Getting Late Early. NY down 2-0.

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/28/2019 06:51:00 PM |

Much better than expected, easily could have been 2-0 lead, but no calls/bad breaks. You allow no goals in sixty minutes, then 18 shots in game two, you have to be up 2-0. No hiding from what must happen in game three. Mrazek injured may be a break/but their other goalie got every break or made saves when team was not hitting post or empty net. Has not been Carolina skill/fest/never say die team expected that I felt would win in five.

But here it is Carolina up 2-0.

Trotz 4/27 Update

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/27/2019 07:13:00 PM |

Trotz 4/26 Update....

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/26/2019 01:05:00 PM |

Wrote my view on the series, really hope it comes out wrong, and Canes are tired/banged up or just happy to be here. First game will give us a good idea, but no hiding going down there, and likely needing to beat young speed/skill, and likely will take no soft goals by Lehner or Greiss.

New York vs Carolina. Be Very Afraid..

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/25/2019 12:01:00 AM |

Happy for Barry Trotz, Washington needed his defense/teaching/staff against that team, they had inexperience behind bench, but players got their way. Enjoy the summer off.


What do I think about Carolina, they are a never say die team, that made qualifying a nightmare for the New York Islanders, and have young speed/skill that just does not quit. Any other team felt NYI had a great chance, this kind of team presents challenges that likely are beyond their abilities. NY has coaching experience, rest which makes game one a must, and home ice. Mrazek does not allow soft goals Lehner does.


I watched that series, and saw how Carolina kept pushing back, got one game in Washington to overtime, then came home, and over-whelmed Caps.


Almost never do movie references here but in Rocky II when it was said the man just kept coming after you, we don't need that kind of man in our lives. Now we got it, very skeptical NYI can beat them all the way, and you almost never see me project out games this way.

New York Schedule/Tavares Eliminated

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/24/2019 03:05:00 AM |

Ok, we have a schedule, question is who/where. Carolina is the faster/more scary team with a never say die approach that should be familiar because they made qualifying hell for NYI, and would just not go away with a load of young talent/skill. Washington's got the experience/the Stanley Cup (we got coach) but we also have the one shutout down there, and the one in the garbage game for them to close the season.

I don't know, rules say in a series where home team wins every game, they usually win game 7, Carolina had their overtime game in Washington and lost, but you still have to play the game.


Gut tells me Carolina more dangerous/younger team with ton of chemistry vs Washington's mileage, but you also want home ice in NYC. We have no idea what NYI team we will see in round two, but they played 82 games, and never lost more than two in regulation, even with 7/10 day breaks.


Wanted arrogant Leafs, and their media out with Tavares, this one was personal after he not only walked but left NYI with no return because of his lies for two years. Thrilled it happened, and he only had one goal against a goalie.


Unbiased person who wrote entries here last season, spring, June/July had major questions about his skating, defense, impact on games in third period when he had to be the best player. Saw same thing on 3-1 goal that turned game, he lost puck, tried a poke check, slowed down and quit on Kuraly, you can see him coasting when the goal was scored, far behind. This was the movie I saw last season.


Gone Leafs Gone....no sympathy for their media arrogance & disrespect for Lamoriello/NYI beating them out in regular season & playoffs.


And color me stunned at sales for Barclay's second round games selling so well, they won't sell outside Metro area for a franchise that drew 11,000 for Ottawa in first place in Nassau.

Some talks with Joe Tsai of Nets, a little NYC branding, and a renovation of some seats & I'm good where they are for twenty years at Barclay's where corporate money is with a city full of NYI fans already.

Uncharted Waters For New York/Notables

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/19/2019 03:50:00 AM |

We all know what happened last time NY swept a team, we got a way to go for that, but what happened against Pens was special. That team is outstanding, and despite their ability to win 8/10 or lose 8/10 all season, NY got them out before things turned, and they did it in a way champions did, they gave Pens nothing. Murray had to be good or it would have been worse. Eberle was dominating, so was Nelson, and team defense.
What you aspire to is the team hitting it's best game in the playoffs, that's what happening with no real pressure on one player to carry them, with a defense that got stronger after game one. Anyone who watched this team all season knew what they had in Pulock, Pelech, Mayfield, and now Toews who may have saved last season, these guys are only getting better at this age, everyone bought in.

