Recap - Jets 3 (EN), Islanders 0: We need a live rooster.

With teams focusing on Tavares the rest of the team has to do something. I mean the second highest goal scorer is Moulson with 2 goals. Id say try and use the old guys to get a spark as funny as that sounds. This is a team that is still to inexperienced and young to keep itself going without some vets running games every once in a while.

Third line has looked horrible. Id say Rolston up on the second maybe Okposo can get going on the third, atleast he would be able to be utilized more defensively. His offense hasnt returned well not sure its still to soon to say a change of scenery would be the best for him but I expect more. Maybe dropping him down for a little will let him refocus on playing strong in his zone and let the offense start coming back. Or throw him on the first and send PA down to the second see if he can get a spark somewhere.

Reasoner and Pandolfo can take over the third line for a bit while Bailey and Comeau figure out wtf they are doing bailey might still just be too young for this league. The old guys cant be a permanent solution but giving them more ice time with the intention that they are to be responsible defensively and set a baseline example of what a team has to do might help a bit.

Hard to say what to do with such a young team but a few people need to be shuffled to get the message across.

I consider this game a better showing of what this team can do than the lucky win over Minnesota where they played decently for about ten minutes and sucked worse than they have in the past two years for fifty. Tonight, there were a lot of chances that couldn’t convert, but they played very well except for the third period. The first took a few minutes to come up to speed because of the five day layoff. I’d rather they play like this and lose than play like they did against Minnesota and somehow win.

Horrible, no toughness no grit. There may be a will to win, but not the willingness to do what it takes to get the win. Can’t just hope it happens… Maybe it’s true that Capuano needs to stop being the “friend” to the players and start being the fire under their asses, but the players are definitely to blame. It’s obviously not goal tending right now, so get off the DP b.s., or either of the other 2 for that matter.

Changes DEFINITELY need to made, that was made obvious a while ago. Cappy was cool to let them try to figure it out, but get Moulson out of the first lineup, due to his poor play and lack of toughness right now. Also, he’s one player who might actually respond to coach-induced embarrassment due to poor play and demotion. As others have stated, (though its been pretty apparent in most cases from the beginning) the choice of veteran staff acquired here is just asinine. If they were all that was available, I’d probably even rather they bring up all rookies from BP. I def believe we need good veteran presence, especially PARTICULARLY up front, but the ones we have in Rolston and Pandolfo are just getting in the way(no pun intended, see end of the game with a minute to go).

Bailey…..gotta go. It’s great to give young guys a chance, but sorry, he’s past his 2nd chance, and his 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc…. Go back to the chains and do some mental pushups, cuz his confidence and hockey sense is in the hospital bed and on life support – though I’m not sure if he ever had much hockey sense to begin with, all I’ve seen from him is from his start in the NHL, and he hasn’t shown much of anything since then.

Martin continues to play well and get better, yet he doesn’t play with anyone who can score still. I’d like to see Martin clear some room and stand up for some of the pussy forwards we have who “apparently” can score, but don’t do anything to stand up for themselves, let alone linemates. It would be nice to see a few particular call ups too, like Haley and Nino when he looks ready – if not to gain offense, then to trim some fatty LACK of offense (Bailey, Pandolfo, Rolston, Okposo,, lets be honest, I could list the whole damn team here almost…). I like KO, but man has he looked terrible. Nothing like when he first came up, or even last year. I think he’s another one who needs a wake up call demotion, or a play-your-game-cuz-that’s-how-you-are-successful slap to the face. Playing with someone else other than FnG could help, I think he’s one player who would succeed if he had some skilled players, more his speed, on his line with him. Either way, horrible game and rough last couple games, I’m curious to see what Cappy is gonna do here for the Caps..

Apologies if this has been mentioned before (or in the rules) but can you predict no one for FIG?

For Example: No one (No one, No one) 60:00

Think it might make things interesting.

Sorry, just frustrated after sitting there at the Colly waiting for them to give me ANYTHING to cheer about. Some things I noticed live:

-Passing. They have absolutely no rhythm and sync to their passing. Its a large number of chip off the boards to the other team, finesse touch passes that don’t hit their mark, or, last night especially, too cutesy no-look passes that were easily intercepted. Even Streit on the powerplay had an off night as his passes were not sharp. The Jets were the opposite, quick, hard passes up the ice right on the next Jet’s tape.

