Okposo facking sucks. Typical ko fashion falls down with nobody around him puts his hand on the puck for a penalty. the goal that tied the game at 4 was his fault weak play along the boards gave the puck up boom goal. Don't get the hickey bashing I thought he had a good game. Ullstrom is turning into a nice player.

Really like to see this team stick to the "rebuilding" and go with guys like Donovan and other prospects - thats all. Stop saying that this team has some "really special" (C. Wang phrase) young players, then grab every trash off off the waiver wire that has no $$$ value. If that is the case I see why Nino wanted out, he is no Jackass. And if your going to rebuild commit to it, if not then spend money like they had in the past via waiver/trade - i.e. Yashin, Peca, Osgood.

I thought Hickey played well

JT Grabs ulstrom nabby hamonic stood out to me
Moulson cant really do much but finish what JT started

by God KO pisses me off

Just to point out - Ulstrom saw about 3 minute increase in ice time today, look for that to increase more to about 15-16 for next game

just a few things:

players that stood out for the right reasons tonight:

strait - solid defensively, good body position.

JT - took him half the game to get some room but started to pick it up at the end of the second

Grabner - looked good on the pk and seems to be the grabner of his rookie season

Ullstrom - solid game. Physical along the wall, gritty player. Showed some drive. Would love to see him on the top line, he was generating chances by himself tonight.

minus:

aucoin - invisible. completely a nonfactor.

ko - he's either trying to do too much or he's coasting. Hasn't seemed to figure out when to push and when to pass.


suggestions for cap:

MM JT Ullstrom
Grabner Nielson Okposo
Boyes Cizikas McDonald
Martin Aucoin Boulton

Really thought Hickey played a hell of a solid game. He moved the puck well and created a few scoring opportunities. I don't fault him on the OT goal as in OT I'd rather see them go for the win.

lineup for mid february:

Moulson Tavares Ullstrom
Grabner Nielson Okposo
Bailey Cizikas Boyes
Martin Aucoin McDonald

Streit Strait
Visnovsky Hamonic
AMac Carkner

Hickey
Martinek

Really like to see this team stick to the "rebuilding" and go with guys like Donovan and other prospects - thats all. Stop saying that this team has some "really special" (C. Wang phrase) young players, then grab every trash off off the waiver wire that has no $$$ value. If that is the case I see why Nino wanted out, he is no Jackass. And if your going to rebuild commit to it, if not then spend money like they had in the past via waiver/trade - i.e. Yashin, Peca, Osgood.
- Isleswknowledge

They are committing, they are letting the good prospects develop in the minors where they belong.

XxNYIxX

Still wouldn't mind Martin spend a couple of games up with MM and JT...seems JT is taking some dirty and big hits last few games. I think Martin would keep it simple and add a different element to the line. Ullstorm may be the best player right now however and when Bailey is back I would switch it up and give him a try as well. Jack don't sit on this forever.

Really like to see this team stick to the "rebuilding" and go with guys like Donovan and other prospects - thats all. Stop saying that this team has some "really special" (C. Wang phrase) young players, then grab every trash off off the waiver wire that has no $$$ value. If that is the case I see why Nino wanted out, he is no Jackass. And if your going to rebuild commit to it, if not then spend money like they had in the past via waiver/trade - i.e. Yashin, Peca, Osgood.
- Isleswknowledge

the waiver wire trash has been solid..aucoin, hickey, strait...nino and every other young player will go through a full training camp (not that one week crap) next season and the best players will earn roster spots.

Okposo facking sucks. Typical ko fashion falls down with nobody around him puts his hand on the puck for a penalty. the goal that tied the game at 4 was his fault weak play along the boards gave the puck up boom goal. Don't get the hickey bashing I thought he had a good game. Ullstrom is turning into a nice player.
- Vukota

i was very pleased with hickey..i'm not sure what he did wrong yesterday??

i was very pleased with hickey..i'm not sure what he did wrong yesterday??
- NYI78

He was ok...got caught deep and couldn't get back when Winnipeg scored the winning goal in OT.

