Thinking with the long term when Pageau and Barzy return:
At this stage we can reasonably roll four lines at near even distribution without any concern.
I would seriously not break up Martin Cizikas and Fasching. 53 & 20 were lights out tonight. (That Clutter extension just looks worse and worse)

Lee-Horvat-Barzal
Parise-Nelson-Palmieri
Holmstrom/Engvall -Pageau-Bailey
Martin-Cizikas-Fasching

You really could arrange this in a few ways, like changing Engvall and Parise.

I’ll give a little love to Romanov too. He’s been much better lately.
- potvin05

Much better.

Just keep winning. At this point I do not care who is on the ice as long as the team keeps winning. Do not worry about who is chasing you. Do not worry about how many games are in hand.

Just play the team in front of you and win !!!

Nothing better then Sabres fans complaining how boring of a shut down team we have after outshooting them 39-24.

Nothing better then Sabres fans complaining how boring of a shut down team we have after outshooting them 39-24.
- Cptmjl

It's hilarious, love how they counter and create opportunities off turnovers. Isles starting to put it together. Slow start last night, but as the game went on they clamped down.

ESPN+ had a stat that the Isles lead the league in shots with net front presence. I think it was 33% of their shots on net have a player in front trying to tip the puck or screen the goalie. That's a pretty good stat to lead the league in, seeing how good the goalies are these days.

Nothing better then Sabres fans complaining how boring of a shut down team we have after outshooting them 39-24.
- Cptmjl

And also their injuries are to blame, but Barzal's injury doesn't count because the Isles aren't an offensive team...and all of this comes, like, two seconds after they criticize their management for making too many excuses

At the end of the day, the Sabres coughed up the puck too much when being forechecked, they couldn't complete two passes most of the night to get out of their zone and up the ice, and when they had the puck in wide open scoring chances, they panicked and passed it off to no one instead of shooting (Bailey-itus). One team sure did play a confused, uninspired, and boring hockey game for most of last night, but it wasn't the Isles.

And also their injuries are to blame, but Barzal's injury doesn't count because the Isles aren't an offensive team...and all of this comes, like, two seconds after they criticize their management for making too many excuses

At the end of the day, the Sabres coughed up the puck too much when being forechecked, they couldn't complete two passes most of the night to get out of their zone and up the ice, and when they had the puck in wide open scoring chances, they panicked and passed it off to no one instead of shooting (Bailey-itus). One team sure did play a confused, uninspired, and boring hockey game for most of last night, but it wasn't the Isles.
- UIF

From one of the more delusional posters on the Sabres thread:
“They are not an offensive team and they picked up a better goal scorer than Barzal.
Tuch is a much bigger loss to the Sabres than Barzal to the Isles”
-lulags

Bit of a contradiction no? In his previous post he was saying how we’re boring and have no talent or offense which the Sabres have. Then goes onto say the islanders losing one of if not their most offensively talented fwd would be less impactful then them losing one on their super fun to watch high powered offense team when they have five players with 20 or more goals. Hysterical

It's hilarious, love how they counter and create opportunities off turnovers. Isles starting to put it together. Slow start last night, but as the game went on they clamped down.

ESPN+ had a stat that the Isles lead the league in shots with net front presence. I think it was 33% of their shots on net have a player in front trying to tip the puck or screen the goalie. That's a pretty good stat to lead the league in, seeing how good the goalies are these days.
- streaks

Yeah I don’t get the whole boring label. I for one have always appreciated a team that can play a good team defense. It’s exactly how you have to play in the playoffs if you want to succeed. After outshooting them by 15 shots with more attempts and as you pointed out more high danger chances it’s laughable how they are still pushing the boring to watch narrative.

And also their injuries are to blame, but Barzal's injury doesn't count because the Isles aren't an offensive team...and all of this comes, like, two seconds after they criticize their management for making too many excuses

At the end of the day, the Sabres coughed up the puck too much when being forechecked, they couldn't complete two passes most of the night to get out of their zone and up the ice, and when they had the puck in wide open scoring chances, they panicked and passed it off to no one instead of shooting (Bailey-itus). One team sure did play a confused, uninspired, and boring hockey game for most of last night, but it wasn't the Isles.
- UIF

Not having JGP in the line up is a huge loss in my opinion, too. He does a lot of the little things the right way, wins face offs, and allows Casey to play with MM, which in and of itself is a huge add too.

