Second half of the game the isles played their game and had the better of the play however our goalie couldn't make a stop
- Upstate_isles

Hopefully they carry it over into the next game.

Hopefully they carry it over into the next game.
- Cptmjl

Yea they needed the hatred to wake up, I loved the game from an entertainment standpoint until the end

Devon Toews doe

Not really sure how McCanns cross check to dobsons head into the cross bar was a two min minor? The officiating once again in the playoffs for us is an absolute sham. The Pens blogger is complaining that the Isles gooned it up

this does not look like the same team. being they lack elite firepower they have always depended on solid D and capitalizing on turnovers. The d is mediocre and the offense looks like they dont use pucks in practice.

Devon Toews doe
- Nucker101

I liked Toews but I prefer Dobson. His absence has little to nothing to do with their issues. The only people that bring him up seem to be people who never watched him when he was here

this does not look like the same team. being they lack elite firepower they have always depended on solid D and capitalizing on turnovers. The d is mediocre and the offense looks like they dont use pucks in practice.
- LItransplant44

I've said the same about the offense. It's really been all about execution. The team played flawlessly within the system last playoffs. This year they've lacked energy and grit. The 3rd period last night was the first sign they showed of returning to their 2020 form. Unfortunately Varlamov was not in 2020 form. Had he played to his usual standard, the Isles could have been up 3-0 right now or at least 2-1.

Judging by some of the posts here here I’ll assume most will disagree but this team just hasn’t had it since game one imo. Lots of individualism out there as far as I’m concerned. Terrible passing. Bad defense at times I thought Pelech and Pulock got roughed up a bit tonight. Step behind most of the time. I thought for how important this game was they came out pretty flat that to me is unacceptable.
- Cptmjl

Passing's been awful...what you'd expect to see in preseason rather than the playoffs. The few passes that aren't too hard, too soft, or completely off the mark end up clanging off the sticks of the players receiving them.

I liked Toews but I prefer Dobson. His absence has little to nothing to do with their issues. The only people that bring him up seem to be people who never watched him when he was here
- keaner17

I also liked Toews, but also remember him making some critical mistakes in last year's playoffs. Good player with a decent future on a very good team. But Dobson has stepped up nicely (for the most part) in the Toews's absence.

I also liked Toews, but also remember him making some critical mistakes in last year's playoffs. Good player with a decent future on a very good team. But Dobson has stepped up nicely (for the most part) in the Toews's absence.
- JohnScammo

Yeah he didn’t have the best playoffs last year but Im not really sure why the thought is Toews or Dobson? If it weren’t for unnecessary salary we could’ve had both. Wish we weren’t forced to trade him.

Passing's been awful...what you'd expect to see in preseason rather than the playoffs. The few passes that aren't too hard, too soft, or completely off the mark end up clanging off the sticks of the players receiving them.
- UIF

Pens are Islanders-ing the Islanders extremely effectively. The neutral zone is no-man's land for the Islanders right now and it's killing them. Not helping that Varlamov wasn't able to make saves when they needed him to last night

This is from Game 2, but it illustrates pretty well, more or less, how they're just stifling the Isles. Nowhere for Barzal to go.



Actual clip: https://twitter.com/Shutd...tatus/1395089245484769281

Barzal.line is alive
- Upstate_isles

This shift early in the game was probably the most sustained pressure Barzal's line has gotten in the series, and it's the best all three players looked together...and it wasn't even the normal line. Palmieri was the third forward, joining the play out of the box. Hell, if they're 1,000% stubbornly committed to Leo at LW, then maybe it doesn't need to be Eberle on RW?

It's gotta be something to get someone on that line going...you're probably not winning a series when your top line combines for 0 goals.

This shift early in the game was probably the most sustained pressure Barzal's line has gotten in the series, and it's the best all three players looked together...and it wasn't even the normal line. Palmieri was the third forward, joining the play out of the box. Hell, if they're 1,000% stubbornly committed to Leo at LW, then maybe it doesn't need to be Eberle on RW?

It's gotta be something to get someone on that line going...you're probably not winning a series when your top line combines for 0 goals.
- UIF

Some of us had continually pointed out that once the clamp down style of play in the playoffs kicked in, that top line would be all the easier to stifle with a player of Leo's make up on the wing. Leo could be tremedously effective on the fourth line, but his lack of offensive skill/instinct makes it all the easier for defenses to eliminate Barzal and Eberle. Folks can cheer his hit counts and defensuve olay all they want, but realize the cost is essentially neutering the offensive capabilities of that line. Nothing against Leo, but he's being asked to perform a role he has no business being near.

Pens are Islanders-ing the Islanders extremely effectively. The neutral zone is no-man's land for the Islanders right now and it's killing them. Not helping that Varlamov wasn't able to make saves when they needed him to last night

This is from Game 2, but it illustrates pretty well, more or less, how they're just stifling the Isles. Nowhere for Barzal to go.



Actual clip: https://twitter.com/Shutd...tatus/1395089245484769281
- eichiefs9

Seems almost elementary from the Pens perspective to realize that the Isles system was the mvp in their last series meeting so why not match that system and let our talent advantage takeover. Simply put, the Pens have better finishers and seem to capitalize on each opportunity. The Isles best path is to turn this into a war of the trenches and outmuscle them . They started to do that last night.

Pens are Islanders-ing the Islanders extremely effectively. The neutral zone is no-man's land for the Islanders right now and it's killing them. Not helping that Varlamov wasn't able to make saves when they needed him to last night

This is from Game 2, but it illustrates pretty well, more or less, how they're just stifling the Isles. Nowhere for Barzal to go.



