We have no backup plan for losing Frans Nielsen. If he's out, I think we're toast
- keaner17

Nelson or Strome...

garth needs to bring in a proven goalie in the offseason..i have no issues if nabby wants to be the backup... nilsson is a year away from challeneging so they need a 2 year plan... Also i am not enamored with Strait and Hickey they have both been exposed. They are fine when you are playing bottom feeders but they can not hang with elite forwards.
- NYI78

I think you can go two ways in regards to goaltending. You either trade a high end prospect and a high pick and get Bernier. Or, you go after Mike Smith in free agency. Smith has good playoff stats and would fit the two year plan you're referenced...

Also i am not enamored with Strait and Hickey they have both been exposed. They are fine when you are playing bottom feeders but they can not hang with elite forwards.
- NYI78

They were waiver wire pickups...how can it be expected of them to hang with guys like Crosby? Carkner should have been kept in > Hickey. We had enough speed, not enough snarl with the loss of MacDonald.

Nelson or Strome...
- kear20

That's not a backup plan, that's throwing the kids into the fire. I think either one of them could be effective in terms of generating offense, but I don't think either is an adequate replacement for a Nielsen-type of player.

No definitive answer, but it appears that Nielsen will be a game time decision. He wasn't in a boot, after the game, which is encouraging. Capuano will probably not answer that question until he has to--when his 20 are announced pre-game on Saturday. Less Pittsburgh knows about it, the better anyway.

That's not a backup plan, that's throwing the kids into the fire. I think either one of them could be effective in terms of generating offense, but I don't think either is an adequate replacement for a Nielsen-type of player.
- potvin05

I think Cizikas should step into Nielsen's spot. What you lose in offensive creativity you make up for with with grit and tenacity, and he can play in his own zone too. Then it's a matter of replacing your fourth-line center rather than your second...one of Ullstrom or... well... Reasoner

I think Cizikas should step into Nielsen's spot. What you lose in offensive creativity you make up for with with grit and tenacity, and he can play in his own zone too. Then it's a matter of replacing your fourth-line center rather than your second...one of Ullstrom or... well... Reasoner
- UIF

Yeah...I agree with that thinking. Definitely Ullstrom over (frank)ing Reasoner.

Tuff one last night. Isles did not get those bounces that they were getting in the other games.

I think you can go two ways in regards to goaltending. You either trade a high end prospect and a high pick and get Bernier. Or, you go after Mike Smith in free agency. Smith has good playoff stats and would fit the two year plan you're referenced...
- kear20

i think your right on either end... they just need a legit starter that can bridge the next wave of isle players coming in

garth needs to bring in a proven goalie in the offseason..i have no issues if nabby wants to be the backup... nilsson is a year away from challeneging so they need a 2 year plan... Also i am not enamored with Strait and Hickey they have both been exposed. They are fine when you are playing bottom feeders but they can not hang with elite forwards.
- NYI78

I think Hickey can develop into a dependable dman but he needs to develop his strength (as apparent by the Crosby goal). Both dmen made the same mistakes when it came to the Tavares and Crosby moves. My coach in college would have killed me for not stepping directly into them and cleaning their clock, you can't get caught watching the puck like that.

As for Strait, he's a depth defenseman and shouldn't be any higher than a #6 dman. This team has a lot of second and third pairing dmen but only one possible top pairing guy in Hamonic. We still need a big tough angry dman capable of scaring some forwards.

I think Cizikas should step into Nielsen's spot. What you lose in offensive creativity you make up for with with grit and tenacity, and he can play in his own zone too. Then it's a matter of replacing your fourth-line center rather than your second...one of Ullstrom or... well... Reasoner
- UIF

Considering Okposo actually has the best faceoff percentage on the team and has been the best Islander this series, I'd consider him as well. That said, I agree that Cizikas is the logical choice. The problem is we're then stuck with Aucoin and Reasoner rounding out the bottom two lines.

We'll see how Frans is, they said he was walking around with a 'slight hobble'. He may be alright after some ice and a day off.

I think Hickey can develop into a dependable dman but he needs to develop his strength (as apparent by the Crosby goal). Both dmen made the same mistakes when it came to the Tavares and Crosby moves. My coach in college would have killed me for not stepping directly into them and cleaning their clock, you can't get caught watching the puck like that.

As for Strait, he's a depth defenseman and shouldn't be any higher than a #6 dman. This team has a lot of second and third pairing dmen but only one possible top pairing guy in Hamonic. We still need a big tough angry dman capable of scaring some forwards.
- keaner17

I want to know why Stait still has a C on his chest. This team clearly belongs to JT and Hamonic... clearly.

