Ice Hockey

Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
11,534
Reaction score
6,364
After 10 games, watching the Islanders play is like watching the Sharks during the dreaded 2009-2011 period. Barely more appealing than watching paint dry.
Shutout 4 times already, the worst offense in the league, a bunch of hapless players with a US$ 9 million "superstar" who couldn't have an assist let alone score a goal to save his life.
Patrick Roy is a great coach (and my favorite player when he was active) but it'll take some miracle to get that season going anywhere.
Missed the game today, just caught the recap. Looked like it probably deserved OT.
 

Vichyssoise

Great White
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
4,623
Reaction score
3,842
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Missed the game today, just caught the recap. Looked like it probably deserved OT.
Have yet to watch the highlights. Despite a rather uneven start to the season, there's been some positives lately. It's a long season, so no reason to panic yet and they're in the middle of a long road trip. In Roy, I trust.

Are you following any team in particular mate? Based are your latest posts, I'd say Kraken, but...
 
Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
11,534
Reaction score
6,364
Have yet to watch the highlights. Despite a rather uneven start to the season, there's been some positives lately. It's a long season, so no reason to panic yet and they're in the middle of a long road trip. In Roy, I trust.

Are you following any team in particular mate? Based are your latest posts, I'd say Kraken, but...
Yeah, Kraken. We've been a bit inconsistent too, and I think we're really lacking top end talent. Seems like we have 3-4 2nd lines.
 

Gards

Jaws
Joined
Apr 25, 2010
Messages
19,448
Reaction score
3,571
Location
At the Tucky
After 10 games, watching the Islanders play is like watching the Sharks during the dreaded 2009-2011 period. Barely more appealing than watching paint dry.
Shutout 4 times already, the worst offense in the league, a bunch of hapless players with a US$ 9 million "superstar" who couldn't have an assist let alone score a goal to save his life.
Patrick Roy is a great coach (and my favorite player when he was active) but it'll take some miracle to get that season going anywhere.

Roy was a great goalie

Is he too defensive minded/conservative as a coach or they just don't have the talent to compete?
 

Vichyssoise

Great White
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
4,623
Reaction score
3,842
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Roy was a great goalie

Is he too defensive minded/conservative as a coach or they just don't have the talent to compete?
Injuries to two supposed offensive stars of the team, one being a puck hog who generally stifles the attack (shutout 5 times this season before he got injured), and the other a 9-team journeyman who just signed a multi-year contract during the offseason. Their return should apparently improve the team, I beg to differ, but, hey, as long as there's life...
Add to that an aging playing group with no goal-scoring ability beyond a couple of 30-goal a season players, a pathetic PP and PPK system (both ranked last or thereabouts, the ultimate kiss of death to any would-be successful team), and the uncanny ability to give up 3rd period leads.
Just like Flanno's Sharks only played the full 70, that team only plays the full 50 every single night. 5 come from behind losses out of their last 10 games I think.
That team is mentally weak. It's absolutely amazing.
I like the way the team plays 5 on 5, but all of the above is like an anchor weighing around their necks.
This is a mid-table team, playing like one, and I'm not sure Roy can pull enough miracles to get the guys not to crap themselves when the game is on the line.
Still 60-odd games left in the season, things might change.
 

Vichyssoise

Great White
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
4,623
Reaction score
3,842
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Alex Ovechkin has broken Wayne Gretzy's record of 894 career goals (in the regular season) in the same number of games.
Truly a remarkable achievement.
Of course, if one includes the playoffs, Gretzy's still way above everyone else with a 1016 goal tally.

It even got a mention (short article) in the Nikkei here in Japan. I know it was a slow news day (Baseball had a day off), but still it could be compared to the Financial Times running an article on Alex Johnson breaking Ken Irvine's try record (should it ever happen).
 

Vichyssoise

Great White
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
4,623
Reaction score
3,842
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Stanley Cup Playoffs started a few days ago. I'll be rooting for any Canadian team as I always do as soon as the Islanders are eliminated.
My 5 year old is totally hooked and has become an Oilers fan after watching Draisaitl and McDavid (who wouldn't?) play.
Trying start for him since the Oilers are down 2-nil in their series against the Kings. And like 99% of their fanbase, he knows that their goalie is crap. Surprisingly Oilers management is apparently oblivious to that fact.
 
