Ben Shelley: Islanders battle back to defeat Flames in overtime

I remember watching Barzal at the WJC where he seemed reluctant to pass at all, trying to go 1-on-5 often. Kind of shocked to hear he's a pass-first player now...granted it's been a while since he played at the WJC.

I remember watching Barzal at the WJC where he seemed reluctant to pass at all, trying to go 1-on-5 often. Kind of shocked to hear he's a pass-first player now...granted it's been a while since he played at the WJC.
- jmatchett383

Def a pass first player now

Lee is the best captain this team has had since Potvin.

Lee is the best captain this team has had since Potvin.
- Cptmjl

I always respected Weight and Guerin as much as I hated playing against them, especially Guerin. Cold put Streit in there too. Yashin and Tavares...not so much.

I’m looking at tonight, it’s a big game and a must win. Can Sorokin go back to back? I see websites showing Varlamov in.


John Tonelli for HOF

I’m looking at tonight, it’s a big game and a must win. Can Sorokin go back to back? I see websites showing Varlamov in.


John Tonelli for HOF
- Tee56

I doubt very much Lambert throws Sorokin out there especially after going to OT.

I always respected Weight and Guerin as much as I hated playing against them, especially Guerin. Cold put Streit in there too. Yashin and Tavares...not so much.
- jmatchett383

All decent captains but Lee pretty much checks every box that those guys didn’t. Lee is an absolute animal out there and leads by example on a consistent basis.

All decent captains but Lee pretty much checks every box that those guys didn’t. Lee is an absolute animal out there and leads by example on a consistent basis.
- Cptmjl

Lee is underrated by the NHL.

All decent captains but Lee pretty much checks every box that those guys didn’t. Lee is an absolute animal out there and leads by example on a consistent basis.
- Cptmjl

I like Lee, but if I had to go against a Lee-led team or a Guerin-led team, I'd rather face Lee. Granted, I don't watch the Islanders on a daily basis, and I'm not dismissing Lee; I think he's the most underrated captain in the NHL.

Lee seems like the player who does everything well and will do whatever it takes to win. Guerin was a player who did everything well and would do whatever it took to not lose. That's the biggest difference to me.

I like Lee, but if I had to go against a Lee-led team or a Guerin-led team, I'd rather face Lee. Granted, I don't watch the Islanders on a daily basis, and I'm not dismissing Lee; I think he's the most underrated captain in the NHL.

Lee seems like the player who does everything well and will do whatever it takes to win. Guerin was a player who did everything well and would do whatever it took to not lose. That's the biggest difference to me.
- jmatchett383

As an Islander fan you had to remind me that Guerin was a captain of this team with your first post. That’s how impactful he was

I like the guy but no.

As an Islander fan you had to remind me that Guerin was a captain of this team with your first post. That’s how impactful he was

I like the guy but no.
- Cptmjl

Well, what boxes does Lee check that Guerin didn't, in your opinion.

Again, I think Lee is severely underrated as a captain, just curious what you think he does that Guerin did not.

And yes, Potvin is the gold standard.

While The Islanders were certainly outplayed by a lot in the first period (and the second). We had 2 insane opportunities that we missed the net going for the perfect shot (Lee and then Beau) in the first 5 minutes. They then scored on an incredible pass by Barzal. Then as the period was ending Barzal actually shot the puck and Markstrom just got a skate on it... would have been crazy to get dominated like that for a whole period and end up tied.

Sorokin was absurdly good.

Second period was just ugly... 3rd period they dominated from the drop of the puck. It was a really fun game to attend.

Well, what boxes does Lee check that Guerin didn't, in your opinion.

Again, I think Lee is severely underrated as a captain, just curious what you think he does that Guerin did not.

And yes, Potvin is the gold standard.
- jmatchett383

To be fair Guerin’s time with us was brief and I’ll say again I liked the guy. We also didn’t have the best team at the time and our management sucked. With that said Lee leads on the the score sheet and does so when it matters. Lee’s physicality when it’s needed Guerin, when he was with us at least, couldn’t hold a candle to it. More importantly when Lee gets going on the ice the team more often then not responds with the same level of play. Last night is an example of that. The team was lethargic for 40 mins down by two goals going into the third. Lee came out physically dominating and scored a goal. The team responded and we won in OT. Read that Lambert didn’t even talk to the team in btn periods it was Lee. Not sure if it’s true but wouldn’t doubt it.

