JETS 3 (EN) ISLANDERS 0
Increased shot count bears no fruit as skid hits 6
After another five day break, the Islanders seemed to lose their legs as the game wore on against the Jets’ (Philly game inflated) 28th ranked defense that was without Tobias Enstrom (broken collarbone). They continued to improve their shot totals (34 to 26), but there were few times where they really threatened as Ondrej Pavelec was seldom out of position and was square to shooters en route to his first shutout of the season.
The Islanders started well and established some effective cycles as the third line of Josh Bailey, Blake Comeau and Brian Rolston got the start, but as much as they controlled play, the team did not register a shot on goal until more than six minutes in. Travis Hamonic had arguably his worst night as a pro as Evander Kane abused him in the first period. Kane came up the far boards, faked outside and as Hamonic turned, came inside, cut toward the middle and fired. As the rebound came out, Andrew MacDonald cut toward Hamonic’s side and Kane grabbed the rebound and cut further right around MacDonald who picked Hamonic who was in pursuit. Trailing man Blake Comeau did little and Kane fired a shot past Rick DiPietro to make it 1-0.
The Kane/Hamonic battle would continue as Kane later broke past Hamonic for a breakaway and Hamonic was called for some type of obstruction cheating foul that resulted in a penalty shot that Kane rang off the post. Late in the first, Hamonic’s frustration boiled over in the corner to DiPietro’s right and the two squared off in an uneventful laundry-stretcher and each went off for five minutes. It was the best defense the Isles had for Kane on the evening. At one point, Howie Rose opined “The Islanders sloppiness has been profound here in the first period”. The Isles somehow ended up outshooting the Jets 9-8 in the first.
In the second, the Isles outshot the Jets 19-8 and you got the sense that eventually they would break through. (You’d be wrong) While the shots were furious, the Isles weren’t getting to second chances often, were taking too much time to set up their shots, trying to make perfect passes and essentially reaching for pucks instead of skating through areas to ensure they got to them. The amazing part of this period was the Jets commitment to blocking shots as Mark Streit and John Tavares combined to absolutely nail several of them.
In the third, the Jets clamped down defensively and outshot the Isles 11-6. There was no rally to be had, and the sloppy play continued. The recent trends of being outraced to dump-ins, stood up at the blue line when carrying in and bad passing were on full display. Winnipeg’s second goal came when Tavares was crushed behind Pavelec’s net and remained down for a while. The Jets carried up ice and Johnny Oduya wristed a shot across the crease that was deflected in off of Andrew MacDonald’s stick.
About thirty seconds after the ensuing faceoff, Jack Capuano again made the curious decision to pull his goaltender with more than three minutes remaining in the game. The glaring moment to me was watching Tavares try to get away from two Winnipeg defensemen behind Pavelec’s net while the Islanders had an extra man on the ice. When you outnumber the other team, and are not winning puck battles (really not even participating in them), you will have problems scoring…eventually, you will probably have problems keeping a job. Shortly after that, Alexander Burmistrov oversealed clinched the game with the empty net goal.
Capuano didn’t sound angry after the game, but he very matter-of-factly stated that “Minutes don’t mean anything anymore, now we have to win games” and “If we gotta play three lines, we’ll play three lines, if we have to play five D, we’ll play five D”. It sounds like he’s ready to make changes to line combinations prior to the Washington game on Saturday and indicated he is not happy with some players’ effort (not naming specifics) saying “they gotta want it a little more” and they need to work harder to get goals.
Some Plus/Minus (mostly minus edition…because I hate losing streaks)
- Continued poor zone entry and forecheck. You can not keep dumping pucks in and not getting to them…or creaming some people if they get there first. The idea of doing that is to wear the defense down, not to give them a head start on breakouts.
- The Jets somehow didn’t outhit the Isles, and maybe my eyes are lying, but they should have. The Jets defense manhandled the Isles along the boards and in front of the net all night.
+ DiPietro looked better than I can remember him looking in a long time. Some of the criticisms I had of him last week (going down too early, oversliding when moving laterally) seemed to be under much better control tonight. As much as I didn’t understand not giving Al Montoya the start tonight, DP had nothing to do with this loss.
+ Bailey and Comeau were probably the best Islander position players on the ice tonight. They generated some nice scoring chances and got some quality shots.
- Brian Rolston did not get quality shots. It says three, but I’m certain one was a center ice dump in. He can not continue to miss from under 30 feet. He can not continue to wind up long enough for coverage to close on him and block it. He may be the next person out of the lineup.
- Kyle Okposo, see criticism of Brian Rolston.
- Amac/Hamonic pairing. This is the worst game I’ve seen out of the two of them. They have benefit of the doubt here, but their play is not what it was last year. Let’s hope MacDonald still has a little rust and Hamonic just has some growing pains from carrying a D partner.
+ Matt Martin is a beast. If you could put the kid’s heart in everyone else, you’d have a cup. In one sequence tonight, he threw about 5 of his 9 (?!?!) hits and completely disrupted the Jets flow and brought some life to a shell-shocked crowd. I’m willing to bet we see him moved up in the lineup and possibly with more power play time if Capuano is going with the “hard work” meme.
Discuss in comments and remember, even Ovechkin got benched this week…should be fun seeing him Saturday.
163 Responses to JETS 3 (EN) ISLANDERS 0
Increased shot count bears no fruit as skid hits 6
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Islandersfan19 says:
Embarrassing effort. They scored 0 goals on a team that ad no defense at all. No forecheck at all. Those power play attempts were just horrendous, they looked like they were just going through the motions
and you can’t just pin this on player either, overall terrible team effort they looked flat footed, lethargic and they looked like they didn’t want to be there. Horrendous effort against one of the worst teams in the league, way to play down to the level of your opponent…and it won’t get much easier Saturday
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Julian R says:
This team really sucks right now. I don’t want to hear about oh they had chances, or oh they skated well…. That’s all a bunch of bs. The objective is to score goals. The Jets are not a good team and the isles are slow. They take way too long to make an initial pass and when they do it’s usually freakin off the mark. So dissapointed in the team. Josh Bailey, he’s gotta go, he sucks. Okposo is not showing me much either. Rolston has this supposed shot but he can’t hit the wide side of a barnyard. We need changes. This is unacceptable.
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CM says:
Putting playoffs out of reach already 6 in a row?? Losing is being accepted again. Cap has to go I’ve said this all along. Need a real coach and stop playing DP. Playing DP ruins the players psyche.
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Alfred says:
We’re going to do the same as last year and fire the coach when they start losing?
When does it become the players fault? No forwards put one in the net tonight, yet that is the only reason they exist.
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I think it becomes the player’s fault at the same time the organization starts realizing it’s as much the GM and owner’s fault for putting those players on the ice instead of putting a team of retreads, has-beens, and never-was players out there.
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crazy j says:
tonights game was pathetic!! The Isles were so bad, an ECHL could beat them. DP-thanks loser for putting the team in a hole early again. YUCK!!
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Onesinceforty says:
This was not his fault tonight. Not a huge fan of his but this one can’t reasonably be blamed on DP.
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Pls no mOre dP says:
Wtf. I have supported dp or at least tried to. But come on. He is done and the team is not behind him. Send him Packing. He needs to be put On waivers and sent to Bridgeport for a very long stint. This is beyond insane.
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What makes this worse is my wife’s wiser and husband are visiting from Winnipeg. This is embarrassIng.
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Mark from massapequa says:
Dp has given up first shot goals in his past two starts. I can only figure they will fire Cappy but make him assistant to snows assistant and then make weight head coach because clearly that makes sense. What a joke! The New York Islanders: making bad teams look good since 1993
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Strummer's Army says:
Let’s be real honest here.
1) The core is very talented, works hard, but soft.
2) The supporting cast (except Martin) doesn’t care and has no fire in their belly.
