9:26 pm: Well, that didn't work. You have to admit, Jack can let you know he's not happy without yelling. "I thought hte first period we were too casual. You can't spot a team like that with two goals."
Both goalies made some great saves, but nothing like Fluery on Tuesday. But the Isles loss is on the fact their power play continues to be 'inept.' "Special teams is a trend and right now we have to get better."
Jack didn't want to name names, but I'm sure he's calling them out on the bus. "We bailed on a few plays along the wall and nothing bothers me more than that."
Casual? Bailing? Didn't they realize they were playing the Rangers?
Well, if nothing else, they gave JT Miller on his second game a multipoint game to put in his memory banks. Nice job.
9:03 pm: When Butchie says the Isles haven't put forth their best effort, you know things are bad. The Isles are outshooting the Rangers by 21 - 19, but the shots thatr are supposed to be going in aren't and others are wide.
Michael Grabner's perpetual breakaway failure is really grating on me. Especial when his failure results in the second Ranger goal by a rookie.
No. Not their best effort.
by a5:14 pm: While everyone was laughing and saying no, can't be -- Art Staple of Newsday confirmed that Tim Thomas has been acquired by the Islanders for a conditional 2nd round pick in 2014 or 2015. So..... Ricky.... How you doing? He's fine. Seems they had a cap issue and needed to be over the floor by tomorrow.
One person tweeted out it only took a month for the Bruins and Islanders to make a mockery of the new cap system. I'm not sure how to feel about that. Have they broken any rules? Is this just intelligent management of payroll? Or is it just completely nuts.
TheFourthPeriod Thomas isn't getting paid; he's suspended for not reporting... But bc he's over 35, his cap hit counts. BOS gets pick only if Thomas reports
Shrewd Garth, very shrewd
2:14 pm: The Isles have lifted Lubo's suspension and added him to the roster. He passed his physical today and will practice tomorrow with the team.
Nabokov will be in net, Carkner will be out with a lower body injury. Finley is in and Cizikas is a game time decision as a scratch. Eric Boulton will be on the bench tonight -- just in case.
7 am: And so it begins. Isles vs. Rangers. The first of four all important meetings. I know so many fans who tell me it doesn’t matter where the Isles are in the standings, as long as they beat the Rangers, they’re a success. That’s how important these games are.
Both the Isles and Rangers have lost their last few games and both are desperate to turn their fate around. That just makes tonight’s tilt that much more interesting. Tonight’s game isn’t worth two points, it’s more like four.
Some national pundits have called the Isles power play “inept.” It’s a perfect word for it. But the Rangers have their own power play issues and are 0-for-11 in their last three games. Rangers head coach said that the change over in personnel is to blame for their power play woes. “We’re just trying to get a concept straightened out. Trying to get more consistent.” Jack Capuano could have said the same thing yesterday. He may have. I’ll have to check.
“We need some really good players to make some really good plays,” Rangers coach John Tortorella told Katie Strang yesterday. It’s that simple. That’s all any team needs.
Rich Nash (Torts calls him ‘Nasher’) has seven points in nine games and John Tavares has eleven. It will be interesting to see which one can carry his team to the victory.
The Islanders Twitter feed had this quote from Jack Capuano yesterday regarding tonight’s game:
Cappy on #Isles-#NYR: "It's a great atmosphere anytime you go there and we play the Rangers but it's a game we have to be prepared for."
Are you ready Jack? Are you Isles fans?
Josh Bailey practiced with the team yesterday, it’s still estimated he may make his debut on Saturday. Visnovsky was supposed to arrive last night and have his physical today. I’m sure we’ll hear more about that this morning after the Isles morning skate at MSG.
You ready for the blizzard? Yes, they’re using the ‘B’ word. Get supplies and park yourselves on the couch.
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