Just finished the game. That was playoff hockey , except for the side show ending. If they get in, the lack of a PP will send them home quickly. If the PK doesn't.
And just because I just saw it, wtf, with the Rags celebration going into locker room. They all gotta give each other a big hug? How cute.

I get it. Deep down I want them to make it. I just do not see them playing anymore than four games if they match up with the Canes. I wish I felt differently but I do not see it.

I do not want to see them be embarrassed.
- Nfdbulldawg

None of us do. Embarrassed or not Lou is running the show. This is how he built the team and it's not going to change. We can only hope for the best.

And of course Tampa not helping again.
Toronto either.

And of course Tampa not helping again.
Toronto either.
- chazpet

Toronto is pretty much a lock for 3rd place in the Atlantic, so they have little to play for. And Tampa is similarly a lock for the first Wild Card, so they also have little to play for.

The Isles can't count on help from anyone. They really need to leave New Jersey with 2 points.

The problem is they gave a short handed goal, went 0-5 on the PP, and blew a lead again. Regardless if they make the playoffs, they need to improve this team. I think the lack of star power is evident in the shootouts.
- kindlyrick

Shoot outs are a (frank)ing clown show. 5v5 is hockey especially PO hockey. Give me a (frank)ing break. They have taken 3 points in the last 2 games against one of if not the best team in the league.
5v5 they are playing very well and that plays very nicely into PO hockey. This team is buying in and playing Roy hockey and you have to love the way they are playing.
Maybe we should get JHS( one of HB GM’s favorites at some point) from the ECHL Fl. Everglades to come and help us in shoot outs. Although there isn’t OT or SO in PO hockey.

As far as the team getting embarrassed? If the team makes the POs they did their job. Every teams job in training camp is to go and make the POs. WTF is the I hope my team doesn’t get embarrassed BS. Are we really even reading this? WTF is wrong with this fan base on HB? What a (frank)ing joke!
Sounds like a bunch of soccer Mom’s, “ Oh God I hope our team doesn’t get embarrassed.”

I know a lot of folks feel good about grabbing a point today but it feels like a massive missed opportunity due to the same old issues. They still can't hold a lead and the power play continues to look worse and worse.
Meanwhile, Washington and Detroit pulled just a little closer. (I'm afraid Pittsburgh is going to tie their game any minute now). With our final game against Pittsburgh, if we don't beat Jersey, things are going to get awfully concerning....all they have to do is hang in to their lead......oh

*edit: Boston thankfully got an insurance goal..that's a nice help

I think we said they needed to go 1-1-1 in a tough last three games. OK. They got the loser point part of it in a game that many of us thought would be a really tough one given storylines beforehand. Now they have to go get a win in one of the last two games. If they deserve to make it, they'll find a way to get that done. If they're a serious team and play the Devils exactly the way they played the Rangers today, they should have a good chance to do it. I wish they could have gotten the second point, sure, but I also feel like they got some work done today.

Pens lose. That’s good.

Big result for us. Take care of business on Monday.

I know a lot of folks feel good about grabbing a point today but it feels like a massive missed opportunity due to the same old issues. They still can't hold a lead and the power play continues to look worse and worse.
Meanwhile, Washington and Detroit pulled just a little closer. (I'm afraid Pittsburgh is going to tie their game any minute now). With our final game against Pittsburgh, if we don't beat Jersey, things are going to get awfully concerning....all they have to do is hang in to their lead......oh

*edit: Boston thankfully got an insurance goal..that's a nice help
- keaner17

Totally agree, but this is where we are. I'm glad they got the point. I thought they wouldn't get any.

Two more points and they are in the playoffs. 3 more gets them third in the metro. Either way I'm not expecting much.

About some of the same old issues plaguing them still...yeah, this is a very imperfect team for sure, and I don't think that's changing over the next week. If they're going to make it and do any damage, it's probably gonna be on pure guts rather than flawless execution.

Totally agree, but this is where we are. I'm glad they got the point. I thought they wouldn't get any.

Two more points and they are in the playoffs. 3 more gets them third in the metro. Either way I'm not expecting much.
- JimmyP

2 points on Monday gets us 3rd in Metro. Wednesday’s game wouldn’t mean anything.

Shoot outs are a (frank)ing clown show. 5v5 is hockey especially PO hockey. Give me a (frank)ing break. They have taken 3 points in the last 2 games against one of if not the best team in the league.
5v5 they are playing very well and that plays very nicely into PO hockey. This team is buying in and playing Roy hockey and you have to love the way they are playing.
Maybe we should get JHS( one of HB GM’s favorites at some point) from the ECHL Fl. Everglades to come and help us in shoot outs. Although there isn’t OT or SO in PO hockey.

As far as the team getting embarrassed? If the team makes the POs they did their job. Every teams job in training camp is to go and make the POs. WTF is the I hope my team doesn’t get embarrassed BS. Are we really even reading this? WTF is wrong with this fan base on HB? What a (frank)ing joke!
Sounds like a bunch of soccer Mom’s, “ Oh God I hope our team doesn’t get embarrassed.”
- nyisles7

Embarrassed was probably the wrong (franking) term to use. How about this, they are an average team (franking) team!!! They have proven all season that they do not have the tools. This team is a stone. You cannot get blood from a stone!!!

If you view this team as successful because they were the best of the WORST, and you get to see an extra four games!!! There is no possible playoff matchup that favors this team. If you believe this team is going to pull of any kind of a run, you're in fantasy land.