3) Team is easily intimidated and Wang is against toughness.
4) None of the 3 goalies has hurt the team this year.
5) Rolston is at best a 4th line player and really no longer an NHL player. Pandalfo, Reasoner, Mottau, Eaton, are also not NHL players any longer.
6)Comeau needs a change of scenery and Isles need to replace him with someone who cares.
7) Isles would win more games with Nino, Haley, and Gillies in the line up.
Isles would win a lot more games with a better 3rd pair then Jurcina, Eaton/Mottau.9) If serious about playoff aspiration then time stop the bleeding, trade who ya need to trade, waive who ya need to waive, and call up who you need to.
10) Games are no fun to watch. No one is being fooled, the effort isn’t there by all the players, Tavares, KO, Hamonic, Streit, & Martin always give it all they got but the rest inconsistent and/or invisible.
11) Isles cannot wait to make some moves and stop the bleeding. It is amazing how just a few games in they don’t even want to pretend they care.
12) Ricky being run over, JT being nailed, Atl physically intimidated the Isles. Teams have done it for years, intimidate them into playing like crap.
13) Sad Streit’s Grandma got treated to this horse crap of a game.
14) Don’t know what it says when guys are giving no effort and don’t mind losing this few games into the season. Don’t know what it says about Cappy, the organizational environment etc. that they believe they can get away with it but it has been tolerated in years past.
15) Comeau running into Reasoner at the end kinds sums it up. PATHETIC!
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isles316 says:
Disagree with you about the Isles 3rd pair D-men. Eaton has played well this year. McDonald and Hamonic have been the weak link back there this season.
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stopthepain says:
The 15-20 game winless streak is starting early this year! What a joke of a team. For long stretches of the game, I will admit I saw effort. However, effort is not the same as skill. That ECHL line above is perfect with one more addition – the Islanders wouldn’t score on that team either! Seriously, have you ever seen a bunch of guys so unwilling to screen??? Or a bunch of guys WHO ARE SO SLOW ON THEIR SHOT RELEASE!!!
The odd thing is I don’t remember them being so slow on the shot releases like this last year…but this year it’s just painful to watch – and yes, their slow releases are why so many are getting blocked…
Once again, the rest of the league laughs at us, and rightfully so… -
hangover3 says:
The Isles keep comming in last place because they should be playing in the AHL or KHL. THe NHL is to difficult a league to expect success.
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KaiserVanIslander says:
Looking worse than last year. If were not going to pull off a trade at least change up the lines. Please call up Haley, I feel asleep during the game not even fun to watch.
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Joe G. says:
My early Christmas Wish List:
1-Garth Snow gets fired
2-Wang sells the team
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Two more things – if Butch says one more time that the opposing teams goalie is having an outstanding game while routinely giving up 20 foot rebounds, I’m going to laugh so loud they’ll hear me down in the empty coliseum…
Have the Islanders taken a single one timer this year?
Can someone research what the all time record low is for goals scored in a year. The finishing ability is soooo poor I think the Islanders have a good chance to break it…
I think we should call the Islanders quest for fewest goals scored in a year something like “Islandersquest, 2011). Totally open for ideas though…
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Hishutzi Skorz says:
Butch on the post game recap, “The Isles showed flashes of brilliance!”
Mrs. Skorz, “I must have been sleeping through that!”
Butch has more sugarcoating than Dunkin Donuts, and it’s really wearing thin!
Re: DP…no, he can’t be blamed for the loss, but he didn’t look particularly sharp dropping two rebounds in front of the net in the 3rd. Fortunately the Jets didn’t capitalize.
Guy who gets no flack and has done squat is Matty Ice!
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Bean322 says:
No heart, lack-luster,joke, laughing stock, embarrasing,inept, many of the same words i have used the past few seasons to describe them. Dont know what else to say
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okpososcores21 says:
When you play to loose you loose No heart no physicality this team is going no where this season. Guys got big checks coming regardless how they play. There urgency and extra gear is no longer there. Compiled with the joke of an off season. No excuses anymore. Spend money and get reputable players or get out of town.
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paulunde says:
Some good comments here. My favorite is the 15-20 game winless streak comes a bit early, this year! It is horrendous and very quickly spiraling out of control.
Capuano will soon be out of a job if he doesn’t very quickly come to understand that DP must be sent up to the press box. I don’t even want him sent to Bridgeport. Why should he be given ice time that a legit goalie prospect should be getting?
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jon in chicago says: lets face it, winning is not a priority for this organization. would capuano be a head coach for any other team? would any team add staios rolston and reasoner to a bad team and expect to improve? and why isnt montoya playing , the best goalie on the team?
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Stephen says:
Where is the exciting team we saw a yr ago over the last 50 gms? Where is it…has Capuano changed the philosophy. These games have turned into such bore fests its ridiculous. Now for rest of venting:
I can’t take DP in nets. I understand we didn’t score but it kills me to watch him. Please explain why Montoya hasn’t played in 2 weeks.
Bailey needs a change of scenery. His hands are horrible.
Okposo has been awful as well.
Lastly, this team has shown 0 passion this yr. The only difference I can point to is Konopka. He was a 4th line player of course but they have been lifeless all season and that is the only thing I can point to. -
Alex says:
at the point where i just don’t care anymore. i can’t continue to watch them year after year fall out of the race by mid november.
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Harold says:
This is the SAME ol, same ol. You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig, and this team is headed for the same fate as it always does, a big losing streak, out of the playoff race by January and start to look at trading for picks and the ever famous “why are we winning when we need the higher draft pick”.
If there was ANY year this team needed to come out and prove this is a different team, this was the year. Sad to say, this year is not going to be any different than past years.
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Jim Clark says: How bad is the Islanders offense? Even Rickety DiPietro could shut them out if he was the opposing goalie! Boy am I glad I didn’t renew my partial season package. And what happened to “playing the best goalie”? Trade Nabokov for what you can get and play Montoya 80% of the time.
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Darren ingersoll says:
Here is a link to the TSN Draft Rankings, we are starting a bit earlier this year. Could be out of it by Dec, even faster than last year, no small achievement.
http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/
Cannot even get my kids to sit and watch the games anymore.
Bought tickets to see the team in Vancouver in Nov, they are now up for sale, kids have no interest in going, so what is the point.
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Bob Bassen says:
Garth Snow’s *big* off-season move was picking up a player and a CONTRACT (Rolston) that no one on THE PLANET would have made.
We are fools for believing in these bunch of phonies running the Islanders. -
islesrock73 says:
To be honest, I just could not watch anymore. I turned the Ranger game on. I hate the Rangers, and always root against them, but I just wanted to watch some real NHL teams play. I am also starting to hate the Islander organization. It really sucks for any person to be fired or cut, but something must be done very soon. Like tonight!!!
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Andre says:
Is Garth Snow really going to let this season spiral out of control? What will be his excuse then. You want to see this garbage product? Right now, this franchise simply does not deserve a new arena. It has become clear that the “rebuild” is not working. I wonder how long it will be before the “Snow must go chants” start being yelled out by 7K fans that show up when the season is over. I am so sick and tired of this franchise and I think the hardcore Islanders must feel the same
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Anthony says:
This team is pathetic. They are the most boring team to watch. We are the softest team there is. They play with no fire, no physical play and we look slow as well.I have seen enough of Rolston,Pandolfo and Reasnor.How about benching someone,changing the lines or calling someone up to give us a spark.We got shutout by a horrible team without 3 of there dmen.We have scored 18 goals in 10 games.Some sort of change needs to be made,don’t want to hear we need to be patient. Islander fans have been patient long enough for all these yrs.This team is regressing not getting better.
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SCOTT says:
I always took pride in saying the Rangers was the team I LOVED to HATE. Well, the Islanders have become the team I HATE to LOVE. Hands down, the WORST franchise in sports right now.
