I blame Thomas Hickey. He jinxed the Islanders. When the Isles went up 4 - 2, he made some sort of crack that Vancouver's having played the night before was beginning to show. The Isles were the only team that looked tired after he said that.
- JohnScammo

Sorokin also had a bad game but he just came off a long break

Sorokin also had a bad game but he just came off a long break
- Upstate_isles

He just had a shutout 2 nights earlier.

He just had a shutout 2 nights earlier.
- potvin05

been a long night

I blame Thomas Hickey. He jinxed the Islanders. When the Isles went up 4 - 2, he made some sort of crack that Vancouver's having played the night before was beginning to show. The Isles were the only team that looked tired after he said that.
- JohnScammo

Yeah, that felt like the kiss of death when he said it

Sorokin also had a bad game but he just came off a long break
- Upstate_isles

We're so used to him carrying this team, when he has anything but a strong outing it stands out. There's people on Twitter saying Varly is the better starter. This guy is the only reason we're not a bottom five team.

I blame Thomas Hickey. He jinxed the Islanders. When the Isles went up 4 - 2, he made some sort of crack that Vancouver's having played the night before was beginning to show. The Isles were the only team that looked tired after he said that.
- JohnScammo

Yes, because as we all know, the broadcast team are the masters of reality. They control the outcome of every game. The way they call it determines how the game will end.

Yes, because as we all know, the broadcast team are the masters of reality. They control the outcome of every game. The way they call it determines how the game will end.
- JimmyP

Yes, because as we all know, the broadcast team are the masters of reality. They control the outcome of every game. The way they call it determines how the game will end.
- JimmyP

I always suspected....(frank)ers


XxNYIxX

Beau gets the game winner in the most Islander thing that can happen

Beau gets the game winner in the most Islander thing that can happen
- Upstate_isles

Yeah, you KNEW he was going to score last night.

Yeah, you KNEW he was going to score last night.

- Mancalledsting

I mean so did Horvat but yea same ol isles. Barzal looks reinvigorated right now and Horvat seems to be exactly what he needed however the d is still brutal and sorokin had a bad game. Cant be too hard on Sorokin as hes won these guys games they've had no business being in

I mean so did Horvat but yea same ol isles. Barzal looks reinvigorated right now and Horvat seems to be exactly what he needed however the d is still brutal and sorokin had a bad game. Cant be too hard on Sorokin as hes won these guys games they've had no business being in
- Upstate_isles

The defense looked about as bad as I've ever seen them last night. Pulock played like he was actually retarded

I mean so did Horvat but yea same ol isles. Barzal looks reinvigorated right now and Horvat seems to be exactly what he needed however the d is still brutal and sorokin had a bad game. Cant be too hard on Sorokin as hes won these guys games they've had no business being in
- Upstate_isles

We went from only playing in the third period and mailing in the first two to losing games in the third bcs we can’t defend or score.

The defense looked about as bad as I've ever seen them last night. Pulock played like he was actually retarded
- eichiefs9

He was bad.

I mean so did Horvat but yea same ol isles. Barzal looks reinvigorated right now and Horvat seems to be exactly what he needed however the d is still brutal and sorokin had a bad game. Cant be too hard on Sorokin as hes won these guys games they've had no business being in
- Upstate_isles

Perhaps the "allowing the dmen to pinch more than Barry did" isn't working. Romanov, Mayfield, Dobson, hell, basically the entire d-corps had a rough night and Sorokin was not himself. Need to right the ship tomorrow against the Habs.

Perhaps the "allowing the dmen to pinch more than Barry did" isn't working. Romanov, Mayfield, Dobson, hell, basically the entire d-corps had a rough night and Sorokin was not himself. Need to right the ship tomorrow against the Habs.
- Mancalledsting

Not a big secret this team needs both tenders to be elite every, single, game.

Perhaps the "allowing the dmen to pinch more than Barry did" isn't working. Romanov, Mayfield, Dobson, hell, basically the entire d-corps had a rough night and Sorokin was not himself. Need to right the ship tomorrow against the Habs.
- Mancalledsting

They've had their share of issues due to this but the biggest problem is simply their play in their own zone. Even a dman pairing like Pulock and Pelech have seemingly lost the ability to communicate and work in tandem. We're constantly seeing dmen turn the puck over due, fail to switch off, and allow other teams to set up camp right in Ilya's face. Last night four of the six goals came because a player was standing at the top of our crease uncontested. This was my concern when we first made the trade for Horvat, these guys have shown so many lapses in defensive assignments all year, we're always in danger when we play teams with an aggressive forecheck. I don't even think this is a personnel issue, it may damn well be a coaching one.

They've had their share of issues due to this but the biggest problem is simply their play in their own zone. Even a dman pairing like Pulock and Pelech have seemingly lost the ability to communicate and work in tandem. We're constantly seeing dmen turn the puck over due, fail to switch off, and allow other teams to set up camp right in Ilya's face. Last night four of the six goals came because a player was standing at the top of our crease uncontested. This was my concern when we first made the trade for Horvat, these guys have shown so many lapses in defensive assignments all year, we're always in danger when we play teams with an aggressive forecheck. I don't even think this is a personnel issue, it may damn well be a coaching one.
- keaner17

Last year it SEEMED that Barry had lost the team. Prior to last year, this team played proper defense and rarely got caught out of position. I'm leaning towards coaching being the problem.

