Tampa and Colorado are really missing out on this latest of trends, Boston too
- Upstate_isles

It's their loss.

Their top line murdered the isles
- Upstate_isles

100% and I’m sure Barry and Co had a game plan and obviously the Isles didn’t execute it.
I’m expecting a much more physical Islanders team tonight.
If I asked you what player/s on the Islanders have not played to their ability this PO’s who would you pick? Also what players would you say elevated their game so far in the POs?
Would love everyone to answer this question honestly.

Yeah I’ll just stay away from the Komarov conversation him having a +1 means absolutely nothing to me
- Cptmjl

Either do FO’s

100% and I’m sure Barry and Co had a game plan and obviously the Isles didn’t execute it.
I’m expecting a much more physical Islanders team tonight.
If I asked you what player/s on the Islanders have not played to their ability this PO’s who would you pick? Also what players would you say elevated their game so far in the POs?
Would love everyone to answer this question honestly.
- nyisles7

Above and beyond:

Beau-Nelson-Bailey (For the Isles to have any chance, we needed them take their game to another level, and they have so far)
Pulock (He's brought a little offense to add to his expected solid D)
Sorokin (He's come a long way since that first outing against the Rangers!)


As-advertised:

Pelech
Mayfield (Rough first couple of games...exactly what I expected since)
Pageau (Probably belongs in the above category since he's playing so well...but that's what I expected!)
Wahlstrom
Zajac
Clutterbuck


Need a little more:

Eberle (points are there, but he's a shooter. Needs more goals)
Komarov (Playing very well for Komarov, but if he is going to be on the first line, he needs to bring offense)
Leddy (Hasn't been bad, but let's see him skate up ice and create more)
Martin (Hasn't been bad, but is this the same guy who scored 5 goals in the playoffs last year?)
Cizikas (Again, not bad, but he has more to give)
Palmieri (Once again, not too bad, but I've watched almost all of Boston's games, and, beyond just goals and points, Palmieri hasn't given the Isles what Hall has given the Bruins -- he's changed the whole dynamic of their second line. Maybe not fair to compare the two, but those were the choices the Isles had at the deadline, so...I'm comparing)
Varlamov (One good game; one bad game. Maybe call this one an incomplete until we see what he brings next time he's in)
Greene (Can't ask too much from an older guy on the third pair, but if he's got anything else to give, the team can use it!)


Need a lot more:

Barzal (There's a lot more to his game. We all know it, and the Isles won't make it to the next round unless they figure out a way to get him going)
Dobson (Some solid moments, but some really rough ones, too)

100% and I’m sure Barry and Co had a game plan and obviously the Isles didn’t execute it.
I’m expecting a much more physical Islanders team tonight.
If I asked you what player/s on the Islanders have not played to their ability this PO’s who would you pick? Also what players would you say elevated their game so far in the POs?
Would love everyone to answer this question honestly.
- nyisles7

Barzal is passive and playing on the perimeter way too much almost timid same for eberle leo hits and is physical but brings nothing to the table on offense he actually hurts them not being able to give or recieve a pass
Beau Bailey and Nelson have brought it
Pageau can be better don't mind Zajac but prefer wahlstrom and Palmieri has been ok
Casey hasn't scored a playoff goal in 35 games or something but the line has been solid

On d pelech pulock and Mayfield have brought it
Greene does a good job
Dobson looks a bit overwhelmed but I think as he gets stronger he will be great down the road
Leddy is a tire fire

Above and beyond:

Beau-Nelson-Bailey (For the Isles to have any chance, we needed them take their game to another level, and they have so far)
Pulock (He's brought a little offense to add to his expected solid D)
Sorokin (He's come a long way since that first outing against the Rangers!)


As-advertised:

Pelech
Mayfield (Rough first couple of games...exactly what I expected since)
Pageau (Probably belongs in the above category since he's playing so well...but that's what I expected!)
Wahlstrom
Zajac
Clutterbuck


Need a little more:

Eberle (points are there, but he's a shooter. Needs more goals)
Komarov (Playing very well for Komarov, but if he is going to be on the first line, he needs to bring offense)
Leddy (Hasn't been bad, but let's see him skate up ice and create more)
Martin (Hasn't been bad, but is this the same guy who scored 5 goals in the playoffs last year?)
Cizikas (Again, not bad, but he has more to give)
Palmieri (Once again, not too bad, but I've watched almost all of Boston's games, and, beyond just goals and points, Palmieri hasn't given the Isles what Hall has given the Bruins -- he's changed the whole dynamic of their second line. Maybe not fair to compare the two, but those were the choices the Isles had at the deadline, so...I'm comparing)
Varlamov (One good game; one bad game. Maybe call this one an incomplete until we see what he brings next time he's in)
Greene (Can't ask too much from an older guy on the third pair, but if he's got anything else to give, the team can use it!)


Need a lot more:

Barzal (There's a lot more to his game. We all know it, and the Isles won't make it to the next round unless they figure out a way to get him going)
Dobson (Some solid moments, but some really rough ones, too)
- UIF

All good points.
I would put Mayfield on the Above and Beyond category being plus 6 ( which doesn’t mean anything) and adding more offense than his typical game I would also add JGP in that category as well. Leads the team in assists and 2nd in scoring. It doesn’t matter who he plays with. He just makes things happen. He has elevated his game in the POs as an Islander. Love his game. I feel Beau and JGP have been the best players so far.
One more addition to that category would be Pelech. He did a phenomenal job on Sid and Co. with his partner Pulock and I don’t think there’s anybody better defensively in our zone and he’s chipped in offensively as well which is a total bonus.