I BEG YOU ALL, PLEASE DO NOT GO TO ANY MORE GAMES to show support until something drastic is done. WE DESERVE MORE AS LOYAL AND DEDICATED FANS. Stay home and waste 2 hours watching the game on tv instead. Ironic, “Commitment” is this season’s motto….PLEASE, WHERE THE #!@# IS THE COMMITMENT TO A WINNING TEAM???? TO US EVER-SUFFERING FANS? GIVE ME A #$@#$!@% BREAK!!!! please do not support this team in the Coliseum. Make a stand that says we’ve had enough!
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Ed in Westchester says:
Great idea. Don’t go to the games, giving Wang more of an excuse to move the team to KC or Quebec. Or more of an excuse to not sign guys to large contracts. Or to give free agents more reason to not want to come here.
Brilliant.-
Please. Wang doesn’t need “more” of an excuse. He already does everything mentioned above. Why support this joke of a team? And honestly, they are so irrelevant, who cares if they move?
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it hurts says:
their power play…. i just don’t get it. They slalom thru the neutral zone and then do a drop pass at center ice. Every forwars lost all their momentum and is sitting sitting stationary at the blue line. The only times they retrieved the puck on the power play was when they dumped and chased. It seems so simple but they treat it like rocket science. Bailey needs to go the way of Gervais. He is soft, tries to beat 3 guys, and the once a month “holy crap what a pass” is too infrequent. That third line tonight was just plain awful and I don’t know why they got shifts that last half of the third period. It is no wonder Jets kept getting hurt. All 15 people in the building knew when the Isles points were gonna take their shots. It is so easy to Monday morning quarterback, but damn, this game tonight was just atrocious. I pray that Cap and/or Doug read some of these comments. And what the hell did Montoya do to deserve the bench the past two weeks? You would think only Einstein could know that he is the goalie they should be riding right now. Some of this stuff just seems so simple that I sit here and am truly baffled.
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claude says:
I think we’ll start playing better when were mathematically eliminated.
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BringBackNyles says:
And after this traditional 0 for November, remember to get all excited for 2012-2013 when we finish 15-10-2 and climb to 12th place in the east.
Love, Emperor Wang and Chairman Garth
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Steven says:
Well said Scott. The team deserves an empty building. We need a real owner GM and Coach. Every year it’s the same tired act with this team. No passion from the players and no sense of urgency from the Owner and GM.
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Ethan K says:
Start looking for a new coach… This team can’t underperform for half the season…
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fudgywudgy says:
THATS JUST A START……
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PotvinRocks says:
Please tell me this team isn’t going to lose12 in a row again. At least Capuano was pissed enough after the game to say that he is now going to shake it up. It has felt like insanity to see the same line thrown out there time after time.
I understand that DiPietro hasn’t been given any goal support but those goals that were scored werent Bobby Hull slappers. They were bouncing pucks. They should have been stopped. I’m guessing that Montoya starts the next game.
If I’m Garth, I’m calling Scott Howson and offering Bailey for Brassard. -
The time has come for new ownership, Charles, you have done NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for this franchise, YOU HAVE MADE THE FOREVER DWINDLING FAN BASE CRINGE AT THE THOUGHT OF ATTENDING A GAME. JUST BECAUSE YOU DRAFT PLAYERS IN THE FIRST ROUND DOES NOT MEAN THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE TEAM….. CHARLES, PLEASE , I HAVE BEEN AN ISLANDER FAN SINCE BIRTH AND I AM 36 YEARS OLD, I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE,ITS NOT FAIR TO THE FANS TO DO THIS, WE DESERVE MORE THAN THIS AND YOU KNOW IT. PLEASE, I BEG YOU, PLEASE SELL THE TEAM OR MOVE SO I CAN BE A BRUIN FAN……I FEEL GUILTY BUYING MY KIDS ISLANDERS JERSEYS BECAUSE WE ARE SO BAD. THE OTHER KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD LAUGH AT THEM WHEN THEY WEAR THE JERSEY….ITS TIME FIOR A CHANGE OR A MUTINY……
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Mike says:
Was at the Mess tonight!!!!! This team is not fun to root for anymore!!! Have tickets for my Birthday on 11/19 I will be giving them away I want to enjoy my Birthday instead of watching this CRAP!!!!!!
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It’s like watching your 82 year old grandfather trying to show his verility by attempting to bench press 300 lbs at the gym. In part, you’re thoroughly embarrassed and, at the same time, you’re thinking to yourself he can’t seriously think he can compete with these athletes.
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hoser14 says:
Is it me or this is starting to look like Groundhog Day. It is time to panic, YES! What good is effort without positive results?
It looks like this team needs a “productive” top 6 “veteran” forward. Outside of JT, no one and I mean no one is doing anything productive offensively. At least it’s not the goalies (even Red Light Ricky and his first shot, first goals hasn’t been too awful).
Three shutouts in the first couple home games is going to make the half empty barn look packed by Christmas time. This team is giving fans a good reason to stay home.
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Oh, OK so 30 divided by 16 is 75%. Got it.
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The time for protest is over…..guys i hate to say it we are the Oakland A’s of hockey…great past long forgotten, playing in front of 10,000 nightly until the league figures out what to do with us/where to move us. It has been 18 years since we won a playoff series, in a league where 75% of the teams qualify yearly
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I would love to be the first wear a paper bag over my head at an Islander game this season. However, I refuse to attend a game. So please, if you are one of those who will continue to support this team at the games, go ahead and start the paper bag trend. You’ll be a hero, and I’ll be content just having suggested it. Wear it proud!
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wear a New Orleans Saints jersey too…. No, better yet, wear a fish sticks jeresy!
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Dps says:
Guys please boycot the games. Do not put money in Wang the criminal’s pocket. He is just pinning the payroll to the bottom while he waits to sell or move. Don’t be a sucker.
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NYIhockey16 says:
Okay, all you DP detractors out there. I suppose it’s his fault his freakin’ teammates can’t buy a damned goal!
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exSection307 says:
Out of it again by Thanksgiving. Ughh. Rdp must go, the dude is just bad karma. And he can take the ECHL head coach with him as well as the over-the-hill Devils.
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DANO says:
SOMEONE NEEDS TOO TAKE HIS HEAD OFF OF HIS ASS AND GET SOME PLAYERS IN HEAR THAT CAN PLAY HOCKEY .WTF IS UP WITH COMEAU ,BAILEY KO DP AND THE D EXCEPT FOR STREIT AND HAMMY THE REST CAN ALL GO TO HELL ,YOU F$#$$% STINK ,PLEASE PEOPLE BOYCOTT THE NEXT GAME OR AT LEAST BOO THEM ALL NIGHT LONG ,SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE
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frank says:
Will the real islanders fans please stand up. support your team you jerks.
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Paul says:
Give it a rest. This team has sucked for well over a decade. They are lucky they have any fans left.
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My friend, you are clearly a young(er)Islander fan and that’s important because any sports team needs to grow its fan base. However, what you are missing is the decades of annual embarrassment, pain and frustration over similar troubles this year’s team is having. The problem is that there has never been a valiant or consistent effort to make things better. You may be able to accept that, not having seen the same movie over and over and over again to know how the story (season) ends. However, the true die-hards who have dragged this organization’s cross for decades have nothing but resentment for not being paid back for their loyalty.
Excuse this horrible analogy but it’s not unlike the circumstances of a wife getting emotionally, mentally and physically abused by her alcoholic husband over years and years and finally one day she goes into the closet, pulls out the 12 gauge, stuffs the barrel in his temple and BLOWS HIS F%$%$@ HEAD OFF! Kudos to her. How much was she going to allow herself to take?
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AJAX says:
Its a catch 22. If nobody goes to the games, we go into risk of relocation. I we support the team and go to games, nothing will change.
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so then buy the ticket and rip it up right in front of the sales agent at the box office. You’ll support the team financially while making a statement with an empty arena.
