Now that there's just 1 brain.....

Anybody could play on the 4th line wing.
- nyisles7

No, but there was a time when Martin did more to stick up for his linemates/teammates.

Prove 3 or 4 guys wrong and I finally get some peace around here. Still surprised Poly quit the battle so easily.

Lets review:

MOST...

Isles refused to take hits to make passes.
Isles refused to take hits to make shots.
Isles refused to take hits to win the board battles.
Isles refused to make hits to swing the momentum.



Awful lot of words just to say the Isles played scared.

Gotcha, The PP has been bad as far as production for sure. They have moved the puck better and had some good looks which as you said they haven't finished. Beau hit the post on the PP twice last night. They could have used a little luck with one of those going in thats for sure.
When it isn't producing the players know it and try to do more which actually makes it worse instead of just keeping it simple and getting the puck to the net.

Offensively this series other than last night the Islanders have been a pleasant surprise. They have gotten production from most of the lines and were the better team 5v5 without question.
They need to regroup and get back to playing their game and they will be fine. The Caps made a huge push last night and the Islanders just didn't respond. I think that will change next game.
- nyisles7

Fair enough. I think my biggest concern is that the Caps have stumbled on the formula for beating the Islanders: Avoid 5 on 5 play. Take cheap shots, draw penalties, it doesn't matter. The Islanders won't score. Then the refs have long had a tendency to "even things out", and when they award a PP to the Caps, they can score, because they have guys who can finish.

Fair enough. I think my biggest concern is that the Caps have stumbled on the formula for beating the Islanders: Avoid 5 on 5 play. Take cheap shots, draw penalties, it doesn't matter. The Islanders won't score. Then the refs have long had a tendency to "even things out", and when they award a PP to the Caps, they can score, because they have guys who can finish.
- JohnScammo

lol

".....barrage in pressure from the Capitals' that left the Isles hemmed in their own zone and forced to take extended shifts. "

Just like that mythical Carolina series last year.

"With Barzal was serving his penalty for holding on Lars Eller 1:29 into the period..."

"Barzal returned to the penalty box 3:46 into the second period for holding and the Caps evened the score 2-2 on the ensuing power play."

Isles bestest center ever sucked the life out of them.

No, but there was a time when Martin did more to stick up for his linemates/teammates.
- JohnScammo

He hasn't been that guy since before he went to the Leafs. I really hope they don't offer him an extension. Let him come back as a front office guy after he finishes his career someplace else.

He hasn't been that guy since before he went to the Leafs. I really hope they don't offer him an extension. Let him come back as a front office guy after he finishes his career someplace else.
- JimmyP

Agreed though I can see the Islanders do the wrong thing and resign him.

Barzal blows, definitely third line wing material. I mean, look at these playoff comparisons:
Connor McDavid 17games/10g/8a/+4
Austen Matthews 25games/12g/7a/-9
Mat Barzal 16games/5g/9a/+9

Dude sucks. 😂😂😂

About Wilson / Mayfield. If you truly believe that low speed bump and stumble warrants 5 minutes, please stop watching hockey at once. The last thing the NHL needs is a bunch of soft fans demanding the league plays a brand of hockey that's even softer than Europe. Watch Ping Pong or girlie hockey. Don't ruin this sport for the true hockey fan.

If you think 5 minutes was warranted, but that the 2 minutes for Lees hit on Bacs is just right, stand in front of a mirror and chant "I will try to be less hypocritical" until you get your head right.

Almost forgot Leo. I think we have better options for Pageau to center, but he sacrificed his body all game long while many of his teammates were pulling pudding out of their asses. Got bless him. One of the few bright spots in those 2+ god awful periods.

Barzal blows, definitely third line wing material. I mean, look at these playoff comparisons:
Connor McDavid 17games/10g/8a/+4
Austen Matthews 25games/12g/7a/-9
Mat Barzal 16games/5g/9a/+9

Dude sucks. 😂😂😂
- streaks

Has 3rd line winger written all over him. I’m sure Lee and Eberle are petitioning for it.

Cal looks good to go.

Please sit MM. He no longer has the will to bang, probably because he is a lame duck. Lets Gudas put him in a headlock, and doesn't come up swinging? WTF? Both players are engaged. If there is a fight, the penalties offset. MM 'asking' Gudas if he wanted to go after the headlock was pitiful.

