So then, as we weigh in on what is just about the half-way point in the 2009-10 season, where exactly are the New York Islanders?
Tough question to answer as the optimist might suggest they are half way through a season of progress, hanging in the playoff hunt, just three points from the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
However, the pessimist might counter they are merely treading water, just two points removed for the 14th position in the conference, living in a house of cards that could come tumbling down at any time.
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The week they just completed provided evidence of all of the above as it included a rather lifeless 4-2 home loss to Tampa Bay last Monday, followed by a far more spirited effort in a 3-1 win at the Coliseum last Wednesday against a rejuvenated Toronto team. The day after Christmas provided the week’s highlight with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win in the Garden against the Rangers.
Forget about bringing any of the grit and determination from that victory back home for the Philadelphia game last night as the Flyers waltzed into Nassau and took their 13th straight from the Isles, 2-1. For the third time this season, the Flyers took a lead into the third period against the Isles and proceeded to toy with them for the final 20 minutes. Thus, the week ended 2-2 and provided a microcosm of the entire season—glimpses of great potential yet maddening inconsistency.
This “important” holiday homestand has one game remaining—Tuesday against Columbus. The Isles have officially blown a great chance to strengthen their position in what has now become the annual tightly bunched playoff race in the East. In the last seven at home the team is 2-5 and have fallen to 8-8-2 on the season on Long Island.
“Yes, we lost some great chances for important points here at home,” coach Scott Gordon admitted after the loss to the Flyers. “We have no cushion now. Every game has big playoff implications for us now.”
The amazing run of futility against the Flyers (13 straight losses) is now the longest current such streak in the NHL and also shines a spotlight on the Isles’ lack of size up front. Tough to get a sustained forecheck going when your forwards are being pushed all over the ice by a bigger, stronger opponent.
“The lack of size in our line-up is a factor against these guys and has been going back to last season,” Gordon added. “We have to find a way around it. Find a way to fight through it.” The coach also admitted that their lack of size has hurt them against the bigger New Jersey Devils as well. The fact both of those teams are in the Isles’ division only exacerbates the problem.
Along with the aforementioned size issue (or lack thereof) there are other factors hurting the Isles up front. The fact that Matt Moulson and John Tavares have both hit goal-scoring droughts at the same time couldn’t have been more poorly timed. Moulson has one goal in his last 12 games and Tavares has connected only once in his last nine.
The lack of scoring isn’t the only issue with Tavares of late as his entire game has hit a bit of a rough spot in what had been a terrific rookie season. The 19-year-old looks far less engaged the last few weeks and is mishandling the puck consistently on power plays. He needs to simplify his game a bit and quicken his decision-making process. He’s holding on to the puck far too long and it’s costing him chances to make plays in the offensive zone.
And speaking of the power play, what a woeful situation that has been the last month, dipping under 16 percent efficiency and generally looking punchless. The Isles look so bad with the man advantage these days they are better off declining the penalty. The absence of veteran pivot Doug Weight has been crucial here as his puck controlling and distributing skills are sorely missed on the PP.
Yes, there have certainly been bright spots the first half—Jack Hillen has turned into a solid young blueliner, Andy Sutton has resurrected his career and 21-year-old Kyle Okposo is turning into one of the best two-way forwards in the league.
In goal, Dwayne Roloson has been solid and despite the dreadful won-loss record (2-11-2), Martin Biron has played adequately.
However, if this club is going to even entertain thoughts of hanging around in the playoff chase some of their other young players have to pick up their game’s considerably.
That includes 20-year-old Josh Bailey, who still plays a little light most nights; 25-year-old Frans Nielsen, who has far too much talent to be kept off the score sheet as frequently as he is (coming on of late though) and 23-year-old Blake Comeau, who also appears to be picking up his game lately, needs to be a bigger factor in the second half for a team that struggles offensively.
Gordon also has to address the horrible third periods that have cost the Islanders valuable points all season. All of the above, along with how the team handles the on going Rick DiPietro saga, well be big factors in whether or not the club moves forward in the second half or begins looking forward to the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
ICE CHIPS
Best player on the ice Sunday against Philly was veteran Trent Hunter who spent the entire evening crashing into Flyers and creating scoring chances off the forecheck. Can’t imagine why Gordon only gave him 14 minutes of ice time…
Isles truly missing both Sean Bergenheim (speed) and Doug Weight (smarts) and hope to get both back before year’s end. Bergy suffered a strained rib muscle Dec. 8 in Philadelphia and Weight suffered a shoulder injury Nov. 6 against New Jersey. Both players are skating and could be back for the game in Ottawa on New Year’s Eve.
How good is Kyle Okposo? Well, he’ so good that he just ended a 19-game goal scoring drought on Saturday yet there was nary a negative word printed about his game during that stretch. That’s simply because he contributes mightily to every win and is usually the best player on the ice for the Isles in every loss. The game in the Garden against the Rangers on Saturday was his best ever in the NHL. The sky now appears to be the limit for this kid.
The recent extended slumps by the Isles’ special teams have seen the power play slip to 26th in the league at 15.8 percent (they were 9th at over 21 percent back in November) and the penalty kill slip to 29th at 75.5 percent. Both units are absolutely killing them right now.
Upcoming schedule: The Columbus Blue Jackets are in town Tuesday night and then it’s off to Ottawa on New Year’s Eve. The Isles are back home for one more on Saturday against the Atlanta Thrashers before hitting the road again the following week.