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Steve says:
Everyone needs to calm down.
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Danfromouteast says: Uh no. You need to wake up
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Joe says:
I can take losing some games. I can’t take watching Tavares get destroyed in a losing game and the team not responding, it’s atrocious. How can that happen to the only guy on the team contributing offensively? Get Haley up, Rolston needs to be gone.
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Kevin says:
I originally stated that it would take approximately 15 games to analyze which direction this team is going. Well 10 games in, and its clear as day and dark as night……. SHUTOUT by the Jets with a depleted blueline.
This team needs serious help in a lot of departments. Why is it the same story different season with the Isles?
So deeply depressing…… -
Acording to Wang everything is going great. Dipietro gets #1 job back CHECK. Puppet Snow created payroll at Cap Floor CHECK Kevin ENTOURAGE Connelly visits Wang CHECK. What else matters?
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vukotaismyhero12 says:
I was at the game tonite…team needs a shake up defintely…i agree with the comment about matt martin…kid plays with alott of heart…haley in the lineup would not hurt…ps evander kane is a beast, kid is an unbelievable power forward
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isleopine says:
Just came home from the barn. This is what I am going to tell you all: the team as has been become usual this year showed up for twenty minutes, that was period number two. First and third wasjust dreadful. However, instead of pissing on this team like so many of you immature dufuses, I am going to try to be constructive because I am a fan who believes that loyalty is a virtue. Eaton should be a scratch (bring up WIshart or Reese they certainly would not be worse and possibly a heck of a lot better. JB should be sat as well KO and Blake MUST be told that they will sit as well unless they play for the full sixty. Please bring up Haley – he will provide the kind of spark this team needs right now, this is a must. Give DiBo a shot he has been tearing it up at the Bridge. I would also consider giving CIzikas a look. Those are my suggestions to make this team a little grittier and light a fire under a few of our underachievers. WOuld like to hear from some of you on these ideas (mature fans only please).
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I agree with your suggestions, and I have not given up faith on this season yet. But changes need to be made, and personnel moved around.
Bring up: Haley, DiBo, Wishart, maybe DeHaan and/or Czikas.
Waive/move/trade/etc: Pandalfo, Rolston, Motteau, Bailey, Eaton or Staois, and possibly Comeau if he doesn’t wake up
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I do believe some of the veterans that were brought in have a place on this team… such as Reasoner, Jurcina. And I sort of like having either Staois or Eaton around for depth, but not both of them because they slow the entire blue line.
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Piney says:
Don’t you dare question ANYONE’S loyalty pal.
And don’t sit in judgement of others either. No one cares one bit what you think.
There’s your mature response, dad.
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yeah you just solved all of this teams problems…
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Winning says:
I wish we had injuries as a excuse like last year. Hopefully next oct we have some injuries when we fall apart like every fall!! Only if okiposo and his 12 goals a year didnt hurt his shoulder! Only if dipietro was healthy! Only if streit never got hurt!
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Sidd FInch says:
While I am really down on the Isles for this uninspired play, what about the NHL? WTF with two long layoffs here at the beginning of the season. And now to make it up, they will be playing 13 games in 23 days. It just doesn’t make sense. I don’t buy that it is building schedules either. Part of continuity is playing games. And while most of us, pros included, hate practice, at some time you have to get on the ice. The Islanders are not playing enough meaningful HOCKEY to get that flow down. Just hope this swoon doesn’t affect their play going forward, because frankly it is sickening. They got out of the gate earlier…. And as for the goalies, what the hell are they doing here? Are they going to call up Poulin or Koskinen now? First it was Montoya, he was great, then boom, he’s gone. Then it was Nabby, surprisingly good, then injured, now DP. Don’t be surprised if Big Al’s Mojo is gone without any work. Let’s just do everyone a favor and trade Nabby to TB now. Grab their 2nd rounder and move on. Clearly goaltending has not been our problem, but at this point it may serve to become a distraction.
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AngryPete says:
Another stretch of 20 ‘hot’ goalies
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isles83 says:
Can we please stop debating why Montoya is not in net. With this offense so inept the goaltending is not the problem!!!! This team is really disturbing to watch right now. How funny was that shot of Bettman in the press box next to clueless Snow, staring down at an empty arena.
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Isles4cups says:
This loss is sooo disappointing and the Isles have a tough month ahead of them. I thought this team would start to make strides this season, but they clearly aren’t there yet. I agree with some of the posters suggesting that the team toughness is lacking. I love Martin, and I’d like to see Haley in the lineup and more of Gilles as well. Rolston, Pandolfo and Reasoner aren’t doing anything on the scoresheet! I’ve seen JT take some fairly big hits this season, and that just can’t continue. Get Nino in the lineup and if this team needs a trade to shake them up…do it Snow.
I’m an hour away from Winnipeg, and have been a long time Islanders fan…even when the Jets were here years ago. But, if the friggin Islanders can’t beat this Jets team I may finally have change my alliance. I’ve got tickets to see the Isles in December in the Peg, I hope they bring that night.
C’mon Islanders…get it together!
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AFIsle says:
14 games later….
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Tom D in NJ says:
Being shut out at home against Winnipeg when you have a chance to at least get to .500 is totally awful. I am really disgusted. I bought a half season plan based on some promise from last years second half. The team is one of the softest I have ever seen in hockey. When we had Kanopka, Gillies, Haley and Martin in the line-up at least there was some intensity and passion.We dump all but Martin and replace them with a bunch of do nothings. If we kept the right guys in the line-up and made a real aquisition or 2 in the off-season we would have been ok.We have a chemistry of a loosing team. Thank you Charles and Garth for nothing.
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tom nyc says:
They need to play more physical…they started hitting in the 2nd and created turnover and chances. Bring up Haley and sit one of the guys that couldn’t make it with an nhl team last year ( rolston, pandolfo.,Staois)
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Phil L says:
3 shut outs at home in 7 games, thats pathetic. I really hope people stop going to the games. I hate to say to it, but thats the only way Wang will ever spend some money, when he;s too embarrassed not too. To all the posters who talk about “loyalty” I ask, what about loyalty to us, the fans. LIke many of you I invested time and money to this team, yet Wang offers a “product” thats un watchable. To present this team (except JT, Streit and Hamonic) as a playoff contender is practically insulting to anyone with even a basic knowledge of the NHL. This “rebuild” is nothing of the sort, rebuild must be NHL term for slumlord
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Shutout at home against a weak time for the 6th loss in a row. Hope players read this blog and are ashamed of themselves. No one looks like they belong in the NHL. Tired of being a closet Isles fan. Embarrassing to admit I been cheering for this team since ’79.
If your a fan of a losing team does that make you a loser too?
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Nick M says:
Is it frustrating? Yes with out a doubt. Did the isles out chance the other team? Absolutely. Things are going right but it doesn’t mean we stop supporting our team. Please, whoever wants to change teams go route for John tortarella’s team(sp). It’s not any easier for us to watch but you don’t see the loyal fans jumping off a bridge. Do I agree that snow needs to shape up The team? Yes. TBH matt Martin is the islanders best player on a consistent night. Put him on the first like take out PA and just see how much less time the puck is in our own zone and how much more room JT has. Unlike everyone else tonight Matt Martin was ACTUALLY making precise passes out of our own zone.
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caber09 says:
6 in a row will become 8 very fast, Washington and Boston…I havent even looked beyond those two, its getting late early, again, in Islander Country!
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Arbour = Leader says:
If we lose another game even GEICO won’t advertise with the Isles & they sponser Women’s College Volleyball. For all Division 1 programs.
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Ari From Long Island says:
I think when realignment talks start after the season, Bettman’s gonna realign the Islanders to the AHL.
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This team is a joke. It is really time to fire Snow already.
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Danfromouteast says:
Yes please.
