There’s a famous cliché I used to get repeated to me all the time when I was a kid that has consistently made me think of this year’s Islanders team.

“Beggars can’t be choosers.”

Well, this season, they’ve been on several occasions.

By working hard and making the most of the small opportunities they’ve gotten this season, the Islanders have been middling, rather than sinking.

Sure, the powerplay could have been better last night and sure, the second period was a disaster for the most part, but in the end, the Islanders came out on top.

To me, that’s obviously the most important thing, but to beat a playoff team like Senators [in spite of the problems they been having this season] and to do it three times in a row is a step in the right direction.

They just have to do it against the rest of the teams in the NHL.

For the time being though, I’ll be happy with the look on Craig Hartsburg’s face.

I said a few posts ago that in order for this team to continue to win, they are going to have to get career years out of a few people and as of right now, they are getting it out of Andy Hilbert and Joey MacDonald. No question about it, these guys are both playing excellent hockey.

Throw in an excellent game from my favorite Bill Pullman look-alike in Freddy Meyer and again, the Isles skated away with a win.

Bailey stays- Over the past few weeks, I’ve shared my opinions on Bailey’s play numerous times. During the span, I feel as if the 19-year-old has gotten better and better. A little tentative at first, Bailey is now playing an active role in the team’s offense. Everyone knows the kid can pass. However, the past few games, the playmaker is starting to take more shots and is trying to score, rather than throw something at the net.

Five assists in 10 games isn’t amazing, but it’s solid as far as I’m concerned. Once the Isles get Miek Sillinger, Mike Comrie and Kyle Okposo back, the Islanders offense will have a more multi-faceted approach and defenses will also begin to take some pressure off the teenager and that is when I believe he’ll start to produce a bit more.

Regardless, he’s going to be a blast to watch the rest of the way

Posted under 2008-2009, Post Game Rants

Aside from the game against the Buffalo Sabres, the New York Islanders’ defense has been solid. It’s almost mind-boggling how in spite of missing Andy Sutton, Chris Campoli and Radek Martinek the defense still remains the least of the team’s problems.

Nevertheless, it is still a facet of the team that needs to be addressed.

In order for Scott Gordon’s “Overspeed” system to work, the Islanders defenseman have to take care of business. That means making the first pass out of the zone, clearing the front of the net, and pinching in along the boards. The way the team has played this season, it’s obvious that the Islanders forward lines haven’t yet caught on to the system. In the games they’ve won, the puck pursuit has been there and they’ve had their legs, which has created scoring opportunities and a plethora of second chances. In the games they’ve lost, they’ve had a huge problem establishing a forecheck and setting up in the offensive end.

I know what you’re thinking now: “I’ve read this on other Islander blogs already.” Well, I think I have a different take on this that has nothing to do with the lack of depth on the forward lines or the amount of youth present.

Here it goes.

I think the main reason why the Isles have had problems maintaining the level of offensive consistency and passion is because the defense, just like the offense, hasn’t yet bought into the system fully either. The two wins the Islanders have this season were due in part to the fact that the defense, alongside the offensive, were physical, swarming the puck and skating.

This generates scoring opportunities, something this team always seems to be short on.

However, in the games the Islanders have lost, where have the D-men been on the offensive end?

Mark Streit, Jack Hillen, Bruno Gervais Thomas Pock and Freddy Meyer are all defensemen that have above average skating skills and should have no problem joining the rush and helping out pinching on the boards. Streit especially, who came here to help the team on the powerplay and be a force on offense, needs to be a bit more proactive. In Montreal, he had no problems joining the play and applying pressure to opposing defenses. In order for this team to stay above water this season, Streit needs to be a factor

In the games this team have been outscored though, that hasn’t happened from Streit or any other member of the defense. They’ve been too preoccupied keeping the opposition out of the zone to be a force.

So in order for “Overspeed” to really work, two things need to take place at the same time. One being that the Islanders forwards have to skate their tails off. Secondly, the defense has to take chances on offense and take shots.

As we’ve already seen so far this season, if that doesn’t happen, they don’t win.

Posted under 2008-2009, Offseason 2008

On the message boards all over the Internet, many hockey fans are already counting the Islanders out this season. In spite of that, I still think this team has a lot of potential. Injuries have already begun to take its toll on the team and because of that, the team hasn’t been able to implement many of the things they need to in order to succeed.

Like I’ve said a few times already this season, the Islanders need to be able to roll four lines and have solid defense in order to sneak into the playoffs. Already missing key players, the first 20 games this season are going to be tough, but once they get who they need back, they should be able to hold their own.

