The Streak Is Over! Weekly Recap And More!

So, it's Sunday and I was thinking maybe we would try something a little different to end the week. Sunday, I'll give my opinion on the entire week, ask a few questions, put up a picture for all of you guys to caption, so feel free to comment and interact however all of you see fit.  Sunday should be a day to just relax for all of us, so let's see if we can have some fun with it.

Holla! City of Squala!
Leave your captions!!

Since Monday, the Islanders have went 1-1-1. The first game was a Tuesday night match-up where the Islanders came off a Rangers loss by scoring 4 goals in the opening two periods.  John Tavares was thought to have only a hat trick and an assist, but it turned out it was just a 3-point night for Mr. Marginally talented. Unfortunately, the Islanders played on their heels for the remaining period and lost in a shootout to continue an issue that has plagued the Islanders all season long.

The Perplexity That Is Marty Reasoner

July 1st came and went this off-season. Sort of, anyways. The Islanders signed Marty Reasoner from the Florida Panthers. Inadvertently, this initially broke the hearts of many fans because this meant Zenon Konopka, beloved centre that's still in our hearts, would not be retained.

Board hopping extraordinaire!

As the Summer passed, a lot of us warmed up because Marty was a more complete NHL player. He won face-offs just like Zeke had all season, and he even added 14 goals! That was 12 more than Konopka. Along with that, Reasoner added 18 assists for the most productive offensive season in his career!

Well, he's carried it over and become a truly offensive player this season! 

Isles 70-point Scorers: Seems Like Yesterday, But So Long Ago

Last night, the Islanders dropped another uninspired game turned tease. The Flyers (who really do have obnoxious, arrogant fans: the ones that are all talk, no rings), came to town and either thrashed the Islanders, or beat up on a team that didn't show for the first 55 minutes.

It's weird because when the Islanders do kick it on, they seem unstoppable (i.e the 2 goals last night), but the effort we usually get leaves us banging our heads against the seats in front of us.

Well, all is well in Islanders Country as we sort out the positives. John Tavares scored his 31st goal of the season last night, making him the Islanders first 70-point scorer since Alexei Yashin in the 2001-02 season. You know, I always knew this stat, and always said, "I wish we had another guy that put up 70," but WOW it's been 10 years! That reality didn't hit me until today!

Hey, we won in these jerseys.

For 10 years, the Islanders haven't really had a major offensive threat! Alexei Yashin was a threat the next season, but he dropped off, and it seemed that way for the rest of Yashin's Islanders career (for the record, I was totally in favor of bringing him back if those rumors were true, especially if it meant him of Brian Rolston).

It's time to look at the Islanders point leaders in the past decade, and see where we truly stand now.

Everyone Wants Cappy Gone, So Let's Look At The Possibilities

This face?

Four bad losses in a row, each one more heartbreaking than the other. Four games where Jack Capuano couldn't get the team to show up for a full 60 minutes. Four games where Jack showed little emotion. Four games where the team mimicked Jack's emotion.

Obviously, it has seemed this way for most of the season, and the lack of emotion and intensity has been enough to frustrate fans going into a season with high expectations.  Cappy is a good talker, keeping things positive for the kids, but only problem is that the boys on the team are men now.

The bottom line is the Islanders continuously blow leads, hold no-shows at sold-out games, cannot score, and slip in the standings. If it's a few games, it's 100% on the players. If it's all season? Well, still mostly on the players, but it's the coaches job to fix these issues.

Fire Cappy seems to be the unanimous decision among Islanders' fans, so what happens if we get rid of him. Who are the options?

At Least John Tavares Has Gone Above And Beyond

With another Islanders' blown lead-to-loss, our team has lost 3 times in the last 3 games despite falling behind for a grand total of 1:25. Yes, the Islanders have only trailed, in these three games combined, for one minute and 25 seconds. As fans, it's very disappointing, but even in these circumstances, we try to find ways to sugarcoat it and make peace with the night.

You can be our draft-bust any day.

The other day I wrote about Matt Moulson, who has once again found his seat on top of his 30-goal plateau after scoring tonight. Well, for the second time in two years, the Islanders have had two 30-goal scorers. John Tavares joined the 30-goal club for the first time in his young NHL career, and on the same night as Matty Ice.

Who thought JT would put up 30 this season? Well, everybody reading this probably did, but some of the others? Not so much.

The Islanders Fell Off The Right Track

The positive? They were actually on the right track. I hear a lot about the Islanders being a poor team, or the same team, but there is only slight truth to those statements. The Islanders are a bottom-5 team right now, and they are also still wearing blue, white and orange while playing in the same building where four Stanley Cup banners hang in the rafters. That's it.

This is a bit more accurate:

"We know we can be a good team because we have been at times this year. It's not going right for us now." - PA Parenteau

Yay! Meaningful games in February!

Yes. Remember, one week ago the Islanders were only 6 points out of a playoff spot. Now, they're still in it (technically), but they're play over the past month has not been a good indicator of this. Sitting 10 points out with 13 games remaining, obviously the chances are slim, but I'm not hear to talk about playoffs.

This Team Needs A Jump Start

No, last night's overtime loss to the Rangers did not leave the Islanders with a feel-good point. For most of the game, the Islanders played on their heels against a team that hadn't won in 3 games. They had no business making it to overtime, nor did they have any business being in the game at all.  The New York Islanders mustered a whopping 19 shots against their cross-town rivals, in a game that they needed to win if they wanted to even think about the playoffs for the remainder of the season.