Last year it SEEMED that Barry had lost the team. Prior to last year, this team played proper defense and rarely got caught out of position. I'm leaning towards coaching being the problem.
- Mancalledsting

I think it's definitely an issue here. I'm not sure who on our staff is responsible for the defensive zone coverage. Obviously this falls on the players themselves as well. As a dman, being able to communicate when to switch off a guy is as fundamental and basic as it gets. It definitely seems to come to light when teams press us, which is why we give up so many quick response goals and late period goals. Romanov wasn't THIS bad in Montreal. Pelech and Pulock have never looked THIS bad in their own zone.

They've had their share of issues due to this but the biggest problem is simply their play in their own zone. Even a dman pairing like Pulock and Pelech have seemingly lost the ability to communicate and work in tandem. We're constantly seeing dmen turn the puck over due, fail to switch off, and allow other teams to set up camp right in Ilya's face. Last night four of the six goals came because a player was standing at the top of our crease uncontested. This was my concern when we first made the trade for Horvat, these guys have shown so many lapses in defensive assignments all year, we're always in danger when we play teams with an aggressive forecheck. I don't even think this is a personnel issue, it may damn well be a coaching one.
- keaner17

I think the word is out that the way to beat the Isles is with a good forecheck. Every team seems to be able to keep play in the Isles' D-zone. I think it was UIF who first expressed concern a couple years ago when we lost our 2 best puck-moving d-men (Toews and Leddy) in consecutive seasons. Without that option to skate the puck out of the zone, the Isles D tries to pass their way out, often without success........especially when they try to rim it around the boards. Opposing teams all know what's coming........and the Isles get hemmed in their own zone for long stretches.

I think the word is out that the way to beat the Isles is with a good forecheck. Every team seems to be able to keep play in the Isles' D-zone. I think it was UIF who first expressed concern a couple years ago when we lost our 2 best puck-moving d-men (Toews and Leddy) in consecutive seasons. Without that option to skate the puck out of the zone, the Isles D tries to pass their way out, often without success........especially when they try to rim it around the boards. Opposing teams all know what's coming........and the Isles get hemmed in their own zone for long stretches.
- JohnScammo

I completely agree with this, however; I will say this is only one part of the problem. As I mentioned in the prior comment, our dman play when we DON'T have the puck has been terrible. I've never seen a team allow opposing teams to set up camp at the top of our crease and go as uncontested as we do. One of the places I think Sorokin is still developing his game is trying to see through traffic. He didn't have to face that nearly as much in the KHL. Our dmen make it 10x more difficult by letting guys just sit in front of him. Beau was in his face for two of those goals. How hard is it to clear his arse out of there? We trailed in turnovers last night at one point 22-6, which plays to your 'rimming' comment a good bit, not to mention guys like Romanov literally passing it to Vancouver in our own slot.

Above all, I can't remember a season where I've seen us give up so many goals due to dmen failing to switch coverages. It seemingly happens at least once a game now.

I think the word is out that the way to beat the Isles is with a good forecheck. Every team seems to be able to keep play in the Isles' D-zone. I think it was UIF who first expressed concern a couple years ago when we lost our 2 best puck-moving d-men (Toews and Leddy) in consecutive seasons. Without that option to skate the puck out of the zone, the Isles D tries to pass their way out, often without success........especially when they try to rim it around the boards. Opposing teams all know what's coming........and the Isles get hemmed in their own zone for long stretches.
- JohnScammo

Scotty Mayfield....he's talking about you.

I think the word is out that the way to beat the Isles is with a good forecheck. Every team seems to be able to keep play in the Isles' D-zone. I think it was UIF who first expressed concern a couple years ago when we lost our 2 best puck-moving d-men (Toews and Leddy) in consecutive seasons. Without that option to skate the puck out of the zone, the Isles D tries to pass their way out, often without success........especially when they try to rim it around the boards. Opposing teams all know what's coming........and the Isles get hemmed in their own zone for long stretches.
- JohnScammo

Would Chychrun solve this issue?

Would Chychrun solve this issue?
- Mancalledsting

Possibly but we have no chance of getting him. Like at all.

I completely agree with this, however; I will say this is only one part of the problem. As I mentioned in the prior comment, our dman play when we DON'T have the puck has been terrible. I've never seen a team allow opposing teams to set up camp at the top of our crease and go as uncontested as we do. One of the places I think Sorokin is still developing his game is trying to see through traffic. He didn't have to face that nearly as much in the KHL. Our dmen make it 10x more difficult by letting guys just sit in front of him. Beau was in his face for two of those goals. How hard is it to clear his arse out of there? We trailed in turnovers last night at one point 22-6, which plays to your 'rimming' comment a good bit, not to mention guys like Romanov literally passing it to Vancouver in our own slot.

Above all, I can't remember a season where I've seen us give up so many goals due to dmen failing to switch coverages. It seemingly happens at least once a game now.
- keaner17

It’s like the puck comes into our zone and everyone looks at one another like, “you got that?”, it’s maddening. It literally looks like nobody knows what to do or what their assignments are.