BOSTON 3 ISLANDERS 2: Plus/Minus, Please
NYI fall season-low 5 games below NHL .500
Bobby Hull Says Brett Better Than Bossy
4:25 pm: With their 11th loss in their last 14 games – not a single loser point acquired – the Islanders have dropped to a season-low five games below NHL .500.
Slow start costs the Islanders as they fall behind 3-1 30 minutes in. Islanders fail to score on a five-minute power play after Blake Comeau is board by Michael Ryder. Goals by Josh Bailey (his 14th) and Matt Moulson (23rd).
I got the full simulcast experience when I listened to the third period on the internet. When the Islanders pulled Dwayne Roloson in the final minute, I couldn’t tell you what went on – except that they didn’t score.
You are cordially invited to supply your own Plus/Minus. Thank you.
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Noon: Mark Streit was asked what he thought of his team’s effort in a 6-3 loss in Atlanta on Thursday.
“I don’t know if a lot of guys understand what kind of situation we are in,” he said. “We were six points out of the playoffs before tonight, playing Atlanta, which is just ahead of us. The effort was not there. We had shots on net but we had a lot of turnovers and they took advantage of it. We just didn’t play our game.”
The alternate captain was then asked how the Islanders can rebound.
“You go home, you check your computer and you check the Eastern Conference standings,” said Streit. “If you don’t realize it, then I can’t understand it and you shouldn’t be here. That’s all I can say. Our next game is against Boston. They are pretty close to us, too, and have a good team. We’ve got to get some points on the board pretty quick.”
Mark Streit is one of the game’s real gentlemen. You saw how he conducted himself all last season with the Islanders and during the Olympics as the captain of Team Switzerland. Streit was ticked, for good reason. When he says something, it means something. The Islanders need something positive…soon.
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The Islanders grabbed points in all three games against the Bruins this season. Boston will have shot-blocking defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, their trade deadline acquisition, in the lineup.
Former Bruins farmhand and current Blackhawk Kris Versteeg to me after Chicago’s 6-3, scrum-filled win over the Canucks: “Scott (Gordon) almost single-handedly saved my hockey career. I had such a —— run in juniors – I was put in different positions and traded all over the place. He identified a role for me and gave me the confidence to be a scorer. If it wasn’t for Scott, I doubt I’m in the NHL right now.”
Multiple sources at the United Center last night confirmed that the Islanders had many offers on the table for Andy Sutton – all for second round picks. One team personnel man said they asked Garth Snow to hold off until Wednesday because they needed to shed some salary. However, he said he didn’t blame Snow for grabbing the bird in one hand on Tuesday. The draft pick would have been a few slots before San Jose’s, but no so much as to make a difference and risk the Ottawa offer going away.
Enjoy the game. I’ll stay updated watching your posts on the game. Thank you to Carl of Sports Southeast for the Streit quotes.
169 Responses to BOSTON 3 ISLANDERS 2: Plus/Minus, Please
NYI fall season-low 5 games below NHL .500
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AJAX says:
please lose, I want the draft pick
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Justin Marques says:
CB: The Bruins beat the Islanders in one of the first games of the season in a shootout 4-3. Other than that, nice write up.
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Jon in Chicago says:
I refuse to root for my team to lose, at least not yet anyway. If it’s a meaningless game in the final week of the season, then I’m all for it.
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BTW, interesting stats comparison in Hull to Bossy. One thing that stands out … Bossy did much better in the playoffs and had more consistant goals season over season in his career.
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EJ-1since40 says:
Some glaring numbers heading into today’s tilt with the Bruins:
JT -19
KO -13
Richard Park -18
Bruno Gervais -17I am a believer in +/-’s as the season gets old, especially here with JT and Bruno, both have been horrible in this area all year.
KO and Park’s numbers are inflated due to their PK roles, and we all know where THAT department has been all year, along with the PP.
If we are going to make any type of push for that last spot, JT and his bad wheels are going to have to get better on the defensive side as it is no coincidence on his lack of scoring as teams have scouted him for his obvious skating issues.
Bruno on the other hand has the wheels, but needs to improve on his side of the blue line. Where does he turn for help? Go-go? Yikes..who here would like to see Ken Morrow behind the bench as an assistant?
There are some many holes to fill, especially the big ones with current owner/GM and the direction we are heading.
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Matt says:
Brett Hull
1269 games played – 741 goalsMike Bossy
752 games played – 571 goalsBobby Hull needs to get a clue, its not even close.
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Frank nyc says:
I know things are a bit tough right now. But according to estimates we are on track. At the moment we have 2 rookies in the top 10 in rookie scoring. ( JT and Rob Schremp ) Our other young guys have showed improvement josh bailey and kO have both improved on their point totals from last yr still with many games to go. Also other young players have showed their worth like Hillen and Mcdonald. We got some other pretty good prospects coming up and maybe another high lottery. I am still optimistic about this teams future. The blackhawks got lucky in their rebuild. I think a better comparison is the LA KIngs. It took them a while but look at them now. GO ISLES.
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Islesphan25 says:
#6 +/- don’t count when on the PK or PP….only when its 5-5 or 4-4….