It's been special, still not sold on Lehner full time because 82 games were played & two goalies were well protected by the system, and won Jennings together. Happy for Lehner off-ice, but this is an on-ice game.

Yes, had shades of Tavares-Capuano when a player grabbed the white board from Gomez, and drew up a play, a red-flag for me. For Lamoriello/Trotz, second round is expected, for older generation same, for many we know recent playoff history.

Not sure what's ahead. Carolina since December has been outstanding & did nothing but find ways to win, and seem to have an extra gear or three, and having fun. They are loaded with offense, and Waddell adding Niederreiter was a great move, & deHaan is playing again which is great news. That win here in January was memorable to me, they answered their questions in goal. I do think they are a tougher out than Washington, who escaped a game with an overtime win, and held on in game one.

Home is home. I want them in NYC for good because that's where the money/people are. Dolan's media wants Belmont for themselves, and will find tons of LI fans to push what they are selling for themselves. Their spin-doctors will come in and make it THE story-line because the hockey is a side-bar for them. They are not here to make our team more popular in NYC where we need to be for financial survival which the poor attendance in Nassau proved did not work.

On the ice this team has needed a break desperately since late February, hopefully it brings them what we saw in game three, 25 shots against, that's how they got here when they were allowing 20-25 shots. It went up fast as they played every other day and lived on road or played six in ten too often.

Like match-up against Caps who will be tired but with home ice, do not like facing Canes, who's early shot disparity finally paid off. And what Columbus did was no fluke at all, they got that break on coast when they were dead, Vancouver started a backup so they had the easiest game, then another break, and earned that spot over Montreal. That 4-0 win against NY is what they are doing now, and Tampa could not throw the switch, and just play at that level in must win games. Yes, want Tavares out with arrogant Leafs regardless, who have given Lamoriello/NY no credit for finishing ahead of them. It's a wonderful story, but they won't touch it up there because it makes Toronto look awful, and he cost NYI talent that may make the difference for years. Gillies was right on that.

Will do a better job here moving forward, the first round format did not work for me, even going dark on twitter did not help much avoiding social media, will come up with something in the middle & not make twitter account private for the rest of the season.

Really want a big playoff run in Bridgeport starting Friday, it's time for them up there, the people deserve the Calder Cup.

The team owes a reason why no Nystrom award after promising one in the first round, unless something up with Bob Nystrom personally, given his son's comments, don't see it that way, he was not happy so team promised award during playoffs, did not happen.

New York Sweep... Part II/Notables

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/17/2019 05:29:00 PM |

The better team won, and did it in a way that was stunning, but not unexpected for a team with more points, that did not lose four straight all season.

Put together the twitter comments/left out media items for the most part.

Social media avoidance did not work given it's connected to all professional media, so moving forward will go back to what was done here all season.

New York Sweeps Pittsburgh !!!

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/16/2019 10:55:00 PM |
Much more tomorrow, some twitter comments posted.

New York Notables

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/09/2019 07:42:00 AM |

Ultimately the better team will likely win, games are won on ice, not social media. Time to sit back & enjoy the playoffs for both NY/Bridgeport. The plan is watch series, then when it's over write about it. If NYI advance will do the same thing for each round.


What I can write is based on both teams seasons. NY again on the same schedule with no breaks, playing every other day has to become the team they were when they were getting days off, allowing 20-25 shots, either that or we have to hope for the Penguins team that goes from first to last, with an ability to struggle badly on defense, and allow bad goals. The other version of Pens that can become unbeatable, could make it very tough on NY to go with Lehner's playoff inexperience/soft goals where they may well need a 1-0, 2-1 win.
The same will be done on twitter, which is now private as in the past.