-Compete level. The forwards and defense were routinely beaten to loose pucks, and just boxed up in the defensive zone. Okposo looked like he was gassed by the second. It felt like they were just never in it, mentally, emotionally, physically.

-Passengers. PAP and Moulson are not getting it done on the first line, they are turn over machines. Moulson especially was floaty and waited for JT to get him the puck in front of the net. Every time Matty Mo got the puck in the offensive zone he had a guy on him and turned it over immediately. JT or even PAP are able to skate with it. I was a fan with two 30 goal seasons but he just doesn’t look to be on the same level as his linemates.

-Enigma line. I give points to Comeau, he worked hard and created. Bailey looked outmatched the whole night and Rolston looked disinterested. One of the two needs to go now.

-Time to dump Pandalfo and bring up Haley. Fourth line has been good for energy and shut down, but this team is not scoring and I feel Haley would provide more value and more desire.

And finally, I went last night with a friend who now has been to three consecutive games where the Islanders have not scored. The fact this is a near mathematical impossibility means it wasn’t the team guys, its HER!

towards the goaltender or around the net doesnt work boys……….Ive never seen so many shots on net that seem to aim exactly where the goaltender is OR so many wide shots from the point.
And I really hate to say this……but Bailey isnt going to happen. I truly feel for the kid, but hes just not going to make it. He needs to be benched for about a month, sit upstairs and watch the game

I hope he’s not waiting until we’re virtually out of it before Christmas, again…I can’t imagine he’s sleeping very well right now or is he???Maybe he realizes he has the lowest payroll allowed to help him rest.

to know how which guys would play better on a line with other guys, and I don’t know how anyone else not wearing a uniform on the ice with these guys or watching them every day at practice would know either. Because so far, even they don’t have the answer. But I do know that they haven’t lost 6 in a row because of goaltending, and I also know that there’s not a defenseman who ever lived that played every puck perfectly or was in exactly the right position at all times, so Hamonic and MacDonald and those 2 Winnipeg goals also are not the reason for losing 6 in a row.

I also THINK I know the coach is not the reason. He knows these guys are good enough to bury some of the good chances they get , regardless of who’s out there with them at a given time, so he’s been patient and figured they’d come around. That’s totally reasonable, but now it’s time to stir the pot and mix guys up like, Joe Torre mixed up his lineup to get something going, and it sounds like he’s gonna do that.

The GM should make selective moves to improve his team, and I hope he does, but that’s true losing streak or no losing streak. And maybe throwing one or more of the kids in Bridgeport into the mix can light a fuse, but do Justin DiBenedetto’s AHL numbers mean he’s Bobby Hull or Jeff Tambellini? More likely the latter than the former.

This failure to score is really baffling. Bizarre. Kind of shocking, really. But I’m not freaking out. Yet.

2010-2011 recap( overly simplified edition): Grabner runs wild after slow start, scores goals, teams shift focus from T/Pap/M (and rest of team), isles win games!!. 2011-2012 recap (10 game edition): Taveres scores & draws focus of every team, Grabner streaks into offensive zone draws 2 defenders immediately & receives little/no offensive support from teamates loosing scoring opportunity, isles lose games!! Love MG & what he brings to team and I’m not trying to imply team’s poor start is his fault, but rather the obvious issue with this still young season – lack of secondary scoring. MG’s 3 goals in 10 games projects to a more than respectable 24g season but Cappy needs to tinker with lines and get MG more support to turn him loose to strike fear into opponents again. Maybe overly simplifying things but other than JT in those 2 games isles have lacked offensive catalyst and my money is on MG to provide it.

I think Isles played a MUCH better 1st game v. Pens (0-2 loss, was it?) than last night. If not for Fleury, Isles would have been right in that game. But last night they didn’t start playing until the 25-minute mark. Isles didn’t test the goalie last night like they did Fleury.

All they had to do last night was skate hard in the first period, make simple passes, and forecheck, and the Jets would have been worn down by the 3rd period.

