Saturday, February 11, 2012
IT'S BEEN A WHILE
<p>While I was planning a "maybe" I was wrong theme to this blog in celebration of the ISLES finally climbing back to the .500 mark, I was quickly reminded that either the early hole this team dug does not allow any miss steps, or rather the reality that this team is simply not built nor talented enough toi9 overcome half hearted efforts or poor goaltending. Against Philly, the team was basically reminded they have a long way to go and need to bring in some size (ahem Garth snow) even if it means overpaying. Yet Nabakov stood on his head and stole a game for us that got is back to that elusive mark of mediocrity. But this mark is welcome considering there were 30 games left and our goaltending has been stellar as of late. Considering JT, MM, P.A., and now KO have been bringing it every shift, and Hamonic & Amac have been playing good d most of the season. M Streit has found his pp scoring touch. THE pK has been excellent which seems to be the the saving grace niche for former 1st round bust JB. The isles have found enough overall scoring and team d to coincide with Nabbys stellar play since Al went down to put together a respectable winning stretch that finally dug us out of the Oct/Nov hole and back to the start over point. And before I had a chance to get logged into my blog site, They play another stinker and Nabby couldn't save em thus time.  For the life of me, why wasn't this team super pumped and energized they got over that hump and now have a shot at chasing realistically the playoffs. WHY DOESN'T COACH have them focused finally to get over their bad early play, bad goaltending carousel that forced DP into the nets and cost the team directly 5-8 points, bad misfortune with injuries, and some aweful penalty calls against them that cost this team points. Not to mention the aweful goalie pulling with 4 minutes left to play. And as I keep going here, I answer my own questions. True a coach can't go out and skate with the team, he has to get his message to them and then do what he can to make sure they are at least trying to follow his message. At the heart of this teams basic problems since day 1 become ever clearer.  This coach is not the man to coach this team.  I'm sure he's a nice guy, and I'm sure he's teaching them well, and most importantly he tells them they have to fight and battle every game, every shift, every hit. THEY SIMPLY DON'T LISTEN. Snow will point out his record. Supporters will praise him turning the team around again.  THIS IS FLAWED, because this doesn't in anyway excuse the disaster this team was in late October and most of November. And now that there are some stars emerging, SOME NHL caliber goaltending, The other half of this team simply don't fight  every night or every shift. AND THAT IS WHY until this team decides to battle 65 minutes per game, its all just a big tease.  Can coach finally get this teams ear or more importantly hold their assess to the fire.  To be honest, I want a playoff run. It's not that far off, a simple 7-2-1 10 game stretch puts them right back  in the thick if it. But thats not possibly IF THE WHOLE TEAM DOESN'T FIGHT AND BATTLE EVERY SHIFT LIKE  THE JT LINE, LIKE P.A. HAS DONE ALL YEAR AND AMAC & HAMONIC DO ON Defensd. LIKE JOSH and Grabs fight on the PK. IT remains to be seen if coach can  finaly get this message across and if not, benching these premodonas to make a stand. I don't see it, not yet, Coach Caps doesn't have this team, and its too late to get them back. Can they finnaly go on that hot streak regardless of the coaches imput? Absolutely. Is it likly Nope! CAN they play well down the stretch to assist the 6 players I've already mentioned? Can Streit play some responsible defense or at least carry the puck up ice once in a while instead of lazy passes at the blue line. I CAN'T help but wonder if this team right now is ready for a MILLBURY type or better yet Mike Keenen.  I firmly believe a.little chair throwing, a little fire and brimstone, a lot of benching the finesse guys when they don't compete. (Sorry frans, u have Ur niche in the shutout and at times show offensive talent) . After watching your line circle and Chase the other team around in your defensive zone gets tiring and boring and leads to lack of offense.    That stuff has to stop.  Plain and simple.</p>
<p>NOW, enough about that, Id like to give a few stars out to the guys who have brought it since day one.</p>
<p>1.John Tavares.....his draft was a no brainer. His production was well in line with his age and teams ineptitude so year 1 was considered a success.  Year two was the 1st annual great disaster. So it took until November to start playing like a top scoring threat in league.  Barely missed 30 goals but had 67 points. Very good. Afterall he wasn't did the kid being drafted.  Year 3. Who was that guy, that power foward wearing JTs jersey. Fighting off checks while carrying the puck w one hand. Out muscleing the defense and creating offensive chances.  And the determination to stay with it almost to a fault as often JT is being dragged down by 2 or 3 players. This is where the other plays have to wake up. Matt Moulsin doesn't. He's been stellar here and his hard work should also be the benchmark on which the rest of this team should strove to achieve.  Pa has had a breakout season even though we saw his game improving. He shines.on the top line.  He's playing well well the second Line too.  Marty Martin, loves to hit yet sometimes his game is blatantly absent.  Frans neilson?  An interesting extension. Someone praised his prowess on the shootot, and he's been brilliant on the pk w john Bailey????  I know contract alone helps solves cap  floor issue.  Amac and hamonic have been quiet.  That's a beautiful statement. That's hidden praise. And finale the goalie.....well I was wrong sort of. Al won the job and played 3 straight, he.played well but bad 3rd game.  Benched, in comes Nabby lose...in comes Nabby loss...in comes al??? No. It's DP???  WHAT?    So the next 14 games are split between Nabby and dp. (Unnamed sources claim the playing of nabakov was to raise his trade value) And playing dp because he wasmistakenly thought to be healthy at that moment. It's no joke. I can live.w the unfair benching of.al montoya for Nabby if he was playing well. Early on he wasn't. Al came back and restored some sanity in the nets and stopped the rotation and oh my, got the team winning. But then, the laws of the islanders lost man games situation started to pounce. Top goalie Out w concussion. A little hickup w Nabby and the kids. But now. Nabby has put it together(sans last game) and we rode him back to .500 Montreal game rained on my parade, do we snap right back? Who do we play today? Oh the Kings. Id say not easy but if coach gets them focused???? Ugh. If Nabby or al play well, the.JT line can take these games over. Now.if the other 4 d-man can stop the turovers, and perhaps some points.from the grabner, neilson, the pa lines. Heaven forbid a multigoal game form J Bailey. And perhaps ill Nino gets any real minutes and is allowed to play w scorers. Maybe we get back to .500. Then we got 28 games to rise........ Would.be.nice.