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BigDaddyLynch says:
I’m not going to come out and see we have to stop supporting the team because they mean to much to me. But I have to look at the reality of the situation. We play 20 mins a game and outshooting your opponent means nothing if half of your shots are from 30ft away right into the goalie’s crest on his chest. We have no net front presence except for Martin and tough toughness, also except for Matt. Someone mentioned the schedule and looking ahead we have Caps, Bruins, Avs, Canucks, Rags, Habs, Bruins, Pens, and Flyers. It would not surprise me at all if we only collect 2-3 points during that stretch. Something needs to change quickly or we will be on the same path as last year. Irrelevant by January.
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Gary says:
I honestly hope the islanders move far, far away. I am done with this team. Please move so i can get on with my life and stop wasting 10-20 hours a week watching and reasding about a team that is HORRIBLE.
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Danfromouteast says:
No heart no passion no grit no toughness no goals equals no wins. Shut out three times in seven home games. Someone needs to be held accountable for this team crap on the ice. We as fans should stop going to games altogether. I know a team needs support through losing as well. Well we islanders fans have supported this team for twenty years of bullcrap rebuilding excuses a scam artist named spano a retarded gm name milbury and yashin. We supported this team ling enough and spent enough money. Now its time to show support for us fans by putting some quality on the ice. Im not some three year fan whining here. I’ve been watching since the seventies. This team plays like they can care less. I like capuano but I’m starting to think he is in over his head. The young guys are playing like some washed up vets and the vets are playing like they just want to cash a check. The nerve to send gillies to the minors. He may nit score or skate like grabner but he played with heart. It is time to call up cizikas dibennedetto haley gillies and bench okposo bailey rolston. Oh by the way konopka is more productive than that crap center reasoner. Snow you owe that man an apology. Konopka would add a much needed boost to this club. This team aside from maybe three to five players outright sucks. It is a sad day when it is more enjoyable to watch the rangers…almost. if something isn’t done before or after the inevitable butt kicking they face on Saturday I am completely done watching theses bums. Let them move. This team needs better players before a better place to play. Id much rather watch Bridgeport than this garbage. For a bunch if young guys you have no heart. Give martin a break and check someone!
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Danfromouteast says:
What can you do to get konopka back to jump start the heart. Hmmm give the sens rolston and reasoner and pandolfo. Although all them together and xenon has more goals. Whose laughing now. A fourth line of konopka gillies and haley with martin on second line this team may have a pulse. Thank goodness these clowns get paid by contract and not on performance they’d all be on welfare.
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yes -come back zenon-you can bring you horrendous goal song too
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Danfromouteast says:
We wouldn’t hear the song they can’t score
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Jeff says:
Please trade Okposo.
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WM says:
Trade him for what? Maybe a zamboni?
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justin says:
You don’t have to ask “Wheres the Beef” with Martin. He’s in the process of throwing it.
True Warrior. -
cjcb says:
Bring back Gilles! NHL needs Enforcers this game was a borefest! Horrible not woth $7.00 for the tix! Anyway we can get Soundtigers games televised or maybe some KHL games? Garth must GO ! Sell Wong sell!!!!
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Bryan says:
This is exactly how you get fans to stay at home. I have been to four games this year and three times the Isles have been shut out. Isles you can thank your play for keeping me home the rest of the year 2011 at least.
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Scotty from Hamilton,Ontario says:
Tuff to watch these guys…. Constantly dumping the puck in with little or no forecheck… shooting pucks and having them blocked, half the team underachieving, er well actually every line except the first… No enforcers, no jump, no bounces, geratric players… and im sure I can think of a bunch more soon as i post this… Although i have to say the DP has been a surprise… he should have won his last 2 starts… We just have to put the damn puck in the net and help him out… We will get through this, but until wang lets Snow do some serious signing above the cap floor, i fear we will continue to circle the drain… GO ISLES GO… I still believe…
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Once again it is just about more exciting to watch ranger games and hope they lose than to watch an islander game…this sux-way too early but true
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You know the fanbase that started to come back, or invested more somehow with only the juice of the core re-signs and strome hype to them going? Those people have now been lost.
I speak with them, and I’ve tried so hard to sell them on this being a different year and such, but no – its the same, and maybe worse if it doesn’t get turned around.At least last year I could hang my hat on kids developing and the team FINALLY figuring out, that playing some tough guys will actually keep the team safer, they’d play tough (novel concept, I know), and would bring energy that matches their youthful roster (First place Oilers). But no, the veterans we brought in – bore me to death. I was psyched for Reasoner because he had more skill than Konopka, but I can already see Ottawa’s toughness improvement. It even allows Chris Neil to be better since Z handles his share. I think of Martin and possibly Hamonic being hampered by the fact that that role now falls on them.
Rolston – I remember why I was excited for him, but those were of years way past. Does he ever hit the net? New MAB?
Pandolfo…as insignificant as I always thought he was.
And everyone talking about “oh well, it was Bailey and Comeau’s best game”…yet they were still out muscled by the other team in their zone, they still looked pretty lost, and still passed up shots. At some point you’d think its decided that these guys just are who they are…
The isles will bring some juice when they host the Caps as they tend to play to their opponent…but I’m thinking 1 point at best. Shake up needed. Stop that “too early” thought process – these long losing skids were supposedly intolerable last year.
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Oh and you could have counted me and many others going to last night’s game and definitely Saturday’s game vs. Washington – but you just knew they’d come out this flat. There’s now no chance at all, people go pay for tix on Saturday – unless you’re dying to see Ovechkin.
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Ovi is going to have an OVECHTRICK saturday nite-according to the commercial that is 9 goals in one game
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shlo says:
Did Capuano lose the dressing room? it’s his job to make sure they are ready to play.
The basic talent is there, the will to win is not. Can’t blame DP. Do you still think that Reasoner is an improvement over Kenopka??Bring back Haley and let Pandolfo or Rolston sit.
They have nothing to prove, some of the youngsters in Bridgeport do. -
Sean S says:
Any way we can get Ted Nolan back? Not sure why he was fired but he got some pretty terrible teams into the playoffs.
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2277 says:
This is not a DP bash but as I’ve said the past few years, I think the team plays tight and nervous when he is in net b/c of his unpredictability. Montoya should start and this reeks of Wang/Snow forcing Jack Cap to start Rickety! Also can we stop with the good play of Bailey and admit he is a 1st round bust (also ruined by the Isles by keeping him up when he was 18)!! Send him down and if he gets claimed, good!
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upstateIsles says:
Time to make a move Garth.
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Isles are tied for 2nd to last place in the league. Meanwhile Toronto is in first, and Edmonton is in 3rd place. Snow’s rebuild has not been able to get out of the bottom five.
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I was at the game last and I thought the effort was there for 2 periods and after the PP to start the 3rd period they stopped playing (ie give up) against a team that was missing 4 defenseman. Not acceptable. Red Light Ricky was OK and OK is not good enough when you give up a goal on the first and your team doesn’t score! Start Al Montoya and have DP is the pressbox with Rolston, Bailey and several other passengers with him.
After 10 games this team is driving over the cliff if wins don’t happen soon, 3 shutouts in 7 games at home going to leave a lot of empty seats and ruin a few careers beginning with Capuano and maybe Snow.
My grades after 10 games:Jack Capuano D-
Garth Snow F
Charles Wang FJosh Bailey F-
Blake Comeau F
Michael Grabner C-
Matt Martin B-
Matt Moulson D+
Nino Niederreiter Inc.
Frans Nielsen D+
Kyle Okposo F
Jay Pandolfo C
PA Parenteau, C-
Marty Reasoner D-
Brian Rolston F-
John Tavares B+
Mark Eaton C
Travis Hamonic B-
Milan Jurcina C
Andrew MacDonald C
Mike Mottau C-
Steve Staios C+
Mark Streit B-
Rick DiPietro C+
Al Montoya B+
Evgeni Nabokov B+ -
Kaszycki's Krew says:
While it might be a bit early to panic – those of us who have been around for a long time know – we are close – to have to start planning the draft party again. Where do I begin with – but let’s try to focus on the good stuff….
