Gotta think If I am on the Sens I would go take a dump in the middle of practice just to watch twitter lose it's mind.
- niteislander

Hailey Salvian @hailey_salvian
11s
#Sens Tyler Ennis has left practice.

Here comes our big deadline acquisition
- eichiefs9

He’s gonna be an Oiler.

He’s gonna be an Oiler.
- Wildschwein

Appears he's not going to be anything other than a Senator, just yet

Hailey Salvian @hailey_salvian
3m
DJ Smith says Ennis should play tomorrow. Just maintence. #Sens

Yep but he’s still giving up the puck instead of putting it in the net which is what he gets paid for. Luckily most of the time its not going in our net.
- Cptmjl

He has six points in those seven games, too. Again...I'm not arguing that he's been at the top of his game. We know he can definitely be better. But he's like maybe 7th or 8th on my list of concerns. Even on his line, the guy I've been a bit more disappointed in is Lee, who I know is putting the effort in, but man, he's making every goalie look like a Vezina candidate lately.

Anyway, when it comes to the team giving up 3 or more goals in every game since the break, I look at the fact that the two goalies have managed a save % above .900 in only two of those games (Varlamov both times, and a third game right at .900). Yeah, the D-zone play’s definitely been a bit shakier of late, and that accounts for a bunch of the goals against, but I think we'd all agree that a decent-size handful of those 24 goals were...not exactly unstoppable. Greiss has been flat out awful…there’s no other way to say it. Varlamov’s been a bit better, but still probably only league-average on his best days. For a team dealing with some key injuries to some of the better defensive players, the goalies have to step up and be better than they’ve been, because the Isles aren't going to average 4 goals a game down the stretch to make up for the 3+ they're giving up, no matter how Barzal plays.

Appears he's not going to be anything other than a Senator, just yet

Hailey Salvian @hailey_salvian
3m
DJ Smith says Ennis should play tomorrow. Just maintence. #Sens
- eichiefs9

Oh.

My bad. Just figured Holland was trying to get ahead of this whole Kassian suspension thing.

He has six points in those seven games, too. Again...I'm not arguing that he's been at the top of his game. We know he can definitely be better. But he's like maybe 7th or 8th on my list of concerns. Even on his line, the guy I've been a bit more disappointed in is Lee, who I know is putting the effort in, but man, he's making every goalie look like a Vezina candidate lately.

Anyway, when it comes to the team giving up 3 or more goals in every game since the break, I look at the fact that the two goalies have managed a save % above .900 in only two of those games (Varlamov both times, and a third game right at .900). Yeah, the D-zone play’s definitely been a bit shakier of late, and that accounts for a bunch of the goals against, but I think we'd all agree that a decent-size handful of those 24 goals were...not exactly unstoppable. Greiss has been flat out awful…there’s no other way to say it. Varlamov’s been a bit better, but still probably only league-average on his best days. For a team dealing with some key injuries to some of the better defensive players, the goalies have to step up and be better than they’ve been, because the Isles aren't going to average 4 goals a game down the stretch to make up for the 3+ they're giving up, no matter how Barzal plays.
- UIF

This is all wrong just very, very, wrong.

This is all wrong just very, very, wrong.
- Cptmjl

I have a few more paragraphs of thoughts if you're interested.

I have a few more paragraphs of thoughts if you're interested.
- UIF

I have a few more paragraphs of thoughts if you're interested.
- UIF

😂
Just busting your balls agree with some and not some😂

- eichiefs9

This is all wrong just very, very, wrong.
- Cptmjl

Well the bit about Lee is wrong for sure.

In the seven games since the end of the break, the Isles have given up 24 goals. Barzal's been on the ice for four of them (and none last night). Nelson's been on for 13 of them, Beau for 12; Bailey for 11. Even Barzal's linemates have been on for more goals against...five for both Lee and Eberle. Cizikas is the only center who's been on for fewer (which is impressive given his assignments and PK time).