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Benjamin A. says:
Interesting Stat: Amongst rookies who have played in more than half of their team’s games, Rob Schremp is second in Points per game, behind only Matt Duchene.
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jim in 226 says:
EJ, power play goals don’t count toward +/- on either the pk or pp, so KO and RP’s numbers aren’t inflated, just bad.
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50 in 50 says:
Here we are again. A game that has a HUGE amount of significance for our Rose Colored Fairy Tale playoff run to continue. Ughhh
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Mike from Sarasota says:
I just hope they lose exciting games the rest of the way. Except for the games against the Rangers of course; and it would be nice to finally beat the Flyers. Finishing 11th would be a waste. The team stinks and anything less than a top-3 pick after living through this season would be a shame. 14 regulation wins(tied for last with EDM). 27th in GA, GF and SV%. 29th ranked PP and PK. 28 in 5on5 differential. Playoffs? Playoffs!?
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Plus/Minus in and of itself is pretty useless. There some good sites however that have each players GF and GA averages when they are on the ice and when they are off the ice. For example, Richard Park.
When he is on the ice
1.91GF 3.10GA -1.19When he is off the ice
2.31GF 2.45GA -0.14his rating is -1.06, ahead of only Witt(-2.14)
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joe says:
brett hull better then bossy, mr.hull what kinda of spaced out world are you living in. nobody is better then bossy when it comes to scoring goals.
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Bossy was the best pure goal scorer ever, period! How is his back? Put him on a line with Tavares!
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billy says:
After reading Streits comments i have changed my position: Okposo will have to wait to be our captain, Streit absolutely deserves to be the captain RIGHT now.
Thats the kind of attitude i love and respect.
Thank you Snow for signing this guy!!!!!!
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scottd says:
Since we’re talking about Brett Hull, just some perspective on Tavares at age 19: Brett Hull didn’t hit the 40-goal mark until his age 24 season. (Same for Zach Parise, everybody’s favrotie player.)
Tavares won’t be 24 until the 2015 season. I think we can get off his back for a while. -
I always thought Streit should have been the captain this year. Anyway, as much as I want a good pick, I won’t root for the team to lose. Oh, and as much of a great goal scorer Brett was, he was no Bossy. Not even close. As for Snow and Wang, I’m losing more and more faith in them.
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JKP in Halifax says:
Not sure Bobby is completely unbiased…
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Joe says:
No lineup change? No point in watching. Yawn.
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Brother Rat says:
You can’t really fault a father for carrying on about his son, but the Bossy/Brett Hull comparison is a laughable mismatch on so many levels as folks have pointed out.
Brett Hull was a phenomenal player, and fun to watch. What I will say is that he may have turned out into the best sixth round draft pick of all time. Although the only other 6th rounders in the conversation would be Pavel Bure, Daniel Alfredsson and Pavel Datsyuk.
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sincityislesfan says:
I grew up Watching mike bossy play, I still believe he was the greatest pure goal scorer the game has seen. statistically Mike bossy averaged a goal in 76 % of the games he played during his career compared to only 58% for brett i know a parent can be biased but wow. and bossy was unstoppable when it counted in the playoffs. where as brett’s stats are even further behind bossys. I’d like to have some of what mr hull must be smoking
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Nice job by Sim to give the Bruins some momentum early.
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Dmoney says:
Anybody elses tv showing the game in widescreen?
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Oh yeah, I just noticed the widescreen. Weird. Feels like a movie now.
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Thanks for the correction gents on the PK and PP plus/minus..
Don’t know what the hell I was thinking when I wrote that. Makes those numbers even worse at even strength..
back to the game..
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dsb says:
i dont mind watchin kohn because he is a prospect but i am not happy about watchin dylan reese play defense its reminding me of watching jamie rivers and jamie heward on defense in 1999-2000. is there a chance if hamonics teams loses in the playoffs that we will see hamonic come up for 9 games before the year is up. i think it would be good to give him a taste of the nhl.
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Ummm, Streit, have you looked at YOUR stats this year and last year? Enough yapping, go put up some numbers.
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Jim Clark says: Meld Brett Hull and Mike Bossy together and they still couldn’t score goals like Babe Dye.
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battfist says:
How many in the stands today?
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Wang in da house.
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Dear Garth,
Take some lessons, toughness pays off. Lucic-Begin=Thornton has been their best line.
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So the Islanders have been outshot 37-13 in the first period of their last two home games. Not a good team, but now the effort is lacking too.
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Only 2 of the 6 D in our lineup would dress on any other team, so the shots on goal totals are not surprising.
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duff says:
looks like this team is mailing it in. pretty sad to see, but hopefully they start playing better in the 2nd….chances are thomas will regain vezina qualities and shut them down.
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Shane says:
I would expect Mr. Hull to be supportive of his son. Fact is, nobody was a better pure goal scorer then Michael Dean BOSSY. The numbers speak for themselves. Bossy has the greatest goal per game numbers, and in the playoffs, is 2nd only to Mario Lemieux. Nobody, NOBODY, has ever had, or will ever have, 9 Straight 50+ goal seasons. There is no debate.
