Taking a Look, After a Week.

What can I really say that hasn't already been said by everyone else in the sports blogosphere?

Very little, to be honest. But I'll have to try. After all, this is what I want to do, and it's something I have to work at if I want to be any good at it. Of course, missing three straight games and two periods of another one isn't the way to go, but when you're a poor college student still living at home and you need a few nickels to rub together, you have to make your sacrifices.

All of that aside, it has been an incredibly rough week for both me and my team. After taking a mental health day on Monday (one of those days when you wake up and just cannot deal with the world...), I went to my two classes on Tuesday and then straight to work until a quarter to ten at night, completely missing every awful period of the Rangers-Isles game. Maybe it was for my own good. Then I worked again on Thursday until 9:45, missing Habs-Isles. Unfortunately, that was the only win this week.

And that brings us to last night's complete crapshow. 6-0. DiPietro pulled after three goals. Anders Nilsson, fresh from a callup after Al Montoya was placed on IR, suffering three GA. And a complete lack of effort, from the looks of the highlights.

So let's recap.

The Isles were able to get two of eight potential points this week. They were outscored 14-3 during their three losses. After 17 games, Mark Streit has two goals and is a team-worst -12 (though he's third on the team with 11 points). Blake Comeau and Marty Reasoner trail him with -11 each. Kyle Okposo has a whopping three points (all assists). John Tavares has had zero goals in at least his last five games (yet still leads the team with 16 points). Blake Comeau has zero POINTS. Josh Bailey, only three.

Here's the issue with this team. They have been relying on goaltending and Tavares for far too long. We all know this. And now, with Montoya AND Nabokov on IR, and Rick DiPietro (ironically) our only healthy goalie, everyone on this team must step it up. Majorly. Tavares cannot, cannot, do it all on his own. While his skating has markedly improved, and he covers the ice very well, he needs support. And Comeau and Bailey, whom I feel the Isles were very generous with in giving them chances to stay at least one or two more seasons apiece, have done very little. Flashes of brilliance, yes, but with Bailey on the bubble and Comeau coming off of a 24-goal season (he really had that many?!), neither can afford to take much more time off from scoring. Bailey's been working hard at least in games I've seen, but he loves to hold onto the puck just a bit too long and do the cutesy thing, and you cannot do that and expect to score. Same with Comeau- I can't tell you how many times I've watched him coast around the net and try the wraparound goal. Sometimes it works, but many times it doesn't.

As for Kyle... I don't know. He's just off. He's as hardworking as ever, but his shots are just missing. And he's been in the minus region for a while. However, considering some players (like Comeau) are in worse shape than he is statistically brings a bit of a question mark to the idea that he's been benched for the last three games. True, he's been a bit invisible after committing for five years to the Island and receiving an A- and we need our leaders to be examples on the ice. I still can't help but wonder if there's something in Jack Capuano's usage of Okposo that is hurting his play, though. After all, under Scott Gordon, he had his first 50-point season and scored 18 and 19 goals in two seasons. Going from a close-to-20-goalscorer (and projected above that) to jack squat in less than a year? Injury or no injury, that's concerning.

But it's more than just him. It's the entire team. There's no consistency, and after the first few names on the stat chart, it's just a big batch of zeros. What's going on, I have no idea... but it's scary. With the talent and the supposed veteran savvy we're supposed to have, I bet no one thought it'd take this long for the Isles to get settled with each other. Perhaps the issue is more than just on-ice chemistry... but that's something for another blog post.

With everything considered, it'd be nice for Cappy to take a few more chances and shake up the roster more frequently. Something's got to click with this team. And perhaps tomorrow night, against the Penguins, is a prime opportunity. The big story? Sidney Crosby's return. Of course, it couldn't be more perfect- against a team he lights up on a regular basis, who has a freshly renewed rivalry after last February (or so some say). This is a great opportunity for the Isles to wake up and bring their best to Consol Energy Center; after all, look what they did to Ovie and the Caps. At any rate, I'd like to see them do something positive. I'm trying my absolute best to remain positive for them, but now it's up to them to change their stars, as it were.

It starts now.

THIS IS WHY I HATE MISSING TOMORROW NIGHT'S GAME.

El Nino returns to the Island.

CURSE YOU, 3-9:45 PM SHIFT!!! CURSE YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!!

Is There A Way to Decline Overtime?

Islanders 3: Avalanche 4 (OT)

If my caps lock isn't broken by now, it never will be.

