Donovan looks much better defensively tonight
Hammer is having a great game, Amac? LOL
KO had a beautiful second period
Clutterbuck is doing all the little things right, he'll get some pts soon
Bailey is filthy at stick handling, easily the best "deker" on the team
PMB looks much better the last 2 games
- Danformo

This easily could have been a 6-5 game if the ice wasnt so poopty

And man, some of the Oilers are drama queens... (Hall, Smid, J Schultz)
- Danformo

Isles sorta dominated this one. Three straight pp for Edmonton in 2nd kinda got the oilers going but nabby and pk got it done, Tavares goal huge.


Nabokov was excellent tonight

- eichiefs9

And we ridiculed the chains training method!

Like I said after loss to buff. The effort was excellent. You put up 40+ shots and you win a lot of games. That's what happend last night.

Tavares bailey ko grabs and Nielson are all getting it done this year.
Cizikas is an excellent 3rd line center


And you guys are nuts if you. Don't like hickey. Guy makes up for size with incredible play. He believe his corsi ratings are highest on team.

One more win sat and loss vs buff is an afterthought.

I agree Poulin needs some starts. Crappy going to burn out nabakov

Why isn't anyone giving me Sh-t for loving bailey this year?

Oh b/c I said that aside from Tavares he has most upside.
Bailey has been dominate player on ice.

I'm very happy ko shooting and great board play too

Why isn't anyone giving me Sh-t for loving bailey this year?

Oh b/c I said that aside from Tavares he has most upside.
Bailey has been dominate player on ice.

I'm very happy ko shooting and great board play too
- Spartiarti

Because you're not saying he's the best player to ever lace up skates when he has 1 point in like 80 games this year

Like I said after loss to buff. The effort was excellent. You put up 40+ shots and you win a lot of games. That's what happend last night.

Tavares bailey ko grabs and Nielson are all getting it done this year.
Cizikas is an excellent 3rd line center


And you guys are nuts if you. Don't like hickey. Guy makes up for size with incredible play. He believe his corsi ratings are highest on team.

One more win sat and loss vs buff is an afterthought.

I agree Poulin needs some starts. Crappy going to burn out nabakov
- Spartiarti

Disagree...They got stuck in their zone for long stretches and their D got outworked by a team that can't score right now. Better on the other end of the ice, but you should be able to sustain a forecheck against a team that can't win a battle along the boards and can't play positional hockey. That's expected, not extraordinary. As I've said before, I watch the Sabres quite a bit...they are struggling mightily this year the way the Isles did in Bailey's rookie year. That's the stage they're at. You have to be able to take it to a team in that position, especially in a statement game coming off two losses. Last night was better defensively. Let's carry it over to Saturday and maybe we'll be back in business!

Love the win. Don't love the sitting of Nelson and some of the roster decisions lately. Nelson has to play or he might as well be in Bridgeport. Regin and Bouchard should be rotating in that second seat in the press box next to Boulton. I dont see what Regin or Bouchard bring to the table every night to warrant extended seats for Nelson.

Love the win. Don't love the sitting of Nelson and some of the roster decisions lately. Nelson has to play or he might as well be in Bridgeport. Regin and Bouchard should be rotating in that second seat in the press box next to Boulton. I dont see what Regin or Bouchard bring to the table every night to warrant extended seats for Nelson.
- Jethro09

and PMB gets PP minutes! So does Regin.

- eichiefs9

- keaner17

If only he scored on that it would have been perfect!!

Love the win. Don't love the sitting of Nelson and some of the roster decisions lately. Nelson has to play or he might as well be in Bridgeport. Regin and Bouchard should be rotating in that second seat in the press box next to Boulton. I dont see what Regin or Bouchard bring to the table every night to warrant extended seats for Nelson.
- Jethro09

Couldn't agree more, Nelson should be in Bridgeport building chemistry w/Lee & Strome

Couldn't agree more, Nelson should be in Bridgeport building chemistry w/Lee & Strome
- Ur Not Me

I hate leaving players in the AHL for too long. For most, Nelson is now NHL ready, the problem is we've blocked the pipeline for the sake of role players. That's a terrible decision IMO. Regin is only here to be the next Keith Aucoin...I'd rather upgrade the Keith Aucoin role as a whole and at least allow Nelson 3rd line line minutes. He's gotten all he's going to get out of the A at this point.

Couldn't agree more, Nelson should be in Bridgeport building chemistry w/Lee & Strome
- Ur Not Me

I feel PMB should continue to get his chance to make his mark. he has looked better with each game. im willing to give10 more games.

Nelson will get his chance. If nelson wants to stay in lineup. he needs to do what regin has. Regin looked he was going bench bound and he scored that game.

I feel PMB should continue to get his chance to make his mark. he has looked better with each game. im willing to give10 more games.

