As unfair as it may be, however, you can have a great year, but if your not playing well in April it may not be worth a poop. Conversely, you can have a pedestrian year, and just get hot at the right time.

At the end of the day, the preliminaries are fun and all, and of course, you have to qualify, but who knows what things are going to look like come April.
- Pete V

True. Come April it's good to have a hot goalie, as you saw last year. Halak was pretty hot last night.

things like puck possesion and the ammount of time you don't spend in your zone are valid and important numbers
- Dan Petriw

Yea I agree, I was just joking.

I'm skeptical about how accurate of a possession proxy those stats actually are but there's no denying the success teams enjoy when they have good fenwick and corsi.

exactly, you look Stanley cup winners and best franchise they all possession teams. hawks, kings, boston etc.

It always made my blood boil when announcers would compliment Andy Macdonald for leading in block shots. Leading in block shots is a negative. it just means you spending too much time in your defensive zone.

its no coincidence that isles are where they are, if you don't believe advance stats matter, then you are just dumb.
- Spartiarti

Rangers are always a top possession team. Thanks for the compliment

Yea I agree, I was just joking.

I'm skeptical about how accurate of a possession proxy those stats actually are but there's no denying the success teams enjoy when they have good fenwick and corsi.
- rangerdanger94

i agree totally

That's the problem people mistake Islander fans being happy as thinking they have everything locked up. Are we not suppose to be pumped up about our team? That's why I love when fans from other teams come to our board and say that. Not talking to you Peter
- Vukota

As nice as this season has been, I'm still concerned about the playoffs. I'm enjoying the ride right now and not getting crazy.

Keys to winning in the playoffs. keep Halak healthy and keep Poulin and Donovan as far away from the team as possible. I don't care what anybody says, we have a great shot this year. Team that could go all the way this year are Ducks, Hawks, Isles, Lightning or Pens.

Do you trust Johnson? He has looked quite pedestrian in a lot of his starts.
- MidnightMarauder

Pedestrian? Thats a really nice way to put it hes been terrible for the most part

As nice as this season has been, I'm still concerned about the playoffs. I'm enjoying the ride right now and not getting crazy.
- ses111

I'm not concerned about the playoffs I'm excited about them. 1st rd knockout would suck for sure but with this team being built the right way finally they will be making some noise for a long time to come. This team is being set up nicely for the long haul.

Agreed
- Vukota

He's gotta get a look at some point. Boston is neither a division rival nor a current threat to our standing in the conference. DET is a priority on Saturday. After that we face FLA, PHI, BOS again, BUF, EDM, TOR, CBJ, NYR, CAR, NSH, WSH, VAN, ARI, CGY, and CAR to close out February. Nothing is a given and no game is "easy" but a good chunk of those games are very, very winnable. If Halak starts ~75% of those games we should do pretty well in that stretch.

That's the problem people mistake Islander fans being happy as thinking they have everything locked up. Are we not suppose to be pumped up about our team? That's why I love when fans from other teams come to our board and say that. Not talking to you Peter
- Vukota

Yeah, don't get me wrong. You need to enjoy the journey, because if all that really matters is the end result of winning the Stanley Cup, then your bound to spend most of your life miserable (especially us Rangers' fans
). But here is what I'll say. I think its pretty clear that the Islanders have turned into a team that is always, always going to be in the playoff mix. I don't see them missing again anytime soon. So, once you become one of those teams, especially one of the top seeded teams, than every year you are taking your shot at the prize and the more shots you take, the better your chances of actually winning it.

My prior statement wasn't a criticism in anyway. It's just more about being around long enough not to worry too much about a January game, as things can be totally different in April.

Pedestrian? Thats a really nice way to put it hes been terrible for the most part
- Cptmjl

It's odd because in the beginning of the season he actually looked pretty damn good while Halak was shaky. I think he caught a bad run of games and has been forced to ride pine since. A strong game might pick up his confidence, as well as the coaching staff's.

I'm not concerned about the playoffs I'm excited about them. 1st rd knockout would suck for sure but with this team being built the right way finally they will be making some noise for a long time to come. This team is being set up nicely for the long haul.
- Vukota

I'm excited as well and very nervous. A 1st round exit would be a killer and make for a very tough summer. I agree the team seems setup for a long time to come. Still think it's critical to win at least one round.

Rangers are always a top possession team. Thanks for the compliment
- rangerdanger94

I never said the rangers were not a good team. its just the islanders are way better. Even your own players think so.

let me boil it down for you. Henrik and your Defense is best part of team. you only have one true scoring threat in Nash up front. So when team that rolls 4 strong lines at you with multiple scoring threat what do you think the outcome will be?

