NEW YORK NEEDS 41 OF 62 POINTS

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/22/2010 08:34:00 AM |
10-3-1, that's what it took to even bother writing this post for a club that was four games below five hundred.

I did not see it coming (much less dominating games) considering the lack of scoring combined with not being able to string together any back to back wins for well over a month. You factor in the schedule they had to face plus where Isles are in so many league stats as a team there was nothing to build off of.

But here we are and every fan of this team should be thrilled.

I have no idea what happens from here but for now we keep doing the math and hope the balanced scoring, strong defensive play (this is with Andrew MacDonald and Jack Hillen doing a fantastic job among others) plus hot goaltending continues as DiPietro gets out of training camp mode. Things are going to change with the standings daily a lot so best thing to do is look at big picture as to what the New York Islanders have to do.

Thirty one games left, sixty two available points. New York has fifty four points.

Eleven games until the Olympic break/NHL trade deadline.

From where I see things it's going to take ninety five points which means from this point forward Isles need forty one of sixty two available points to reach ninety five.

Or some combination of 20-10-1.

Needless to write a lot of work ahead and no hiding from finally beating the Flyers and other clubs in this division. No such thing as an easy game for any team in this league. Carolina/Toronto can jump up and beat any club on a given night that is not working hard.

Isles can play with and secure points against top level clubs, they have to do it against everyone else.

I expect the scoring to dry up as it did earlier with different players going hot and cold but they seem to have four lines capable of finishing, they do not have the luxury of an enforcer or even dressing one if they had such a player.

As I wrote last time, look at it in three game segments, six points are a huge swing now. To go beyond that or declare the Isles will be there come the break is jumping way too far ahead.

But at this time, enjoy because this team is absolutely in contention and they have earned their spot.

Note:
Keeping with policy of very limited blog entries but twitter box providing so many updates it's almost as old format used to be with a lot written daily and links to several articles. I also finally advertised NYIFC sites on twitter background page.

I have also reopened the comments section here after closing it for several months. I prefer comments via e-mail.

I have also been working to resolve problems for those with internet explorer 8.

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PLAYOFF FORMULA FOR NEW YORK

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/13/2010 09:29:00 AM |
Despite all the downside I have posted recently with a team in the bottom of almost every league stat (goals scored, pp-pk, shots allowed, five on five) out of nowhere the scoring (ugly & otherwise) has finally picked up and so have the points.

7-2-1 in last ten. 5-3-3-4-6 goals scored (not adding shootout goals in wins awarded) for a club that did not score three regulation goals (not counting open net awarded against Leafs) since December 3rd in Atlanta before the Thrashers came to the Coliseum on January 2nd.

For now the 2009-10 New York Islanders remain alive and in realistic playoff contention whether it be deflections off other players in the Atlanta game or the Coyotes not putting someone in the box before the Isles pp finally finished a few to the domination of a tired Wings team. New York had a three goal game in Dallas and lost in regulation which was very costly and we all know they handed back the lead in Phoenix.

Bottom line the scoring has to continue, they need an eight out of ten stretch for starters from this point forward unless this year becomes an anomaly where it takes a total below ninety points to qualify.

It's not 2002-03 with a different point system, I would not count on that given crunch of teams. The New York Islanders do not play in Western Conference or the story would have been written on their season.

The story continues and we look ahead at what the team must do to stay in contention.

NEW YORK HANGS IN FOR NOW......NOTABLES

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/05/2010 11:29:00 PM |
Sixteen December games played, only one contest (Atlanta) where the team scored three goals over sixty regulation minutes against any goaltender with the head coach taking about how his team had lost it's edge.

New York during December dropped to four games under five hundred at one point, were dead last in league scoring (with serious powerplay struggles) and had not played well in the homestand they survived fourteen out of seventeen on the road prior with virtually all the clubs having games in hand.

Surely by default or just head to head games some teams would gain ground. The eighth seed in the Western Conference is ten games over five hundred with nine more points than the Islanders.

Atlanta was seven games over, Florida had been showing signs of a breakout after a self-inflicted humiliation of the Isles 7-1 and even Toronto, Tampa were showing signs of going on a winning streak. Tavares, Moulson and Streit not only stopped scoring but have looked painfully slow and ineffective trying to produce any kind of offense. Okposo created some chances but did not finish.

Even with some injuries and all this downside the 2009-10 New York Islanders are still in this race and even managed to get back close to five hundred.

Imagine if we saw the team that was scoring four goals a game earlier?