Ben Shelley: Islanders hold on to beat Rangers for fifth straight win

The whole Mika/Pelech collision isn’t worth talking about. Anyone who thinks that was an intentional hit, I don’t think Mika meant it.

All day on talk radio Rags fans complained about how the Isles gooned it up. That Rempe should be in the lineup against Isles at Garden. Listen did the refs miss the call on Dober? Yes... Would calling the penalty with 7 seconds left change the outcome of the game. Highly unlikely.

Face it Rags fans, Varly stole the game. Let's move on.

The whole Mika/Pelech collision isn’t worth talking about. Anyone who thinks that was an intentional hit, I don’t think Mika meant it.
- nyisles7

Hahaha well played!!!

All day on talk radio Rags fans complained about how the Isles gooned it up. That Rempe should be in the lineup against Isles at Garden. Listen did the refs miss the call on Dober? Yes... Would calling the penalty with 7 seconds left change the outcome of the game. Highly unlikely.

Face it Rags fans, Varly stole the game. Let's move on.
- Nfdbulldawg

The whining about this is unbelievable. Missed call on Dobson? Sure yeah I’ll back you up on that. Pelech “hit”? You are (frank)ing nuts. How many calls did the refs “miss” when we were up by three goals? Give me a (frank)ing break.

Speaking of gooning it up. Gallagher in the house tonight. I was figuring someone would acknowledge his vicious hit on Pelech. Now that this game is so important, do they wait until next season?

(frank) matt rempe and fake news jerkoff someone who is attracted to the opposite sexs who think he's actually a decent hockey player. two more KOs and he's out of the league.

This entire Rempe thing has warped Lavy and some of the fan's minds. They are just looking to start trouble now. They do not want to talk about the slewfoot or Trouba's many questionable hits.
- ses111

Well you should know when either Rempe or Trouba injure someone they didn’t mean it. It was an accident.

No question Cpt. It’s so funny hearing Ranger fans saying Rempe is playing Saturday. Maybe the Islanders should not even show up?
- ses111

I hope he does. Guy is a turnstile. Let them get caught up in this BS so they don’t play their game. I don’t think we’ll wind up playing them if we make it in unfortunately but I hope we do. They will more then likely beat us in a 7 game series BUT if they don’t it will be one of the more funny implosions any of us have seen.

I though it was an accident, but now Bissonnette agrees. That's almost enough to change my mind.

https://nypost.com/2024/0...s-over-controversial-hit/

Just take the 2pts in regulation...no BS, let's all move on happy

Just take the 2pts in regulation...no BS, let's all move on happy
- Symba007

Frankly I don't care how the Isles win, as long as they do. I wouldn't expect a whole lot from the Gallagher hit last time.

Isles can't be getting involved taking dumb instigator penalties and risking suspensions with every point being crucial the rest of the way.

Maybe Gallagher agrees to fight someone, but I don't really know who. Martin is way out of his weight class and I don't know who else would handle that. Maybe Lee, that's about it. No Bortuzzo tonight.

Frankly I don't care how the Isles win, as long as they do. I wouldn't expect a whole lot from the Gallagher hit last time.

Isles can't be getting involved taking dumb instigator penalties and risking suspensions with every point being crucial the rest of the way.

Maybe Gallagher agrees to fight someone, but I don't really know who. Martin is way out of his weight class and I don't know who else would handle that. Maybe Lee, that's about it. No Bortuzzo tonight.
- eichiefs9

NYI can settle that next season...the 2pts are much more important tonight for your team.

Did Pelech miss a lot of time? I think he missed one game (mostly due to the ASG break). Gallagher got 5 games (deserved).

NYI can settle that next season...the 2pts are much more important tonight for your team.

Did Pelech miss a lot of time? I think he missed one game (mostly due to the ASG break). Gallagher got 5 games (deserved).
- Symba007

No, I don't even remember what it was. I'm not personally still all fired up about it, but I would imagine the Islanders themselves would probably like to settle that one at some point.

But short of Gallagher flat-out telling one of the Isles that he's willing to drop them tonight, I wouldn't expect them to go out of there way to go after him.

No, I don't even remember what it was. I'm not personally still all fired up about it, but I would imagine the Islanders themselves would probably like to settle that one at some point.