Nelson will get his chance. If nelson wants to stay in lineup. he needs to do what regin has. Regin looked he was going bench bound and he scored that game.
- Spartiarti

one goal should not determine whether a fringe NHL player gets a spot over a solid NHL prospect. I disagree with this.

Josh Bailey only trails Stamkos, Karlson, Doughty, and Eberle in NHL points amongst his draft class.

Josh Bailey is only 24 years old.

By Comparison, Most islanders fans wanted to kill snow for not taken Filatov. Filatov has 14 NHL points to Baileys 146.

we going to see the best of bailey in next 5 years.

Love the win. Don't love the sitting of Nelson and some of the roster decisions lately. Nelson has to play or he might as well be in Bridgeport. Regin and Bouchard should be rotating in that second seat in the press box next to Boulton. I dont see what Regin or Bouchard bring to the table every night to warrant extended seats for Nelson.
- Jethro09

agreed....speaking of boulton- and ill preface this comment with i LOVE physical play - hes gotta go.

with martin, clutterbuck, carkner, hamonic (mcdonald & okposo to a lesser extent), these guys can patrol themselves... boulton brings nothing to the team at this point.

Josh Bailey only trails Stamkos, Karlson, Doughty, and Eberle in NHL points amongst his draft class.

Josh Bailey is only 24 years old.

By Comparison, Most islanders fans wanted to kill snow for not taken Filatov. Filatov has 14 NHL points to Baileys 146.

we going to see the best of bailey in next 5 years.
- Spartiarti

Bailey is quietly becoming a very good player. I wouldn't be overly shocked if he scores 30 this year.

Josh Bailey only trails Stamkos, Karlson, Doughty, and Eberle in NHL points amongst his draft class.
Josh Bailey is only 24 years old.

By Comparison, Most islanders fans wanted to kill snow for not taken Filatov. Filatov has 14 NHL points to Baileys 146.

we going to see the best of bailey in next 5 years.
- Spartiarti

I'm not sure how impressive that really is... Considering that was a defense heavy draft, there were only a few forwards that were projected to have a decent impact in that draft. I think Colin Wilson and Boedeker were the only forwards taken ahead of Bailey that's still even playing in the NHL other than Stamkos.

For Bailey, it seems the only thing he really needs to continue working on his confidence. He has the skill and when he gets ballsy and tries gutsy plays, he can remind everyone of why Garth liked him so much. Problem is he can also become invisible at times. With Josh, it has to be about intensity from here out.
Bailey appears to be on the cusp of realizing his potential, but he's seemed to have reached that cusp on a few occasions. What we need from Josh is for him to show up night in and night out. I think with the right linemates he can become an excellent second line player.

I'm not sure how impressive that really is... Considering that was a defense heavy draft, there were only a few forwards that were projected to have a decent impact in that draft. I think Colin Wilson and Boedeker were the only forwards taken ahead of Bailey that's still even playing in the NHL other than Stamkos.

For Bailey, it seems the only thing he really needs to continue working on his confidence. He has the skill and when he gets ballsy and tries gutsy plays, he can remind everyone of why Garth liked him so much. Problem is he can also become invisible at times. With Josh, it has to be about intensity from here out.
Bailey appears to be on the cusp of realizing his potential, but he's seemed to have reached that cusp on a few occasions. What we need from Josh is for him to show up night in and night out. I think with the right linemates he can become an excellent second line player.
- keaner17

hodgson, ennis...not sure how boychuk and colborne are doing

edit* you said ahead of Bailey... my mistake...

I feel PMB should continue to get his chance to make his mark. he has looked better with each game. im willing to give10 more games.

Nelson will get his chance. If nelson wants to stay in lineup. he needs to do what regin has. Regin looked he was going bench bound and he scored that game.
- Spartiarti

Play mediocre hockey each night?

Also, worth noting that Nelson sprung Regin for that goal he scored that one time...

Isles are 9th in the conference, but if the playoffs started today, they would be the 6th seed

Isles are 9th in the conference, but if the playoffs started today, they would be the 6th seed
- Dedshark

I feel PMB should continue to get his chance to make his mark. he has looked better with each game. im willing to give10 more games.

Nelson will get his chance. If nelson wants to stay in lineup. he needs to do what regin has. Regin looked he was going bench bound and he scored that game.
- Spartiarti

Regin remains in the lineup for the same reason the Isles signed him. He's here to fill a specific role Garth sees. Regin is our 2013 Keith Aucoin. Despite not producing much, Aucoin remained in our lineup all year long. I doubt you'll see Regin sat much for that same reason. It's a philosophy understand but don't necessarily agree with.
There is absolutely NOTHING positive for Nelson to take out of this experience thus far. Regin will very likely not be here next year and he certainly doesn't have a large enough impact to merit keeping in the lineup over a valued rookie like Nelson. We can NOT afford to block the developmental pipeline for the sake of temporary role players.

Bailey really has played well this year.. but he still drives me nuts with the drop pass give aways. this is the NHL... what's with the "no-look" drop passes??!!