Islanders website: Has Ted Nolan's comments who felt his team was not ready at the start in today's 4-2 loss against the Devils in Newark. Bill Guerin credited the Devils but felt his team did not show enough fight in this one and spoke about the playoff race and Ruslan Fedotenko had comments.
NYI Fan Central Comments:
This trend all season of allowing goals with a powerplay have been killing them and it was again a big factor today. The biggest trend today was the Devils were simply the better team who took the game from the Islanders and had the better chances and outskated/outworked them with the game tied in the third.
Hilbert's goal got them going, Satan not finishing his breakaway was big and Brodeur made a big save on Bergenheim. Brodeur did not have to be great while DiPietro gave his team every chance to win. Parise ate up Johnson four on four on the game winner and Gionta beat Gervais for the 4-2 goal. New Jersey dominated the third and most of the first period.
Not going to be overcritical, this team has played a lot of hockey this week and it's been a tough grind and we all know they are playing with injuries. Devils had a nice break going into this game.
Considering Witt is out and Gervais just came back combined with all the minutes that have been on Meyer and Martinek this was expected considering how the Devils have been playing lately who just moved into first overall.
Updated 10pm:
Big picture it's a huge loss today with Boston, Rangers gaining two more points Saturday and the Flyers gaining a point with most teams having games in hand.
Anything less than 92 points (it could take more) I just do not see as enough. Five hundred hockey leaves the Isles with 87 points if they go 10-10 and now the Isles have only nineteen games left so they need to go 10-9 for 87 points.
Garth Snow, Ted Nolan and the hockey committee now have some decisions to make and we finally see what direction this club will take for the remainder of the season.
I expect some changes.