Isles have struggled against teams that play speedy, up-tempo games all year. Kings have good speed and teams like the Leafs/Rangers/etc... all play a fast-paced game. The Isles are old and immobile. - eichiefs9
Isles have struggled against teams that play speedy, up-tempo games all year. Kings have good speed and teams like the Leafs/Rangers/etc... all play a fast-paced game. The Isles are old and immobile. - eichiefs9
Just weird that all of a sudden they can’t beat these teams. Same team for years did fine last year and year before. One or two guys shouldn’t make a difference
Just weird that all of a sudden they can’t beat these teams. Same team for years did fine last year and year before. One or two guys shouldn’t make a difference - kasperrko
Well they lost mobility on the back-end for sure, losing Leddy and Toews each of the last two offseasons. The D is slow and not particularly young. Some forwards have good speed/tempo but the ones who lack that lack it pretty severely.
I don't think they even played that terribly last night, but LA did a good job keeping the Isles to the outside where they're not going to beat anyone.
Location: Coming to a jail near you Joined: 10.14.2014
Jan 28 @ 11:43 AM ET
Missed the game.
It was that bad, eh? - Wildschwein
The Isles hardly showed up for the first 2 periods. They were outskated and seemed to lose most of the loose puck battles. At one point, a King skated around Chara as if Chara were a traffic cone. But it wasn't just Chara. As Chiefs said, the Kings made the Isles look slow.
And yet, they might have snuck a point out of the contest, had Varlamov not taken the last 10 seconds of the 2nd period off. (He did something similar in his previous start as well.) The goal he let in with about 5 seconds to go was from a sharp angle and very stoppable. Maybe Andy Greene could have done more to stop the guy from getting off the shot, but it's still no excuse.
The Isles hardly showed up for the first 2 periods. They were outskated and seemed to lose most of the loose puck battles. At one point, a King skated around Chara as if Chara were a traffic cone. But it wasn't just Chara. As Chiefs said, the Kings made the Isles look slow.
And yet, they might have snuck a point out of the contest, had Varlamov not taken the last 10 seconds of the 2nd period off. (He did something similar in his previous start as well.) The goal he let in with about 5 seconds to go was from a sharp angle and very stoppable. Maybe Andy Greene could have done more to stop the guy from getting off the shot, but it's still no excuse. - JohnScammo
It's time for Sorokin to start getting the lion's share of the starts. Varly hasn't played well this year and Sorokin almost always gives them the goaltending they need to have a chance to win.
The Isles hardly showed up for the first 2 periods. They were outskated and seemed to lose most of the loose puck battles. At one point, a King skated around Chara as if Chara were a traffic cone. But it wasn't just Chara. As Chiefs said, the Kings made the Isles look slow.
And yet, they might have snuck a point out of the contest, had Varlamov not taken the last 10 seconds of the 2nd period off. (He did something similar in his previous start as well.) The goal he let in with about 5 seconds to go was from a sharp angle and very stoppable. Maybe Andy Greene could have done more to stop the guy from getting off the shot, but it's still no excuse. - JohnScammo
Huh.
Varly seems to be allowing a weak goal more often than not lately.
The foot speed is concerning, but hardly surprising. The return of Pulock might mitigate that on the backend somewhat, but I doubt Salo will get ice over Greene or Chara. Which he should, IMO anyway.
It's time for Sorokin to start getting the lion's share of the starts. Varly hasn't played well this year and Sorokin almost always gives them the goaltending they need to have a chance to win. - eichiefs9
That he has.
Though Varly is still gonna see significant minutes; the schedule leaves Trotz little choice.
Though Varly is still gonna see significant minutes; the schedule leaves Trotz little choice. - Wildschwein
Obviously Sorokin can't play every night, but it can't be a pure rotation anymore. Varly will certainly get one half of back-to-backs, but other than that Sorokin should start most games. If the game doesn't get snowed out tomorrow, Varly should start again against Seattle because they'll need Sorokin to play against Minnesota.
Obviously Sorokin can't play every night, but it can't be a pure rotation anymore. Varly will certainly get one half of back-to-backs, but other than that Sorokin should start most games. If the game doesn't get snowed out tomorrow, Varly should start again against Seattle because they'll need Sorokin to play against Minnesota. - eichiefs9
Obviously Sorokin can't play every night, but it can't be a pure rotation anymore. Varly will certainly get one half of back-to-backs, but other than that Sorokin should start most games. If the game doesn't get snowed out tomorrow, Varly should start again against Seattle because they'll need Sorokin to play against Minnesota. - eichiefs9
Are you (frank)ing kidding me? Varlamov has been playing great(after he spots the opposing team two goals). You must want Lou and Trotz fired stop jumping off the ledge.
Are you (frank)ing kidding me? Varlamov has been playing great(after he spots the opposing team two goals). You must want Lou and Trotz fired stop jumping off the ledge. - Cptmjl
Thank you for doing this you save me some time. I was going to look this up last night and post about it. I'll be interested in seeing how the return of Pulock effects our overall performance. Like we saw when Pelech went out a couple of years ago the team suffered greatly. Then he returned and we ruled the bubble.
I'm not saying the turnaround would be that drastic but I do expect the team to be substantially improved regardless of our offensive struggles with his return. Unfortunately it'll be too late. - keaner17
Are you (frank)ing kidding me? Varlamov has been playing great(after he spots the opposing team two goals). You must want Lou and Trotz fired stop jumping off the ledge. - Cptmjl
Obviously Sorokin can't play every night, but it can't be a pure rotation anymore. Varly will certainly get one half of back-to-backs, but other than that Sorokin should start most games. If the game doesn't get snowed out tomorrow, Varly should start again against Seattle because they'll need Sorokin to play against Minnesota. - eichiefs9
Are you (frank)ing kidding me? Varlamov has been playing great(after he spots the opposing team two goals). You must want Lou and Trotz fired stop jumping off the ledge. - Cptmjl
Sarcastic remark aside, he actually has played better after giving up a couple goals (particularly a soft one). Just sayin'.
Those 2 goals were just brutal.. meanwhile we hit the crossbar and shoot wide and high constantly. Still not sure how JGP missed that one from between the dots.
Location: Prepared for the worst Joined: 07.12.2007
Jan 28 @ 1:54 PM ET
The Isles have long had a preference towards leaning on vets when it comes to lineup decisions and responsibilities dating back to Nolan. Lou and Trotz both buy into that as well seemingly to a fault.
I honestly would rather see either Chara or Greene removed from the line up when Pullock returns, but have a concern that it will be Salo, which won't help the speed issue.
I also think it's that profound loyalty to age to players that will keep varlamov splitting games with Sorokin regardless of the schedule as well as retreading guys like Baikey on the top line.
I know some get a rash when anyone criticizes Trotz, and his career record speaks for itself, but let's remember that he was the guy who could never quite get over the hump until he hooked up with a great team accompanied by the one of the greatest goal scorers in history in the middle of his prime. My only point there is, he is not without flaw.
I think the delicate balance of team chemistry and perhaps some flawed pholosophy have caught up with them this year.
Alternatively I think they can get it back just as fast.
