Is it just me or does anyone else think that Carkner's response to Phaneuf was not enough? Understood Dion TURTLED (as he always does) and the refs where right in there. But at another point in that 3rd period someone should have sent a message to that D-bag Phaneuf!
- Oglethorpe72

I figure that's not over yet. Carkner was signed to fill a certain role, and he filled it last night, but him rehashing it later on in the game would have only resulted in a suspension, and right now, we kind of need him to play defense. It has to be someone he doesn't expect and doesn't see coming. I'm thinking the beauty of a guy Finley's size is that he can lift his elbows by "accident" trying to corral the puck, while looking the other way....a two minute penalty for sending Phaneuf off on the meat cart would bring a tear of joy to my eye....but then again, I remember actual hockey, before all of these stupid rules got implemented.

I think you need to dress Boulton to combat Lucic. Reasoner is pretty useless anyway.
- kindlyrick

No matter who we dress out of our available options, we're not going to be a tougher team than Boston. I don't know what the answer is to playing a team like that...the more out of hand and physical the games get, the better they seem to play. Almost like you have to try to be as boring as possible and hope they lose interest.

Oh my. What a spot for Ricky to get his first start.

Oh my. What a spot for Ricky to get his first start.
- canadianpenfan

Hope he's done his homework on whether Rask is a righty or lefty

Hope he's done his homework on whether Rask is a righty or lefty
- UIF

LOL.

I hope the team has enough gas left to help him stave off an angry Bruins onslaught. Isles look good so far, but this seems like a throw him to the wolves game to me.

LOL.

I hope the team has enough gas left to help him stave off an angry Bruins onslaught. Isles look good so far, but this seems like a throw him to the wolves game to me.
- canadianpenfan

just the position we like putting him in...

just the position we like putting him in...
- LetsGoIsles

Kasper's wedding present from the team.

Guys like him are why every team still needs a "DISPENSABLE" player who will clean his clock and take the suspension while not actually hurting the team.
- SCLI

That's why I said- Charles needs to sign somebody to play for Bridgeport until the next time we play them. Who was that guy we had a couple of years ago, who couldn't skate at all- no skills whatsoever, but he was like 6'6" and angry? Mitch Fritz....something like that? Skate onto the ice, knock Phaneuf off his skates with his fist, and skate off.....forever. Easiest $400K he ever earned in his life...

That said, I still like my last idea better. It achieves the same purpose without looking like a plan.

LOL.

I hope the team has enough gas left to help him stave off an angry Bruins onslaught. Isles look good so far, but this seems like a throw him to the wolves game to me.
- canadianpenfan

That was my idea....if he's going to play AT ALL, he might as well play whichever half of a back to back that they're probably going to lose anyway. The whole point of him playing, at this point, is to make sure Nabokov isn't dragging coming down the stretch, just in case they stay close enough to the pack to make a run at a playoff spot. It's kind of the opposite of what is usually the normal theory, but for the Islanders, in this short season, it's probably the best plan of action.

That was my idea....if he's going to play AT ALL, he might as well play whichever half of a back to back that they're probably going to lose anyway. The whole point of him playing, at this point, is to make sure Nabokov isn't dragging coming down the stretch, just in case they stay close enough to the pack to make a run at a playoff spot. It's kind of the opposite of what is usually the normal theory, but for the Islanders, in this short season, it's probably the best plan of action.
- dcb1

Yea I don't argue with the thought process. I just think it's funny, in a twisted way that this is the game he gets.

Yea I don't argue with the thought process. I just think it's funny, in a twisted way that this is the game he gets.
- canadianpenfan

It's sad, when you think about it...

It's sad, when you think about it...
- dcb1

Well after his 47 save shutout tonight you'll have a full fledged goalie controversy on your hands.

Tavares is ok after that cheapshot? I didn't see him out there after it but i wasn't watching too closely. My pool needs him healthy.

That's why I said- Charles needs to sign somebody to play for Bridgeport until the next time we play them. Who was that guy we had a couple of years ago, who couldn't skate at all- no skills whatsoever, but he was like 6'6" and angry? Mitch Fritz....something like that? Skate onto the ice, knock Phaneuf off his skates with his fist, and skate off.....forever. Easiest $400K he ever earned in his life...

That said, I still like my last idea better. It achieves the same purpose without looking like a plan.
- dcb1

Gillies fits that bill perfectly.

Have you seen Gallant fight? Not very big but he takes on guys 50lbs bigger and woops their A$$. He's like the Tasmanian Devil. He beat and bloodied Haley earlier in the year. He stood toe to toe with The Joel the Wrecker in a terrific battle.

Mick's boy Mitch Fritz the Bleeder! How about he and Gillies up for a game. Skating on the 4th line. I can see the box score.

Gillies TOI 0:02, PIM 27 mins.

Fritz TOI 0:02 PIM 27 mins

Both suspended for remainder of season!

Well after his 47 save shutout tonight you'll have a full fledged goalie controversy on your hands.

Tavares is ok after that cheapshot? I didn't see him out there after it but i wasn't watching too closely. My pool needs him healthy.
- canadianpenfan

Played at least one shift afterward. I remember seeing him. Hopefully he's OK.

Gillies fits that bill perfectly.

Have you seen Gallant fight? Not very big but he takes on guys 50lbs bigger and woops their A$$. He's like the Tasmanian Devil. He beat and bloodied Haley earlier in the year. He stood toe to toe with The Joel the Wrecker in a terrific battle.

