Hard to believe this is the first game of the season where these two teams square off. Regardless, they'll be tired of each other since tonight is the front end of a back to back with tomorrow's tilt at at Barclays.
Isles lineups to be announced later; Devils will have Cory Schneider in net tonight. Remains to be seen if Cal Clutterbuck is healthy enough to rejoin the Isles for this one.
Hoping the Isles proximity to home yields results. After tomorrow, 18 of their final 26 games will be on the road. Get an early start on that tonight. Dougie's thoughts:
| "On the road, we’re going to play some good teams,’’ Weight said. “We know we have a huge test in front of us. We’ve got to bring our ‘A’ game and find a way to compete at the same level we do at home, and I’m confident we will.’’ |
As some of you noted already, BPT keeps rolling along with their 8th win in a row (and Halak's 11th win in a row) by beating Rochester, 5-2. MDC with a goal and 2 assists, Ho-Sang with a goal and 3 assists. Mathew Barzal continues his roll (sorry, I don't get tired of hearing that) with another 2 assists in a 4-2 loss yesterday. He has an 8 game scoring streak and now has 23 points over that 8-game stretch. He sits at 8-52-60 in 32 games played.
A good video segment from NHLN yesterday that featured Zeeker and Gionta. A fun watch (but man, they need to learn their Islanders history better):
Cizikas & Gionta on NHL Now
And for hockey fans in general (with Isles ties through Brock Nelson), NBCSN has a cool special tomorrow about the hockey town that is Warroad, MN, and all the great hockey names and tradition that came from there (the Christian brothers, TJ Oshie, others). That's at 12pm tomorrow and here's the teaser link:
The Road Through Warroad
Since November 23, Anders Lee is tied with Auston Matthews for most goals in that timeframe with 21, trailing only Max Pacioretty's 24. Josh Bailey's next goal ties him with Eddie Westfall and Benoit Hogue for 26th on the Isles all-time list. With Bailey's next point, he'll tie Alexei Yashin for 22nd on the Isles all-time points list.
Let's Go Islanders
Was looking at tickets for tonight, are Devils tickets usually that pricey or is it the Islanders in town (who knew we could draw?)
I'll be at game tonight with family and an Isles fan among them.
Devils are riding out the string. As long as we get another high pick this year I'm fine and Shero continues reshaping the roster trough some savvy trades.
Zacha is showing some slow development already which is great after a rough start. Palmieri has turned it on after a rough start too. Cammalleri looks like he's declining steadily and that's a concern with 2 yrs left on his deal. Still have some work to do and in thinking about center and forward group over next few years at forward as Zajac is in his 30s now too. This offseason they need to add an PP QB offensive defenseman and top 6 winger to take pressure off Hall.
Key in near future is having guys like McLeod and Quenneville become solid young forwards over next few years. Wood and Speers are talented but are projects with question marks.
This offseason they need to add an PP QB offensive defenseman and top 6 winger to take pressure off Hall.
.
What have you thought of all so far? (Both being able to watch him as a player and his production)
He needs linemates and a center who compliment his skill and can play uptempo. Palmieri and Zajac and even Henrique don't rely necessarily on speed rushes or uptempo game.
You gonna be able to move Kincaid and get something for him? He's a UFA at year's end. I'd love for the Isles to grab him as backup (assuming Berube goes the Rule VI FA route and leaves, and the Isles do move Halak after the season ends). That said, I do think there will be other more goalie-needy teams that'll make a move for him.
Thomas Greiss gets the start tonight, same F/D deployment as last game.
You gonna be able to move Kincaid and get something for him? He's a UFA at year's end. I'd love for the Isles to grab him as backup (assuming Berube goes the Rule VI FA route and leaves, and the Isles do move Halak after the season ends). That said, I do think there will be other more goalie-needy teams that'll make a move for him.
Thomas Greiss gets the start tonight, same F/D deployment as last game.
We have Gibson and Williams in the minors so I would hate to hold them back for someone like Kincaid
Quote:
We have Gibson and Williams in the minors so I would hate to hold them back for someone like Kincaid
Understood, Mike, but both are injury-prone (Gibby out for the season, Williams just now rehabbing from an upper body injury), but truthfully evaluating both at best, they're AHL goalies and likely nothing more, although I really liked Williams coming out of Minnesota State. Kincaid would be a huge safety blanket until one of Sorokin or Soderstrom is ready.
actually, I think Gibson has NHL caliber potential. He makes some unreal saves, he's just not consistent. That's typically youth related.
I'm not saying he can be an All-Star, but I think at minimum he can be a backup.
Link - ( New Window )
I couldn't agree more. Play a 10 min OT 4 on 4.
Holy shit!
Holy shit!
De haan does nothing good. Never has and never will. Oh nvm he blocks shots
If this is an indication of what we'll see on the road (and let's face it, this isn't much of a road game), this doesn't bode well.
Isles playing back on their heels against an offensively-challenged team. Need to be confident with the puck and play a speed game, and they'll get the opportunities.
This team has no business making the playoffs. 2 on 1 SH break? No fucking urgency tonight. They're having the playoffs handed to them and they don't want it.
So not only do we have the reality that our guys look tentative, but I'm not sure anything' getting by Schneider tonight. The missed PS gave him all the confidence he'd need tonight.
Yeah, I know there's a game tomorrow, but if they have any self-respect, not to mention wanting to seize a playoff spot, someone might want to get some buy-in for a balls out effort for 20 frickin' minutes.
Amazing they can look good against top quality teams, yet play like garbage against lesser teams (see AZ & COL road losses as well). A similar effort to what was put forth against the NYR has the Isles winning this going away. This is like the OTT game all over again.
Devs have no time out because of the lost challenge, so Isles would be wise to attack in waves, get them on their heels.
Glad to see the effort in the 3rd, but I question what they did for the first 40 minutes. Similar to the season. Good push late, but pissing away the early portion cost them. But...no one to blame but themselves.
I only saw 2nd and 3rd period but thought the team played good but had some bad puckluck. Need to win tomorrow and win a few more after, .500 hockey won't cut it.
I'll be at game tonight with family and an Isles fan among them.
Devils are riding out the string. As long as we get another high pick this year I'm fine and Shero continues reshaping the roster trough some savvy trades.
Zacha is showing some slow development already which is great after a rough start. Palmieri has turned it on after a rough start too. Cammalleri looks like he's declining steadily and that's a concern with 2 yrs left on his deal. Still have some work to do and in thinking about center and forward group over next few years at forward as Zajac is in his 30s now too. This offseason they need to add an PP QB offensive defenseman and top 6 winger to take pressure off Hall.
Key in near future is having guys like McLeod and Quenneville become solid young forwards over next few years. Wood and Speers are talented but are projects with question marks.
The Devils need to add a star first line forward as well as a top 4 defenseman in order to contend. Their farm system has gotten better but then again it couldn't have gotten any worse. Let's hope that Zacha continues to improve and becomes the star they expected when they drafted him so high. Hopefully they can trade guys like Cammalleri and Kinkaid for draft picks. I would make everyone except Zacha, Henrique, and Hall available for the right price.