Agreed. Crowd let him have it. Selfish play guy is obviously frustrated. Two minutes lwft in the game its unacceptable. Zidlicky said it only hurt him a couple of seconds so its ok. Lol. Like I said earlier. Love the guy but easily the worst fwd on the ice. Theres no denying it. Still feel he will snap out of it but he was tough to watch tonight.
- Cptmjl

He's lost out there right now. He'll get right, his track record suggests so. But I agree he was completely tough to watch last night.

Good teams find a way to win, this is what is makes us different from years past, however, our captain or so called franchise player has more give aways then shots on goal on a regular basis. He has always been slow compared to most players in the league, but this year he seems to have lost a gear. The really scary part is his decision making. I do not share the common opinion that he WILL just turn it around at any time when he is doing NOTHING positive on a consistent basis. His game is completely lost! Time to sit for a couple of games and think about it. Once Strome moves to the first line, he will stay for the season.
- islesrbettr

Nothing positive? He's got 27 pts in 31 games, tied for the team lead. He is ahead of only the great Brian Strait in +/- and that has to improve. But lets not act as if JT morphed into Oleg Kvasha. As far as turning it around goes, his track record suggests that he will. He has improved his overall game every season he's been an Islander. His scoring, skating, shooting. the only aspect of his game that hasn't improved has been his defense. That must get better. But this is the first year that JT's decision making is off. You don't just forget how to play hockey. He will straighten out his decision making once he gets his head right, which right now clearly isn't.

I'll say it again;


Ryan Strome
- Cptmjl

He played fantastic. It is very nice to see our first round picks that Snow refused to trade all starting to click. Between Strome, deHaan, OK, JT, Brock and yes even Bailey that is an incredible amount of home grown guys playing very well. Sprinkle in some later round picks in Hamonic, Casey C, Matt Martin, Lee, etc.... that is a ton of guys that were developed by the Islanders. ... in other words all the idiots who said the Isles were incapable of Drafting well and developing prospects can go Pound sand.

Matt Donovan's best game by far. ... agree?

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/15/video-isles-tavares-spears-zidlicky/
- JimmyP

I guess he thought the Low hit was dangerous.. but a very dumb penalty taken in Anger... not quite as dumb as Gomez in OT, but pretty dumb.

JT's worst game by far.. full on worried about him at this point. Something is very wrong with Mr. John Tavares.

Matt Donovan's best game by far. ... agree?
- niteislander

donovan has looked fine to me the last two games. At times he might not make a perfect read, but he's light years better than strait. I don't recall seeing reinhart at all in the third, or did I just not notice him last night?

I agree... especially that late in the game. Something is wrong that's not his game. Only thing I can think of is him being pissed about his line not producing... perhaps kule??
- Heineken

He's the one that's not producing on his line. Most of his points have come on PP. He's the one turning over the puck and making lazy plays. . I could live with the fact that he's not producing to his ability but, he's actually almost costing them games with those turnovers and that stupid penalty last night. He's playing very nonchalant hockey. He should be able to play with any player which has showed in the past...boyd, Parenteau, Moulson, Vanek. Non of those player are producing like they did when playing with JT.

donovan has looked fine to me the last two games. At times he might not make a perfect read, but he's light years better than strait. I don't recall seeing reinhart at all in the third, or did I just not notice him last night?
- Isles_since_6

I remember Reinhart left the ice at one point last night. Don't know if he ever came back.

Donovan was OK, but he still seems to overthink things way too much. In the AHL, he just let his instincts take over...threw the body at the right times, got the puck going the other way, and most impressively, always jumped into the play at the perfect moment to get a good shot off from the high slot. Someone said recently he looks like he's playing a bit more scared, and that's what it seems like to me, too. I wish he'd just let it fly...I really wanted to see him show what he can do after watching him a lot in the AHL during the lockout season. I think he has a lot more to offer than just a serviceable 6-7 d-man, but he has to stop flubbing shots and stuff like that. His shot was an asset in the AHL. It hasn't been in the NHL so far.

JT's worst game by far.. full on worried about him at this point. Something is very wrong with Mr. John Tavares.
- niteislander

He needs to simplify his game. Stop being cute and play A,B,C hockey. No more behind the back passes. He doesn't have the talent on the line to be making those kind of plays. Once he does that things will click again.

