Ben Shelley: Islanders come out flat against Kraken, lose first game of road trip

John Tonelli for HOF

Holy cow Bedard is unreal

Too many of these flat, no energy games this season.

Too many of these flat, no energy games this season.
- PeteM

100%

100%
- Cptmjl

Is that coaching, personnel or both?

Is that coaching, personnel or both?
- Mancalledsting

Who knows but I would think it’s a combination of both. If the team keeps coming out flat for almost half of its games, winning some of them for playing 20 mins, coupled with stellar goaltending Lambert will/should get some heat. With as tight as the division is there’s no excuse for players to be mailing it in half the time. Let’s face it that’s exactly what it is. Coaches usually deal with the brunt of the blame in those situations.

Not saying I necessarily agree with it but that’s reality. I’m not really sure what to make of Lambert at this point in all honesty but I do know this team is hard to watch far too often.

Who knows but I would think it’s a combination of both. If the team keeps coming out flat for almost half of its games, winning some of them for playing 20 mins, coupled with stellar goaltending Lambert will/should get some heat. With as tight as the division is there’s no excuse for players to be mailing it in half the time. Let’s face it that’s exactly what it is. Coaches usually deal with the brunt of the blame in those situations.

Not saying I necessarily agree with it but that’s reality. I’m not really sure what to make of Lambert at this point in all honesty but I do know this team is hard to watch far too often.
- Cptmjl

If they don't make the playoffs, I would think the owners would look in a new direction at GM. Then the new GM would hire his own coach. Lamberts first head coaching gig is riding on them making the playoffs. And Lou hasn't helped him at all with personnel.

Who knows but I would think it’s a combination of both. If the team keeps coming out flat for almost half of its games, winning some of them for playing 20 mins, coupled with stellar goaltending Lambert will/should get some heat. With as tight as the division is there’s no excuse for players to be mailing it in half the time. Let’s face it that’s exactly what it is. Coaches usually deal with the brunt of the blame in those situations.

Not saying I necessarily agree with it but that’s reality. I’m not really sure what to make of Lambert at this point in all honesty but I do know this team is hard to watch far too often.
- Cptmjl

I think it's more on the players. I think Lane has done a nice job especially with very little roster upgrades. Even under Barry, this team struggled during the regular season.

If they don't make the playoffs, I would think the owners would look in a new direction at GM. Then the new GM would hire his own coach. Lamberts first head coaching gig is riding on them making the playoffs. And Lou hasn't helped him at all with personnel.
- Mancalledsting

I agree though I have no idea what a new GM would do if we don’t make the playoffs? I doubt very much ownership would be looking for a complete tear down and full rebuild though I agree one way or another Lameriello would be gone.

I think it's more on the players. I think Lane has done a nice job especially with very little roster upgrades. Even under Barry, this team struggled during the regular season.
- ses111

Yeah I certainly don’t dislike Lambert I just can’t love the guy just yet. The team isn’t exactly tearing up the division but they are staying afloat somewhat. We have some key injuries of course but the team at times was underperforming before them. Not sure exactly where the blame lies but lack of effort is definitely there at times…

Yeah I certainly don’t dislike Lambert I just can’t love the guy just yet. The team isn’t exactly tearing up the division but they are staying afloat somewhat. We have some key injuries of course but the team at times was underperforming before them. Not sure exactly where the blame lies but lack of effort is definitely there at times…
- Cptmjl

No question it's too soon to get a full read on Lane. He seems to understand the game and does not seem over his head like some past Islander coaches. I think the lack of young high end forward talent hurts. Islanders are still relying on older forwards.

I agree though I have no idea what a new GM would do if we don’t make the playoffs? I doubt very much ownership would be looking for a complete tear down and full rebuild though I agree one way or another Lameriello would be gone.
- Cptmjl

Just with Lou's age alone and if you miss the playoff two years in a row after a new building seems like a slam dunk for a change. It would be very difficult with the Cap to even do a complete tear down.

Just with Lou's age alone and if you miss the playoff two years in a row after a new building seems like a slam dunk for a change. It would be very difficult with the Cap to even do a complete tear down.
- ses111

If we don’t make the playoffs he’s gone.

I'd be OK with the Islanders losing every game for the rest of this season in exchange for a guarantee that I'd never again have to listen to that ESPN broadcast team.

I'd be OK with the Islanders losing every game for the rest of this season in exchange for a guarantee that I'd never again have to listen to that ESPN broadcast team.
- UIF

They are atrocious. Could we also include a guarantee for Bedard being an Islander? I would gladly crap can this season for that.

