watch the replay of the 3rd goal. The defensemen, (i forget who it was) moved out of the way so he could see the shot. There wasn't a screen. It WAS a big shot and a great shot but he's got to make that save everytime. Too far out
- Isles316

Yep. I'm not going to blame the goalie for a loss when the team had like negative-6 shots on goal, but at the same time...the second and third goals...you can't give a team that can lock things down like that two goals...they won't give you much in return. I'm not freaking out over two one-goal losses though.

For as much as everyone's focusing on the D -- and I said before the season started that the D was my biggest concern too -- I'm actually not blowing my top over how they played. The thing with the last two games, imo, is that the Isles haven't gotten in fast enough on the forecheck. They've had chances to establish it and spend quality time in the offensive zone, but they get in a split second later than they should and the puck just goes back the other way. When you can't sustain a forecheck at all, you're going to spend a lot of time in your zone. When you're pinned in your zone most of the game, breakdowns are going to happen...it's inevitable. But for as much time as the Isles spent there the last two games, there haven't been any crazy meltdowns where everything spirals out of control and every play is essentially one massive breakdown, so I'm actually a bit encouraged by that.

I think once they get that forecheck going again, the rest will work itself out. Getting the forwards back to where they're one step ahead of the play rather than following it around in the offensive zone is the most important thing right now, imo...far more important than pointing out every time a defenseman lost a man after being stuck in his own zone for four minutes straight.

Bailey, Grabs and Frans are playing great
Clutterbuck hasn't been effective but he gets a pass considering he just came back
JT looks good, his line mates just aren't doing anything for him. It's either KO, or moulson on his line, you can't do both, similar playing styles.
I'm not going to blame Nabby when we had 16 shots on goal and were poop on the PP

Giving up 3 goals to the Preds is like giving up 12 to the Penguins.
- PoileRulezzzYo

That's two places I've seen you bad mouthing our team. After a win, no less. That's just bad form as well as talking sht to the other team. Come on man.

That's two places I've seen you bad mouthing our team. After a win, no less. That's just bad form as well as talking sht to the other team. Come on man.
- R4Z0R

Just two? Clearly you don't read my posts enough...

Bailey, Grabs and Frans are playing great
Clutterbuck hasn't been effective but he gets a pass considering he just came back
JT looks good, his line mates just aren't doing anything for him. It's either KO, or moulson on his line, you can't do both, similar playing styles.
I'm not going to blame Nabby when we had 16 shots on goal and were poop on the PP
- Danformo

Pretty much agree all around. Bailey I was worried about. It's never about his ability, but rather his mental game. Previously when he lost confidence or just when expectations were put on him, it looked like he'd over-think everything to the point of being ineffectual. It's nice to see him just trusting his instincts and letting shots go...in October instead of not doing so until March.

Bailey, Grabs and Frans are playing great
Clutterbuck hasn't been effective but he gets a pass considering he just came back
JT looks good, his line mates just aren't doing anything for him. It's either KO, or moulson on his line, you can't do both, similar playing styles.
I'm not going to blame Nabby when we had 16 shots on goal and were poop on the PP
- Danformo

Saw several times last night, across all four lines, the 3 forwards all bunched up at Preds blueline trying to get puck onside. They could have held hands they were so close...someone's wayyyy out of position. Horrible in the neutral zone last two games - turnovers galore. Looked like we were on a PK most of the night. Hopefully little things that are correctable.

Just two? Clearly you don't read my posts enough...
- PoileRulezzzYo

I meant lately.

Bailey, Grabs and Frans are playing great
Clutterbuck hasn't been effective but he gets a pass considering he just came back
JT looks good, his line mates just aren't doing anything for him. It's either KO, or moulson on his line, you can't do both, similar playing styles.
I'm not going to blame Nabby when we had 16 shots on goal and were poop on the PP
- Danformo

The Isles need to pick it up the next four home games. I think how they do will tell where they are as a team. The $2,750,000 they paid in the summer for Regan and Bouchard was a waste of money. They should have taken that money and invested in a good defenseman (ie. Cody Franson). Lets see what happens next week...

