Ben Shelley: Islanders' four-game win streak breathes life into playoff hopes

How the heck does Vegas pull off all these moves all the time? Sick of this team.

How the heck does Vegas pull off all these moves all the time? Sick of this team.
- ses111

Bassturds

Lou all in on chickenrun.

You can have our spot. Rather have a lotto ticket

You can have our spot. Rather have a lotto ticket
- Just5

What will you give us in return?

With #LGRW    loss in Denver they remain in top wild card, tied in points w Tampa and with Philly (3rd in Metro) at 72.

#Isles    4 points behind all three and now have 1 game in hand on Detroit and 2 on TB and Philly

Flyers - Panthers, Flames-Bolts at 7
NYI-SJ at 10:30 Thursday

We have a stretch of 4 vs some weak teams so of course we will lose lol but man they have a shot somehow

15. On Jan. 20, the Islanders’ playoff chances were 24 percent. They’re up to 60 percent now — call it the Patrick Roy effect.

Islanders fans were extremely vocal that Lane Lambert was holding a better-than-it-seems team back from its true potential. They were right on the money.

The big thing for me was how suddenly porous a usually stingy Islanders team looked all season. That’s the biggest thing that’s changed under Roy, as the team’s defensive game has been cleaned up considerably.

In 45 games under Lambert, the Islanders allowed 2.82 expected goals against per 60 at five-on-five (24th) and 9.82 on the penalty kill (25th). Private data actually felt that was generous to the team. Under Roy, things have shifted immensely. The penalty kill still isn’t strong, but it’s improved at least to 9.0 expected goals against per 60 (18th). The big ticket, though, is their chance suppression at five-on-five. Since Roy became the coach, the Islanders have allowed only 2.1 expected goals against per 60, a mark that leads the league.

That’s more like the Islanders we know and it’s propelled the team to an expected goals rate of 54 percent, a top-five mark. They look like they can do some damage come playoff time.

Bassturds
- Cptmjl

They never had to pay their dues like other expansion teams.

Heard on a talk radio show the Isles were looking at Duclair
- LItransplant44

Let's be real, nobody actually knows who the Islanders are looking at. Duclair makes sense though...he won't cost a ton, he played for Roy in the Q, he adds the kind of speed Roy likes, and he can play up and down the lineup for the most part.

Something in the general vicinity of a 3rd and Wahlstrom could probably get that done.

Let's be real, nobody actually knows who the Islanders are looking at. Duclair makes sense though...he won't cost a ton, he played for Roy in the Q, he adds the kind of speed Roy likes, and he can play up and down the lineup for the most part.

Something in the general vicinity of a 3rd and Wahlstrom could probably get that done.
- eichiefs9

Might as well move on from Wally at this point. What do you make of the Chychrun rumor?

Let's be real, nobody actually knows who the Islanders are looking at. Duclair makes sense though...he won't cost a ton, he played for Roy in the Q, he adds the kind of speed Roy likes, and he can play up and down the lineup for the most part.

Something in the general vicinity of a 3rd and Wahlstrom could probably get that done.
- eichiefs9

They could drop off Wally and pick up Duclair tonight. Works perfectly.

Lou all in on chickenrun.
- Cptmjl

Not sure if the isles have the assets for him but what do I know. I also read they could have interest in Shane Pinto which would make sense being that they bumped Nelson up to 1LW.

Man reading an article by staple is brutal, the guy just hates the isles

Might as well move on from Wally at this point. What do you make of the Chychrun rumor?
- ses111

Don't think the Isles have the assets to make that one happen. Pageau can't be all that attractive, no matter how much that city loves him. A 1st rounder would probably be a guarantee but I don't know if any of the Isles prospects really excite anybody. They also can't afford to retain much money on Pageau either, if any.

Also he has a 10-team no-trade list so who knows if he'd even want to come here.

Not sure if the isles have the assets for him but what do I know. I also read they could have interest in Shane Pinto which would make sense being that they bumped Nelson up to 1LW.
- kindlyrick

Pinto would be a smart pickup, he's only 23. 16pts in 19gp this year probably means he won't be cheap though.

