Glass half full persepective; On second thought, it really hasn't been that bad!!!
by Chickendirt on Oct 25, 2009 1:41 AM EDT
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Chris Botta to start this season asked readers to pick which teams we thought the Islanders were better than. I couldn't find any that were definites so I figured I'd throw out a bone for folks to chew on. Yeah, the start of this season has been brutal but I figured I'd give some persepective.
1) We were the worst team in the league last season.
2) Of the 9 teams we've played thus far six of them were playoff teams last season.
3) Of the 9 teams we've played thus far 2 of them were regular season conference champs and the other Cups Champs last season.
4) Three of the teams that were league elites last season (Bos, San Jose and Pitts) two of them we took to overtime.
5) Considering the quality of teams we've played to start the season we have six points in nine games.
Now, stepping back from the ledge a bit here, if I go back to when I first looked at the schedule I didn't think we'd have that many points after the first three weeks to start the season. I would have been shocked it we grabbed 4 pts out of this brutal schedule to start.
Yeah, blowing third period leads is never fun to watch. It's perhaps one of the most painful things a fan can endure in the regular season. Lets be honest with ourselves and really take a look at this....
It's really not that bad given that this team is still relying on youngsters. I didn't think we had a prayer walking into tonights game against Washington or even the games against Pittsburgh and Boston. Even to grab three points against those three teams is actually really good when you look at this Islanders squad.
Anyways, I'm not trying to sell anyone Kool-Aid or anything. Just trying to keep things in perspective. In regards to Botta's exercise, when I looked at our first nine games, I predicted about 4 points for this team right about now. Two of those four were from OT losses.
Just my two cents. Take it for it's worth.
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When the schedule came out, I remember you saying just such things — and I remember thinking, “It’s the NHL, results are unpredictable in the early going.”
But it has indeed played out that way. They’ve played some tough teams — and played some of them better than other victims have. Young team learning lessons the hard way. A lot of baby steps to go. I hope they give the Habs a little vengeance hammer Monday, to show what they’ve learned since Thursday.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
I think last nights game allowed me to take a step back
Yeah,over the summer I figured us lucky to even get about 4 points in this early going.
I think when the season starts you forget about your projections and where you really see this team going. In a sense, it is much better than what I thought. If someone told me we were gonna go up 3-0 in the third against Boston I would have told them to get off the crack.
Or even before this Washington game it would have taken an OT to lose I would have said the same. I really do think a more expereinced Tavares, Okposo, Bailey and Nielsen would have buried a few more of those opportunities. Washington in a lot of respects is very lucky not to have walked into that third period down 4-0.
As they get more experience they will learn to show a little more poise down low instead of just getting rid of the puck and thowing it at the net. Things happen so quickly on this level that these kids are amped up and don’t think that much.
As they get more experience they will learn to show a little more poise down low instead of just getting rid of the puck and throwing it at the net.
That struck me, too, while watching a replay of the game. Rewound a few of those opportunities, because they were golden. Don’t know if the young guys were expecting limited success against the Caps, so they rushed those shots? But that should improve over time.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
I look at it developmentally
They have identified a good working line and have identified some early problems—not skating for 60 minutes, not clearing the puck. Just look for progress, even a little at a time.
Ba-dum-bum ching.
Honestly, their play in the final few minutes of regulation worried me more than the OT period. In OT it was a little more back-and-forth.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
This team is clearly on the way up
I am liking it so far.
Folks thinking Hall is going to be an Islander at the end of the season might want to think twice about that. I don’t believe a playoff team but this will be a season of marked improvement. They are picking up points against teams last year they had no business competing against.
This is a team on the rise and it’s just gonna keep on getting better.
BANK ON IT!!!
They may pick up a bit but...
they will probably already be well below .500 at the deadline and they will be trading away veterans at the deadline. I think they will be a bottom five team and will at least have a good shot at Hall. Since they surely aren’t going to the playoffs and need talent to take the next step, I am hoping that they land him and some other top end talent.
And so it goes
I’d say I got it right!!!
Those OTLs were not an ominous sign. They were a good sign of a team learning to compete.
Second crack at Montreal they played better, lost in OT, but still got a point.
Second Game against Washinton they go to OT and get the win.
Good things are coming. This is where this rebuild really starts getting exciting. The worm is turning.
Can I get a witness from the congregation?!
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
oooh I havent witnessed this website on the comp. Very nice. I didnt even know you guys had fanposts lol.
Ah, well welcome aboard to this side! Poke around and have a look.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
Ha, never thought of that. It’s Generic Fan #1.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
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Islanders Schedule
Next 5 Games
@
St. Louis
|
Thu 02/16 | 8:00 PM EST |
|
Carolina
|
Sat 02/18 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Ottawa
|
Mon 02/20 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
@
Buffalo
|
Tue 02/21 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
New York Rangers
|
Fri 02/24 | 7:00 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
|
@
Winnipeg
|
Tue 02/14 | W 3 - 1 |
|
Florida
|
Sun 02/12 | L 1 - 4 |
|
Los Angeles
|
Sat 02/11 | OT - W 2 - 1 |
|
Montreal
|
Thu 02/09 | L 2 - 4 |
|
@
Philadelphia
|
Tue 02/07 | SO - W 1 - 0 |
Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New York Rangers
|
55 | 37 | 13 | 5 | 79 |
|
Philadelphia
|
56 | 31 | 18 | 7 | 69 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
56 | 32 | 19 | 5 | 69 |
|
New Jersey
|
56 | 32 | 20 | 4 | 68 |
|
New York Islanders
|
56 | 24 | 24 | 8 | 56 |
(updated 2.15.2012 at 8:59 AM EST)
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