The Islanders entered the All-Star break with a 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in front of a sellout crowd on a matinee Monday. Defense was optional in this game but the Islanders had plenty of fire power to take two points. There was plenty of slop and I still think they could have won and given goalie Jaroslav Halak the day off but wins are wins and they don’t ask how pretty, they ask how many.
With the break now upon us the Isles still need to work on their special teams and their defensive zone coverage hasn’t been great the past two games. Putting the nit-picking aside, the Islanders enter the All-Star break sitting atop the Eastern Conference. If you told me this 12 months ago I would have handed you a bottle of crazy pills.
This team has come such a long way over the past season. The kids upfront have grown up and they have four deep lines and plenty of firepower. The job that Garth Snow did addressing the defense and goaltending cannot be undervalued. Nick Leddy, Johnny Boychuk and Jaroslav Halak not only help this team win but they are such an important voice inside the locker room providing support and leadership.
When the All-Star break is over we should see Mikhail Grabovski and Lubomir Visnovsky return to the lineup. The question will be with Grabovski, does he play right away? The way all four lines are clicking I’m not touching a thing upfront right now. The first and third lines are on fire, the second line has been good and the role that the fourth line is playing I’d be scared to upset the apple cart. The coaching staff is surely going to have an important decision to make once everyone is healthy. If it was me, I would scratch Grabovski to start, then rotate him into the lineup if anyone else is struggling.
Looking at the second half of the season, I really wouldn’t mess much with this lineup. When it comes trade deadline I would consider adding a reliable veteran defenseman and a solid backup goalie but that is about it. Nobody in the organization will tell you this but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that this team has zero confidence playing Chad Johnson. Halak playing this much cannot be sustained all season so the Islanders have a decision to make. At some point, Johnson has to get starts and if you have no faith in him, you have to cut ties with him and bring in someone else.
Yes the special teams need to improve and yes the team can be loose defensively at times but honestly, if the only legit concern we have right now is backup goalie then this team is in pretty good shape! The boys are back a week from today as they host the Rangers and I guarantee the coliseum will be rocking. Until then enjoy the break and here’s to a great second half of the season. As always for more on all things hockey please follow me on twitter at @DanDanNoodles78.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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