I just tell them, "Save your energy for the next one."

Matt Moulson and Andrew MacDonald both were rewarded with goals for being in the right place at the right time, and also helped keep the Islanders on top throughout the entire game. Yes, the Islanders had not been losing at any point in this game, but no, they shouldn't have even been in it.

Unfortunately, what should have been a very fun stretch for an Islanders team ready to turn the corner has turned into an eye-opening string of games. Too often have the Islanders come up short in games they needed to win this year, and too often have they disappeared for stretches at a time.

No exaggeration here. Our Isles played on their heels for the entire final two periods of the game, which has become all too familiar. When the going gets tough, this Islanders team never shows up, so it's time for a talk.

Meet Mike Halmo

Forget the Broadstreet Bullies.
Meet the Fulton Ave. Fighters.

Right before the start of last night's New York Islanders game, Garth Snow made an interesting, and very random roster move.  The New York Islanders came to terms with undrafted forward Mike Halmo.

Halmo, a forward for the OHL's Owen Sound Attack, is an over-age Junior player playing in his 4th Junior hockey season at the age of 20. He will be able to join the Bridgeport Sound Tigers once his team is done with the OHL playoffs, as they Owen Sound Attack clinched a playoff spot earlier in the week.

At 5'11, Mike Halmo stands to be another energy player, as well as a possible fan favorite. He's a player that has been considered dirty by many, but loved by his team. A spark player that can throw the body, Halmo is expected to be a tough player that can be available for the team in situations where a jump is needed.  That could be great for the Islanders, seeing that they have problems getting up for all of their games.

Mike Halmo has been suspended several times, and there is most likely one coming for last night's big hit on the NHL's #1 Draft prospect, Nail Yakupov. Take a look:

Somewhere On Long Island, Matt Moulson Laughs On His Throne From His 30-Goal Plateau

Three years ago, I remember reading that the Islanders signed a player from the Los Angeles organization.  I thought, "Great, another depth-signing." Go figure.

Training camp started and his name was popping up as a dark-horse candidate to make the roster in September. He was buddies with John Tavares, but no way the Islanders would put a depth-forward in the same category as our newly drafted, franchise superstar.

I haven't come back down for some time.

The season started, and "Matt Moulson" appeared next to John Tavares. Who is that guy? Well, we all know now.

On an Islanders' team with virtually nothing to look forward to that season, Matt Moulson scored his 30th goal of the season in the final game of the season. He never looked back.

Never On The Haley Bandwagon, But Sometimes It Just Makes Sense

Yesterday, the New York Islanders faced off against the New Jersey Devils for game 2 of their odd 3 game series. A total collapse in the final 15 minutes of this one lead to a 5-1 loss, pushing the Islanders, and their fans, further away from their playoff dream. On Saturday, the Islanders will return to the Coliseum with another important 2 points on the line.

Last Sunday, the Islanders played a chippy game, which has been something the Islanders haven't done often this year. Normally, home-and-home series' involve carryovers from the previous games.  The players fight, they share words, they go after each other. What's odd about this one though (and maybe not so much for the Islanders)? It is that the Islanders refuse to include "tough guys" in their line-ups, even when they play the same team three times in a row. Even when they have other players that don't do anything.

Pure Insanity

Marty Reasoner, for example. Brought in to be a better hockey player than Zeke, Marty Reasoner has produced a whopping zero goals while showing nothing of interest while on the ice. It actually makes you wonder why the Islanders don't just sit him for someone else, even if it's just to make a statement for the games that are supposed to be spirited, divisional games.

So, "here we go again" is probably what a lot of people are saying right now. But, before I say anything, I want to make it clear. I was never on the Michael Haley bandwagon. I never thought he was our savior, nor did I ever think he was the guy that would take this team past their problems. I always thought their were other guys to call up over him, even just to see what other players down in the minors could do. But, sometimes it just makes sense.

Matt Martin's Untapped Potential

Every Islanders' fan loves Matt Martin. In fact, the only time I ever heard anyone dislike him was the one time I had an insane lady sitting behind me screaming at Martin, saying every goal the Islanders let up is his fault because he hits other players. Asinine. Obviously thats part of the game, and it's the main thing that makes Martin an untouchable for this Islanders team.

311 hits. Alexei Yashin's jersey number more than any other player in the NHL (that would be #79 for those who don't remember).  That's a lot of hitting, and a lot of space opened up for him and his line-mates, and it's shown.

Yep. There's a lot of that going on in Long Island.

Through 66 games, Martin has a career high in goals (7), and has tied last year's career high point total of 14. He reached these marks in two less games. Thing is, he has 43 more shots this year (103) than he did last year. That's with two games in hand.

Averaging 12:14 ice time per game, Martin has seen penalty-kill time, setting up both of Josh Bailey's shorthanded goals, as well as some power-play time, which is something I think we should see more of.

A few weeks ago, the Islanders decided to put Martin on the starting line with John Tavares. A lot of Islanders fans reacted positively to this, including myself.  I've always wondered what kind of production Matt Martin could have if he was on a line with a goal-scoring center.

In Martin's last Junior hockey campaign, he scored 35 goals (17 of them on the PP), and 30 assists for 65 points in 61 games.  This season, he has already scored 7 goals, and I can see him reaching 10 by April 6th.  He has often played on the wing of either Josh Bailey (who no longer plays center), or Marty Reasoner (who couldn't score if the opportunity was handed to him), so again, what would happen if he played on a line with a center who could play.