As a matter of fact, if those players get hot, this team may surprise more than a few people.

A lot of people that cover the NHL and fans have short memories when it comes to the Islanders; so short that it’s kind of nauseating at times. Last season, before injuries took their toll, this team was in the middle of the playoff race. This season, they have a few other things going on, as guys like Kyle Okposo, Jeff Tambellini and Frans Neilsen have to be able to contribute on both ends of the ice, but in the end, the story is very similar.

Missing Mike Sillinger, Andy Sutton and Chris Campoli, the Islanders are missing a great faceoff man that can contribute on both ends of the ice, a shutdown d-man that will stick up for his teammates and Chris Campoli, a kid that I believe can be a guy that can provide a physical edge and score 40 points a season. Add these players into the mix and I feel that this is a very different team. Nevertheless, there is one more player that can take this team and take them from zeros to a playoff contender.

Rick DiPietro.

I don’t think that anyone that roots for another team in this league truly understands how much DP means to the team. Without him in the lineup, it’s nearly impossible to see this team make the playoffs. Despite my comments about his attitude and his consistency over the years, saying that he was anything less than the franchise’s biggest asset would be a gross understatement.

So before you guys go out and pack up your bags, wait for the sheriff to come back and clean up this town.

Posted under 2008-2009, Isles Thoughts 2008

“Every day is a new day,
I’m grateful for every breath I take,
I won’t take it for granted,
So I learn from my mistakes…”

This P.O.D song, while being extremely corny even when it was originally released, is still somewhat catchy to this day and is a perfect description of what Ted Nolan brings to the Islanders.

From the first day of training camp, Nolan told reporters that the Isles would be a changed team on the ice, exemplifying what he called “Controlled Chaos.” Despite the fact that the chaos has been far from controlled at times, the Islanders managed to make the playoffs, in spite of the dozens of predictions that had them ranked somewhere near the cellar in the Eastern Conference.

So what; obviously the thought that just came into half of the minds of the people reading this right now. I bet you’re also saying that Peter Laviolette and Steve Sterling, the last two Islander coaches to take the team to the playoffs, also did so in their first year. Despite that, I think this year has been something different. Marked with extreme highs and unfathomable lows, this year’s Islanders was almost like an experiment by a bi-polar mad scientist. I don’t know about you guys, but at times, I felt like this team was going to crash down the stretch just like last years team and at others, I thought that they were a legitimate cup contender.

Now with the team in the playoffs, I can still say that my truest thoughts on this team are still right in the middle. Still missing a few pieces on offense and a little depth on defense, this year’s Islanders team has made the most out of what they had and made the playoffs as a result. Regardless, no one in the NHL can say that Nolan hasn’t done an amazing job in his first year with the Islanders and that’s only the half of it. He’s also changed the entire motif in Islander Country in the process. Taking this team to the playoffs and getting them to come together this way at the end of the season at the very least has gotten them the most fan support in years.

Did anyone else hear the Islander fans at Continental Airlines Arena the other night?
I did.

Did anyone help hear Deb Kauffman screaming at the top of her lungs during the pre-game show to drown out the crazed Isles fans?

I did, again.

When was the last time the Islanders had the fan base this content?

In the fifteen years I’ve been watching this team, I think there’s only been one other time when the fan base has had this much energy and that was after the team smoked the Penguins in the 93 playoffs.

Yes, it’s been that long.

While comparing this season to that magical one in ’93 may be a bit of a stretch, in my heart of hearts, it’s the only thing that even comes close to having the emotion and drama that this one has had. With all of the emotions and craziness surrounding the team of late, can you really blame me for being this upbeat?

In the end, maybe I’m just a man who’s just in the middle of something that he doesn’t really understand [thank you Paul McCartney]. I mean, I could be wrong. As an Islanders fan, I’m not really used to seeing this team in the playoffs with positive momentum. I’m not used to seeing things being like this, well except for in video games [My Isles always win the cup on the Playstation 2.]

However, despite my inability to really fathom the fact that this team managed to make the playoffs, I do know that Ted Nolan is one of the biggest reasons that they’re there and his presence behind the Islanders bench shouldn’t be overlooked. Without Nolan’s 11-minute speech a week and a half ago, who knows where this team would be right now.
While I think the Sabres are coached extremely well, I think that with the talent that the Sabres have, just about anyone short of Rick Bowness could get that team into the playoffs. The Islanders however, need someone at the top to keep them on the right path, despite having guys like Ryan Smyth, Sean Hill and Brendan Witt around.

Thankfully for them, they have Ted Nolan.