Mick's boy Mitch Fritz the Bleeder! How about he and Gillies up for a game. Skating on the 4th line. I can see the box score.

Gillies TOI 0:02, PIM 27 mins.

Fritz TOI 0:02 PIM 27 mins

Both suspended for remainder of season!
- SCLI

I don't know if I missed something...i probably did.

But what's with the bold lately?

I don't know if I missed something...i probably did.

But what's with the bold lately?
- canadianpenfan

Some comments can't be held back by simple arial font!

what concerns me after watching 3 games is having finley playing 6-8 minutes a night and watching streit, hamonic and amac double shift with him. Doing that for a full season is going to wear down our defense big time and shows me they don't trust finley to play a regular shift. If that's the case, then they're better off dressing hickey to see if he can play more minutes or playing Martinek 12-15 minutes a night. You're not going to get far playing streit, hamonic and amac 26+ minutes a night and using a slug for a few minutes a game.

Our defense also showed a bad habit of backing off the line against the rush very quickly. They need to step up and challenge the forwards coming in on them, not back up and give them room. It got a bit better after the first period but it's a disturbing trend that reminded me a lot of last year and puts a ton more pressure on the goaltender.

Strait has been quietly doing a great job and I can see him sticking, but they need to scratch Finley and find someone more useful to take some of the minutes off our top 3.

To whoever suggested dressing Boulton to counter Lucic, not a good idea. Boulton will play about 3-4 minutes and Lucic will play closer to 18. You also don't want our fourth line out against the Bruins top line, you'll lose playing that way.

Best bet would be to play Carkner out against Lucic when possible to clear the front of the net and hope your forwards can pin the Bruins deep on the shifts Lucic is out there. With Ricky in net, I feel this one is at best an overtime loss, and more than likely a 4-1 final for Boston. I'll still watch it, but it's going to take one hell of an effort tonight to keep the game from getting out of hand early.

what concerns me after watching 3 games is having finley playing 6-8 minutes a night and watching streit, hamonic and amac double shift with him. Doing that for a full season is going to wear down our defense big time and shows me they don't trust finley to play a regular shift. If that's the case, then they're better off dressing hickey to see if he can play more minutes or playing Martinek 12-15 minutes a night. You're not going to get far playing streit, hamonic and amac 26+ minutes a night and using a slug for a few minutes a game.

Our defense also showed a bad habit of backing off the line against the rush very quickly. They need to step up and challenge the forwards coming in on them, not back up and give them room. It got a bit better after the first period but it's a disturbing trend that reminded me a lot of last year and puts a ton more pressure on the goaltender.

Strait has been quietly doing a great job and I can see him sticking, but they need to scratch Finley and find someone more useful to take some of the minutes off our top 3.

To whoever suggested dressing Boulton to counter Lucic, not a good idea. Boulton will play about 3-4 minutes and Lucic will play closer to 18. You also don't want our fourth line out against the Bruins top line, you'll lose playing that way.

Best bet would be to play Carkner out against Lucic when possible to clear the front of the net and hope your forwards can pin the Bruins deep on the shifts Lucic is out there. With Ricky in net, I feel this one is at best an overtime loss, and more than likely a 4-1 final for Boston. I'll still watch it, but it's going to take one hell of an effort tonight to keep the game from getting out of hand early.
- Isles_since_6

I don't think anyone suggested that. One person said to play Boulton and I immediately responded 'Boulton v. Lucic" I don't favor playing Boulton and I think the best way to counter Boston's size and toughness is to go in the complete opposite direction. Out finesse them.

I don't know if I missed something...i probably did.

But what's with the bold lately?
- canadianpenfan

Well.

Being on the wrong side of 50. The eyes aint what they used to be.

Plus Its much easier for me to pick up any replies to my posts with the bold type.

Have had some comments over it but for the most part, it seems to be going over OK.

It's not like I'm posting in CAPS!

Some comments can't be held back by simple arial font!
- keaner17

That to!

I don't think anyone suggested that. One person said to play Boulton and I immediately responded 'Boulton v. Lucic" I don't favor playing Boulton and I think the best way to counter Boston's size and toughness is to go in the complete opposite direction. Out finesse them.
- keaner17

I don't know if we have the skill to outfinesse Boston, but that may be our only option. I do think if the Isles play tight defense and don't give them room we might be close near the end but this could get ugly.

Well.

Being on the wrong side of 50. The eyes aint what they used to be.

Plus Its much easier for me to pick up any replies to my posts with the bold type.

Have had some comments over it but for the most part, it seems to be going over OK.

It's not like I'm posting in CAPS!
- SCLI

No it was an honest question, it's not like I have a problem with it.

I thought it might have something to do with the Wolfpack.

This is why not buying out DP is gonna cripple this team for years. If the Isles had a capable backup you could have played him last night against the Leafs and started Nabby tonight and that would at least give them a small chance to steal a point or two vs the Bruins. Since DP is horrific they had to start Nabby last night and now they basically have no shot at winning tonight.

No it was an honest question, it's not like I have a problem with it.

I thought it might have something to do with the Wolfpack.
- canadianpenfan

Just curious? I can understand that.

Nothing to do with the "Pack".

Just getting old.

Just curious? I can understand that.

Nothing to do with the "Pack".

Just getting old.
- SCLI

Happens to the best of us my friend.