Tavares), who was on his game made it a 2-1 score for the Isles early in the second period.  Anaheim would score again to tie it later in the period.  Later in the second, the Islanders started to misfire and lose their edge.  The Ducks scored a SHG and another goal just :30 later.  It was clear that the Islanders were once again taken off their game and became disorganized rapidly.  Per islanders.nhl.com, “That’s the turning point in the game,” head coach Jack Capuano said. “We couldn’t overcome it.”

 

Anaheim would score again mid way into the third period to go ahead by the score of 5-2 which would be eventual final.  Although out shooting the Ducks 37-31 and besting them in the face off circle 35-27, Anaheim showed the Islanders what an elite team does when they are called to answer a challenge.  The Isles were only 1 of 4 on the PP and Anders Nilsson was 26/31 with a .839Sv%.  Even with some strong plays on defense, to many mistakes were made to preserve the win.  “We’ve been doing good things, but good things aren’t what we want. John Tavares had this to say on the Isles game lately, "We want wins,” Tavares said. “We’ve come out hard, but we haven’t been able to carry it for 60 minutes. We’ve been shooting ourselves in the foot.”

 

There are a few line up changes coming and a few possible trades being sought by Garth Snow.  If the Isles can get free of Injuries and embrace some changes, there is hope.  Lets be real, character needs to come roaring back to this team.  They need to get a chip on their shoulder and grab the future by the throat and make things happen for themselves.  I think this team has more than they have showed and I also will say again that the have stopped playing for Capuano. 

 

Hopefully, Management can change the coaching for the better.  An experienced NHL coach that has been around a winning culture is what New York needs.  If a coaching change isn't made and the roster changes don't come, this team may be done for the season.  All the positive attitudes, pep talks and closed door meetings in the world are not going to help. 

 

Lets get to respectability again.  The only way to get there is to earn it.

 

 

Isles Notes:

Per New York Islanders, "TRANSACTION: Team has placed Pierre-Marc Bouchard on waivers." 

Update:  Bouchard has cleared waivers and has been loaned to the #BST.

Per NHLFREEAGENTS, "New York Islanders recalled (F) Ryan Strome from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers."

Ryan Strome Named AHL/CCM Player of the Week  for second consecutive week.

Per Arthur Staple, "Mentioned on @MSGNetworks that Strome may not go right in vs. SJ tomorrow -- have to see what happens tonight before that call is made."

 

NHL Notes:

 

The 2014-2015 NHL salary cap projection could be upwards of $71 million next season. CDN TV rights also ratified.

Lost in L.A.

Brock Nelson returned to the line up and the Islanders played hard again, they were able to create turnovers and play with a physical edge to their game, but failed to finish on their offensive opportunities.  Per Islanders.nhl.com, Josh Bailey said, “We didn’t do enough to create a lot of chances,” Bailey continued, “We had 16 shots and you’re not going to win many games with 16 shots.”  Josh Bailey had a clear cut breakaway chance late in the second period that could have changed the momentum in the game, but like most of those opportunities this season, yielded nothing.  “The Bailey chance shorthanded would have put us right back in the game,” head coach Jack Capuano sad. “But it didn’t have eyes (for the net)."  Quick's back up, Ben Scrivens was expected to get the start, but 3rd stringer, Martin Jones who is an AHL call up, got the start.  It was his second NHL game (1st W vs ANA 3-2 on 12/3) and he made 16 saves, getting his first NHL shut out and a 3-0 Los Angeles win for his efforts.

 

The Isles PK was strong, going 5 of 5, but struggled offensively on the PP and went 0 for 4.  The Islanders were out shot 24-16 in the game.  Kevin Poulin was 16/18 with a .913Sv%.

 

The Islanders have a record of 8-17-5 in 30 games, losing 9 in a row and going 1-7-2 in their last 10 games.  They have a -29 goal differential.  Only Florida and Buffalo are worse with a -30 & -40 respectively.  The Islanders rank 15th of 16 teams in the east and look lost and without a serious game plan.  They had another closed door meeting after the loss, just after Captain John Tavares criticized his team's recent efforts.  What must have been said in that meeting?  Were guys called out?  Were they made accountable and given a warning?

 

My position on their problems with lack of leadership and coaching is no secret.  The team that made such a run last season has many of the same pieces, but something has reverted to a psyche that goes back even farther than the slumps of the last few years.  These current Islanders have a fragile ego and have no confidence in their defense or goaltending.  The multiple levels of scoring that were previously the teams strength have gone away almost completely.  Their special teams are erratic and random with their overall style of play, often dictated by their opposition.  All too often, they spot their opponents a multi goal lead and fall short of a strong rally to finish the game.  It seems they are unable to prepare and maintain a game plan, especially when things start getting away from them.  All these things are far to damaging to build a winning culture.

