from Kevin Kurz of The Athletic,
In some respects, the Islanders’ loss to the Bruins on Saturday was relatively predictable. Even when healthy, they can’t really match up top to bottom with the best team in the league. When a handful of top-nine forwards are out, they are playing on just about 20 hours of rest, with travel, and all-world goalie Ilya Sorokin has the night off, well, it always had the chance to be ugly.
But, this ugly?
Even with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Josh Bailey ruled out before the game, and Mathew Barzal’s departure about six minutes into the first period, the game was still an embarrassing one from the visitor’s standpoint as they lost, 6-2, in a game that didn’t even feel that close. After all, they are still supposedly fighting for a playoff spot, were coming off of their biggest win of the season on Friday, and had their dads in the building. Instead of rising to the occasion amid difficult circumstances, not only were the Islanders outclassed in terms of talent, but they were also out-hustled and outworked from the drop of the puck, surrendering the first three goals in the first period and never making it even close to a competitive game.
The playoffs are still a conversation topic with this team only because the other teams around them seem to have just as many issues. But Saturday’s lopsided loss in Boston was the kind of performance that again suggests this team may never find a way to give consistent enough efforts to actually qualify, even if they do somehow beat the Penguins again on Monday night in Pittsburgh.
contiued ($)
Catch the highlights below.
Kevin Kurz (and Andrew Gross of Newsday) are really good reads. As an Islanders fan - I love the objective reporting. The TV broadcasts with Brendan Burke, Butch Goring, AJ Mlezcko Shannon Hogan and Thomas Hickey are fairly objective - even Butchie tells it like it is at an increasingly amount of times. It builds trust with the fans. Kevin in particular is a realist. Points out good play, points out bad play and points out why in many cases. If you get to read his stuff, you will enjoy it. He was the beat writer for the Athletic for San Jose for many years.
That said - this game was a scheduled loss. What would have been more devasting would have been if the Isles lost the game with 30 seconds left - especially if Marchand or that slug Frederick scored the gamer.
But the problem the Isles face is that Washington and Pittsburgh are on a downward spiral of sorts and BUF and DET are starting to turn it on. The latter two teams have games in hand at their disposal and the first two teams losing gives us fans and owners false hopes that we can compete this year. (Definition of compete: To win two rounds or more)
With an 80 year old GM who wants to win now, and with tomorrow's season ticket holder deadline to renew season tickets upon us - there is pressure to win now.
Any team with Ilya Sorokin has a puncher's chance to win a playoff round. He is THAT good. But vs. Boston or Carolina? Will have to wait and see for a bit before I can wrap my hands around that.
Need to see how the injury to Barzy shakes out...but I would rather have a DNQ with some selling action at the deadline than finish in 9th place in the conference. 9th Place is a HORRIBLE place to be for a team that went "all-in". Much like finishing in 4th place in an Olympic event - might as well finish last. The only reason to push to finish as high as possible is that Vancouver's selection with the 1st round pick they acquired from the Isles is not as strong.
That said - I like the Horvat deal. He has improved this team on the PP in a big way.
Time to re-tool. The Isles system is bare. Retool by attempting to acquire draft picks to be used to make selections or as acquisition currency to trade up in this coming draft. NYI needs for one or two of its best players to be on Entry Level Contracts. The pendulum swings more rapidly in a salary cap era and the goal here should be to retool and gain trajectory for the NEAR future. With Horvat, Nelson, Pageau and Cizikas - strong down the middle (Barzal is also a center until recently) Noah Dobson and Ilya Sorokin are the other core players going forward.
I would move Pageau if it meant adding a core piece or a good pick. He has a NTC though.
Its up to the owners to have an honest conversation amongst themselves. If they really believe that this current team can win - Lou is the guy for them.
If they really believe that this edition of the team has seen better days (save for the core I mentioned) and a retool is needed - Lou might not be the guy. I really love what Lou brought to the team. Still don't understand why Trotz is not coaching. But clearly, this result is on Lou and not Lambert. Make me eat my words Lou! I hope you do!
Create an Account
In order to leave a comment, please create an account.