10 pm: 4 - 1 final and a very distraut Matt Moulson is grilled by Stan Fischler. "What will stop the bleeding?" Matt Moulson is not the problem, nor is he the coach. Matt said there were key mistakes and bad changes and they needed to play with a little more passion. Another reporter asked basically the same question off camera. Matt swallowed hard and answered with the same words.
Jack Capuano said the second period "5 or 6 minute lapse" cost then the game. Shifts were too long at almost 58 seconds at times. "You have to win the changes." But Jack is not used to the NHL teams and he is playing with a good chunk of AHL players. He said there were "passengeers" tonight that needed to be held accountable.
According to my friend @TimoSeppa from Puck Prospectus, there were numerous scouts in the press box.
It was not the coach. What is wrong is what is on the ice.
8:38 pm: End of 2nd period and the Panthers are up 4 - 1 The Isles gave up the first three goals in a span of 3:58. Yikes. Matt Moulson has the only Islanders goal so far on a bad turnover.
The “optional skate” started at 10:30 am. I’m thinking since it was “optional” those on the ice got there a little earlier than that. But of course, I was late any way. As soon as I traversed the stairs to the ice, some of the players were getting off and the press contingent went running after them.
According to Jack Capuano, since they had two good days of practice and back to back games, today was optional. But he is “an optional skate kinda guy.” Schedule and health will always be a main factor. Doug Weight is out with back spasms. Last time I heard the word back-spasms, Rob was out for a month.
I asked Jack what his biggest transition was from Bridgeport to Uniondale. I was expecting perhaps a media scrutiny answer or the speed of the game. But in the back of my mind, I knew I would get the answer I received. “The Traffic.“ And that cracked up the room. “No, it really hasn’t been a difficult transition. It’s a situation where I’ve had a lot of these guys before. But just the area and the amount of traffic makes it crazy.“
So I’m in the locker room and Matt Moulson was answering some questions for Deb Placey of MSG about the hit and suspension which will be aired tonight. I waited around for them to be done, but I had one ear on his answers while my eyes looked around the room.
Katie Strang was talking to Robbie in his stall (Oh, PS, that don’t sit down thing. I think that was just for me and a big joke. Thanks.) about being in the line-up tonight and other thoughts. I looked around the room and everyone with their recorders and thought to myself “Nuts, what the hell am I going to ask that everyone of these people in here hasn’t already asked?”
I started by asking what Jack has been telling them to try to get out of this eleven game funk. He said that
Jack has had the team staying positive these last few days of practice, rebuilding their confidence. Matt said “He’s a real straight forward honest guy and he’s really upbeat and positive. He has his ideas and for the most part I think he wants us to play within the system but be responsible for making our own decisions in trying to read the plays and using our instincts. That instill confidence, that he trusts us to make the right decision and the good play. When you have someone like that, it does give you energy and makes you feel better about your game.”
Okay, now I’m confused a little. The quote I read from John Tavares said the system was simpler and they didn’t have to think. So I asked if what he said and what Matt just said was contradictory. Matty took a drink and then said, “Let me explain. It’s a simple system so we have the system of the TEAM. So we’ll go do our team system of our fore-check, our neutral zone, or defensive zone but, within the system you don’t have to think about where you have to be or what you have to do. Let the system, because the system is easy. So you get to decide certain things. Like on a fore check you get to decide if you’re going to pressure a guy or back-up. Or when you have the puck there is no specific spot that guys have to be. It makes it easier in the fact that you can rely on your instincts. You’re not always second guessing yourself because there is something you have to do within the system. So, I think that’s what he means that the system is simpler. You can more just concentrate on playing hockey.”
A few minutes later Deb tried to asked Jesse Joensuu about Jack’s system since he is so familiar with it and he said he didn’t think he had the words (in English.)
Jack watched the Panthers play their last game. He will be ready for them “They throw a lot of shots to the net number one. They had 18 shots in the first period against Boston. Their D activate really, really well. So we’re going to have to track our fourth and fifth forwards are going to have to get back in D zone coverage. We can’t get beat up the ice.”
No. You can’t get beat up the ice or around the net. Tonight Jack, you just can’t get beat.
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