Islanders 4, Hurricanes 3 (recap) Deja Vu, Too!
by Mark D on Feb 18, 2012 11:06 PM EST
in New York Islanders Game Recaps
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The last time the Hurricanes and Islanders played, it was a tight contest which anyone could have won (despite the 5-2 EN inflated final total). In that game John Tavares had the game winner, finishing the night with 2 goals and 4 points. Tonight it was JT again with the game winner and the first star for his 2 goal, 1 assist performance. Meanwhile the demoted and almost immediately promoted PA Parenteau got two more assists (41 on the year, 5th in the league) was second star of the night.
These last two games really show where the team is at. Most nights they can't keep up with the better teams in the league, unless they get a lot of luck. But they are competitive with the other teams in the playoff bubble. There might be little solace in that for some, but the team is taking the baby steps in the right direction. Of course it also helps when Jeff Skinner misses a shot with his whole side of the net open in the waning seconds of the game.
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The win puts the Islanders back at NHL .500, and gives them a clean sweep over the Kirk Muller coached Hurricanes. Although Parenteau was quickly returned to the first line with JT, Kyle Okposo did bounce around a bit. But he did connect with Micheal Grabner on an absolutely beautiful wrist shot that went right through Cam Ward to give them the early lead.
Game Highlights
Two Carolina goals followed and you could hear the groans already in the Coliseum. Within four minutes of the second Carolina goal was JT tying the game with his first goal. Probably the best moment of the night came a few minutes later after a penalty on Carolina's Tim Brent. The Islanders got into the offensive zone and showed some beautiful cycling as JT and Parenteau assisted on Frans Nielsen's PP goal to take back the lead.
Jaroslav Spacek (from Eric Staal) scored his 3rd goal of the year to tie the game again for the Canes. But it was not to be for them, as Muller pulled Cam Ward going into the 3rd period. Justin Peters proceeded to give up a goal to JT not even a minute into the period on a wild scramble for the puck in front of the net. The Canes proceeded to get 12 shots but nothing got past Kevin Poulin, despite Mark Eaton's best efforts to snow angel the puck into his own net.
Game Notes
I was kind of surprised how quickly Capuano went back to PAP on the first line. When PAP has a multi-point night the team is 13-3. They are 6-9 when he has a single point and 5-19 when he's pointless. With rumors that Ken Morrow was scouting the Kings - Flames game tonight (two teams who don't need a goalie) hopefully PAP isn't on the trading block.
No Foolin' Poulin: Poulin had a good outing, but I still wouldn't want to have to rely on him full time at the NHL level. I think it's best for him to finish the season at BP, and then work with Sudsie during the offseason and camp. On the bright side his SV% has improved in each game this year, going from an .897 to .906 and tonight's .913. The worry isn't that the Islanders might trade Evgeni Nabokov and Poulin backing up Al Montoya. Instead the worry is that the Isles trade Nabby and Monty gets hurt again, requiring Poulin to start a long stretch of games.
Can We Have Hamonic Back?: There are no words for how bad this defense is without Travis Hamonic in the lineup. Steve Staios does not click with Mark Streit at all, meanwhile the Mark Eaton and Milan Jurcina makes me miss the Zdeno Chara and Eric Cairns pairing of the 99/00 Islanders. Ty Wishart is really in a no win situation, and seems to be the second coming of Jurcina. We commonly call Nielsen one of the most underrated players in the league, but I think Hamonic might deserve that recognition soon.
The Gritzzzzzzzz: At the end of the game Jay Harrison took a shot after the buzzer. Matt Martin took exception to it and a small fracas ensued. Harrison was given 2 for unsportsmanlike conduct and a 10 for misconduct, with Martin getting 2 for roughing. Always nice to see everyone standing up for the goalie, and Martin on the ice during crucial moments instead of Brian Rolston or Jay Pandolfo.
Playoffs: The Leafs got blown out, so the Isles are within 6 points of 8th right now.
Ice Time: Andrew MacDonald led the team with 24 minutes, with Streit, Tavares, Moulson and Parenteau all at 22 minutes. Nino Neiderreiter was at 7 minutes, and his linemates Pandolfo and Reasoner were at 9ish on the night. Aaron Ness was the lowest among the defenseman at 14 minutes, while there was very little seen of Rolston who finished the night with just 11 minutes.
Speaking of Rolston, during the game thread we had some more fun with the meme generator:
Also my favorite quote of the night from the game thread from Garik:
"Can't take the goaltender out with the puck in his zone"
Capuano says LIES!
Next up are the Senators on Monday and the Sabres on Tuesday. With SportsClubStats giving the Islanders between 5 and 8 losses at most to make the playoffs, every game is important. But these are two teams the Isles should be competitive with, and two wins that could pull the team even closer to 8th. At the very least the two wins would finally give the team a bit of a cushion to stay above NHL .500 for a while.
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I think both problems are gong to be helped next season
by the improved defense. De Haan, Ness and Donovan are all good puck movers. Hopefully they’ll also help improve the secondary scoring, along with not being Eaton/Staios/Mottau, to give us help on both ends.
"Mark D: the internet's foremost chronicler of Milburian insanity" - Pretty Good Idiot
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
by Mark D on Feb 18, 2012 11:16 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
that is what I thought last season
we had that very good second half, and then we let some guys go that killed the chemistry early
still Reasoner, Rolston doing nothing for us. Pandolfo is doing enough but his lack of production is magnified because thes eother 2 are doing nothing
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Feb 19, 2012 4:43 AM EST up reply actions
"Jussi Jokinen gets into fight at convenience store" : Slashing @ 7:11
MacDonald looked surprisingly well shadowing Staal all night on D. A back and forth game that ended in our favor, luckily. Those other D breakdowns were bad, not really Poulin’s fault for any of the goals tonight.
