You proved nothing, what pundits say has little to do with what actually happens. Your point is also highly hypocritical; in one hand you say the Rangers were everyone's favorite and in the other you say they are overachieving.

Which is it?

And my point that the Isles are overachieving this season is based on where most thought this team would end up. Can you going honestly say you saw the Islanders playing for a playoff spot this season? What evidence made you think this team would be this competitive? Full credit to the team for being where they are but coming off a terrible season and not doing much to improve the team, besides bringing in Visnovsky, where would seeing the Isles making the playoffs be a logical estimation?

Again, I am not discrediting the Islanders, good for them to be in this position. It's just funny to me how superior you think your team is to the Rangers meanwhile if the Rangers win tonight, they are in the driver's seat by comparison.
- MidnightMarauder

The Islanders improve their team differently than the Rangers do. So far, this season, the Islanders way seems to be working out and I'm surprised as much as everyone else is. The Islanders usually make the wrong move much more than they make the right move.

The Islanders improve through the draft and cherry picking the waiver wire and UFAs (Boyes, Moulson, Grabner, Etc.)

The Rangers throw massive amounts of money at yesterdays stars and do their best to ruin their careers. Gomez, Redden, Bure, Naslund, and on and on and on.

The Rangers are the Yankees of hockey, except the Rangers consistently lose. At least for the Yankees it works out every once in a while.

The Islanders are a well rounded team. The Rangers aren't. As of late, the Isles have others outside of their top line that can score. The Rangers don't.

With the roster the Rangers have, yes they are overachieving. With the roster the Islanders have, I don't see why they can't be in right around Bostons numbers.

As I said (and others have said) before, a few bad games earlier in the season, questionable coaching and terrible back ups have us in the 7th spot. Fix those 3 things (or at least the backups and the bad loses early on) and we are tied with Boston at least!

The Islanders do have a bright future, as long as Poulin or Koskinen can develop into a top flight goalie. If not, when Nabokov gets too old to remain effective, the Isles do have a deep prospect pool to dip into and acquire a top net minder.

The Rangers aren't without prospects waiting in the wings, either. The current team is having a down year, due to several players underperforming. All in all, both teams should be competitive for years down the road. Let's hope, for each fan base, that this is the start of a classic rivalry renewed.
- MidnightMarauder

You keeping saying "due to serveral players under performing"

WHO ARE THEY?

Is Asham a 40 goal guy?

Are you expecting Bickel to get 75 points?

They aren't under performing. It's just a terrible team.

Oh wait, I know what it is. It's Boyle and his 5 points. If he was hitting his average, which would be about 12 points pro rated for a full season, you guys would be knocking on the Penguins door. That's the problem.

One more. Bassard. Only 5 points in his first 5 games? Come on. He should be at like 6 points a game.


The problem with the Rangers is that they aren't under performing. They are right where they should be with the roster they have. And like I said before, I'd go to the extent of saying they are over achieving by a lot.

The Islanders do have a bright future, as long as Poulin or Koskinen can develop into a top flight goalie. If not, when Nabokov gets too old to remain effective, the Isles do have a deep prospect pool to dip into and acquire a top net minder.

The Rangers aren't without prospects waiting in the wings, either. The current team is having a down year, due to several players underperforming. All in all, both teams should be competitive for years down the road. Let's hope, for each fan base, that this is the start of a classic rivalry renewed.
- MidnightMarauder

Anders Nilsson will be that goalie

XxNYIxX