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I’m looking forward to meeting Bossy next Monday
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ed says:
This is really like watching a pro team play a juniors team. It is so sad. The islanders look so small, it is criminal. Boston can literally do whatever they want. This is on Gordon also. if your GM doesn’t give you size and toughness after you ask, you quit. Never sell out for a job. Snow must go
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It shouldn’t be allowed for Sim, Park and Gervais to be on the ice at the same time.
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YabbaDabbaDooDoo says:
Mr. Hull: I knew Mike Bossy; Mike Bossy was a friend of mine… Mr. Hull, you’re son is no Mike Bossy.
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Jon Sim looks terrible, Matt Martin, where art thou?
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What a shift by Comeau, awesome!
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Dan says:
I’m at work & have the “radio” broadcast on. I can’t hear what is going on. Wang- Save some $ on other stuff- Bring back a real radio broadcast next year. Boston just scored & I still have no idea what zone they were in….
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Staten Islander says:
WTF! where was Rollie looking?
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trottier687 says:
man, how many faceoffs does jt have too lose before gordon moves him to the wing? It’s not helping anything, at least try it out… they’re killing his creativity and confidence i don’t like what gordons doing with these guys. Bailey’s responsible in his D zone put him back at center.
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MattyB says:
Wang just sell this team already please….Save me the pain of watching them for the next 40-60 years of my life
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the game is being streamed live on yahoo
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Ray's Team says:
Where is Matt Martin? that kid was a breath of fresh air that we desperately needed here…typical management give us a tease..and thats it-what good is jackman doing for us-he is useless-he is not even a threat to be tough with that shield on…????
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they just said kohn is our biggest d-man and freddy meyer leads the defense in hits-wow that is sad
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The game is on Yahoo but its blocked out in “my area”- Great- I’ll suffer hearing the TV “simulcast” on the radio. Thanks Mr. Wang..
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Ethan K says:
Bossy > Hull.
This is the Blake Comeau I like to see. He can become a really solid player if he keeps playing like this. Stick handling with confidence, shooting well, playing physical.
I’m not worried about Tavares. His passing today has been phenominal. He’s smart and patient with the puck. Just give the poor guy time. He’s on a bottom 5 team at age 19. Just give him some time.
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Jeff says:
Bossy: 50+ goals 9 years straight. Enough said!
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Wow, good job by this management, total cheap shot, thats what happens when no one does anything.
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nystrom23 says:
See you next week matt martin..
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Oh great…. Comeau just got boarded hard. Guarantee there’s no suspension for THAT hit…
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BrianAlbany says:
No offense Joe, but I really don’t think it was a cheap shot…and thats actually what they are talking about right now…While both players could have twisted their bodies differently, hits like those are sometimes inevitable.
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nyislanders93 says:
This team is a joke. That was a 100% dirty hit. Glad we have guys standing up for each other.
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that wasnt cheap at all
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53, it was absolutely a hit from behind, clear as day on the numbers. It was kind of Comeaus fault too for turning into it but its the players job to hold up.
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What just happened to Blake Comeau? The online radio version is…well….not painting the picture. Is he ok? Game misconduct for a hit from behind?
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The best way to make them pay is to score on the PP
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Isles Revamped says:
Once again the Isles are clearly out muscled. If this any indication of what is to come Snow better dig deep into the minors and pull up Gillies and Martin for the Philly because the only ones that will be left on the bench after that game with be the coaches. How Garth does not see this is beyond me? Especially since Garth was not a powder puff as a player.
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I cannot believe more people aren’t more outraged at how horrible Wang and Snow are. I want Snow to answer why he refuses to get anyone to protect his players. Comeau finally hits a bunch of players and then gets leveled. Islanders have no response. None. This management is a disgrace. Saying that this is year 3 of a rebuild is not an excuse. Just because it is a rebuild does not make you immune from getting slammed for your mistakes. Also, saying it is a rebuild doesn’t make you right about what you are doing and having Reese,Kohn and Gervais starting on D when he shipped Sutton and Witt off the team tells me all I need to know about how Snow evaluates talent.
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you can put the isles on 20 minute power play and they still wouldn’t score
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Too bad our PP sucks so much
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comeau twisted into it…nothing ryder could have done since he was playing the puck hard, Im not sticking up for him obviously, Im just saying…
Anyway, so much for capitalizing on the PP…I wonder what the attendance is today, the boos are really being heard towards the end of that period…
Was anyone else there when there used to be the “We Suck” chants? lol, priceless
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I LOVED the “WE SUCK!” chants!
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Blizzard says: ….hey SNow Gorden whoever. WTF is Martin? We need a physical presence. Just ask Blake!!! And Mr Hull is obviously biased. Bossy is a step above Brett in the goal scoring department.
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comeau lying face down and no one touches him? I almost want them to lose. I don’t care if you get beat up. stand up for him.
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Madchef says:
if you dont think ryder pushing comeau into the boards was a dirty hit well your not watchin close enough. Earlier in the period Comeau has a shift where he hits 3 out of 5 bruins knocking 2 two the ground. Retaliation maybe, open your eyes and watch the game. My problem is nobody plays the police role on this team. You knock the goalie nothing, you hit our young star nothing. And if the 3rd period goes by without a little retaliation for comeau (which will prolly happen) Geeze, does this team really accept this passiveness
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pocketski says:
Pathetic. You have to be sadist to root for this team
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Comeu done for the game. Face is cut up.
