Ben Shelley: Notes from ECF Game 4: Islanders vs. Lightning

with Sorokin coming up next season we should have good goaltending and defense. We desperately need skilled forwards with speed. How we are going to get them I have no idea. Is it just me or has Lee looked slower than normal? Maybe its just Tampa being that fast. Anyway if they can somehow find a way to pull out one game this thing could be interesting.

Perhaps we can trade Varlamov for Laine? That's assuming the Jets haven't read all the post on here about how terrible he really is, and how his playoff performances are the result of crafty video editing.

Isles did not play a complete game of Isles hockey in game 4. They can’t afford to turnover the puck the way they did at times and needed to manage the puck And make the smart play more Dump it in if the play isn’t there. Play a simpler, safer game. If you don’t Tampa will surely make you pay.
As you said losing Casey is real tough but this is PO hockey and you need to forge forward and just keep playing your game.
Gotta play one shift, one period, and one game at a time and try to get back into this series.

Let’s go !

Maybe it’s just me, but I saw a team that didn’t want to finish their checks as a team. There is no excuse for that for a team playing at this point let alone any other game. Just my cranky two cents.

Maybe it’s just me, but I saw a team that didn’t want to finish their checks as a team. There is no excuse for that for a team playing at this point let alone any other game. Just my cranky two cents.
- proboy74

This series has been a hit fest honestly.
Both these teams dislike each other and it is a nasty series. Last game both teams had ~ 50 hitS each. That’s not a lack of physicality in my mind.

Plenty of hits going around. Isles are hitting hard, but Tampa has added being nasty/dirty to their playbook. It's something I haven't seen the Isles resort to much (if at all) during this series or any series this postseason. Tampa just has an edge that the Isles are unwilling or incapable of matching. Luckily for Tampa, the refs have let them get away with attempted murder (Goodrow hit on Nelson comes to mind) or this filthy play might have cost them dearly - the Isles ineffective PP doesn't help them in this regard either.

The obvious answer is to fight fire with fire, and I know a lot of Isles fans would like to see Kucherov get his head removed from his body, but he's a tricky one to lay a big hit on. It's like he has eyes in the back of his head.

https://www.si.com/hockey.../islanders-cap-compliance

Maybe this helps spell it out for some people.

Looks like the Knights will have to fight for their lives in OT. Must be disappointing after blowing the 2 goal lead.

Plenty of hits going around. Isles are hitting hard, but Tampa has added being nasty/dirty to their playbook. It's something I haven't seen the Isles resort to much (if at all) during this series or any series this postseason. Tampa just has an edge that the Isles are unwilling or incapable of matching. Luckily for Tampa, the refs have let them get away with attempted murder (Goodrow hit on Nelson comes to mind) or this filthy play might have cost them dearly - the Isles ineffective PP doesn't help them in this regard either.

The obvious answer is to fight fire with fire, and I know a lot of Isles fans would like to see Kucherov get his head removed from his body, but he's a tricky one to lay a big hit on. It's like he has eyes in the back of his head.
- GalacticStone

Wow! That's about the most honest assessment I've ever seen from a fan of an opposing team. I agree with it, too. The Isles do indeed play a hard-hitting, but clean game for the most part. They also have some soft players who rarely hit, and, if they do, they say "Excuse me" first.

Looks like the Knights will have to fight for their lives in OT. Must be disappointing after blowing the 2 goal lead.
- JimmyP

Yes, it's got to be a little deflating. Like when the Isles took that 1 - 0 lead last night on Nelly's goal, only to blow it 15 seconds later. They were so deflated, they let in another goal 12 seconds after that.

Plenty of hits going around. Isles are hitting hard, but Tampa has added being nasty/dirty to their playbook. It's something I haven't seen the Isles resort to much (if at all) during this series or any series this postseason. Tampa just has an edge that the Isles are unwilling or incapable of matching. Luckily for Tampa, the refs have let them get away with attempted murder (Goodrow hit on Nelson comes to mind) or this filthy play might have cost them dearly - the Isles ineffective PP doesn't help them in this regard either.

The obvious answer is to fight fire with fire, and I know a lot of Isles fans would like to see Kucherov get his head removed from his body, but he's a tricky one to lay a big hit on. It's like he has eyes in the back of his head.
- GalacticStone

Tampa has learned what it takes and Kucherov who disappeared in previous years when the hitting began has now engaged in it. The whole team has really.
It just might be Tampa’s year.

Dallas Wins!

Lehner with a .885 & .887 in the last two games. Not that good.

