They can compete but not with the big boys. Boston, Pittsburgh, even the Flyers. The Isladners are step below in there play.

I know you are going to say that the Flyers are worse then then Islanders but the Islanders cant beat that team regardless
- kasperrko

REALLY?!?!?!?!

The flyers is the team taht you're going to include with pitt and boston as the "big boys" in the eastern conference?

you do realize that they're in 12th place, 2 points behind your team. they're a trainwreck, and in NO WAY are an elite team in the east.

im not directing this at you, but when was the last time a game wasnt important? the past 10 games everyone has been saying "Tonights game will tell me if they are for real" then they win/get a point and the same comment is recycled for the next game....

when are people going to believe this team can do it?...whether they get into the playoffs or not is a different story...i think its clear that this years islanders team can compete
- LetsGoIsles

You said anyone who thought the Isles had a chance at the playoffs this season was crazy!

I think they've gotten close before only to fall apart at critical moments, so that's the reason for the lingering doubts. It feels a little different this season...despite some glaring holes in the lineup, the players seem like they believe they can compete, and anything's possible when the team has that mindset. The key for me is that from 5th place on down, all the teams have a few serious issues and some glaring holes. Usually it's something like 7-12 fighting for two spots. This season only Florida appears too far back to have a shot, and it looks like there could be 3 or 4 spots up for grabs. There just aren't many teams putting an exclamation point on their seasons so far, so it's there if the Isles can put a good run together and get hot.

REALLY?!?!?!?!

The flyers is the team taht you're going to include with pitt and boston as the "big boys" in the eastern conference?

you do realize that they're in 12th place, 2 points behind your team. they're a trainwreck, and in NO WAY are an elite team in the east.
- sensarmy_11

They're still a big, tough team that can hurt you on a given night though...and they have a history of dismantling the Isles, even this season.

I dont know why but tonights game scare me. I think we lose. We are dangerously close to a playoff spot and this team is out of there comfort zone
- kasperrko

Really? You don't know why?

Fortunately I don't think the Flyers will be a problem. They're simply not the same team they've been over the last three years. As for Boston and Pittsburgh, I'll wait and see. Boston owns us physically so I definitely don't like that matchup but we did show early on that we were completely capable of playing good lockdown hockey on Pittsburgh.

I don't think we're built to last in the playoffs at this point, but our focus should be more on just getting there and giving guys like Tavares, Hamonic, Grabs, Matrin and Cizikas the experience of a playoff series.
- keaner17

definitely not built to last in the playoffs, but baby steps...if they make the playoffs, with the youth and inexperience of this team, id see the season as a success

You said anyone who thought the Isles had a chance at the playoffs this season was crazy!

I think they've gotten close before only to fall apart at critical moments, so that's the reason for the lingering doubts. It feels a little different this season...despite some glaring holes in the lineup, the players seem like they believe they can compete, and anything's possible when the team has that mindset. The key for me is that from 5th place on down, all the teams have a few serious issues and some glaring holes. Usually it's something like 7-12 fighting for two spots. This season only Florida appears too far back to have a shot, and it looks like there could be 3 or 4 spots up for grabs. There just aren't many teams putting an exclamation point on their seasons so far, so it's there if the Isles can put a good run together and get hot.
- UIF

continue reading..."i said whether they get in or not is a different story"...

when i said "prove they can do it", im talking about competing...

definitely not built to last in the playoffs, but baby steps...if they make the playoffs, with the youth and inexperience of this team, id see the season as a success
- LetsGoIsles

Completely Agreed...of course that's what I essentailly said in the rest of my comment.
I still consider our target date for being a legit contender as the 2015 season. For those who think Charles is selling..sorry, I fully expect that Wang will be the owner of this team for many years to come, but I also believe you'll see a very different Charles Wang from 2015 and on. We've been weathering a financial storm that's about to end and the team is clearly improving (slowly but surely). Good times are coming.

They're still a big, tough team that can hurt you on a given night though...and they have a history of dismantling the Isles, even this season.
- UIF

fair enough......maybe they're a team that give the isles fits, but they are certainly not one of the "big boys" in the east. nice group of forwards, terrible defense, and GOD AWFUL goaltending.....and a cap disaster

They're still a big, tough team that can hurt you on a given night though...and they have a history of dismantling the Isles, even this season.
- UIF

Agreed, and the Flyers are talented enough that they're completely capable of going on a huge run and still getting in. The one positive they have is they've gotten good solid goaltending out of their resident nutcase. They're playing for Lavi's job now, so we'll see what happens.

Coaches are always your first and foremost motivator. It's easy for us as fans to say "they're making millions playing a game, they should be focused all the time' but that simply doesn't happen in ANY team sport. Teams come out flat. A good coach see's the dangers of letdown games and does everything he can to keep his team focused. That's not to say the coach is always totally at fault for when a team plays like crap, but if it happens in consistent manners, like coming out dead in the first period, giving up leads late in the third etc, then the coach is failing to keep his guys focused.
- keaner17

I don't care about the money... these guys dream of playing for a Stanley Cup all their lives.

Motivation should not be a factor... and with a guy like Tavares in the room, they know what is expected from them.

If guys are coasting out there, then sit them down and bring up somebody that wants to play.

If the Isles make the playoffs... the people on here will be crazy....

Completely Agreed...of course that's what I essentailly said in the rest of my comment.
I still consider our target date for being a legit contender as the 2015 season. For those who think Charles is selling..sorry, I fully expect that Wang will be the owner of this team for many years to come, but I also believe you'll see a very different Charles Wang from 2015 and on. We've been weathering a financial storm that's about to end and the team is clearly improving (slowly but surely). Good times are coming.
- keaner17

Keaner if Charles is going to be the owner for many years to come let Charles have Garth add some pieces at the deadline since the Isles have a real chance at the playoffs. I know the team is not in Brooklyn yet but Charles is not acting like someone who is going to be owning the team long term. Charles needs to build the excitement for Brooklyn now and making the playoffs will only help.

