Happens all game during the playoffs.
- Feds91Stammer

They only put away the whistles when it severely benefits the leagues favorite teams. See 2011 eastern conference finals game 7.
- Feds91Stammer

Komarov shouldn't be a top line player on any NHL team. Heck, he's 2nd line at best on an average AHL team. Not sure what Trotz is thinking there, but it works for the Lightning - they only have to cover two players and let stone hands Leo do his thing.

Kuch call was a call because reasons, stuff, and things.

When I watch games now, I just have to automatically assume the officiating is going to be beer league, and then just pray the other team gets the worst of it.

I heard an announcer say the crowd was quiet for an Isles crowd. I thought it was loud AF compared to the average Tampa crowd. That's why Amalie arena has all the high-powered sound system and Tesla coils rattling off - to help cover up the fact that the Tampa crowd is a dead fish on most nights.

Komarov shouldn't be a top line player on any NHL team. Heck, he's 2nd line at best on an average AHL team. Not sure what Trotz is thinking there, but it works for the Lightning - they only have to cover two players and let stone hands Leo do his thing.

Kuch call was a call because reasons, stuff, and things.

When I watch games now, I just have to automatically assume the officiating is going to be beer league, and then just pray the other team gets the worst of it.

I heard an announcer say the crowd was quiet for an Isles crowd. I thought it was loud AF compared to the average Tampa crowd. That's why Amalie arena has all the high-powered sound system and Tesla coils rattling off - to help cover up the fact that the Tampa crowd is a dead fish on most nights.
- GalacticStone

Most of the NHL is trying to figure out why Leo is on the 1st line. Maybe it works against the Pens because Jarry was a wreck and the Bruins defense was banged up. It's not going to work against Tampa. Even Eberle is not giving much help.

I thought the crowd tried but the Islanders gave them very little to be excited about. Not many good chances to score at all.

Komarov shouldn't be a top line player on any NHL team. Heck, he's 2nd line at best on an average AHL team. Not sure what Trotz is thinking there, but it works for the Lightning - they only have to cover two players and let stone hands Leo do his thing.

Kuch call was a call because reasons, stuff, and things.

When I watch games now, I just have to automatically assume the officiating is going to be beer league, and then just pray the other team gets the worst of it.

I heard an announcer say the crowd was quiet for an Isles crowd. I thought it was loud AF compared to the average Tampa crowd. That's why Amalie arena has all the high-powered sound system and Tesla coils rattling off - to help cover up the fact that the Tampa crowd is a dead fish on most nights.
- GalacticStone

Hahahaha exactly how I feel. I think there’s a lot of truth to earning calls but these last couple of games have been pretty bad with some game changing calls/non calls. With that said game 2 Tampa was the better team and last night we were for 2/3’s of the game imo.

Leo well it’s not a mystery what my opinion is on that one.

As far as the crowd goes they started off real loud and then were real quiet as compared to what we’ve seen and become accustomed to. It’s like the lightning lulled them to sleep

This refereeing issue, in my opinion, stems from the 2 ref system.

All the veteran refs are gone, guys that understood the ebb and flow of a game, especially in the playoffs. These new guys, who are bad to begin with, still have no idea how their striped counterpart is going to call a game. Hence, more missed calls and more bad calls.

Either go back to the one ref system, or start forcing these guys to watch tape of the old games, and see how they were ref'd.

I know it's cliché to say the league wants the Islanders to win, and let's be honest, why wouldn't they? It's their dream match, for them to hopefully face Montreal. 2 great franchises from the 70's and 80's, a team with a "great" goalie vs a hard working team, and both on the east coast for early starting times, what more could the league want?

Lastly, Olcyzk should get a horse, and name it Varly's Cock, so he can ride it during the offseason as well.