Definitely Cannot Knock Michael Grabner For His Effort

I know, I know. A few days ago, I wrote about The Michael Grabner Effect, and how if he doesn't start scoring, the New York Islanders will have to trade him because of the momentum swings that occur with each failed breakaway.

I stand by that, as I do believe the Islanders could be a playoff team if Michael Grabner was not 1-for-25 on his one-on-ones with the goalie. These misses have often come at times where a goal could have turned a 2-goal lead into a 3-goal lead, putting the game away instead of allowing the other team the chance to push the Islanders (a team with no size) on their heels for the rest of the game.  Some of these games have ended in losses, and some of them have ended with the Islanders just barely winning (think Isles-Rangers on February 24th).

So you have to spray the goalie first. I get it.

Despite all the botched opportunities, Grabner is still getting those opportunities, so he can easily go from a 20-goal scorer to a 40-goal scorer in one season. He is 4th on the team in shots, taking 136 of them, so once again, opportunities haven't been the problem.

I do believe he will have better seasons, in terms of goals, after this one, but even if he doesn't, what other values does he have?

Kyle Okposo and Casey Cizikas: A Match Made In Heaven?

The Islanders have played in 4 games since trading Brian Rolston and Mike Mottau, going 2-1-1, and arguably have outplayed their opposition in 3 of them.

The last Rolston game happened to be rookie Casey Cizikas' first NHL game, which also happened to be against their strongest rival, the New York Rangers. Casey was very noticeable in this game, throwing 1 hit and winning 2 face-offs in his first period of NHL hockey, while finishing the game with 11:33 of energetic ice-time.

The brightest moment of that game, for Cizikas, was when he beat out two Rangers for the puck along the Rangers' bench, set-up a wide open Rolston (we don't miss you) who immediately botched the play when he took a slap-shot from the blue-line with plenty of space between him and Henrik.

But, minus the enigma, that's Casey Cizikas' game.  Hard-work and grinding to win the battles along the boards (which made him a hero in Canada during the WJHC), Casey plays a great two-way game that greatly aids his offensive ability. 

Gah, I'm so hungry.

Exit Rolston, and enter Kyle Okposo. KO, billed as a power-forward, replaced Mr. Enigma 2012 on the Casey Cizikas-centered line. Okposo became a fan favorite when he joined the Islanders and showed that he was very hungry for the puck. In the 2009-10 season, Okie seemed like a man possessed, scoring 19 goals and 33 assists for 52 points for a poor Islanders team that was only exciting for John Tavares and the discovery of Matt Moulson.

Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic Are Not Going Anywhere

Although the Islanders' defense has not been great this season, it has not been as bad as advertised. 195 goals against make the Islanders tied for 25th in the league in the goals against category, but you have to figure a lot of these goals (22) can be attributed to DiPietro's 3.73 GAA in 8 games, as well as some blow-outs.

Nabokov and Montoya, the two main Islanders goalies, have a GAA of 2.41 and 2.71 respectively.  Among the NHL's starting goalies, Nabokov ranks 13th in the league in this category while Al Montoya ranks better than Ilya Bryzgalov and Craig Anderson, among others.

This indicates that the Islanders have been subjected to several blowout losses, as these low Goals Against Averages have been balanced out by many spectacular performances, goalies and defenses combined.

Because somebody had to.

The Islanders defense has held their own, and although much was anticipated from the returning Mark Streit, the true backbone of the Islanders' defense resides in 21 year-old sophmore, Travis Hamonic and 25 year-old, 3rd year veteran, Andrew MacDonald. The two have become our top pair on the blue-line, averaging the most shifts on the team per game (26.2 and 26.9), while coming in 3rd and 1st on the team in Average Ice-Time per Game (22:19 and 23:33, with Hamonic only behind the team's Capain).  These guys have given everything they have for each second of each shift all season long.

As An Isles Fan, It's Nice Feeling Secure With Our Goalie Situation

The Islanders goalie situation: joke to many, the punch-line to every headline, Rickety's contract. Three things, and there's way more, that have highlighted the Islanders' every last move over the past few seasons.

DiPietro's contract? Albatross, even though I do think it would have been a great deal for Mr. Charles Wang if Rickety never got injured. I mean, $4.5 million would be a bargain if they got the goalie everyone expected him to be. Unfortunately, DP (people even make jokes with that) could never find his way off the IR, playing only 47 games since the 2007-08 while haunting the rest of us from his hospital bed.

Style Points!

Since the end of 2007-08, the Islanders have drafted four goalies (Kevin Poulin, Miiko Koskinen, Thor of Asgard and Cody Rosen), started a total of 12 goalies and sprinkled in a little DiPietro every season.  All those November losing streaks? DiPietro was involved with all of them.  His best numbers? They came in 2009-2010. He had a .900 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA. Clearly, these numbers were exaggerated when we saw his other seasons' GAA: 3.52, 3.44 and 3.72. You want his save percentages too? .892, .886, .876. That's what happens when you care about the style of your pads (those things need to be broken in ya know?) and how you look on the ice (remember that goofy Ozzie helmet), more than rehabbing after surgery.

Anders "Thor" Nilsson

We've come a long way since November 21, 2011. A normal divisional match-up with the Pittsburgh Crybabies was to be broadcast on MSG+. Anders Nilsson was about to make his first NHL start after being recalled from the AHL. I'm sure it was a little nerve-wracking.

