From the network that brings you the marvel that is Pierre McGuire, Rivalry Night on NBCSN.
Rivalry? Sure. Playoff intensity tonight? Leaning towards not. Isles need to start backing up the talk around understanding the task ahead of them to get to the dance. Rangers looking to stay healthy and keep skills reasonably sharp while fairly locked into WC-1. Bit of a more muted feel here today. Regardless, these games always take a life of their own, so we'll probably get some entertaining hockey.
Isles start Thomas Greiss, Blueshirts counter with Raanta (with Lundqvist expected to get 2 of the next 3 on the WC trip). For the Islanders, we see Dougie is paying attention. Seidenberg sits and is replaced by Thomas Hickey. Same forwards. Note, however, the lines at practice show a different configuration: 16-91-12, 27-72-66 (fun!), 29-18-25, and 86-53-15 are reunited. MiLB and I question the need felt to separate Lee from L1, but Ladd has been on fire; his sniper with size role is different (and not in a bad way) than Lee's netfront monolith role, so maybe these rejiggered lines provide the shot we've needed to get back in (successful) attack mode. Isles need at least 4 points out of the next three games in 4 nights (NYR, then B2B in PIT and home against BOS). I think they have to go 9-2 or 8-3-1 at worst to make it.
AV has noted all F and D will be gametime decisions. Lundqvist, Girardi, Klein, Glass, Kampfer, Pirri and Puempel were all on the ice for the NYR morning skate.
Let's Go Islanders
...and Rangers, feel free to take 'er easy if you want. You've worked hard.
Anak, everything is not ok. It's a flawed team that probably needs another offseason of tweaks before it's really ready to contend. But I'm just not going to freak out over these two games in particular when they did mostly good things and were done in by the randomness of 3-on-3 last night and some bad puck luck tonight. That's hockey.
That's not hockey. Hockey isn't playing Tanner Glass over Pavel Buchnevich because AV thinks we need some grit. Hockey isn't putting Tanner Glass, with one goal on the season, on the ice with 5 minutes to go and down by one. Hockey isn't putting Jesper Fast and his five goals on the season, with two minutes to go.
If this is hockey, this is a poor excuse of hockey. No wins in the last 8 home games. The PK is the worst in the Eastern Conference since New Year's. Losing to two rivals who are clearly inferior to us. AV, during his time here, has made absolutely mind-numbing decisions...and Canucks fans warned us about this too. He has his favorites, he'd rather play veterans than youngsters, he'll overstay his welcome, etc. It's enough.
We're going to make the playoffs, but if we continue to play like this and AV continues to coach like this, we're not going to make it past the first round. But ok, Shattenkirk will fix everything next year., right?..Until AV decides to bench him for Kampfer. Good thing we have a bunch of prospects waiting in the pipeline...oh wait. Well, at least we have draft picks this year...well, at least we have a first rounder this year.
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Safe trip home in the team bus.
Shotgun!
Stink finger served cold and old. Enjoy!
Thanks, bud.
Thanks, bud.
Well, I taught what hockey is NOT
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Goals and wins are at a premium for us. The pinball goal is what it is, but we seem to experience that against us a lot so it feels like some evening out. A solid 3rd which are sporadic in frequency for the Isles was great for our side to see. Much needed 2 points.
Leddy hit the inside of the post less than 15 seconds before the power play that led to the pinball goal. It's all fair game.
Huge win. Fuck you, Columbus.
Think its time to focus on the Bruins. Saturday is going to be HUGE. They better show up for that one because the last 2 home games were awful
Barzal had 10 goals and 69 assists for 79 points in 41 games this season. He started the season with the New York Islanders playing two games before returning to the T-Birds. Barzal won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2017 World Junior Championship.
Some drool-worthy highlights linked below.
Mat Barzal 2016-17 Highlights - ( New Window )
Nelson really must be put on notice. It is tiresome to watch his looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane routine.
Y'all behave, hear?
I'm with you. The last two goals were very puck luck-ish, especially the first, and Kampfer over Clendening at this point is baffling.
Just add it to the list of numerous baffling decisions by AV. I grew up watching Rangers teams finish in 9th or 10th in the conference every year and didn't have this much disdain for the coaches of those teams as I do for this coach who has brought me a level of success with this team that I have never seen before
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Family starting to arrive for dinner...it's my triplets' 12th birthday today. Man, time flies.
Y'all behave, hear?
Wow, great stuff, congrats for weathering the storm of love and devotion for the threes. And your Bedouins gave you a nice win. Puck not bouncing well for the Blueshirts during this shoulder season.
Especially when the 4th line had chipped in 3 goals in the past two games... why the fuck would you take Buchnevich off the ice?
Buch must have had some of the dreaded "inefficient touches".
Clendening (58% Corsi, 57% Fenwick this season) was sent to the press box for far less two weeks prior for 5 games.