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Jim Clark says:
Save us Spano!
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if it wasn’t for people with kids-no one would be going to the mosoleum to watch this garbage
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damn the bruins should hit another guy from behind for the hell of it-not like we can score on these PP’s
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I wish Andy Sutton would hit somebody….oops
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islesfan999 says:
Wouldnt it be nice to have a few forwards and dmen with some size and grit.
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the kids on this team need some sort of protection out there
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GOLDEN!
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remember when Matt Moulson used to score goals?
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wang_must_go says:
Can we please use the words perma salary dump instead of rebuild from now on?
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so saaaaaaaaaad
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Lets go for the draft pick already
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Candor says:
Another emotionless, fightless game. Is there a stat showing Isles record when fighting 1 or more times in a game? Cmon.CB, beware of making pointed comments today–Garth will give you a time out.
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P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C!
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The non calls in the last 6 minutes were unbelievable…well I guess nothing is unbelievable with this team…
Lets Go Carolina/Toronto/Edmonton!
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Jim M says:
This team is a god damn joke, just move already PLEASE.
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NH Isles fan says:
Wow! What terrible play w/ Roloson pulled.
Top 3 should be the only goal now and hope that maybe Snow will leave. Wishful thinking!
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when i have kids they will definitely be devils fans
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I would love for someone to come up with a plus for the plus/minus portion of the game
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Spartiarti-RVC says:
do anyone else wonder why isles PP never does anything other than set up shot by streit. Why is that Okposo is all alone on right circle and they can set up a shot to him at top of that circle like other teams do.
Its unfortunate that we lost that one with that lucky bounce to savard goal. But if you can score with 5 min major pp, you cant win.
no way the isles can make the playoffs this year. Just tank at this point. we had nice run.
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A step closer to the third-worst record in the league. As if there was ever any doubt. Too bad the Oilers and Leafs have been so awful.
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Minus – not showing up in the first period.
Minus – youthful skaters skating with zero energy
Minus – A waif-like defense
Plus – Roloson still has some heart -
I’ll give it a shot …
Plus – One game closer to the draft lottery
Plus – I wasn’t at the game to see the game
Plus – Wang was there to see first hand the house of cards he built -
p.s. minus – new york islanders = l.a. clippers, k.c royals, washington nationals and pittsburgh pirates of hockey.
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Marc says:
New slogan: Meet us at the draft lottery.
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Dimey McThing says:
Plus – the players have tossed in the towel for the season. Cam fowler here we come
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1972 means i'm old says:
Plus: We lost.
Plus: We didn’t win.
Plus: We see who doesn’t care.
Plus: Another pathetic season over soon.
Plus: One day I’ll remember who those guys Okposo and Tavares are. I heard the Islanders obtained them and they’re somewhere on the active roster. Probably when they’re stars in Toronto and Minnesota.
Minus: Goring is a Cowgirl fan. -
Dave says:
How are the rebuilds in LA, Colorado, and St Louis going compared to Isles?
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Minus-All the young Islanders especially JT falling down allllll the time. i dont get it. Always falling down.
Plus-HallSegFowl
Plus-It was a close game. -
Bob Bassen says:
Plus- Isles played just as designed.(Congrats, Garth!)
Plus-Roloson with some heart.
Plus-Didn’t see Gordon imitate Steve Stirling’s bottom lip bite.
Plus-Comeau’s On again/Off again game happened to be on today. (Until he got smoked from behind.)
Plus-Only had to hear the (Flyers) goal song twice.
Plus-Was able to sell my tix to this game at Face Value. -
2Bit says:
Plus: Schremp looked good.
Plus: Let’s get a top 3 draft pick.
Minus: I really don’t mind throwing in the towel on this season. I only wish we can get a more exciting showing from Tavares & Okposo.
It’s really not such a bad thing finishing in the bottom 3 this year. Tampa Bay did it last year after getting the 1st pick the year before & look at the amount of proven talent that team had. Let’s finish bottom 3, get a strong defenseman in the draft & next year we can really start to compete for the playoffs.
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Andre says:
I would not be shocked if Toronto passes the Isles to be honest. This team will not win more than 4 to 5 more games the rest of the way. Lets get ready for the Hall-Seguin-Fowler watch. Wang and Snow are going to have to spend the money this offseason. Otherwise it will be draft lottery 2011. I am so annoyed as to why Snow would not provide feedback to the fans on how long he plans this rebuild.
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Generally speaking I have to agree with those wishing Wang would sell the team. I don’t know what his intentions are/were but he is in over his head. Between his GM choice and hiring his son in law as VP his judgement is suspect. Snow needed to work his way up to GM. Look at Ron Hextall with the Kings.
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This team will not go anywhere until Wang, Snow, Gordon, and even DP are long gone from the picture..well except they may go to Queens/Brooklyn.