I'm also sure things got a lot worse when, several hours before the game, it was announced that Sidney Crosby was returning, and that the game would be broadcast on National Television.  Well, it only took a few minutes, but Sidney Crosby scored on his first shot back and the rest is history. Anders Nilsson faced 36 shots, saving 31 of them in a 5-0 loss in a game that was doomed from the beginning. It wasn't his fault that he had to play under the circumstances, but it happens.

Now you face the Mightiest Avenger of all!

Anders Nilsson was sent back down to Bridgeport, which was pretty much the last time a lot of Islanders' fans heard of him. He was chosen, along with Kevin Poulin, over Miiko Koskinen to spend his time in Bridgeport and not in the ECHL. Most of us probably didn't see him coming back to the Island for a while, especially with Kevin Poulin at the doorstep.

No Understating The Importance Of Evgeni Nabokov

Today was one of those days where majority of the fans could say, "Didn't see that one coming."  After a string of terrible losses, the Islanders went into Boston to face the defending Stanley Cup Champions, a team that has been a horrible mismatch for the Islanders. Better size, better speed, and the best goalie-tandem in the NHL, the Islanders have come up short both time to the B's this season, falling 6-2 and 6-0.

You Shall Not Pass!

This game was one of those games where the win started from the Islanders net and out. John Tavares, Matt Moulson, and Josh Bailey (again) played essential roles in this win, but Evgeni Nabokov kept this (recently) floundering team on their feet.


Three minutes in, we could have seen where this game was headed. Moulson started the Islanders off with a terrible giveaway to Brad Marchand in the offensive zone, only for Nabokov to come up with his trademarked glove save early. It was a blistering shot, but to no avail as Nabby reminded Boston why he's still coveted by many.

Less than 30 seconds into the 2nd period, with the game tied at 1, Nabby was forced to make another great save to keep this game in control. A hard shot by Lucic found it's way off of Nabokov, right on to David Krejci's stick. Nabby kicked his left pad out quickly, robbing Krejci of a goal from several feet in front of the crease.

The New York Islanders And Their Abundance Of Centers

Since the end of the 2006-07 season, the New York Islanders have been in rebuild mode, accumulating draft picks, and selecting as many players in hope to replenish their farm system and create a contending NHL team for years to come.  The first choice to kick off the rebuild: Center Josh Bailey, the gifted, but not yet reaching his potential, two-way player who was most recently moved from his natural position at center to the wing.

About that. There's a reason Josh Bailey was moved back to the wing, and it was more than just because two young players were recalled from the AHL.  Since the rebuild began, the Islanders have become STACKED at the center position.  

The Fonz: "You ain't nobody until you do what you want."
The Frans: *Backhand of Judgement*

Obviously, John Tavares fills out the Number one center slot, and will for years to come. Drafted 1st overall in the 2009 NHL Entry-Draft, #91 reigns supreme in New York, and will be the man that takes us through the playoffs when we eventually get there. 

Potential future Selke Candidate and current shootout specialist, Frans Nielsen, was also recently signed to a 4-year extension. A brilliant two-way player with a 20-goal, 50-point upside, Frans will be our solid third-line center of the future. 

Josh Bailey was fully expected to be a top play-maker, easily filling the New York Islanders' second line, and joining John Tavares and Frans Nielsen as the Islanders' top three centers.  Unfortunately for Josh, there was too much hype and not enough to show for it in his first three seasons on the Island, and since his draft selection in 2008, the Islanders have planned accordingly.

Garth Snow has, from what it appears, drafted a solid group of kids since he became the team's GM. The farm system is ranked towards the top of the league, and part of the reason are because of the centers Garth has drafted in order to make sure we are set down the middle for years and years.  Quick recap on our centers in the farm.

Josh Bailey Is Starting To Find His Niche

Last night, the Islanders took a 6-3 drubbing to a Philadelphia Flyers team that, just yesterday, I posted about how important it is to beat them.  Well, they did just the opposite in a game that looked more like the NHL series for Xbox. Again, the Islanders came out with a very early lead, but again they found a way to not only squander it, but to completely destroy it.

This team always finds stretches that show how exciting this team can actually be, but they also find ways to play with no excitement at all for others. Besides John Tavares, there are not many players on this team that can actually drive the play, but since the kids are here to stay, hopefully someone else can step up.

YOU'RE NOT ON MY LINE!

As a matter of fact, since the kids came up, Josh Bailey is beginning to play with confidence again. No longer a kid, and in the final quarter of his 4th season, Bailey is finally getting it, even through his career-long carousel of linemates. His push to the wing these past two games is solely because the Islanders are stacked down the middle with current players and prospects, and with some of them coming up from Bridgeport, the Islanders were not going to mismanage them and shift them back-and-forth from their natural positions (as they did with Josh).

So far, the experiment is working. Yes, there is another experiment for Josh Bailey. In the past two games, Bailey has found the back of the net 3 times, including two last night in Philly while playing with two different centers.  All 3 goals have showcased Bailey's soft-hands, along with the hard work of his new Bridgeport linemates.

The Islanders Should Have Two Goals For The Remainder Of The Season

The Islanders remain on the road tonight, 8 points out of a playoff spot, and getting set for a divisional match-up with the, suddenly beatable, Philadelphia Flyers.  In the past two games against their Atlantic Division rival, the Islanders have come out on top both times: one game, a dominating 4-1 performance, and one game, a 1-0 shutout win where all the credit goes to Mr. Nabokov.

Tavares: "Hey... would you just do it?"
Moulson: "I don't know man, they look pretty tough."