 

Keep Brock Nelson playing, Add Ryan Strome with the young guys (Donovan, Ness, de Haan) on defense until players return from injury.  I can stand mistakes and losing if they are being done by players that are slated to fit into the future plan.  Not mistakes by stop gaps or waning vets who are taking up roster spots.  Pierre Marc Bouchard and Peter Regin are inconsistent.  Matt Carkner has a role to play, but not at the expense of his defensive liability.  Josh Bailey has had more than enough time to "find his game," and like others, I had thought he found it a few times already.  Even Michael Grabner who is great on the PK could be moved if the right deal is there.  He is offensively snake bitten.  Evgeni Nabokov should be traded by the deadline.  Change is necessary and tweaking the team to remove "passengers" from the line up, and maybe behind the bench must be considered. Right?

Battered By Blues

Your New York Islanders will face the Blues in St. Louis to start their 10 day, 5 game road trip against some very good teams.  Their hopes for the playoffs are fading fast.  B.D. Gallof puts up 93-95 pts. as the magic number.  That would require 72 points in the remaining 54 games.  There seem to be too many issues facing the team right now to be optimistic about reaching such a goal.  If it is at all possible, the Isles need to start tonight.

 

Forwards:  Vanek-Tavares-Okposo, Grabner-Nielsen-Bailey, Bouchard-Regin-Clutterbuck, Martin-Cizikas-McDonald.

D-Pairings:  MacDonald-Hamonic, Hickey-de Haan, Ness-Carkner.

Anders Nilsson gets his 3rd straight start.  Kevin Poulin will back up.

 

Anders Nilsson and the Islanders started the game off strong and put good pressure on the Blues, but left the first period down 1-0.  Michael Grabner had breakaway opportunities, but failed to score with one shit ringing off the crossbar.  In the second, they continued to push and played a physical game.  Andrew MacDonald PPG (Nielsen & Okposo) tied the score at 1-1 with a blast from the point.  The Isles continued to play hard, but their frustration level was rising.  The began to take foolish penalties and found themselves on the PK a few too many times.  By the time the second period expired, the score was 4-1 St. Louis.  In the third period, the first line wasn't on the ice much.  The game ended with a 5-1 score for the blues, outshooting the Isles 26-23 in the game.  The Isles played hard, but lost again. Anders Nilsson was 21/26 with an .808Sv%.

I love this team, but these games are hard to watch. It's tough to blame guys who aren't really experienced enough to be here, or the Vets for trying float incomplete roster.  The young patchwork defense and pair of AHL goaltenders have shinned at times, but to be blunt are just not getting the job done.  I understand that there are key injuries and the players haven't exactly been spectacular in the last 8 games, but lets be real.  Without appropriate leadership, they look as if they are going through the motions.  The team is still easily rattled and has difficulty protecting their own zone, especially in PK situations. 

 

Their deep prospect pool IS NOT READY and is only being taught to lose in this team culture with this coach.  I keep hearing about how this team supports the head coach, but their play has said differently for a while now.  They players are undisciplined and out of control.  They need to be reigned in and guided.  A coaching change is a must and not from within.  With all due respect to Doug Weight, this team needs a head coach with a fresh outlook who has experience at winning in the NHL on his resume.

 

The Islanders are 0-6-2 in their last eight and 8-16-5 with just 21pts.  I am worried that JT will want out if this situation keeps rolling along. How long is a player of his caliber going to tolerate this?

 

 

Isles Notes:

 

Per Scott Wheeler, "Isles prospect Ryan Strome leads all AHL rookies in scoring with 26 points in 21 games."

Pens Officiate Win Over Isles

Tonight, your New York Islanders face Crosby, Malkin & the Pittsburgh Penguins.  The Isles are desperate for a win and usually play the Pens tough.

 

 

Forwards:  Vanek-Tavares-Okposo; Grabner-Nielsen-Bailey; Bouchard-Regin-Clutterbuck; Martin-Cizikas-McDonald.

D-Pairings:  MacDonald-Hamonic; Hickey-de Haan; Ness-Carkner.

Anders Nilsson gets his second consecutive start.  Kevin Poulin is on the bench.

 

The Isles came out strong and played hard to start the game.  Kyle Okposo was great tonight and scored twice  (Tavares & Vanek) and (Tavares & MacDonald) in the first period to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead into intermission and came close to scoring a third.  Pittsburgh would get a PP goal in the second to make it 2-1, and then Frans Nielsen was awarded a penalty shot opportunity, but failed to score.  Eric Hornick reported that the Islanders are 0-5 against the penguins on penalty shots. The Islanders frustration levels started to rise around this point as a result of several high sticking, cross checking and questionable stick work by a Pittsburgh team that really plays a dirty game. Pittsburgh would score again on a PP to tie the game a short time later in the third period.  The shots were 30-23 in favor of Pittsburgh.
 

