Pre-Game Talk: After 50 games ...

[Islanders4Cups]

The current team is tracking close to a playoff spot and will need to finish strongly with about 43 more points or 20-9-3 to have a shot in my opinion.

They finished 15-11-6 after a great early season in 2014-15 and lost to the Caps in 7 games.
They finished 19-9-4 to make the playoffs in 2015-16 and beat the Panthers in the first round before falling to the Lightning. .
Last year they finished 19-11-2 and fell one point short of the playoffs.

I think it is still possible but goaltending will need to be consistantly good and defense will need to improve.

Season	W	L	OL	Pts
2014-15	32 15	17 11	1 6	65 36
2015-16	26 19	18 9	6 4	58 42

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

2016-17

22 19

18 11

10 2.

54 40

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

2017-18

25

20

5

55

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Sorry for the ugly table. Still figuring out this editor (or not).

Click to read more...

 

[MattMartin]

So 19-10-3 gets us to 96. I'm not to convinced we can do it.

 

[Islanders4Cups]

So 19-10-3 gets us to 96. I'm not to convinced we can do it.

They are a better team than last year if they can just improve defensively.
180 goals against in just 50 games almost makes you wish for Cappy to coach the defense.

 

[MattMartin]

OK, I will play along...

JANUARY	OPPONENT	TIME (ET)	TV	RESULT
Tue, Jan 30	vs Florida	7:00 PM	MSG+	Loss
Wed, Jan 31	@ Toronto	7:30 PM	TSN	Loss
FEBRUARY	OPPONENT	TIME (ET)	TV
Sat, Feb 3	vs Columbus	7:00 PM	MSG+	Win (yay)
Mon, Feb 5	vs Nashville	7:00 PM	TSN	Loss OT
Thu, Feb 8	@ Buffalo	7:00 PM	TVA	Loss
Fri, Feb 9	vs Detroit	7:00 PM	MSG+	Win (yay)
Sun, Feb 11	vs Calgary	7:00 PM	TSN	Loss
Tue, Feb 13	vs Columbus	7:00 PM	MSG+	Loss
Thu, Feb 15	vs NY Rangers	7:00 PM	MSG+	Win (yay)
Fri, Feb 16	@ Carolina	7:30 PM	MSG+	Win (yay)
Mon, Feb 19	vs Minnesota	1:00 PM	TSN	Loss
Thu, Feb 22	@ Toronto	7:00 PM	MSG+	Loss SO
Sat, Feb 24	@ New Jersey	7:00 PM	MSG+	Loss
Wed, Feb 28	@ Montreal	7:00 PM	TSN	Loss
MARCH	OPPONENT	TIME (ET)	TV	RESULT
Fri, Mar 2	vs Montreal	7:00 PM	MSG	Loss
Sat, Mar 3	@ Pittsburgh	5:00 PM	MSG+	Loss OT
Mon, Mar 5	@ Vancouver	10:00 PM	MSG+	Loss OT
Thu, Mar 8	@ Edmonton	9:00 PM	MSG+
Sun, Mar 11	@ Calgary	7:00 PM	TSN
Thu, Mar 15	vs Washington	7:00 PM	MSG+
Fri, Mar 16	@ Washington	7:00 PM	MSG+
Sun, Mar 18	vs Carolina	5:00 PM	MSG+
Tue, Mar 20	vs Pittsburgh	7:00 PM	TSN
Thu, Mar 22	vs Tampa Bay	7:00 PM	TSN
Sat, Mar 24	vs Chicago	7:00 PM	MSG+
Mon, Mar 26	vs Florida	7:00 PM	MSG+
Tue, Mar 27	@ Ottawa	7:30 PM	MSG+
Fri, Mar 30	vs Toronto	7:00 PM	MSG+
Sat, Mar 31	@ New Jersey	7:00 PM	MSG+
APRIL	OPPONENT	TIME (ET)	TV	RESULT
Tue, Apr 3	vs Philadelphia	7:00 PM	MSG+
Thu, Apr 5	vs NY Rangers	7:00 PM	MSG+
Sat, Apr 7	@ Detroit	7:00 PM	MSG+

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

For 96 points

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

19-10-3 41 points
now 14-0-1

Record Thus Far

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

4-9-4 12 points

 

[24diving]

98 pts would pretty much guarantee a spot. I am thinking that 94 will most likely be the number for last wild card.

 

[Lord at War]

On positive is that they have more home games than road games. Playoffs look like they are going to be nip and tuck but I feel like they are going to do it. Hoping for the 2nd or 3rd spot in the Metro.

 

[mm11]

the bright side is it's easier I feel to implement changes to correct your defense then it is to flip the switch and gain instant offense. If Halak continues the trend upward we have a good chance. Hopefully Greiss came to Jesus over the break and figured out some things...

 

[LeapOnOver]

That schedule doesn't look to bad. Just need to execute. What's the deal with Boychuk? He's gotta be close right? I'm definitely more confident with the lineup healthy. Especially now that the 2nd line is a legitimate threat with all three skaters. Looking forward to a third line with Ladd because I think that he can play with anybody and be a pain to play against. He'll be much better in a checking/grinding role imo. I'd do Cizikas between Ladd and Nelson or if Nelson has to play left wing move him to the fourth line and let Clutter or Prince (or friggin JHS) play in that third line spot.

 

[seafoam]

So we're only one point ahead of where we were last year?

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

So we're only one point ahead of where we were last year?

Every point matters, man.

 

[Islanders4Cups]

So we're only one point ahead of where we were last year?