No question it's too soon to get a full read on Lane. He seems to understand the game and does not seem over his head like some past Islander coaches. I think the lack of young high end forward talent hurts. Islanders are still relying on older forwards.
- ses111

I was 100% against firing Trotz, but I've tried not to slam Lambert every time the team loses and to give him a fair chance. They had plenty of flat games under Trotz as well...long stretches of them, even. During the shortened seasons, there were plenty of fans who wondered if the team would even make the playoffs in a full season because they seemed to be hanging on by their fingernails when those seasons ended.

I agree with you...it's too soon to judge Lambert. One thing in his favor: Whether by necessity or choice, he's certainly given younger players way more opportunities than they ever had under Trotz.

They are atrocious. Could we also include a guarantee for Bedard being an Islander? I would gladly crap can this season for that.
- Cptmjl

I mean, I wouldn't say no to that!

I was 100% against firing Trotz, but I've tried not to slam Lambert every time the team loses and to give him a fair chance. They had plenty of flat games under Trotz as well...long stretches of them, even. During the shortened seasons, there were plenty of fans who wondered if the team would even make the playoffs in a full season because they seemed to be hanging on by their fingernails when those seasons ended.

I agree with you...it's too soon to judge Lambert. One thing in his favor: Whether by necessity or choice, he's certainly given younger players way more opportunities than they ever had under Trotz.
- UIF

This is true but we knew there would be a push to play the kids. Lameriello said exactly that after he fired trotz.

I was 100% against firing Trotz, but I've tried not to slam Lambert every time the team loses and to give him a fair chance. They had plenty of flat games under Trotz as well...long stretches of them, even. During the shortened seasons, there were plenty of fans who wondered if the team would even make the playoffs in a full season because they seemed to be hanging on by their fingernails when those seasons ended.

I agree with you...it's too soon to judge Lambert. One thing in his favor: Whether by necessity or choice, he's certainly given younger players way more opportunities than they ever had under Trotz.
- UIF

I honestly would have let Barry finish out this last year on the contract. The team did have plenty of flat games under Barry as well. I think it goes back to having an older team and older players are obviously not going to have the energy of young players.


Just listening to Lane in his post game conferences, he really seems to have a solid understanding of the game and communicates well. It's still early but the offense has been better under Lane. Team still falls back into the pattern of not taking enough shots. This team needs to shot a lot more. If they had more offensive talent, maybe they can get away with less shots.

Fire Lou, Can Lane !

I honestly would have let Barry finish out this last year on the contract. The team did have plenty of flat games under Barry as well. I think it goes back to having an older team and older players are obviously not going to have the energy of young players.


Just listening to Lane in his post game conferences, he really seems to have a solid understanding of the game and communicates well. It's still early but the offense has been better under Lane. Team still falls back into the pattern of not taking enough shots. This team needs to shot a lot more. If they had more offensive talent, maybe they can get away with less shots.
- ses111

We’re pretty much the same team with more 5x5 offense. That’s a positive. Defense has been good for the most part but we’re taking an expected hit with Pelech out. The PP is the same unfortunately. I guess we can chalk that up to a personnel issue at this point being we’ve been through three coaches with pretty much the same cast

We’re pretty much the same team with more 5x5 offense. That’s a positive. Defense has been good for the most part but we’re taking an expected hit with Pelech out. The PP is the same unfortunately. I guess we can chalk that up to a personnel issue at this point being we’ve been through three coaches with pretty much the same cast
- Cptmjl

Yup. Tolvanen showed exactly what they are missing on the pp with that bullet into the top of the net. Isles have been missing that guy for a long time.

Yup. Tolvanen showed exactly what they are missing on the pp with that bullet into the top of the net. Isles have been missing that guy for a long time.
- Mancalledsting

Yeah guess they were hoping Wahlstrom was that guy. He was not unfortunately. Though I think they’re more then one player away from having a really good PP. The entire PP is slow and at times completely motionless. Makes it way too easy for the opposing PK to defend. Either that or three consecutive coaches have a real bad PP plan. I doubt Lambert is telling them to remain motionless and pass the puck around the perimeter. You would have to think that the PP was a pretty important part of all threes plan.

Yeah guess they were hoping Wahlstrom was that guy. He was not unfortunately. Though I think they’re more then one player away from having a really good PP. The entire PP is slow and at times completely motionless. Makes it way too easy for the opposing PK to defend. Either that or three consecutive coaches have a real bad PP plan. I doubt Lambert is telling them to remain motionless and pass the puck around the perimeter. You would have to think that the PP was a pretty important part of all threes plan.
- Cptmjl

Right. They need 2 guys to add to the pp that are shooters/pp producers. The personnel hasn't been changed or added to in any meaningful way. And yes, unfortunately Wally isn't that guy.