Ledecky at Columbia Oct 2019....

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/29/2020 12:25:00 AM |
Would suggest folks watch this for thirty minutes.

August 2016





It was a nice interview on that video, but beware what people say is not exactly what they do, and if NYI were negotiating for an arena early in 2016, what he said in August 2016 was a flat out lie. In the good news department, Coliseum plan hater, Stuart Rabinowicz, is retiring from Hofstra. For years he stonewalled every plan for the HUB, did nothing for the NYI, and was hardly shy about doing nothing for the Jets/Cosmos with Nassau.

New York At The Break.......

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/22/2020 04:10:00 PM |
Despite all the writing on twitter, my overall take is largely unchanged from the first paragraph in the previous entry.
They beat Colorado, got 3/4 points vs Boston, got nothing but bad calls vs Rangers all three games (and another Cizikas fall untouched on that pathetic Nassau ice) to cost them overtime at least. Then went 1-1 vs Caps, and it really should have been 2-0, Holtby was awful.
And still they avoided three straight regulation losses, found the wins/points needed in a race that will be down to the final days again.
All this despite two 7/11 game stretches, other teams get rest/tired teams coming to play them.
Yes, the players should be tired, the coach should be exhausted because he has more mileage than Arbour which many tend to ignore. Think it's been a terrible grind for him.
And it goes without writing Nassau is not home ice, Belmont will be the teams grave quickly after they go there as Dolan's tenant, our owners will be out fast.

New York Up Against Wall...

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/05/2020 10:25:00 PM |
Simply put, they are losing the games they have to win, or at least get a point, and it seems they are working hard. If I were coach, I would not be criticizing this team.
It's been an odd season, but they seemed to have that ability to fight off top teams, and scratch out wins (Washington/Boston) but against Toronto the pattern was broken in a game they allowed only 22 shots.
Now they maxed out Varlamov, lost Pelech for the season, and Greiss has struggled, like he knows his future depends on the decision of another goalie in the KHL.
How much sustained traction can get they get out of #47,28,14,32,17, and score enough goals? We saw Ladd play ten minutes/go back.
Not putting anything on Dobson, he got beat on a good play. Boychuck whiffed on one, Toronto's goalie played well.
But here we are, they have to play Colorado, travel to Devils, who only lost to Colorado, both those teams will be more rested. They are facing losing three straight in regulation for the first time under this coach.
My thinking on Bellows/Ladd is if the players here are not getting it done (Eberle had a good game in Toronto like he's getting close) why are they going to change things? Varlamov has not been a goalie who carries teams in his recent past, he's not been a true #1 for a few years. Caps let their former backup (Trotz playoff starter in game one year they won cup) to Colorado.
Bottom line backs are against the wall, despite some slippage from teams around them, that won't last.

New York Notables.....

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/01/2020 10:03:00 AM |
Welcome to 2020....
Would I have signed up for fifteen over in this division on 12/31/19 back in October? Absolutely.
Is this team in trouble? Coach is flat out not been happy all season, he's not getting anything near how this team took over games, and just smothered the life out of the opposition into some very easy wins.
Do I think Trotz-Lamoriello are on the same page? Why was Ladd recalled, and presented like he did all he could and belongs here, only to play ten minutes, and go back with Trotz saying it's a "Lou decision"?
Is Trotz holding this together? Yes, but the man sounds like someone unhappy, he's flat out talking about throwing together lines, when in reality, he's had almost all his players return from a year ago. Filppula is approaching -30 in Detroit with about four goals, yet between Brassard, Bailey, Koivula, Cizikas nothing works on that third line center spot.
Dal Colle was hurt, but he also was moved to RW when Eberle went down, with neither playing producing on top of Komarov, Martin (injured) Johnston, #14 having a few moments, but far more is needed which includes Lee.
Even worse Greiss has struggled lately on some very soft goals, and #6,25 have had some troubles like teams are figuring out the defensive system, and pressure them into turnovers before the zone is cleared.
We watch the games, see the comments by the opposition, no one is talking about the NYI being the hardest team to play against like a year ago, we read how NY hung on, were outplayed, it's not how you compete for a cup.
Washington attempted 87 shots, had 39 shots on goals. Last year NY went 2-0 at Caps, both shutouts.
A while back wrote I this was not Weight's 2017 team that was eight over winning 6-5, 5-4, they would have the character/coaching to overcome what followed . I don't think a team fifteen games over that had a 16 game unbeaten streak is a bad team, but it's not how they got there last season.
Ultimately you want the team playing it's best hockey going into those last twenty games, but this is not another division, they are 3-4 days from the second wild-card in this mix, expect it to stay that way.
Is there best hockey in front of them? Possible, but the schedule is awful the last two months like it's been for years, they get no breaks/rest, less than anyone.
So now what? More games, keep scratching toward 20 over. To me every game is a two game swing. Before Caps game the number was 14 so you hope it's 15, not thirteen by end of day, overtime points work. Regulation losses to me are a minus two.
Add up those two regulation losses to terrible/struggling Kings, Ducks, Nashville, Columbus, 2-3 other games you are talking about 15 over being 25 over.
That's how you gain the separation needed.