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Doug says:
Minus: Wang for be the owner of this team…
Minus: Snow being the GM…
Minus: Gordon being the coach…
Plus: CB for having this blog so we all can vent…
Plus: For all Islanders fans that visit this site and have to put up with this garbage… -
ant says:
Snow is pathetic.How can he not see that this team has no size and toughness.Martin brings size energy and someone that will stand up for his players and he is not up with this team, we have no one on the roster that does that.Please bring up some size and toughness.Snow is going to wait until someone takes another run at JT and KO and they get hurt.Get a clue Snow.
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plus-schremp
minus- no one touching ryder after he hit comeau.
minus- officials once again choosing not to call high sticks and slashes in the back of the leg in the last 5 minutes of the game. -
Strummer's Army says:
I watched Bossy and I watched Hull and Bossy is WAY better then Hull.
Interesting comments from Streit. I have stated many times the Isles have way to many guys who don’t have a high battle level. They don’t care if they win the game, they don’t care if a teammate gets beatup or taken advantage of etc. Those players need to be identified and eliminated.
How has all of Snow’s small puck movers improved the PP, the PK or helped create offense? Not at all. Snow still only has one d-man who has any PP skills and that is Streit. Yes, Hamonic and De Haan will be here but Snow’s thinking that only small soft guys can run the PP, move the puck up ice etc is plain wrong. So many big guys, who hit, have skill, even fight are way better then anything the Isles have on defense.
I pray I am wrong but I think the only reason Martin, JJ, etc are still in Bridgeport is because Snow saddled himself with too many contracts with bad players he couldn’t force another team to take. Not that it would put the Isles over the cap and not that the 23 man limit is still in effect. Waiving Sim and letting Weight stop playing (1 goal and he’s on the PP) and have shoulder surgery would be best.
Ryder gives Comeau a very dirty hit in retaliation for his three good checks (elbow and forearm to the back of the head making sure he drove it into the glass) and no retribution. The guys are scared.
I’ll ask again how many years will it take Snow to fix the size, toughness and pathetic defense issues?
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Frans Dish says:
We need to sign some FAs this offseason for our offense and defense to help catalyze this rebuild. No excuses saying were building through the draft we have an insane amount of cap room but, wont dish out any of it. Please stop being stingy and go get some experienced players with TALENT. It will take some pressure off our young guys and give others more time to develop in the minors instead of throwing them right away in with the big boys.
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Every March April and into the summer we all have the same conversations…this summer will be different, we HAVE to sign FA’s. until the summer comes and nothing happens, the team is going nowhere under this ownership, if they dont care, why should we as fans? Look at the other rebuilds, Kings, Avs, Blues…compare them to ours.
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NYICHAMP39 says:
Minus – we look like shrimps out there compared to Boston
Minus – All of our promising young guns look mediocre at best at this point in the season
Minus – We have a history of questionable draft choices that is starting to show itself on a team 3 years into a rebuild
Minus – we are not anywhere near the pace of rebuilding like some other teams that went through it: chicago, LA, Colorado
Minus – JT and KO taking steps backward since January
Minus – having a goalie as a GM
Minus – I thought I would be much happier at this point when the season started in october -
Jason says:
Unfortunately, Jeresey Steve is right. It is an annual draft watch, and that’s really not good.
Even if we do wind up with Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, Brandon Gormley, or Cam Fowler… it’s not going to change much for next year.
Honestly, I hope we get Hall, who idolizes John Tavares… and hopefully in turn this team can get some chemsitry. Still a lot of work to be done.
Bossy v. Brett Hull? I can buy the argument either way. They are two of the best ever. I think Bossy was better at finding ways to score, but Hull could rifle shots past better goaltenders. Both were great, I won’t put one over the other.
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Matt S. says:
hope Blakes ok. a team that stands up for each other is a team that’s going places. this team is going NOWHERE. a healthy tim jackman barely deserves a roster spot. a broken Tim Jackman is completely worthless. this team is almost impossible to root for.
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dominla says:
so everyone seems to want a great draft pick but gets upset when we lose… hmmm…
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Amerks44 says:
JT still looks lost… KO is the best player out there! Imagine how he would look if he has support…JT stays away from the contact and when gets hit falls over like a bowling pin…3 years for a rebuild come on. This is getting old everyone waiting for the rebuild to take shape…No “D” except for Streit….Noo ne to clear people out and check. I would even take Witt back….
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Eric Cup says:
i have just one question for all the negative posters here who want the team sold and are jumping ship right now. If we assume the re-build is real, just what did you expect in year 2? Tavares is a 19 yr old rookie and we’ve seen what this VERY YOUNG TEAM is capable of. Wake up people! The hardest part about a re-build is living through it. Patience my friends,
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Jim Clark says:
It will be tough for the Isles to catch Edmonton for the most ping pong balls since they have Mike Comrie and we only have Richard Park. Toronto/Boston will be a problem too. But we will get a good draft pick..only to blow it as has been the case for most of the Wang administration. But Wang loves Snow: he’ll stay around forever like Elgin Baylor with the LA Clippers (the difference is that team makes a lot of money being lousy in a large market).
A plus is be they at least scored a goal in the third to make it interesting the last 20 minutes.