Before those two games, the New York Islanders had 1 win in their last 24 games against the Flyers, which also contributed to an atrocious statistic. The Islanders, since the 2008-09 season, had problems with the Philadelphia Flyers, but also the New York Rangers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the New Jersey Devils. The Islanders division record since that season has been 22-63-12, which means only 56 of a possible 194 points were earned in those games.

These division games become important, especially in a division where 4 of the 5 teams are playoff contenders year-after-year. The Islanders have been pretty good against the rest of the league, especially in their match-ups with the Western Conference teams, but when 48 divisional points are up for grabs every season, and the Islanders come up with less than 30% of those points every year, the Islanders will probably fall short of the playoffs every year.

This season, the New York Islanders have a record of 26-28-9 and a divisional record of 5-8-2. There are 19 games remaining in the 2011-12 season, 9 of them divisional match-ups including an oddly-scheduled 3-game series against the New Jersey Devils next week.

This Year, Another Top-5 Pick Is Nothing To Hang Our Heads About

As of today, our New York Islanders are currently sitting in the Number Four Spot for the 2012 NHL Entry-Draft.  Lots of moans about an Islanders team that was supposed to take the next step this season and make the NHL Playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season.  Another potential lottery pick for the 5th time in 5 years means another year filled with pessimism towards the Islanders "bleak" future.

The joke was "Yea, scoring will be our issue in 3 years."

In my opinion, all of this is happening at just the right time.  A lottery pick in this year's draft is nothing to hang our heads about. It certainly doesn't feel like we have been all that bad this season, and although they have not been all that good this February, none of this season has been incredibly painful. Still only 8 points out, the Playoffs are still a possibility even though were are 14th in the Eastern Conference and 27th in the entire NHL. John Tavares is a little bit more than we expected him to be this year, the goaltending has been better than any time I can remember (with Nabokov posting top-3 Islanders numbers in Save Percentage and GAA), Matt Moulson has proved that he is, for sure, a 30-goal scorer, and the defense has absolutely not been the Islanders main problem.

The Michael Grabner Effect

Ok, so I was going to save this blog for a later date, but I feel it needs to be said. The Islanders just came off a heart-breaking loss to the Washington Capitals, giving up 2 goals in the final 4 minutes of regulation only to lose in overtime. They needed this game. 3 games in hand and 8 points out of the 8th seed became 0 games in hand and 8 points out.

But here's the thing. It wasn't Bailey's fault. It wasn't Capuano's fault (although the coaching staff, if you can call it that, really needs to take a long look at themselves after showing no emotion in very draining losses). It wasn't even Mike Mottau's fault. The team lost this game, so no I'm not blaming Michael Grabner.

It's time to look at him though. This man is a a big-time playmaker without ever finishing his plays. With every big play, momentum tends to shift to one side or the other.  It seems as if every single game the Islanders have a 2-goal lead, Michael Grabner comes out with some kind of huge scoring chance, cannot finish them, and suddenly it becomes lights out for the Islanders.

For example, the other night against the Rangers, the Isles were up 3-1 when Grabs came out with a breakaway. He didn't score, which seems all too much the same, and Marian Gaborik came back the other way to make it a 1-goal game instead of Grabner putting it away at 4-1.

This is after he attended Jason Garrett's "how to ice a game"
camp.

A few weeks ago, the Islanders had a home-game against the Florida Panthers. Within the first minute of the game, the Islanders went up 1-0 after a Frans Nielsen goal.  A few minutes later, Grabner had another breakaway that could have made it a 2-0 game. Nope, he did not convert if you must know, but we did lose the game 4-1.

Tonight's game, Grabner had several chances, including a breakaway that he could not convert. An empty-netter could have sealed the game as well, but that was something that could not be finished to put the game away for good.

Grabner could be a dynamic player, which goes deeper than just breakaways. Several times this season, Michael Grabner has been robbed with nothing but an empty-net in front of him, including one memorable save by Roberto Luongo back in November. I've heard people say that he cannot score on breakaways, but that's hardly the problem. He cannot score on any chance that is given to him.  It's been a theme all season long. His chances have been there, and most of them could have put these games away, but a man that could have 30 goals right now has only 15.

It really is a mystery to why he is not scoring goals. Maybe that extra long stick he uses to poke the puck away for breakaways doesn't allow him to make his moves when in tight on the goalie.  Maybe he  just isn't a pure goal scorer. But one thing's for sure. Everybody who said Grabner would not score goals this year said it would be because teams would have a game plan for him. Grabner still breaks loose once a game, whether it's a breakaway or a point-blank chance. He just cannot convert.

I used to envision Michael Grabner as the perfect counter to Marian Gaborik, and the player that would make every other team hate to play against us. If Grabner cannot start putting the puck in the net, especially during the moments that can go from "putting a game away" to "reviving the other team," the Islanders have to consider trading him.  He is a very skilled hockey player, with assets that were seen in players like Pavel Bure, but if he cannot score goals that can turn a 3-1 game into a 3 goal lead, it's going to hurt this team big in the long run. The Islanders do not have that many goal scorers, so any extra ammunition is huge. If a big-playmaker can never convert, and momentum is ALWAYS going to turn against the Islanders, Long Island is going to have a hard time holding on to any game they should win.

I'm Chris Triants, and this is my blog.
Follow @ChrisTriants

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LET'S GO ISLANDERS

Don't Panic Islanders Fans! Nino Will Be Ok.