But short of Gallagher flat-out telling one of the Isles that he's willing to drop them tonight, I wouldn't expect them to go out of there way to go after him.
- eichiefs9

The "code" says the players will settle this on the ice, usually the next game. Unless they send a heavy weight to fight him, Gally is most likely willing to take a few punches to get it out of the way

I had this game circled because I figured the Islanders would be playing for nothing. Figured they would have some kids up from AHL and maybe one of them would be looking to get noticed by dropping with Gallagher
Now however the 2 points are more important. Like you have said maybe before the game Gallagher agrees to get it over with or wait until Oct.
I was also trying to show the difference between the hits on Pelech. The one by Gallagher, vicious, and the one by Mika, accident.

I had this game circled because I figured the Islanders would be playing for nothing. Figured they would have some kids up from AHL and maybe one of them would be looking to get noticed by dropping with Gallagher
Now however the 2 points are more important. Like you have said maybe before the game Gallagher agrees to get it over with or wait until Oct.
I was also trying to show the difference between the hits on Pelech. The one by Gallagher, vicious, and the one by Mika, accident.
- chazpet

Gally got 5 games and it was fully deserved. Could have been more if he had any precedent. It was a dirty late hit...I am sure he knows he has a bullseye on his back and he will have to pay his dues.

I had this game circled because I figured the Islanders would be playing for nothing. Figured they would have some kids up from AHL and maybe one of them would be looking to get noticed by dropping with Gallagher
Now however the 2 points are more important. Like you have said maybe before the game Gallagher agrees to get it over with or wait until Oct.
I was also trying to show the difference between the hits on Pelech. The one by Gallagher, vicious, and the one by Mika, accident.
- chazpet

As you guys have said, this game against the Habs is a must win for the Isles and they can't afford to get caught up in revenge fights. That can wait until next season. And, as chiefs said, who do they even have to take on Gallagher? Martin is too big. They don't really have a good middleweight any more.........unless Micheal Haley or Arron Asham comes out of retirement.

The "code" says the players will settle this on the ice, usually the next game. Unless they send a heavy weight to fight him, Gally is most likely willing to take a few punches to get it out of the way
- Symba007

Honestly, this season it's been games like tonight where the Isles have typically come out and laid an egg. Hopefully they bring the energy this time.

On the Rangers stuff, none of that concerns me. What did concern me was how damn good they looked in the first and then how many needless turnovers they committed at both blue lines all through the second and third. That's not gonna cut it...not over the next four games and certainly not if they're fortunate enough to make the playoffs.

Islanders need to be ready to start tonight.


The team also needs to get the puck in deep and play a simple game. I think the problem is they get tired and turn the puck over and the lack of overall speed hurts.
- ses111

Yeah, the zone exits and entries can be an adventure with this team. Also, it was crazy to see them get 16 shots in the first and be all over the Rangers, and then back on their heels the rest of the night generating just 12 shots in the second and third combined. I expected the Rangers to push hard out of the gate in the second, so when they had that zone time and the Isles were able to keep them mostly to the outside, I wasn't too worried. But then that push never really ended and a lot fell on Varly and some good fortune.

It's not like they didn't want it...you had Clutterbuck and others rallying the troops, and Barzal and Horvat clearly wanted the win. Whatever it is, they need to study that first period and figure out how to do that all the time. They looked damn good...first time in a long time I've seen them forecheck relentlessly like that, which used to be their calling card.

A younger and faster team will make it easier for the play to not fall off as much. The team gets tired, and they start making mistakes and make the lay play. When the other team turns up the heat, the Islanders get in trouble.
- ses111

Maybe. It could also be trying to sit on the lead, whether they're doing that consciously or not. That worked well for them when they had insanely good defensive structure a few years ago, but they're not really as good in their own zone as they used to be, so they really do need to keep the pressure up.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/across-the-sound-alex-jefferies-making-immediate-impact-for-bridgeport-islanders/ar-BB1lseHd?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=437c4d4dd1e74fb4a28708f7a2ea19b6&ei=7
- ses111

Good news !!!

Speaking of gooning it up. Gallagher in the house tonight. I was figuring someone would acknowledge his vicious hit on Pelech. Now that this game is so important, do they wait until next season?
- chazpet

Right now, it is about the 2 pts. If the game is lost or won before the time is done. Then maybe you look for some redemption. However, you do not want to lose anyone to a suspension right now.

Well you should know when either Rempe or Trouba injure someone they didn’t mean it. It was an accident.
- Cptmjl