Exactly. As someone else said or suggested, unless Halak is out for an extended period, we should be fine getting into the playoffs. However, I'm not sure about our chances for playoff success. We aren't blowing many teams out, not even the weaker teams. And more than 1/4 of our wins are from the shoot-out which doesn't help us in the playoffs.
- JohnScammo

I'm curious to see what, if anything, snow is going to do about our extra roster players and at the trade deadline. I'm not expecting us to go a long way in the playoffs, but if you get there and get hot, anything can happen. I'll be beyond miserable if we somehow fail to make the playoffs. As a Bengals fan about to sit down and watch the mnf slaughter, I've been disappointed with my two favorite teams far too many times.

How often do you watch the islanders simple?
- Cptmjl

Waiting for the entitled "well *I* am a fan of the Blackhawks, so let me tell you why I know so much more than you about hockey" response.

I'm curious to see what, if anything, snow is going to do about our extra roster players and at the trade deadline. I'm not expecting us to go a long way in the playoffs, but if you get there and get hot, anything can happen. I'll be beyond miserable if we somehow fail to make the playoffs. As a Bengals fan about to sit down and watch the mnf slaughter, I've been disappointed with my two favorite teams far too many times.
- Isles_since_6

I am guessing that Snow will (for a change) be a buyer and not a seller at the trade deadline, even if he fails to sign Boychuk, a guy who is too critical to the team's success to part with before season's end. Who he buys will be determined by our needs at the deadline based on injuries, as well as by who is available at a reasonable price. I suspect extra roster players like Strait will eventually be waived and sent to Bridgeport.

If you don't mind me asking, how the hell does a guy in Vancouver end up an Islanders and a Bengals fan? I know some Bengals fans, but they have an excuse......they live in Cincinnati.

I am guessing that Snow will (for a change) be a buyer and not a seller at the trade deadline, even if he fails to sign Boychuk, a guy who is too critical to the team's success to part with before season's end. Who he buys will be determined by our needs at the deadline based on injuries, as well as by who is available at a reasonable price. I suspect extra roster players like Strait will eventually be waived and sent to Bridgeport.

If you don't mind me asking, how the hell does a guy in Vancouver end up an Islanders and a Bengals fan? I know some Bengals fans, but they have an excuse......they live in Cincinnati.
- JohnScammo

He likes orange

Waiting for the entitled "well *I* am a fan of the Blackhawks, so let me tell you why I know so much more than you about hockey" response.


- eichiefs9

Comical when someone comes over here and gives us a heads up about our team like theyre enlightening us. If youre an islander fan you havent exactly jumped on the bandwagon the last twenty yrs chances are you've been watching hockey for quite some time. It becomes even more funny when they're completely wrong about whatever it is they feel they're so right about. That was one of the more moronic posts I've read on here in some time. Good job simple.

Comical when someone comes over here and gives us a heads up about our team like theyre enlightening us. If youre an islander fan you havent exactly jumped on the bandwagon the last twenty yrs chances are you've been watching hockey for quite some time. It becomes even more funny when they're completely wrong about whatever it is they feel they're so right about. That was one of the more moronic posts I've read on here in some time. Good job simple.
- Cptmjl

Well he wasn't totally wrong. The Rangers can defend and do have an elite goalie.

Well he wasn't totally wrong. The Rangers can defend and do have an elite goalie.
- rangerdanger94

You don't have to be wrong to be a human butt-plug

Well he wasn't totally wrong. The Rangers can defend and do have an elite goalie.
- rangerdanger94

Wasnt referring to that part of the post.

Wasnt referring to that part of the post.
- Cptmjl

Well you guys can defend for like 42 minutes a game. Those 18 minutes when Strait is out there are sketchy.

Well you guys can defend for like 42 minutes a game. Those 18 minutes when Strait is out there are sketchy.
- rangerdanger94

Whenever a team has their seventh defenseman and are missing their top two defenders its sketchy. Could be worse. You could have your top defender in and its still sketchy like the Rangers.

Whenever a team has their seventh defenseman and are missing their top two defenders its sketchy. Could be worse. You could have your top defender in and its still sketchy like the Rangers.
- Cptmjl

I'm pretty confident in our 6/7 guys in Hunwick and Moore. McDonagh has adjusted and been back to his old self the past 5 or 6 games. But even if he struggles it's nice knowing that our #5 defender in Klein is better than our division rivals' top defenders like the Penguins, Devils, Flyers, and Islanders.

Exactly. As someone else said or suggested, unless Halak is out for an extended period, we should be fine getting into the playoffs. However, I'm not sure about our chances for playoff success. We aren't blowing many teams out, not even the weaker teams. And more than 1/4 of our wins are from the shoot-out which doesn't help us in the playoffs.
- JohnScammo

This isn't directed specifically at you ...

They've beat some pretty good teams in regulation. The Hawks, Lightning, Wings, Penguins.

I get the concern. I really do. I've been pessimistic about this team for a long time. However from where they were last June to now is night and day. New owners, new goalies, new defensemen, new secondary scoring. Jeez guys, it's not the same old story anymore! They've played 40% of the season and they are 4th in the league! Hell, last year we would have been ecstatic if they snuck into the 8th seed!

