Did someone forget to turn on the switch?

I think they did.  Becuase after the third Flyer goal, and half the building left (see Twit Award below for more), the switch went on, the team woke up and played great hockey, scoring two goals (Blake and Sillinger) in just over 30 seconds to make a bad game look a lot better on the scoresheet.  Then with the goalie on the bench, Alexei Yashin takes a great snap shot from the left face off circle, that did not miss the net by very much, but the effort went too little, too late, and the Isles lost their fourth straight contest 3-2. 

The Flyers, with that win, have now won three straight.  The Isles, have now lost four in a row, and start a critical four game road swing with a contest tomorrow night in New Jersey.  A bug four point match is coming with Jersey losing its first in four last night in a 9 round shootout thriller with the Rangers.

Well, what is wrong in Uniondale?  Good question.  Here is my take:

1. Being too cute.  We saw a lot of that last season, and it is happening again.  Guys are trying to make the ESPN highlight pass, instead of just going in, and getting the job done.  Although Blakey got another goal and has been the only offensive option of late, he is slowly going back into a puck hog mentality.  His game was so much better when he was distributing the puck more and getting involved with all of the others on the ice, instead of trying to do it all himself.  Kozlov has such great moves, but sometimes his linemates were just lost when he made a blind pass.  Keep it simple boys, sometimes that works so well..
2. Get bodies in front of the net.  It is great when you can get 42 shots in a game.  However, when the goalie can see the parting of the red sea in front of the puck, then it is not a help to you.  Especially on the PP, we had all three forwards in a corner of the ice, looking like they were doing a modified Flying V.  You have large, strong forwards, use them!  Screen the goalie and let the shots fly.  At the end of the game, the Isles were doing that, but in the middle of the game, when the tone could have easily been changed, we stopped.
3. Line juggling - Teddy has finally started to do that.  Guys are just not melding together that much, so changes have to be made to get new combinations.  If guys are not doing the job, they have to sit. (Ala Randy Robitaille).

Dunny did a good job in net.  Ricky needed a blow, and you need to keep Mike D fresh.  Defensively, we are not playing bad.  Rourke is a little tentative and Bruno make a bumble or two, but overall, we are ok.  3 goals in 4 games is not going to keep us in playoff contention if this continues.  We have to get a fluky goal, to get the guys rolling.  Well, we head to Jersey tomorrow, a place where we have DOMINATED in the past.  We saw NJ play perhaps their worst game of the year at home against the Isles in December.  We need to see that again, in order for the road trip to move in the right direction.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Mike Dunham - decent job in net.  Would have looked better if his offense helped him
2. Jason Blake - night in and night out….
3. Mike Sillinger - nice blast from the right point to get the deficit to one

GOLD STAR - The Race Palace.  I won tickets in section 102 for this game, as a result of winning a contest at one of the Race Watching parties.  (Yes - my seat in 317 was vacant last night)  It was an interesting view of the game - getting the up close and personal view is different.  However, being so low, you miss some of the action in the corners, and in my case, I would see play coming at me and away from me.  Being at the blue line, it felt like a tennis match.  However, I enjoyed the seats.  BTW - the next RACE PALACE event is tomorrow for the Devils game.  It is a fun venue; you should check it out!

TIN TWIT - Well, there will be people that will not like me, hey but this is my blog!  Leaving before a game ends, always is a sticking point with me.  If you are a casual fan, one that is not a ‘life or death’ fan, this is not for you.  This is for people who ’say’ that they are hard core fans.  Leaving after the third goal was disgraceful.  I am sorry, but to me, anyone that leaves a game early is NOT a 100% fan in my book.  (yes - I meant that) And last night, made that point for me.  This team was a ‘hair’ away from tying this game, and you did not see it.  I know that these guys are professionals and make a boat load of money doing it, but you know something, they are human beings too.  How would you feel, if the roles were reversed?  I think you would be a little bummed as well.  I do not say that you are not an Islander fan, but leaving shows that you have NO FAITH.  I could almost understand, if Philly had more goals than 3 (I would still NEVER do it, but still…), but stranger things have happened at hockey games in the past…  I won’t talk about it with the certain people that I know did it - but my opinion lessened a little.  Sorry, that is how I feel.

NY Hockey Report tonight - I should be slammed by the other two tonight, and pretty much, there is no defense for it.  Ugggggh!

Posted under Islanders 06-07