Earlier today, the New York Islanders released drastic and interesting line changes for tonight's game against the Washington Capitals. The lineup card reads as follows:

Moulson-Tavares-Parenteau
Ullstrom-Nielsen-Bailey
Grabner-Cizikas-Okposo
Martin-Reasoner-Pandolfo

Noticeably out of the lineup: Nino Niederreiter. Obviously, Islanders Country immediately sounded the alarms, and panic ensued. Some people call for the firing of Jack Capuano, some want him to go to Bridgeport (although that's not even an option), some wish they traded him in some irrational package for a top-4 defenseman, and some see Josh Bailey all over again.

No reason to panic though. It's way too early to give up on a 19-year old, 5th overall draft pick. He's a big body, skating at 6'2 and 205 pounds, and at 19-years old, he will only get bigger. Size is something the Islanders lack up front, so anyone who can play physical with offensive talent is welcome here. With only 39 games under his belt, he's already 4th on the Islanders in total hits with 92, trailing Jurcina, Hamonic and the best of the best, Matt Martin.

Yes, the kid only has 1 goal in these 39 games, so the offensive talent isn't necessarily on full display, but look who he as been playing with. A mix of Pandolfo, Reasoner and Tim Wallace are not exactly offensive juggernauts, or even Nate Thomspon-esque. I've seen Nino create a lot of space with his size, but the play always seems to go flat once our version of Scott Gomez gets his hands on the puck.

I swear I'm ready to stop sucking on my thumb...
Just one last time.

And no, I am not with the majority that wants him on a line with Tavares. Johnny already creates his own space, something that Nino can also do for his teammates with his size alone. The Swiss-native is always battling in front of the net, irritating the goaltender, and creating havoc on top of the crease, which is a great thing for a team that is begging for scoring.

Every single game, Nino has showed hints of what we all expect him to be: a physical presence that can score 30-40 goals for this team. His hands are soft, but sometimes it feels like he's trying to do too much by himself, although I don't really see what choice he has when he plays on a line with Reasoner and Pandolfo. He has a blistering wrist shot, something we have all seen, but we have also seen them from terrible angles, something that can also be attributed to the lack of offensive ability found in his linemates. Several times Nino has been robbed, and other times he has come so close, but loses the battle in front due to being outmuscled by the stay-at-home D-men. Again, a year or two of maturity, and this kid is stronger than these guys, so he wins these battles.

From the looks of it, Nino has not matured much yet, something that could have been guessed when he came to his first training camp out-of-shape.  This team is in the awkward phase of giving all their prospects playing time to see what they have, so if Nino isn't producing right now, he will sit every once in a while.

 Last season, the second-overall pick, Tyler Seguin, spent most of his season on the 4th line, and several games scratched. He finished the season with 74 games played, 11 goals, 11 assists and 22 points. He had already accomplished all he could playing Junior hockey (like Nino), so Boston figured it was better for Seguin to improve his game, even with limited NHL minutes.  Tyler Seguin was an NHL All-Star this season.

Nino is best-served by being surrounded by NHL players. It's in his best interest to find his game through limited ice-time at the NHL level, while partaking in NHL practices, and surrounding him with NHL players that can help him adapt to the NHL's culture.  He's a big kid. It's a positive sign that, at 19 years old, Nino Niederreiter is throwing his body around.  He has some maturing to do, but when he's put onto a line that can produce, he will make those players around him better. Nino Niederreiter is a big body that will open up space for his teammates, and it is way too early to label this kid as a draft bust.


Future lines, just for fun:

Moulson-Tavares-PAP
Nino-*Okposo-Grabner
Martin-Nielsen-Bailey
Ullstrom-Cizikas-Big Body

*Okposo has been taking draws for the power-play, and I just think that it could be interesting to see him center a line that can create space for him. Nino would be able to open space for Okposo at center, and the speedy Grabner, which could lead to many offensive zone opportunities.

I'm Chris Triants, and this is my blog.
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Reasons To Get Excited For The Last 19 Games Of The Season

Now that the NHL Trade Deadline has passed, the New York Islanders will begin the final stretch of the 2011-12 season. The playoffs are still a possibility, but obviously the window of opportunity shrinks every day. The Islanders are looking at, probably, another 14 or 15 wins if they want to extend their season past April 6th. That's a lot of winning, and a small percentage to make it, but I've seen crazier things happen. Teams tank down the stretch, and others pick up those teams' slack. With the playoff race so close from the 8th seed down to last place, anybody can play spoiler, and everybody is playing for a chance.

The Islanders visit Washington tonight for a game at the Verizon Center, home of one of those playoff bubble teams. Washington's Capitals have not had a very good season, and are 0-2 vs. our Islanders, including a 3-0 shutout win for Evgeni Nabokov during their last Washington visit.  The Islanders have matched up well against Dale Hunter's team (never forget), so the Islanders should be able to keep themselves alive.

Funny how things go this time of year. One loss and everybody cries for Garth's head, and a win makes the Islanders perennial playoff contenders. Regardless of whether the Islanders do actually playoffs or not, Islanders fans have plenty to look forward to for the rest of the season. Take a look.

1) John Tavares: Ok, so maybe this was a given, but it has been fun all season long watching JT play his game this season. Tavares has went from one-dimensional scoring forward to a dominant two-way player that looks like the leader of this team for years to come. Tavares scores goals, wins all of his battles for loose pucks, stays strong on his skates, and doesn't take any of the cheap shots he took last year. The kid man fights back, and the team sticks up for him.

I will smack your face, off of your face!!