I don't care about the money... these guys dream of playing for a Stanley Cup all their lives.

Motivation should not be a factor... and with a guy like Tavares in the room, they know what is expected from them.

If guys are coasting out there, then sit them down and bring up somebody that wants to play.

If the Isles make the playoffs... the people on here will be crazy....
- jimmc7722

Motivation becomes a factor for EVERY team at some point. It's the simple reality of playing continuously over 8-9 months out of the year. Some nights, teams just don't have it mentally. Some teams encounter that more than others. At that stage, the coach has to know how to press the right buttons. The drubbings against Pittsburgh and Philly were perfect examples.

Completely Agreed...of course that's what I essentailly said in the rest of my comment.
I still consider our target date for being a legit contender as the 2015 season. For those who think Charles is selling..sorry, I fully expect that Wang will be the owner of this team for many years to come, but I also believe you'll see a very different Charles Wang from 2015 and on. We've been weathering a financial storm that's about to end and the team is clearly improving (slowly but surely). Good times are coming.
- keaner17

hhaha....i saw that after i posted...ooops

and i agree with wang and the future of the team and his spending habits.

fair enough......maybe they're a team that give the isles fits, but they are certainly not one of the "big boys" in the east. nice group of forwards, terrible defense, and GOD AWFUL goaltending.....and a cap disaster
- sensarmy_11

Flyers lost to Tampa last night...

Radko Gudas might be the new Darius Kasparaitis.

You have to know where he is on the ice @ all times.

If you get caught not paying attention... this guy will lay you out!!!

im not directing this at you, but when was the last time a game wasnt important? the past 10 games everyone has been saying "Tonights game will tell me if they are for real" then they win/get a point and the same comment is recycled for the next game....

when are people going to believe this team can do it?...whether they get into the playoffs or not is a different story...i think its clear that this years islanders team can compete
- LetsGoIsles

"When are people going to believe this team can do it?" This coming from someone who said people were idiots for getting upset when this team lost bcs they never had a chance in the first place not even two weeks ago

im not directing this at you, but when was the last time a game wasnt important? the past 10 games everyone has been saying "Tonights game will tell me if they are for real" then they win/get a point and the same comment is recycled for the next game....

when are people going to believe this team can do it?...whether they get into the playoffs or not is a different story...i think its clear that this years islanders team can compete
- LetsGoIsles

"When are people going to believe this team can do it?" This coming from someone who said people were idiots for getting upset when this team lost bcs they never had a chance in the first place not even two weeks ago

Keaner if Charles is going to be the owner for many years to come let Charles have Garth add some pieces at the deadline since the Isles have a real chance at the playoffs. I know the team is not in Brooklyn yet but Charles is not acting like someone who is going to be owning the team long term.
- ses111

weird...how is he acting?

Agreed, and the Flyers are talented enough that they're completely capable of going on a huge run and still getting in. The one positive they have is they've gotten good solid goaltending out of their resident nutcase. They're playing for Lavi's job now, so we'll see what happens.
- keaner17

not really....his GAA is 2.80, and his sv% is under 0.900, that's pretty awful

among goalies with atleast 10 starts (there are 38 of them), that's the 5th worst sv%, and 8th worst GAA

Keaner if Charles is going to be the owner for many years to come let Charles have Garth add some pieces at the deadline since the Isles have a real chance at the playoffs. I know the team is not in Brooklyn yet but Charles is not acting like someone who is going to be owning the team long term.
- ses111

Charles is acting like someone who has lost hundreds of millions of dollars and now knows that in two years the team will suddenly be profitable. If you're business is suffering and losing money but you know a new highway will bring an influx of customers in two years making it a hotseat, do you hire new employees now? Or do you wait until that moment. He's minimizing losses until it's safe to spend again. He said himself three years ago, the team is broke but in 2015 our light at the end of the tunnel is reality.

As for adding pieces, I think if we're not taking on big payroll, they'll look around but I don't expect much. Everything still seems focused on the future, not the present.

Flyers lost to Tampa last night...

Radko Gudas might be the new Darius Kasparaitis.

You have to know where he is on the ice @ all times.

If you get caught not paying attention... this guy will lay you out!!!
- jimmc7722

He is exactly what the Isles need

"When are people going to believe this team can do it?" This coming from someone who said people were idiots for getting upset when this team lost bcs they never had a chance in the first place not even two weeks ago
- Cptmjl

once again, taking what i said out of context and twisting it the way you want to hear it. way to go....

Flyers lost to Tampa last night...

Radko Gudas might be the new Darius Kasparaitis.

You have to know where he is on the ice @ all times.

If you get caught not paying attention... this guy will lay you out!!!
- jimmc7722

Like that guy.

They're still a big, tough team that can hurt you on a given night though...and they have a history of dismantling the Isles, even this season.
- UIF

thanks you came to my rescue WOO HOO

not really....his GAA is 2.80, and his sv% is under 0.900, that's pretty awful

among goalies with atleast 10 starts (there are 38 of them), that's the 5th worst sv%, and 8th worst GAA
- sensarmy_11

As someone who lives in the Philly area, I can tell you his play has been much better this year. He single handedly beat the Devils the other night. Don't get too hung up on GAA and save % as they can be just as much of an indicator of poor defense (which is their real problem) as they are troubled goaltending.

once again, taking what i said out of context and twisting it the way you want to hear it. way to go....
- LetsGoIsles

Nah. Not twisting anything. That's what you said