Islanders Bits: Better Living through Chemistry?
by Dominik on Dec 9, 2011 4:25 PM EST
in Bits o' Islanders News
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"All the guys are going, all the lines, and we're playing way better defensively. We score goals, the (power play) works well, the (penalty kill) works well. It's a combination of things."
>>Mark Streit, quoted at nhl.com after the 4-0-1 run (and before the second Hawks game)
Discuss.
Since the four-game road swing began, after which the Islanders are 4-0-2 (including 1-0-1 at home), the Islanders powerplay is 5 for 24. (21%). The penalty kill is 17 for 19 (89%). These are incredibly small samples -- and I always wished there was a nice way to account for blown 5-on-3s -- but it certainly is true that good PK work and a few timely powerplay goals has helped this run of games. Especially considering at even strength their scoring (16 goals for, 15 goals against) reflects the closeness of all but one of these six games.
Sorry for the quiet today. News tidbits and links after the jump.
Reading for Making Friday Night Get Here Already
- "Light" practice today. Islanders report Nino Niederreiter skated with 15 teammates for the first 25 minutes of practice. They called it a maintenance day for Streit, P.A. Parenteau, Steve Staios, Milan Jurcina, Al Montoya, Frans Nielsen, and John Tavares.
- They also said Kevin Poulin and Evgeni Nabokov were the goalies.
- In the Post recap of last night, Parenteau noted the Hawks' depth and why the Islanders needed to avoid trying to match them skill for skill.
- Newsday's recap also had players talking about being disappointed by the first period.
- Eric Hornick notes Nino Niederreiter, who is still 19, was not listed on the Swiss WJC invite list.
- The Sound Tigers have signed Tyler Ruegsgegger to a PTO. A forward and another Brent Thompson Alaska connection. Michael Fornabaio said he's a friend of Rhett Rakhshani and Matt Donovan's from DU days and is up as 13th-forward depth for the weekend. Heavens, don't make poor Butchie ever have to announce, "Nice feed from Ruegsgegger to Rakhshani there, with Niedermeister finishing..."
- If you visit The Checking Line, they now have a dedicated Islanders page where several bloggers are now together under one roof. Their posts are in our feed on the left. Do check them out.
- Chris Pronger's pile of injuries now includes concussion-like symptoms. (Previously a virus, then a knee, and now Flyers fans are back to guessing the best way to escape his 35+ contract once his body no longer holds.)
- Tomas Kaberle traded. So Montreal is where all bad contracts go to die? Do you think they need a goa-- never mind.
Capuano Post-Game
MSG coverage from last night's OT loss, if you missed it:
Someone asked "was it frustrating to see Rolston missing the net on that 5-on-3?" Heh. Capuano also thought the team looked fatigued at times last night, which could explain the "light" practice today with the Penguins up Saturday night.
And here's Steve Staios and Travis Hamonic:
Staios was asked about the hit on his delay of game penalty, and he did think he was checked from behind on the play. Sounds like everyone is disappointed, but pleased that they got a point out of it after coming out flat in the first period.
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If I may, I just want to clarify/defend....
my earlier post and also answer some ridicule (mikb).
If you’d seen most of my comments before the season started I was the one saying others were not being positive enough and there’s no reason this group can’t do something special, rather than just squeak into a playoff spot. So don’t make me out be some long-time and constant voice of doom. I’m a bad loser, a sore loser, whatever you want to call it. Have been my whole life, when I played sports as a kid and now in whatever I’m doing. Even with the teams I root for. That’s my problem, if it is a problem. What bothers with this team is when they lose because of missed opportunities, when (I think) they should win. If they play their asses off and get outplayed by a better that plays better THAT NIGHT, that’s fine. But that’s not what happened last night. And they did come out last night in the first period like a different team than how they came out against Dallas and Tampa. I don’t see how anyone can argue that. Maybe it wasn’t an energy thing. That was a wrong word by me. A couple of weeks ago I argued their problem wasn’t lack of effort or energy but overcautiousness, too much respect for the opponent and not enough for their own. That’s why the Dallas and Tampa Bay games were different. They played like they knew they were better. Not last night.