We have no backup plan for losing Frans Nielsen. If he's out, I think we're toast
- keaner17

Didnt everyone say Nelson is ready to take over his spot?

Isnt Nielsen the most replaceable guy we have???

XxNYIxX

Wut wut? Wut? Wut? Wut wut? Wut? Wut?
SIds gonna drop some goals
He got many skills in his pockettttttt


Vokoun. End of story. No more maf costing us cups
- Ridin' in T-Dot

What?

XxNYIxX

What?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Ignore him, he is an idiot

it reads like the what what guy.
- yinzer_nation

the.. what?

XxNYIxX

Ignore him, he is an idiot
- cap1681

Thanks! that is what I was figuring.

XxNYIxX

Ok game is over, not series, lets go out and get the next one. The pressure is still on Pitt. they don't want anything to do with a game 7. Nabby back in, If Franzie can skate he plays, its the playoffs. Lets go get em!

So we know how this game went, the question will be who will start on Saturday, for both teams. Does Jack give Kevin Poulin a start? Howie thinks it will still be Nabby on Saturday, even though he hasn’t been as good as he needs to be. He may have gotten the Isles to the playoffs, but he has to be able to keep them in it.
- Dee"shut the fu*k up" Karl

What would you do braniac?

here is a hint...

Live by Nabby.. Die by Nabby

XxNYIxX

What would you do braniac?

here is a hint...

Live by Nabby.. Die by Nabby
XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

For all the talk about Fluery being bad, which he has been, Nabby has been equally as bad. He has been bad all season against the Pens. I think Poulin has a chance to be the future for you guys, but to throw him into the biggest game for the Isles in the past 5 or 6 years would be asking a lot. Tough situation to be in for you guys. As for Vokoun, don't know why he has played so well against the Isles.

I want to know why Stait still has a C on his chest. This team clearly belongs to JT and Hamonic... clearly.
- bixll

Capuano probably wanted a veteran to lead this young team going into the season. Once the team got hot the last 5 weeks of the season, I think it would have been a distraction to change captains mid-year.

It's just a guess. Streit is probably a goner after the season is over, unless he fuels some kind of run to the Conference Finals or beyond, so we will undoubtedly have a new captain next year. You're right though, this team belongs to Tavares, with "A"s going to Okposo and Hamonic.

I think Hickey can develop into a dependable dman but he needs to develop his strength (as apparent by the Crosby goal). Both dmen made the same mistakes when it came to the Tavares and Crosby moves. My coach in college would have killed me for not stepping directly into them and cleaning their clock, you can't get caught watching the puck like that.

As for Strait, he's a depth defenseman and shouldn't be any higher than a #6 dman. This team has a lot of second and third pairing dmen but only one possible top pairing guy in Hamonic. We still need a big tough angry dman capable of scaring some forwards.
- keaner17

I think Pedan is a year away. In the meantime,they need to bring in another reliable defenseman who can play 20 minutes a game...Staple said Zidlicky would be a good stop gap defenseman...maybe trade for one....

For all the talk about Fluery being bad, which he has been, Nabby has been equally as bad. He has been bad all season against the Pens. I think Poulin has a chance to be the future for you guys, but to throw him into the biggest game for the Isles in the past 5 or 6 years would be asking a lot. Tough situation to be in for you guys. As for Vokoun, don't know why he has played so well against the Isles.
- cap1681

Vokoun has always been a steady presence in net, his whole career. I don't think a single one of us should be surprised he can (and did) play so well. I think every single one of us wanted Fleury to stay as the starter....We had at least 20 shots on net before Kennedy's goal, so Vokoun did his job.

Capuano probably wanted a veteran to lead this young team going into the season. Once the team got hot the last 5 weeks of the season, I think it would have been a distraction to change captains mid-year.

It's just a guess. Streit is probably a goner after the season is over, unless he fuels some kind of run to the Conference Finals or beyond, so we will undoubtedly have a new captain next year. You're right though, this team belongs to Tavares, with "A"s going to Okposo and Hamonic.
- potvin05

this is spot on. next season is going to be interesting. I think they need to bring in one solid stay at home dman who can replace streit. I also feel barring a horrible camp that Matt Donovan needs a role on this team. I'm not saying he would match Streit point for point but i do feel he can put up 25 points and play solid bottom pairing minutes. i truely feel either Pedan or mayfield or both will be able to challenge for a job in 2014-2015.

What would you do braniac?

here is a hint...

Live by Nabby.. Die by Nabby
XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Agree...Got no choice...next year is a different story though...