This team just loves to blow leads. 4-2 in the third, you have to win that game, especially against a conference opponent, with two more tough road games coming up. Its good to get a point, especially when they had no business getting it with the way they played in the first 40 minutes, but they needed two last night. This team has to start figuring out how to play with prosperity, to play with a lead. I don't know if its all coaching. I think some of the onus falls on the players too.

Getting the point is not the end of the world. Sucks to have a 2-goal lead and not win, but we were clearly outplayed most of this game.

Don't want to get on Nabby because he kept us in, but he should have stopped Burmistrov's wrister.
- potvin05

JT's line was up and down. They put up points, but they were bad in their own end all night. That's gotta stop. And yes, I agree with everyone about KO. He truly sucks. Its time to demote him and move someone else up to the first line. Im hesitant to do that with Ullstrom, since he seems to have found a groove and some good chemistry with Aucoin and McDonald. Maybe Boyes? Slide KO down with Nielsen and Grabs?

This team just loves to blow leads. 4-2 in the third, you have to win that game, especially against a conference opponent, with two more tough road games coming up. Its good to get a point, especially when they had no business getting it with the way they played in the first 40 minutes, but they needed two last night. This team has to start figuring out how to play with prosperity, to play with a lead. I don't know if its all coaching. I think some of the onus falls on the players too.
- Jethro09

Some of it is coaching, and some of it is lack of Defense
every game I watch, its almost predictable what certain players will do, and if the opponent turns ups their skill, we give goals up like no tomm......

Losing is a disease......

Some of it is coaching, and some of it is lack of Defense
every game I watch, its almost predictable what certain players will do, and if the opponent turns ups their skill, we give goals up like no tomm......

Losing is a disease......
- Ur Not Me

It is. I always get the feeling that this team plays expecting the bottom to fall out, expecting the sky to fall on them, every time they get a lead in the third. They look as if they are playing tentatively, without confidence that they can hold the lead they have. They expect to lose the lead. That's a total lackof confidence and until that is fixed, this team will continue to blow third-period leads.

You look at the good teams and how they skate in the third with leads. They skate with purpose, with confidence. They skate as if they have no doubt they will hold the lead. I don't see that from the Islanders. Its great that the team is finding ways to score and get leads. But if they can't hold them, what the point?

It is. I always get the feeling that this team plays expecting the bottom to fall out, expecting the sky to fall on them, every time they get a lead in the third. They look as if they are playing tentatively, without confidence that they can hold the lead they have. They expect to lose the lead. That's a total lackof confidence and until that is fixed, this team will continue to blow third-period leads.

You look at the good teams and how they skate in the third with leads. They skate with purpose, with confidence. They skate as if they have no doubt they will hold the lead. I don't see that from the Islanders. Its great that the team is finding ways to score and get leads. But if they can't hold them, what the point?
- Jethro09

Been like this for far too long. The orginization is not committed to winning, it filters down to the players.

thoughts... tired of the lazy play from some guys. Even our best players keep doing very stupid things on the ice. The second goal by Jets was rightfully blamed on Boulton's terrible missed pass give away... But you could share some of that Blame with hamonic waiting too long on his pass out of the zone (allowing Jet to block it back into zone) and then Andy Mac not hustling to back check on the pass). Boulton is a zero and should not be on the ice... but it still could have been prevented if our better 2 D-man had of been a little smarter .. harder working on the ice.

Okposo is a friggin zero. He makes me angry b/c his talent is there and the heart is not in the game. He had a million chances to lay a check and did not, get back on defense and did not, get the puck in the corner and did not... I hate to say this but I am ready to ship him out. At this point if he ends up being a star I don't care. He is setting a terrible example. Look at the effort from a player like Ulstrom, Martin, Jt, etc. You need guys like that on the ice.

Once again the guys we have coming up are better than these bums we signed. To me Boulton, Boyes and Finley are just this years Rolston, Mottau, and Eaton. Let Casey play. Bring up Donovan... fck these bums.