Look, maybe you are guys right that I’m too negative. Especially now when they do seem to be coming together somwhat. And the 2 penalties on that 5 on 3 were just seconds apart, so the ‘2 goals’ thing was stupid on my part. And I’ve been saying all along the arena and the future have to be resolved before it’s fair to expect a real contending roster, but I have a hard time with losses that happen for reasons other than JUST the other team is better and plays better, and that’s what I thought happened. Thanks.
by dose on Dec 9, 2011 6:38 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Big differnce between Hawks & Bolts/Stars
Sometimes you can give the same effort as prior games but look worse because you’re playing a better team who’s good at reducing your time & space. Chicago’s a good team. Agree Isles had opportunities to win the game but sometime the puck doesn’t bounce your way. Hopefully luck evens out over the corse of the season.
by JoRiverside on Dec 9, 2011 7:37 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Good point.
Maybe another reason I’m unreasonable sometimes. But when a good team comes of age they play their best against all comers, regardless. My problem is not being patient and not accepting they’re just not there yet and are gonna lose some games they should win.
Dose, I think most of us know exactly where you're coming from....
But you gotta realize that we are witnessing the growing pains of a team rebuild…A team that is learning as they go and we as fans are going through the ups & downs with the,…The team is progressing and that to me is a relief…They almost looked like they forgot how to play hockey for the 1st month of the season…As of now they are starting to click..They are regaining their identity from the 2nd half of last year and they are competing on a nightly basis…I understand that you aren’t satisfied with losing and i guarantee the players hate losing more than you hate watching them lose…But they have to stay positive and keep their heads up…Look at how they were a just a few weeks ago…If they gave up a quick goal their shoulders would sag an they would be depressed with the “here we go again attitude”…Now things are much different…If they give up a goal they aren’t all negative with their heads down…They keep their heads and up and they go back out there and compete and try and score to get that goal back…It seems like you want them to be negative and pissed off when things don’t go their way…Winners can keep their heads up in the face of adversity and losers hold their head down when things don’t go their way…Lets be happy that our team is playing with confidence and positivity…If they acted like it was the end of the world, when things don’t go their way, you will end up with the team we were watching for the 1st month of the season…I like the team we are watching now…They are positive…They play with a swagger and they keep things in perspective…As a fan we have been through so much with this team…I think things are going in the right direction right now…Be happy and don’t expect perfection every single night…As a fan of this team you gotta keep things in perspective…
by KO21 on Dec 9, 2011 8:37 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Wouldn't disagree with anything ...
you say. It comes down to patience, and on my part, accepting that not capitalizing on all opportunites is a necessary part of the growing, not something that by itself defines whether someone is a winner or not. I’m still gonna get pissed off when I they blow one though, so have my patience with me as you do with the team.
Its not easy to stay patient with this team/organization.
Believe me, I know…I never witnessed the dynasty years so my fandom has been of dissatisfaction…
You might think ...
that having been lucky enough to have seen the team grow from a baby into that unbelieveable, ONCE IN A LIFETIME, machine of talent, character and class would be enough for me to accept that anything more would be gravy, But no. Not me. I want more.
I would feel the same way if I were able to see that happen.
I could hardly blame you for wanting more…Its been so long ago
this was a gracious reply
Thank you, dose. If I seemed hard on you in the other thread, it was mostly because these games where they scare up a point are games that they would have lost outright in prior years, or even in November of this one. I like the progress they’ve shown from then to now. To me that’s a sign of maturity and growth, not of “settling” or making excuses or “moral victories.”
The Colorado game is the sort of thing that drives me crazy – the ultimate frustrating result, in that they really outplayed the Avs the whole way, but lousy puck luck gave Colorado two goals to complete their comeback, and a cheesy penalty call gave them the opportunity to win (which they promptly took). A game like the last one, where they rally to force the OT, is different in my mind. Your comment afterward (and after a few other similar games) seemed to make it out to be exactly the same, if not worse.