2) The Islanders stick up for each other: Gone are the days of this team getting pushed around. Sure, they may not have the size that other teams do, nor will they matchup well against bigger teams like St. Louis or Boston, but they always seem to come to each other's aid. Size is nothing that cannot be fixed this off-season, and is probably one of the few pieces this team is missing. It's probably part of the reason this team cannot close games, or consistently compete for 60 minutes, but it is encouraging that the locker room seems so tightly-knit.

3) No Pressure: The Islanders no longer have to worry about their locker room getting torn apart. The trade deadline is in the past now, so players like PAP and Nabby can focus on playing their game, enjoying their time on the Island, and staying true to their word by signing here. There's no more of this "I'll call your bluff" tactics to be played. If they want to stay, they will stay, and the Islanders can look forward to their future.

4) The Future: I'm sure a lot of Islanders fans are sick of hearing this, but regardless of the outcome, this is the first season where things really do look positive for the New York Islanders.  It finally seems as if this team is only a piece or two away from making an appearance in the playoffs. The Isles have finally started beating teams in their division, and although they have many divisional games left this season, they have at least ended their Philadelphia curse.  If PAP and Nabby can re-sign here, the Islanders will have a solid top-3 (when they will probably add a 4th to that top-3), a real #1 goaltender, and a message for future free agents: The Islanders are ready to win.

I'd rather play in traffic than with Marty.

5) The Kids Get Ice Time For The Rest Of The Season: Islanders fans will probably get what we have been waiting for. Nino Niederreiter will, hopefully, be moved off the 4th line alongside side of Pandolfo and Reasoner. We want to see some goal scoring from him, so at worst with no playoffs, maybe we can see some stat-padding. Nino has a very good wrist-shot and very soft hands, but it seems as if every glimmer of hope is completely shattered by his offensive-lacking linemates. Casey Cizikas, David Ullstrom, Aaron Ness and Calvin de Haan will also get looks, and so far they have all shown promise, even with small sample sizes. I really do like Casey Cizikas' game and see him to be one of the untouchables alongside Tavares, Hamonic, Martin, and Poulin.  He's playing hard, and sometimes that's all we can ask for from these kids. Usually, it's very fun to watch.

The New York Islanders should generate a lot of excitement soon, and for many years to come. Soon, the bandwagon fans will hop on, but for us true fans, that's a great thing!!! It means we are doing something right. Get ready for the "pfft bandwagon fan" comments because it should be here by the 2012-13 season! Let's go Islanders!

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The Islanders Are Winners At The 2012 NHL Trade Deadline

After all the speculation about what Garth Snow would do on February 27th, the Islanders stayed put (for the most part) and won big at the trade deadline.  P.A. Parenteau and Evgeni Nabokov remain Islanders, and that's about the best news possible for any Islanders fan, or at least it should be. The Islanders now have the next few months to focus on signing these two to contract extensions, and earlier reports were that both players were very close to the team's terms.

So, I can let go now?

PAP and Nabby have both said that they want to remain with the team, so I don't know why anybody was ready to chase them off, especially when we're talking about a 70-point scorer and a top-notch NHL starting goaltender, when the Islanders find consistent trouble in signing help every July 1st.  I guess the Islanders should have just taken what they can get, show no dedication to winning, and not try to use the help they had right on their doorstep *smiles*.

Now that these two are still here, and if the Islanders can re-sign them, I can bet on more players looking towards Long Island for a home. There's definitely a better chance of that when the "kids" are looking good, and there are several fewer pieces to be filled for the team to become a contender.

The only one ever made.

Accompanying the good news of the Islanders keeping most of this team in tact, more good news as well! The Islanders were able to trade our two-problem children senior-citizens, and replace them with two prospects.  The recently-waived enigma, Brian Rolston, and Snow-Angel expert, Mike Mottau, were traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for two prospects: F Yannick Riendeau and D Marc Cantin.

In 2008-09, Riendeau had a monster 126-point season for Drummondville of the QMJHL, and has split time between the Reading Royals of the ECHL and the Providence Bruins, Boston's minor-league affiliate where he has scored 3 goals and 3 assists in 18 games. P.A. Parenteau also states "the fans will enjoy this kid. #greatvision" on his Twitter account, so we can only hope his development goes well.

Marc Cantin is a defenseman with some size at 6'1 and 200 lbs, who finished his junior career last year with Mississauga of the OHL. He recorded 41 points in 2010-11, and has also split time with the Reading Royals and the Providence Bruins this year. He has recorded 0 points in 19 AHL games, but hey, I'd take some physical play on the blue-line if it means losing Mottau.

At the worst this season, these kids provide some depth for Bridgeport during their Calder Cup run. Maybe they can show some signs for our future and make this deal even more than a monetary-steal.

With these trades, more space is opened up for the young-guns. I'm sure the Islanders will make room for the likes of Aaron Ness, Calvin De Haan, and Mark Katic (who was activated from the IR today). Maybe we'll even get a look at Matt Donovan on the back-end. With Rolston gone, one of Nino, Ullstrom or Cizikas should be getting more ice time, and hopefully, one of them can run with the chance when they get it.

The Islanders were very big winners at the trade deadline today. Garth Snow is a very capable General Manager, and by hanging up on any calls for Nabokov immediately, and on those who called for PAP expecting less than Snow's asking prices, he showed that this team is in it to win now. The Islanders are ready to take the next step. Long Island deserves to see this team in the playoffs. They have great fans and Charles Wang, with the rest of the organization, knows this. In order to be successful, the Islanders need to show a strong loyalty to their team and silent the constant media drubbing. The New York Islanders are getting close to silencing their critics, and soon, the chirping from the media will be only whispers. 

