They can beat this team. I don’t know if they will but they definitely are capable.
- Cptmjl

I agree with you. I don’t sweat the canes.

I’m not disenchanted by tonight’s game. Carolina has the energy in the building in game one and the Isles didn’t fair poorly.
- nyisles7

No goals against 5 v5 and after the 2 ppg they tightened up. I think they will capitalize on their chances but next game is a must

Canes had the matchup that worked all game. Jordan Staal is still a player and he was out there against L1 all night….he shut them down. Isles had chances. They could take game 2
- kindlyrick

I think the game becomes a lot harder for that Staal line if Barzal is his usual self, which he clearly was not. Unfortunately it may take him 3-4 games before that happens.
The Isles struggled with the puck a lot tonight. While some of that can be credited to the Canes tightly checked game, a lot of it was just them being clunky.
Defensively they were 'okay, but seemed hesitant to rush anything out of the zone, which just made the Canes job easier. When the Isles are firing on all cylinders they transition the puck out of the zone quickly (reminiscent of Bowman's Red Wings). When they slow things down, trouble tends to follow.
On both ends they seemed to skate themselves into traffic a lot. Again, I get that the Canes are a good forechecking team, but when on their game, I think the Isles can exploit that

It's easier to get a felony expunged than delete a post here

Canes had the matchup that worked all game. Jordan Staal is still a player and he was out there against L1 all night….he shut them down. Isles had chances. They could take game 2
- kindlyrick

Agree

I agree with you. I don’t sweat the canes.
- kindlyrick

Barzal hopefully gets back on track quick with his timing/speed and Nelson and his line need to find a way to break through. Obviously need to try and figure out a way to score a PP goal. With that said the Canes did a great job of shutting them down but they still look beatable to me. Islanders didn’t come close to playing their best game. They need to bring it for game two.

No goals against 5 v5 and after the 2 ppg they tightened up. I think they will capitalize on their chances but next game is a must
- Upstate_isles

Sorokin kept them in it and they couldn’t capitalize when they had their chances. Agree need next game. Wonder if they keep same lineup. My guess is Bailey in for Fasching. He wasn’t good tonight.

No goals against 5 v5 and after the 2 ppg they tightened up. I think they will capitalize on their chances but next game is a must
- Upstate_isles

Agree, long series.

Oh, this team is beatable. It’s only one game and I’m not discouraged. Special teams have to change.
- potvin05

Exactly this.

It's easier to get a felony expunged than delete a post here
- keaner17

Sorokin kept them in it and they couldn’t capitalize when they had their chances. Agree need next game. Wonder if they keep same lineup. My guess is Bailey in for Fasching. He wasn’t good tonight.
- streaks

Lee wasn't very good but I thought the horvat line was the only one that did much. I expect the Nelson line to be better

Lee wasn't very good but I thought the horvat line was the only one that did much. I expect the Nelson line to be better
- Upstate_isles

Nonsense. He flubbed his chances, but the chances were still there.

He’ll figure it out.

Lee wasn't very good but I thought the horvat line was the only one that did much. I expect the Nelson line to be better
- Upstate_isles

Lee is starting to worry me because not only does he look slow but he's been losing a lot of physical battles lately too. A couple of times loose pucks trickled in front of the net past him and I couldn't help but think that 2018 Anders would have banged that home.
Definitely agree on the Nelson line. The Canes spent the Staal line on stopping Barzal/Horvat, this should have created opportunities for Nellys line. They were invisible most of the game

Lee is starting to worry me because not only does he look slow but he's been losing a lot of physical battles lately too. A couple of times loose pucks trickled in front of the net past him and I couldn't help but think that 2018 Anders would have banged that home.
Definitely agree on the Nelson line. The Canes spent the Staal line on stopping Barzal/Horvat, this should have created opportunities for Nellys line. They were invisible most of the game
- keaner17

Sometimes Engvall needs to drive the net, he's a poor man's barzal

Lee is starting to worry me because not only does he look slow but he's been losing a lot of physical battles lately too. A couple of times loose pucks trickled in front of the net past him and I couldn't help but think that 2018 Anders would have banged that home.
Definitely agree on the Nelson line. The Canes spent the Staal line on stopping Barzal/Horvat, this should have created opportunities for Nellys line. They were invisible most of the game
- keaner17

Lee is not a good matchup with the Canes speed. Pulock finally did something offensively, but the Islanders do not get enough offense from the backend.

