We need the road warriors to do their thing and erase the stench of the most recent home "efforts". There's really not much to say outside of the fact the Isles need to win tonight, and realistically, their last 6 after this one.
The good news is that tonight sees the return of Johnny Boychuk, who gives Thomas Hickey the night off. Thomas Greiss in net tonight, with Jaro Halak likely tomorrow night at home. L1 stays intact as does L4, but the middle two lines get shuffled and look like this tonight: 10-72-66 and 16-29-25. The defense pairs are: 2-55, 44-3, 4-42.
While talk is cheap (play the game), players and coaches know it's dire. I just scratch my head a bit wondering why this team seems to wait until the lights are almost out before having these epiphanies.
Dougie:
| "We have to win. We just have to go win hockey games one at a time, that's our focus. We have to go in and play as hard as we can every shift and go from there. If we can win [Thursday], pressure sways quick in this race with these five teams and we've been on both sides of it. I'd like us to have a big statement (against Philly) and sway some of that pressure back that's what it's all about." |
Boychuk:
| "These are must-win every game. You have to lay everything out there because this is the time of year to get every point we can." |
In juniors, David Quenneville had a very impressive first round series as his Medicine Hat Tigers swept their matchup with Brandon. Quenneville was 3-6-9 in the 4 game sweep. Mat Barzal's Seattle Thunderbirds are up 3-0 in their first round series, but he has yet to suit up with his undisclosed illness, which again many believe is/was the mumps.
A nice article by Anders Lee in The Players Tribune touching on his recent efforts to raise money for pediatric cancer (and his Jam Kancer in the Kan event) and the inspiration behind that from a young man that's made a big impact on Lee's life:
Hockey Players Aren't Tough
Some final words from The Captain:
“I think I know we’re not going to have success unless everyone’s contributing,’’ he said. “I don’t think I could go out there and try to do everything by myself but, certainly, with the responsibility I have on the ice and being the captain and being in the room you certainly feel a lot of the responsibility.’’
Playing in the postseason, Tavares added, “It’s what we want, it’s what I want as bad as anybody. I just try to go out there, do everything I can, but at the same time don’t go out and try to do too much. Do what helps bring the team’s success and make me successful as a player. But, yeah, this is the time of year you want to play and you want to step up and play well.’’
“Certainly, we’ve gotten some better results on the road [lately],” Tavares said, “so hopefully we can build on that . . . we just hope we’re playing for a lot longer than just the next seven games.’’ |
Let's Go Islanders
And maybe next season that should be the mindset from game 1, not from game 70 onwards, regardless of who's behind the bench.
That's where we are. I don't find it impossible.
That's where we are. I don't find it impossible.
Not impossible at all.
Knowing how this team enjoys letting out nasty brain farts seemingly gamely....
weeeeeeee
You can get on me for that but it is what it is.
You can get on me for that but it is what it is.
Im with you. If the rumor of them trying to hire his agent as the team president is true, then im over him. How much more does the organization have to do to make JT happy?
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The first period at most.
Ugh, same. Kids' baseball practice till 7...last practice
before opening day.
I wish I had missed the 1st 10 minutes. This Team has no heart. This is pitiful.
Clutterbuck should give up hisnpay check for the year. Wouldn't kill him to drop em
Bright side to the season is we will finally have hockey people in charge. That loser Snow can finally take his smug, egomaniacal, worthless, empty suit back to Maine.
Bright side to the season is we will finally have hockey people in charge. That loser Snow can finally take his smug, egomaniacal, worthless, empty suit back to Maine.
I agree with this, partially. Snow completely ruined this team. With his dismal offseason, to the ridiculous 3 goalie system, and now burying Pulock in Bridgeport. There is no reason why Pulock should be buried there, while bums like Mayfield play. It's idiotic.
What I don't agree with is thinking Snow will be gone or answering to someone. That's not going to happen. If this was case, it would have happened already.
You gotta believe!
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Killed them. Keeping Capuano around and burying Halak in Bridgeport was hockey homicide. But coming from that piece of crap Snow, what else should have we expected?
Bright side to the season is we will finally have hockey people in charge. That loser Snow can finally take his smug, egomaniacal, worthless, empty suit back to Maine.
I agree with this, partially. Snow completely ruined this team. With his dismal offseason, to the ridiculous 3 goalie system, and now burying Pulock in Bridgeport. There is no reason why Pulock should be buried there, while bums like Mayfield play. It's idiotic.
What I don't agree with is thinking Snow will be gone or answering to someone. That's not going to happen. If this was case, it would have happened already.
Agree to disagree then. Snow is not coming back. No playoffs mean big changes. Snow doesn't spit shine Malkin and Ledecky's shoes, like he did to Wang.
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In comment 13412439 marbles said:
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Killed them. Keeping Capuano around and burying Halak in Bridgeport was hockey homicide. But coming from that piece of crap Snow, what else should have we expected?
Bright side to the season is we will finally have hockey people in charge. That loser Snow can finally take his smug, egomaniacal, worthless, empty suit back to Maine.
I agree with this, partially. Snow completely ruined this team. With his dismal offseason, to the ridiculous 3 goalie system, and now burying Pulock in Bridgeport. There is no reason why Pulock should be buried there, while bums like Mayfield play. It's idiotic.
What I don't agree with is thinking Snow will be gone or answering to someone. That's not going to happen. If this was case, it would have happened already.
Agree to disagree then. Snow is not coming back. No playoffs mean big changes. Snow doesn't spit shine Malkin and Ledecky's shoes, like he did to Wang.
I've heard murmurs that Wang is still heavily involved, from a source to source.
You gotta believe!
We gotta bereave. Pray JT keeps his word to re-sign.
Before that though, I'm just really bummed out about the last few games. Even though it hasn't been a great year, I really like most of these guys. Once Cappy was gone, until tonight, I thought they'd find a way to make the playoffs. It's hitting me now that the season is almost definitely over and it's sad.
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Hamonic with a cast on his left hand outside #Isles room. Would imagine his season is done.
And as ludicrous as it's been that he hasn't been up most of/all of this year, here's a "legitimate" reason to call up Pulock. No reason not to, audition for a top-4 role and reacclimate. Heaven forbid BPT's playoff push be impacted.
Irony is that Weisse said in the postgame that Hamonic asked him for the fight.