[quote=Isles_since_6]


Good news

Yup, that second goal seemed to deflate the team a bit. Johnson wasn't awful, but he also wasn't really tested. There were very few legit scoring chances for the Habs.
- Isles_since_6

Exactly- you can't give up that goal. It just kills you. No second goal, no third goal because you're not pushing the issue. The 3 periods end tied 1-1. It's a point blown by the goalie, period. No way around that.

Isles taking the second period off wasn't the backup goalies fault. However he didn't come up with any great saves and the second goal against was bad. Close the f'n pads when you are down and that doesn't go in. Can't fault Johnson on the first goal, that was a laser that Halak wasn't stopping either.
- NewYawkIslandez

You can't spend 60 minutes in the offensive zone though. Every game has ebbs and flows, and the Isles spent quite a bit more time on the attack than defending. My only complaint with the way they played is that against a goalie like Price you have to get more traffic in front. He left some rebounds; there was no one there to push it home.

Scoring goals was the issue last night, but I do agree with Capt...gotta stop more pucks than 18 out of 21. That's good for an .857 save percentage, which sadly is pretty damn close to the norm for our backup. If you can believe it, his .867 for the season is worse than Poulin last year, who was playing behind a much weaker team and a much shakier D. Haven't gotten their money's worth from Johnson so far.

You can't spend 60 minutes in the offensive zone though. Every game has ebbs and flows, and the Isles spent quite a bit more time on the attack than defending. My only complaint with the way they played is that against a goalie like Price you have to get more traffic in front. He left some rebounds; there was no one there to push it home.

Scoring goals was the issue last night, but I do agree with Capt...gotta stop more pucks than 18 out of 21. That's good for an .857 save percentage, which sadly is pretty damn close to the norm for our backup. If you can believe it, his .867 for the season is worse than Poulin last year, who was playing behind a much weaker team and a much shakier D. Haven't gotten their money's worth from Johnson so far.
- UIF

I got the same impression from last nights game as well. Idk how many rebounds were sitting in front of price that his defense easily cleared? The islanders were an easy team to play against from the second period on. Most of their shots were kept to the perimeter and north of the dots with clear sight lines. Credit to the habs for playing a good road game but the islanders should have adjusted their game a bit when it was plain as day what they needed to do.

Im done with Johnson at this point. Snow needs to find another option for back up
If he thinks hes got that in poulon well then its time to test that theory. We cant keep giving away these points itll bite us in the arse in april. Our lead has the potential of becoming real small real soon. Cant win them all hopefully we see halak on saturday in buffalo.

This was a game where the Islanders did not look relaxed. The Defense had to step more defensively then offense cause of Johnson. they play different in front of him cause they know he will give up goals.

I thought Tavares looked great and I still fell Bailey looks misplaced on the first line. Really does not do much to add to that line and we need to find a winger for JT quick. I still liked Nelson up there. that is where Tavares got most of his points playing along side Nelson but hey I don't have the brain like Jack.

AS for the power play. Put Boychuk on the top PP line please. I mean it worked at the beginning of the year. I don't know as soon as something clicks Jack breaks everything up. It just shows you the guy is clueless out there.

This was a game where the Islanders did not look relaxed. The Defense had to step more defensively then offense cause of Johnson. they play different in front of him cause they know he will give up goals.

I thought Tavares looked great and I still fell Bailey looks misplaced on the first line. Really does not do much to add to that line and we need to find a winger for JT quick. I still liked Nelson up there. that is where Tavares got most of his points playing along side Nelson but hey I don't have the brain like Jack.

AS for the power play. Put Boychuk on the top PP line please. I mean it worked at the beginning of the year. I don't know as soon as something clicks Jack breaks everything up. It just shows you the guy is clueless out there.
- kasperrko

I cant believe im going to say this but I agree with everything in this post especially the last part.

This was a game where the Islanders did not look relaxed. The Defense had to step more defensively then offense cause of Johnson. they play different in front of him cause they know he will give up goals.

I thought Tavares looked great and I still fell Bailey looks misplaced on the first line. Really does not do much to add to that line and we need to find a winger for JT quick. I still liked Nelson up there. that is where Tavares got most of his points playing along side Nelson but hey I don't have the brain like Jack.

AS for the power play. Put Boychuk on the top PP line please. I mean it worked at the beginning of the year. I don't know as soon as something clicks Jack breaks everything up. It just shows you the guy is clueless out there.
- kasperrko

Johnson can't f***ing move. Comparatively, he makes Poulin look like Dominik Hasek. He's every bit as worthless as DiPietro hobbling around on one leg. If you're going to just stand somewhere in the general vicinity of the net and not move much, then (on the first goal, for one example) you have to bull your way through the traffic, get out farther, and make d*mned sure you're in the CORRECT spot to be able to not, for example, have the puck sneak by you on the short side. He's like having the flat, plastic goalie from the old rod hockey game- if he's not out far enough, or in the wrong place, he's not doing sh*t about anything...not a prayer....