The Isles need to pick it up the next four home games. I think how they do will tell where they are as a team. The $2,750,000 they paid in the summer for Regan and Bouchard was a waste of money. They should have taken that money and invested in a good defenseman (ie. Cody Franson). Lets see what happens next week...
- kear20

Bouchard played the his best game so far this season yesterday. lets hope he keeps it up.

Bouchard Pulock Lee Kabanov and a first for weber

Bouchard played the his best game so far this season yesterday. lets hope he keeps it up.
- mighty13duck

Bouchard is a stiff...

Bouchard played the his best game so far this season yesterday. lets hope he keeps it up.
- mighty13duck

Yep. I'm not going to blame the goalie for a loss when the team had like negative-6 shots on goal, but at the same time...the second and third goals...you can't give a team that can lock things down like that two goals...they won't give you much in return. I'm not freaking out over two one-goal losses though.

For as much as everyone's focusing on the D -- and I said before the season started that the D was my biggest concern too -- I'm actually not blowing my top over how they played. The thing with the last two games, imo, is that the Isles haven't gotten in fast enough on the forecheck. They've had chances to establish it and spend quality time in the offensive zone, but they get in a split second later than they should and the puck just goes back the other way. When you can't sustain a forecheck at all, you're going to spend a lot of time in your zone. When you're pinned in your zone most of the game, breakdowns are going to happen...it's inevitable. But for as much time as the Isles spent there the last two games, there haven't been any crazy meltdowns where everything spirals out of control and every play is essentially one massive breakdown, so I'm actually a bit encouraged by that.

I think once they get that forecheck going again, the rest will work itself out. Getting the forwards back to where they're one step ahead of the play rather than following it around in the offensive zone is the most important thing right now, imo...far more important than pointing out every time a defenseman lost a man after being stuck in his own zone for four minutes straight.
- UIF

I agree with you. As a team in general they aren't giving up a lot of high quality chances against. But, they are getting stuck in their zone a lot and not having many high quality shifts of their own where they control play.

I was at the game. I agree, Carkner actually looked OK out there. He provides the much needed size that the Islanders need on D. Cal C. looked kind of lost on the ice, but I guess that was expected - new team, new system even though I sometimes question that the Islanders play any system. He wasn't sure where he is supposed to be and skated all over the place. Hopefully the team takes some inspiration from the Preds who scored 3 goals on shots from outside.

Bouchard is a stiff...
- kear20

Didn't notice Clutterbuck much out there. Yes, only 2nd game for him but if he remains invisible or gets injured again, it'll be a strikeout for Garth's summer upgrades. Going to The Well and trying to find a diamond in the rough every off season is a poor way to complete a rebuild. Seriously, been saying it, sometimes screaming it... Garth is only slightly better a s a GM as Cappy is as a coach. He drafts well but everything beyond that is average or below average. He's used up his excuses and failed to follow his own mantra of improving through FA acquisitions. IMPROVEMENT being the key word... I hope Charles sells the team and new owners bring in an established/proven GM and Coach, because Charles never will. We're more hopeless than Ranger fans(who auto-assume they are cup contenders each year b/c some media source claims it so) in thinking our current management will lead us to the promise land. Would rather have seen more of the kids play than rolling the dice on so-so has been/never was vets.

Didn't notice Clutterbuck much out there. Yes, only 2nd game for him but if he remains invisible or gets injured again, it'll be a strikeout for Garth's summer upgrades. Going to The Well and trying to find a diamond in the rough every off season is a poor way to complete a rebuild. Seriously, been saying it, sometimes screaming it... Garth is only slightly better a s a GM as Cappy is as a coach. He drafts well but everything beyond that is average or below average. He's used up his excuses and failed to follow his own mantra of improving through FA acquisitions. IMPROVEMENT being the key word... I hope Charles sells the team and new owners bring in an established/proven GM and Coach, because Charles never will. We're more hopeless than Ranger fans(who auto-assume they are cup contenders each year b/c some media source claims it so) in thinking our current management will lead us to the promise land. Would rather have seen more of the kids play than rolling the dice on so-so has been/never was vets.
- jmo16

Agreed...two of the three guys he picked up over the summer are bums...Clutterbuck is hurt so I'll give him a pass...right now.