Wow really believe in the team aspect huh.
I definitely don’t think in the same breath that it’s Leo being on Barzal’s line that made us lose in the first 2 rounds, oh wait
Barzals line isn’t the top scoring line. That would be The B line followed by JGP’s line.
Leo is on Barzals line. We have won two rounds with the line like that. I find it comical that when the Islanders loose a couple games against The Pens the The Bs and now The Bolts, it’s the same narrative about Leo being on that line. Then when they win it’s really ok and not mentioned. It is what it is and the coach feels this is the best lineup right now to win with. The pissing and moaning about it isn’t going to change it.
Would I love Lee back, of course and who knows as I said before it wasn’t revealed (like every other injury) how bad it was. Sucks we don’t have him because it would truly make a difference without disrupting the other 3 lines Trotz is throwing out there.
This series isn’t over, let’s have some faith.
- nyisles7

Correct. You can't put a 4th line fringe grinder on the wing and expect them to be a top scoring line any longer. That's not Leo's fault. I wouldn't put a guy like Eberle out with Clutter and Zeeker and expect them to perform their role as well either. However, If you put say Palmieri (or someone of similar skill level) on that line, it suddenly looks like a top scoring linea again, which is my point.
If you want to argue that the Isles have won because Leo is in that top line, feel free to die on that hill, but there's likely no one else who will join you on said hill.
I'd also say that win lose or draw, most of us have been pretty consistent in saying Leo doesn't belong on that line.

Here it is, interference
https://twitter.com/RTaub.../1405719765281353728?s=19
- Upstate_isles

Terrible call, simply because they let it go so often. Kinda winder if Pelech had not raised his hand and turned to look at the ref if that would have been called. Officials seem to react to that more than actuak interference

Correct. You can't put a 4th line fringe grinder on the wing and expect them to be a top scoring line any longer. That's not Leo's fault. I wouldn't put a guy like Eberle out with Clutter and Zeeker and expect them to perform their role as well either. However, If you put say Palmieri on that line, it suddenly looks like a top scoring line, which is my point.
If you want to argue that the Iskes have win because Leo is in that top line, feel free to die on that hill, but there's likely no one else who will join you on said hill.
I'd also say that win lose or draw, most of us have been pretty consistent in saying Leo doesn't belong on that line.
- keaner17

Al did not have to worry about changing lines most of the time with the talent he had. This Isles team is not close in talent to those teams and Barry cannot get locked in with the same lines if things are not working .The 2nd line playing so well against the Pens and Tampa is all well and good. Tampa is an entirely deafferent animal.

Komarov shouldn't be a top line player on any NHL team. Heck, he's 2nd line at best on an average AHL team. Not sure what Trotz is thinking there, but it works for the Lightning - they only have to cover two players and let stone hands Leo do his thing.

Kuch call was a call because reasons, stuff, and things.

When I watch games now, I just have to automatically assume the officiating is going to be beer league, and then just pray the other team gets the worst of it.

I heard an announcer say the crowd was quiet for an Isles crowd. I thought it was loud AF compared to the average Tampa crowd. That's why Amalie arena has all the high-powered sound system and Tesla coils rattling off - to help cover up the fact that the Tampa crowd is a dead fish on most nights.
- GalacticStone

Come on now Galactic stone... Amalie is a loud building and the fans are not dead fish. Being a STM for years I can tell you that first hand. Can't judge a crowd by what you hear come thru on TV, maybe the mics are setup different who knows but I got to defend Amalie and its fans who get just as crazy as any other fan base.

EDIT: As for the game it was another hard fought, no time and space game. Both teams are very good, play their systems very well. Still a lot of play left that should be very good hockey. Still anyone's series at this point with how close each team seems to be playing.

Come on now Galactic stone... Amalie is a loud building and the fans are not dead fish. Being a STM for years I can tell you that first hand. Can't judge a crowd by what you hear come thru on TV, maybe the mics are setup different who knows but I got to defend Amalie and its fans who get just as crazy as any other fan base.
- stammerman

Amalie is just full of mouth breathers yelling “shhooooooott”

Al did not have to worry about changing lines most of the time with the talent he had. This Isles team is not close in talent to those teams and Barry cannot get locked in with the same lines if things are not working .The 2nd line playing so well against the Pens and Tampa is all well and good. Tampa is an entirely deafferent animal.
- ses111

It just doesn't make sense to saddle your most skilled star with inferior talent. Barzal scores five goals and Leo isn't even on the ice for four of them
In 15 playoff games, Leo has no goals, 3 assists and is a minus 1. This is a stat line playing with a guy who is considered the top talent of your team. Figuring in the regular season he has 1 goal and 10 assists in 49 games.....