* JT, Hamonic, Martin and a few others have played well.
* Goaltending (on the surface and on the scoresheet) has not been the pblm….but it looms large in the whole process
* Team defense has been ok.
* Team has had shot to win most every game
Our downfall starts on many levels….
But clearly – we had a good three or four game run in the pre-DP being in the lineup portion of the season. Have played some tough teams who are playing well ( i.e. PIT/SJ) and since boy wonder has been in – its negative karma. He is our Bobby Bonilla. I love the other night how Capuano would not look reporters in they eye when they asked about him putting DP in .
Wang – As said elsewhere – he would rather lose with Rickey, Kevin Connolly, Paul Lancey, Mike Picker, Snow and a few other confidants than win with professional management and players. (we DO have some pros – see Tavares, John and a few others)
I heard that Gary Bettman watched the game with Wang in his box. What the hell were THEY talking about ?
* Life is too comfortable. There is a core of guys ( Grabner, Nielsen, Okposo, Bailey, MacDonald, JT, Moulson) who seem to feel very comfortable with their jobs and play like it. Some of it is bad luck – I get that. But some of it is a DP like sense of entitlement – and that has to go.
* Lack of hitting. Did you see JT get pounded and no one is afraid to do it ? Parenteau is not capable of defending him. Like PA – but not the guy for this line.
Did you see the Winnipeg guy run Di Pietro – and no one went after him? (JT was right there) what is that about ? Is it about DP ? Is it about lack of team toughness ?
Yes, I am ranting…..but I am in something like my 14th year as a sesaon ticket holder….and I am reaching my limit. Even me !!!
Then you have the Arena problem….must I go on ? GET IT TOGETHER ISLES !!
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dudley leiwicker says:
This team could very well be shut out 20 times at home this season and finish as the worst offensive club in NHL history. Seven home games, three shutouts. Except for the fluke first period against Tamnpa Bay, this team has scored six goals in 20 1/2 periods at home.
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Those of you who expected the team with the lowest payroll to not be a last place team have not followed the last 15 years of NHL hockey. Lowest payroll leads to ladt place 90% of the time.
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MikeInNYC says:
DP played great tonight, both goals were not his fault. Kane’s goal he got three (!!) wacks at the puck and skated through three (!!) “defenders.” I see goals like that scored in my men’s league for gods sake.
Macdonald and Hamonic were terrible tonight. Macdonald especially. Hamonic was total undressed on the Kane goal, instead of facing up to kane and stopping to rush he tried to lazily swipe the puck and sent the offense the other way. That’s not how you play in the first period of a 0-0 game.
The work ethic on offense wasnt as terrible as everyone thinks im my opinion. They were generating enough shots and chances to win that game, they just cant finish right now. Take out a shooter tutor and have a puckshoot at the next practice.
And not to make excuses but this schedule absolutely sucks. You cant expect a fluid effort on 4 days off…and everyone was appropriately out of sync. I’m confident they’ll get it together once they start playing more (hell, ottawa and edmonton have even had winning streaks) but it has to start now. Isles need to put together a few 3 out of 4 runs here in November. I said it a couple weeks ago, November is the month that will make or break this team.
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Brian G says:
Snow needs to make a trade during the season for once…..this season seems like a replay of last season….what a joke
Make a trade with Columbus, they were scouting Nabakov….they need another goalie
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PA ISlanders says:
+at this rate ticket prices will be in the single digit mark by christmas,
-and the 3 season ticket holders will complain about that the 11 islanders fans willing to pay $5 to see this crap and are sitting next to them and there $150 seats… -
Joe says:
Season is over already. F u snow
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A lot of you want Eaton and Staois gone. What have they done wrong? The Isles team defense has improved a lot from last year and they aren’t giving up a lot of goals. They are 9th in the league in Goals Against and they have given up a few empty netters and that shootout goal. It could be even better.
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Kerry Fraser says:
Was at the game last night. No grit to this team at all. Martin is the only guy playing physical. Neilsen KO Bailey Moulson the list goes on and on. Just not physical players. These guys would be good if they were sprinkled in with tough gritty players who could open up the game a bit. Have to blame Wangsnow for this poor product. This team is soft.
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The New Isles GM says:
I’m starting to feel really bad for Cappy and Gordon. Unless the GM fields a competitive team, your most likely going to be a basement dweller. I’m starting to question why Tavares would sign long term here. His commitment is admirable but being that this is a business, he could have done better somewhere else. I will back Garth’s decision to rebuild however it is his responsibility to not let this team fall to far behind before Thanksgiving. He must act now. I appreciate his effort in trying to bring Erhoff over, but that didn’t work out. I feel like he’s sitting on his hands not picking up the phone since. Rolston, Pandolfo, Reasoner, Staois….these do not count as key free agent signings. It might be time to move a prospect and or pick to help get this team to the next level. It’s obvious Tavares needs a legit veteran on his line (28-33 years old) who can help elevate his game. Nino SHOULD NOT come back and be on the 1st line by default. He should start on the third line the same way Detroit started off Datsyuk. Comeau, Bailey, Okposo…..see ya. It’s just not working out. Your move Garth.
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brian says:
In typical Islander style, they have overrated Hamonic. That’s what happen, they call up a kid, they say he’s the best thing since sliced bread, than you slowly but surely see what the kid is all about. It happens all the time with this team.
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I wouldn’t give up on Hamonic just yet. Second yr player playing against the other teams top line every night. Everyone is allowed a bad game and last night was his. I would rather have him and Amac out there on D in crunch time than our captain and Staois. slow and slower
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Ryan says:
I am completely disgusted with this team right now, and after such high hopes after JT had 8 points in 2 games and the team looked good, I have to admit that I already think they are on their way to yet another top 5 pick. I have to disagree with people knocking Hamonic though…he had a brutal game, but let’s remember he is a teenager. Overall, he shows intelligence playing defense well beyond his years, and I think he is one of the few players on this team that I have high hopes for in the future. I think Kyle Okposo is getting a free pass from most fans for some reason. I have come to terms with the fact that Josh Bailey stinks, but Okposo has been every bit as bad. The time for excuses ended long ago, I can’t accept watching Okposo, Bailey, and Comeau contribute literally nothing to a winning cause. Okposo is a huge part of our rebuild, but maybe Capuano should have him watch a game or 2 from the press box to light a fire under him.
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jeff w says:
Season could be over….if cappy and garth dont do anything than the losing culture continues…. call up the bridge, make some moves, scratch some players…..fire someone…for god sake garth if you dont do anything season will be over in 2 weeks.
I am a hockey fan but it is just not good hockey to watch…bad product lately and im tired of it
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i just traded my season tickets for a half eaten meatball parm hero. Clearly i am the winner in this move.
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Columbus has started 2-10…I wonder if they would consider blowing the whole team up and trading Rick Nash away? I feel like Garth needs to be working the phones HARD to make sure this season doesn’t spiral out of control. Obviously, a trade of that magnitude is not likely to happen, but this team just needs some sort of jolt of energy. Other than Matt Martin, who plays with real passion even if he doesn’t have top line talent, this team does ZERO hitting. Literally zero…I have never seen a softer bunch of checking forwards in my life, and the defense has little toughness. If you all couldn’t tell, this team is driving me absolutely crazy.
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Rick Nash and Jeff Carter have no trade clauses. However, Prospal and Umberger don’t and Columbus needs a goalie more than anyone probably. Nabokov and other things could get us Prospal or Umberger.
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islfan1980 says:
Its amazing how few people on these threads have ever laced up skates. If shows in the complete blind and incorrect analysis.