Can't believe I'm going to type this but - I think Bailey was the second best player last night (after Strome ).

He's lost out there right now. He'll get right, his track record suggests so. But I agree he was completely tough to watch last night.
- Jethro09

I blame his line mates, sorry but last year it was Vanek that clicked w/JT and prior years it was Moulson. KO is not a 1st liner and if placed he's the passenger of JT. So I think the frustration comes from poor line mates & not able to produce more on a winning team. I do somehow foresee that Strome will eventually be placed on 1st line in these next upcoming games....... I've always mentioned that I see Strome becoming JT's RW of the future.....

Yeah, some of you guys have been saying this for a while...I've just been thinking that line have spent a lot more time trying to play defense this year, which is tampering their production a bit. Last night, however, he was terrible, way before he speared anyone. I wonder if that knee isn't really as OK as everyone seems to think- he just looks slow, to me.
- dcb1

The problem is his line is spending 80 percent of their shifts in their own end

Can't believe I'm going to type this but - I think Bailey was the second best player last night (after Strome ).
- JimmyP

Bailey has good game vs Chicago too, though he didn't show up on score sheet.

I guess that's what bailey needs. A good BENCHING every few games. If he slacks again. BENCH him. he seems to respond well to the treatment.

Can't believe I'm going to type this but - I think Bailey was the second best player last night (after Strome ).
- JimmyP

I'm all for Bailey doing well just to improve his trade value & shipped off the island. So I really hope the kid gets hot and helps himself and team in many ways........

The problem is his line is spending 80 percent of their shifts in their own end
- Dan Petriw

I know this is a god problem to have but with Donovan and Reinhardt playing better each game what do they do when Hamonic and Boychuk come back assuming no other injuries?

The problem is his line is spending 80 percent of their shifts in their own end
- Dan Petriw

If they turn the puck over in the neutral zone they more often than not get pinned immediately afterward. Mentioned it to my friend at the game yesterday and right after I said it that same thing happened on their next three shifts. Capuano has to change something. I know theyre winning but that line has to get going.

I know this is a god problem to have but with Donovan and Reinhardt playing better each game what do they do when Hamonic and Boychuk come back assuming no other injuries?
- jwbadlands

Donovan to the press box and Reinhart probably back to bport

If they turn the puck over in the neutral zone they more often than not get pinned immediately afterward. Mentioned it to my friend at the game yesterday and right after I said it that same thing happened on their next three shifts. Capuano has to change something. I know theyre winning but that line has to get going.
- Cptmjl

They couldn't complete a pass to save their lives last night.

Their zone exits are an abomination. They constantly ice the puck because they are just chipping it high off the glass or trying some nonsensical 40ft stretch-saucer pass that is impossible for a player to wrangle in. Their entire zone-exit strategy is pretty much chip-and-chase, which is a terrible idea going through the neutral zone. Every puck is 50/50. They cannot complete simple area passes.

This is the kind of crap that is on Capuano. This system is garbage and it's forcing guys to make stupid plays that lead to an inordinate amount of turnovers. We have the 9th most giveaways in the league and I'm convinced an overwhelming majority of them are due to the terrible zone-exit strategy that they deploy.

What I love about this team is how you never know who is going to step up each night and get that big goal Shocked they have been able to still win some of these games without Boychuk & Hamonic. Can't wait for Friday & Saturday night

Dan your pathetic!
- WWE247

His pathetic what?

XxNYIxX

JT needs to sit out a game... he has fallen apart. Acting the Sid in his first few years.... slamming stick after every pass or shot... slamming the door at the bench.... we need a coach that can get him back to his game..
- Nolanders

His little temper tantrums are getting old.

XxNYIxX

Vukota ia right im getting whip lash here tonight. Good god
- Cptmjl

I told you dude

Donovan to the press box and Reinhart probably back to bport
- Dan Petriw

or they waive Strait...

obviously, I hope Reinhardt isn't hurt but on the back line he seemed to be our weakest player by far last night (very young I know.. just thought he was better in other games). The few shifts he did have seemed to coincide with them being unable to get out of their zone. it did not matter who he was paired with either.. I hate to give Cap any credit but he did do a lot of shuffling last night.