This team desperately needs defesneman and forwards who will clear the front of their net. Every guy on this team allows guys to just sit there looking for rebounds and wack at their stick.

Okposo facking sucks. Typical ko fashion falls down with nobody around him puts his hand on the puck for a penalty. the goal that tied the game at 4 was his fault weak play along the boards gave the puck up boom goal. Don't get the hickey bashing I thought he had a good game. Ullstrom is turning into a nice player.
- Vukota

agreed... I just don't get it. He needs to be sat for a game. Or trade him... He has too much talent and size to play like such a puss.

I also thought Hickey played very well. He is not a HUGE d-man.. but that doesn't mean he isn't a good prospect/player. I thought he made a bunch of very good plays on the ice last night. Streit still driving me nuts with lazy stupidity too by the way.

All of you talking about us "taking the crap off the scrap heap" have to settle down. We have gotten Grabner and Moulson off that same Heap. My issue would be staying with the guys we take that are not working out. Not taking a shot on them but staying with them...

I'm very much in favor of Ullstrom getting a crack at the top line since he is starting to excell at the very things that line needs. Also, I think Okposo, Grabs and Nielsen demonstrated last year that they seem to have a natural chemistry and can be pretty effective together. I don't think I'd want them to be my second line on a 'good' team but for right now, they'll do.

If we get a call up or two and Bailey returns and plays well, I like how this team will start to look once/if Viz reports. Of course who knows what type of shape he'll be in too. I'm not saying we're anything close to contenders, but I do think in a shortened season like this, we may be able to find a way to stay in the race.

I also thought Hickey played very well. He is not a HUGE d-man.. but that doesn't mean he isn't a good prospect/player. I thought he made a bunch of very good plays on the ice last night. Streit still driving me nuts with lazy stupidity too by the way. All of you talking about us "taking the crap off the scrap heap" have to settle down. We have gotten Grabner and Moulson off that same Heap. My issue would be staying with the guys we take that are not working out. Not taking a shot on them but staying with them...
- niteislander

DEFINITELY AGREED. I think this was a big problem with him last year and it's seemed to have carried over. He plays with little to no urgency unless the puck is on his stick. I do think the time has already come for JT to become the captain of this team. It was already apparent last year that he was the leader here.

Overall, I thought it was a fun game to watch, and not a horrible outing for the Isles once they finally realized they were in a hockey game. But it did reinforce the idea that the Islanders simply need a tougher top 6...and they've needed that since about 2008. The six players combined last night managed to tie the hit total that Martin alone got in 9 minutes of ice time.

Guess I'm in the minority, or even alone, since I didn't think Okposo played bad at all last night. I thought he did a good job creating a little space for Tavares in the third. I was disappointed in Nielsen...every time the physicality picks up in a game, he disappears. Yes, he's an intelligent hockey player, and I'm not expecting him to plow though defensemen, but he has to play at least a little bit bigger. He and Boyes couldn't pass the puck away fast enough all night. Over twenty minutes of ice time and he managed zero shots, zero hits, zero takeaways...c'mon buddy...get involved a little bit -- it's an exciting hockey game out there. Be a part of it. Carkner was another who needed to step it up. You can't be brought in to be a physical presence on D and be credited with zero hits in a game like that...while being sent to the ice like twice a period yourself. It's not like he's making up for it with stellar defensive play.

Strait looked OK, but was a -2...he's just miscast as a number-two d-man. I'm actually happy with him as a player.

I wish the opposition would just wear Evander Kane masks every game, because that's the mean streak I'd love to see Hamonic play with all the time. He's always good, but I think everyone could tell he had more of an edge whenever he was out there against Kane.

I don't get the hate for Hickey either. He had a quiet night defensively (unless you really want to put all the blame on him for the last goal instead of Aucoin, who just made a really bad decision with his attempted pass when he ran out of room), which is good for a guy on the bottom pair playing his first game, and offensively, despite only getting about 12 minutes of ice time, he was tied for the most shots on net.