I know most of those guys get tougher defensive assignments, and I'm not at all trying to say Barzal's been at his best...he's trying to do too much and has turned the puck over sometimes because of that. But for the amount of grief he's taken over these seven games relative to those other guys, I'd submit he hasn't really been the problem here. Heck, this would have been their third loss in four games if not for his three-point game against Philly, including setting up Pulock's late-game heroics on a platter.
- UIF

We've marched over that territory a bit as of late. When Barzal first came to the Isles he had Tavares carrying the team and just played his game. He would get the puck and speed his way to the outside before driving hard to the net. He would counter this by sometimes also turning up and passing off after drawing players with him. As of late, I think he's taken the "it's up to me" approach too much and seems to be trying to make something out of nothing. This leads to forcing bad passes or stick-handle through obvious blockades. He's clearly feeling the pressure to be the teams elite player. The Isles could really use another top notch offensive talent to take that pressure off, hence my prior comments that the lack of offensive talent around him is contributing to this issue for him. (there's the trigger)
Goaltending is clearly an issue right now. Of all people, Butch pointed out last night that everyone is going high on both of them. The larger issue to me is that the team as a whole are not reading and communicating plays well in the d-zone. They're constantly missing assignments, not offering decent puck support and turning over weak outlet passes or clears. This wasn't happening during our big run earlier on. This is also why we can watch them seemingly dominate play for a few minutes only to give up a goal instantly. I wouldn't mind seeing Trotz completely shuffling lines and pairings and just get back to basics on the system. It's the old Belichek mantra of 'Just do your job'. Doing that might help Barzal, the defense and everyone else.

https://nypost.com/2020/0...ter&utm_medium=SocialFlow My God.. Thank goodness I am not a Met fan. you have to feel bad for them at this point. Can you imagine A-rod as your owner?

We've marched over that territory a bit as of late. When Barzal first came to the Isles he had Tavares carrying the team and just played his game. He would get the puck and speed his way to the outside before driving hard to the net. He would counter this by sometimes also turning up and passing off after drawing players with him. As of late, I think he's taken the "it's up to me" approach too much and seems to be trying to make something out of nothing. This leads to forcing bad passes or stick-handle through obvious blockades. He's clearly feeling the pressure to be the teams elite player. The Isles could really use another top notch offensive talent to take that pressure off, hence my prior comments that the lack of offensive talent around him is contributing to this issue for him. (there's the trigger)
Goaltending is clearly an issue right now. Of all people, Butch pointed out last night that everyone is going high on both of them. The larger issue to me is that the team as a whole are not reading and communicating plays well in the d-zone. They're constantly missing assignments, not offering decent puck support and turning over weak outlet passes or clears. This wasn't happening during our big run earlier on. This is also why we can watch them seemingly dominate play for a few minutes only to give up a goal instantly. I wouldn't mind seeing Trotz completely shuffling lines and pairings and just get back to basics on the system. It's the old Belichek mantra of 'Just do your job'. Doing that might help Barzal, the defense and everyone else.
- keaner17

- nyisles7

Just in time to back me up!

Just in time to back me up!
- keaner17

Out of curiosity, what was the Islanders record this time last year?

Out of curiosity, what was the Islanders record this time last year?
- Wildschwein

As of a couple of games ago they had the same amount of points as [however many GP] last season

edit:

Just in time to back me up!
- keaner17

Who are you kidding he has been waiting for you to post that all day.

As of a couple of games ago they had the same amount of points as
- eichiefs9[however many GP] last season

edit:

Huh.

Well that adds some perspective. I kinda thought they'd regressed somewhat.

Huh.

Well that adds some perspective. I kinda thought they'd regressed somewhat.
- Wildschwein

Nope, the rest of the division just progressed

Nope, the rest of the division just progressed
- eichiefs9

- Wildschwein

😂

Nope, the rest of the division just progressed
- eichiefs9

Sadly this is familiar with the Isles. You bring back pretty much the same team every year and it's tough.

Sadly this is familiar with the Isles. You bring back pretty much the same team every year and it's tough.
- ses111

Let me ask what roster changes the Pens, Caps, Bruins, Bolts, Leafs and Bruins have made in this past off season?
Fact is the teams that did suck balls, except for the BJs who were gonna suck for years.