Well, what boxes does Lee check that Guerin didn't, in your opinion.

Again, I think Lee is severely underrated as a captain, just curious what you think he does that Guerin did not.

And yes, Potvin is the gold standard.
- jmatchett383

Well for one he played for the Islanders for more than a cup of coffee. Billy G was here for less than 2 seasons. We never made the playoffs in his time on the Islanders and he averaged about 20 goals a year. Lee has averaged over 30.

I like Guerin.. but he wasn't exactly a great Islander captain.

I'm sure if Billy G was an Islander in the 90's I would feel differently. We had him in the final few years of his hockey career.

Johnston is in tonight, watch him get on the score sheet.



John Tonelli for HOF

Well for one he played for the Islanders for more than a cup of coffee. Billy G was here for less than 2 seasons. We never made the playoffs in his time on the Islanders and he averaged about 20 goals a year. Lee has averaged over 30.

I like Guerin.. but he wasn't exactly a great Islander captain.
- niteislander

Guerin was at the end of a very fine NHL career when he got to the Islanders. And the team around him wasn't much.

I liked Guerin a lot as the captain, but IMO even better was Mike Peca. The team hadn't made the playoffs in many years, but that all changed when he arrived. They were still a fairly mediocre team, but they made the playoffs all 3 seasons when Peca was there. Then Milbury trades him, and the team misses the playoffs the very next season led by Yashin.

But yeah, Lee is terrific and certainly has had the best results of the 3.

Johnston is in tonight, watch him get on the score sheet.



John Tonelli for HOF
- Tee56

Maybe he and Reeves will drop the gloves.

I'm sure if Billy G was an Islander in the 90's I would feel differently. We had him in the final few years of his hockey career.
- niteislander

No you wouldn’t. He was nothing more than a glorified 3rd liner during his days with the Devils. Saw time on the 2nd line but always seemed overmatched to me. Guerin was a mediocre player IMO

To be fair Guerin’s time with us was brief and I’ll say again I liked the guy. We also didn’t have the best team at the time and our management sucked. With that said Lee leads on the the score sheet and does so when it matters. Lee’s physicality when it’s needed Guerin, when he was with us at least, couldn’t hold a candle to it. More importantly when Lee gets going on the ice the team more often then not responds with the same level of play. Last night is an example of that. The team was lethargic for 40 mins down by two goals going into the third. Lee came out physically dominating and scored a goal. The team responded and we won in OT. Read that Lambert didn’t even talk to the team in btn periods it was Lee. Not sure if it’s true but wouldn’t doubt it.
- Cptmjl

Fair enough. I guess I just like the "grizzled veteran" type guys, the ones who can motivate you just by a look. Lee, not taking away from him, doesn't fit that in my eyes. But fair points.

Fair enough. I guess I just like the "grizzled veteran" type guys, the ones who can motivate you just by a look. Lee, not taking away from him, doesn't fit that in my eyes. But fair points.
- jmatchett383

Maybe you can talk Chara and Greene out of retirement for the Flyers. They are perfect "grizzled Veterans". It worked out really well for us last year.

Maybe you can talk Chara and Greene out of retirement for the Flyers. They are perfect "grizzled Veterans". It worked out really well for us last year.
- niteislander

Nah, the Flyers haven't had a decent captain since Chris Pronger. Whether or not Mike Richards wore the "C", Pronger was the leader of that team. But if it helps the Flyers suck this year, I'm all for it.

it would be interesting to see what everyone's top 5 Isles Captains list would be... or a Mt Rushmore of Isles Captains.

mine
1. Potvin
2. Westfall
3. Lee
4. Flatley
5. Peca or Sutter.. loved both.

Nah, the Flyers haven't had a decent captain since Chris Pronger. Whether or not Mike Richards wore the "C", Pronger was the leader of that team. But if it helps the Flyers suck this year, I'm all for it.
- jmatchett383

It would