But Holden (47% Corsi, 48% Fenwick) can do no wrong - especially when he has 8 goals (due to a 13% shooting percentage versus 6% for his career).
One guy is 29 (no accountability at that age under AV) and the other is 24 and obviously ain't re-signing with us next season. What a waste. I realize Clendening lives somewhat sheltered minutes and assignments so the possession metrics are a little overstated, but cmon... with those possession numbers doesnt he deserve an opportunity in 20 meaningless games down the stretch to see if he can be trusted with playoff minutes?
We aren't winning a cup with Nick Holden logging big minutes for us.
Ho-Sang is going to be very special. Every time he steps on the ice you are expecting something good to happen. It is all in front of the Islanders right now. Play Bruins on Sat. and we have a game in hand. They have not really played a start to finish solid game in the last 5 or 6 games. They have 10 playoff games to go before the playofffs. All up to them.
Finally! We need every point and he gives us the best opportunity to get them.
Ho-Sang is going to be very special. Every time he steps on the ice you are expecting something good to happen. It is all in front of the Islanders right now. Play Bruins on Sat. and we have a game in hand. They have not really played a start to finish solid game in the last 5 or 6 games. They have 10 playoff games to go before the playofffs. All up to them.
Thank you I was in Glen Cove with a lot of nervous Islander fans. Glad they were able to pull out the victory.
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Watched most of it this morning seemed like a fairly even game. Had some puck luck on the 2nd goal. Both teams missed a lot of shots. Overall right now we own this team but they are solidly in the playoffs and we are not. I would trade spots in a second.
Ho-Sang is going to be very special. Every time he steps on the ice you are expecting something good to happen. It is all in front of the Islanders right now. Play Bruins on Sat. and we have a game in hand. They have not really played a start to finish solid game in the last 5 or 6 games. They have 10 playoff games to go before the playofffs. All up to them.
Sorry to hear, RH. My condolences to you and your family.
Thank you.
Ho-Sang is going to be very special. Every time he steps on the ice you are expecting something good to happen. It is all in front of the Islanders right now. Play Bruins on Sat. and we have a game in hand. They have not really played a start to finish solid game in the last 5 or 6 games. They have 10 playoff games to go before the playofffs. All up to them.
Sorry for your loss 12th.
Rangers 44-24-4
Islanders 31-25-12
That clear it up?
Because I think the Rangers are the better team right now but it hasn't seemed to matter the last 2-3 years. Every time we play the Islanders it's the same game.
I don't think Carolina is better than NYI but they've been kicking your asses a lot recently.
It's just a matchup thing I guess. We've had an inexplicably hard time against the Devils too.
But then we'll go on the road and have no problem beating the Wild.
But then we'll go on the road and have no problem beating the Wild.
Exactly. And I dont think we've lost IN chicago in 5 years or something either. And we play the Capitals exceptionally well every year, even the past couple of years when they were winning Presidents Trophy winners.
Yet we can't beat the Islanders, Canadiens (with Price) or Penguins. Matchup issues with their speed, i guess.
"You are what your record says you are"
Exactly. So we'd expect the rangers to be somewhere in the vicinity of .500 in head to head games against the Isles and not like 0-for-30 over 3 seasons.
Get it yet?
Wasnt this Ho Sang's first career game against NYR? Awesome assist off two skates though. Just like Weight drew it up.
- and on that last point, I love Zib, but wtf, he was caught napping on the game winner.
- Clendening, made clear where I stand with him; unfathomable decisions by AV, and it can only be described as personal, not personnel
- if MAB's comments can be construed as inconsistent, so can the Rangers' play night to night. It's like I don't recognize any consistency game to game. Part of it is the line switching, part of it is lack of focus and will in this stretch of end-of-season schedule wilderness, but it's a really shitty mode in which to be approaching SCP. God forbid AV welcomes DG back to the zoo when he's "ready".
- this kid Beauvillier (sp.?) can really skate
- that was a prime time riff by pj, hilarious and spot on
- 12th Man, I know you are doing her life and memory proud
It's a strange dichotomy for me with AV. I like his system. I hate his roster management. Gorton is failing as a GM where it counts, filling the gaps in his coaches armor. Long term I'm losing faith this marriage will produce a Cup.
- if MAB's comments can be construed as inconsistent, so can the Rangers' play night to night.
Wait, wut ? LOL. Probably. AV frustrates me. Good coach, can't argue with this year's overall results to date, but lousy with personnel decisions and i dont have confidence he's going to put the best lineup forward come playoff time.
It's a strange dichotomy for me with AV. I like his system. I hate his roster management. Gorton is failing as a GM where it counts, filling the gaps in his coaches armor. Long term I'm losing faith this marriage will produce a Cup.
I think this is well said. About as succinctly as one can put it.