I cant believe im going to say this but I agree with everything in this post especially the last part.
- Cptmjl

It must be the Holidays

Johnson can't f***ing move. Comparatively, he makes Poulin look like Dominik Hasek. He's every bit as worthless as DiPietro hobbling around on one leg. If you're going to just stand somewhere in the general vicinity of the net and not move much, then (on the first goal, for one example) you have to bull your way through the traffic, get out farther, and make d*mned sure you're in the CORRECT spot to be able to not, for example, have the puck sneak by you on the short side. He's like having the flat, plastic goalie from the old rod hockey game- if he's not out far enough, or in the wrong place, he's not doing sh*t about anything...not a prayer....
- dcb1

I said that yesterday Johnson is our new DP. Scary how we find these guys

Johnson can't f***ing move. Comparatively, he makes Poulin look like Dominik Hasek. He's every bit as worthless as DiPietro hobbling around on one leg. If you're going to just stand somewhere in the general vicinity of the net and not move much, then (on the first goal, for one example) you have to bull your way through the traffic, get out farther, and make d*mned sure you're in the CORRECT spot to be able to not, for example, have the puck sneak by you on the short side. He's like having the flat, plastic goalie from the old rod hockey game- if he's not out far enough, or in the wrong place, he's not doing sh*t about anything...not a prayer....
- dcb1

No idea as to why Johnson put up good number for Boston and now he is lousy? Isles have a very solid D now so we cannot blame the lousy d like last year.

No idea as to why Johnson put up good number for Boston and now he is lousy? Isles have a very solid D now so we cannot blame the lousy d like last year.
- ses111

Boston defense was still better than ours. It just seems he don't care. Who knows maybe he is being taught wrong by the coaches

Boston defense was still better than ours. It just seems he don't care. Who knows maybe he is being taught wrong by the coaches
- kasperrko

Come on. These guys play the way they do bfr they get here. The coaches just help them with the game they have in place already. Johnson is just not playing well.

He's done nothing to earn his way there. The top line was okay with Kulemin early but eventually stopped producing. Adding Bailey to the mix is odd considering his habit of disappearing for long stretches at a time. There has to be better options...
- keaner17

-once grabner comes back i want grabner-jt-lee. thats a killer line.
-cappy not pulling johnson as they are dumping the luck in with 1:30 was inexcusable (yes, i was questioning it before the habs scored the 3rd goal)
-johnson played well enough for them to win
-gotta score more than 1 goal
-at the end of the day, the isles are going to lose games throughout the season. not the biggest deal.

Failing to find a better back up may be the difference of reaching the playoffs or not.....
- Nolanders

^^hindisght

EVERYONE was thrilled when garth signed chad johnson.

^^hindisght

EVERYONE was thrilled when garth signed chad johnson.
- LetsGoIsles

Not me

I was actually thinking about that today- I still think this team would be better with a better coach...but on the other hand....if they can truly figure it out by themselves, and play consistently the way they have lately (should have had a point tonight; they played well enough to have a tie at 60 minutes), they'll eventually be good enough that they won't need coaching...and if they really like the man personally, he may become the best option. His only job will be to make sure they stay in shape (and don't strangle each other in the locker room). The Joe Torre of hockey.

That said, the GM has work to do- when you get 7 guys in Free Agency, the chance is pretty good that a couple will be duds. We can't have this goalie if we're serious about making a run. If Halak gets hurt, we're screwed. Snow needs to get on that, quickly.
- dcb1

wtf???

coaching is so much more than that. cappy STILL doesnt match lines. makes no sense whatsoever.

wtf???

coaching is so much more than that. cappy STILL doesnt match lines. makes no sense whatsoever.
- LetsGoIsles

He does but once they play well he starts mixing and matching. Ic an see last year when you need more offense and you try to find that but this year there is no need for that

^^hindisght

EVERYONE was thrilled when garth signed chad johnson.
- LetsGoIsles

Yep. Not Snow's fault hes not playing well.

Yep. Not Snow's fault hes not playing well.
- Cptmjl

I agree. I had no issue with the signing. I'm not that upset as they cannot win every game. Still does not change the fact that Johnson is not getting it done. Cannot blame the D or Cappy for Johnson's lousy play. I thought the D and lousy system was a big issue last year in terms of the goalies play.

I agree. I had no issue with the signing. I'm not that upset as they cannot win every game. Still does not change the fact that Johnson is not getting it done. Cannot blame the D or Cappy for Johnson's lousy play. I thought the D and lousy system was a big issue last year in terms of the goalies play.
- ses111

I'm not one to look for outside excuses. When someone is not doing their job it's usually their fault. Johnson has played terrible. There's no dolling it up. I'm interested to see what Snow/Capuano do about it? How much longer do they give the guy?

I'm not one to look for outside excuses. When someone is not doing their job it's usually their fault. Johnson has played terrible. There's no dolling it up. I'm interested to see what Snow/Capuano do about it? How much longer do they give the guy?
- Cptmjl

No reason not to give Poulin at least one start. Not right he is judged off last years lousy D and system. If Poulin cannot get it done with this years team it's on him.

^^hindisght

EVERYONE was thrilled when garth signed chad johnson.
- LetsGoIsles

absolutely, I didn't expect him to match the stats he had in Boston but league worst wasn't what I expected either. I'm not killing snow for signing him, I'm saying my patience is running out with him and that we need a better option, Poulin may well be it behind a better defense. I'd like to see Poulin get a shot at a game or two rather than Johnson. I can't see anyone claiming Johnson on waivers and maybe sending him to bridgeport to play 5-6 in a row will help him work out his issues.

Merry Christmas Eve, you guys.....

absolutely, I didn't expect him to match the stats he had in Boston but league worst wasn't what I expected either. I'm not killing snow for signing him, I'm saying my patience is running out with him and that we need a better option, Poulin may well be it behind a better defense. I'd like to see Poulin get a shot at a game or two rather than Johnson. I can't see anyone claiming Johnson on waivers and maybe sending him to bridgeport to play 5-6 in a row will help him work out his issues.
- Isles_since_6

Agreed. Halak can not play every game and we need a dependable back up. If Halak goes down in injuries we will go down in the standings

Merry Christmas Eve, you guys.....
- DONMURDOCH14

To you as well.