I spent a hellish amount of time caps-lock screaming on Twitter (when I wasn't actually yelling at the game), and as far as I can tell it didn't do any good. The Islanders squandered a three-goal lead and lost to Colorado, 4-3. Why?

Well, we got secondary scoring. For once, John Tavares was not the main article on the scoresheet. Josh Bailey finally broke his goose egg, Brian Rolston made it 2-0, and Michael Grabner was the beneficiary of a beautiful play by Matt Moulson that resulted in a 3-0 tally. So it wasn't that.

What did they do wrong? They lost sight of the prize.

Now, I know there's all this hoopla about "Denver, the Mile-High City" and "the altitude kills you" and such, but did it ever. Grabs was red in the face by the end of the second, it's true, but I just can't completely buy that. After Avs goal #2, a crazy little floater that caught Al Montoya up high, the Isles seemed to just lose it completely. A little less discipline, a little less confidence and a whole lot more of sloppy seemed to be the issue. Even Montoya, usually unflappable in the crease, was a little less sure of himself, and it may have been that which led to the mistakes to come.

However, let's not throw the goalie completely under the bus just yet. After all, it takes defensive breakdowns to create scoring chances, and it takes lack of offense to lead to constant defensive pressure. In the third period, though the Isles had a few scoring chances, much of it was spent in the defensive zone, and that cannot happen when you're trying to protect a lead. It's like this team still hasn't learned to play a full sixty minutes, and that is something that must be done before we can even fathom trying to break into the playoffs. It's not enough to score a bunch of goals over forty minutes. There needs to be a constant effort.

And that being said, there also needs to be some actual OFFICIATING by the guys in stripes. I thought the "tripping" call on Rolston was bad enough (Shane O'Brien's feet were nowhere near Rolston's stick at the time), but then in overtime, Daniel Winnik (who definitely earned my "don't you ever show your face to me again" award for being a real douchebag) skated through the crease for the second time after running over Montoya late in the third, causing a "high sticking" call on Montoya, which I completely disagree with. Sorry, but if you're nowhere near the puck and you decide to have a little skate and try to interfere with the goalie, you deserve an instigator or goalie interference at least. (even though they were bowling over Monty all night, but I digress.) But of course, that was not so. So Monty got the penalty, the Isles went on the PK, and Kyle Quincey scored.

Welp. On to Vancouver, I suppose- and thanks to school in the morning and work Tuesday night, I will be seeing little to none of the next two games. Thanks ever so much, manager of mine, for scheduling me for a 3-close on the night two division rivals play. Phew. Oh, and I have pics to share with you (from my friend Jacob, which I have to upload to my email- oh, technology). But for now, adieu.

Thank You, Veterans.

Today's Veterans Day, and I have only one thing to say (for now)...


Also, not to be forgotten are the victims and souls who were there at the end of WWI, for Remembrance Day.


Recap of last night's game to come, extremely late, but it'll be here.

Islanders @ Avalanche... Battle of "Like Minds"?

Well, if you're anything like me, you'll want to have forgotten all about the debacle in Boston two nights ago. Tonight will give us the opportunity to do just that.

The Isles come to Denver to play the Avalanche, another young team struggling to forge an identity in a competitive division and conference. Colorado went 2-6-1 following a five-game win streak, not very unlike the Isles themselves who went 1-5-2 following their win streak. Like John Tavares (who leads the Isles with 13 points), fellow 2009 draft pick Matt Duchene leads the Avs with 12 points on the season to date. And if you look at the comparative stats, the story's pretty much the same for each team, with a few discrepancies.

That being said, what do the Isles have to do? Easy. Forecheck, and forecheck early. Don't leave it up to the defense and whichever goalie is in net for us tonight, to do everything. There are plenty of offensive weapons on this time, not the least of whom is Tavares (and he can't do everything by himself). Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau, this is your chance to show something on the ice. Both of you have been playing better than you had been starting out, but you're still largely invisible out there. Get some points on the board. Stay out of the penalty box. And everyone, EVERYONE, needs to show some effort tonight, for a full sixty minutes.

I really shouldn't have to say all this (and let's face it, I don't), but it's frustrating to see this team go from kicking ass and taking names against a top team in Washington, to completely falling apart against Boston. There has to be some consistency and some kind of sustaining momentum. It's still early, but it won't be early forever. Keep your focus.

A WIN! A WIN!

Capitals 3: Islanders 5

CAN IT BE????

YES, IT CAN!!!

