Ben Shelley: Islanders beat Flyers 4-1 in first game of home-and-home set

Gross: "#Isles Barry Trotz didn't think there was a lot of chemistry between Mathew Barzal and Kieffer Bellows. Didn't say that as a slight on either player, just that they didn't seem to connect on the ice tonight".

Just in case you were wondering how long Bailey would be off the top line

Gross: "#Isles Barry Trotz didn't think there was a lot of chemistry between Mathew Barzal and Kieffer Bellows. Didn't say that as a slight on either player, just that they didn't seem to connect on the ice tonight".

Just in case you were wondering how long Bailey would be off the top line
- keaner17

From what we saw tonight, gotta agree with Barry.

Hopefully we see:

Lee-Barzal-Wahlstrom
Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey
Parise-Pageau-Bellows

As infuriating as Bailey can be, he does have chemistry with Nelson and Tito. I’d keep that trio together.

From what we saw tonight, gotta agree with Barry.

Hopefully we see:

Lee-Barzal-Wahlstrom
Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey
Parise-Pageau-Bellows

As infuriating as Bailey can be, he does have chemistry with Nelson and Tito. I’d keep that trio together.
- Wildschwein

100% agree on the BNB line. No reason to separate them. They do have chemistry.
Did Barzal even play tonight?

Nice to see Islanders out shoot their opponent and Wahlstrom with 5 shots.
Wahlstrom now has 16 shots in his last three games.


John Tonelli for HOF

It was nice to see the Isles playing with a little desperation. While I agree that Bellow and Barzy looked a little out of place. I would still leave him there again tonight.

My reasoning is that the other three lines looked solid.

It was nice to see the Isles playing with a little desperation. While I agree that Bellow and Barzy looked a little out of place. I would still leave him there again tonight.

My reasoning is that the other three lines looked solid.
- Nfdbulldawg

Well I don't think he's going to be promoting Wahlstrom to the 1st line after taking a couple lazy, reaching stick penalties

Well I don't think he's going to be promoting Wahlstrom to the 1st line after taking a couple lazy, reaching stick penalties
- eichiefs9

Certainly.

But it’s still fun to fantasize…

*hugs chicken*

I like Bellows on 3rd line honestly.. I would love to see Beau get a look on Barzy line but don't see it happening.

Well I don't think he's going to be promoting Wahlstrom to the 1st line after taking a couple lazy, reaching stick penalties
- eichiefs9

My guess is Palmieri gets back in line up tonight on top line and either Bellows or Wahlstrom get seat.

From what we saw tonight, gotta agree with Barry.

Hopefully we see:

Lee-Barzal-Wahlstrom
Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey
Parise-Pageau-Bellows

As infuriating as Bailey can be, he does have chemistry with Nelson and Tito. I’d keep that trio together.
- Wildschwein

I would send Bailey to the next game on a cruise ship with Covid so he can't get off for a month.

My guess is Palmieri gets back in line up tonight on top line and either Bellows or Wahlstrom get seat.
- niteislander

Is Palmieri cleared to play?

Is Palmieri cleared to play?
- Cptmjl

He's technically still on IR. So someone has to get sent to the taxi squad or AHL to clear a spot for him. I assume if we see that move happen then Palmieri is likely back in.

I like Bellows on 3rd line honestly.. I would love to see Beau get a look on Barzy line but don't see it happening.
- niteislander

I think it’s a bit short sighted to give bellows one game on a line with Barzal and say, “well that didn’t work” after having Bailey on there stinking it up for a couple of months. There may have not been instant gratification from it but I can say with a straight face the kid was out there hustling and busting his arse. The timing was certainly off but that can take a few games to get dialed in.

I’m not saying he must stay on the line by any means just seems to be a real small sample size to rush to judgement on especially if the other option is throwing Bailey back on there. I believe having someone with a shoot first mentality should be paramount on that line imo. It may not be bellows in the end but I KNOW it’s definitely not Bailey.

I think it’s a bit short sighted to give bellows one game on a line with Barzal and say, “well that didn’t work” after having Bailey on there stinking it up for a couple of months. There may have not been instant gratification from it but I can say with a straight face the kid was out there hustling and busting his arse. The timing was certainly off but that can take a few games to get dialed in.