Okposo is terrible. Bad pick, lazy ass player since he got a gift of a contract. He can’t pass, he can’t make a move around the D and can’t hit the net.
Bailey – I really thought he was going to turn into a solid 2nd line winger. He is not a lost cause as an NHL player but has run his course as an Islander. Its long been rumored that he doesn’t like NY/Long Island and a change of scenery is needed.
BC – See Bailey. They are soft spoiled players and need a much stronger org and fan base to play for.
The Pandolfo, Reasoner, Rolston experiment is/was sa mistake. They are terrible. Everyone keeps saying how good they have done on the PK but PK can be solved by staying out of the box and pressure in the offensive zone. You don’t build a fourth line around the PK.
Isles only really have 1 true first line player and maybe Moulson on a good day. Other wise its a 3rd line roster all the way through.
Hamonic is/will be a very good defenseman in this league. He got torched on the Kane goal and played nervouse last night but he has been covering for Amac’s awful play all season.
DP – comlain all you want. Nothing will change. The players don’t like him and don’t want to play for him.
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glass jaw ricky has given up two first shot goals in under five minutes his first two starts. While the offense may not be scoring lots of goals; a team already gripping the stick tight has to grip even tighter when you are starting the game down a goal.
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Why is every body so down on DP? He was the best player on the ice last night! He only gave up one goal, and it was a beauty by Evander Kane, a future superstar in the NHL. Amac scored the second into his own net and you cant fault DP for the enpty netter. Were any of you clowns watching the game? You can not win games if you dont score goals, and you cant score goals if you dont get shots to the net! Hockey is not rocket science, and my 3 year old nephew could make Bailey look dumb, but we ruined him and now we are stuck with him….he has little to no trade value…nor does Comeau at this point!
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DP wasn’t tested at all and almost got himself killed in the 3rd period when that lazy wrist shot got away from him. He looked terrible in my opinion.
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Toughness left with Konopka, Haley and Gillies. And at least two of those guys can play quality NHL minutes. Why Haley is still down in Bridgeport is beyond me. The guy has some skill.
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JTizzle says:
What is going to piss me off is that the team will be out of it by Thanksgiving and then go on a run after the pressure is off. That is a signal that your team sucks and can’t handle the pressure.
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gdmike says:
good thing we didn’t sign Erhoff. Worst +- on buffalo. could be worse. I thought this yr would be a solid one, but eventually the puck must go in the net. Okposo, Bailey, Comeau, Rolston, etc. Bailey has clearly lost his confidence passing when he should shoot and Rolston looks terrible. I think Comeau is playing better, but what has happened to Okposo? Please don’t blame DP for this one. He allowed 2 goals and one was put in by Macdonald.
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RWM says:
Great second half last year. Great energy, great hitting, great team spirit. All that traded away, let go or sent to BP. Now we have a bunch of wussy geriatrics and kids afraid to hold a puck or throw a check. Sprinkled with a few decent players. Sad.
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Danfromouteast says:
This team sucks. Twenty years of rebuilding. It all started when the islanders couldn’t replace Torrey with a quality gm. Here’s a few to name- maloney, mailbury, snow, we had Neil for five minutes and he bolted for the door when he realized want is an ignorant computer geek. Now wants wife is the gm and feeding us the rebuilding crap again. You realize we we rebuilding so long DP is in his thirties
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fran says:
Absolutely right. Team has never seen the likes of Torrey. I’ll never forget when he traded a slick-skating forward named Mike Kazycki for a non-skating d-man named Gordie Lane. Curious, I thought, but Torrey being Torrey gave him the benefit of the doubt. Turns out Lane was just what the Isles needed.
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Years ago Wayne Gretzky called the New Jersey Devils a Mickey Mouse organization, and from almost that moment on the Devils ceased being a Mickey Mouse organization. Could have been the same year the Devils were the first team to draft a Russian player. Fetisov, I think. The NHL took note, and followed suit.
Well, the Isles are the Mickey Mouse organization now. Neil Smith got a tase of it, Pat LaFontaine got a look at it, and split. Unfortunately Garth Snow is not made from the same stuff. He is a yes-man through and through and is fully willing and capable of lying through his teeth to protect his Mickey Mouse owner, Charles Wang, constantly assuring fans that he is under no financial restraints to field a proper team. Hogwash. Pandolfo? Reasoner? Rolston? Virtually every team in the league spent money this year to improve. Not the Isles. Same old team, same old lies. -
Real hockey fan says:
.. Where has the scoring gone? holy shyyt is this the same team that had 3 30 goal scorers last year?, wow!
.. Can we PLEASE PLEASE make a lineup change? sit someone down jack, make a statement with the team, your the damn coach!!
Garth, get Haley or someone else up here, theres no buzz, no energy, no nothing with this team — Konopka for $750K looks like a steal right now, at least the guy played hard and with energy/heart!
.. The lack of hitting and emotion is SCARY!! How can anyone pay $$ and watch this boring product? BTW its not just the Isles (who are playing bad) its 3/4 of the league games, they are UNWATCHABLE, what a boring product!
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Joe says:
I went to the game last night. When I saw DP was starting, I knew we were in trouble. I was actually falling asleep. Boring game, one of the worst I have seen. And this is the second game I have gone to this season and both times shutout. Since Okposo’s injury he just doesn’t seem the same. Bailey and Coumo look lost. No heart, with the exception of Tavares and Martin and looks like no playoff season for us, again.
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New NHL= BORING!!!
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Stumpy32 says:
The way I see it, its not a panic move if you start bringing up the guys now that were going to be here later in the season. Someone like Hamonic blossomed last season because he was given a long tryout. I’m not saying DeHaan, for example, will grow as quickly as Hamonic, but its worth a try. The goal to have all of these near-expiring vets – i.e. Pandolfo, Rolston, Eaton, Mottau, etc. – was to bring a presence to help us win. Well, it’s not that we’re just not winning, but the effort stinks. I actually believe this statement is true:
“WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS.”
I’ve rarely said that in the past when we’ve had crappy starts and worse seasons. But this team has a ton of talent. Why aren’t they getting it done? Well, these vets who are so important aren’t doing it, and frankly, they’re disposable. I’m not talking about Staios, who’s been solid, and Reasoner, who I truly believe will go down as a decent FA signing, but the rest…they’ve shown what they can do, and it’s not much.
Now’s the time before the season gets out of hand. The way they played last night – it’s as if they sense an inevitable slide. It needs to stop now. They’re not firing Capuano, and I don’t think they should…yet. But to move some players out who aren’t part of the grand plan – it shakes things up without setting off a bomb. It’s a move that needs to get done now. Today. This minute. The bleeding has to stop. I’ll be damned if this is another lost season.
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BanGarth says:
This has to be the softest hockey team ever assembled. Garth Snow needs to go and bring someone in that actually knows how to assemble a team. Can you imagine if somehow this team made it to the playoffs where the physical play sky rockets what would happen. Watching JT get laid out or the goalie barreled over is disgusting and disgraceful. Garth really needs to make some drastic moves or be fired.
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The chemistry and team toughness is absent. Should have kept Konopka and left Haley up with the big club. This team needs a swift kick in the ass. And someone please slap Cappy upside the head and get him to switch up lines. The new vets are done and the defense needs a serious upgrade. What a crappy way to start the season….ugh.
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gary91922 says:
two words…
1 – EBARRASING
2 – RE-GOD-DAMN-DICULOUSchange up the lines today!!!!
Martin-Tavares-PA
Grabner-Bailey-Okposo
Comeau-Neilson-Rolston
Haley-Reasoner-Cizikis
as soon as Nino is ready sit Rolston.. and I would also consider bringing up Cizikis.We need energy and guys that are willing to sacrifice the body..
If it were me.. I would sit Moulson, Comeau, Rolston, and KO up front. I would also get rid of Mattau and Eaton…
The worst part is this team has no heart.
