Better bring a much better roster.
- ses111

How? Seriously, how?

More grinders!
- keaner17

Yep! Cannot have enough 3rd and 4th line players.

A $9m Kip Miller
Lee had 28 goals this year but watching him in this series, I have no idea how. He was absolutely pathetic. Not only did he look like the slowest player on the ice but he was consistently outmuscled
$16m boutique us two guys who combined for two garbage time goals and virtually nothing else.
- keaner17

Sorry Schwein Lee was the worst player on the ice the entire series. Too slow, beat on the boards constantly and couldn’t even get the puck in the corner most of the time.

How? Seriously, how?
- JimmyP

Exactly! People can blame Lane all they want. He does not have the horses.

Exactly! People can blame Lane all they want. He does not have the horses.
- ses111

You’re telling me the third period was all the players??

I’m with uif on this one, seemed like a concerted effort to play not to lose, and that comes from the coaches. You could clearly see a team playing completely different from top-to-bottom. Sorokin saved them, that’s why I can’t get mad at him for the soft goal.

I was waiting to see something...anything from him. OK, he's not scoring, but how about winning some one-on-one battles? Nope. Creating space for his teammates? Nope. Finding space for himself? Nope. Cripes, he couldn't even receive passes most of the time. But those faceoffs, man. Those faceoffs.
- UIF

Horvat was just brutal UIF. That trade had a Lou trying to save his job feel from the start after doing nothing to improve the roster for two years.

I don't think they were gassed. I think that was the plan...not necessarily to ice it, but to just keep chipping it out and playing it ultra safe instead of trying to push the pay and risk a mistake. It's just a really long time to try and do that for the whole third period with only a one-goal lead.
- UIF

I think it was both.. They came out guns blazing and gave it everything for 40min but they once again made an ordinary goalie look like Ken Dryden. (Anderson was very good ftr)
By the third period they were less energetic and went into a shell, presumably by Lambert's command. Then they wore themselves down further playing chase for a period.

And this shouldn’t bother me, but I’m pissed the Panthers forced game 7 and we didn’t.

There were a fair amount of forwards who didn’t step up. That being said, I take issue with coach not riding his hot players and continuing to play those who just didn’t have it. Even Nelson was off this series. Happy they made the post season, but we all know they weren’t going anywhere. Let’s hope they address that embarrassing PP

I dunno. It seemed to me that they were losing puck battles and races to loose pucks in the 3rd period.........unlike in the first 2 periods. I'm not saying that their game plan didn't change in the 3rd........just that they weren't executing very well whatever their game plan was.
- JohnScammo

I'm will die on this hill, lane needed to call timeout it was clear the canes were dominating and it was a matter of time

You’re telling me the third period was all the players??

I’m with uif on this one, seemed like a concerted effort to play not to lose, and that comes from the coaches. You could clearly see a team playing completely different from top-to-bottom. Sorokin saved them, that’s why I can’t get mad at him for the soft goal.
- potvin05

I cannot tell you this. No idea what Lane told the players. I just know this not a high energy team and a team with a lot of speed and skill. Replacing Lane is all well and good. The biggest issue is the roster. How much longer are we going to deny this?

https://twitter.com/Chris...tatus/1652135575825051648

Damn Botta throwing down the gauntlet.

There were a fair amount of forwards who didn’t step up. That being said, I take issue with coach not riding his hot players and continuing to play those who just didn’t have it. Even Nelson was off this series. Happy they made the post season, but we all know they weren’t going anywhere. Let’s hope they address that embarrassing PP
- kindlyrick

What hot players did the Islanders have? This team is not build to be able to shortened the bench.

I cannot tell you this. No idea what Lane told the players. I just know this not a high energy team and a team with a lot of speed and skill. Replacing Lane is all well and good. The biggest issue is the roster. How much longer are we going to deny this?
- ses111

To see a team go from one mindset/style to another from one period to the next tells me there was a change in the locker room. They looked completely different and it wasn’t from being tired.

https://twitter.com/ChrisBottaNHL/status/1652135575825051648

Damn Botta throwing down the gauntlet.
- potvin05

Botta is right.. Lou had a wonderful career and did well his first few years with the Islanders but it's time to move on.

What hot players did the Islanders have? This team is not build to be able to shortened the bench.
- ses111

I thought the bottom 6 outplayed the top 6. Engvall had some shifts, and Palmieri and Parise were giving it. Pageau looked decent as well. The problem with the isles has been the top 6 (for decades now), and that carry’s over into the PP

To see a team go from one mindset/style to another from one period to the next tells me there was a change in the locker room. They looked completely different and it wasn’t from being tired.
- potvin05

Listening to Lane's comments, it does not sound like it was planned. Why is it hard to believe this team could not keep up the pace. We've seen it plenty of times in the past. Even Hickey said he doubts sitting back was a conscious decision. Hickey even mentioned the small roster turnover.

Botta is right.. Lou had a wonderful career and did well his first few years with the Islanders but it's time to move on.
- ses111

If they replace Lou with a new President and GM I’d prefer a full rebuild. The only player off the table is Sorokin

Listening to Lane's comments, it does not sound like it was planned. Why is it hard to believe this team could not keep up the pace. We've seen it plenty of times in the past. Even Hickey said he doubt sitting back was a conscious decision.
- ses111

They seemed fine in OT. Just saying. They were outplaying Carolina in OT.

The more desperate team won.

If they replace Lou with a new President and GM I’d prefer a full rebuild. The only player off the table is Sorokin
- kindlyrick

There aren’t many guys on this team you’ll get fair value for, that’s for sure.

https://twitter.com/ChrisBottaNHL/status/1652135575825051648

Damn Botta throwing down the gauntlet.
- potvin05

I have to agree with him.

I have to agree with him.
- JimmyP

Yea idk where they go from here

They seemed fine in OT. Just saying. They were outplaying Carolina in OT.

The more desperate team won.
- potvin05

I cannot imagine a coach telling a team to sit back the entire 3rd period protecting a one goal lead. I'm sure there are better coaches than Lane, but what coach was going to take this roster far into the playoffs? Barry's run was two years ago and the team was younger and faster with Leddy, Toews, Beau, and Eberle and the runs happened during very unique situations.

I thought the bottom 6 outplayed the top 6. Engvall had some shifts, and Palmieri and Parise were giving it. Pageau looked decent as well. The problem with the isles has been the top 6 (for decades now), and that carry’s over into the PP
- kindlyrick

Pageau was awful this series

I have to agree with him.
- JimmyP

Nothing Botta mentioned was untrue.