Islanders Puck Talk – Weekly Review

Here at Double G Sports, we’ve been trying to tinker with the weekly review for Islanders games because giving a recap of each game isn’t enough.  It should be more immersive and more involved.

This year, there will be a brief review of each game and a buzzword to describe it.  It gives a better feel on how the team is doing and what the Outlook is after each game.  Let’s start off shall we?

Washington Capitals @ New York Islanders

Score – 2-1 Capitals

Player of the game – Devon Toews

Grade – B-

Opening night at the Coli brought both joy and sorrow as the New York Islanders lost the first game of the season on a PP goal given up.  Semyon Varlamov was fine but he looked out of position a few times and gave up a bit of a softy to lose the game.

The team was efficient defensively but not much else was going on.  The only goal, scored by Devon Toews, came off a deflection off of four Capitals skates.  That kind of puck luck can never be replicated.

The word of the night was rusty.  The Islanders were fine and efficient but they didn’t exactly look sharp on day one.  Better times will be coming.

Winnipeg Jets @ New York Islanders

Score – 4-1 Islanders

Player of the game – Thomas Greiss

Grade – A

The Islanders came to play, at least for a whole period in this one.  Anders Lee, Anthony Beauvillier, Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey all scored, with the PP looking mighty fine at least for one night.

Thomas Greiss made 35 saves and was the sharpest player on the ice.  The game could have been 7-1 Islanders but they didn’t capitalize on their chances.  However, without Greiss it could have easily been 4-4 in the third period.

The word of the game was efficient.  The Islanders played a fantastic second period and decent first and third periods, but they didn’t take the control of the game like they should have.  However, it was an efficient effort.

Edmonton Oilers @ New York Islanders

Score – 5-2 Oilers

Player of the game – Anthony Beauvillier

Grade – C-

The Islanders had an opportunity to get over .500 for the first time during the season.  However, James Neal had something to say about it.  The Real Deal potted four goals in a game that can only be described as undisciplined.

Anthony Beauvillier roofed a beautiful backhanded goal, but it was on the PK.  Brock Nelson had more penalty minutes in one game than he did in his entire career (just a joke).  Semyon Varlamov didn’t do the Isles any favors and was pulled after giving up four goals through less than two periods.
Nelson’s four minute minor for high sticking doomed the Islanders as they let the Oilers take the lead and never relent.  If the Islanders had stayed out of the box, it perhaps could have been a different game.

New York Islanders @ Carolina Hurricanes

Score – 5-2 Hurricanes

Player of the game – Johnny Boychuk

Grade – D+

The Islanders tried to get things going against the undefeated Hurricanes and hung with them for a while.  Unfortunately the defense didn’t come to play and there was more puck watching than anything else.

Sure the Islanders tied it up twice, first on a quick PP goal by Brock Nelson and the other on a Johnny Boychuk rocket.  But once again the defense hung their goaltender out to dry and the Hurricanes scored two goals late in the second and never relented.

The Islanders were soft all game long and it’s going to be a very long season if they continue to get beat to every puck and not get the puck out of their own zone.

It’s still early and it’s no time to panic but the Islanders look lifeless so far this season.  If they lose to the Florida Panthers at home, it could be time to change things up for Barry Trotz.  This team just looks like a shell of its former self right now but there’s still plenty of time to right the ship.