Amalie is just full of mouth breathers yelling “shhooooooott”
- Feds91Stammer

But its still a very loud "shhooooooott"

Komarov is not terrible, he just doesn't belong in the top six unless you have a ton of injuries and your AHL cupboards are bare. Rolling out a guy like that on your top-line says your stock of offensive players is depleted, your coach is experimenting, or your coach sees something in Leo that nobody else in the entire universe sees. I'm not sure which one of these is true, but it's not working. As a Lightning fan, I want Trotz to keep it up. I am sure Leo is due to break out with a hat trick any time now, just keep putting him out there and it'll happen.

If I was an Isles fan, I would be screaming at Trotz to put somebody else on that top-line and scramble things up a little bit.

Komarov is not terrible, he just doesn't belong in the top six unless you have a ton of injuries and your AHL cupboards are bare. Rolling out a guy like that on your top-line says your stock is offensive players is depleted, your coach is experimenting, or your coach sees something in Leo that nobody else in the entire universe sees. I'm not sure which one of these is true, but it's not working. As a Lightning fan, I want Trotz to keep it up. I am sure Leo is due to break out with a hat trick any time now, just keep putting him out there and it'll happen.

If I was an Isles fan, I would be screaming at Trotz to put somebody else on that top-line and scramble things up a little bit.
- GalacticStone

Timashov is a better option than Komarov. Komarov with Barzal is like going to Berns Steakhouse and pairing your steak with koolaid.

Timashov is a better option than Komarov. Komarov with Barzal is like going to Berns Steakhouse and pairing your steak with koolaid.
- Feds91Stammer

Komarov is not terrible, he just doesn't belong in the top six unless you have a ton of injuries and your AHL cupboards are bare. Rolling out a guy like that on your top-line says your stock is offensive players is depleted, your coach is experimenting, or your coach sees something in Leo that nobody else in the entire universe sees. I'm not sure which one of these is true, but it's not working. As a Lightning fan, I want Trotz to keep it up. I am sure Leo is due to break out with a hat trick any time now, just keep putting him out there and it'll happen.

If I was an Isles fan, I would be screaming at Trotz to put somebody else on that top-line and scramble things up a little bit.
- GalacticStone

Trust me many Islander fans and most of the NHL has been screaming. You put either Palms or Wahlstrom on that line for Leo. I understand Barry is a defensive coach and is a Hall of Fame coach with a ton of success. The problem is this Islander team does not have a ton of success against Tampa. Does not matter what you did against other teams right now. Only this series matters now.

Come on now Galactic stone... Amalie is a loud building and the fans are not dead fish. Being a STM for years I can tell you that first hand. Can't judge a crowd by what you hear come thru on TV, maybe the mics are setup different who knows but I got to defend Amalie and its fans who get just as crazy as any other fan base.

EDIT: As for the game it was another hard fought, no time and space game. Both teams are very good, play their systems very well. Still a lot of play left that should be very good hockey. Still anyone's series at this point with how close each team seems to be playing.
- stammerman

Maybe dead fish is an exaggeration. It could be how it translates to TV, as you said.

Much of last night's game, even with the crowd being subdued by local standards, it sounded loud as phuck on the feed I was watching. It reminded me of a European soccer match with the long chants. I like that poop and wish we'd get more of it in Tampa. If it's there, it's not coming across on TV. I hear some "Let's go Lightning" from time to time, but not much else. Part of it is probably arena acoustics as well.

Another thing I noticed - hardly a Lightning jersey in the crowd. I had to look hard during the crowd shots to find them. I saw one small group of about three buried in a sea of Islanders gear.

Komarov is not terrible, he just doesn't belong in the top six unless you have a ton of injuries and your AHL cupboards are bare. Rolling out a guy like that on your top-line says your stock of offensive players is depleted, your coach is experimenting, or your coach sees something in Leo that nobody else in the entire universe sees. I'm not sure which one of these is true, but it's not working. As a Lightning fan, I want Trotz to keep it up. I am sure Leo is due to break out with a hat trick any time now, just keep putting him out there and it'll happen.