That cycling pic and quote of Rolston is hilarious. I can’t believe 3 things he did that had me just shake my head: turnover at the blueline that created a Hurricanes 3 on 2 situation, Rolston shooting into matt martin in front of the net from nearly point blank, and Rolston completely giving up on an icing prevention “while” he had a stride or 2 on the hurricane skating to the icing around the blueline.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Just in case someone takes me wrong. I don’t think Poulin had a bad outing at all, but I just think he’s not 100% for the NHL. Maybe some more NHL level practices would help. That might also be the reason they used the emergency callup for him (taking Hamonic’s spot) in order to get him the work before making a move with Nabby.
But I am worried if we do trade Nabby and Monty gets hurt. I don’t think starting a lot of games in a row would be good for him, and it’s obvious the team isn’t really high on Nilsson as an NHL starter right now.
"Mark D: the internet's foremost chronicler of Milburian insanity" - Pretty Good Idiot
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Oh yeah. I agree. Trading Nabby would hurt our goaltending a lot the rest of the season unless snow picks up a decent backup for a 7th rounder from no man's land.
But it’s not like we are going anywhere anyway, 5% playoff chances and all. I see us finishing “logically” anywhere from 3rd worst to 10th worst overall in the NHL.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
If he does trade Nabby, he very well may be able to...
…acquire the other team’s 2nd or 3rd string goalie in the same deal.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 12:07 AM EST up reply actions
Never really quite thought of it that way
And most of us have been proclaiming picks and/or prospects for Nabby. Although, if Nabokov were to be traded to, say, Detroit, I’m not sure if any of us would want Ty Conklin thrown our way.
It wouldn't be Conklin,
it would likely be Joey MacDonald. Much as I love the New Glasgow, I don’t want him back.
"...I was here on Day 1 when Garth decided to do the rebuild, and I really want to see it through." -- Frans Nielsen
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Feb 19, 2012 8:33 AM EST up reply actions
Actually
MacDonald has been playing well for them this month. Obviously they are a great team, but he’s pulled his weight.
by afrosupreme on Feb 19, 2012 10:11 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I am really happy for him. He is doing a good job in his fill-in!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 19, 2012 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
What's with all the %'s about making the playoffs?
Am I the only one who doesn’t see it as such a long shot? I’d love for the team to find a level of consistency, but we have just as much a chance to make the playoffs as any other team on the bubble right now. If we have a 5% chance to make the playoffs then so does about 5 other teams so why not us? I’m not saying I fully believe that we are a playoff team (I actually don’t think we are yet), but we have just as good of a chance to make it as everybody else does. A little mini winning streak and we could easily find ourselves 2 PTs out
by LaFontaine16 on Feb 19, 2012 11:10 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
It's not that simple
Tampa has an easier shot because if they pass Florida and Washington, they get a 3 seed. We can pass both and still not make it.
You also need to figure in the remaining opposition. more than 1/3 of our last 24 games are in the division, meaning playoff-bound teams. Now, should we win 6 of those 9, then it can be argued we belong in the playoffs because we beat the teams already going.
The Bettman Welfare Point System also makes it very difficult to catch teams ahead of us. When Washington and Winnipeg play this week, it’s very possible they both get points from that game, meaning even if we win we just tread water. That scenario plays out many, many times over the last 1/4 of the season.
Having to come from behind means that we also can’t just count on our winning alone. We need several other teams in front of us to falter in addition to us winning. If Toronto goes 11-12 in their last 23 games, then we need to earn 29 points in our last 24 games (12-7-5). If the Loaves manage to go 13-10, though, now we need 33 points to catch them (14-5-5). That’s why our percentage, along with all the other teams in our bracket, is so low.
I want to believe we can make it. I really hope that we do, because that means our group managed to get it done against the best competition the NHL has to offer. But I’m being a realist. I would give 25-1 against our team making it this season. The first 20 games took us out of it, though. Our lackluster, uninspired play back then dug too deep a hole from which to escape in time.
Amateurs practice til they get it right. Professionals practice til they can't get it wrong.
i hear what your saying.....
but i personally dont take into consideration who we are going to be playing. Last year we supposedly won a bunch of “meaningless” games at the end of the year. If 1/3 of our games are in the division then most of those teams should already have a playoff spot pretty secure. So, while they are better teams they may not have as much to play for as the bubble teams so i dont htink that should figure into percentages. I also understand how the point system sucks and its hard to make up ground, but every team is in the same boat. I dont think its out of this world to swing a 6-8 point differential in 24 games.
