If you have not read this article in NY Post, I suggest you do. http://nypost.com/2014/01/04/islanders-three-game-win-streak-snapped-by-hurricanes/
It's not every day that an in-depth, thought provoking article about the Islanders ends up in any place other than Newsday, but Brett has been around this team long enough to write a good one.
Earlier this season I questioned if this team actually had the 'heart' to compete for a cup. Brett ended his NY Post article with the Jack Capuano quote below:
“If they want to move forward and they want to win hockey games, it’s the will to compete,” said Capuano, whose team plays host to the Stars on Monday before going on a six-game road trip. “How bad you want it — that’s what this game comes down to.”
That is what it comes down to. So far this season, we haven't seen that desire, passion or will to win. There are reasons for the mistake that were made on Saturday, and they were all different.
Calvin deHaan's mistake came with inexperience, Vanek's came with thinking you know the game better because you've played it so long. (Someone forgot you don't give up on a play until you hear a whistle.) Tavares' mistakes come from trying too damn hard and Andrew MacDonald's mistakes come from... um... from... well, that's a debate everyone is having right now. Especially since contract talks (or not) are in the immediate future.
Does Garth Snow keep the other half of his top defensive pair, try to flip him, or let him walk? Will AMac's disposition really depend mostly on when and if Visnovsky will return? I'm guessing it depends more on how difficult his agent is.
We all know Garth Snow will not overpay -- for anyone -- no matter how long they've been around or how important they believe they are to the team. He has prices in his head that he believes they are worth and he doesn't deviate very far from them.
Matt Donovan should return to the line-up tonight after his return to the Sound Tigers. Hopefully, he is a little more comfortable tonight at the NHL level. If he is, he may make the AMac question easier to answer.
Tonight, they better respond to Capuano and show they have the 'will to compete.' If they don't, it will just be embarassing.
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