3-12 Season Ending Stretch Starts 2-0? Bridgeport Breakthrough?

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/03/2013 12:03:00 AM | | | | | | |
I would like nothing more than this team making my last entry look very bad.

The April 2013 New York Islanders returned for two games.
2-0? Thrilled.

That is how Jack Capuano's team must play win or lose.
It's the only way they have a chance. 



Fifteen Games/Thirty Days/Struggling Defense: Does Capuano Survive?

I absolutely see this becoming a 3-12 season ending month, the problems on defense are beyond coaching.
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It took a miracle Matt Carkner wide/shot redirection for Matt Martin's goal to reach overtime on Friday, but the skating/speed/defense was clearly visible on Friday.

The Senators played a 6-5 game against Chicago so they are far from a doormat team despite their recent struggles.

Best game of the season by a mile against Boston. Not perfect, they bent a little at times, and were scrambling, but did not break against a very good team.

The defense that went 11-1-2 down stretch pushed the play at the opposition .  First one goal game allowed since Phoenix imploded. Only the second time this season one goal against.

Far too many minutes for MacDonald/Hamonic again, but finally a five on five shot that finds the net.
(not like the one that bounded in Tuesday)  

This is the Kevin Poulin who used to be seen in his callups.

Donovan was outstanding the last two games, so was Thomas Hickey, who's pass to Nielsen on Friday in the third period was the best setup of the season.

The kind of slam-dunk goal other teams have scored since opening night against the Islanders defense.

The Islander defenders were going to the net every chance they could on Friday. 

Think the world of Matt Moulson's talent. World class player, however he does not find Tavares at five on five with an open net goal, he does not get a breakaway in overtime, nor does he score off the rush at even strength against Boston with that kind of shot. 

Different players/skills, both great at what they do.

Moulson had one even strength goal opening night against Columbus, one assist with the goalie pulled against Carolina. (somehow he was not credited with a goal against the Flyers in his last Islander game)

For any chance this is how the club must continue skating, with a road-trip a defender has to be added.
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Very happy for Scott Pellerin & the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Blow out 7-1 win against Friday in Worcester. Ryan Strome/Mike Halmo five point games, with the later four goals/two days.

Shootout win Saturday with forty five shots taken.. They fell behind in this game after leading entering the third period, but something perhaps to build on the last two games.
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Rick DiPietro entered the third period with a 3-2 lead in San Antonio on Saturday, he faced twenty two third period shots, allowed a shorthanded goal, and lost 5-3.

39 saves/44 shots.
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Images added here:

Trottier/Bossy rookie seasons
Morrow 1980/Bourne/Gillies vs Bruins.
1984 Stanley Cup Finals Clark Gillies game two hat-trick./Lafontaine game five. 
Both 1981 Stanley Cup Daily News backpages
New York sweeping Quebec to reach 3rd straight final in 1982.
List of Nassau Coliseum PA Announcers.
Newspaper Images enlarged.
Denis Potvin Stanley Cup
Bossy, Trottier, Gillies, Nystrom Stanley Cup

Prospect blog:
Links to old newspaper websites for minor pro hockey leagues.
Ct Post backup blogger site.