Farewell Blake Comeau. You had a nice 4 game hot streak before the Curse of Ulf Nilsson hit you.
Josh Bailey actually led forwards in ice time. Wow..giving a kid a chance to play.
Things to do in July. Acquire veteran leadership in Chris Drury. Have Don Cherry tell all those 12 year olds in minor midget peewee hockey that he sees everynight to enjoy Uniondale in 2017. -
Plus-I put work before the Isles for a change.
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this rebuild has been going on SINCE 1994!! why are people saying this rebuild is 1 or 2 or 3 years in? did i miss some deep playoff push in the last decade? the Islander rebuild started with Dale Hunter and never stopped.
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I’m not surprised at all that the team stinks. I fully expected this to be a bottom-feeder season. Anyone could tell as much after looking at the roster in September. But just because you are going with a ‘youth movement’ (one that apparently includes Jon Sim and Richard Park I might add) does not mean you have to dress a team of shrimps and be pushed around game after game. You can at least provide a tad of entertainment value for the fans which have been through a ton over the last 16 years. This team does’nt just stink. They are also boring. The most exciting parts of the game are scoring and hitting. This team does neither.
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John, Bellmore says:
Bobby and his bad rug can take a hike. He is clueless. Brett owes much of his career to Adam Oates!
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Plus: I’m still and Islander fan, absolutely. Kyle Okposo is awesome and will keep getting better, I feel bad for him. I hope Bailey gets back to where he was in January.
Minus: We have no “in their prime” players showing these youngsters how to be professionals.
Minus: Some “prospects” are just really disguised mediocre players.
Minus: Everyone’s so negative and that’s probably expected, the minus is no one is stepping up to take charge and put a positive vibe on these games. Yes, they’re professionals but they play a game they should be having fun out there.
Minus: Weight hasn’t given up the C yet, it’s time for KO to lead to this team and there’s no time like the present. He should start getting his team leading chops now, while there’s no real hope as opposed to later when he’ll really need to lead this team in to battle.
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Ricky T says:
It’s time for the Adam Larsson/Ryan Nugent-Hopkins/Sean Couturier (LarNuCout) watch the way this team is developing.
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valentino says:
Hall or Seguin or BUST!
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Eastonhockey says:
This is not a “rebuild” this is putting the lowest paid team on the ice possible. If it wasn’t about $$ then hossa n gaborik would of been signed to replace SIMM n park. The only reason wangs islanders payroll isn’t 10 million or 2 million less then it currently is…is due to the CBa creating a minimum each team must spend. Go watch the movie major league. You will get a sense of what goes on in islander offices.
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islesbl says:
This is not surprising, but Garth’s comments that we are not throwing in the towel for the playoff push is !!!! You add for the playoff push ex:( WSH, PITT, BOS,) not subtract, one of our best most consisitant Defensemen all year.. Tired of the BS Garth, stand up and tell it like it is, you lied another year to the die hards who spent there hard earned money to watch you and Wang (mr no clue about hockey) throw in the towel in the end.. You don’t trade for picks every year.. The rebuild is an excuse to not spend any money…Sutton gone for a pick who may never play in the NHL… No top free agent would ever come to Long Island because you show NO loyalty to veteran players, you shuffle them off in March anyway.. Why should a good player come here, move his family, only to be traded.. I’m not buying the BS anymore, and the fans shouldn’t either… Look at our #1 last year, he’s not even leading the rookie scoring list.. He plays with nobody… Nobody can get him the puck, and nobody can finish when he passes the puck… Why are we being charged NHL prices to watch AHL players… And why lie to the reporters that we have money to spend, YOU DON’T SPEND IT !!!! You can’t lure new fans (kids) when you don’t win.. Kids absorb everything, and losing can only be takes so long.. Isles fans ? You really need to ask yourself are the Islanders really putting the best possible team on the ice??
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tom says:
One thing very sad to me. Rob Schremp who has some good offensive skill is playing with Tim jackman. Now when Schremp doesn’t get many points the rest of the season he will then be blamed for it. How is a guy like Schremp going to have success playing with Tim Jackman, a guy who shouldnt be in the league. Why have I seen John Tavares playing with Richard Park this season. I see Josh Bailey playing with Jon Sim. It’s not fair to these skilled players to stick them with these bums. Spend money on personnel or just sell the team. Crying about politicians is not a solution. Give results to your fans, not excuses, otherwise you are a bad owner.
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Kevin says:
Minus- Brendan Witt still toiling in the minors while the cream puff defense gets manhandled yet again.
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steve says:
funny posts. things i learned so far in 09-10.
hillen and a-mac are NHL level defenders.
our franchise goalie is a question mark.
the scouts were right, JT isnt as good as stamkos, but hes pretty darn good.
thanks edmonton, sending us for schremp.
comeau could be good, franz is good, JB has gotten much better. MM has 23 goals as a camp invite. we have 3 solid defender prospects in the system.
if we land either of the top fowards in the draft, and spend money on 2 big physcial defenders, we should be a playoff team. this season a lot of inexperenced players got trial by fire.
lets see if ko-jb or jt can kick it in rear and get to 20 goals. that something worth cheering on.
very clever. the owner wants to lose both games and money, cause it improves the value of the team, and its chance to get the Lighthouse built. -
PLUS: Andy Sutton getting away from this sinking ship.