I think its a longshot based more on team performance than statistics. If the Washington Captials were in our position and played in the Atlantic i dont think anyone would be counting them out. I think the odds are more stacked because of the team and not necessarily the ground that needs to be made up, but there certainly is a case as you stated that it will be tough. I just feel you can break that down with most bubble teams and see similiar odds.
by LaFontaine16 on Feb 19, 2012 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
It's also not the fact that we are 6/8pts out,
it’s the fact that we have to jump 4teams with a similar or better record than us to make the playoffs. That’s a lot of teams to jump and a lot of teams to outplay. Say we play .650 hockey the rest of the way, any team above us 8-11 plays better than .650 hockey the rest of the way we have no shot at making the playoffs. That’s why the 6pts thing is a bit misleading. Then you argue strength of schedule and Bettman points and how our team has actually played as a whole. barring elite goaltending in net which Nabby has done to steal us points, and it’s a long shot. But there is still nothing wrong with hope. I hope for the best too.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
i understand how 6 pts is tough.........
my only point is every team is facing the same thing. If its near impossible to make up this ground everyone is basically assuming either toronto or washington are the only teams who have a shot at the 8th seed and they are ranked 8 and 9 right now. Winn has 62 pts, the Isles, Tampa, Habs all have 58 pts. Isles have 2 games in hand on Winn and one on Montreal. Of course those game dont matter unless you win them, but if they do we are just as much in it as everyone else. If they lose them it would be crushing. Only point im trying to make is that we are facing the same odds as Tampa, Winn, and Montreal right now. So if our chances are slim to none then so are theirs. Having said all that, i am hoping, but not yet believing.
by LaFontaine16 on Feb 19, 2012 12:59 PM EST up reply actions
Isles have a brutal March schedule, largely due to so many Atlantic games.
…but hey, it is possible.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 1:21 PM EST up reply actions
The thing is though, we don't have the same odds as the Bolts and Habs and the Caps/Jets/Leafs/Senators all do have better odds then us.
Jumping teams is something hard to do, especially when every team 8-11 beats us in the tiebreaker bettman points situation. And then when you weigh strength of schedule into the equation given everyone has around 22gms left, it seems even tougher:
Isles: 17games remaining against playoff seeded teams
Bolts: 11games remaining against playoff seeded teams
Habs: 12games remaining against playoff seeded teams
Jets: 12games remaining against playoff seeded teams
Capitals: 12games remaining against playoff seeded teams
Leafs: 15games remaining against playoff seeded teams
If we had to play the odds out or computer generate the rest of the games for the season, it’s highly likely we finish th worst in the NHL/ in the conference. The odds are pretty strongly stacked against us for making the playoffs almost any way you look at it, even moreso when you throw the Nabby elite goaltending effect into the equation “just to barely” keep us in this race instead of leaving us in the basement where we would be with average goaltending from Nabby.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Woops:
“If we had to play the odds out or computer generate the rest of the games for the season, it’s highly likely we finish 5th-7thth worst in the NHL/ 13th/14th in the eastern conference.”
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
It's not just
17 games aginst teams seeded higher than us, it’s also 16 games against teams which have played better than us the past 40 games. I just put up a fan post that breaks down the East starting w/ game 21. The Isles are 8th best in the East since then. Even if we go 7-7-2 in our games aginst the teams above us, we’d need to sweep the 8 games from the teams below us to hit 90 points and an outside shot at the post season.
I would piss my pants if that happened, but the reality is that we don’t have the depth to compete right now against that tough a schedule. We’ve ridden a goalie on fire and a hot line to get this far. We need to keep that, and somehow find D more useful than traffic cones and a second line that can score consistently.
Amateurs practice til they get it right. Professionals practice til they can't get it wrong.
Yeah. Good work.
There are just so many issues and so many things against us, that it would be a miracle for us to make the playoffs, and against the odds if we finished better then 12th in the East this year.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
It would not be totally unrealistic to say the Isles have a shot at being 2 to 3 points out of playoffs by Tuesday Night
The Isles certainly are good enough to beat both Ott and Buff Monday and Tuesday, and while Wash should beat the Hurricans, placing them @ 65 points, one ahead of the Leafs 64, and granted Winnipeg may very well catch the Leafs @ 64 points, the rest of the games Wash, Tor and Win play are against superior teams. So yes, while anything can happen in hockey, the Isles do have the opportunity to give themselves a shot…Mon & Tues are huge games.
by CanadianIsleslifer on Feb 19, 2012 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
If they play to type
They’ll get 2 points in the next two, maybe 3. The Isles have seemed determined to give their fans just enough hope to think that they are in the hunt it but not a bit more than that. The Isles have played well over the last couple of months but they needed to hit a gear higher in order to truly have a shot of the playoffs. That would have meant taking at least one from the Leafs, holding the lead in the Buffalo game, and on and on.
Lighthouse Hockey. Where Islanders fans come to panic with punctuation.
by DP'sknee(andhipandflubugandotherknee) on Feb 19, 2012 4:32 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly. So having a warm body like Conklin to get bombarded...
…instead of Poulin would be fine, incase Montoya isn’t good to play.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
Poulin is not ready...
I thought he looked very shaky tonight as he always appears to me. It take him a while into a game to finally settle down. I was particularly unimpressed with the spacek goal. He was screened, but his positioning needs to be better, that puck can not find its way into the bet like that
by LaFontaine16 on Feb 19, 2012 11:05 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Poulin had an early shot hit off his glove
but luckily it went over the net instead of in.
He needs more playing time at this level to get better. Only gonna get it if they trade Nabby.
by vince from NJ on Feb 19, 2012 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
I forgot. Kubina to the flyers for a 2nd and a 4th rounder. Another "high" market value trade where the team receiving the picks gets a somewhat sizable overpayment.
1st the flyers give a 2nd rounder+ for a borderline #4/#5 d-man in Grossman, and now they trade a 2nd and 4th rounder for a guy that has been carried by Eric Brewer this season? lol. Advanced stats say Kubina has been a penalty taking machine and a passable at best shutdown d-man for the bolts this year. Borderline top 4 quality I’d say, or ~#4/#5 d-man. The Flyers are really trying to push for this playoffs.
