Saturday night featured a game between two teams once separate by a conference but on similar paths up the NHL standings. The Islanders were unable to close the game down after taking a 2-0 lead into the second intermission as the Blue Jackets defeated them 3-2 in a shootout. This Metro Division game against Columbus had the feel of a potential growing rivalry between the two teams.

I felt that the Islanders stole two points Friday night against the Devils that they perhaps didn’t totally earn. That evened out last night as for the most part the Islanders were collectively better. However there are still some issues that need to be worked out and hopefully they can bounce back Tuesday when they take on the Phoenix Coyotes at the Coliseum.

Lubomir Visnovsky had a goal and an assist and Matt Moulson scored on a pretty goal on a nice sequence between Moulson and John Tavares. Tavares finished the game with two assists and the top line as a whole was better but I do not think that Kyle Okposo fits on that first line. The first two lines would be more dynamic is they flipped Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey. Bailey brings more playmaking ability and I think compliments Tavares and Moulson better. Okposo would add some grit to the second line and would balance well with Frans Nielsen and Michael Grabner. The bottom six forwards were solid and the play of the fourth line was more noticeable than Friday’s performance.

The defense as a group is still a work in progress. They were better as a group, but still there are some issues that remain with this group of blue liners. Are Thomas Hickey and Brian Strait NHL caliber defenseman? This is the most glaring question that needs to be answered moving forward for the Islanders. I would not be against rookie Griffin Reinhart getting some games in soon to see if he is more reliable than either Hickey or Strait.

Through two games goalie Evgeni Nabokov has appeared to have regain his form from last season. He battled on Friday and wasn’t perfect but you saw a much more composed and stable Nabokov against the Jackets. The game turned into a duel of goalies as Blue Jackets netminder Sergei Bobrovsky and Evgeni Nabokov matched each other making save after save until Bobrovsky was ultimately able to seal the win in the shootout.

There is a lot to work on before the Islanders take the ice Tuesday night. They need to get consistent chances from all four lines and they need to tighten up defensively. It is much easier to hold a lead when you have the puck and you are attacking. The lack of puck possession in the third led to a loss on the score sheet. There is a lot to build on after two games; it’s not all gloom and doom. This team is on the right track to start the season but there is clearly more work that needs to be done.

I’ll have more on the Sound Tigers weekend on Monday. For more on all things hockey please follow me on twitter at @DanDanNoodles78.

Join the Discussion: » 189 Comments » Post New Comment

» Thank You Hockeybuzz

» Isles roster set

» Thoughts through Two

» Isles Buzz Podcast - Non John Tavares training camp storylines

» Bettman: Coli is not an option