It was fun while it lasted. The Islanders had played five solid periods in a row until last night when the dreaded second intermission took place. The Ducks stormed back with four straight goals to defeat the hapless Islanders by a score of 5-3. This is just another example of why change is needed in this organization and it starts with actual direction behind the bench.
The Islanders continue to blow leads in the third period and I believe a large part of this failure can directly be linked to the entire coaching staff. After forty minutes the opponent’s staff makes adjustments and whatever adjustments are made the Islanders never have an answer for. Last night the Ducks simply came out in the third period and took the game away from the Isles. This keeps happening time after time after time and nothing has been done to solve it. The “battle level… isn’t the issue; the “compete and willingness… isn’t the issue; it’s the system and the direction that is given to the players on the ice. This has never been clearer than the comments made by Islanders Head Coach Jack Capuano following the loss last night. Everyone in the building felt momentum shift. Even announcers Howie Rose and Butch Goring talked about using a timeout to calm the team down and refocus the boys on the bench. However when asked after the game why he didn’t use his timeout Capuano explained that he has the center on the ice tell him when he should take a timeout. His center will tell him if the line needs it or not. WHAT????? In all of my years of following and covering all of professional sports I have never heard something as mind blowing as that.
The coach gives the direction. It is the coach’s time out to use not your player’s timeout. Take control of the situation. I honestly have no clue what is going on right now with this organization. This is just another example of a rudderless ship drifting haplessly in the ocean looking for someone to take control.
I am well aware that the players on the ice share in the blame for the lack of success that this team is having. With the way this team is constructed I do believe that many coaches would have a difficult time finding the win column. However a new voice is needed and new direction is needed. They need someone to take control of the situation. In my opinion nobody on this team wants to be that man. Nobody wants to step up. Now more than ever this is why this hockey club needs a new voice in here and it needs someone willing to roll up his sleeves, grab the wheel and steer this boat back to port.
=========================================================== Before I conclude I want to announce that I will be helping my friend Lisa Berlinski in an amazing fundraiser that involves the NHL. Next April Lisa will be running in the 2014 Boston Marathon and she has just started raising money for a great cause; the Boston Bruins Foundation. This is where I need help from the most generous fans in all of sports. I have enclosed the links below where you can learn more about the charity and make a donation to this amazing cause. In early 2014 I will also be hosting an online silent auction with some amazing NHL memorabilia that we will auction off so we can shatter Lisa’s goal and show support for an amazing city and an amazing charity. I ask that you please consider any donation. I know NHL fans have the biggest hearts in the world so that is why I jumped at the chance to align myself with this fundraising effort. As we get closer to the auction I will provide a link with all the amazing items up for bid. For more on this and all thing hockey follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @DanDanNoodles78
Here is the bruins foundation link http://bruins.nhl.com/club/microhome.htm?location=/foundation
Here is the Direct link to donate to Lisa's cause http://www.crowdrise.com/2014bostonbruinsfoun/fundraiser/lisaberlinski