If Ted can keep these guys working hard and on the same page during this series, who knows what could happen.

Posted under Isles 2006-07, Isles Thoughts 2007

Fairy tales will come true, it can happen to you, if Kozlov scores four goals that is!
What an up and down game that was! Not even in my wildest dreams did I ever think that either team would put the puck in the net as many times as they did today, but that’s hockey for you.

While Lundqvist and Weekes both looked horrible in net, DP had to make a ton of saves and despite giving up two soft goals, he played well enough to win.
Ah man, I can’t begin to describe how big this win was or how great it felt to know that this team is capable of scoring seven goals against a playoff team without our best player/leading scorer. Also, in spite of the absence of Yashin, guys like Chris Simon, Mike Sillinger, Richard Park, Arron Asham and of course Viktor Kozlov have stepped up their games and have been the main reason why we’re 2-2 with him instead of 0-4.

On top of all of this, the physical play of Trent Hunter and Brendan Witt has really fortified the stellar play on the ice as of late. Scoring seven goals is great, but standing up for your teammates and making sure none of them get hurt is another. Overall, I couldn’t be happier with the way this team has played over the first 26 games of the season. Sure, they started off a little slow and the team has had problems scoring from time to time, but when we’ve been hot, we’ve played the kid of gritty, blue collar and hard hitting hockey that everyone in the NHL can appreciate.

If you asked any beat writer in the NHL or any hockey fan before the season started if they thought the Islanders would be where they are right now, I don’t think that you’d get an answer that I could write on this site. No one expected the Isles to be anywhere near a playoff position, nevertheless first-place. I felt this team had the potential to make the playoffs before the season even started, but getting the opportunity to watch them through the first third of the season, I really think this team has what it takes.

Ranger fans may feel and think the opposite, but right now we’re in first and they’re not, so truth be told, their opinion doesn’t mean much.

Let’s go Islanders.

Posted under Isles 2006-07, Post Game Rants

Yesterday was a good day. 

Not because it was Sunday, a day usually dedicated to my relaxation, or even because the Jets managed to win, but because upon visiting NHL.com like I usually do every morning, I saw something I don’t think I’ve seen many times in my life; the Islanders in first place in the Atlantic Division. 
However, what separated this instance from the other times I was fortunate enough to see the Isles in first place was that before, I knew it wouldn’t last long. This time, I think the Islanders are capable of playing even better than their playing right now. Considering the fact that there are a few players on the Islanders that aren’t playing their best hockey at the present time and the entire team has been inconsistent at times, I definitely think this team can stay in first place if they continue doing what they’ve been doing. 

Two weeks ago, I wrote an article for the Kingsman, one of the two college newspapers in Brooklyn College, where I compared all three local teams. It was there where I said that while the Islanders don’t have the offensive attack of the Rangers or the consistent goaltending of the Devils, they have the grit and depth that the other two teams lack. However, the Islanders have had problems with consistency of the past few years and that has kept them from achieving the success many fans have hoped for. 

In spite of the consistency problems, Ted Nolan, over the past few weeks has had this team playing their hearts out every night and has reinvigorated a team that many didn’t expect to make the playoffs. Before the season started, many counted out the Isles due to the emergence of Garth Snow as general manager and the fifteen-year contract that was given to Rick DiPietro. Do you guys hear anyone talking now? I didn’t think so. 

TOMORROW’s GAME… 

The Islanders are a team that has momentum on their side. Aside from the great play of Yashin & Blake, it seems that every night someone else is coming through for them. Tomorrow night, against the Penguins, they’ll need for that trend to continue. I’m figuring now that Miro and Trent have broken out of their slumps that Andy Hilbert will finally get going. 

Everyone else that hasn’t been scoring that much this season at least has a goal and have been hustling consistently [Shawn Bates and Arron Asham come to mind]; I know Andy has a ton of shots on goal his past few games and I admire the guys ability, but enough is enough, this is New York and we want results! You had a decent season last year playing for two horrible teams, it’s time to prove to the rest of the NHL that you’re the real deal Andy, don’t let us down. With Sidney Crosby most likely to be back in the lineup after missing a few with a groin problem, the Isles are going to have to be on top of their collective games. I expect to see a lot of hitting tomorrow as well for the simple fact that the Pens seemed pretty pissed [Noah Welch and Chris Thorburn especially] towards the end of the game a few days back and with Crosby back in the lineup, they’re going to be out for blood. 
Either way, this game looks to be an interesting one. 

Let’s go Islanders.

Posted under Isles 2006-07, Pregame Musings