And their bottom 3 D has sucked this year, so aside from Timmonen/Coburn/Carle, they really did need these upgrades. Mezsaros, Bourdon, Lilja, have all sucked this year. So + Grossman and Kubina and I guess the team gets better and noticably bigger. Holy Jesus their starting 6 has some size across it now: Coburn 6’5’’ 220lbs, Grossman 6’4’’ 230lbs, Kubina 6’4’’ 260lbs, and Meszaros 6’2’’ 225lbs (+ Carle/Timmonen).
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
PA Will Stay
Not worried about Morrow being at the Calgary/Kings game. If anything, maybe Eaton or Streit are on their way out. I know it’s a split decision on Streit, but if it brings back Jack Johnson some how, or a young defensive prospect with loads of potential and size, I am all for it. Obviously picks would be involved. But let’s not get carried away yet. I know LA is looking for a winger, but they want a scoring winger, not a guy who sets up playmakers. They are ALL in on the Rick Nash trade front, in fact – considered to be the leaders in it. Like I’ve written in other comment boards, I really, really hope Garth is a buyer at the deadline setting himself up for next year.
Could Calgary be buyers?
They are only 2 pts behind LA.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 12:11 AM EST up reply actions
and beating LA
currently. BTW Jack Johnson has always been a minus defender on a defensive squad. No beuno.
how would he be if he was with Hamonic for example?
someone to shield him defensively
Definitely a poster at Lighthouse Hockey until 2015, then maybe somewhere else.
That sounds like a prime d-man to pick-up...someone else we need to shelter...
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...
by Turgeon1992 on Feb 19, 2012 12:25 AM EST up reply actions
well at least this guy would have major offensive upside
I don’t really want another Wiz type either but he’s a big name and it might help with perception of the franchise, he’s a limited cost even if for an extended period of time. If you could theoretically shield him by putting him on a line with Hammer it might not be that terrible of a move. I don’t know how bad defensively he actually is though.
Definitely a poster at Lighthouse Hockey until 2015, then maybe somewhere else.
I got your back with my reply below homie :-). Jack Johnson=awfulness on D.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
I still have no idea why people like Jack Johnson as a d-man.
The man is an overpaid for half a decade, defensive mess, and a bad #4 d-man:
If Jack Johnson didn’t put up pts on the PP, he wouldn’t be in the NHL. Jack Johnson is a complete disaster of a d-man, career -88 in 4 seasons because of his stupid decisions on the ice. Do not touch.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
by OzzyFan on Feb 19, 2012 12:21 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I got confused for a second till I realized you included Playoffs
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
http://twitter.com/#!/garik16
I don't know enough about him
and maybe he’s far enough along that he won’t be able to turn it around, but he’s still pretty young. I mean look at what people were saying about Fowler last year, and look at him this year.
by afrosupreme on Feb 19, 2012 10:14 AM EST up reply actions
Fowler is a very different case because it's his 2nd season in the nhl. And Jack Johnson already has 4 NHL seasons under his belt,
and 6 post draft years under his belt at 25yrs old. It’s rare for d-men maturing in their later 20’s. He highly likely is what he is now, a defensive liability that can put up pts on the PP and statistically a bad #4 d-man making $4.36mil/yr for another 5/6yrs. For him to be passable on D you have to extremely shelter him. Playing him with Hamonic against top 4 competition wouldn’t be the answer because A: it screws up the team’s shutdown pairing and B: Would you want one your worst defensive D-man playing against top 6 competition? . As simple as I can make it, you’d have to shelter Jack Johnson like you would MAB for him to be as effective as possible and extremely limit his damage control, but even then it’s worrisome about how many stupid mistakes he’ll make. His 1st couple years against top 4 D competition and he’s barely averaging 30-40pts/season, and he needs to be better for people to really even argue his worth as a top 4 d-man.
The big problems with acquiring him is:
A. The contract is an overpayment for what he does now and is a contract that lasts half a decade.
B. You have to extremely shelter him, because he honestly is a worse overall D-man than Wisniewski and Erhoff, and that’s saying something. The man put up a -21 last year on a +21 team, which is unfathomable to me.
C. Right now he is a crappy #4 d-man. Is he an upgrade over our crappy bottom 3? Sure, but he’s worse than Streit/Hamonic/A-mac and a huge list of other d-men that would be a lot less cap costly. It’s going to take some serious steps forward for him to just be a passable 2-way #4 d-man, and even bigger steps for him to become a good #4 d-man. He is a project if you really want to make him anything more than an overpaid PP-specialist that is a defensive liability D-man.
And it’s always been his mental shortcomings that have been his weaknesses. If you wanna try and reverse 6yrs of repetitive bad D decisions, go ahead, but it’s a huge gamble and he’s a player that you likely aren’t gonna fix. You can play damage control, but turning him into a good top 4 d-man would be a spectacular turnaround and unlikely.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
The only way Garth should be a buyer right now is if he is picking up a d-man(or forward) signed for multiple years.
And given the way this trade market has been, acquiring rental #4/#5 d-men for 2nd rounders+, Garth shouldn’t be looking for anything right now on D through trade besides team’s salary dumping quality d-men, and that’s an extreme rarity.
Wait for the offseason to try and improve this team going forward through trade and UFA.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
I feel like a playoff run junkie
OK, OK, 4 points in the next three games or else I’m done! I promise!