 

The questionable play by Pittsburgh would continue into overtime and continue to frustrate the Isles.  Crosby takes the puck from Vanek, splits Hamonic and de Haan and ramps the puck up Nilsson's stick and into the net to win the game 3-2.  Pens led in shots 4-0 in O.T.
 

 

Okposo: "The 3rd period, I don’t think we had the same pizzazz, the same jam. We’ve got to do a better job of closing out games."

 

 

To harp on the numerous missed penalty calls on the Isles behalf would cheapen how hard they worked tonight despite surrendering a 2-0 lead.  The skill of Crosby and Malkin is a tough thing to overcome.  But when you watch numerous infractions they produce go uncalled, it makes you wonder.  Watching Letang make two deliberate hard chops into the back of Vanek's locked knee in front of two NHL officials until he lost his composure is maddening as a fan.  Vanek, "This one’s probably on me. I lost my cool there at the end and I shouldn’t have." There must be a double standard that goes beyond a tough guy like Clutterbuck getting repeatedly high-sticked and not getting the benefit of a call.  Its about a team or that teams stars getting easier calls made for them over an opposing teams.  Can't be, right?  I didn't think so.

 

Ness and deHaan played well tonight on a depleted defense.  For young guys playing more minutes than they would normally be required to play at this stage of their pro career, both will make their mistakes, but have done well for the Islanders.  Matt Donovan played pretty well and should get another shot soon.  He was hardly the reason for the last few loses before being sent to down to the BST.

 

Anders Nilsson (31/34 with a .912Sv%) started strong and really kept the Islanders in the game.  He was poised and solid with his positioning, rebounds and making the big save.  Its easy to look at Nilssons AHL numbers and say he wont continue to play well, but to me, he didnt have enough AHL experience to really be evaluated.  He wouldn't be in the NHL if Nabokov wasn't injured.  But so far, he has played well in two O.T. loses against good teams.  If he gets a fair shake and remains comfortable with a better effort by the team in front of him, I think he will surprise some people with how well he can play in his first real NHL season look.

 

I think Brock Nelson needs to be left in the line up and Ryan Strome needs to be called up to cut his teeth on the Island.  They are both skilled and deserve a real shot at help reignite the secondary scoring.  Josh Bailey and Michael Grabner have been invisible after the first few games of the season with long and erratic scoring droughts, although Grabner has been good on PK.

Continuing to play this basic team formation with a piece or two swapped in and out has not worked.  I will continue to insist that something needs to give.  They need their injured vets to return to start the turnaround.  Barring that, a roster change must be made, a trade must be done or a qualified coach ready to coach the team at their current level must be found.

 

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. 

                                                                                                            - Albert Einstein






Isles Notes: 


Per Kevin Schultz, "Isles on pace for 61 points this year. Last time they did that (non-lockout) was 2008-09, which incidentally got them Tavares."


The Isles will face St. Louis @ 8pm on Thursday, 12/5, Los Angeles @ 10:30pm on Saturday, 12/7, Anaheim @ 10pm on Monday, 12/9, San Jose on Tuesday @ 10:30pm, 12/10 and Phoenix @ 9pm on Thursday, 12/12.

 

Weekend Lookback: Detroit & Washington

Over the weekend, your New York Islanders met the Detroit Redwings and Washington Capitals as the NVMC.  It was a pair of games with a lot to forget, and a few things to hope continue.

 

On Friday, the Islanders faced a Detroit team they have dominated over a ten year period without a regulation loss.  Despite being in the game and down by one in the second period, the Islanders found a way to self destruct again off a miscue between Poulin (23/27 with a .833Sv%) and MacDonald that resulted in a goal for the opposition and a 2-0 score going into the third period.  Per islanders.nhl.com, “We have to try and find some answers,” John Tavares said. “We are obviously an easy team to play against right now. We can’t wait for things to happen. It’s up to the guys in here.”  The Islanders fell by the score of 5-0 to Detroit.

 

On Saturday vs the Caps, Anders Nilsson would get his first start of the season and play well (24/26 with a .900Sv%) for the Isles.  BST Calvin deHaan would make his season debut n the game as well.  He played a solid game on defense for his first game back.  Third star of the game, Cal Clutterbuck SHG (MacDonald & Cizikas) and Thomas Vanek (Tavares & Okposo) would give the Isles the lead in the better or more recent efforts by Long Island.  They battled back in this game and showed the resolve that eludes them on a consistent basis.  “We sat back for no reason,” Vanek said. Per islanders.nhl.com, “We should have taken it to them for 60 minutes and not 59.”  A 3-2 loss in O.T., but they got a point in the standings.

