We all know that Tavares has the ability to make the amazing play but it is his unwillingness to make the simple play that is killing this team.


This is perfectly said....and I said quite awhile back he wasn't playing as he use to and I got ripped for it....Didn't say I disliked him or blame him for anything. it just wasn't him playing as that dominant player he is....and you nailed it...he is not making the simple plays....As much as Vanek pissed me off when he and JT and KO were out there last year they were able to make all the cute plays and passes....and it worked. But its a different line now, its a pretty good line to but JT can't keep playing that way, I know he has the ability but at times its like the line mates can't catch up to his creativity. Keep it simple JT....get your game back. Thankfully we got depth this season...JT catches fire look out NHL.....

At one point the Isles were hemmed in their own zone and the puck was passed out to a Chicago dman, Bailey came out to challenge but missed the block. By the time Chicago had attempted two rebound shots and threw the puck back to that same dman, Bailey was just renetering the zone following his rink turn. Even knowing it was Bailey, I was flat out shocked at how lackadaisical he seemed.
- keaner17

It's incredible. On most of the shifts he only touched the puck once and he just dumped it off to another player. It's like he's allergic to it.

Reinhart with his best game last night. Looked like he belonged in the line up for the first time since hes been called up IMO.
- Cptmjl

Look out Hickey because Reinhart wants your spot.

Strome may be our best player on this team by the end of the season.

They need a small shake up. Strome would be good, but I'd like to see Nelson up there.
- JimmyP

Weve seen nelson up there hes good not great on that line imo. I like nelson centering his own line. Spreads the scoring out. Id just like to see someone different. You dont know what you have unless you try. Im shocked nobody else has gotten a look with how obvious it is that line is misfiring? On second thought no I'm not with our coach but come on we get that line really going and our D men back and this team is an absolute force. Capuano looks at it like we are winning most of the time so stay with it. Theres no ambition to get better. Look no further than our PK for proof.

Fix the PK. We are thirty games in. Theres no reason for it to still be this abysmal

Strome may be our best player on this team by the end of the season.
- jimmc7722

Yep.

It's incredible. On most of the shifts he only touched the puck once and he just dumped it off to another player. It's like he's allergic to it.
- JimmyP

You know I've been a fan of his but im done. If we could get a second for him with something else id say ship him out. Done with bailey. Guy is just half assed. Doesnt want to work. Absolute waste of talent.

I think Jt is snake bitten right now, as is KO's shooting% is astronomically low for him

Strome may be our best player on this team by the end of the season.
- jimmc7722

Strome is so good defensively it is awesome. He takes a lot of penalties but that is fixable. Strome has #1 two way C potential.

Strome is so good defensively it is awesome. He takes a lot of penalties but that is fixable. Strome has #1 two way C potential.
- Danformo

He does take the occaisionally stupid penalty.

Great atmosphere last night. Love all the hot 20 something girls that have come out of the woodwork all of a sudden Place was jumping last night.

You know I've been a fan of his but im done. If we could get a second for him with something else id say ship him out. Done with bailey. Guy is just half assed. Doesnt want to work. Absolute waste of talent.
- Cptmjl

Agreed, he is loaded with talent however he lacks the desire

Strome may be our best player on this team by the end of the season.
- jimmc7722

He's already the best player on the team. He turns whatever line he centers into the Islanders' best line. Last night the 4th line was incredible.

Three losses taught them a lot because they got outworked, outmuscled and outsmarted by two older more veteran teams. Hopefully come April they will be more along. Great recovery game last night especially winning at home where last year they always pressed too hard. Winning without Boychuk and Hammer says a lot. The borderline players are still good for depth and no need to promote BRI players if they don't get to play. Reinhart looks like he is learning and adjusting to speed. When everyone is healthy they have nice depth. Just let them play. Each month is different. So far Jaro is mvp. Really exciting how he fits their style. Quick on their feet.

You know I've been a fan of his but im done. If we could get a second for him with something else id say ship him out. Done with bailey. Guy is just half assed. Doesnt want to work. Absolute waste of talent.
- Cptmjl

That's what's so frustrating. There are so many guys out there with tremendous desire but they don't have the skills to be in the NHL. To see someone that has the skills, but lacks the drive is maddening.