Lighthouse Hockey. Where Islanders fans come to panic with punctuation.
by DP'sknee(andhipandflubugandotherknee) on Feb 19, 2012 1:12 AM EST reply actions 8 recs
You user name could change to
William “Isles” Burroughs.
Jagr on Nabokov: "He was there even before we tried to shoot it."
by ToddMclellan'shair on Feb 19, 2012 2:35 AM EST up reply actions
*your
Jagr on Nabokov: "He was there even before we tried to shoot it."
by ToddMclellan'shair on Feb 19, 2012 2:38 AM EST up reply actions
19 17 8
There were 19 defensive zone starts compared to 8 offensive zone starts, and 17 neutral zone. That has to improve.
by CanadianIsleslifer on Feb 19, 2012 1:29 AM EST reply actions
That's what happens when you're -21 in even strength corsi.
Of course we were +15 in blocked shots, so we were only -6 in fenwick.
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
http://twitter.com/#!/garik16
by garik16 on Feb 19, 2012 1:57 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Is Kirk Muller the only coach who can't seem to...
…pick up a win vs Isles this season? What did he do to deserve that?
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 1:30 AM EST reply actions 5 recs
When Washington plays Carolina
will you feel dirty rooting for a team led by Captain Jerk?
Amateurs practice til they get it right. Professionals practice til they can't get it wrong.
I like ness
I’ll take his rookie mistakes for the mobility and offensive upside he brings…
by LETS GO ISLANDERS!!! on Feb 19, 2012 1:49 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Agreed
Ness, although small, seems to get to the pucks in the corner so quickly. And I think his offensive abilities will begin to take shape next year. He’s a very good passer.
I’d love to see more of Wishart and deHaan. This could be an amazing group of you D-men if we gave them the chance.
by vince from NJ on Feb 19, 2012 8:18 AM EST up reply actions
Jt
JT to the canes is like what chipper jones was to the mets … A cane killer lol
by LETS GO ISLANDERS!!! on Feb 19, 2012 1:51 AM EST reply actions
All I do I Lin Lin
I like PA being back on the 1st line, he’s really gonna get JT going and what that happening moulson will follow.. Maybe not a 25 game point streak but I can see a solid 15 game stretch coming… KO going back with frans and grabs looks like it can get some of that magic back.. A big part of that lines failures early this season was all 3 guys just were way off . Frans looks great since signing his extension which makes feel feel like he was prob affected by the talks. kO is back to playing somewhat solid every night and grabs looks like he’s a few breakaways away from really busting out of his sophmore slump.. And then theres Bailey! Lol he’s gotta start scoring eventually right? He’s just been so good its bound to happen (I hope).. Hopefully they will finally put rolston on the 4th line and niño with Bailey and Martin .. That line would have some nice gritt and with confidence should produce …
Call me crazy but I think if they just hold it together till hamonic comes back and keep ness around the pieces can fall into place … Lots of ifs but it’s possible
by LETS GO ISLANDERS!!! on Feb 19, 2012 2:18 AM EST reply actions
I like your attitude.
Hey, “better to have believed and lost, than never to have believed at all.”
Jagr on Nabokov: "He was there even before we tried to shoot it."
by ToddMclellan'shair on Feb 19, 2012 6:25 AM EST up reply actions
True
Frans is the only guy who plays better after signing an extension.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 12:35 PM EST up reply actions
If Nabby goes...........
Snow will get a vet goalie. If we have hopes for next season we need a real #1.
Fox Sports Carolina deserves alot of credit and more...
I caught the late reply game on NHL Center Ice from the Away perspective. I dont know how many of you watch the (A) version of their games. Usually the commentators dont know jack about NYI player pronunciation or anything about LI. These guys deserve great respect from NYI fans.
1. Referring to our barn as “Nassau Coliseum” not Long Island Coliseum, not this old place, not any kind of negativity about where we play at all. Rarely do I hear any announcer saying this properly
2. “We’ll be right back from Uniondale, Long Island”….That has my respect right there.
On other notes:
Love love love Matt Martin getting PP time!
Brandon Sutter and Stahl are bad ass fore checkers…they were amazingly challenging the entire game. I was super impressed
Steve Staos took a few shot opportunities. What was in his wheaties today..let’s get another bowl for him next game
Jussi Jokinen – the better player of the brothers I think
If we trade PAP we deserve to miss the playoffs.
by IslesFanForLife on Feb 19, 2012 8:18 AM EST reply actions
Jussi Jokinen – the better player of the brothers I think
Well I don’t watch SM-Liga hockey, so I’ll take your word on it, unless you’ve mistaken Olli and Jussi as being related and aren’t talking about Juho Jokinen. Juho IS Jussi’s brother.
"Mark D: the internet's foremost chronicler of Milburian insanity" - Pretty Good Idiot
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
I was mostly doing a play on the last name..it was 5:18am and I was being cute.
by IslesFanForLife on Feb 19, 2012 8:51 AM EST up reply actions
I had just woken up, and my reply wasn’t as funny as I thought it was.
"Mark D: the internet's foremost chronicler of Milburian insanity" - Pretty Good Idiot
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Long Island Coliseum?
Why would other broadcasts get the name totally wrong?