The Islanders needed today. They needed to prove that they were no longer sellers. They did just that, and now it's time to turn the corner.

I'm Chris Triants, and this is my blog.

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What Can The Islanders Do At The Trade Deadline

It's February 26th, so one of the most exciting times of the year in terms of the NHL. The Trade Deadline is in less than 24 hours, and I'm sure the trade winds will be blowing tonight into tomorrow afternoon.  Names like Rick Nash and Dustin Brown have been thrown around, and I'm sure others have been secretly tossed into the pool too (think Ryan Smyth in 2007).

Many Islanders fans are probably waiting to see what Garth Snow is planning, and no matter what, there will be critics. The Islanders have a few trading chips this February. P.A. Parenteau, a probable 70-point scorer who seems to play with more confidence game after game, is an option, as his future with the Islanders is unclear.  Goalie Evgeni Nabokov, who has been better than he has at any point of his career (and he has had a great career), is also another one of the Islanders top chips to toy with.

 

Both of these players have expiring contracts at the end of this season, but both have stated that they would like to work something out with the Islanders. From the looks of it though, P.A. will follow the money, and Nabokov will stay only if patient #39 is no longer considered the number 1/1A goalie on this team.

I've heard people say that they feel the Islanders cannot part ways with these players, and I have heard "take whatever you can get" for all of these players.

NO! I don't want to ever leave!

Look, this team cannot sell.  And the people who are begging for them to trade Nabokov and Parenteau "even if it's for a 3rd round pick," are probably the same people who complain that the Islanders are going to be rebuilding forever. More and more prospects will not help this team anymore. We are in year 5 of the rebuild. The kids are not kids anymore. There is no more "let's hope for next year." This team is still very mathematically in this playoff race. They don't make it, oh well. They showed this team is committed to winning now, and not 5 years from now. Trade these players, like Parenteau, and it will show that the Islanders are still rebuilding. Trade these players, like Nabokov, and it shows the Islanders still believe Rickety is our number one.

You want to know what scares players from Long Island? Not Garth Snow, because he's a professional. Not Charles Wang, because he cares about this team. Not the Nassau Coliseum, because truth is, it's still a place to play, and something WILL get worked out. The things that scare players from signing here is the constant fear of losing, and unstability that starts within the crease. When players associate a team as sellers, especially after a long stretch of losing seasons, players start to turn their heads.

If the Islanders start keeping their players, and even re-sign them after a season like this year, it shows they are only baby steps away. It shows players want to stay here. Not trading away a 70-point scorer, and a top-5 NHL goaltender who wanted NOTHING to do with this team only one year ago, shows there is something that these players are staying for. Something beyond money. The players on this team believe, and that is what creates a winning culture. These players play for each other, and all they need is a player that can help, and not by subtraction.

If you think the Islanders are going to make any trades that will signal the white flag, then I guess we will see tomorrow. I don't think they will, nor do I think they can, UNLESS there is a severe overpayment. And I don't mean a first-round pick.

 If anything, I can see Garth Snow working the phones tonight and tomorrow, searching for a missing piece with several years left on his contract. Dustin Brown would have been great, but it's now doubtful. Rick Nash is not coming here either, but maybe there's a name that falls under the radar, like Smyth did in 2007. I'm just saying, don't look at the Islanders as sellers. They're not, or at least they shouldn't be. The Islanders are building for the future, and they don't have much they can give up without hurting it. Even the players with expiring contracts.

I'd say keep them, even if the playoffs aren't a guarantee. Their future depends on it. And you never know, sometimes everything just works out. Look at what happened during the 2006-07 season.

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The Enigma Is Gone!

I told you, believe in Garth Snow. The man does know what he is doing, and has watched the same hockey as us fans have.  Brian Rolston has been terrible for the New York Islanders since the beginning of the season, recording 4 goals and 5 assists in 49 games as a "Power-Play Quarterback." After last night's win against the Rangers, and watching him take one of his infamous slapshots from the blueline, after a beautiful setup from Casey Cizikas, with open ice from the blueline to Martin Biron, I knew felt it was DEFINITELY time to go.

I wake up, and Garth Snow must have saw the same thing. Enough was enough and Brian Rolston hit the waivers. David Ullstrom, a sparkplug rookie for the Islanders earlier in the year, will will his spot. Now the season gets exciting. Still 6 points out, but with one less $5 million man, it's time to ride out the kids (even though most of them aren't kids anymore).  He should provide the speed that Brian Rolston used to have (and let's face it, once his speed disappeared his career did too), and hopefully provide some excitement for the final 20 games of the season.

Brian Rolston had a great career. One Stanley Cup and one Olympic Silver Medal is something I could only dream of, but once he lost his speed, and his slapshot went from feared to grief-causing amongst fans, it was time. It took a 49-game sample, but Doug Weight's friend is off the team.

Islanders' fans rejoice. Let's hope to a great 20-game stretch, and maybe we'll wake up one of these next days with an additional player to help out John Tavares.  Although I heard Dustin Brown is off the table, just maybe the Islanders can add a body like that. With the way things are going, you never know. Garth Snow might have another surprise up his sleeve.

Until our next positive leap, let's remember Brian Rolston's career.

Might as well have been a jersey on the ice.

This happened like maybe once.

Cycling is for Lance Armstrong.

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SIGN THIS MAN!

He Catches!

He dances better than Victor Cruz!

He rips heads off!!!

SIGN THIS MAN!

I'm Chris Triants, and this is my blog.

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