I don't really agree that this year will have an asterisk. More teams made the playoffs than ever before, there is NO home crowd to help pump you up. The cup winner this year will have earned it...no different than any other year. That's my opinion of course
- cdn_Isles_fan

And if a play in team wins they will have actually won and extra "series". I've noticed that the isles are much crisper in their puck movement this series and I think it took time to shake the rust out against Florida who looked disinterested at best

I don't really agree that this year will have an asterisk. More teams made the playoffs than ever before, there is NO home crowd to help pump you up. The cup winner this year will have earned it...no different than any other year. That's my opinion of course
- cdn_Isles_fan

If 90% of the game is mental, perhaps it should have an asterisk to remind everyone the extra mental and emotional stress these players went thru to compete and win a cup.

..because it's fun to gloat..

Ovi and Kuznet

https://www.nhl.com/capit...-14/t-282755890/c-5404129

Carlson and Holt

https://www.nhl.com/capit...-14/t-277437440/c-5404131

I don't really agree that this year will have an asterisk. More teams made the playoffs than ever before, there is NO home crowd to help pump you up. The cup winner this year will have earned it...no different than any other year. That's my opinion of course
- cdn_Isles_fan

I'm not saying that they wouldn't have earned it. It's the same playoff format. The team that wins it will have earned it. However, having a long layoff to heal and come back fresh makes a huge difference. When the season was cut short the Isles weren't playing anything like what we've seen the last two weeks. Also other teams have looked indifferent.

Maybe it's the bubble and having their lives disrupted, or maybe it's the lack of screaming fans, but something is different.

I'm not saying that they wouldn't have earned it. It's the same playoff format. The team that wins it will have earned it. However, having a long layoff to heal and come back fresh makes a huge difference. When the season was cut short the Isles weren't playing anything like what we've seen the last two weeks. Also other teams have looked indifferent.

Maybe it's the bubble and having their lives disrupted, or maybe it's the lack of screaming fans, but something is different.
- JimmyP

There’s a lot that’s different. Life is different for everyone, including us fans. Not sure how many other teams or games you’ve watched, but most are playing to win, not unlike any other year. I got a chance to watch stars/flames last night. That series is about as physical as a series can get. And Dallas has the upper hand. So much that Tkachuck is out. They completely isolated him and targeted him every shift, until he was so banged up he didn’t play yesterday. I bring this up because I think the players and most teams are embracing the time together, and bonding in a way that doesn’t happen in our normal lives. I think this years cup winner will be the tightest team in the mix. And they’ll have a bond unlike any previous cup winner and lifelong memories of their time in the bubble.

..because it's fun to gloat..

Ovi and Kuznet

https://www.nhl.com/capit...-14/t-282755890/c-5404129

Carlson and Holt

https://www.nhl.com/capit...-14/t-277437440/c-5404131
- Puckin_Island

- JohnScammo

No, not gloating about winning the series. They COULD bounce back. I'm gloating at how broken their spirits are just 2 games in.

Where is everyone? Not the old BD hideout. Gots to be somewhere!?

There’s a lot that’s different. Life is different for everyone, including us fans. Not sure how many other teams or games you’ve watched, but most are playing to win, not unlike any other year. I got a chance to watch stars/flames last night. That series is about as physical as a series can get. And Dallas has the upper hand. So much that Tkachuck is out. They completely isolated him and targeted him every shift, until he was so banged up he didn’t play yesterday. I bring this up because I think the players and most teams are embracing the time together, and bonding in a way that doesn’t happen in our normal lives. I think this years cup winner will be the tightest team in the mix. And they’ll have a bond unlike any previous cup winner and lifelong memories of their time in the bubble.
- streaks

I agree with your points here Streaks

I agree with your points here Streaks
- nyisles7

Stfu you puckin dolt

3 hours until game time. I expect the Capitals to throw everything that they had at the Isles today because they do not want to go down 3-0. I expect them to be in the face on every play.
The Isles just need to stand their ground and play that forecheck like they did in the third party.

Stfu you puckin dolt
- Upstate_isles

dolt??

Sh!ts already getting extra nasty.....