I guess I am just completely spoiled, our broadcast always uses the name of other teams arenas.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 19, 2012 11:22 AM EST up reply actions
Long Island Arena
That is what EA Sports NHL 2012 has written on the home ice for NYI in the game. I have heard Away broadcasters totally ruin the actual NMVC name many times. I prefer watching the (A) version of anything on NHL Center Ice just to hear what others say about the team.
by IslesFanForLife on Feb 19, 2012 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
Video games are a bit different- I just dont understand why broadcasters who are looking at the actual name of the arena in the headers on top of all their visitors paperwork would dream up some name that does not exist in any capacity.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 19, 2012 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
…except in the video games they play.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 12:40 PM EST up reply actions
They are supposed to be professionals- thats the clincher here. Do your job, read the header right in front of your faces lol!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 20, 2012 8:55 AM EST up reply actions
Parenteau back on top line...
Interesting. ‘Course, I haven’t been paying too much attention last couple games, but two thoughts occur – 1: push the point production of top line – definitely chemistry w/ PA, JT and Matty Mo. 2: if you want to push offers, get PA hot at the right time – to do that, have him play with the best player on the team. How much is an assist machine worth to a team on the bubble?
Another thought: Is Nabby worth more than a 2nd/4th pick combo to a team thin in goal?
The Lion Roars No More (1926-2012)
Funny thing is...
…PAP has been picking up assists in all situations. Last I checked he was 2nd in the NHL in even-strength assists— and much of the season he wasn’t playing with Tavares or Moulson… But a few more assists may pump up his trade value even more.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
i can see the pros and cons of mixing up lines on a regular basis...
for this team, it may be good to shuffle lines here and now. the pro of it would be to not only give your players variety, but it helps everyone build more chemistry with one another. i like KO on the first line, but you can go either way with him. same goes for PAP. however, bailey needs a better supporting cast around him. he’s not going to grow with brian rolston on his wing and matt martin, as much as we all love him, needs to play 3rd/4th line minutes.
with the pros being said, the cons are more of skepticism and uncertainty. it actually has been shown that tinkering with chemistry too much can result in a negative outcome. i’m afraid that some players are not quite open to the constant flux of change and would prefer to stay comfortable in a line where he worked hard to develop that chemistry w his mates.
but with this team, what the hell…
"Redemption? Sure. But in the end, he's just another dead rat in a garbage pail behind a Chinese restaurant."
thoughts about the game...
glad they won, but didn’t like the inconsistency. it’s definitely not a good habit to hold onto one goal leads while giving everyone else heart attacks. for once i’d like to see more consistent multi-goal leads.
rolston…that guy…
poulin wasn’t entirely on his game. in his defense, he didn’t get the best defense, but that’s the job description of islanders goaltending: willing to work with minimal resources.
the JT cut across goal was a good result, however, if you looked at it closely, you’ll ask yourself “what the hell is cam ward doing out of position and down?”…i love JT, but it wasn’t a great goal. JT just took advantage of poor goaltending by ward.
yeah…i think that’s all i wanted to say.
"Redemption? Sure. But in the end, he's just another dead rat in a garbage pail behind a Chinese restaurant."
Good players are capable of making goalies look foolish....
I thought it was a hell of a goal and not many guys in the league can pull that off.
by LaFontaine16 on Feb 19, 2012 11:19 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
the JT cut across goal was a good result, however, if you looked at it closely, you’ll ask yourself "what the hell is cam ward doing out of position and down?"…i love JT, but it wasn’t a great goal. JT just took advantage of poor goaltending by ward.
Im sorry but I do not understand this logic at all. JTs goal wasnt great because he made a good goalie totally screw up? Hows that?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 19, 2012 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
i'm actually getting tired of explaining my fair and logical points to you TMC...
but i’d be happy to share/defend my statements:
“JTs goal wasnt great because he made a good goalie totally screw up? Hows that?”
first off, you said that. i didn’t. in your citation above, i made the point of saying that i believed it really wasn’t a “great” goal, because cam ward was way out of position and made a poor attempt to make the save before JT even made his move around the defenseman. watch the replay, see for yourself…
there’s a difference between “good” goals and “great” goals. it was a great move around the defense to come across and i’m glad JT took advantage of it. great players can make those plays. however TMC, i played goalie and have enough experience to know what’s needed to stop a play from happening. and that goal that Howie and Butch claimed to be a “great goal” was exaggerated. when you watch a play unfold, you need to be aware of how everyone else is playing on the ice for BOTH teams. Cam Ward made an awful stride and was out of his position before the play even happened, thus lacked a certain quality for me to claim it to be a “great” goal…and no, i’m not discrediting John Tavares or dumbing down his skill and ability to make plays. I AM criticizing Cam Ward’s focus and effort on a play he should have been ready for since he’s one of the better goalies in this league.
"Redemption? Sure. But in the end, he's just another dead rat in a garbage pail behind a Chinese restaurant."
I feel like I'm not watching the same play as you, Ozzy, or TMC.
I didn’t see Ward overcommit before JT made his move, as you saw it.
I didn’t see Ward go all-or-nothing for the poke-check, as Ozzy saw it.
(I may be wrong on both accounts, but that’s how I saw it.)
What I saw: Tavares made one of his typical power moves to the inside from the right wing. (We see that a lot this season from JT.) He cut a little higher than he typically does. The opposite defenseman was focussed on Moulson and didn’t see JT beating his man, so he couldn’t help out in front. (The closest forward also peeled away, trying to find an Islander in the slot.)
I thought Ward played it pretty well until he got caught in between poke-checking and getting across the crease. It seemed that half his body wanted to poke check and half wanted to get to the other post. He ended up doing neither very well. He settled on putting his stick flat on the ice to prevent the easy stuff shot. Bad goaltending? I think so. But he could have panicked more and allowed an even easier goal, I think.
