Everyone female doging about the D I do not understand. They are tied for 6th in GA per game. They were 3rd before last night. They played the BEST offensive team in the league last night and got torched on the PP.

Letting off the gas after the 4th goal is super concerning but I think that will come around.

Kakko looked awesome before his injury but everyone is forgetting that. His skating and puck possession were markedly better than last season. He made some great defensive plays last night.

Lafreniere is a little more concerning. I don't even think it's his skating, he just seems completely deflated, almost uninterested. Still see some skill flashes from him. Almost ready to say demote him.

I think Kakko and Lafreniere are unique since they both entered teams where they're not gonna get top minutes every night and it's stunting their growth. Their games are too safe, I'd rather they go all out on offense and figure out the defensive side later.
- JRR1285

This is the approach the Ducks have taken with Zegras... try and get better in the dot and on D .. but not at the expense of his magical offensive game.. at least not as yet. And he is simply a magician with puck.. We simply haven't had a guy like him.. like ever...

Face facts here, if it was for Shesty they wouldnt be tied for 6th best GA in the league. Trouba and Miller are terrible, Nemeth and Tinordi are AHL players.
- Brukie

Except he's part of the D and the team as a whole. Lundqvist made his living doing the same.

I'm not saying there aren't concerning elements to their game but we were talking about the same poop through 20+ games last year. Then they turned it around and made a push. They're still doing OK in the standings. I'm trying to maintain some hope despite being a pessimist.

To be fair to Gallant we only see the players at game time for maybe 15 minutes of ice. What goes on the rest of the time we don’t really know. AV used to say that JT Miller and Hayes had to learn to be pros , once they did they became better players. He meant that there’s way more to it than game day. Work outs , practice, diet . Who knows what LAF does other than game time. Maybe he needs tough love, it doesn’t mean GG and AV don’t like young player , they just want them to do the right thing to become a good pro.
Time will tell if GG is doing the right thing

Except he's part of the D and the team as a whole. Lundqvist made his living doing the same.

I'm not saying there aren't concerning elements to their game but we were talking about the same poop through 20+ games last year. Then they turned it around and made a push. They're still doing OK in the standings. I'm trying to maintain some hope despite being a pessimist.
- JRR1285

I just want 60 minute efforts. Have only gotten that one game all season. Last two games once they got multi goals leads they took their foot off the pedal and just tried to play defense. Need to bring it all game long

I just want 60 minute efforts. Have only gotten that one game all season. Last two games once they got multi goals leads they took their foot off the pedal and just tried to play defense. Need to bring it all game long
- TPC

Totally valid complaint. We've only seen a solid 60 maybe once? Columbus?

Totally valid complaint. We've only seen a solid 60 maybe once? Columbus?
- JRR1285

Nah we suck

Totally valid complaint. We've only seen a solid 60 maybe once? Columbus?
- JRR1285

Yep that was it

Except he's part of the D and the team as a whole. Lundqvist made his living doing the same.

I'm not saying there aren't concerning elements to their game but we were talking about the same poop through 20+ games last year. Then they turned it around and made a push. They're still doing OK in the standings. I'm trying to maintain some hope despite being a pessimist.
- JRR1285

Gotta stay in neutral, its only 11 games into the season!!! I think they will turn it around.

One thing that will irk me til they get it sorted out is their offensive zone possession game. They play too much against the boards and unless its someone taking a shot on net from distance, they dont play the puck to the middle of the ice (net front area). Also, they dont cycle well (or at all) and ride the puck up and down the boards. They need to cycle more, short passes back and forth, rotate, move and get the defenses to back off. We dont get much much respect from defenses in the offensive zone because were too predictable.

One thing that will irk me til they get it sorted out is their offensive zone possession game. They play too much against the boards and unless its someone taking a shot on net from distance, they dont play the puck to the middle of the ice (net front area). Also, they dont cycle well (or at all) and ride the puck up and down the boards. They need to cycle more, short passes back and forth, rotate, move and get the defenses to back off. We dont get much much respect from defenses in the offensive zone because were too predictable.
- aecliptic

This is the whole problem. They have no offensive cohesion. It just seems like the game plan is to go out there and see what happens

One thing that will irk me til they get it sorted out is their offensive zone possession game. They play too much against the boards and unless its someone taking a shot on net from distance, they dont play the puck to the middle of the ice (net front area). Also, they dont cycle well (or at all) and ride the puck up and down the boards. They need to cycle more, short passes back and forth, rotate, move and get the defenses to back off. We dont get much much respect from defenses in the offensive zone because were too predictable.
- aecliptic

As constructed they are going to do most of the damage off the rush. They don’t cycle well because it’s not their game. Bread, ZIb, Strome, Krieds, Chytil, kakko are not down low cycle style players. You can’t ask players to play a certain way, when their abilities lie elsewhere. This is an offense that needs to push the pace, including the D.

As constructed they are going to do most of the damage off the rush. They don’t cycle well because it’s not their game. Bread, ZIb, Strome, Krieds, Chytil, kakko are not down low cycle style players. You can’t ask players to play a certain way, when their abilities lie elsewhere. This is an offense that needs to push the pace, including the D.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

And yet, the strategy seems to be to do the things you just said they cant

As constructed they are going to do most of the damage off the rush. They don’t cycle well because it’s not their game. Bread, ZIb, Strome, Krieds, Chytil, kakko are not down low cycle style players. You can’t ask players to play a certain way, when their abilities lie elsewhere. This is an offense that needs to push the pace, including the D.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Maybe the team, as constructed, isnt working and isnt playing to the strength of the players it has.

Maybe the team, as constructed, isnt working and isnt playing to the strength of the players it has.
- aecliptic

I think the Rangers are playing well and you guys are nuts. They have their lapses but they’re getting points. It’s the beginning of the season these guys are still finding their legs. I say that as an Islander fan that wants nothing more then your team to just miss the playoffs so you get a mediocre draft pick.

I think the Rangers are playing well and you guys are nuts. They have their lapses but they’re getting points. It’s the beginning of the season these guys are still finding their legs. I say that as an Islander fan that wants nothing more then your team to just miss the playoffs so you get a mediocre draft pick.
- Cptmjl

You haven’t watched. We’ve gotten points due to Shesty and luck mostly

I think the Rangers are playing well and you guys are nuts. They have their lapses but they’re getting points. It’s the beginning of the season these guys are still finding their legs. I say that as an Islander fan that wants nothing more then your team to just miss the playoffs so you get a mediocre draft pick.
- Cptmjl

When your GF and GA is the same, its not exactly a good thing. Shesty bailed them out of like 3 or 4 games that should have been losses.

So Florida is really good

So Florida is really good
- picklerick

Duclair... 1g 2a in the 1st.

The only result tonight that will satisfy me is our total obliteration of Calgary. I can’t even go on the internet without seeing the mcdavid replay 10x

new blog up

I just want 60 minute efforts. Have only gotten that one game all season. Last two games once they got multi goals leads they took their foot off the pedal and just tried to play defense. Need to bring it all game long
- TPC

Last night was infuriating, should have won that game. Can't back off against a team like the Oilers. How many times has the 3 goal lead come back to but us in the ass? Need a solid 60 minutes of compete.