PLUS: We are now 4 pts. closer to the #1 pick
MINUS: 4 coward empty suit players watching Combs get INTENTIONALLY destroyed by Michael Ryder and not jumping to his defense. I don’t care if you have never been in a fight your whole life, thats your team mate. You MUST jump to his defense !!!!
Everynight teams take liberties w/out fear of repercussions. I watched in horror as the play unfolded. Ryder looks at his #’s angles him and drives him face first into the glass. NOT one Islander so much as grabbed Ryders jersey. COWARD, SOFT, LOSERS…
MINUS: Park, Sim and Chef Bruno constantly watching the play
PLUS: Matt Martin in Bridgeport w/ Witter. At least we know the direction Gordon is sailing this ship.
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IslesinOside says:
Probation time is over….Gordon? Snow? I refuse to blame the players for poor performance. These kids are seeds and it is up to you to recognize, develop and appoint their talents.
Questions and accountability start at the top in business. You have done nothing to improve this team or develop these kids.
Answers please? -
In the post-game press conference, Gordon gave an interesting response on a question relating to the team’s mental status.
He asked to stop beating up the guys on what they were thinking and said much of the troubles stem from a “pretty depleted defense.” He added that:
“We are at a huge disadvantage”
“It’s not going to be easy.”
“But when you take out two guys that have been playing 23-24 minutes and insert a guy that has never played an NHL (noting that he has done a good job) and insert a guy who missed a month and a half and is playing with the thought of what it’s like to play with getting hit with a puck in the face, it’s a huge disadvanatge.
He said that “We’ll get through it and it won’t be easy, but that has more of an impact than the trade deadline.”
No kidding? Does Garth know that? With Snow’s trade of Sutton, he should have just kept his mouth shut about how our AHLers need to step up and help fight for the playoffs.
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Plus: The law of averages says that the team who finishes last this year will NOT win the lottery.
Minus: The law of averages says that the team who finishes last this year will NOT win the lottery. (which means that if a team scheduled to pick after us wins the lottery, we fall back a spot).
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Minus: No response to the Comeau boarding
Minus: Jon Sim in over Martin or Haley
Minus: Weight not forechecking anymore -
Plus: CB’s insights/opinions on the team.
Minus: Just about everyone else’s.
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Gordon has done a good job in my opinion. Again, ask yourself what teams in the NHL the Islanders are better than on paper. I don’t think you can say they are better than any of the teams ahead of them in the standings. They have made strides, they went on a sick streak.
Remember the Kings were 2nd to last in the league just 2 seasons ago. Gordon was dead on with his comments, however someone should have jumped Ryder. -
LouD says:
#133 I heard that and it seemed to me that Gordons frustration with the lack of any kind of real “management” is starting to show. They keep giving him less and less to work with yet he is still taking blame from some fans. I feel sorry for the guy and I like him a lot as a coach. On any other team I would hold him accountable, but when you’re working for P.T. Barnum, sometimes you have to deal with navigating around all of the s**t.
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nobody says:
If anyone wants to compare us to chicago, LA, colorado or St Louis (who by the way aint much better than us), PLEASE look at their rosters…their young core is built upon guys drafted 2006 and earlier. Colorado never went into full rebuild mode, again, look at their roster…LA, Chicago have been building for quite some time and only recently have added FA…Yr 2 of our rebuild, not 3, 4 or 27 as some would suggest. Losing is frustrating, but the Rangers and toronto and even montreal have clearly showed that spending $$ does not automatically lead to success.
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it will be fun to watch philly toss us around like the soft team we are-what will it take to get some toughness going for this team-at the least bring up matt martin
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Plus: Season closer to being over.
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The Islanders should watch the Toronto and Senators game and learn how to play tough for each other. Sick game.
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dan says:
Hamhuis fowler and frolov. Thats what we need this offseason
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dan, agree with you minus the frolov part. The Islanders have seen their fair share of underachieving Russians (see: Kvasha, Yashin). If we dont make an offer to Hamhuis I will be pissed. And then obviously drafting a legitimate defenseman in the first two rounds is a must (NOT in the fifth, see Klementyev).
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SneakyPete77 says:
Plus: One loss closer to a much needed top 5 pick.
Minus: Guys who do not belong or no longer belong in the NHL need to go. We all know they are. They make us inferior. I am not paying 50 bucks to see inferior talent. No way! Field a 100% real team and your stands will be full, Charles!
Plus: We need a forward cut in the same mold as Mark Streit.
Minus: Garth Snow’s frugal approach. He needs to open up the wallet and sign some free agents. Hamhuis would be a great young mentor to DeHaan, Hillen, and MacDonald. 2 players, Garth! 1 forward and 1 defenseman. That is all we ask.
Plus: You want to sell tickets? Bring some real players here.
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I get Center Ice and they don’t show the postgame (don’t know why) can someone recap Gordon’s comments please.
I gaurantee you if the Isles called up Martin, JJ, and Riechlecz or Gillies they’d be funner to watch and they wouldn’t lose anymore games then they do now. If they call up just Martin for Philly that’s not fair because they have so many guys who’ll fight and he’d be on his own.