Actual clip: https://twitter.com/Shutd...tatus/1395089245484769281
- eichiefs9

Yeah, all season the Pens have been a much different team without the puck. But it wouldn't be any easier in the neutral zone against the Caps or Bruins...all the top teams in the East have adopted that style, so hopefully it's not coming as a surprise to the Isles!

Pens are Islanders-ing the Islanders extremely effectively. The neutral zone is no-man's land for the Islanders right now and it's killing them. Not helping that Varlamov wasn't able to make saves when they needed him to last night

This is from Game 2, but it illustrates pretty well, more or less, how they're just stifling the Isles. Nowhere for Barzal to go.



Actual clip: https://twitter.com/Shutd...tatus/1395089245484769281
- eichiefs9

Insert Beau in Leos place there and Barzal can put puck into a soft spot for Beau to use his speed and chase down. Pens don't have to worry about Leo at all offensively. Just look at that pic...

This shift early in the game was probably the most sustained pressure Barzal's line has gotten in the series, and it's the best all three players looked together...and it wasn't even the normal line. Palmieri was the third forward, joining the play out of the box. Hell, if they're 1,000% stubbornly committed to Leo at LW, then maybe it doesn't need to be Eberle on RW?

It's gotta be something to get someone on that line going...you're probably not winning a series when your top line combines for 0 goals.
- UIF

I understood Trotz’s hesitation to move Eberle off that line. Him and Barzal have speed and chemistry together. At this point I think he has to obviously jettisone Komarov off that line and try someone other then Zajac. If he has to move Eberle so be it. Figure it out. Never worked and still isn’t beating a dead horse at this point.

Insert Beau in Leos place there and Barzal can put puck into a soft spot for Beau to use his speed and chase down. Pens don't have to worry about Leo at all offensively. Just look at that pic...
- TogaIsles

Same video I posted the other day. When Leo comes over the blue line he’s 25 feet open from an opposing player

I liked Toews but I prefer Dobson. His absence has little to nothing to do with their issues. The only people that bring him up seem to be people who never watched him when he was here
- keaner17

Yea hes doing well but he plays with cal makar and the avalanche score in droves as a team

Pens are Islanders-ing the Islanders extremely effectively. The neutral zone is no-man's land for the Islanders right now and it's killing them. Not helping that Varlamov wasn't able to make saves when they needed him to last night

This is from Game 2, but it illustrates pretty well, more or less, how they're just stifling the Isles. Nowhere for Barzal to go.



Actual clip: https://twitter.com/Shutd...tatus/1395089245484769281
- eichiefs9

They got through the neutral zone muchbbetter in the 2nd a 3rd and it lead to their goals and chances. Also (frank) varlamov

This shift early in the game was probably the most sustained pressure Barzal's line has gotten in the series, and it's the best all three players looked together...and it wasn't even the normal line. Palmieri was the third forward, joining the play out of the box. Hell, if they're 1,000% stubbornly committed to Leo at LW, then maybe it doesn't need to be Eberle on RW?

It's gotta be something to get someone on that line going...you're probably not winning a series when your top line combines for 0 goals.
- UIF

Barzal.had 2 assists 1 on powerplay one regular line to Mayfield

Wow good thing Staple doesn’t post on here. He would be an instant target for the Girls Club.

“ Scott Mayfield was again one of the best Islander defensemen and his three-point night — the first by an Islander defenseman in the playoffs since Mark Streit had three against the Penguins in Game 4 in 2013 — was a just reward for Mayfield’s effort. But, as sometimes happens when a light-scoring defenseman leads the team in scoring through three playoff games, you have to wonder: Where is everyone else on D?”

Barzal.had 2 assists 1 on powerplay one regular line to Mayfield
- Upstate_isles

Much better game from Barzal. Took shots when they were there and played within the game and took what the Pens gave him. Needs to build off this game and put his stamp on game 4 Saturday.
I can’t see any reason SOrOk1n doesn’t get the nod in game 4. I don’t think Varly made the big save when the team needed it last night. I don’t expect any other lineup changes but giving Ilya the net will give the team a kick in the ass to start the next game better imho.

Wow good thing Staple doesn’t post on here. He would be an instant target for the Girls Club.

“ Scott Mayfield was again one of the best Islander defensemen and his three-point night — the first by an Islander defenseman in the playoffs since Mark Streit had three against the Penguins in Game 4 in 2013 — was a just reward for Mayfield’s effort. But, as sometimes happens when a light-scoring defenseman leads the team in scoring through three playoff games, you have to wonder: Where is everyone else on D?”
- nyisles7

Let’s hope he keeps it up.

Wow good thing Staple doesn’t post on here. He would be an instant target for the Girls Club.

“ Scott Mayfield was again one of the best Islander defensemen and his three-point night — the first by an Islander defenseman in the playoffs since Mark Streit had three against the Penguins in Game 4 in 2013 — was a just reward for Mayfield’s effort. But, as sometimes happens when a light-scoring defenseman leads the team in scoring through three playoff games, you have to wonder: Where is everyone else on D?”
- nyisles7

Mayfield is at his best when the Isles engage in the type of game they played in the 3rd. That said, he did misplay Zucker on his goal, of course so did three other Islanders. The Mayfield/Leddy combo has been bad for a while and it just seems that, like Leo, he is being asked to perform a role (top 4) that is above his skillset. Noah has struggled some this year, which has led to perhaps Mayfield seeing more time than he should. He's still a great bargain contract-wise considering the roles he fills, which is why I don't think he'll end up in Seattle