Barzal is passive and playing on the perimeter way too much almost timid same for eberle leo hits and is physical but brings nothing to the table on offense he actually hurts them not being able to give or recieve a pass
Beau Bailey and Nelson have brought it
Pageau can be better don't mind Zajac but prefer wahlstrom and Palmieri has been ok
Casey hasn't scored a playoff goal in 35 games or something but the line has been solid

On d pelech pulock and Mayfield have brought it
Greene does a good job
Dobson looks a bit overwhelmed but I think as he gets stronger he will be great down the road
Leddy is a tire fire
- Upstate_isles

Fair.

Fair.
- nyisles7

Thanks

Thanks
- Upstate_isles

Above and beyond:

Beau-Nelson-Bailey (For the Isles to have any chance, we needed them take their game to another level, and they have so far)
Pulock (He's brought a little offense to add to his expected solid D)
Sorokin (He's come a long way since that first outing against the Rangers!)


As-advertised:

Pelech
Mayfield (Rough first couple of games...exactly what I expected since)
Pageau (Probably belongs in the above category since he's playing so well...but that's what I expected!)
Wahlstrom
Zajac
Clutterbuck


Need a little more:

Eberle (points are there, but he's a shooter. Needs more goals)
Komarov (Playing very well for Komarov, but if he is going to be on the first line, he needs to bring offense)
Leddy (Hasn't been bad, but let's see him skate up ice and create more)
Martin (Hasn't been bad, but is this the same guy who scored 5 goals in the playoffs last year?)
Cizikas (Again, not bad, but he has more to give)
Palmieri (Once again, not too bad, but I've watched almost all of Boston's games, and, beyond just goals and points, Palmieri hasn't given the Isles what Hall has given the Bruins -- he's changed the whole dynamic of their second line. Maybe not fair to compare the two, but those were the choices the Isles had at the deadline, so...I'm comparing)
Varlamov (One good game; one bad game. Maybe call this one an incomplete until we see what he brings next time he's in)
Greene (Can't ask too much from an older guy on the third pair, but if he's got anything else to give, the team can use it!)


Need a lot more:

Barzal (There's a lot more to his game. We all know it, and the Isles won't make it to the next round unless they figure out a way to get him going)
Dobson (Some solid moments, but some really rough ones, too)
- UIF

Very fair points UIF. I do not see Barzal going as long as Leo is on the line and Eberle is not exactly Mr. Consistency. Some of JT's Isles linemates looked good in comparison to this current Barzal line. Even with Lee back next Year Isles have to do better than Eberle on the line. That could be Wahlstrom or someone else but Isles need to have a no doubt 1st line for the 1st time in years.

I just want to say that while Leo isn't ideal on the top line he isn't the reason barzal isn't hitting or digging for pucks or playing on the perimeter and not driving the net and attacking with speed. Those are all issues barzal needs to fix on his own. I understand the defense can leave Leo open cause he sucks and focus on barzal but top.players find a way

Any word on whether it’s Sorokin or Varly in net tonight?

Any word on whether it’s Sorokin or Varly in net tonight?
- RickJames77

No, and don't expect it to be revealed until the last minute. Trotz likes to leave the opposition guessing.

I just want to say that while Leo isn't ideal on the top line he isn't the reason barzal isn't hitting or digging for pucks or playing on the perimeter and not driving the net and attacking with speed. Those are all issues barzal needs to fix on his own. I understand the defense can leave Leo open cause he sucks and focus on barzal but top.players find a way
- Upstate_isles

I have to think that's why Barry likes Leo on Barzal's line........to hit and dig for pucks.

I just want to say that while Leo isn't ideal on the top line he isn't the reason barzal isn't hitting or digging for pucks or playing on the perimeter and not driving the net and attacking with speed. Those are all issues barzal needs to fix on his own. I understand the defense can leave Leo open cause he sucks and focus on barzal but top.players find a way
- Upstate_isles

Be nice if he (frank)ing shot the puck when he’s in the crease instead of looking for the impossible pass when the opportunity is there. Now that’s definitely Leo’s fault.

All good points.
I would put Mayfield on the Above and Beyond category being plus 6 ( which doesn’t mean anything) and adding more offense than his typical game I would also add JGP in that category as well. Leads the team in assists and 2nd in scoring. It doesn’t matter who he plays with. He just makes things happen. He has elevated his game in the POs as an Islander. Love his game. I feel Beau and JGP have been the best players so far.
One more addition to that category would be Pelech. He did a phenomenal job on Sid and Co. with his partner Pulock and I don’t think there’s anybody better defensively in our zone and he’s chipped in offensively as well which is a total bonus.
- nyisles7

Good points on Mayfield. I expected him to be more physical and better defensively than he was in the regular season. He's kind of like how Hamonic was here...who always hit another level when battling players like Malkin in the playoffs. But the offense is definitely a bonus.

Pelech's the best defensive D-man on the team, and he's playing as exactly that.

Pageau, I just expect him to be this good in the playoffs, which probably hurts him in the crucially important UIF Rating System (tm) . He's probably my favorite player on the team...he's like another Cizikas, but what you lose in physicality you get back in some additional skill (EDIT -- or I guess you could say he's like Peca).

Some will probably disagree but I would go back with Sorokin again.
- Cptmjl

They didn't lose because of Sorokin

No, and don't expect it to be revealed until the last minute. Trotz likes to leave the opposition guessing.
- JohnScammo

Thanks

I didn’t know that.

Going this Thursday to the Coliseum

Barzal needs to get going.

Going this Thursday to the Coliseum
- Hockeyislife

Enjoy!

I haven’t been back to TD Garden yet, unfortunately. I can’t wait.

They didn't lose because of Sorokin
- Tedge77

So far yeah in the playoffs true statement.

Varly gets the start

Varlamov in goal

Need 6 or 7 goals to win tonight