From one of the more delusional posters on the Sabres thread:
“They are not an offensive team and they picked up a better goal scorer than Barzal.
Tuch is a much bigger loss to the Sabres than Barzal to the Isles”
-lulags

Bit of a contradiction no? In his previous post he was saying how we’re boring and have no talent or offense which the Sabres have. Then goes onto say the islanders losing one of if not their most offensively talented fwd would be less impactful then them losing one on their super fun to watch high powered offense team. Hysterical

- Cptmjl

The thing is, If the Sabres do overtake the Isles and get to the playoffs, I hope their fans don't think all the other playoff teams are going to just give up the middle and play "fun" run-and-gun hockey with them, because that stuff goes right out the window by game 2 of the first round and they'll have to grind out wins the hard way like everyone else.

And, really, when the Sabres finally settled down last night and got out of their own heads, I thought they looked great. Unfortunately for them, that didn't happen until there were around 4 minutes left to play.

Not having JGP in the line up is a huge loss in my opinion, too. He does a lot of the little things the right way, wins face offs, and allows Casey to play with MM, which in and of itself is a huge add too.
- streaks

It's also forces them to have to roll out Otto Koivula down the middle

The thing is, If the Sabres do overtake the Isles and get to the playoffs, I hope their fans don't think all the other playoff teams are going to just give up the middle and play "fun" run-and-gun hockey with them, because that stuff goes right out the window by game 2 of the first round and they'll have to grind out wins the hard way like everyone else.

And, really, when the Sabres finally settled down last night and got out of their own heads, I thought they looked great. Unfortunately for them, that didn't happen until there were around 4 minutes left to play.
- UIF

Well according to Sabres fans on here they would rather watch an entertaining loss then a “boring” win. If they make the playoffs they’ll be really entertained I guess.

Well according to Sabres fans on here they would rather watch an entertaining loss then a “boring” win. If they make the playoffs they’ll be really entertained I guess.
- Cptmjl

Yeah, for 4 games.

Yeah I don’t get the whole boring label. I for one have always appreciated a team that can play a good team defense. It’s exactly how you have to play in the playoffs if you want to succeed. After outshooting them by 15 shots with more attempts and as you pointed out more high danger chances it’s laughable how they are still pushing the boring to watch narrative.
- Cptmjl

Run and gun does not work for the Islanders along with many teams as well. Islanders can use more offense but playing the Cappy and Doug way does not work. I wonder if these hockey people look at the Islanders and think the trap days of the Devils even though it's not the same system.

Yeah I don’t get the whole boring label. I for one have always appreciated a team that can play a good team defense. It’s exactly how you have to play in the playoffs if you want to succeed. After outshooting them by 15 shots with more attempts and as you pointed out more high danger chances it’s laughable how they are still pushing the boring to watch narrative.
- Cptmjl

I agree, but I guess we're in the minority. I'd rather see a low scoring game where both teams are skating and checking well than a 7-6 game with no defense to speak of. It's missing 50% of the game of hockey! I mean, if it's just breakaways and goaltending you're looking for, watch a shootout.

For the Isles, I think they're boring when their D and checking is sloppy, not the other way around. A month ago was boring Isles hockey.

Sure, I wish they had more offensive weapons because the best of both worlds is really where it's at -- a team with solid checking and defense that's also dangerous in the offensive zone, like the Bruins have traditionally been (haven't watched them much this year, so I don't know what they've changed, if anything). I never thought the Bs played a brand of hockey that Callahan and Subban in the ESPN+ booth would consider "exciting"...if you're a fan of the other team, it's just pure frustration the way they can stifle your team. But they sure do have the offensive weapons to make it look a little prettier.

And really, Subban being "bored to sleep" by defense is probably the most accurate summary of his career.