Yes, that is correct after a 6-1-2 stretch starting with the 4-0 shutout in Boston which was Cappy last game. That stretch put the Isles at 22-18-10 after 50 games which is one point less than where we are today.
The Isles went 7-3 in games 51-60 last season.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

98 pts would pretty much guarantee a spot. I am thinking that 94 will most likely be the number for last wild card.

Agree. Right now we're looking at 93-94 points for the last Wild Card. With even more teams bunched up than usual, the points will be more evenly spread out.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Last 13 games of the season are: 9 home and 4 away with visits to WSH, OTT, NJD and DET.

Lots of home games at the arse end of the season, opposite compared to last year. Take care of business at the Barc and we should be close.

 

[Strummergas]

Last 13 games of the season are: 9 home and 4 away with visits to WSH, OTT, NJD and DET.

Lots of home games at the arse end of the season, opposite compared to last year. Take care of business at the Barc and we should be close.

And most importantly, win the damn divisional games!

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

And most importantly, win the damn divisional games!

Or as Bones likes to call them- "Must wins"

 

[duster19]

So we're only one point ahead of where we were last year?

Yes. Kind of hard to believe.

Division situation is way different though. Last year the top 4 in the metro ran away from everyone. We were really far behind by now. Like 8-10 points. We were basically playing against Philly and the east for 1 spot.

 

[Hunn]

4-2-1 since the bye-week, the personnel is getting healthy one-by-one – probably they can get back to November form.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

Last 13 games of the season are: 9 home and 4 away with visits to WSH, OTT, NJD and DET.

Lots of home games at the arse end of the season, opposite compared to last year. Take care of business at the Barc and we should be close.

Yeah huge advantage having those home games, I don't think it may come down to the wire as well given all the divisonal games. The pack will get smaller soon enough.

4-2-1 since the bye-week, the personnel is getting healthy one-by-one – probably they can get back to November form.

My outlook as well. By next week we could have Casey, Ladd and Boychuk all in the lineup. Huge difference between then and two weeks ago.

 

[isles31]

And most importantly, win the damn divisional games!

This is 100% what the run will balance on. Win the divisional games and they'll get in. Lose to teams like Philly, Devs, and Rags - donezo.

Halak going on a run like he did at the end of last season and they will get in, imo. The offense continuing to put up goals and getting NHL level goaltending means this team would be difficult to beat.

Oh, and kill some penalties and score on the PP.

 

[13th Floor]

Yes. Kind of hard to believe.

Division situation is way different though. Last year the top 4 in the metro ran away from everyone. We were really far behind by now. Like 8-10 points. We were basically playing against Philly and the east for 1 spot.

This is the key. The situation in the Metro is pretty different now.

Last year the 50 game mark for us was February 5th. We were 22-18-10 with 54 points. We were 12th in the conference and 7th in the division at that time. We were 5 points out of the 2nd wild card (Philly at the time) and had 3 teams to jump, and we were 13(!) points out of WC1 and 17 points out of Metro 3.

This year we are tied for 9th and we are 1 point out of both WC1 and Wc2 and 2 points out of Metro 2 and Metro 3. It's much more bunched up this year and with a lot of these teams playing each other, it will really depend on the number of 3 point games. With a lot of parity, there's a chance that no teams really separate and it keeps the point totals a little lower by the end of the year.

That being said, a team or three is bound to go on a run. If we are one of those teams, we are in. Last year we needed that run AND a lot of teams to falter in front of us. We control much more of our destiny this year since there will be a lot of divisional games -- if we are winning them and so close to 2nd place, that means the teams we are bunched up with are losing.

 

[YesCubed]

This is the key. The situation in the Metro is pretty different now.

Last year the 50 game mark for us was February 5th. We were 22-18-10 with 54 points. We were 12th in the conference and 7th in the division at that time. We were 5 points out of the 2nd wild card (Philly at the time) and had 3 teams to jump, and we were 13(!) points out of WC1 and 17 points out of Metro 3.

This year we are tied for 9th and we are 1 point out of both WC1 and Wc2 and 2 points out of Metro 2 and Metro 3. It's much more bunched up this year and with a lot of these teams playing each other, it will really depend on the number of 3 point games. With a lot of parity, there's a chance that no teams really separate and it keeps the point totals a little lower by the end of the year.

That being said, a team or three is bound to go on a run. If we are one of those teams, we are in. Last year we needed that run AND a lot of teams to falter in front of us. We control much more of our destiny this year since there will be a lot of divisional games -- if we are winning them and so close to 2nd place, that means the teams we are bunched up with are losing.

and they probably make it if they didn't inexplicably tank their season for jf berube

 

[Goombha]

They can't beat the Coyotes or the Panthers. They play 66% of their games in their own end. They give up 3 plus goals a game. And they have a tough schedule ahead of them. Playoffs here we come.

 

[seafoam]

They can't beat the Coyotes or the Panthers. They play 66% of their games in their own end. They give up 3 plus goals a game. And they have a tough schedule ahead of them. Playoffs here we come.

Yeah, I’m not even trying to be a glass half empty guy, but this team needs a miracle to make the playoffs. Even if they do, they’ll be out of it in 5 games because they’ll play Tampa in round one.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

They can't beat the Coyotes or the Panthers. They play 66% of their games in their own end. They give up 3 plus goals a game. And they have a tough schedule ahead of them. Playoffs here we come.

This is ridiculous! Get your facts straight!

Everyone knows they give up 4 plus goals a game. Come on man, THINK!

 

[MDIsles]

Not making the playoffs AT ALL! Not with this style of play, D, or Goaltending. If JT says he waits until 7/1 you almost have to deal him now (can’t believe I am typing this). Unfortunately this GM is inept and his ego won’t allow him to make the PRUDENT decision. FIRE SNOW 2 years ago!