This game started amid some serious frustrations. First was the issues I had with Gamecenter Live. Now, I know I'm a subscriber, and I JUST got GCL two weeks ago. But apparently, nhl.com was under the impression that I was not one. So I ended up spending about 45 minutes trying to figure it out. I missed the Capitals' second goal, plus Frans Nielsen's goal that broke the Islanders' scoreless streak and made the 2-0 Caps lead, 2-1.

But FINALLY I was able to shake the website out of its stupor and log back in to see the rest, and oh, how good it was. It's a funny thing about the Islanders- they always manage to play a seriously good game against teams that are projected way above them in the standings, no matter how they do against teams at or below their "level," so to speak. And show up they did against Washington after giving up a 2-0 lead. After Nielsen, Brian Rolston benefited from one of Nielsen's spot-on cross ice passes to boom a shot through Tomas Vokoun's five-hole, tying it up at 2. Then, carrying that momentum, Matt Martin's line crashed the net, and Martin ended up burying one to make it a brief 3-2 lead.

Brooks Laich shot a laser past Rick DiPietro's glove to tie it up again, but for the Caps, who had a 4 goal-per-game average forced coming into this game, that would be it. Every single Islander on the ice played a wonderful defensive game to make sure Washington did not get comfortable in their zone. And DiPietro, who made 25 saves, even got an assist on the night- he banked the puck off the boards to John Tavares, who potted the empty-net goal to seal it for Long Island. Not bad for a guy whom the fans were calling for backup Al Montoya to replace at the end of the first period, eh? In all seriousness, though, I think Ricky did the best he could. There's not much you CAN do when the offense isn't scoring-all of the pressure is then placed on you as a goalie, as well as the defense in front of you. Yes, maybe one goal could have been avoided, but that doesn't take away from the fact that there is more than just a goalie out there. At least tonight, it began to look like it.

P-A Parenteau and Frans Nielsen also had great games for the Islanders, earning the first and second stars (respectively) of the night. Parenteau had a three-point night and was a +3 after being moved to a line with Nielsen and Brian Rolston, who (no coincidence) each had at least one point. Nielsen scored both a goal and an assist as well, and that second line was in fact the best line on the ice for the Isles. It makes sense, since each of these guys is so hardworking and great with the puck. We all know about Nielsen's two-way abilities as well, but one cannot overlook how good Parenteau is both with and away from the puck. He covers the ice very well and works very hard to get to the puck along the boards, showing (especially this season, and especially tonight) that perhaps it wasn't just teammates Matt Moulson and Tavares who were the reasons for his 20-goal, 53-point season last year (though of course it helps to have those guys with you).

Lastly... I just loved watching the guys grouping up to receive the stars of the game. Mark Streit asked the team to do that after wins at home, which I think is a great move; it conveys a real sense of solidarity. And after going winless in six, seeing them so happy and excited to celebrate a much-needed two points did give me the warm and fuzzies. :) Now it's on the road for a week to face Boston (who trashed Toronto tonight, 7-0) and Colorado, as well as Vancouver. We shall see how far this win will take them- and of course, while they can't dwell, they can certainly try and keep up the great play they had tonight.

LET'S GO ISLES! :D Nice to see a win for a change!

Who Wants to Watch- er, Read Previews?

Well, I am admittedly awful already at keeping this blog up to date (haha, see what I did there? Alliteration!). What can I say? The Islanders have dropped six of the last six and only gotten two of a possible twelve points, and now they're coming in to face the multi-headed monster that is the Washington Capitals. The Caps have won nine of eleven games played so far and are fresh off of a 5-1 drubbing of Carolina.

Is this a huge case of David vs. Goliath or what?

To be honest, though Capuano has switched around lines, putting Bailey as the fourth-line center and moving Grabner up to top line RW among other things, I don't know if the Isles are in the right mindset to succeed tonight. This Washington team of course has PLENTY of offensive weapons, not the least of which is captain Alexander Ovechkin, so the defense will have its hands full. (Here's a telling stat: the Caps have forced 4.00 goals per game since the start of the season, according to capitals.nhl.com.) Rick DiPietro gets another start tonight, with Al Montoya backing up, and while I don't doubt Ricky, I'd love to see Monty in net again. He does have the best save percentage and GAA of the three goalies New York has suited up, so why not put a little bit of faith in him once more?

Either way, I'm not the coach. And we'll see whether the Isles possess the right frame of mind to at least be competitive tonight. They can do it- they've done it in the past, and though Washington owned them in the season series, sweeping four of four, all four games were decided by just a goal. And that was with a depleted roster for much of the season. So imagine what COULD happen tonight, provided the boys in blue and orange bring their A game.

We shall see.