Personal note – I’ve been on teams where every win is never good enough and every loss is an object lesson in someone screwing up. It got to the point where, after a goal, one of the forwards would grill me on what exactly happened even while the teams were facing off to resume play. Seriously – the guy would be standing at the top of my crease asking me dumbass questions while his two linemates were stuck waiting for the drop. It’s no way to live. A comment like yours just pricks at me in the same way. Usually I shrug it off; this last time I let it get to me, which is kind of unfair to you, so I apologize for that.
When it comes to the Islanders I sort of fall in the middle of you and KO – I grew up with the dynasty, and it was only after it ended that I realized how preposterously difficult it is to do what they did all those years, and how much had to break their way on top of all that effort. Those 19 consecutive playoff round wins are truly epic – no team since has gotten even halfway there. They could line up FIVE Hall-of-Famers on the ice at once, and the sixth guy was usually no slouch either. The Oilers could do that, and they don’t have 19 straight playoff wins… The Mario/Jagr Pens could send four, and they don’t have those wins either. I can’t bring myself to take it out on these guys for not being that good. So if the current Isles have to walk before they fly, that’s OK. I don’t see signs of them settling for a brisk trot, not if JT and PAP and Hamonic and Grabner are accurate barometers. Those guys bring it every night and it seems to be catching, and the results are starting to follow.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
by mikb on Dec 10, 2011 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
This! So much This!
I root when they win, and I root when they lose. All in all, winning is gooder.
There is a problem with outliving your enemies, it usually means that you have outlived your friends as well...
Honnor thy father - D. Vader (Robert Asprin, Myth series)
by burpchelischili on Dec 10, 2011 7:40 PM EST up reply actions
No longer a deck of cards
I didn’t get to watch the latest Blackhawks game, but what I took away from the recent road swing was their hustle and stick-to-it-ness. After early goals they haven’t folded up their tents and sulked on the bench for the next 55 minutes.
Instead, they continued to fight in the corners and along the boards, cut down on their defensive mistakes and skated on the back-check and opportunities arose from their dogged play.
I wonder if early on the team forgot what it took to be successful and they thought that after last season’s late stretch of better play, they thought they could get by on skill alone.
by Jones79 on Dec 9, 2011 6:41 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
"•Tomas Kaberle traded. So Montreal is where all bad contracts go to die? Do you think they need a goa-- never mind."
They really love building from the back huh? lol
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
Chemistry is what we need. Bailey creating and having chemistry with his 3rd line linmates is gonna be huge.
If we can have a functional 3rd line, we can really challenge other team’s bottom players.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
Bailey really looks to be slowly coming around with Ullstrom
maybe Bailey and Cazikis are the future bottom 6 centres
by CanadianIsleslifer on Dec 9, 2011 8:06 PM EST up reply actions
confidence
He’s starting to play with confidence and it shows. There’s no reason playing with Ullstrom and (fill in name of whomever takes Rolston’s spot when everyone has had enough) that a confident bailey can’t score 15 goals and be a solid third/fourth liner. He looks really good killing penalties.
Big change with Eaton out. Reese has been surprising….after Mottau disappears maybe a nice run can get us back in the top 8!
if they keep playing the way they've been playing lately...
and consistently grabbing points after hard-fought games, they’ll make the playoffs.
"son of a bitch i'm sick of these dolphins"
- Steve Zissou
"Power play works well" (as per Streit)
What is with the slow entrance into the zone on the power play? Ideally, shouldn’t all five skaters cross the blue line with speed? Cute and fancy back passes just slow everyone down.
I've always wished they accounted for PP % different
Maybe goals per PP minute (which would not account for 4 on 4 and 3 on 3). The stats probably even out enough but it’s always kinda bothered me that a 5-on-3 kill ends up counting the same as a regular kill (and a 5 minute major kill).
No Sleep 'til....Belmont?
I think the NHL has what you’re talking about here for the PP. I thought they had it for the PK too, but I can’t seem to find it.
Don't make me bring out the Silky.
Chemistry...........
in sports is hard to define, when you see it then you know what the term means. Its not scoring or shots but its how players meld when on the ice, kind of knowing where each others are. Best hockey example is the Sedin twins and in this case the chemistry may be in both the mind and in the blood.