Man reading an article by staple is brutal, the guy just hates the isles
- Upstate_isles

Never a fan of his. Never forget when he suggested the Islanders would be better off trading back their first overall(Tavares) for some borderline at the time top 4 dman. Can’t remember who it was. I know some disagree but the guy is a (frank)ing idiot imo.

Also, he’s playing to the Ranger fanbase to an extent more then likely.

Pinto would be a smart pickup, he's only 23. 16pts in 19gp this year probably means he won't be cheap though.
- eichiefs9

and he wears Islander pajamas.

Pinto would be a smart pickup, he's only 23. 16pts in 19gp this year probably means he won't be cheap though.
- eichiefs9

Would prob have to include the first rounder.

Never a fan of his. Never forget when he suggested the Islanders would be better off trading back their first overall(Tavares) for some borderline at the time top 4 dman. Can’t remember who it was. I know some disagree but the guy is a (frank)ing idiot imo.

Also, he’s playing to the Ranger fanbase to an extent more then likely.
- Cptmjl

Was it a top 4 dman? I keep thinking someone wrote that the isles should trade back for Matt Duschene?

15. On Jan. 20, the Islanders’ playoff chances were 24 percent. They’re up to 60 percent now — call it the Patrick Roy effect.

Islanders fans were extremely vocal that Lane Lambert was holding a better-than-it-seems team back from its true potential. They were right on the money.

The big thing for me was how suddenly porous a usually stingy Islanders team looked all season. That’s the biggest thing that’s changed under Roy, as the team’s defensive game has been cleaned up considerably.

In 45 games under Lambert, the Islanders allowed 2.82 expected goals against per 60 at five-on-five (24th) and 9.82 on the penalty kill (25th). Private data actually felt that was generous to the team. Under Roy, things have shifted immensely. The penalty kill still isn’t strong, but it’s improved at least to 9.0 expected goals against per 60 (18th). The big ticket, though, is their chance suppression at five-on-five. Since Roy became the coach, the Islanders have allowed only 2.1 expected goals against per 60, a mark that leads the league.

That’s more like the Islanders we know and it’s propelled the team to an expected goals rate of 54 percent, a top-five mark. They look like they can do some damage come playoff time.
- Upstate_isles

Gotta love having a coach that believers in defense first and that defense wins championship's.
Just wish that Lou would have gotten Roy quicker. That said we don’t know how long they were talking.

15. On Jan. 20, the Islanders’ playoff chances were 24 percent. They’re up to 60 percent now — call it the Patrick Roy effect.

Islanders fans were extremely vocal that Lane Lambert was holding a better-than-it-seems team back from its true potential. They were right on the money.

The big thing for me was how suddenly porous a usually stingy Islanders team looked all season. That’s the biggest thing that’s changed under Roy, as the team’s defensive game has been cleaned up considerably.

In 45 games under Lambert, the Islanders allowed 2.82 expected goals against per 60 at five-on-five (24th) and 9.82 on the penalty kill (25th). Private data actually felt that was generous to the team. Under Roy, things have shifted immensely. The penalty kill still isn’t strong, but it’s improved at least to 9.0 expected goals against per 60 (18th). The big ticket, though, is their chance suppression at five-on-five. Since Roy became the coach, the Islanders have allowed only 2.1 expected goals against per 60, a mark that leads the league.

That’s more like the Islanders we know and it’s propelled the team to an expected goals rate of 54 percent, a top-five mark. They look like they can do some damage come playoff time.
- Upstate_isles

So telling how a coach makes the difference. The Barry Trotz isles vs the Lame Lambert isles was drastic. These last few games under Roy looked more like the ECF isles under Trotz.

Never a fan of his. Never forget when he suggested the Islanders would be better off trading back their first overall(Tavares) for some borderline at the time top 4 dman. Can’t remember who it was. I know some disagree but the guy is a (frank)ing idiot imo.

Also, he’s playing to the Ranger fanbase to an extent more then likely.
- Cptmjl

Ranger fan covering their top rival at this point he's just trolling

So telling how a coach makes the difference. The Barry Trotz isles vs the Lame Lambert isles was drastic. These last few games under Roy looked more like the ECF isles under Trotz.
- kindlyrick

Four teams way out of the playoffs on the road, can they continue this streak?

Four teams way out of the playoffs on the road, can they continue this streak?
- Upstate_isles

They’re certainly gaining steam at the right time.