I’m not saying he must stay on the line by any means just seems to be a real small sample size to rush to judgement on especially if the other option is throwing Bailey back on there. I believe having someone with a shoot first mentality should be paramount on that line imo.
- Cptmjl

That he was. Still haven’t seen the kid take a shift off; the effort is always there.

But it wouldn’t shock me at all if he was sat.

I think it’s a bit short sighted to give bellows one game on a line with Barzal and say, “well that didn’t work” after having Bailey on there stinking it up for a couple of months. There may have not been instant gratification from it but I can say with a straight face the kid was out there hustling and busting his arse. The timing was certainly off but that can take a few games to get dialed in.

I’m not saying he must stay on the line by any means just seems to be a real small sample size to rush to judgement on especially if the other option is throwing Bailey back on there. I believe having someone with a shoot first mentality should be paramount on that line imo. It may not be bellows in the end but I KNOW it’s definitely not Bailey.
- Cptmjl

And we all know that Bailey is pass first, pass second, pass third, turn it over, pass again, pass it one more time then, finally take a shot because it's the absolute last resort.

That he was. Still haven’t seen the kid take a shift off; the effort is always there.

But it wouldn’t shock me at all if he was sat.
- Wildschwein

First game in six or seven he didn’t have a point. I would def sit him

I think it’s a bit short sighted to give bellows one game on a line with Barzal and say, “well that didn’t work” after having Bailey on there stinking it up for a couple of months. There may have not been instant gratification from it but I can say with a straight face the kid was out there hustling and busting his arse. The timing was certainly off but that can take a few games to get dialed in.

I’m not saying he must stay on the line by any means just seems to be a real small sample size to rush to judgement on especially if the other option is throwing Bailey back on there. I believe having someone with a shoot first mentality should be paramount on that line imo.
- Cptmjl

Rare I say this, but I'd probably agree with what Butch was saying last night. The speed of playing with Barzal is probably a big jump up from playing on the 3rd line. I'd be fine giving them a few games to work it out, but they can't wait forever

First game in six or seven he didn’t have a point. I would def sit him
- Cptmjl

I certainly wouldn’t. But we all know Trotz’s reputation when it comes to young players.

I love that neckless teddy bear more than most, but his reluctance to trust/play youth is truly infuriating.

That he was. Still haven’t seen the kid take a shift off; the effort is always there.

But it wouldn’t shock me at all if he was sat.
- Wildschwein

Agreed. And agreed.
He is playing like Parise does. Busting his hump up and down the ice. Working in all 3 zones. Speaking of Parise, man, I really hope pucks start going in for him. The kid busts his a$$ every single shift. I want him to get rewarded for that work.

I certainly wouldn’t. But we all know Trotz’s reputation when it comes to young players.

I love that neckless teddy bear more than most, but his reluctance to trust/play youth is truly infuriating.
- Wildschwein

I just think it's an old school train of thought. The vets have paid their dues, put in their time and they should get the ice time. The drawback to that logic is that young guys can't get experience by sitting in the press box. You have to get the young guys in there. They're faster and more hungry to get the coaches approval.

And we all know that Bailey is pass first, pass second, pass third, turn it over, pass again, pass it one more time then, finally take a shot because it's the absolute last resort.
- Isleshockeyman

Sudden inspiration! Let’s tie Bailey to a post after every game, and make him watch every shift he plays. When we see a play in which he passes when he should have shot, we point it out to him, then smack him with the south end of a north bound beaver. Repeat this process after every game.

Agreed. And agreed.
He is playing like Parise does. Busting his hump up and down the ice. Working in all 3 zones. Speaking of Parise, man, I really hope pucks start going in for him. The kid busts his a$$ every single shift. I want him to get rewarded for that work.
- Isleshockeyman

Agreed.

Especially on the PK. He and Pageau are a wonderfully dangerous duo when short handed.

Sudden idea! Let’s tie Bailey to a post after every game, and make him watch every shift he plays. When we see a play in which he passes when he should have shot, we point it out to him, then smack him with the south end of a north bound beaver. Repeat this process after every game.
- Wildschwein

That is a splendid idea! Let's get that movement going.

Parise can't score to save his life all the sudden. I mean we are waay past the point of a bit snake bit at this point. They guy seems to have 2 or 3 great opportunities that he created with hustle and just can't finish. truly shocking at this point.. not like this guy wasn't a goal scorer in the past.