Matt et Mitch parlent des inconvénients de la structure des Islanders de New York. Pour plus de contenu, abonnez-vous à Up the Turnpike sur Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/uptheturnpike #NewyorkIslanders #isles #NYIsles
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10 Comments
Here’s my issue with run and gun. We don’t have the D to support it. In order to play that way, they need a D that has speed to get back when they pinch.
IMO – I see 3 reasons why those defensive numbers are high:
1) Center ice play – it doesn't exist. There is little to no resistance for the opposition moving down ice. The forwards must be better at the neutral zone trap, a lot stronger back/forechecking, taking the body out/pinning the body, turning the puck over. Build a 4 man wall on that blue line, no one comes in for free, they must earn entry – with the 4 man wall it forces the puck into the corner away from the net where they can battle for possession.
2) The defense MUST make better/harder, more efficient outlet passes on the offensive break – lots of lose spinning-sloppy passes which barely flutter to center ice. These soft outlets allow for turn-overs and for the opposition to quickly turn around and re-enter the zone, taking away the Isles' potential of an offensive rush or line change, leaving tired legs to defend.
3) And the same old – Sorokin needs to tighten the screws (but had a killer afternoon in Canada's capital city), and the defense is soft as a twinkie filling. They need to play with some pride, a desire of hate towards losing puck battles.
* So.. ..tighten the D, make easier/smoother/efficient outlet passes, tighten neutral zone play – and the goalie play will improve.
Your boy Lane had his team in Toronto Saturday night, I happen to catch some of the game – he has that team playing well. Every player on the Kraken who touched the puck I said "who???" – but they are defensively sound. That old Trotzy system is leaking through LL's Kraken lol Seriously, he has those boys biting in, and while watching, they frustrated the Leafs all night with high energy defensive, pesky play, took the early lead and never gave it back – maybe it was just one game but the standings tell us, Lane has his mojo working early out in the North-West Pacific.
When your best defender is an 18-year-old kid, it just means our other defenders are just bad. We assume it's a structural problem.
I find myself bouncing from thinking Roy is lost in the woods to he's trying to break the away from the Trotz 'simple play' mantra. That shift cost Lambert his job, IMO. We watched Lambert burn out the line blender while trying to generate offense, and Roy has been doing the same. There was no chance of developing scoring chemistry with all the swapping of linemates. These 2 wins won't mean much if Roy doesn't figure out pairings and lines and sticks with them.
I see Rocky in our future, and more trades that add up to a complete rebuild. After hearing Darche talk about how impressed he is with Rockys' resume, it's clear that he is the backup plan. Thru preseason and the first 5 RS games, this group hasn't played a complete game. Roys' "play with joy" mantra isn't cutting it. If things don't improve in a month, I wouldn't be surprised if he's gone.
Ryan Pulouck is a what a 7-year veteran? Don't you think these guys should "remember" how to defend? I think as other people have pointed out that the D is not agile enough to break out the puck from the blue paint. To stop pucks from going in the net is going to have to be by committee of all 18 guys
I would switch the pairings … 48 should be with 6 … 77 should be with 3 … 28 should be with 24/34 … I know Roy like 3 and 6 together, but 48 and 77 are too offensively minded … IMO
Defense must be strong. Pelech and polok and cizikas must be traded.
We complained when they didn’t score- and defended well- and now we are complaining we are scoring too much and not defending enough. That said- it’s a young team and they should commit fully to the youth movement and get rid of the dinosaurs. And that’s not a slight against them per se- but more of a commentary on the direction we are moving.
Trap game tomorrow boys. Remember last year against Sabres…. Pray…