If they get in anything can happen!!! If you Aunt had a Johnson she would be your Uncle. But then again in today's society she might still be your too.

This team has more (franking) holes than a block of swiss cheese. Wrap your hands around that concept.

2 points on Monday gets us 3rd in Metro. Wednesday’s game wouldn’t mean anything.
- potvin05

Still hoping we squeak into the 2nd wildcard and play the Rangers. Canes would once again be a boring match up.

Embarrassed was probably the wrong (franking) term to use. How about this, they are an average team (franking) team!!! They have proven all season that they do not have the tools. This team is a stone. You cannot get blood from a stone!!!

If you view this team as successful because they were the best of the WORST, and you get to see an extra four games!!! There is no possible playoff matchup that favors this team. If you believe this team is going to pull of any kind of a run, you're in fantasy land.

If they get in anything can happen!!! If you Aunt had a Johnson she would be your Uncle. But then again in today's society she might still be your too.

This team has more (franking) holes than a block of swiss cheese. Wrap your hands around that concept.
- Nfdbulldawg

Islanders are what they are but like I’ve said multiple times we may as well enjoy the ride wherever it goes bcs nothing is changing. You are more then likely right that the ride is going no where but I think if we play the rags it becomes more of a “you never know” situation…

Embarrassed was probably the wrong (franking) term to use. How about this, they are an average team (franking) team!!! They have proven all season that they do not have the tools. This team is a stone. You cannot get blood from a stone!!!

If you view this team as successful because they were the best of the WORST, and you get to see an extra four games!!! There is no possible playoff matchup that favors this team. If you believe this team is going to pull of any kind of a run, you're in fantasy land.

If they get in anything can happen!!! If you Aunt had a Johnson she would be your Uncle. But then again in today's society she might still be your too.

This team has more (franking) holes than a block of swiss cheese. Wrap your hands around that concept.
- Nfdbulldawg

New York Islanders
16:38 per game trailing: The amount of time the Islanders are behind on average ranked eighth in the league through Thursday, less than the Rangers, Stars and Avalanche, three of the top eight teams in the league. And yet the Isles still needed a late-season burst and lots of help to even get into the playoff mix. What gives? To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld, the Islanders know how to take a lead, they just don’t know how to hold a lead. And holding the lead really is the most important thing. — Arthur Staple

They are actually really good at 5 on 5 it's the late penalties and bad pk that kill them. Under Roy they have cut down their shots and high danger chances and played better in their own end. They play ther rangers really well bit the late collapses got them 2x both ot loses. I personally want them to play the rangers but at the moment they have 3 lines looking good with engvall playing very well the last few games. Who knows JUST GOTTA GET IN!

incredible game that was a travesty to end with bush league regular season rules.
- batteryjackson

Just curious if this loser point is a travesty what about the other 15 loser points that without your team would have been eliminated! Are those 15 points also a travesty?

Just curious if this loser point is a travesty what about the other 15 loser points that without your team would have been eliminated! Are those 15 points also a travesty?
- Bobd62

The shootout was the travesty after a game that good. Play 65 minutes of great hockey and have that decide it

The shootout was the travesty after a game that good. Play 65 minutes of great hockey and have that decide it
- Upstate_isles

He’s just curious.

He’s just curious.
- Cptmjl

Oh I'm sure he wants to test the waters

Still hoping we squeak into the 2nd wildcard and play the Rangers. Canes would once again be a boring match up.
- Cptmjl

I wished for the 7th spot last season and the 8th seed made it to the Finals so I’m not wishing for anything lol. Let the chips fall where they may. At this point, the only way we fall to 8th is if we beat the Devils and lose to the Pens (assuming they beat the Preds which is hardly a given). It seems to be 3rd or bust.

Looking at the games left: if Vegas wins today, they can still pass Preds for 7th spot. If Vegas loses to Avs (who really have nothing to play for other than they got the piss beat out of them yesterday) the Preds would be locked into 7th spot. Caps are playing Boston who has first place to play for (not good for Wash) and Detroit has Habs who are pesky.

Just curious if this loser point is a travesty what about the other 15 loser points that without your team would have been eliminated! Are those 15 points also a travesty?
- Bobd62

3 on 3 is like basketball for the retarded where flipping a coin would be about the same outcome, shootout even worse.

they should play 5 on 5 until somebody wins, that's it

3 on 3 is like basketball for the retarded where flipping a coin would be about the same outcome, shootout even worse.

they should play 5 on 5 until somebody wins, that's it
- batteryjackson

I think they should go back to ties and just play 5v5 for 10 minutes. Can’t have unlimited regular season games. It would kill the players.

Just curious if this loser point is a travesty what about the other 15 loser points that without your team would have been eliminated! Are those 15 points also a travesty?
- Bobd62

Teams have always gotten a point for a tie. Even before 3 v 3 and shootouts. It’s actually the opposite. The team that wins the OT or shootout now gets the “winner” point. So regardless, the isles would have still gotten the 15 points from their ties, dummy.

I always hated the 4v4 OT when they used to do that. I thought I'd hate 3v3 even more, but I kind of like it. The strategies are different enough from 5v5 so it's something unique, but it's still team hockey so it doesn't feel as much like a cheap gimmick that doesn't belong.

I guess if I was king of the NHL, I'd probably go 7 minutes of 3v3 and then a tie after that, both teams get a point for going past regulation so they fight harder in OT for the second point. Tiebreaker for standings would got back to wins, rather than regulation wins.