Whatever geniuos decided to get rid of Konopka is a MORON!!!!
A 4th line of Haley-Konpka-Cizikis would bring energy nightly..
Please god.. drop a BIG bag of money on me so I can buy this team and turn it around.
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DD says:
The forwards were absolutely a bumbling mess and it was so frustrating watching them get shots on net that were basically poor quality just because they were told to shoot more. And then see some get 2nd, 3rd and 4th chances and totally screw it up.
In general the whole team looked sloppy and disorganized. Not every single player but as a whole they were bad.
I know this 4 day off thing is screwing with them and I can’t wait until they finally get some every other day games so they can get a rythym going. We were all looking forward to seeing them capitalize on the progress we saw late last season. They haven’t lost what talent they have and they must be pretty frustrated with the way some of these games have gone too.
I hated Gordon’s “TOO MANY RULES” last year but I am starting to question if Cappy has ENOUGH rules this year. Some might need clearer direction.
I hope they can figure it out soon so everyone can get a little happiness going. -
Grabner has been figured out. He took the league by surprise, now he is pretty much a non entity. We thought he was the steal of the century, he probably wouldn’t fetch a third round pick now. he doesn’t make his linemates better, he is an individual offensive threat, so if he isn’t scoring, he’s pretty much useless, other than the penalty kill.
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MG says:
We are not a skilled team. We are playing like we are. It’s pretty simple. The team that won 4 cups had nystrom howatt etc. When the team was flat ….they turned the game around. It’s just amazing that we went from a physical team (last year) to a non physical team.The other teams have no worries at all about a check except for Martin. You CANT have one person hitting…..We added vets and slow horrible ones at that. I have been a season ticket holder for 30 years. Play the kids and lose every game…..This is torture…….For the first time in my life I have NO desire to go watch them play and I have the best seats in the house…….OK looks like he is in reverse….WHat happened to him…..It takes him an hour to get a shot off……This team is DONE until they bring up Haley and Gillies and put them on the 4th line…..Rotate 3 lines and throw them out there when needed…..We dont have a team of superstars…..
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Amerks44 says:
I see a 20 gamer coming!! Where has Okposo, Grabner, Nielsen, etc. been!! Move Martin to the #1 Line…This is getting hard to take..
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Dr Phil says:
SHOOT THE PUCK! Stop looking for the perfect shot. Carry it in….no more dump and chase. Not fast enough to get to the puck first. Trade Bailey, Okposo. Bring up kids who are just chomping at the bit to play in the NHL.MacD and Hamonic not the same as last year. Waive Reasoner, Rolston, and Pandolfo. Get a NHL caliber coach with some fire in his belly.
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Orange & Blue says:
Bailey and Comeau were the best players on the ice!!! Are you kidding? They had like 2 good shifts. People, you need to watch these 2 guys more closely. Comeau stood there and watched Kane score the first goal after he blew by our defense. Nobody dogs it better than Blake Comeau. I dont want to hear about his 24 goals last year. This is this year. Bailey just is not physically ready for this league and it shows. He does not belong on the team. He needs at least 2 years full time in Bport. He gets exceptional treatment because Garth screwed up his development. That is a bunch of BS! Changes made to be made but our incompetent managment wont do it.
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Mike says:
As much as I usually defend the organization, I must say that this club is now lifeless. There is no heart – and what I mean by that is not of a lack of a desire to win. What I mean is that I hardly ever see any of our forwards bang a defenseman on a dump in while I see our d-men tkae a pounding every night. I never see our d-men toss an opposing player on their ass during a goalmouth scramble in fron tof our net, while I see our forward sprawled out on the ice whenever there is one in front of the goal we’re shooting at.
This club is sorely missing leadership at the on-ice level – and that has nothing to do with whomever is wearing an “A” or a “C” on their sweater. Zenon was a true leader and rallied this club and instilled a “we’re not going to be pushed around” attitude from February through the end of last season and he didn’t have that extra stitching on his sweater. Sadly, that element is gone again.
Perhaps a call up of the two best lines in the Bridge and have our second & third line all watch from the press box may be in order. At least they’ll get to see what the meaning of “heart” is.
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Konopka is not the saving grace the Islanders need. I seem to recall he was part of a 20 game losing streak last year. First year captain, first year head coach, first year assistant coach, the wrong veterans, a player like p.a. on the top line and three goalies – do we really need to ask why this team is so lost?
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moonshine says:
i saw a little bit of the pre-season game in calgary and already the team looked a mess. capuano has to be the most disorganized coach in this league. they came out of camp without a clue and the early-season losses are the logical result.
i didn’t think dp was that good tonight. imo the first goal was a bit soft and he weakened as the game went on. in any case, pulling the goalie down two with four minutes left is nuts. it doesn’t deserve the name ‘coaching.’
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slsangus says: The ship be sinkin’.
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EX Isle Fan says:
WoW the Islander “fans” on here amaze me. After the win against the Rags a few weeks back everyone had them as the 11-12 Stanley Cup Champions. Now a rough spot and you all are calling for Cappys’ head. Blame Ownership and management, not the players. I don’t blame Josh Bailey, or K.O. both were rushed into the league early in their careers. Move them both out west with Dizzy DP for a bag of pucks and maybe a used water bottle. Don’t blame the fantastic “seniors” brought in by Mr Snow to stabilize the room and provide leadership (their old.) Letting Z walkto sign with Ottawa and sending Hales to the Bridge are both HUGE mistakes. They Islanders need toughness and Grit. Thats what wins in the East. Always has and always will (Philly, Boston, Pittsburgh, etc…) The Isles had it last year and thats what won hockey games. Wake up “fans” Mr Wang and Mr Snow call the shots there. They decide who plays and who doesn’t, they decide lines and each has their own pet project players. Trust me I know what Im talking about. Ask the coaching staff about the midnight phone calls from Mr Wang. Thats my 2 cents.
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It amazes me that you have the nerve to criticize anyone here. This team has not accomplished anything for almost 20 years. They are lucky to have an fans. This is more than a rough spot. This is the same crappy team as last year.
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They dont want fighting and toughness because than the fans would actually stand up. Wong needs to sell and Snow should be banished from the league, he is a worthless gutless puke!!
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JP in NJ says:
I agree with your assessment of Martin. He is a much improved player this year, playing smarter. I’d like to see him used in the way that the Blackhawks used Dustin Bfuglyin a couple years ago to crash the net on a top line.
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Totally agree JP. The kid can play. I would love to see him on that top line creating space for JT
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Blizzard says: …. wasn’t it assumed that Haley would fill the role of Z? We need some jam. Martin and Nino cant be the only ones bumpin. This team is lacking in grit. Haley could be our Asham.
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RICH L says:
I wonder what the pregame meal was for many of this teams players was, I say it must have been ALPO, because,because they played like mutts,and I see another losing streak coming up, that will in all probability wind up costing us any chance of even making it to a playoff spot, especially in the tough Eastern division they play in, due to the ineptitude of Garth Snowjob, and his cheapassed owner Charlie Choo Choo, this “team” is simply pathetic and so is the owner, and management, including Capuano.
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NYISLES001 says:
Snow does make the decisions under the direction of Wang.
Problem is one think with ownership, but as I keep saying even teams that doh’t spend eventually become contenders when you pick in the top 10 as many years as the Islanders do. For this I blame the GM’s and the worst scouting stafff in the NHL.
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This team needs to make a big trade. The shake up will get this team motivated. Bailey, Comeau and some prospects need to be packaged for some def help. Staios and Mottau are not the answer. This team has more holes than Swiss cheese, no offense to Streit and Nino. Nino and Haley need to be called up to provide a spark. The management of this team makes to big a deal over their veteran signings. Staio, Reasoner, and Rolston have not done diddly squat.
No words.