Highlight of the night along with the Butch commercial.
- ses111

Highlight of the night was Ricky D coming out and getting boo'd

OK....here's the problem.....the thing that the owner of this organization needs to understand is that having "loyal foot soldiers" is not as important as actually winning hockey games. The way this team has played defense over the last handful of years for both Gordon AND Capuano leads me to believe that NO ONE is coaching them, at all. If Rico Suave was in the net last night, that game would have been 8-1.

They're OK moving forward- a little rusty, but they'll get there. However, every time they get stuck for more than 10 seconds in their own zone, it looks like the proverbial "Chinese fire drill" (maybe Wang is coaching them? ). Two guys chasing the same forward, three guys moving to the same side of the ice, then having to scramble back when the play moves to the other side. It's like all you have to do to get a point blank shot on net against this team is a simple give and go, and you've got shooter on goalie, every time. This is why the teams with the serious offensive talent like Pittsburgh always bury them in a five on five situation.

Yes, I know SOME of the problem is talent- but defense is defense....you get in position, you get in the lanes, you block the shots, and you take the player out when the opportunity prevents itself. They just seem to do WAY too much on defense- it's like they play defense the way Ricky plays the goal. Just get in the right spot, and get in the way. If the forward comes straight toward you and the goalie, knock his d*mned mouthguard out. It's not rocket science, but these guys don't seem to understand it, at all. The best thing for this team would be to have a Jacques Lemaire come in for a year or two, just to teach them how to play defense before someone shows up to ensure the offense isn't so boring.

PS- Best line of the night from Butch....paraphrasing here....what the Islanders need to do to generate offense is have the defensemen use their speed and try and create some opportunities (in other words, pinch)....oh yeah, Butch.....defensemen cheating on offense works wonders against New Jersey......for New Jersey....I can see why you're not coaching anymore...

Highlight of the night was Ricky D coming out and getting boo'd
- kindlyrick

Yeah, I thought that was a little silly, and I'm a big time proponent of throwing him to the scrap heap- at least wait until he gives up three goals in the first two minutes of a game to start booing him. It's not HIS fault he is ON the team.

Are they doing loudville on Monday? I don't feel like paying 35 bucks for 300 section.
- mighty13duck

if opening nite produced half the attendence that was, it would have sent a message to ownership and management. Us as fans keep buying tixx to watch a lousy product on ice, and as long as you buy, they keep feeding you garbage...

but, since the isles have a new destination in Brooklyn coming, there is no excuse of trying to make this team better by next yr. I knew this year would be bad bc the annnouncement to move came during the lock-out, and not enough time or good FA left. Until Wang either sells or in Brooklyn, his team will be horrible bc Ding-Dong is losing money with this lease.................

All you hear is its a sprint o the finish with 48 game schedule. Well if thats the case get Nino up here as someone who may attack the net and put some points up.I know it isn't a given and his first year stunk etc but really over MacDonald or Aucoin (who buy the way reminded me of J Blake for some reason). Put KO back with Neilson (who also was invisible) as they have had some success before.I'd truly rather have Ullstrom on the top line cause he bangs around etc. I actually alsways wanted to try Martin up with JT and MM, just for some reason feel it could work. Just kept thinking that it felt like year one of rebuild all over again, I know it was one game and it was the Devils who shut most teams down and it will take time to find the chemistry as they just got alot of them together but goals win game, I say you take the guys from the Bridge or junior that score..its at least what would have one the game last night...Nabby was a beast!

Hamonic ullstrom boyes, grabs and nabby were best guys on ice for us last night. I prefer trying out hickey over Finley. He is too slow.
I did like our physical play. But we lacked offensive threat.
Is it me or does it feel like ko chases the play instead of being in the play.

Until isles learn to play full 60 mins. They won't make playoffs. That immediate letdown 30 secs after scoring is all too common.

Forgot to mention devils are by far the worse product in NHL. I'm suprised half the arena wasn't sleeping.

Tampa game should be a lot more entertaining.

Nabby in net. Bring ullstrom to top line and drop ko to 3rd line.

Bench Finley and try hickey.

Forgot to mention devils are by far the worse product in NHL. I'm suprised half the arena wasn't sleeping.

Tampa game should be a lot more entertaining.

Nabby in net. Bring ullstrom to top line and drop ko to 3rd line.

Bench Finley and try hickey.
- Spartiarti

I'll take a "boring" win over an exciting loss every day of the week.

This is the worst team we have had in a few years and that says a lot. Im really missing PA right now...
- mighty13duck

Yeah but PAP wasn't worth the money. Meanwhile, KO is worth $3M per year to fall all over the ice (sarcasm). Should've kept PAP. But this team has bigger problems than that.

Why isn't Niederreiter on the team?

Why isn't Niederreiter on the team?
- _Zippy_

I think you'll see both Niederreiter and Matt Donovan after the AHL All Star Game...they need to put Neiderreiter on the line with JT...

Yeah but PAP wasn't worth the money. Meanwhile, KO is worth $3M per year to fall all over the ice (sarcasm). Should've kept PAP. But this team has bigger problems than that.
- Jethro09

I'll take PA any day over KO. Anyone hear that clip from Frans yesterday? It almost seemed like he admitted there were times he did not have the drive to be great. I would have no problem trading Frans.

I'll take PA any day over KO. Anyone hear that clip from Frans yesterday? It almost seemed like he admitted there were times he did not have the drive to be great. I would have no problem trading Frans.
- ses111

Im not expecting the isles to be a 10 game over .500 team at this point, especially in that division but when Matt martin plays 9:28 and you have 4 ahl waiver pick ups playing significant roles while martinek and cizikas are sitting its just unacceptable.

