Dallas may have the best 1st line in the NHL. Watched them vs. Devils on Friday. Knew they would be a problem last night. Good thing we only play them once or twice a season. Think Seguin is edging out Taylor Hall, at this point.
- jmo16

I agree with you about seguin vs hall. How stupid was Boston to get rid of that kid for partying. He's a kid....
The only argument you can make is Taylor hall is on a team that just can't get it together vs seguin who went from Boston to Dallas playing with spezza and Benn. Big difference...

you try playing with two and three guys on you everytime you handle the puck.

PP has looked different each of the last 3 games. Sometimes 4 forwards+ 1D, others 3 & 2. Tavares doesn't have BAD games....sometimes he just doesn't have Tavares games.
- jmo16

I for one wasn't talking about him being double teamed. I was referring to some of the give aways in the neutral zone.

I wasn't referring to his stats......I should have said it differently (although I don't think JT leads the league in pts) I feel like he doesn't look as dominant on that line. I don't see chemistry with conacher. It's still early, but is conacher really "on the level".
- kindlyrick

Gotcha and I should have said going into this weekend JT was leading the league in points

Gotcha and I should have said going into this weekend JT was leading the league in points
- Vukota

Either way......the goaltending and PK need to be better. Isles are giving up way too many goals against.

you try playing with two and three guys on you everytime you handle the puck.

PP has looked different each of the last 3 games. Sometimes 4 forwards+ 1D, others 3 & 2. Tavares doesn't have BAD games....sometimes he just doesn't have Tavares games.
- jmo16

Listen JT is a beast but that doesn't mean he isn't going to have a bad game here or there. He made some terrible decisions with the puck last night and a few the game before and he'll be the first to tell you that. I know lots of people on here like to blame other players on a line when somebody points out something bad about a certain player but JT was not sharp last night and that's fine just because you point it out doesn't mean you're blaming him for anything either

Listen JT is a beast but that doesn't mean he isn't going to have a bad game here or there. He made some terrible decisions with the puck last night and a few the game before and he'll be the first to tell you that. I know lots of people on here like to blame other players on a line when somebody points out something bad about a certain player but JT was not sharp last night and that's fine just because you point it out doesn't mean you're blaming him for anything either
- Vukota

Agreed. Even a bad game isn't so bad for 91

Right now Capuano is watching tape and trying to figure out a way to get the 4th line to start the PP...

Look there's no denying Tavares' talent. But, regardless of his pt production which will come regardless with him. His play hasn't been as sharp. He's made some questionable passes and his usual dominance isn't every shift.

I never said break up lines. I just would replace conacher with grabovski when grabner gets back.
The PP had three games that it looked like crap and I think went scoreless. You can't keep Boychuk out there for all two min on the PP and have him play PK. Viznovsky is certainly capable of playing some Pp minutes.
- kindlyrick

No one's dominance is every shift. And no one connects flawlessly on 100% of passes.

Yeah, the PP went scoreless for two games before they took Boychuk off...after being the best in the league before that in large part because of his 5 PP points. I understand mixing things up, but removing the big shot from the point shouldn't be the change. By your logic, we should take Tavares off of the power play, too. After all, it didn't score for those two games with him on it, and he has the same 5 PP points as Boychuk.

Here's an idea...instead of taking firepower away from the PP to shake things up, how about adding another point threat like Leddy who seems to always get his shots through? Or Vis, who I agree can certainly play the PP, just not as the trigger man. He doesn't have a blast like Boychuk (and passed up some good chances to shoot last night).

The PP/PK ice time argument doesn't make too much sense...there are plenty of solid defensemen with big shots that play both in the NHL. All 2 minutes? Not sure anyone's asking for that. First unit? Absolutely.

No one's dominance is every shift. And no one connects flawlessly on 100% of passes.

Yeah, the PP went scoreless for two games before they took Boychuk off...after being the best in the league before that in large part because of his 5 PP points. I understand mixing things up, but removing the big shot from the point shouldn't be the change. By your logic, we should take Tavares off of the power play, too. After all, it didn't score for those two games with him on it, and he has the same 5 PP points as Boychuk.

Here's an idea...instead of taking firepower away from the PP to shake things up, how about adding another point threat like Leddy who seems to always get his shots through? Or Vis, who I agree can certainly play the PP, just not as the trigger man. He doesn't have a blast like Boychuk (and passed up some good chances to shoot last night).

The PP/PK ice time argument doesn't make too much sense...there are plenty of solid defensemen with big shots that play both in the NHL. All 2 minutes? Not sure anyone's asking for that. First unit? Absolutely.
- UIF

I think you're trying to make an argument out of something I'm not saying.

I'm not saying JT is going to dominate everytime he touches the ice. I'm only saying the lack of chemistry is obvious with some of the passes that aren't connecting.

Also, you can't have one play and only one play on the PP. Having boychuk is prob the best thing that's happened to the isles in a while, but that doesn't mean every PP should be get him the puck. A good power play should have options. And a good team should have two PP units. Nothing more nothing less.
If my memory is correct it was only one Pp that viznovsky started over boychuk. Maybe boychuk was tired. Who knows.

I think you're trying to make an argument out of something I'm not saying.

I'm not saying JT is going to dominate everytime he touches the ice. I'm only saying the lack of chemistry is obvious with some of the passes that aren't connecting.

Also, you can't have one play and only one play on the PP. Having boychuk is prob the best thing that's happened to the isles in a while, but that doesn't mean every PP should be get him the puck. A good power play should have options. And a good team should have two PP units. Nothing more nothing less.
If my memory is correct it was only one Pp that viznovsky started over boychuk. Maybe boychuk was tired. Who knows.
- kindlyrick

My reply was to: His play hasn't been as sharp. He's made some questionable passes and his usual dominance isn't every shift.

