Ben Shelley: NYI vs PIT: First Round Recap

The better team won.

Just hope the other series go 7 games. Being rested will make a difference at some point. I like the matchup against the Canes or Caps.

Just hope the other series go 7 games. Being rested will make a difference at some point. I like the matchup against the Canes or Caps.
- LItransplant44

Relevant:

Relevant:


- eichiefs9

Crying when I saw that last night

Boychuk is out for 3 - 4 weeks. Does this mean Hickey gets brought in as the 6th Dman and how bad does that hurt the Isles? Boychuk was a healthy scratch for a few games down the stretch, so I think the Isles will be fine.

Crying when I saw that last night
- Vukota

Yeah it was a great one. Second-best tweet I saw last night, only behind this one of Gallant screaming at the refs:

https://twitter.com/knigh...tatus/1119094804023894018




"Great work, great work....real (frank)in' great"

Boychuk is out for 3 - 4 weeks. Does this mean Hickey gets brought in as the 6th Dman and how bad does that hurt the Isles? Boychuk was a healthy scratch for a few games down the stretch, so I think the Isles will be fine.
- temmer29

Yes and not that bad.

The better team won.
- Thunderbolt

Yes

"The New York Islanders weren’t underdogs coming into their first round series against Pittsburgh."

Really? It seemed like the vast majority of prognosticators had the Pens winning. I didn't see anyone predicting the Pens sweeping, but most had the Pens winning in 5, 6, or 7 games. I admit I didn't do a scientific survey, just going on what I happened to read. Didn't Vegas have the Pens winning?

I remember seeing 2 people pick the Islanders, and 1 was Eklund

Yeah it was a great one. Second-best tweet I saw last night, only behind this one of Gallant screaming at the refs:

https://twitter.com/knigh...tatus/1119094804023894018




"Great work, great work....real (frank)in' great"
- eichiefs9

Another great one

Snuff film

Do you guys like Hickey over Sbisa? I thought when he played he was decent and gives us some size.

Prognostications from Pundits = Best guess based off of what's on paper mixed with a bit of pedigree and point totals. Basically its a crap-shoot.

Im sure most will see the Islanders as big underdogs against the Caps or the Canes. Why? Because the Islanders "lack talent." Truth is — the Islanders have a lot of talent, but it has largely gone unproven because the team has never had a reasonable playoff run except for 2016. Things may now change. Barzal, Bailey, Eberle, Nelson, Pelech, Pulock, Beuviller and Lehner — all with no or minimal playoff experience just had very strong playoff games in round #1. So perception could begin to change.

On a related note — the Islander won the series because lets face it — Defense and Goaltending wins in the playoffs. The Islanders have had both in spades all season long. The Pens are a gifted team (I can admit that even while I despise them.) But I think a few factors contributed to the sweep.

1) Taking Isles for granted: I think 30 other NHL teams duplicated that behavior in 82 games.

2) The Heavy Game: IT was clear from the drop of the puck in game #1 — the Penguin players do not match well against physical play combined with skating. They got so flustered and frustrated in the first 2 games that they could not get out of their own way.

3) Age: The Islanders have the younger faster legs. A more mobile team that could transition extremely well and take advantage of opportunities.

4) Structure and Forecheck: The Isles did what they have done all year — smother their opponent with an aggressive in your face forecheck and team structure 5 man commitment to defense.

5) Big Saves when needed and Puck luck: Two things that are REQUIRED in the playoffs and it broke the Islanders way all series. Part of it is that you make a little of your own luck. Part of it is the hockey gods giving a long suffering franchise a break.

I have been reading some Penguin fans comments and while they are giving some credit to the Islanders, the prevailing thought is more is needed from their players. I agree to a point. But the Islanders team play simply did not allow the Penguins to play their game. The only time the Islanders got off of their game was through the 2nd period of game 1. After that — it was the team structure of the NYI that cared the day over the Pens poor play.