Bouchard Pulock Lee Kabanov and a first for weber
- mighty13duck

If Nashville traded Weber they should just as well move...

Didn't notice Clutterbuck much out there. Yes, only 2nd game for him but if he remains invisible or gets injured again, it'll be a strikeout for Garth's summer upgrades. Going to The Well and trying to find a diamond in the rough every off season is a poor way to complete a rebuild. Seriously, been saying it, sometimes screaming it... Garth is only slightly better a s a GM as Cappy is as a coach. He drafts well but everything beyond that is average or below average. He's used up his excuses and failed to follow his own mantra of improving through FA acquisitions. IMPROVEMENT being the key word... I hope Charles sells the team and new owners bring in an established/proven GM and Coach, because Charles never will. We're more hopeless than Ranger fans(who auto-assume they are cup contenders each year b/c some media source claims it so) in thinking our current management will lead us to the promise land. Would rather have seen more of the kids play than rolling the dice on so-so has been/never was vets.
- jmo16

It's better to spend money on one good player in FA or a trade instead of signing a couple of these medicore FA's every year. I've always given Charles and Garth a pass for not having a huge payroll. I'm also onboard with the rebuild. Having said this, there will be no excuse not to make some type of player impact this offseason. While most of the team can be built with the prospects, you still need to make some key FA signings and trades.

It's better to spend money on one good player in FA or a trade instead of signing a couple of these medicore FA's every year. I've always given Charles and Garth a pass for not having a huge payroll. I'm also onboard with the rebuild. Having said this, there will be no excuse not to make some type of player impact this offseason. While most of the team can be built with the prospects, you still need to make some key FA signings and trades.
- ses111

So you think they're going to break from their mold of cheap FA signings and waiver wire pickups next year? The chances of that are slim and none, and Slim left town.

So you think they're going to break from their mold of cheap FA signings and waiver wire pickups next year? The chances of that are slim and none, and Slim left town.
- David_Volek

I'm hoping a year from Brooklyn will be a good time for some action for once. No way will I bet the farm or even a dollar. Again I'm fine with Charles not having a huge payroll with the building mess. I'm not fine with what they have done with some of the scouts, the radio feed and how they did not get a proven vet coach to work with the young talent. There were things Charles could have done to make the situation better and put more heat on the Pols.

Lots of young d prospects but I really think Pulock is gonna be the most effective. His shot alone will be his ticket..I'd rather him then most of our current d men....right now.

Two losses the weekend by a goal, and we sucked with no real effort..imagine if we competed

Agreed...two of the three guys he picked up over the summer are bums...Clutterbuck is hurt so I'll give him a pass...right now.
- kear20

Just a question.... if you were Snow, who would you have gone after in FA last year? now keep in mind that Wang is your owner, and you keep losing money being in Nassau Coliseum.

Also, very hard to attract FA to come here....

I'm hoping a year from Brooklyn will be a good time for some action for once. No way will I bet the farm or even a dollar. Again I'm fine with Charles not having a huge payroll with the building mess. I'm not fine with what they have done with some of the scouts, the radio feed and how they did not get a proven vet coach to work with the young talent. There were things Charles could have done to make the situation better and put more heat on the Pols.
- ses111

Every year there's a different reason why they're going to start investing in the team. I'll believe it when I see it. It's tough watching this team with as much potential as it has struggle with this ECHL defense. It's a joke.

Every year there's a different reason why they're going to start investing in the team. I'll believe it when I see it. It's tough watching this team with as much potential as it has struggle with this ECHL defense. It's a joke.
- Cptmjl

Pretty sad if they are still going to be cheap a year from Brooklyn when you want to build up the good feelings. If they end up missing the playoffs this year, that could really turn up the heat. Again, no way I'm betting the farm.

Just a question.... if you were Snow, who would you have gone after in FA last year? now keep in mind that Wang is your owner, and you keep losing money being in Nassau Coliseum.

Also, very hard to attract FA to come here....
- Ur Not Me

I would have to think with the team going to Brooklyn in two years and you have JT and a young team that alomost beat Pitt in the playoffs, that should allow you to buy some decent FA's. Hard to believe players would be that turned off playing at the Coli for Two years.