 

Tonight, The Isles face the Pittsburgh Penguins at home before going on a 5 game road trip.  Playing the Penguins is not a hard game to get up for when your the Islanders and Marc Andrej Fleury will be haunted by the demons of his playoff failures of last year.  Its up to the Islanders to play like they know they can and reverse this down slide.  Scoring balance, team defense, hard checking, physicality, speed and 60 minutes of effort is needed to win. 

 

Which Islanders will show up?  Yours?

 

Isles Notes:

 

Per Eric Hornick, " Isles finish November 4-10-1 after winning 1st two games of the month."

Garth Snow has told Darren Dreger he is not looking to change the head coach for the Islanders.

 

Per Kevin Schultz, " avg points per 60 min of ice time: 1) Tavares 3.24 2) Nielsen 2.64 3) Okposo 2.55 4) Nelson 1.96."

 

Ryan Strome has been named AHL player of the week.

Islanders defensive prospects Adam Pelech and Griffin Reinhart make WJC Team Canada roster, but Ryan Pulock does not.

Per Dmitry Chesnokov, " ASG Starting line-up (East): Mikko Koskinen, Kirill Koltsov, Shaun Heshka, Sergei Mozyakin, Danis Zaripov, Brandon Bochenski."

On December 2nd, Doug Weight enters the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in a five-person class including former Isles Captain Bill Guerin.  

 

 

 

 

Isles Fall To Jets

Tonight, Casey Cizikas and your New York Islanders will face the Winnipeg Jets at the NVMC.  Cizikas is riding a 5 game point scoring streak (3g/2a).  This is a good a game as any for the Isles to snap back into the playoff chase.  To do that, they would need a win tonight against Al Montoya and the Jets to start the climb away from 8th in the Metropolitan division.

 

Forwards:  Vanek-Tavares-Okposo; Grabner-Nielsen-Bailey; Bouchard-Regin-Clutterbuck;
Nelson-Cizikas-Martin.

D-Pairings:  MacDonald-Hamonic; Hickey-Donovan; Ness-Carkner.

 

Kevin Poulin will be in net.  Anders Nilsson, on the bench.

 

 

What was mostly a boring, back & forth game, the Isles seemed to be going through the motions, especially in a scoreless first period.  Late in the second period, the Isles got a PPG from Andrew MacDonald (Vanek & Tavares) and John Tavares (Carkner & Nelson) late in the third, the score would remain 3-2, Winnipeg in the final minutes.  The Isles late surge of urgency came too little, too late.  Winnipeg would win 3-2 despite being out shot 30-29 in the game.  The Islanders were guilty of 19 give aways and were terrible with their fore and back checking.  Former Islander net-minder, Al Montoya got the win for the Jets.

 

Kevin Poulin was 26/29 with an .897Sv% making some big saves to keep the Isles in the game.  Although he could definitely improve, this was not on the goaltending or even the special teams that went 2/2 on the PK.  The urgency was not there again until the team was in a hole.  Secondary scoring is MIA.  Grabner, Bailey & Bouchard simply need to contribute or be moved if possible.  Casey Cizikas was unable to continue his scoring streak, but his effort was there, making things happen on the ice when he is out there.

Per Eric Hornick, "What was missing tonight? "About 12 minutes in the second period" -- Travis Hamonic.

 

Ultimately, the team lacked focus and then pushed themselves as time was running out, but fell short again.  John Tavares seemed disgusted to be addressing the same questions again after the loss, but he should be.  Someone needs to take control of that team.  The isles fall to 8-14-3.

 

 

Isles Notes:

 

Per Matt Saidman, "Isles Capuano said Brian Strait and Lubomir Visnovsky are "not close at all " to returning.

Islanders unveil Stadium Series Uniforms today.

 

 

 

 

Per Katie Strang, "According to AHL's Charlotte Checkers site, Rick DiPietro has been released from PTO. Apparently his decision not club's."

 

“I don’t think I could go to sleep at night not knowing that I gave it one last try ” Dipietro to Globe and Mail.

Per Brian Compton, "DiPietro's final stats: 5 games, 0-4-0, 5.18 GAA, .846 save percentage. Released today from PTO by Charlotte."

 

Per NHLFREEAGENTS, "Rockford IceHogs signed (D) Brett Skinner to PTO & released (D) BlakeKessel from PTO ."



Do you reconsider Peter Laviolette as a coaching candidate?

 

NHL Notes:

 

Per Chris Botta, "$5.3 billion for 12 years from Rogers is a monumental victory for Gary Bettman, Bill Daly, John Collins and NHL owners and players."

 

"At NHL Network, count on major changes and, I'm told, future content upgrades as a result of today's broadcast deal with Rogers."

 

Per @reporterchris, "BREAKING: The number of former NHL players involved in class-action concussion suit has grown to 200."