Joined
Sep 7, 2005
Messages
20,974
Reaction score
5,057
Location
The Ridge!
Stanley Cup Playoffs started a few days ago. I'll be rooting for any Canadian team as I always do as soon as the Islanders are eliminated.
My 5 year old is totally hooked and has become an Oilers fan after watching Draisaitl and McDavid (who wouldn't?) play.
Trying start for him since the Oilers are down 2-nil in their series against the Kings. And like 99% of their fanbase, he knows that their goalie is crap. Surprisingly Oilers management is apparently oblivious to that fact.
My son surprised me the other day when he told me he’s been following the Ice Hockey. Follows the Maple Leafs apparently and they go alright I hear!
 

Vichyssoise

Great White
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
4,623
Reaction score
3,842
Location
Tokyo, Japan
My son surprised me the other day when he told me he’s been following the Ice Hockey. Follows the Maple Leafs apparently and they go alright I hear!
Yeah leading their series 2-0.
Not an easy team to follow though. Last Cup win in the mid-sixties, and a long tradition of shitting the bed in the playoffs.
 

Vichyssoise

Great White
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
4,623
Reaction score
3,842
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Incredible game 7 between the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues.
Only saw the highlights (available on YouTube for those interested), but it was one hell of a game with an amazing finish


Winnipeg, down by two goals with a couple of minutes remaining, ties the game with 1.6 seconds left on the clock and then wins the game and the series in 2OT.
 

Addy

Jaws
Joined
Jun 21, 2010
Messages
9,238
Reaction score
1,607
Location
Hootersville
Anyone that wants a NHL team in Sharks colours; the Coyotes have lost their licence and it's been picked up by Utah, they taking a poll now for what they will be called, but in the meantime they will will run out in this uniform

View attachment 31191

Now the Utah Mammoth. Still keeping the same colours

FB_IMG_1746705025223.jpg
 

Vichyssoise

Great White
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
4,623
Reaction score
3,842
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Stanley Cup Final will be a rematch of last year.
Oilers v Panthers.

All of a sudden, following his demotion and the injury of the backup goaltender, the Oilers goalie has found a bit of form. And their offense his awesome.
I'll be riding their bandwagon in hope my little one gets something to remember for ever in a couple of weeks time.

Should be a great series either way.
 

Vichyssoise

Great White
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
4,623
Reaction score
3,842
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Season post-mortem

The Panthers (of Florida) are back-to-back champions. Aggressive style of play, unrelenting fore-check, and player depth played a major factor in their success.
My little boy's Edmonton Oilers came up short, and it stings because this year I really had a vested interest. Goaltending and defence, but really goaltending above all, proved to be their downfall.
I don't think the Oilers will contend for a while, at least not as long as they don't fix their most glaring issues.

My Islanders have a new GM, 2 first round draft picks including the #1. Let's hope they don't screw this up.
 
Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
11,534
Reaction score
6,364
Season post-mortem

The Panthers (of Florida) are back-to-back champions. Aggressive style of play, unrelenting fore-check, and player depth played a major factor in their success.
My little boy's Edmonton Oilers came up short, and it stings because this year I really had a vested interest. Goaltending and defence, but really goaltending above all, proved to be their downfall.
I don't think the Oilers will contend for a while, at least not as long as they don't fix their most glaring issues.

My Islanders have a new GM, 2 first round draft picks including the #1. Let's hope they don't screw this up.
McDavid showing the first signs that he could be ready to look elsewhere. I think they'll be agressively working to move on their goaltender to keep him happy.

My Kraken are in full rebuild already. Made a few moves and have some cap space available, but I just can't see a way we contend unless the young talent take the step required to be outright first-line stars. Very frustrating to be 8th pick after such a poor year too.
 

Vichyssoise

Great White
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
4,623
Reaction score
3,842
Location
Tokyo, Japan
McDavid showing the first signs that he could be ready to look elsewhere. I think they'll be agressively working to move on their goaltender to keep him happy.

My Kraken are in full rebuild already. Made a few moves and have some cap space available, but I just can't see a way we contend unless the young talent take the step required to be outright first-line stars. Very frustrating to be 8th pick after such a poor year too.
Big offseason coming up starting w/ the draft.
 
Top