The season is getting away from us for the following reasons:

1. They can not put the puck in the net.
2. They are horrible on faceoffs
3. They can not get the puck out of their zone once it gets deep.
4. They are with few exceptions a slow team.
5. They are a soft team with no intensity.

It is time for drastic changes:
1. Pandolfo, Rolston, Staios, Mottau and Eaton, send down to BP let them clear waivers if they don’t who cares let them be claimed. They are old and slow. Snow bringing old players to be mentors does not work if they are not good enough to play in the NHL anymore.

2. Team needs Energy and Intensity. Have Reasoner center Martin and bring up Haley. Let them be the spark plug the team desperately needs.

3. The 1st person BENCHED needs to be Bailey. Bring up Ullstrom for a few games. Have Bailey understand, no more excuses, it is time to produce or you will be a healthy scratch.

4. Bring up Wishart and Donavan. They can not be any worse than Eaton, Staios, and Mottau.

5. Shuffle the lineup. As much as the 1st line started the season great they are not clicking either anymore. JT seems to be trying to do too much with the puck and pressing, not looking for outlet passes to Moulson and PA. Here are possible lineup changes:
Grabner-JT-Nino
Moulson-Neilsen-PA
Comeau-Ullstrom-Okposo
Martin-Reasoner-Haley

I was not happy during the pre-season, besides games 2-4 of this season they have not played well at all. They have sleep walked through periods and or the whole game. Not even in their wins except for 1 game did they play 3 periods. Changes must be made before another season is lost.

Kyle 0; Post 1. (Kyle didn’t hit the post last night, right?)

Streit: B-. Definitely a below-average game for Streit. (I could dock him more for being the Captain, but these grades are purely on-ice performance.)
3.168 (10 games played)

Staios: C+. Perhaps he was a little worse, but if so his performance was overshadowed by the next two.
2.270 (10)

Hamonic: D. He stopped taking the body when Jurcina entered the lineup. Travis, we are allowed to have two defensemen hitting in one game. His defensive (non)play on the first goal was the worst by a defenseman this season, and that is counting 3 or 4 Mottau pylons. And it happened at a crucial time in a crucial game…. Travis played great the first 5 games of the season (he was exceeding expectations according to most of us). Must start taking the body again.
3.095 (10)

AMac: D. Perhaps it is unfair to give him such a low grade based mostly on the first period, but I think it is equally unfair that he didn’t decide to show up for that period.
2.770 (10)

Eaton: C. Decent.
2.410 (10)

Jurcina: C. One awful defensive play left a forward alone with Rick. Otherwise he may have been the Isles’ best defenseman last night. I am a Jurcina fan, but he should never be close to the best defenseman.
2.333 (3)

Not in action:

Mottau: C+.
1.946 (7)

I watched the 1st goal over a few times. Yes, Hamonic and Amac were awful for that goal, but Comeau’s (non)play was even more infuriating, IMO. It was a 2-on-5 break, because the Jets were changing. Comeau either (a) spaced out and didn’t know the Jets were changing, in which case he should have found a man to pick up OR (b) knew the Jets were changing and decided he was not going to help out defensively no matter what.

It was clear that Hamonic was beaten and Amac was doing his best trying to stop Kane 1-on-1 in the most dangerous part of the ice. Instead of collapsing on Kane, Comeau just continued to glide back towards the goal. Another forward easily had the other Jet covered. (And even if he didn’t, Comeau made no attempt to cover the 2nd guy.) Comeau could have likely prevented the goal with even a little nudge— and he was capable of giving Kane a pretty good body check from the side.

Comeau needs to sit. And it’s a shame, because he’s capable of 20+ goals and good two-way hockey. He just doesn’t care.

Okposo did put up a 19/34/53 season before the injury and was on pace for 44 pts last season. However, he does need to get his shit together. He’s just not playing physical enough. At worst he’ll be a really good 3rd line 40 pt guy and at best a 1 or 2 line 25/35/60+ pt guy. I woulnd’t consider either a bust in the same way that we don’t even know if Bailey will be a long-term NHLer. The jury is out on Bailey. He could end up being a “tweener” good enough to dominate AhL’ers, but not good enough to really stick in the NHL. Okposo is beyond that. . Many of the players are pressing and over-thinking things right now.