The Islanders last year were similar. They don't restrict shots - they restrict high danger shots. Last year they were 5th worst in CF%, but they were 12th in HDCF%. This year they are 5th. They are also 8th in HDGF%. I would suppose from that that they are willing to trade high danger chances because they are better at limiting them than most teams (9th best in chances against) and they are great (1st) in generating them.

Trotz is a very good coach. I think he's really underrated all things considered. He had Washington playing a similar system.
- Monkeypunk

also good points.
I also think he is a good coach, but I dont know that this formula is the way to win. He went a lot of years only making 1 round or sometimes 2. eventually he got a cup win, but it took like 20 tries

here is the thing, you just look at the standings and say they are playing great.
i have to bet you havent watched a game.

I havent watched them either and to be honest didnt really look at the standings until today. But when I look at the underlying stuff.

103 PDO (2nd highest in the League) and a 44 cf% (2nd worst in the League) doesnt say to me a team playing great.

.929 team sv% lots of highly unsustainable things going on.

but in todays NHL, a hot streak like that is sometimes enough to get a playoff spot if you coast a lot of the way
- senstroll

Youd be wrong again. Unfortunately i have watched 2 games, 2 more than i really wanted to but it was on .....and of course have seen highlights of others.
Yes their save percentage is highly unsustainable......except the exact same thing was said last season and their goalies finished with .941, .930 and .927 (although not all games with nyi)
Anywho, its early plenty of time to go sideways, but they came out of the gates flying. As expected.

They're really not, though. They're winning and that's great for them but they're not playing overly good hockey.
- GreatGigInTheSky

The 2 ive seen, they were pretty good.
At the end of the day, its about wins in the reg season.

Never said contender, but they keep winning league games and a playoff round...it’s almost like a dream for us.
- Garnie

We only wish had the islanders results the past year or so

also good points.
I also think he is a good coach, but I dont know that this formula is the way to win. He went a lot of years only making 1 round or sometimes 2. eventually he got a cup win, but it took like 20 tries
- senstroll

Yes, and he had Ovechkin and Kuznetsov playing incredibly well. Holtby was also really good.

I don't think there's a clear formula to winning, but I am a firm believer in an aggressive forecheck. Teams that put on relentless pressure are great to watch. I wish the Leafs - since they are so fast - would employ a more aggressive forecheck. Go in. Create havoc. Attempt to force a turnover or a bad a pass. Rather than the semi-zone loop for show that they seem to use.

I agree, Trotz is an excellent coach. I also believe the impact of the coach on an NHL team is less than 5% in either direction.
- winsix

I would say at least 15%, no?

Wow, good news. Petan is in tonight. Awesome. That will give the team a boast...
- Hockey_Reverend

are they bragging about Petan coming up?

I would say at least 15%, no?
- Fakepartofme

just watch the games stats nerd

Yes, and he had Ovechkin and Kuznetsov playing incredibly well. Holtby was also really good.

I don't think there's a clear formula to winning, but I am a firm believer in an aggressive forecheck. Teams that put on relentless pressure are great to watch. I wish the Leafs - since they are so fast - would employ a more aggressive forecheck. Go in. Create havoc. Attempt to force a turnover or a bad a pass. Rather than the semi-zone loop for show that they seem to use.
- Monkeypunk

We only have a few guys that actually fore-check.. We need everyone to buy into that.. The question is; Who is to blame, the coach or the forwards?

here is the thing, you just look at the standings and say they are playing great.
i have to bet you havent watched a game.

I havent watched them either and to be honest didnt really look at the standings until today. But when I look at the underlying stuff.

103 PDO (2nd highest in the League) and a 44 cf% (2nd worst in the League) doesnt say to me a team playing great.

.929 team sv% lots of highly unsustainable things going on.

but in todays NHL, a hot streak like that is sometimes enough to get a playoff spot if you coast a lot of the way
- senstroll

Reminds me of the lockout shortened leaf season + the next 50 games into the next season.

Reminds me of the lockout shortened leaf season + the next 50 games into the next season.
- Santo_44

gives me very much the same feel also.
those Kessel teams were able to reel off streaks of 8-10 wins a few times.

We only have a few guys that actually fore-check.. We need everyone to buy into that.. The question is; Who is to blame, the coach or the forwards?
- PatC80

I really don't know. I mean Hyman goes in deep on the forecheck. Moore did last year, but this year he seems to do the mid-zone swoop.

In theory if you don't forecheck, you can be in better position defensively, but you're allowing them to breakout cleanly which I think is a bad idea. Not to mention the mid-zone swoop lets them build up speed as they skate back into their own zone, but it's (in my opinion) a useless tactic.

If Hyman doesn't use the same forecheck he did last year, then you know it's coaching. But why Moore stopped makes me think it's a coaching shift.

I really don't know. I mean Hyman goes in deep on the forecheck. Moore did last year, but this year he seems to do the mid-zone swoop.

In theory if you don't forecheck, you can be in better position defensively, but you're allowing them to breakout cleanly which I think is a bad idea. Not to mention the mid-zone swoop lets them build up speed as they skate back into their own zone, but it's (in my opinion) a useless tactic.

If Hyman doesn't use the same forecheck he did last year, then you know it's coaching. But why Moore stopped makes me think it's a coaching shift.
- Monkeypunk

either he's alive or dead or the cops got him or they dont

I really don't know. I mean Hyman goes in deep on the forecheck. Moore did last year, but this year he seems to do the mid-zone swoop.

In theory if you don't forecheck, you can be in better position defensively, but you're allowing them to breakout cleanly which I think is a bad idea. Not to mention the mid-zone swoop lets them build up speed as they skate back into their own zone, but it's (in my opinion) a useless tactic.

If Hyman doesn't use the same forecheck he did last year, then you know it's coaching. But why Moore stopped makes me think it's a coaching shift.
- Monkeypunk

Agreed... That's what made Moore so likeable last season.. I like that Kap and Mikheyev at least attempt to hit someone.

I don't like the mid-zone swoop either, it allows the team to gain speed, meaning we have to skate backwards, and get caught out of position.

We have a really big issue if Hyman is our only real fore-checker.

either he's alive or dead or the cops got him or they dont
- drexel

either he's alive or dead or the cops got him or they dont
- drexel

Schrodinger's Forecheck.

Schrodinger's Forecheck.
- Monkeypunk

Wow, good news. Petan is in tonight. Awesome. That will give the team a boast...
- Hockey_Reverend

jeebuz... who's sitting for Petan?

(and must be a showcase situation)

jeebuz... who's sitting for Petan?

(and must be a showcase situation)
- BorjeFan4Ever

Timashov

Kapanen is our only forward who hits anyone.
Muzzin is our only Dman who hits anyone.
No-one stands up for teammates after cheap shots.
We are built for 1st round exits.

It's better than our last plan: Win in the 11th round of the Shootout.
- Monkeypunk

Spezza is the unsung hero in that one.
He was probably shaking his head wondering what the (frank) these kids are doing skating in slower mike komisarek and trying stupid trick play dekes.

Timashov
- PatC80

seriously... did he look at Babcock's daughter the wrong way or something?

Kapanen is our only forward who hits anyone.
Muzzin is our only Dman who hits anyone.
No-one stands up for teammates after cheap shots.
We are built for 1st round exits.

- BestRapperAlive

Leafs should fire Dubas and re-hire the guy who brought in those two.

Leafs should fire Dubas and re-hire the guy who brought in those two.
- Steven_Seagull

wasn't LouLams the GM when they made the Kessel deal?

wasn't LouLams the GM when they made the Kessel deal?
- BorjeFan4Ever

No, he was hired later that month.