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Isles: Spring Ahead, NOT to Fall Back |
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4:43 pm: read it. just read it.
http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2012/3/18/2881704/when-columnists-attack-post-hit-on-islanders-gets-it-wrong
As Winter ends Spring is supposed to bring hope of new life and renewal. On Tuesday the only thing Spring will bring the Islanders is the hope of not finishing last in the League. As Jim Baumbach pointed out this morning in Newsday, that's what it has come down to.
No longer believing in the impossible of sneaking into the playoffs, the Islanders now have to turn their sights on something a little more possible: not sucking for the last ten games of the regular season. Wait, that may also be difficult.
It's difficult because it's not easy to "get your swagger back" as Jack is hoping for, when you know where you are in the standings - again. These guys don't want to lose. They don't want their season to end the beginning of April. They also don't want to worry about whether they'll play their last game in an Isles sweater or not on April 7th. But that's where they are.
My personal opinion would be if they want to inject a little energy or "swagger," bring up a few more BPort kids. I would love to see shot-blocking machine Mark Eaton take a night off and be replaced by Matt Donovan. Hell, bring back DiBo and see what he can do now. How's Calvin DeHaan and that wonky shoulder of his? What about @ItsRhett? Give him another kick at the NHL can.
For that matter, put Nino on the second line for a change. I'd say put him on the first line but you may beat me if I said that. While Jack Capuano (who should also be worried he'll have his last day behind the bench on april 7th) doesn't want to have the Isles finish at the bottom, those wins and losses no longer really matter. It's just math.
The Isles can play spoiler, play the kids, just play with heart and make it entertaining for the faithful that have stuck it out for another disappointing year.
Coach Question: On Friday I put out a Twitter question for a possible research project of mine. I didn't expect the reaction I got. I asked if anyone had a list of available NHL coaches simply to research how many times they failed with teams and were let go.
What I got was a laundry list of who could replace Jack. This is the proverbial "the body's not even cold yet" thinking. Jack Capuano is the head coach of the NY Islanders. For all we know, he may be the head coach come September. I was just looking to check out other options.
Seems a lot of people have done the same. So HBers, what do you think of Haviland for this team?
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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