Islanders & Playing The Waiting Game
How long is too long to make moves?
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ISLANDERS NEWS
Islanders Offensive Struggles Don't Just Fall On Forward Group - THN
Islanders Brock Nelson, Anders Lee & Bo Horvat Remember Johnny Gaudreau - THN
Islanders Goalie Ilya Sorokin Breaks Another Career Record As Hot Start Continues - THN
Islanders & Their Battle With Mental Toughness: 'We Have To Find A Way To Calm Down The Play - THN
Islanders Head Coach Patrick Roy Changes Plan, Decides To Overload Top Power Play Unit - THN
13 Scary Islanders Facts On Halloween
Happy Halloween, New York Islanders fans.
The Islanders just lost both of their back-to-back games in regulation. They fell 3-1 to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday before getting shut out by the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-0 on Wednesday.
They now head to Buffalo to face the Sabres on Friday night, looking to turn things around.
To get in the Halloween spirit, here are 13 scary facts about the Islanders so far through 10 games.
Read more at The Hockey News.
Islanders Offensive Struggles Don't Just Fall On Forward Group
The forward group hasn't been good enough through 10 games, but the offense doesn't just fall on the forwards.
So far, through 10 games, the Islanders' defense has scored one goal, and that came from seventh defenseman Dennis Cholowski against Florida.
Not every defenseman is offensive-based, but Noah Dobson has not scored a goal on 32 shots, and Mike Reilly has not scored a goal on 15 shots.
Ryan Pulock has no goals on 15 shots.
Altogether, the defense has one goal on 101 shots (0.99 shooting %), recording 17 assists on 21 total goals, which isn't bad.
But forget the individual numbers for a second because that's not where the defense has come up short.
Where they've struggled, which has directly impacted chances, specifically rush chances, is on the breakout.
Read more at The Hockey News.
Islanders & Playing The Waiting Game
Nothing’s working. But even after all the trials and tripulations, the Islanders have gone 3-5-2 over their first 10 games and sit three points out of a wild-card spot.
They’re anything but “out of it” despite sitting in the basement of the Eastern Conference.
However, Islanders’ management has to look in the mirror and make a choice.
Do they let this play out, hoping that the chances start equaling goals and allow this current group to figure things out?
Or does Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello, in tandem with head coach Patrick Roy, start to think about making changes?
On one hand, there’s no question this team is as bad offensively as the outcomes have looked. Players don’t just forget how to score.
On the other hand, finishing is a skill, and the current Islanders have proven, at this moment in time, that they lack the confidence to master that skill..in most games but not all.
They scored four against Utah.
They scored six against Colorado.
They scored three in regulation against Montreal.
They scored four against New Jersey and three against the Florida Panthers.
So, the scoring is in there somewhere. Could one blowout win be the game that unlocks the offense?
Could that game be Friday night against the Buffalo Sabres, or will the offense fail to show up for a third straight game?
The Islanders already have two disappointing losses this week, losing in regulation 3-1 to the Anaheim Ducks before falling 2-0 to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Another loss on Friday to a less-than-stellar hockey club would be the definition of disaster, with the cross-town rival New York Rangers up next on Sunday afternoon.
Skate before a game at The Park at UBS Arena (click image for details):
Complimentary Parking!
Once again for the 2024-25 season, those that drive a BMW can receive complimentary single-game parking in the Emerald Parking lot.
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We need to take a step or two backwards in order to be in a position to move forward. That means cleaning out big contracts for young players, prospects and high picks.
Maybe be competitive in 2-3 years. Also we need bring in muscle in order not to be pushed around. I was the only one saying, why did we trade Ross? The answer was he stinks. We could sure use his stinkiness today. Being bad and being weak is a bad combination or said differently, fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life.
When I see this team, I see virtually the same group of players that have been here for the last 5 years. I get that they saw success under Trotz nearly 3 and a half years ago now, but most of them are older, slower, and less effective than back then. Nelson, Lee, Palms, Pageau, Cizikas, Martin have all been great Islanders, but loyalty to these guys only gets you so far. I think Nelson and Palms are both effective players, but that also means they have the most value. If I am ownership, the results and low attendance would be very disturbing to me. I think it is time for a more aggressive retool or rebuild and that starts with making some tough trades. Lou doesn't do that though, so it may be time to consider moving on from him.