If I was an Isles fan, I would be screaming at Trotz to put somebody else on that top-line and scramble things up a little bit.
- GalacticStone

He's very effective in a 4th line/agitator role. He's also a great lockeroom guy, which is why Lou signed him in the first place but it's silly that he's lasted as long as he has on that line.

Trust me many Islander fans and most of the NHL has been screaming. You put either Palms or Wahlstrom on that line for Leo. I understand Barry is a defensive coach and is a Hall of Fame coach with a ton of success. The problem is this Islander team does not have a ton of success against Tampa. Does not matter what you did against other teams right now. Only this series matters now.
- ses111

I don't get Trotz' logic on this one. He's a good coach with the hardware to prove it, but this is one of those stubborn things that I can't wrap my head around.

One of the things I used to complain about was Cooper's lack of adaptability. For the first couple of runs, it seemed like he set the lines in stone. He refused to shuffle lines or call audibles. It cost us. When Patty Kane came sailing back from Robidas Island into the playoffs back in 2015, Cooper kept matching up Cedric Phucking Paquette against Toews and Kane. That was Cooper's shutdown pick against the top duo in the league at the time - Paquette. When the Lightning blew the series lead in the SCF after it had Chicago on the ropes, did he juggle the lines? NO. (frank)ing Paquette stayed out there against elite opposition and the Bolts went golfing.

Trotz is falling into the same trap.

I don't get Trotz' logic on this one. He's a good coach with the hardware to prove it, but this is one of those stubborn things that I can't wrap my head around.

One of the things I used to complain about was Cooper's lack of adaptability. For the first couple of runs, it seemed like he set the lines in stone. He refused to shuffle lines or call audibles. It cost us. When Patty Kane came sailing back from Robidas Island into the playoffs back in 2015, Cooper kept matching up Cedric Phucking Paquette against Toews and Kane. That was Cooper's shutdown pick against the top duo in the league at the time - Paquette. When the Lightning blew the series lead in the SCF after it had Chicago on the ropes, did he juggle the lines? NO. (frank)ing Paquette stayed out there against elite opposition and the Bolts went golfing.

Trotz is falling into the same trap.
- GalacticStone

Barry is a great coach and I hope he coaches the Isles for many more years but he is very stubborn with his lineups and lines and almost takes it as an insult if someone suggest a change of Leo on that line. It's beyond bizarre at this point. Barry did the same thing when the Isles lost to the Canes a few years ago and stuck to the lines until too late.


I get fans are not coaches but you watch enough hockey and you can see what works and what is not working. It's that much tougher for Islander fans because this is not a rebuilding young type team and there is no guarantee they can get back here again next year.

Amalie is just full of mouth breathers yelling “shhooooooott”
- Feds91Stammer

So is the coliseum

So is the coliseum
- Cptmjl

My favorite part is always sitting near a dude explaining the game to his girlfriend incorrectly.

I was at the game. A question. Should Trotz challenge the point goal.
- Hockeyislife

100% .. so much less has been overturned this year in the playoffs. I don't care that Green pushed him.. they went into the blue on their own and stayed there.. it would have been overturned given these ...

goalie initiates the contact and the D-man pushes the Kucherov into him.. https://twitter.com/EHClo.../1396173532233601029?s=20


This one too… nuts https://twitter.com/EHClo.../1396272785467584514?s=20

https://twitter.com/EHClo.../1397370066690318340?s=20

Here it is, interference
https://twitter.com/RTaub.../1405719765281353728?s=19
- Upstate_isles

such a soft call.. Kuch falling is a joke too. My 12 year old is stronger on his skates than that.. whole thing was pathetic.

Just happened to be called right after Isles scored to tie it and the place was going nuts. They had a ton of momentum...really kinda Horse sht call at the exact moment it would change the game the most.

Agreed. Right after their goal there was blatant interference I forgot on who that they let go followed by multiple other missed interference calls. Missed trip on palmieri. When is that ever called in the playoffs? It’s like the refs are helping Tampa leverage their powerplay. Either call everything or put your whistles away and let them play. Both teams.
- Cptmjl

so many non calls and then they call that sht.. unreal.