Put Ross in. Not that he is a lock to beat Wilson, who trains with a boxing instructor, but because he will freakin respond when his teammates are getting roughed up. That kind of guy makes everyone on the team a little braver and less afraid of an opponent going too far on a hit.

As Poly pointed out, next game we need more than 2 Islanders playing AFTER the 3rd in a game that ends in regulation.

Has 3rd line winger written all over him. I’m sure Lee and Eberle are petitioning for it.
- Cptmjl

Can't believe CBJ blew that game... came out flat in OT too. so Tampa moves on.. i

No, but there was a time when Martin did more to stick up for his linemates/teammates.
- JohnScammo

I think Martin and the isles whole team are playing NOT to take a penalty at this point. I can't say I blame them... that game changed last night as soon and Mayfield soared the puck over the boards and gave them a 5-on-3. then again when Barzal took that horrific holding call in the O-zone. 2 dumb penalties changed the whole game.

No, but there was a time when Martin did more to stick up for his linemates/teammates.
- JohnScammo

I get that in the regular season but I am sure that Barry has said be disciplined and don’t take retaliatory penalties which puts the Capitals on the PP which had been the only edge the Caps have had in the series.
There’s plenty of reg games to settle scores.
POs just not the time to do it.

Fair enough. I think my biggest concern is that the Caps have stumbled on the formula for beating the Islanders: Avoid 5 on 5 play. Take cheap shots, draw penalties, it doesn't matter. The Islanders won't score. Then the refs have long had a tendency to "even things out", and when they award a PP to the Caps, they can score, because they have guys who can finish.
- JohnScammo

If the Islanders play disciplined then the Caps will be in the box. Not the Islanders and that’s a recipe for winning. The Islanders need to play their game and not fall it a tit for tat shat show the Caps are trying to turn this into.

Time to make big changes on the PP units, including the back end. No matter who they put in, they can't be any worse than what we have now. Both units showed signs of life and were shooting. They didn't score, so they crawled back to old habits instead of sticking with it. This has been going on far too long. Really shocked Trotz hasn't addressed the issue before.

If the Islanders play disciplined then the Caps will be in the box. Not the Islanders and that’s a recipe for winning. The Islanders need to play their game and not fall it a tit for tat shat show the Caps are trying to turn this into.
- nyisles7

The problem is that the Isles can stay disciplined, get a half dozen power plays and waste all of them. Then the refs will "even things up" a bit by calling 2 or 3 ticky tacky penalties against them, and the Caps will score on 1 or 2 of them.

The problem is that the Isles can stay disciplined, get a half dozen power plays and waste all of them. Then the refs will "even things up" a bit by calling 2 or 3 ticky tacky penalties against them, and the Caps will score on 1 or 2 of them.
- JohnScammo

Gotta stay out of the box plain and simple.
I’m not getting into the refs. That’s a discussion for the Leafs thread

The problem is that the Isles can stay disciplined, get a half dozen power plays and waste all of them. Then the refs will "even things up" a bit by calling 2 or 3 ticky tacky penalties against them, and the Caps will score on 1 or 2 of them.
- JohnScammo

Which brings us back to being able to score on the PP . Bottom line is they have to figure that out while trying to stay out of the box

I think Martin and the isles whole team are playing NOT to take a penalty at this point. I can't say I blame them... that game changed last night as soon and Mayfield soared the puck over the boards and gave them a 5-on-3. then again when Barzal took that horrific holding call in the O-zone. 2 dumb penalties changed the whole game.
- niteislander

For me, the turning point in the game was in the 2nd period, when Kuznetsov came flying down the wing past Pelech and skated across the crease and scored............while Pulock just stood and watched. I get that Pulock maybe has to guard against a back door play, but for Pulock to just stand there flat-footed the whole time didn't make sense. The score was 2 - 0 in favor of the Isles when that happened, and I thought the Isles might weather the storm.......but it seemed to give the Caps even more momentum.

Doctor, doctor help me please, I know you will understand
There's a time device inside of me, I'm a self-destructin' man
There's a red under my bed
And there's a little green man in my head
And he said, "You're not goin' crazy, you're just a bit sad
'Cause there's a man in ya, gnawin' ya, tearin' ya into two