Play a great game, see the press box.. its the new Islander incentive program!

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

The better you play the more pine you ride. Makes sense, after all Martinek is clearly part of this rebuild

definitely not a fan of Finley sitting tonight. The guy has shown improvement and is becoming a physical deterrent on the blue line. That's something we have lacked for a long time.Carolina has decent size up front, which would seem to make this the perfect type game for Finley. there's a real danger in trying to outthink yourself with lineup changes based on matchups. I see little reason to change anything after 2 decent wins.
- keaner17

Incredible that Capuano thought this was a good idea? You have to wonder whats going throught that (frank)ing pumpkin head of his?

definitely not a fan of Finley sitting tonight. The guy has shown improvement and is becoming a physical deterrent on the blue line. That's something we have lacked for a long time.Carolina has decent size up front, which would seem to make this the perfect type game for Finley. there's a real danger in trying to outthink yourself with lineup changes based on matchups. I see little reason to change anything after 2 decent wins.
- keaner17

Common sense is not one of the Islanders atributes

im still baffled that ullstrom being benched. Im think reasoner being shopped or perhaps its Ullstrom that might be packaged and sent off.

Ullstrom on a bad night is better than reasoner at his best.
- Spartiarti

For what? There isn't a team out there that would give us a 6th round pick for the guy. Seriously

- keaner17

Just when i thought LetsGoIsles was the biggest homer in the world Spartini shows up

so thinks you. good two way players will have good plus minus. sure if you look at it at small sample set its hard. But look at the swedish prospects. Ullstrom, Sundtrom and Person have great Plus rating.

Nielsen always has good Plus Minus. Guys like Nino that just only play in offensive zone have horrible +/-

Keep telling yourself that Plus Minus is not important. If the isles didnt allow so many goals against they would have been in first place.

last night perfect example, everyone clear the rebounds.
- Spartiarti

I don't know...it's just more of a high-level view. Of course it doesn't tell a complete story, and yeah, maybe it's not really fair for me to point to just that to make an argument about Ullstrom one way or another. But I have just as much of a problem with the more advanced stats too. Sometimes they drill so far down you lose the forest for the trees. Look at the "marginally talented" nonsense from the other year (was it last season? Seems like ages ago). Sometimes just using your eyes and then verifying that with some of the basic stats is all you need.
- UIF

I agree about the fancy stats digging too deep sometimes. They're all brushstrokes that paint a broader picture, I just tend not to put a ton of stock into +/-. Anyway, I'm off to the game.

You think scratching Ullstrom is the reason the Isles have been better in their own zone? Don't really agree...I'd argue Nabby was a much bigger reason the team didn't yield a goal in Buffalo and why they were able to come back in Mtl. I feel like whenever there is a nonsensical scratch, we come up with reasons to justify it. Every forward except Grabner and Cizikas has either the same or worse +/- than Ullstrom...don't think he's been that bad, and certainly nearly every commenter here was raving about his game up until he was scratched...then people start picking him apart, forgetting that they were all recently lobbying for him to be on the first line. There's definitely room in the lineup for him, imo. What is Aucoin really adding to the second line that Ullstrom can't do better?
- UIF

This is what some Islander fans do. They do it not only with scratches but just about evry head shaking/scratching move this team makes. Barring an injury there is no reason to bench Finley for Martinek. Martinek has not played an NHL game this season, it's a stupid move. Finley played a good game yesterday and last game, you reward him by scratching him? It's nonsense and one of the many reasons this team is a perpetual loser. Rewarding failure or not rewarding someone when they are doing a good job is bad buisness. How every fan on this board can see it and they can't is sad.

LET'S GO POULIN!

BOM-BOM POU-LIN!

What a freaking play and pass by Moulson.

And the shot?

What a freaking play and pass by Moulson.

And the shot?
- potvin05

highest scoring line in the NHL - Tavares leads NHL in goals

JT and MM are quite a combo.

Great period! Despite obviously having a 2 goal lead, we were clearly the better team and Poulin acquitted himself into net very nicely.

One nitpick...I love Hamonic but he has to work on his clearing/passing the puck out of the zone. I counted 3 times he should have cleared the zone tonight. Its been happening a handful times the last couple of games I've gotten to watch.

JT and MM are quite a combo.
- bixll

That they are. Good to see them come out strong in the first period, stupid time out by Capuano. Poulin looked good

Great period! Despite obviously having a 2 goal lead, we were clearly the better team and Poulin acquitted himself into net very nicely.

One nitpick...I love Hamonic but he has to work on his clearing/passing the puck out of the zone. I counted 3 times he should have cleared the zone tonight. Its been happening a handful times the last couple of games I've gotten to watch.
- potvin05

Damn it, was loving it for a while there

Damn it, was loving it for a while there
- Cptmjl

Yeah..jeez...38 minutes of excellent hockey erased in 45 seconds. Lets recollect and get back to the way we were playing, game's still there for the taking.

Yeah..jeez...38 minutes of excellent hockey erased in 45 seconds. Lets recollect and get back to the way we were playing, game's still there for the taking.
- potvin05

I'm beginning to think this team can only play 30 minutes of good hockey, they can use that 30 minutes up in the first into the second or the second into the third . I hate when they start gliding around like this and they stop skating. You can feel it coming, impending doom.

Bench Okposo right now. Rest of game.

Bench Okposo right now. Rest of game.
- potvin05

My God, he is terrible and Mark Streit for the game folks , this (frank)ing team. They just stopped playing. Like they had a five goal lead. Capuano has to go, they need a coach that will keep them playing EVERY period and not think this is acceptable. I can hear Capuano already. Well we played a great game but the Hurricanes started playing realllly good. Not that they stopped playing!!!!

My God, he is terrible and Mark Streit for the game folks
- Cptmjl

The Canes have been buzzing all period. That was just a matter of time.

Be a great time for a timeout right n....oh wait...

Another useless rush by Okposo. This guy better get scratched next game.

The Canes have been buzzing all period. That was just a matter of time.

Be a great time for a timeout right n....oh wait...
- potvin05

They are buzzing bcs the Isles stopped skating the end of the second. Not hitting anymore, one hand on their sticks. I knew that time out was a joke when he called it posted that when he did it. Up by two goals, cocky move by Capuano to rest the first PP unit, wasn't neccesary. Bush league move by a bush league coach.

Another useless rush by Okposo. This guy better get scratched next game.
- potvin05

They'll probably scratch Moulson and move Okposo up

Another useless rush by Okposo. This guy better get scratched next game.
- potvin05

He (frank)ing sucks