Do you guys like Hickey over Sbisa? I thought when he played he was decent and gives us some size.
- LItransplant44

Sbisa should never play a game as an islander again

Prognostications from Pundits = Best guess based off of what's on paper mixed with a bit of pedigree and point totals. Basically its a crap-shoot.

Im sure most will see the Islanders as big underdogs against the Caps or the Canes. Why? Because the Islanders "lack talent." Truth is — the Islanders have a lot of talent, but it has largely gone unproven because the team has never had a reasonable playoff run except for 2016. Things may now change. Barzal, Bailey, Eberle, Nelson, Pelech, Pulock, Beuviller and Lehner — all with no or minimal playoff experience just had very strong playoff games in round #1. So perception could begin to change.

On a related note — the Islander won the series because lets face it — Defense and Goaltending wins in the playoffs. The Islanders have had both in spades all season long. The Pens are a gifted team (I can admit that even while I despise them.) But I think a few factors contributed to the sweep.

1) Taking Isles for granted: I think 30 other NHL teams duplicated that behavior in 82 games.

2) The Heavy Game: IT was clear from the drop of the puck in game #1 — the Penguin players do not match well against physical play combined with skating. They got so flustered and frustrated in the first 2 games that they could not get out of their own way.

3) Age: The Islanders have the younger faster legs. A more mobile team that could transition extremely well and take advantage of opportunities.

4) Structure and Forecheck: The Isles did what they have done all year — smother their opponent with an aggressive in your face forecheck and team structure 5 man commitment to defense.

5) Big Saves when needed and Puck luck: Two things that are REQUIRED in the playoffs and it broke the Islanders way all series. Part of it is that you make a little of your own luck. Part of it is the hockey gods giving a long suffering franchise a break.

I have been reading some Penguin fans comments and while they are giving some credit to the Islanders, the prevailing thought is more is needed from their players. I agree to a point. But the Islanders team play simply did not allow the Penguins to play their game. The only time the Islanders got off of their game was through the 2nd period of game 1. After that — it was the team structure of the NYI that cared the day over the Pens poor play.
- FilamentDesigns

I agree with most of this, the isles play d keep shots to the outside and counter attack creating odd man rushes that they capitalize on.

And now we wait.......

And now we wait.......


- eichiefs9

Did he get another shutout?

**Edit** 3-2 OT

Did he get another shutout?

**Edit** 3-2 OT
- Vukota

They were down 2-0 after 2

They were down 2-0 after 2
- eichiefs9

Hes won all he can over there time to come to the isles and replace greiss

Hes won all he can over there time to come to the isles and replace greiss
- Upstate_isles

Sadly I think if he comes over they are gonna let Lehner walk and have Greiss split with Sorokin for a year and then it's Sorokin's job

Gotta say...I crapped on Leddy repeatedly for the majority of the last quarter of the regular season so I have to give him some deserved credit...he was great in the Pens series. Moved the puck well, played the corners right, made a lot of noticeable plays

Like the break. Don’t think it’ll disrupt us one bit. I think Trotz will be on them. It’s kinda nice to just sit and back and watch playoff hockey without a worry in the world while we rest up for next week. The games have been awesome and I haven’t had to sweat much because I really don’t care who wins.

Gotta say...I crapped on Leddy repeatedly for the majority of the last quarter of the regular season so I have to give him some deserved credit...he was great in the Pens series. Moved the puck well, played the corners right, made a lot of noticeable plays

Like the break. Don’t think it’ll disrupt us one bit. I think Trotz will be on them. It’s kinda nice to just sit and back and watch playoff hockey without a worry in the world while we rest up for next week. The games have been awesome and I haven’t had to sweat much because I really don’t care who wins.
- potvin05

Sadly I think if he comes over they are gonna let Lehner walk and have Greiss split with Sorokin for a year and then it's Sorokin's job
- Vukota

I can’t see them letting Lehner walk unless him and his agent get crazy. I’m also assuming the guy wants to stay.