Run and gun does not work for the Islanders along with many teams as well. Islanders can use more offense but playing the Cappy and Doug way does not work. I wonder if these hockey people look at the Islanders and think the trap days of the Devils even though it's not the same system.
- ses111

I’m the playoffs, run and gun doesn’t work for anyone. Even a team like the avalanche locks it down.

Yeah, for 4 games.
- JohnScammo

Exactly

It's also forces them to have to roll out Otto Koivula down the middle
- UIF

Very good point. The forwards get exceptionally better as you add key players back into the lineup.

The Isles are 9-3-3 in their last 15 games now. Over the past few games they've really managed to begin to resemble the Trotz era with their defensive zone play. From puck support to overall positioning, they're functioning much more in cohesion with one another. It also seems like the overall effort is just better. One of the better indicators is shots against, where they are averaging just 25 shots against over the past six games. As pointed out by last night's God-Awful broadcast, they're doing a much better job of clogging the middle of the ice and getting blocks. They certainly appear to be in playoff mode now

I’m the playoffs, run and gun doesn’t work for anyone. Even a team like the avalanche locks it down.
- Cptmjl

Tampa locked it down as well. Even the Oilers teams in the 80's learnt from the Islanders how to play defense after the Islanders swept them in 83.

I agree, but I guess we're in the minority. I'd rather see a low scoring game where both teams are skating and checking well than a 7-6 game with no defense to speak of. It's missing 50% of the game of hockey! I mean, if it's just breakaways and goaltending you're looking for, watch a shootout.

For the Isles, I think they're boring when their D and checking is sloppy, not the other way around. A month ago was boring Isles hockey.

Sure, I wish they had more offensive weapons because the best of both worlds is really where it's at -- a team with solid checking and defense that's also dangerous in the offensive zone, like the Bruins have traditionally been (haven't watched them much this year, so I don't know what they've changed, if anything). I never thought the Bs played a brand of hockey that Callahan and Subban in the ESPN+ booth would consider "exciting"...if you're a fan of the other team, it's just pure frustration the way they can stifle your team. But they sure do have the offensive weapons to make it look a little prettier.

And really, Subban being "bored to sleep" by defense is probably the most accurate summary of his career.
- UIF

Am I the only one who finds subban overtly irritating? I honestly can’t stand him.

The Isles are 9-3-3 in their last 15 games now. Over the past few games they've really managed to begin to resemble the Trotz era with their defensive zone play. From puck support to overall positioning, they're functioning much more in cohesion with one another. It also seems like the overall effort is just better. One of the better indicators is shots against, where they are averaging just 25 shots against over the past six games. As pointed out by last night's God-Awful broadcast, they're doing a much better job of clogging the middle of the ice and getting blocks. They certainly appear to be in playoff mode now
- keaner17

Seemed like they played a ton of 1-2-2 last night and holding a pretty strong offensive team to 24 shots (and Tage Thompson to zero points) is a good result

The Isles are 9-3-3 in their last 15 games now. Over the past few games they've really managed to begin to resemble the Trotz era with their defensive zone play. From puck support to overall positioning, they're functioning much more in cohesion with one another. It also seems like the overall effort is just better. One of the better indicators is shots against, where they are averaging just 25 shots against over the past six games. As pointed out by last night's God-Awful broadcast, they're doing a much better job of clogging the middle of the ice and getting blocks. They certainly appear to be in playoff mode now
- keaner17

I read somewhere that Bailey played only 43 seconds of 5 on 5. I think that’s also a big contributor to the teams current run.

Am I the only one who finds subban overtly irritating? I honestly can’t stand him.
- Cptmjl

Guessing by the facial reactions of some of his on air partners, I'm guessing they agree with you. He's pretty immature, constantly making faces (sometimes mockingly) when other commentators are speaking. I thought Messier was going to strangle him one night. It's ESPN so quality presentations clearly mean little to them, but I wonder how long they'll put up with him.

Seemed like they played a ton of 1-2-2 last night and holding a pretty strong offensive team to 24 shots (and Tage Thompson to zero points) is a good result
- eichiefs9

It's all about winning. The Devils are not giving back those Cup wins regardless of many not liking the trap.