Both of first goal were fault of your defense not Henrik. And Tavares pp goal I think Henrik still scratching his head on what mail slot he put that through

Keys to winning in the playoffs. keep Halak healthy and keep Poulin and Donovan as far away from the team as possible. I don't care what anybody says, we have a great shot this year. Team that could go all the way this year are Ducks, Hawks, Isles, Lightning or Pens.
- mighty13duck

Blues? Preds? Pens don't belong in this discussion imo.

I never said the rangers were not a good team. its just the islanders are way better. Even your own players think so.

let me boil it down for you. Henrik and your Defense is best part of team. you only have one true scoring threat in Nash up front. So when team that rolls 4 strong lines at you with multiple scoring threat what do you think the outcome will be?

Both of first goal were fault of your defense not Henrik. And Tavares pp goal I think Henrik still scratching his head on what mail slot he put that through
- Spartiarti

That PP goal was a wicked shot.

As unfair as it may be, however, you can have a great year, but if your not playing well in April it may not be worth a poop. Conversely, you can have a pedestrian year, and just get hot at the right time.

At the end of the day, the preliminaries are fun and all, and of course, you have to qualify, but who knows what things are going to look like come April.
- Pete V

Of course but the whole these games mean nothing argument screams of being butt sore. Thats about it. Its actually quite pitiful. We will cross that bridge in april and I for one am confident with this team in the playoffs as long as they can stay healthy. Im sick of people telling me this after we shalack their team. I didnt start watching the game yesterday and im probably more aware of what it takes to win in the playoffs then 90% of the facking half wits on this site even though im an islander fan. This isnt directed at you btw

I'm excited as well and very nervous. A 1st round exit would be a killer and make for a very tough summer. I agree the team seems setup for a long time to come. Still think it's critical to win at least one round.
- ses111

Agreed they better win a round

I don't think they are peaking too early but the way they look now isn't an automatic come playoff time.

There's no question if they continue this level of play, once the playoffs start, they should be one of the favorites to get out of the east.

But lately in the playoffs top seeds really don't amount to a whole lot. I am looking forward to see how it all unfolds before the cup tournament gets started.
- MidnightMarauder

Anything can happen in the playoffs for sure, I'm just enjoying not being a doormat for the first time in a while

I never said the rangers were not a good team. its just the islanders are way better. Even your own players think so.

let me boil it down for you. Henrik and your Defense is best part of team. you only have one true scoring threat in Nash up front. So when team that rolls 4 strong lines at you with multiple scoring threat what do you think the outcome will be?

Both of first goal were fault of your defense not Henrik. And Tavares pp goal I think Henrik still scratching his head on what mail slot he put that through
- Spartiarti

The Islanders need to earn their stripes when it matters before making any claims to anything.

That is the reason why a coach like Disco Dan lost his job in Pitt, because at the end of the day, even if you are world beater in the regular season, it don't me a thang if you don't win in the playoffs. And, that hockey is different.

The Islanders may very well be the better team, but they need to prove it when it counts.

Agreed they better win a round
- Vukota

Would you get rid of Cappy with a 1st round exit? I hate to even think 1st round exit.

As unfair as it may be, however, you can have a great year, but if your not playing well in April it may not be worth a poop. Conversely, you can have a pedestrian year, and just get hot at the right time.

At the end of the day, the preliminaries are fun and all, and of course, you have to qualify, but who knows what things are going to look like come April.
- Pete V

Definitely, no argument from me there at all

Would you get rid of Cappy with a 1st round exit? I hate to even think 1st round exit.
- ses111

With a PO berth, Cappy might get an extension... 10yrs or so

Rangers are always a top possession team. Thanks for the compliment
- rangerdanger94

Why dont you get that douche sbroads in here so we can have the Girardi and Staal are Better than any islander defender and Klein is better than anyone not named boychuck debate? That was fun. Felt like I took a hit of acid after that.

Of course but the whole these games mean nothing argument screams of being butt sore. Thats about it. Its actually quite pitiful. We will cross that bridge in april and I for one am confident with this team in the playoffs as long as they can stay healthy. Im sick of people telling me this after we shalack their team. I didnt start watching the game yesterday and im probably more aware of what it takes to win in the playoffs then 90% of the facking half wits on this site even though im an islander fan. This isnt directed at you btw
- Cptmjl

I've actually been a bit of a proponent of these games mean nothing argument, but that is mostly too counteract some of our more reactionary board members that believe they mean too much.

Why dont you get that douche sbroads in here so we can have the Girardi and Staal are Better than any islander defender and Klein is better than anyone not named boychuck debate? That was fun. Felt like I took a hit of acid after that.
- Cptmjl

they only know the names of Hickey, Strait, Donovan......