At first I thought that JT lost control of the puck, but watching a replay, it reminds me of a power basketball move, when a player “throws” the ball a few feet instead of a typical dribble and then beats his man to it for an easy layup. Did JT want to get back to the puck sooner? Perhaps. I think he was looking for a chance in front and his best option ended up being taking the puck all the way around Ward.
Ward couldn’t overplay it because JT’s shown the ability to cut towards the middle and then quickly shoot top near corner. But I still think it was a mistake by Ward to get caught in between and half poke-check.
Good goal? Great goal? I don’t know. But I’d like to continue to see this from Tavares!
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
fair enough NDRE...
i too would like to continue to see this from JT :)
"Redemption? Sure. But in the end, he's just another dead rat in a garbage pail behind a Chinese restaurant."
In fairness
The really good ones tend to make goalies look worse than they are. Ward almost looked like he was going to sweep-check the puck. Bad choice.
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
Also remember
he left the game with a bad groin or something right? Could have impacted his lateral movement, push off and angling.
I have to think that may have been a factor also considering how much space Nielsen had on his goal…of course it was a great pass by JT, but Ward barely moved. The first and third goals were to Ward’s left side…this goal started to his left back toward his right.
Could have been a factor.
Neil Smith @bigdealneil94 @KeithLHHockey @craigjbutton hey keith GFY
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
What Im wondering is where you got the idea that this "disagrees" with me.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 20, 2012 8:59 AM EST up reply actions
If you are tired of explaining your points WTF are you doing on a message board?
I cannot for the life of me figure out why the hell what I said bothered you in ANY WAY.
A “good goal” is frickin subjective, anyway. I say I dont agree, why do you feel like you HAVE to “keep explaining” anything? It was a goal like thousands of other goals. I personally do not agree with you that it takes away from the shooter if the goalie seems to have committed a bit early, and thats that.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 20, 2012 8:57 AM EST up reply actions
I watched that replay and said to myself Ward went all or nothing there and tried to cut off/poke-check JT and it didn't work.
I wouldn’t say cam ward was out of position or being stupid there, he just knew JT was 1-on-1 with him in that situation and did what he thought would be best to prevent him from scoring.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Morrow scouting Kings/Flames?
Really makes me think PAP is on the way out. Bummer, but LA at least has a bunch of young talent on the blue line. We’ll see what happens I guess.
Anyone but Jack Johnson I'll take :-).
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Well that's the thing.
It seems to me if he is scouting the game, he’s looking at someone on the ice, not one of their minor-league prospects, right?
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, that would make sense.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Hopefully, it's Quick
obviously doubtful, but you know he’d come…Would you do PAP and Nabby for Quick? I’d really freaking consider it.
Neil Smith @bigdealneil94 @KeithLHHockey @craigjbutton hey keith GFY
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
in a heart beat
Not a terrible trade either contract wise for LA. Sure were giving them two UFAs but Quick only has a year left on his contract anyway. We’d have a great shot at resigning him too with his brother in law already being here.
Definitely a poster at Lighthouse Hockey until 2015, then maybe somewhere else.
Probably be easier if the Isles players were locked in
LA would shit if they lost Quick and then the two FAs they got for him bolted…and rightfully so. Considering how little they score, losing Quick could be a real problem, but if they believe Bernier can be the answer, (1st rounder 11th overall 2006) having Nabby for a couple of years to pass the torch (and Bernier probably just entering his RFA years and prob cheaper than Quick) may be an option.
This would also get Nabby closer to “home” out in San Jose.
But again, I’m not sure PAP and Nabby really address their lack of scoring…PAP isn’t really a goal scorer, so unless they’re missing distributors or puck possession guys, I’m not sure he helps much.
Neil Smith @bigdealneil94 @KeithLHHockey @craigjbutton hey keith GFY
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Feb 19, 2012 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Throw Poulin and a draft pick in with PAP/Nabby and you might have a deal for Quick.
But the UFA thing probably kills that. Quick is having a vezina year, probably take a lot to get their attention for him, or at least a lot of offensive firepower which they lack.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
I don't know how Dean Lombardi would manage to do that
He would get roasted alive giving up Quick when they are fighting for their playoff lives. It would take Olympic-sized stones to trade their top starter even with a goalie coming back.
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
Bernier then, perhaps?
Nabby, Poulin, and PAP for Bernier?
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 7:25 PM EST up reply actions
I wouldn't do that for Bernier
Poulin is the Isles’ future. I think I’d prefer to keep PAP rather than send him off for another goalie when the Isles have Poulin close to sticking, along with one of either Nabokov or Montoya returning. Then there’s Koskinen and Nilsson, who are going to also have time developing.
If the Isles do move PAP I really hope they get a quality defender back.
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
You're missing the obvious
PAP for Comeau :)
Amateurs practice til they get it right. Professionals practice til they can't get it wrong.
That would make sense
Comeau starts with the Islanders, leaves for a little while, then circles back around to play for them again. We’ve been COZO’d!
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Feb 19, 2012 3:55 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I know the guy is full of shit but....
Just read a rumor flyers are looking for goaltending and and could be moving bobrovsky. If that were the case I would strongly consider moving nabby for Bob. I haven’t seen a great deal of him but from what I have seen I’ve been impressed. If nabby isn’t going to stick around I think that would be a no brainer deal.
by LaFontaine16 on Feb 19, 2012 11:26 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Why would they move Bob when they are bent with Brys?