Penalty Kill
I noticed a change in the penalty killing strategy, which is great. They are pressuring the man with the puck, like several other teams do to them. Ask any d-man, and he will tell you that he loves having no pressure on the blue line. Well, the Isles started applying some pressure to the opposing D-men and it’s working. You have to force their hand and not let them choose what they want to do. Nothing stupid, but keep up the pressure.
FTR, overall for this year, they have a top 5 PK.
Even if the PK% doesn’t reflect it right now.
(A ton of this is Grabner-Nielsen – Grabner is by at least one measure a top 15 PKer this year, after being the #1 PKer last year)
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
http://twitter.com/#!/garik16
How does that work? I’m curious.
I have another question for you (or anyone else who knows the answer). Last game timeonice had Staios and Jurcina with a worse Corsi +/- than Montoya. I’ve never seen anyone worse than the goalie, and actually thought that wasn’t possible…
Don't make me bring out the Silky.
That can happen because
Montoya is on the ice for guys that have better corsi…
For example, if Staios/Jurcina are a -10 each, and Streit/Hamonic are a +5 and Reese/Mottau are a +5, Montoya will be even at 0.
You have to take all of the other players into account toward the goalie’s stats because he is out there with everybody.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Dec 10, 2011 10:50 AM EST up reply actions
OK
right, duh. I don’t know why I was thinking about it like that-I guess I hadn’t seen guys have a worse # than a goalie before, so I thought it was an aberration.
Maybe it’s rare for a player to be worse than the goalie? Which I guess speaks to just how bad Staios and Jurcina were…
Don't make me bring out the Silky.
by afrosupreme on Dec 10, 2011 12:35 PM EST up reply actions
Realignment Bitching!
Sigh. I am getting pretty tired of WC fans resentment toward teams in the NE portion of the continent. Ive been trying to have a discussion about it {here} but its like they dont even want to hear it, everything is about resenting our frickin travel times. WTF are north eastern portion of the continent teams supposed to do, circle around in planes for an extra hour or two just to make things “even”????
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
FTR, Their issue is a temporary one -
The relocation of Phoenix will make things more even again.
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
http://twitter.com/#!/garik16
Their biggest issues seem to be with the Florida teams being in the "C".
I dont know WTF the NHL is expected to do with them, though- there are simply more isolated now than they used to be.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 10, 2011 2:03 AM EST up reply actions
maybe we should put a team in Atlanta to give them some company
You wouldn't believe how good the Corsi is for my NHL 12 Be A Pro player.
by ArsenalLI on Dec 10, 2011 3:12 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Honestly, they should have moved the Pens/Flyers into their own division with the Caps/Panthers/Lightning/Canes and throw in the Devils or something.
They have created the biggest possible travel distance for the “most North Eastern” teams to travel back and forth to the florida teams. It’s “stupid”.
That would then make our Division Isles/Rangers/Senators/Leafs/Sabres/Canadies/Bruins. Which would make sense geographically, but give us too easy of a division I guess or something. Here is a look at the finishes from last year pts wise for teams with the new divisions:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=605002
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
You would definitely not get 26/30 "yes" votes doing that.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 10, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
true
But it’s the insistence on staying within time zones that kind of made it necessary, along with trying to keep rivalries intact.
Personally, I love the Patrick Conference as a concept – in practice, though, the times have perhaps passed it by. When Washington was the southernmost East Coast team, it made sense to bring them North for those games. Now, they’re needed to keep company with Carolina and the Florida clubs. Losing Atlanta means that they should get three other teams from a similar geographic area. Since north is not an option and even Bettman won’t try to put teams in the Carribean, that leaves across the Gulf… Nashville, Dallas, and St Louis. And Columbus really belongs with Pittsburgh in any case. So the Jackets would wind up with PIT-NJ-PHL-NY-LI, and I’d move Boston and Montreal in to make it an eight-team division.
The other conference would have a division with TOR-OTT-BUF-DET-CHC-MIN-WPG, and the West would remain unchanged.
That would obviously never pass, especially since the Blues have built a long rivalry with other former Norris Division clubs. I think they would insist on remaining with Detroit and Chicago in any case. And there are other problems too. Nothing will be perfect.