Dallas Wins!

Lehner with a .885 & .887 in the last two games. Not that good.
- nyisles7

Things turned south for the Boy Wonder. Isles did not lose to the Canes because of Robin but he was not as sharp in that series as he was in the Pens series.

Well I can't reply to the original messages but the isles don't play dirty and philly and tampa have done that the last two series. It won't change the outcome but its a mindset they may need to advance in the future. You have to hate your opponent

Well I can't reply to the original messages but the isles don't play dirty and philly and tampa have done that the last two series. It won't change the outcome but its a mindset they may need to advance in the future. You have to hate your opponent
- Upstate_isles

Isles need better two way forwards. It's a big weakness. Isles have forward that when they do not bring the offense they do not add enough in other areas. Eberle is worthless if he is not scoring.

https://www.si.com/hockey.../islanders-cap-compliance

Yep, I read one of these every year. This is definetely the year they are right. This year the Islanders will be one of the teams that struggles with the cap.

Well I can't reply to the original messages but the isles don't play dirty and philly and tampa have done that the last two series. It won't change the outcome but its a mindset they may need to advance in the future. You have to hate your opponent
- Upstate_isles

There is plenty of hate between these 2 teams. The Isles just don't want to get penalties against this team. They are playing disciplined hockey. That doesn't mean they will not hit or fight once the game has been decided (like Martin at end of game 3). The Isles are playing the right way... look at Point. He got hit every time he was on the ice. Until he went off hurt again.

There are 3 teams left fighting for the Stanley cup and the Islanders are one of them... whole lotta negative nonsense on these boards today. Not one ... Let's go.. .We got this... one game at a time. It's like we lost already.

Isles have plenty of offense.. They have plenty of guys that play 2 way hockey.. they have a great young core of defenseman ...

and they have plenty of Cap room.

Isles need better two way forwards. It's a big weakness. Isles have forward that when they do not bring the offense they do not add enough in other areas. Eberle is worthless if he is not scoring.
- ses111

We have a 4th line that can shut down any teams first line. We have 3 very good 2 way centers and Barzal is learning. If Leo is not good defensively then why is he even in the NHL. Same with guys like MDC and Kuhnackl Eberle certainly needs to score but he is not a terrible defensive wing by any means. He was the guy who stopped their tap in goal in first period last game.

the whole team blocks shots... I don't see defensive forwards being our "big Weakness".

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
·
18m
Hearing Peter Laviolette will be the next head coach in WASH

Anyone remember last year when we had so many Pending UFA's that were not going to be able to stay? No way we could sign Brock, Lee, Eberle, and Lehner.

guess what? we signed them all for less then they could have gotten on open market. We now have JG Pageu signed at a very good price for a long time. yes we have some bad contracts just like every other team. Lou will figure it out... My guess is Leddy is gone.

The last part of that article is what you should read. IN the end not having guys on the books like Snake boy and Bread will be why we are fine cap wise for a long time.

We have a 4th line that can shut down any teams first line. We have 3 very good 2 way centers and Barzal is learning. If Leo is not good defensively then why is he even in the NHL. Same with guys like MDC and Kuhnackl Eberle certainly needs to score but he is not a terrible defensive wing by any means. He was the guy who stopped their tap in goal in first period last game.

the whole team blocks shots... I don't see defensive forwards being our "big Weakness".
- niteislander

Defense has been weak around the Isles goal this series and we saw the Flyers started to expose this later in the series. Barzal going behind the net and not staying with his man on that goal last game was bad.

Anyone remember last year when we had so many Pending UFA's that were not going to be able to stay? No way we could sign Brock, Lee, Eberle, and Lehner.

guess what? we signed them all for less then they could have gotten on open market. We now have JG Pageu signed at a very good price for a long time. yes we have some bad contracts just like every other team. Lou will figure it out... My guess is Leddy is gone.

The last part of that article is what you should read. IN the end not having guys on the books like Snake boy and Bread will be why we are fine cap wise for a long time.
- niteislander

Would not surprise me, but it will leave a bit of a hole on D. Will they try to bring back Greene? At what salary? I had hoped that Dobson would at least start the season in Bridgeport. (I think he's finally eligible, age-wise.). Maybe they bring back Hickey??? Not really a great alternative, but he might be needed for a year until Dobson has another year of seasoning under his belt.

I agree with your sentiment that Lou will figure it out. It will be interesting to see how....

This place is eerily quiet. Like everyone is waiting for the executioner to put an end to the season...