CHRIS BOTTA, if you can get past Snow’s snipers and make it back into NVMC can you ask Bailey how much he weighed last year and how much muscle he put on in the offseason conditioning program?
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If you have the NHL channel…the Toronto vs. Ottawa game is on. A lot hitting and some good fights. Sutton is having a great night. During the first intermission Don Cherry said Ottawa stole Sutton from the Islanders.
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4theisles says:
I would like to be a fly on the wall when Wang and Snow meet and talk. Kate Murray is probably laughing herself to sleep.
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german islesfan says:
plus: another “good loss” for a top three pick.
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Gordo says this team is built on speed ,rather than size .You want to see speed? Watch the Capitals….. and take some notes Garth
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can the isles call up anyone who is over 6 foot tall-that would be a good start
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I just finished watching the RAGS lose too the Caps and I must admit, they are alot more fun to watch. Management there is very similar to our front office (clueless)the biggest difference I can see is that they spend money on players that are too slow and too old. Our owner/GM rents low salary has beens and rookies.
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mikef says:
minus: our powerplay goals are a joke. Honestly Streit is not getting it done on the PP. Slow passes and lazy skating thru the neutral zone doesnt get it done. TIme to mix it up on the PP.
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Martin run over a P-Bruin tonight and was cut by a skate in the face, took a pile of zips come back and started running them all over again.
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ODG says:
I’m with post 132. This team is rebuilding and with future superstars in Petrov, Hamonic and DeHaan on the way plus this years draft and our current young nucleus we can be a consistent winner. Stay the course!!
The only low points are the uncertainty about the Lighthouse and Snow’s refusal to speak honestly through the media.
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Billy-no-not-Jaffe says:
Streit is the one for Captain at this point.
If KO wants the job, he better learn to start throwing some hits. -
Michael P. says:
The whole toughness issue is suprising because when Snow played he was known as a intense guy. I know they are trying to develop Martin, they have Hamonic who is a tough kid. I know they feel that Rechlicz has potential to be an enforcer but he can’t even shake a regular shift in Bridgeport. I don’t normally advocate getting a lughead but maybe this team(partly as they are young) needs one, even if it is Trevor Gilles.
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dudley leiwicker says:
I just don’t see the young players getting any better. Bailey and Okposo would have trouble making any other NHL roster, and while JT may one day be a decent NHL player, that day is probably two to three years away. He really should be playing in the AHL for the rest of the year. The team’s only hope is to keep losing and get as high a pick as possible.
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Eric says:
#160 Okposo and Bailey would have trouble making any other nhl roster? We’re not talking about Sim or Meyer here. Bailey is improving and Okposo has improved since last year even if he hasnt scored as much as we would like. He will score 20 next year and Bailey is only 20 years old. He looks like he is going to be a good player in 3 years. Yes 3 years my gosh..he will be 23!
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Jim says:
Dirty hit or not you know if an Islander does that he gets suspended. Since it was against the Islanders no suspension.
Mr. Gordon really needs to do a better job of motivating this team. They look so lifeless night after night. You would never guess this team is still in the playoff race. How about shaking things up a bit or benching those who are not trying? What a minute if he did that I guess there wouldn’t be enough guys to play.
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160- Did you watch last season at all? Bailey and Okposo are much better players this year, and they will be even better next season along with Tavares. Hillen is a much improved player, Macdonald off his three game stint last season is an improved player.
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isles14 says:
i was at the game.no energy in the stands at all.when comeau was hit no one did anything.do these guys like each other? how can you not stand up for your teammates.
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161 – While Bailey and Okposo may be marginally better than last year (though I think KO has been awful for two months now, my point is that they would have trouble making any other NHL rosters. The jury is still out on Tavares, who needs to get away from this team for the last month. You are right about Hillen. He is a beacon of light on the softest defense in the world.
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Joey303 says:
Plus – I wasnt there
Minus – Seeing the “highlights” on TV
Plus – in my eyes, not renewing my tix and telling mgmt after having tix for 11 years to …..
Minus – having to come to that point -
Rob says:
When will the Isles move Tavares to the wing?
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bob bove says:
with no size, no speed, no big goal scorer,and a goal tender held together with duct tape–just how many games do you expect this team to win?
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Bill says:
POST 157,
How can you say “future superstars in Petrov, Hamonic and DeHaan????”
What people do in the minors and juniors mean nothing. Tamby is a stud in B-Port and can’t break the roster here. Taveras was the first overall pick and has been in a 30 game slump and is not yet a superstar. Bergenheim was a first round pick who to me, is nothing more than a 3rd or 4th line player.
Lets not get ahead of ourselves an say they are superstars….
People here think way too highly of our prospects. They are only prospects people, nothing is PROVEN until you PLAY AT A CONSISTANT LEVEL IN THE NHL.
We have a good young core in JT, JB, and KO. Build around that, stop getting more and more picks or those 3 will be Weight’s age by the time this rebuild is done. Time to add some proven guys in their prime to the roster to bring these kids to the next level
tavares needs a goal!