And now the caveat so I don't get blasted - Yes, everything isn't perfect. Yes, Johnson is still a concern. Yes, Cappy is still the coach. Yes, Strait is playing in Bridgeport and that somehow still effects the Islanders.

Just enjoy the ride.

I'm pretty confident in our 6/7 guys in Hunwick and Moore. McDonagh has adjusted and been back to his old self the past 5 or 6 games. But even if he struggles it's nice knowing that our #5 defender in Klein is better than our division rivals' top defenders like the Penguins, Devils, Flyers, and Islanders.
- rangerdanger94

Now u are saying that Klein is a top 4 Dman? Geez u realllly are dumb......
FYI Klein is a system Dman, he was for Trotz as he is for AV, are u sure u watch hockey w/o the homerism blinding u????

I am guessing that Snow will (for a change) be a buyer and not a seller at the trade deadline, even if he fails to sign Boychuk, a guy who is too critical to the team's success to part with before season's end. Who he buys will be determined by our needs at the deadline based on injuries, as well as by who is available at a reasonable price. I suspect extra roster players like Strait will eventually be waived and sent to Bridgeport.

If you don't mind me asking, how the hell does a guy in Vancouver end up an Islanders and a Bengals fan? I know some Bengals fans, but they have an excuse......they live in Cincinnati.
- JohnScammo

Lol, first real time watching hockey was at age 6 in 1980. First real time watching the NFL was 87-88 and loved that Bengals team. I am loyal, but long suffering.

I'm pretty confident in our 6/7 guys in Hunwick and Moore. McDonagh has adjusted and been back to his old self the past 5 or 6 games. But even if he struggles it's nice knowing that our #5 defender in Klein is better than our division rivals' top defenders like the Penguins, Devils, Flyers, and Islanders.
- rangerdanger94

Bring back kostka

I'm pretty confident in our 6/7 guys in Hunwick and Moore. McDonagh has adjusted and been back to his old self the past 5 or 6 games. But even if he struggles it's nice knowing that our #5 defender in Klein is better than our division rivals' top defenders like the Penguins, Devils, Flyers, and Islanders.
- rangerdanger94

Lol, first real time watching hockey was at age 6 in 1980. First real time watching the NFL was 87-88 and loved that Bengals team. I am loyal, but long suffering.
- Isles_since_6

Does that mean you can do the Ickey Shuffle?

This isn't directed specifically at you ...

They've beat some pretty good teams in regulation. The Hawks, Lightning, Wings, Penguins.

I get the concern. I really do. I've been pessimistic about this team for a long time. However from where they were last June to now is night and day. New owners, new goalies, new defensemen, new secondary scoring. Jeez guys, it's not the same old story anymore! They've played 40% of the season and they are 4th in the league! Hell, last year we would have been ecstatic if they snuck into the 8th seed!

And now the caveat so I don't get blasted - Yes, everything isn't perfect. Yes, Johnson is still a concern. Yes, Cappy is still the coach. Yes, Strait is playing in Bridgeport and that somehow still effects the Islanders.

Just enjoy the ride.
- JimmyP

Thanks, I am definitely enjoying the ride! I am just tempering my enthusiasm. It's probably a defense mechanism after so many years of futility.

I'm pretty confident in our 6/7 guys in Hunwick and Moore. McDonagh has adjusted and been back to his old self the past 5 or 6 games. But even if he struggles it's nice knowing that our #5 defender in Klein is better than our division rivals' top defenders like the Penguins, Devils, Flyers, and Islanders.
- rangerdanger94

Klein was a great pick-up, but you're not really saying he's better than Boychuk, are you?

Klein was a great pick-up, but you're not really saying he's better than Boychuk, are you?
- JohnScammo

Or leddy, hamonic, dehaan, debatable hickey. Guy is putting up a few points and now hes better than any other teams first pairing in the division.

Does that mean you can do the Ickey Shuffle?
- JohnScammo

Confirmed, but I prefer the GEICO commercial

Or leddy, hamonic, dehaan, debatable hickey. Guy is putting up a few points and now hes better than any other teams first pairing in the division.
- Cptmjl

He's young and knows nothing past msg.....

Confirmed, but I prefer the GEICO commercial
- Isles_since_6

I think the backup goaltending situation may need to be addressed at some point- I'd also love to get a top line LW, though not at the expense of anything vital on the current roster. Other than that, if healthy, I'm not seeing any problems here, as long as they play defense properly- their starting 18 and their starting goalie are just simply better than what a lot of the other teams have, in my opinion. As long as they bring it every night, they can have success all the way through. The tough part comes the deeper you get into the playoffs, because that becomes a lot more about wanting it more rather than having the better overall roster. This is where there will be at least one or two hard lessons to be learned over the next couple of years.

Now u are saying that Klein is a top 4 Dman? Geez u realllly are dumb......
FYI Klein is a system Dman, he was for Trotz as he is for AV, are u sure u watch hockey w/o the homerism blinding u????
- Ur Not Me

Klein has been a top 4 dman for years.

You assuming klein a system dman because he was successful in Nashville is like people calling boychuk a system dman because he played in boston.