Great atmosphere last night. Love all the hot 20 something girls that have come out of the woodwork all of a sudden Place was jumping last night.
- Vukota

I never seen so many yoga pants in one place!

Strome may be our best player on this team by the end of the season.
- jimmc7722

I like his shoot first mentality and he actually hits the net most of the time. He makes Martin and CC look good for the 12 minutes they play. Martin actually gave a hit that caused a turnover yesterday.

JT is coming back from major knee surgery, if it takes him more than 20 games to come back to top 5 player in the world form, I think it's understandable. What worries me about JT is him not resigning here when his contract expires.
- Dgmilazz

He's never had major knee surgery

XxNYIxX

Retire you joke...dan you are beyond ridiculous. 91 has been incredible every season hes been in the league, and because hes going thru a slump on a 19-10 team you are going to criminalize him? Seriously you are a joke
- hockeyman92

You need to watch the games more then.. because he hasn't been "incredible" at all this year.

XxNYIxX

You need to watch the games more then.. because he hasn't been "incredible" at all this year.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

He was early on. He is incredibly snake bitten right now though.

Knee surgery does not effect your decision making. He is healthy
- Dan Petriw

Maybe he is healthy, he probably is. But players like teams go through peaks and valleys. JT will get better. So will KO. It's not as if both guys have been bums all year.

I'm more concerned about Cappy's insistence on dressing Strait and the fact that the isles have the worst PK I recall ever seeing than I am JT and KO.

Absolutely right. The Isles played better last season after JT got hurt in the Olympics. I'm a fan of JT, but I have also stated that the guy has his limitations. He isn't good defensively. He rarely finishes his checks. (He and Bailey should have a contest to see who has the fewest hits in the NHL each season.) I like the kid's attitude, but someone needs to teach him to play a better all-around game. Otherwise, he's the wrong guy to wear the "C".
- JohnScammo

I can't believe in reading some of this stuff about JT. Wrong guy to wear the "C"? Are you kidding? JT is a dream to have as team captain. He's an elite player, even though he doesn't hit people. Lots of elite players don't hit or play stellar "D". The kid has a tireless work ethic. Every summer he works his a** off and improves his game even more. He has said and done all the right things since he was drafted. I can't think of a guy I'd rather have wear the "C" than JT.

Yeah, it would be great if JT never slumped, but he's human. It's going to happen. The guy starts this year a little off (yet still producing points). I'm not ready to draw and quarter him over it. At the end of the year, JT will be our best and most productive player, just like every other year.

Maybe he is healthy, he probably is. But players like teams go through peaks and valleys. JT will get better. So will KO. It's not as if both guys have been bums all year.

I'm more concerned about Cappy's insistence on dressing Strait and the fact that the isles have the worst PK I recall ever seeing than I am JT and KO.
- Jethro09

Well said

I can't believe in reading some of this stuff about JT. Wrong guy to wear the "C"? Are you kidding? JT is a dream to have as team captain. He's an elite player, even though he doesn't hit people. Lots of elite players don't hit or play stellar "D". The kid has a tireless work ethic. Every summer he works his a** off and improves his game even more. He has said and done all the right things since he was drafted. I can't think of a guy I'd rather have wear the "C" than JT.

Yeah, it would be great if JT never slumped, but he's human. It's going to happen. The guy starts this year a little off (yet still producing points). I'm not ready to draw and quarter him over it. At the end of the year, JT will be our best and most productive player, just like every other year.
- Jethro09

On top of that him slumping is not a slump in the normal sense. Hes still putting up about a point a game. Hes not his normal dominant self but hes still contributing. Its not like when Giroux didnt score in twenty games or whatever it was last year.

Maybe he is healthy, he probably is. But players like teams go through peaks and valleys. JT will get better. So will KO. It's not as if both guys have been bums all year.

I'm more concerned about Cappy's insistence on dressing Strait and the fact that the isles have the worst PK I recall ever seeing than I am JT and KO.
- Jethro09

this. someone needs to give brian strait a list of personal reasons a mile long so he never comes back