Nice run, guys. Would have been nice to meet in the finals ! Was rooting hard for you. See you next season.
- MightyPee

Thanks. Good luck in the Finals.

No question Tampa is elite and the better team but this Islander game tonight does not come close to cutting out. I did not see the players or coaches giving their all tonight. The 3rd line was not a factor the entire series and the 4th line are not big scorers and the 1st line has Leo. I would not say a word about coaching if Wally was given a shot and Palms was played on the 1st line. Barry does these simple things and he would have done everything he could.
- ses111

All fair points and he'll have to answer to them at some point. Not playing Whalstrom sounds pretty egregious at this point with how poorly Zajac played. Leo also could have taken a seat and it would have been addition by subtraction. Reminds me of when the Rangers kept playing Tanner Glass.

I have been saying this and a few Washington fans have said this his lineup decisions are mind blowing. To keep wahlstrom on the bench is stupidity at its finest. If he is injured I understand but if he is healthy it's a fireable offense
- Hockeyislife

Firing Barry should not even be a thought. GalacticStone mentioned Cooper use to do crazy things with the lines as well.

These guys can barely talk in the post game, they left it all out there
- Upstate_isles

In the last two mins.

Tampa played great but the islanders didn’t push back enough. Period. The team is better then what we saw tonight.
- Cptmjl

I would agree somewhat. They could have also been gassed. I was fully expecting my worst nightmare of a Habs Isles finals.

Remember Lee is back and maybe Casey leaves and Zajac takes that spot and wally gets a full time role. At the end of the day they didn't have (or choose to play) their top two scorers
- Upstate_isles

Sorry, no way I want Zajac taking Casey's spot. Zajac has very little left and many of the Isles are starting to get long in tooth. I don't need my 'energy line' being led by a has-been. Either Casey takes a hometown discount or you sign a young tough player on the cheap.

A lot of our fortunes next year will indeed depend on Wahlstrom. His one-timer threat can completely change the complextion of our power play, which once again was our Achilles heel. His development is everything for this franchise. He certainly should be motivated after losing his role due to injury and never being given a chance again.

I’m rooting Habs all the way but there’s no way I’m watching it. This really felt like our year.

All fair points and he'll have to answer to them at some point. Not playing Whalstrom sounds pretty egregious at this point with how poorly Zajac played. Leo also could have taken a seat and it would have been addition by subtraction. Reminds me of when the Rangers kept playing Tanner Glass.
- JRR1285

It's like a sickness with coaches and scrubby vets. No idea what Barry was thinking this series. You lost to Tampa last year and he said he will remember it on his deathbed and you do not try to pull out all the stops this year? You would have had to kill me to play Leo on that 1st line and not play Wally at all.

I know its funny and all but Trotz isn’t getting fired and nor should that be a rational thought in anyone’s mind. Hell, I hope we don’t lose Lambert.

I’m rooting Habs all the way but there’s no way I’m watching it. This really felt like our year.
- potvin05

I usually stop watching hockey when the Isles are out.

These guys can barely talk in the post game, they left it all out there
- Upstate_isles

They left it in the third. Unfirtunateky I don't think they did so as much in the first and second, which was enough to seal their fate

I thought Barry coached scared this series. You cannot beat an elite team like this playing in your own zone . The more time you spend in the Tampa zone the less elite players like Kucherov, Point, and Stamos can kill you. The style the Isles play is draining and it relies too much on the defense and goalies.
- ses111

I can see lineup criticisms with Trotz. But not more than that. Overall Tampa has such superior top talent in Kucherov, Hedman, and Point. All superior to anyone on NYI.

In the last two mins.
- Cptmjl

I meant this post season

I usually stop watching hockey when the Isles are out.
- ses111

I usually don’t but this will be my 2nd year in a row doing that.

They left it in the third. Unfirtunateky I don't think they did so as much in the first and second, which was enough to seal their fate
- keaner17

Yea every game isn't going to be great and tampa is probably going to win a second consecutive cup and this is the only team thats challenged them

I know its funny and all but Trotz isn’t getting fired and nor should that be a rational thought in anyone’s mind. Hell, I hope we don’t lose Lambert.
- potvin05

Trotz isn't getting fired.

I can see lineup criticisms with Trotz. But not more than that. Overall Tampa has such superior top talent in Kucherov, Hedman, and Point. All superior to anyone on NYI.
- jfkst1

I agree Tampa is clearly the better team but it hurts as heck and especially with some of the lineup decisions.

Sorry, no way I want Zajac taking Casey's spot. Zajac has very little left and many of the Isles are starting to get long in tooth. I don't need my 'energy line' being led by a has-been. Either Casey takes a hometown discount or you sign a young tough player on the cheap.

A lot of our fortunes next year will indeed depend on Wahlstrom. His one-timer threat can completely change the complextion of our power play, which once again was our Achilles heel. His development is everything for this franchise. He certainly should be motivated after losing his role due to injury and never being given a chance again.
- keaner17

I agree. Casey on a discount or it has to be a young player. Sorry Lou and Barry. Wally needs to get a real run on that 1st line next year. This is a critical offseason and some key decisions need to be made.

(frank) I'm pissed over this

(frank) I'm pissed over this
- Upstate_isles

This feeling is not going away for a long while.

This feeling is not going away for a long while.
- ses111

So close and now so far and these runs don't happen all the time

This is going to be a very long and painful summer. We will lose several regulars this summer. Let the summer from hell begin.

Yea every game isn't going to be great and tampa is probably going to win a second consecutive cup and this is the only team thats challenged them
- Upstate_isles

Indeed. I think the part that makes it kinda difficult for us fans is that we all know the Isles didn't play their best hockey in this series. They showed flashes, but in games like tonight, they made some poor puck decisions and fumbled pucks in the neutral zone early. The shorthanded goal was a killer where one mistake can sink an entire season, but this team is undermanned in terms of talent. The margin for error is small when you tuen down offensive takent in favor of vets who play roles. We're so close though

So close and now so far and these runs don't happen all the time
- Upstate_isles

I would be beyond shocked if the Islanders get to this same place again next year. It's no shame if the Islanders do not even do it. It's that hard to get to this point and tonight the Isles did not give themselves the best chance and it hurts even more.

Indeed. I think the part that makes it kinda difficult for us fans is that we all know the Isles didn't play their best hockey in this series. They showed flashes, but in games like tonight, they made some poor puck decisions and fumbled pucks in the neutral zone early. The shorthanded goal was a killer where one mistake can sink an entire season, but this team is undermanned in terms of talent. The margin for error is small when you tuen down offensive takent in favor of vets who play roles. We're so close though
- keaner17

As good a job as Lou and Barry have done with this team, they have such a tough job this offseason and both need to make adjustments in their thinking and how they build this team if they want to get past an elite team like Tampa.