I don't hate aucoin and I actually think it was a good pickup if he is on the 4th line. But he played a significant role tonight. And where is Matt Donovan? What does this tell him? That career ahl d men are better than him? What in (frank)s name is this team doing ?

From the Ottawa Sun:

The Flames are willing to move D Anton Babchuk. The 28-year-old has a cap hit of $2.8 million through the end of this season. He’ll likely be a deadline rental for someone

I think you'll see both Niederreiter and Matt Donovan after the AHL All Star Game...they need to put Neiderreiter on the line with JT...
- kear20

Man on a mission last night. I watched the archived Bridgeport game after the Isles game. He didn't score, but he was robbed a few times, including on a breakaway where he just exploded away from a defender and made room for himself (he was skating better then I've seen all season). Shrugging off defenders, throwing hits, protecting the puck, and even killed a penalty. As good as he's been this season, I think not being invited to camp put him into another gear. Donovan too...threw a couple of nice checks last night, including one where he cleared the crease and drove the player with the puck all the way to far boards -- I did a double take to make sure that was number 46 I was watching.

From the Ottawa Sun:

The Flames are willing to move D Anton Babchuk. The 28-year-old has a cap hit of $2.8 million through the end of this season. He’ll likely be a deadline rental for someone
- kear20

To rich for the Isles blood and he is not a waiver pickup.

Man on a mission last night. I watched the archived Bridgeport game after the Isles game. He didn't score, but he was robbed a few times, including on a breakaway where he just exploded away from a defender and made room for himself (he was skating better then I've seen all season). Shrugging off defenders, throwing hits, protecting the puck, and even killed a penalty. As good as he's been this season, I think not being invited to camp put him into another gear. Donovan too...threw a couple of nice checks last night, including one where he cleared the crease and drove the player with the puck all the way to far boards -- I did a double take to make sure that was number 46 I was watching.
- UIF

I hope that's why Snow picked Finley and Striht(sp) up. Both will be sent down after 30 days...and Donovan and another d-man from Bridgeport up. Nino will arrive shortly and play with Tavares.

Nabby in the postgame interview said the Isles have to come out at the beginning of the games more angry. I agree this team is loaded with soft mediocre pussies. All of the toughness on this team can't play a lick of hockey so they only play a couple of minutes a night. Look at all the games in the division when they play each other. They're usually intense, hard hitting and full of fights. When the Isles play a divisional opponent they come out with same intensity as when they play a team from the west that they hardly play. It only took 2 periods to remind of how boring and lame they are to watch outside of JT. Only 47 more games of this crap

Nabby in the postgame interview said the Isles have to come out at the beginning of the games more angry. I agree this team is loaded with soft mediocre pussies. All of the toughness on this team can't play a lick of hockey so they only play a couple of minutes a night. Look at all the games in the division when they play each other. They're usually intense, hard hitting and full of fights. When the Isles play a divisional opponent they come out with same intensity as when they play a team from the west that they hardly play. It only took 2 periods to remind of how boring and lame they are to watch outside of JT. Only 47 more games of this crap
- Vukota

Watch any other game in general and the intensity is much higher.

Nabby in the postgame interview said the Isles have to come out at the beginning of the games more angry. I agree this team is loaded with soft mediocre pussies. All of the toughness on this team can't play a lick of hockey so they only play a couple of minutes a night. Look at all the games in the division when they play each other. They're usually intense, hard hitting and full of fights. When the Isles play a divisional opponent they come out with same intensity as when they play a team from the west that they hardly play. It only took 2 periods to remind of how boring and lame they are to watch outside of JT. Only 47 more games of this crap
- Vukota

If you do not have players with size and some skill you are wasting your time especially in the east. Guys like Nino and Nelson cannot get here fast enough. Same goes for Reinhart. Isles have way too many softies.

I'll take PA any day over KO. Anyone hear that clip from Frans yesterday? It almost seemed like he admitted there were times he did not have the drive to be great. I would have no problem trading Frans.
- ses111

Not for nothing but pa had zero points and Colorado lost. Pa won't put up even close to the numbers he did with Tavares.

Again, i say.......at this stage of the game, the roster is dissapointing at best. How can they put this product on the ice in all seriousness. There is no way this team can comptete with any other team in our division. NO WAY!
- kindlyrick

Not to nit pick, but we lost to the devils by 1 goal... sounds like the competed.

XxNYIxX

Not to nit pick, but we lost to the devils by 1 goal... sounds like the competed.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I'm assuming you watched the game last night right? Nabby had to stand on his head to keep it to a 1 goal game. This team outside of the 1st line never has the puck. The rare chance they have the puck they just dump it in and get beat to the puck. Their puck control is embarrassing. That lineup was embarrassing for an opening night and they are the complete opposite of a physical team. They should do good in the Atlantic this season

I'm assuming you watched the game last night right? Nabby had to stand on his head to keep it to a 1 goal game. This team outside of the 1st line never has the puck. The rare chance they have the puck they just dump it in and get beat to the puck. Their puck control is embarrassing. That lineup was embarrassing for an opening night and they are the complete opposite of a physical team. They should do good in the Atlantic this season
- Vukota

I did watch & yes I saw ALOT of bad, but I saw some good as well. It was game one... alot of new faces.... all im sayin

XxNYIxX

I did watch & yes I saw ALOT of bad, but I saw some good as well. It was game one... alot of new faces.... all im sayin

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Expect more from this franchise. Nobody should be happy with anything they saw from this team. Enough with the excuses. I've never been more embarrassed to be an Islander fan then I am now and that says a lot. That lineup was worse then many expansion team opening day lineups. WTF!!! Every single fan should be 100% fed up with this team. Even the ones who bathe in the Kool Aid. I don't want to hear it was only 1 game. That roster is a facking joke and you all know it