4/8 Lou Lamoriello Audio

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/08/2019 12:59:00 PM |

New York Wins 3-0 vs Caps/Rd One Home Ice vs Pens/Wins Jennings/Bridgeport Cliches Playoff Spot....

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/07/2019 04:37:00 AM |






NYIFC Comments:
Filppula returns & has two goals, they earned 2nd seed with a nightmare schedule, almost never resting. Remarkable season to just keep earning points after years of writing how the key is avoiding regulation losing streaks....they did, never losing three straight in 82 games & still every game it felt like they had to win to match teams with them or chasing them in the standings. And here they are with the most remarkable turn around in a century for goals allowed, winning the William Jennings Trophy. This team bought in & everyone played their role to where someone was going to do something to help win. I knew they would be a better team & in the playoff mix as soon as they got Barry Trotz, that some players would take steps forward never seen before here, did not expect to lead NHL in least goals allowed. Remarkable accomplishment & to play almost every other day on almost no rest, and secure second was outstanding.



Ok, we got a playoff series with home ice vs Pens, and now we got Bridgeport in the playoffs.

It's New York vs Pittsburgh or Carolina. Home Ice TBD

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/04/2019 10:23:00 PM |


They needed the win in regulation or overtime & faced a prospect who struggled badly & needed Saturday with nothing to play for so everyone possible could rest. The powerplay did nothing but go out & gave up a 3-1 immediately. Pens lose, Canes win, NY faces Carolina with home ice.

For New York Numbers Don't Lie

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/03/2019 03:05:00 AM |

Starting with good news, Columbus off radar.

Either NY or Caps win division.

Bad news is Florida has been red-hot, they always go down there & it's a high-scoring game with high shots against, it's going to take something special to win there vs Luongo.

If NY wins/desperate Habs beat Caps in regulation, NY plays for division on Sat or clinch second seed/home ice.

Lose to Florida, it's 2-3-4 seed. Expect Carolina to beat Devils & Flyers, Canes would win ROW.

Goal differential between NY, Caps, Pens has NY a few behind or difference in one win, too close.

Personally, Canes have been best team for a while, head to head could be the toughest NYI match-up whether that be as a 1-2-3-4 seed.

Mason Jobst Two Year-Two Way ELC

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/02/2019 02:23:00 PM |

Some clarification, this player is 25, so he can go UFA in two years after his 2-way deal expires.

Back To Work NY Final Numbers/Seeding/Lehner/Tavares/Gillies

New York Islander Fan Central | 4/02/2019 06:06:00 AM |

As always, expect nothing to be easy or little scoreboard help, that's not been the trend in this conference vs west where a spot would have been clinched long ago as things turn to seeding.

We'll likely have a good idea when NY takes the ice against red-hot Florida. Sure it's easy to point to games like Detroit/Leafs or a few other games where points were lost, but here's reality.



Nassau Failed, and not just at the gate with few real sellouts/excuses for 11,000 at games, let's see some weeknight games in October-November, and give Barclay's Saturday games.




Robin Lehner is a nice man, sympathetic/rooting for him completely off-ice, but this is an on-ice result business.  Like what we see all around NHL the team needs a true #1 who can play 55-60 games, or what many top goalies do. Not a fan of his comments about Sabres or their media, he went there twice earlier, and had many nice things to say, this was just a distraction not needed which for me as a fan is somewhat of a red flag.  My honest impression of both goalies were their historic success was a by-product of a team buying into a system, no doubt it's been remarkable/special.



Ok, now they finally get a 2 day break, the road to the Stanley Cup goes through Barclay's which produced the better record/31 over since going there, but that's well down the road still. Those twelve points did not come from Nassau. Trotz was not thrilled with Nassau fans over booing.


Obviously, I stand with Gillies, who know's where this team would be with a good return for Tavares if he had been up-front/expressed doubts about staying.