Ben Shelley: Notes from Game 1: Islanders vs. Capitals

Ben Shelley: Notes from Game 1: Islanders vs. Capitals
- Ben Shelley

Anders Lee was a beast last night. Maybe the most underrated player in the NHL.

Anders Lee was a beast last night. Maybe the most underrated player in the NHL.
- jmatchett383

He certainly made his presence felt.
Best game post lock down by far. Hope JT was watching after golf in the morning.

So many marginal penalties called against both teams it's hard to assign blame to the players. The refs clearly wanted to exert a high level of control over both teams. Looking back, that's probably a good thing. This one could have become a bloodbath.

I'm going with Nelson. Assists on the tying and winning goals was huge. The play he made on that high dump in demoralized the Caps even more than Holt letting in Ebs bad goal. What a heads up play.

The 4th line was useless. Put Ross in. I don't care who comes out, but they need a wakeup call.

Lee has a great game hopefully he builds on that. Assuming he needed the preliminary round to get his legs...

NYI made their presence felt, Wilson maybe sore today. Let’s not over look Bally’s play yesterday.

I think after that gutsy win by the Islanders Barry should shuffle the lines for some offense. He should have Ross center Barzal and JGP in game 2.

Textbook win against a formidable foe.

Way to come back and get the W.

"you could argue the second goal was weak,"

You could also argue that when the puck is 100% covered by the goalie the whistle should blow before a guy basically pushes the goalie into the net.

Same thing happened in the Boston game. When a goalie covers the puck the whistle is supposed to blow. They are going to get goalies hurt if they keep allowing this idiocy.

I think after that gutsy win by the Islanders Barry should shuffle the lines for some offense. He should have Ross center Barzal and JGP in game 2.
- nyisles7

As long as he doesn't go with your 'all Ross, no goalie' lineup.

https://twitter.com/David.../1293649602244218882?s=20 This was way dirtier than Lee "hit" .. 2 handed slash to the back where there is zero padding.

NYI made their presence felt, Wilson maybe sore today. Let’s not over look Bally’s play yesterday.
- Tee56

I doubt Wilson is banged up. I expect he and Ovi to come out hitting with vengeance on Friday if Bacs is still out.

https://twitter.com/DavidKolb73/status/1293649602244218882?s=20 This was way dirtier than Lee "hit" .. 2 handed slash to the back where there is zero padding.
- niteislander

That was a scumbag move. No doubt. Martin got a penalty for retaliating which really pissed me off.
So your sayings Lee’s hit was dirty?

Caps suck. Looks like my Isles in 5 prediction should have been 4.

I doubt Wilson is banged up. I expect he and Ovi to come out hitting with vengeance on Friday if Bacs is still out.
- Puckin_Island

If Backstrom is back they won’t come out hitting

As long as he doesn't go with your 'all Ross, no goalie' lineup.
- Puckin_Island

Puckin great idea

"you could argue the second goal was weak,"

You could also argue that when the puck is 100% covered by the goalie the whistle should blow before a guy basically pushes the goalie into the net.

Same thing happened in the Boston game. When a goalie covers the puck the whistle is supposed to blow. They are going to get goalies hurt if they keep allowing this idiocy.
- niteislander

100%. They seemed to blow the whistle real quick for Holtby on multiple occasions. I’m not one to say the refs are out to get us and I don’t think they are but that was a horribly officiated game.

100%. They seemed to blow the whistle real quick for Holtby on multiple occasions. I’m not one to say the refs are out to get us and I don’t think they are but that was a horribly officiated game.
- Cptmjl

I don’t think anybody could argue that.
I think Varly has been better than expected and his numbers show it. Not taking anything away from the Islanders defensive structure, because it’s been really good 5 vs 5. That said, I think Varly has come up with big timely saves.

I don’t think anybody could argue that.
I think Varly has been better than expected and his numbers show it. Not taking anything away from the Islanders defensive structure, because it’s been really good 5 vs 5. That said, I think Varly has come up with big timely saves.
- nyisles7

I think Varlamov has been good and this is going to come off as being critical which I’m not being but the guy has not really been tested a whole helluva lot at all. The defense has been fantastic in front of him and I think that’s a huge product of him “playing good”.

If the defense falters a bit at points and he fills in the spaces then I’ll say he has been great but until then to me it’s to be determined. He is a streaky tender and has had his moments throughout his career so let’s hope he’s on a streak. No, I’m not a fan but that’s how I see it.

I think Varlamov has been good and this is going to come off as being critical which I’m not being but the guy has not really been tested a whole helluva lot at all. The defense has been fantastic in front of him and I think that’s a huge product of him “playing good”.

If the defense falters a bit at points and he fills in the spaces then I’ll say he has been great but until then to me it’s to be determined. He is a streaky tender and has had his moments throughout his career so let’s hope he’s on a streak. No, I’m not a fan but that’s how I see it.
- Cptmjl

I think he has made some key saves so far. Hopefully he stays this consistent.

The Isles showed moxie in coming back from 0-2 down mid-game. Holtby's issues certainly helped the comeback.

For what it's worth, my prediction before game 1 was Isles in 7, and now after game 1, I'm moving towards a quicker ending in favor of NYI. If the Flyers can get past MTL, then they're probably playing NYI next... not a match-up I would look forward to, to be honest.

I think he has made some key saves so far. Hopefully he stays this consistent.
- nyisles7

Bottom line is the team is playing great. If they can maintain this type of play (which we all know is hard to do) we can beat anyone. We just have to stick to the system and let the chips fall that’s really it.

If Backstrom is back they won’t come out hitting


- nyisles7

I think Varlamov has been good.... .
- Cptmjl

You're making progress, but you should have stopped right there.

You're making progress, but you should have stopped right there.
- Puckin_Island

You are not but you’ve been told that your whole life so I’m not expecting anything different.