The New York Islanders scored a big bounce back win over the New Jersey Devils 5-1. Before the game, Lane Lambert juggled two of the team’s lines. We’ll discuss which changes worked and which didn’t and why. The line of Brock Nelson, Pierre Engvall and Kyle Palmieri stayed in tact and again led the offensive charge and Ilya Sorokin continues to be, well, Ilya Sorokin.
We also discuss the team’s continued struggles with the power play and how important it was for Bo Horvat to score even if it was into an empty net.
We also answer your emails and a lot more on today’s Locked On Islanders Podcast with Gil Martin.
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19 Comments
This is the shit that drives me crazy!!! Beat Toronto (convincingly) beat the Devils (convincingly) lose to CBJ in overtime then shutout by Buffalo. WHY are we fighting for a wild card when we could be higher in the standings?!?! When playing lesser teams, why can't we dictate and win winnable games!? Gil, if we had beaten AZ twice, Montreal, and Ottawa a few months ago, where are we in the playoff race?? We'd be ahead of TBL With 93 points! That's 3pts behind the Rags and 4 behind the Leafs!!!! How are these guys in this position?! If they brought it every game, we'd have better positioning! Who's to blame here? The words "we weren't prepared" from a veteran team should NEVER be spoken! Just be honest and say "we didn't take them seriously"! I feel we can't trust these guys!
6-3-1 in 10. Instead of 8-2 in 10. The lack of urgency is what's bothering me. I'm split, happy we beat NJ and TOR, but losing to the Sabers and to CBJ in OT just doesn't sit well. I don't understand why fellow Islanders fans tell me I should be happy about wins against better teams recently. I mean, it's not like we always beat those better teams, but to me, losing to horrible teams in-between those wins definitely sucks the air out of those "W"s
You're the man Gil
So many good things to remember, Gil…but something I LOVE is about that Clutter HIT 🤛🏼 great show, GIL!!
The New York Islanders the, Dr. Jeckell and Mr. Hyde of the NHL
Sorokin steals another game.
I missed the whole thing I fell asleep after the 1st goal. So I'd like to take this time to say thanks for a great show this year. You always do a fantastic job! That said I'm going to watch the recap!
This win really proves how lazy they were over the weekend. BTW I am still annoyed with them for that 0 effort game against wash a couple if weeks ago. They need to be reminded of that often because they seem to forget it quickly. PS another very low effort game is coming from these guys very soon. I am not sure when but you will see at least one more dud this regular season.
Their first line is a joke. Holmstrom absolutely sucks. Horvat still doing nothing. Horvats goal was a lay up empty netter.
Lou is a bum GM! Paying horvat 8.5 aav was horrible. Shit trade. He isn’t doing anything. On top of that, they put bums as his linemates. What a joke
Wow Islanders confused me again, monster two points last night …Our shedule is brutal to the end , but maybe thats what we need we play better against good team I believe that we will take last playoffs spot …Sorokin need little help from defense he play outstanding ewery game, dont know about you guys but Ilike to try kid ISKHAKOV with Horvat….LGI
That was a great win indeed!!!
Good morning all. Gil, great show as always. I look forward to the podcast each day it comes out. I'm so confused right now. I say that because I don't know what's going on in these past few games. At the time the Islanders had only 11 games remaining, I looked through the rest of the schedule and found 6 games where I was confident they could pull out the 2 points. Columbus and Buffalo I thought were sure wins. I had my doubts on grabbing 2 points from Toronto and New Jersey game. I truly don't know what the last 7 games of the regular season holds. I'll continue watching with optimism and I'll let the chips fall where they will. Let's Go Islanders!!
LGI
I am not a fan of listing 10 game numbers. Its only to make the poster feel better (or justify his anger more). A good team can go 4-6 on a stretch agasint top 10 teams and still have played well just as a team can go 8-2 against very weak opponents and look like they are playing better than reality. I look more at how the team plays against opponents better in the standings and lesser in the standings. Good teams beat the teams they should beat (lesser), especially at home. Good teams beat equal teams equally, especially at home. Good teams steal as many as they can against better quality teams, especially at home. Great teams do all the above and win on the road as well. The Isles had a reasonable 2022 ending at 21-14-2. Not awesome but respectible. If they could have kept just that pace allone we would be looking at approximately 42-28-4 (two games ago). That would be 3 points more than now. If we were lucky enough to split two games to bring us to today it would be 5 more points than where we are now. If that were so we would be challenging NYR for the 3rd spot with a confortable cushion over PIT, FLA, and BUF. Now look back and see that we had 5 shoot out losses where we couldn't eeek out a single game for 2 points. Add the game here or there we lost due to massive lack of PP production. Do we look back at those games where we significantly out shot the opponent but could not get it in the net. Is that just bad puck luck or is it a lack of goalie/defense scouting and study to increase the scoring in those games? I know we have had injuries but the boys are proving now and have been proving that injuries can be overcome with the next man stepping up. When I look at this team I often see Einstein's definition of insanity. Let's keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. I rarely see conscious adjustment. When it happens (like in the CBJ game) they don't have a killer insticnt to step on the throat of a team and keep it there. They play more not to lose rather than to win. I think that is becasue they believe we will give them a pass if they make it to the playoffs. From the top down. They have shown they can play up to serious opponents, and maybe they are trying to save something for the post seaon. They could very well save themselves from getting there as well. I think this team is not a top 10 team in overall talent but has some heart and could gut out a run. Everything good and bad this season to me is all about attitude and mental approach/preparedness to the game. I wish and hope for the best. I will always hold them accountable good or bad result. Pros should win. That's what they get paid for. Diatribe ends here…..
When is Barzel back? We need him now!
Hi Gil, excellent as always. Your consistency is solid! —-Well we’ve laid out the blueprint to beating the upstart Devils. Smack em around, hit them hard and keep the gap control. Did you notice how sone devils were no longer willing to pay the price along the boards? I saw a few flinching and hesitating to avoid getting smacked around. They need sandpaper next year. Second, notice we never really got hemmed in—that was vital to skating with them when we did! Gil—it all depends on which team shows up come playoff time. ——-Haven’t a clue what they see in Holmstrom—kid does not hit-does not score-refused to hit! Refuses to get his hands dirty—I just can’t see why Durandeau can’t take his place. If we did that—-we could make some noise! I love Durandeau—way better option than Holmstrom. However game 1–I’ve got $$ we will see Failey on line 1!! Engval is looking real good. Palmeri is really playing well! Empty net or not—-Casey and the team fed Bo that puck to let him know “We need you Bo, let’s go”!! Great show Gil! Ps—Sorro is just insane.
Who knows what to expect next game?
( Thats rhetorical)
inconsistent as they are, i am hopeful the Islanders can continue to win against teams with the better records. had they lost to Toronto and NJ, but won against Columbus and Buffalo, i wouldn't be optimistic of their chances next month and beyond