The only improvement to insist upon is more “at large” playoff bids. It’s ridiculous to leave a superior team out in favor of a weaker one in a weaker division. Maybe top two of each division, and the lower eight seeds league-wide based on record.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
I hope the Isles come out strong against the Crossberryless Pens...
Hopefully the Pens will be caught off guard as the Isles are playing a heck of allot better than they were in their previous meetings…
BTW, have you guys been following Matt Martin on twitter? He had some great jabs at Grabs….
mattymarts17 Matt Martin
I’m going to try a new approach and start being positive with you. You are the best at what you do! If what you do is nothing. Haha
grabs40 Michael Grabner
Rookie @mattymarts17 giving me attitude via txt messaging..that’s not gona fly bud..I will take my coffee with creme and sugar tomo #rook
mattymarts17 Matt Martin @
haha @grabs40 maybe ill mix some protein in there, get you looking more like a man and less like a 12 year old vegetarian #lightweight
grabs40 Michael Grabner @
Easy @mattymarts17 don’t get vegetarians involved..don’t hate on people who have a different lifestyle.. #thinkbeforetyping
mattymarts17 Matt Martin
I have nothing against vegetarians @grabs40, that wasn’t the point. The point was I wore your size clothing in grade school #mixinameal
mattymarts17 Matt Martin
But on the bright side, in a couple years @grabs40 and His son Aidan will be able to share clothes! #goodbounce goodnight all!
grabs40 Michael Grabner
You think that was funny? @mattymarts17 talking bout being a man,but spends hours infront of the mirror trying to look like J.Bieber #heis17
grabs40 Michael Grabner @trevordoh93 @mattymarts17 nah cn’t do straight to the heart cause,he would get the “Hamonic syndrome” and we have a game tomo #takingiteasy
I thought Isles fans would get a kick out of this…They like to beat on each other, lol…
by KO21 on Dec 10, 2011 9:55 AM EST reply actions 4 recs
OT : Torgo
Are you named Torgo because of… Torgo?
If so, that is fantastic.
“Big knees! Go with it!”
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 10, 2011 10:37 AM EST up reply actions
He takes care of the place while the master is away
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
by mikb on Dec 10, 2011 6:47 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Bow before me!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 10, 2011 10:56 PM EST up reply actions
Martin brings a lot to this team
On the ice and off the ice this guy is the kind of player you want on your roster
LMAO. Does this mean that Hamonic doesn't take some jokes too well? Becaues that's what I'm getting from it:
“nah cn’t do straight to the heart cause,he would get the "Hamonic syndrome" and we have a game tomo #takingiteasy”
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
Ahh, I think u hit he nail on the head..
Hammer’s feelings are easily hurt for a big tough man on the ice…Ohh, the irony….lol
Regarding Chemistry.....Adding by Subtracting
I don’t know if this has been mentioned before but it’s pretty evident that the Isles have been playing much better since Comeau was jettisoned to the waiver wire and DP has been sidelined by another injury. I mean, they are executing better and clearly playing with more jump/passion.
It’s not a knock on either one but it’s hard to look past this coincidence….
You wonder
You do wonder…
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I was waiting for someone to go to this theory
and sure the Isles are 4-1-2 since they got rid of Comeau, but the Flames, who were almost as bad as the Islanders before Comeau got waived, are 5-2-1 since acquiring Comeau.
So is it Comeau was bad for the Islanders and good for the Flames? Or is it just pure coincidence?
Fast and furious coverage of the slow and steady rebuild
by Chris McNally on Dec 10, 2011 6:19 PM EST up reply actions
Could be Amac
unfortunately, there are usually too many variables to count with the injuries and call-ups all at the same time. I wish we could nail it down…I’m sure the coaches wish they could nail it down, but that is why it’s never easy to be a GM right? Just too much interdependence to say 100% what/who is responsible, but I do believe that there are one or two decisions that have definitely helped.
I think the Comeau for Ullstrom move and the Montoya gettting more playing time move have helped. I’m not sure if Reasoner has been an upgrade over Pandolfo, but that has allowed Bailey to shine on the PK.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Dec 11, 2011 12:39 PM EST up reply actions
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1979-80
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
