For New York The Problem Begins On Defense

New York Islander Fan Central | 3/16/2012 06:22:00 PM | | |
If your team defense cannot score, is not very fast or physical, that's a disadvantage at both ends of the ice and in transition.

It throws off your entire club. The Isles are not a big team up front that are going to dominate the corners to buy the defense more time to join the play.

It's all a big part of the 2011-12 New York Islander story.

Dylan Reese went from the stands to playing with Mark Streit, that says a great deal about the depth or lack thereof.

Best part of the game on Thursday was watching Andrew MacDonald attempt to play some physical hockey, but that's not enough. Travis Hamonic cannot be that player at this point in his career much less wearing a cage.

Mark Streit's beautiful effort to find Tavares for the 3-2 goal was also not enough on one of the lowest scoring defenses in the NHL.

Streit's looked like he's played two seasons with all the pressure on him every game, which is why signing Steve Staios was such a mistake because teams key on Streit.

Bottom line this team needs some major changes to it's defense which obviously begins with Jurcina, Eaton and Staios because they solve none of those flaws on this backline.

No, it's not their fault, they have played exactly as their career trends would suggest (beyond injuries) as did Mike Mottau.

Obviously the UFA market will only have inconsistent players with a lot of downside available which is why they are on the market. The one or two top defenders available will be front-loaded contract defenders where again even a James Wisniewski will be offered more than Tavares and likely are not going to be available to this team.

In short, the prospects will provide some answers, not all.

That's where Garth Snow comes in.

29 other clubs want the same upgrades on defense so the price in the trade market will be extremely high.
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Flyer game:
Jack Capuano for as flawed as his team can play at times should feel some pressure watching John Tavares diagramming a play after him.

His team played a ten minute game.

Capuano was correct in his twenty second post-game, the Isles did dominate the early minutes and skate well, but for all that they generated virtually no scoring chances. As soon as Nabokov gave up the opening goal the club did little until Grabner's goal.

Streit, Capuano and many were correct in the post-game, there is no excuse to play a ten minute game, this also goes on the coach.

The Flyers came in red-hot off three shutouts in a row, having written that they did not have to play very hard after they got the lead and it showed.
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Jay Pandolfo was nominated for the Masterson.