Seems like all the more reason for them to keep Bob, not get rid of him.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 19, 2012 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
They always have
Michael Leighton in the minors to pull off a wonder playoff run and make their top paid goalie acquisition look foolish, while having the entire league once again laughing at them because they still have not figured out what goaltending is. For all the RDP jokes, I think the Flyers take the cake with goaltending.
Unless they aren't sold on Bob either.
They need one goalie playing well come late April. If they don’t feel confident with either of their goalies as a long-term solution, why not fix the immediate problem and fix the mess later?
But of course if Bob isn’t Flyers’ long-term solution, why would Isles be confident with him in goal next season?
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
I don't see them moving Bob unless blown away.
Bob is young and they can have him cost controlled for another 4yrs. And wost thing is they don’t like how he’s playing, they can ahl him with no ill effects(I am pretty sure he still won’t be waivers eligible till noticably more nhl games, someone correct me if I’m wrong.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
agree but ill never try to comprehend philly's logic......
by LaFontaine16 on Feb 19, 2012 4:20 PM EST up reply actions
I still shake my head at them moving Richards and Carter.
Richards was a heart and soul guy and they didn’t need to move both. And getting into a bidding war with themselves for Bryz. I don’t know. And now they are upgrading their D “this year” by giving up 2 2nd rounders and 2 4th rounders. I think Holmgren is gonna have a bounty on his head sooner then later.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Those were extra picks though
The Flyers still own their own second. Only one of the fourth-rounders were their original pick.
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
But WTH?
I was promised a hat trick.
/sent from the woods*
//*where a source (very talkative winter wren) tells me Johnson, Iginla, Tavares in 3-way trade!!!1 … Or maybe I misheard "chirp, tweet, chirp-warble.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Feb 19, 2012 3:02 PM EST via mobile reply actions
This is not
the Twitter you were looking for
Amateurs practice til they get it right. Professionals practice til they can't get it wrong.
by Torgo on Feb 19, 2012 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
James Neal gets 6 years, 5 mil a year cap hit as an RFA
because Parenteau is a UFA we might have to give him something like 4 for 5mil if we want to keep him
Definitely a poster at Lighthouse Hockey until 2015, then maybe somewhere else.
That is pretty close to Tavares's contract.
I am a bit surprised Neal got that much.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 19, 2012 4:21 PM EST up reply actions
it's a lot of cash for him
this seems like it’s going to be a huge drag on Pittsburgh’s payroll for a long time. Neal only really has 1 great year to go on
Definitely a poster at Lighthouse Hockey until 2015, then maybe somewhere else.
"1 great stats inflated year"
Let’s see, Neal this year has:
-Been playing sheltered 3rd line competition
-Been playing alongside Malkin, the league leader in pts
-5th in the NHL among all forwards for PP toi, with over 4min/gm
-10th in offensive zone faceoff percentage among all forwards in the NHL
-Has scored almost half his goals on the PP
Before this, Neal was a regular 25-30goal scorer playing sheltered minutes alongside Brad Richards. Now Neal is on pace for 40goals next to malkin in these playing conditions. Yeah, he’s highly overrated here and is gonna need to be playing with Malkin in excellent and sheltered and high PP minutes if they want him to be a regular 35goal scorer. Other then that, 5mil/yr for him is too much imo. It’s like giving $5mil/yr long term to say, I can’t really think of someone with this much inflated o-zone starts/PP-time/sheltered minutes then the Sedins, so say this is like giving $5mil/yr long term to a ~25goal/yr scorer. And he’s playing with Kunitz, who seems to have a better relcorsi/2-way play numbers than neal, so Neal isn’t much of a defensive player either according to numbers.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
they may have overpaid
a little but come on, the guy is on pace for 40 goals at least. If he continues to play with Malkin and if Crosby ever comes back he will continue to be a production machine like Matt Moulson.
Sure 4 to 4.5 would have been better, but its not like its crazy talk for the NHL nowadays.
Yeah, it's not a big overpayment. But playing in those circumstances does inflate one's numbers noticably as I stated.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Staple: Evgeni Nabokov's agent, Don Meehan, tells Newsday that contract talks with #Isles will likely start soon.
Love watching NHL media types’s heads explode when players express desire to buy in to what the Isles are doing. Tavares and now Nabby best examples of this.
Lighthouse Hockey. Where Islanders fans come to panic with punctuation.
by DP'sknee(andhipandflubugandotherknee) on Feb 19, 2012 7:30 PM EST reply actions
This will have to be done quickly
Maybe Nabokov is really happy on Long Island and wants to be here when things around which looks like very soon. No doubt he would be a starter here and you can’t say he can be assured that any place else. This could mean Montoya will be leaving in the Summer but with DP still a health concern maybe not.
Once again, for the record
Nabakov for 2 years is the perfect answer for the isles goaltending situation. Poulin gets to apprentice with a legitimate number one NHL goalie and the isles get to actually compete for a playoff spot next year with a very capable netminder. I love PAP and want him to stay, but if we can only sign one of them, I would prefer Nabby.
He needs to to do the honorable thing and retire
Give him a job in the organization but his playing days are clearly over.
God, I hope so
They can’t have a four goalie rotation next year. I’d personally prefer Nabokov-Montoya with Poulin first call-up. Taking Rick out the equation would make everything a lot easier.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
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1979-80
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
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.