I think the game becomes a lot harder for that Staal line if Barzal is his usual self, which he clearly was not. Unfortunately it may take him 3-4 games before that happens.
The Isles struggled with the puck a lot tonight. While some of that can be credited to the Canes tightly checked game, a lot of it was just them being clunky.
Defensively they were 'okay, but seemed hesitant to rush anything out of the zone, which just made the Canes job easier. When the Isles are firing on all cylinders they transition the puck out of the zone quickly (reminiscent of Bowman's Red Wings). When they slow things down, trouble tends to follow.
On both ends they seemed to skate themselves into traffic a lot. Again, I get that the Canes are a good forechecking team, but when on their game, I think the Isles can exploit that
- keaner17

I agree with you that Barzal wasn’t himself. I’m sure he will find his legs.

I think 5 on 5 the isles were as good if not better. It boils down to the isles PP being a debit. Isles had some chances but didn’t bury.

Barzal hopefully gets back on track quick with his timing/speed and Nelson and his line need to find a way to break through. Obviously need to try and figure out a way to score a PP goal. With that said the Canes did a great job of shutting them down but they still look beatable to me. Islanders didn’t come close to playing their best game. They need to bring it for game two.
- Cptmjl

Agree 1000%.

Lee is not a good matchup with the Canes speed. Pulock finally did something offensively, but the Islanders do not get enough offense from the backend.
- ses111

Aho is a weakness for the isles. Love Dobson but I’d like to see him hit the weight room, as he’s had trouble down low against big bodies.

[quote=Upstate_isles]
I like Engvall but do worry that his aversion to physical play may make him a playoff ghost. He's going to need to find a bit of nastiness somehow.

[quote=keaner17]
Not his style but I think he can be effective

Aho is a weakness for the isles. Love Dobson but I’d like to see him hit the weight room, as he’s had trouble down low against big bodies.
- kindlyrick

Bolduc should be the better long term option than Aho if he develops well. It's only one game, but the Canes defense give the Islanders all sorts of problems. Barzal is rusty but they need a lot more from Bo.

I agree with you that Barzal wasn’t himself. I’m sure he will find his legs.

I think 5 on 5 the isles were as good if not better. It boils down to the isles PP being a debit. Isles had some chances but didn’t bury.
- kindlyrick

Well, 5x5 shots were 31-21 Canes. I do think as the game wore on the Isles trended toward the better 5x5 team but some of that was due to the Canes dropping back a bit more.
A couple of notables:
The Identity line did very little offensively tonight, generating only one shot. They did have 11 hits but the Isles depend on more from them.
Pulock was by far the best Isles dman, saving a goal, scoring one and throwing NINE hits. The rest of the dmen combined for NINE. Mayfield only had two....
Pelech struggled IMO. He had been so sharp lately but had a few bad turnovers and a crucial mistake on the first goal.
Sorokin was obviously stellar and gave them a chance.

Bolduc should be the better long term option than Aho if he develops well. It's only one game, but the Canes defense give the Islanders all sorts of problems. Barzal is rusty but they need a lot more from Bo.
- ses111

I think all forward lines have an extra gear that we’ll see in game 2

Well, 5x5 shots were 31-21 Canes. I do think as the game wore on the Isles trended toward the better 5x5 team but some of that was due to the Canes dropping back a bit more.
A couple of notables:
The Identity line did very little offensively tonight, generating only one shot. They did have 11 hits but the Isles depend on more from them.
Pulock was by far the best Isles dman, saving a goal, scoring one and throwing NINE hits. The rest of the dmen combined for NINE. Mayfield only had two....
Pelech struggled IMO. He had been so sharp lately but had a few bad turnovers and a crucial mistake on the first goal.
Sorokin was obviously stellar and gave them a chance.
- keaner17

I’ll be happy if the isles can split and come home with a win. I think we see a more desperate isles for game 2

An interesting(?) tidbit from the Canes' perspective:

Brind'amour stuck so heavily to his matchup game that Kotkaniemi ended up leading the Canes forwards in even strength Ice time.

Aho had among the least. Imagine that looks different on the road, but also he's gonna be fresher for longer if you're only having to play him 14-15 minutes per night.