My reply was to: His play hasn't been as sharp. He's made some questionable passes and his usual dominance isn't every shift.
- UIF

And I stand by it. I'm used to Tavares cycling the puck down low vs last game where I don't see them able to get possession down low. I see bad passes in the neutral zone. It's been a few games now. Just my observation.

I think you're trying to make an argument out of something I'm not saying.

I'm not saying JT is going to dominate everytime he touches the ice. I'm only saying the lack of chemistry is obvious with some of the passes that aren't connecting.

Also, you can't have one play and only one play on the PP. Having boychuk is prob the best thing that's happened to the isles in a while, but that doesn't mean every PP should be get him the puck. A good power play should have options. And a good team should have two PP units. Nothing more nothing less.
If my memory is correct it was only one Pp that viznovsky started over boychuk. Maybe boychuk was tired. Who knows.
- kindlyrick

Your memory isn't correct. It was the only PP in Boston, and every PP last night.

And who's saying the only PP strategy should be Boychuk's shot? The idea is that with Tavares down low and Boychuk's credible threat up high, you spread out the PKers. If there's no real threat from the point, it's easier take everything away down low...which was an issue for the PP all last season.

Your memory isn't correct. It was the only PP in Boston, and every PP last night.

And who's saying the only PP strategy should be Boychuk's shot? The idea is that with Tavares down low and Boychuk's credible threat up high, you spread out the PKers. If there's no real threat from the point, it's easier take everything away down low...which was an issue for the PP all last season.
- UIF

Maybe I'm wrong but I don't recall viznovsky starting every PP in Boston and last night.

Boychuk led the time in ice time last night too.

Your memory isn't correct. It was the only PP in Boston, and every PP last night.

And who's saying the only PP strategy should be Boychuk's shot? The idea is that with Tavares down low and Boychuk's credible threat up high, you spread out the PKers. If there's no real threat from the point, it's easier take everything away down low...which was an issue for the PP all last season.
- UIF

Not for nothing but I have zero problem with viznovsky being one of the points on the PP.

Maybe I'm wrong but I don't recall viznovsky starting every PP in Boston and last night.
- kindlyrick

visnovsky has been on the top pp unit since he returned and boychuk has only been out for the second unit and even then it's only half the time.

Boychuk has to be on our top pp to give us a threat from the point. otherwise we keep working it around the outside and the pkers have no reason to attack and spread out, and we end up with no inside chances and no one shooting on the outside. The pp looks dangerous with boychuk even when they don't connect, but without him it looks weak.

visnovsky has been on the top pp unit since he returned and boychuk has only been out for the second unit and even then it's only half the time.

Boychuk has to be on our top pp to give us a threat from the point. otherwise we keep working it around the outside and the pkers have no reason to attack and spread out, and we end up with no inside chances and no one shooting on the outside. The pp looks dangerous with boychuk even when they don't connect, but without him it looks weak.
- Isles_since_6

The PP has looked weak the last 4 or 5 games, even with Boychuk. The problem to me is that every Pp they try and set up the shot from the point. I'm sure it will work itself out, but again I don't have a problem with viznovsky on the PP

Not for nothing but I have zero problem with viznovsky being one of the points on the PP.
- kindlyrick

I agree. Just not as the triggerman.

I agree. Just not as the triggerman.
- UIF

The purpose of having a threat from the point isnt just having a rocket of a shot. It's being able to get a shot through to the goalie. Viznovsky can get it through as can Boychuk.

I wouldn't mind seeing the PP points :

Boychuk/Leddy
Viznovsky/deHaan or Hamonic.

I gotta say too...maybe it's because I'm a dad now, but the crowd last night giving a Standing O to those kids was pretty powerful stuff!

I gotta say too...maybe it's because I'm a dad now, but the crowd last night giving a Standing O to those kids was pretty powerful stuff!
- UIF

XxNYIxX

Either way......the goaltending and PK need to be better. Isles are giving up way too many goals against.
- kindlyrick

Yep. They are getting away with it which is fantastic, but sooner of later it will catch up to them.

the winnipeg game is one I see as a game we should be winning if we're for real. Our road trip is going to be a difficult one and winning the next game against the jets, to me, is almost a must before that trip.

Couple of things we've learned so far: 1) the isles can score with anyone. Seven goals and none from the first line. 2) the isles need to work on team defense. They score a lot, but they still give up a lot of goals. Hey, I'm just happy they're winning but eventually, they need better defensive play.

Couple of things we've learned so far: 1) the isles can score with anyone. Seven goals and none from the first line. 2) the isles need to work on team defense. They score a lot, but they still give up a lot of goals. Hey, I'm just happy they're winning but eventually, they need better defensive play.
- Jethro09

The good - the depth is very encouraging! It's great that opposing teams can't just focus on JT. If the first line gets shut down the Isles can still win.

The bad - I agree with you (and pretty much everyone else on this site) that they should play a defensive style.

The ugly - Cappy is still the coach. He refuses to adjust the lines to the situation. Cizikas has been playing great, but that doesn't mean that line should get every 4th rotation.

The good - the depth is very encouraging! It's great that opposing teams can't just focus on JT. If the first line gets shut down the Isles can still win.

The bad - I agree with you (and pretty much everyone else on this site) that they should play a defensive style.

The ugly - Cappy is still the coach. He refuses to adjust the lines to the situation. Cizikas has been playing great, but that doesn't mean that line should get every 4th rotation.
- JimmyP

I'd like to roll four lines, but if the fourth line can't defend or create as a whole, they need to have their minutes limited. Cappy has never been a line match guy. Maybe he should start...