If you told me before last nights' game that the combination of the Islanders defense and goalie Kevin Poulin would only give up one goal I would have assumed that the Islanders would have surely secured two points with a win. But you know what they say about making assumptions and the Isles forwards never got off the bus Thursday night and fell to the Hurricanes by a score of 1-0.
It was an uninspired, flat, sloppy and boring performance by the Islanders forwards who for the most part have been fine this year. John Tavares was flat out awful and his line show little life. There were too many neutral zone turnovers by all the lines and way too much east/west play. The bottom six need to play a simpler game.
Speaking of the bottom six they have clearly forgot what made them so successful last season and the fourth line trio resemble a bunch of wallflowers. They need to play a lunch pail blue collar game and finish their checks and wear down teams with their physicality. The group as a whole has not been physical enough including the Dmen where Travis Hamonic's play does not merit his nickname the "hammer."
To be blunt this team can not be successful being a finesse team. They have to be a north south in your face physical team. The Islanders have to out work their opponents. They especially need to shoot the puck more and stop passing when they are in good scoring areas. Tavares, Vanek and Bailey have been far too guilty of this.
The good news is Kevin Poulin looked like a starting NHL goalie last night and he will certainly see action this weekend. The road trip continues tomorrow night in Columbus, as the Islanders need to get points in their game against the Blue Jackets. As always for more on all things hockey please follow me on twitter at @DanDanNoodles78.