Ullstrom put a solid 60 minutes together. I thought AMac was OK, too. Some mistakes, but they played the guy for over 28 minutes last night. And he finished a +1. I'll take it.

Grabner looked good, but he's going to need new linemates unless Boyes and Nielsen do more to create room for him than they've done the last two games.

thoughts... tired of the lazy play from some guys. Even our best players keep doing very stupid things on the ice. The second goal by Jets was rightfully blamed on Boulton's terrible missed pass give away... But you could share some of that Blame with hamonic waiting too long on his pass out of the zone (allowing Jet to block it back into zone) and then Andy Mac not hustling to back check on the pass). Boulton is a zero and should not be on the ice... but it still could have been prevented if our better 2 D-man had of been a little smarter .. harder working on the ice.

Okposo is a friggin zero. He makes me angry b/c his talent is there and the heart is not in the game. He had a million chances to lay a check and did not, get back on defense and did not, get the puck in the corner and did not... I hate to say this but I am ready to ship him out. At this point if he ends up being a star I don't care. He is setting a terrible example. Look at the effort from a player like Ulstrom, Martin, Jt, etc. You need guys like that on the ice.

Once again the guys we have coming up are better than these bums we signed. To me Boulton, Boyes and Finley are just this years Rolston, Mottau, and Eaton. Let Casey play. Bring up Donovan... fck these bums.
- niteislander

You forgot to also say that Reasoner is this year's, err, Reasoner...

What concerns me with Okposo is his refusual to play the game with any real physicality. You must have at least one player on your top line who can do a little bit of everything. This is why I think that ultimately Ullstrom should get a look on the top line. It's not about being the flavor of the day but rather the things he's excelled at as of late are the very things JT needs on his wing. Ullstrom is going to the net and creating his own chances, attracting attention and forcing other teams to give him attention. He protects the puck very well and is strong enough to fend off even some of the bigger defenders. He carries a decent enough shot that he can finish passes and skates very well.

The only thing I saw with Hickey last night that concerned me was after getting caught deep, he tried to backcheck but Kane actually pulled away from him. Now we can chaulk that up to being late in a shift but I find it troubling when a 6'2" 200'b + power forward pulls away from a 5'11" 190lb dman like he did. Otherwise I thought Hickey played very well. As was mentioned before, I don't have a problem with him pinching in during OT, it was a great opportunity that Aucoin flubbed when he fanned on the initial pass and then attempted to do it again.

What concerns me with Okposo is his refusual to play the game with any real physicality. You must have at least one player on your top line who can do a little bit of everything. This is why I think that ultimately Ullstrom should get a look on the top line. It's not about being the flavor of the day but rather the things he's excelled at as of late are the very things JT needs on his wing. Ullstrom is going to the net and creating his own chances, attracting attention and forcing other teams to give him attention. He protects the puck very well and is strong enough to fend off even some of the bigger defenders. He carries a decent enough shot that he can finish passes and skates very well.

The only thing I saw with Hickey last night that concerned me was after getting caught deep, he tried to backcheck but Kane actually pulled away from him. Now we can chaulk that up to being late in a shift but I find it troubling when a 6'2" 200'b + power forward pulls away from a 5'11" 190lb dman like he did. Otherwise I thought Hickey played very well. As was mentioned before, I don't have a problem with him pinching in during OT, it was a great opportunity that Aucoin flubbed when he fanned on the initial pass and then attempted to do it again.
- keaner17

Yeah, I basically said last night that anyone expecting him to still be a "power forward" is going to be disappointed. It's clearly not his game. He's built to play that way, sure, but he's never really thrown checks. His game seems more like puck possession and a little board work. That's what you'll get. He'll put up his share of points, but he's not going to do to other teams what Kane did to the Isles last night. If that's not good enough, then yeah, they should see what they can get for him, because I bet he still would have some good value on the trade market. Otherwise, they'll either have to take him for what he is, or, if they insist on billing him as a power forward, someone has to take him aside and hold him accountable every time he doesn't finish a check.