zanderlex : Yeah, Isles / Rangers games are always really expensive to go to. That's what happens with a rivalry game. I got the tickets from my mom for Christmas. It should be a lot of fun, especially after the feisty game yesterday. I'm excited.

tgags123 : man you're so lucky. I really wish I could go to this one. Especially since I live right along the train.

I'm honestly still pinching myself at how well Calgary has been doing this year. I've watched several games where the team has gotten down 2-0 or given up a 1 or 2 goal lead only to rally in the 2nd or 3rd period and come away with the win. That hasn't always been the case but this year it feels like they are never out of the game no matter where things stand. Their compete level is nearly always there (except the most recent game in Colorado where they didn't seem motivated at all) and they manage to score almost at will. They've got the 2nd highest goal total (and are 2nd overall in the league) right now. Goals against is 15th which isn't great but could be a lot worse considering how Smith has played in some games.

I'm trying to keep my expectations tempered though. Playoffs are a totally different beast but at least this team has been in 3 playoff series in the past 3 years so it won't be as overwhelming as their return to the playoffs in 2016. And with Tampa Bay as best in the east we might be up for a rematch 15 years in the making.

Man 7 minutes into the game and the Islanders are destroying the best team in the league.

geeogree : I've been expecting Calgary to break out for a few years now. The success they're having this season doesn't surprise me that much. They have a really solid team, and Johnny Gaudreau is a beast.

zanderlex : I have no idea what's going on right now lol. Where was this team against the Rangers yesterday? 3 goals in the first 5 minutes against the Lightning, crazy.

tgags123 : Not only that, 4 minutes after the Islanders scored their 3rd goal was when Tampa Bay even gotten their first shot of the night.

2 of the Islanders goals were scored within 30 seconds.

While Vegas is up there with Calgary at the top of the west standings, it is concerning just the amount of games they’ve already played, meaning that other teams can make up points and they catch up in games. Also concerning is the workload that Flower has been on as of late, playing just about almost every game for Vegas. Subban has been playing more, and has looked sharper, but MAF is leading the league in games played, but also in wins.

Also concerning is the slump that Wild Bill and Marchy have been in lately, not scoring many goals or points. It is AMAZING to see John Merril finally start to play like a professional, which is helping the defense a ton. Also since Statsney got back from injury, he’s looked fantastic, scoring 8 goals since his return a few weeks ago.

I was sad to see Marchessault didn’t get last man in ballot, but it’s fine having just Flower as an all star. Vegas is generally looking a lot better than they did at the beginning of the season.

Man I really picked a good day to go to a game. My plan was to stay home or go see a movie and then I randomly checked to see if there were ANY sports games going on today and saw that my 2 favorite hockey teams were playing each other.

The beginning of the game was crazy man. The islanders scored 3 goals before the Lightning even had their first shot. They destroyed the best team in the league and won I think 11 of their last 14 games. They're on a role.

There are rumors floating around that the reason for Josh Ho-Sang's demotion was because he was late to a team meeting, and now they are trying to trade him. To me, that is ridiculous. Yes, being late to a team meeting is unacceptable. Do what they do in every other sport and bench him for a game or two. Don't punish yourself by making your team significantly worse, and then forcing yourself to trade a very talented player for next to no return (because his trade value isn't very high at the moment).

The way they are handling Ho-Sang is kind of crazy to me. Austin Watson was arrested for beating his girlfriend, and was welcomed right back into the Predators lineup as soon as he was finished serving his suspension. Ho-Sang (who, by the way, is also a more talented player than Watson) was late to practice once, and was now late to a meeting once, and they're burying him in the AHL and attempting to trade him for a bag of pucks for it. Makes no sense to me. I get wanting to send a message that tardiness is unprofessional and unacceptable, but sacrificing the success of the team is not the way to do it.

Now that that rants is over, apparently I'm going to the Isles game against the Blues in Brooklyn tomorrow. My mom's boyfriend randomly called me earlier today and asked if I wanted to go, and obviously I said yes. I hope they play as well against the Blues as they did against the Lightning yesterday.

I'm not sure what the rules are about double posting in this thread, but THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS ARE NOW IN FIRST PLACE IN THE METROPOLITAN DIVISION! Additionally, they have the same amount of points as the Toronto Maple Leafs (John Tavares' new team) in the same number of games played.

In their last 16 games, the Isles are 13-3-0. They just dominated the defending Stanley Cup Champion Washingon Capitals in DC, with their backup goalie playing, on the second night of back to back games.

I've never seen Isles hockey like this before. I really hope we play Toronto in the playoffs and absolutely destroy them. That would be the most satisfying feeling ever.

I'm excited. I really feel like this team is for real. Not only are they winning, they are completely outplaying their opponents. I can't wait to see how far this team can go.

tgags123 : I've thought about the Isles what you said about the Flames. I've been expecting them to be a good team for a while and it seems like for whatever reason they've got it figured out right now.

Hopefully it continues. I'd be more than happy to watch them roll through the East in the playoffs. Better them that watching Pittsburgh, Washington or Tampa Bay do it again.

geeogree : Yeah I have too, just didn't expect it the season after they lost their franchise player and one of their better defensemen to free agency.

I think this just really shows how important coaching is. Under Capuano and Weight, Isles could never really get it together, despite how much talent they had on the team. Now with Trotz, they are playing much better, despite having a less talented team on paper. I think the stat that really drives this home is their goals allowed. They were last in the NHL in goals allowed last year, and actually had the highest amount of goals allowed by any team in over a decade. They have the least amount of goals allowed in the NHL this season. Their defensemen are mostly the same, they just lost De Haan to free agency and brought Devon Toews up from the AHL. It's all about coaching.

tgags123 : I've actually noticed that when a superstar player leaves or gets hurt that the players on the team actually step up and play better rather than the team being worse. I think it is for a couple of reasons. 1) More ice-time. The position that was being filled by the superstar is now empty and their ice-time, which is generally much higher than the average player, needs filling giving players who usually didn't get 18+ minutes a game to start getting that. 2) The team stops relying on that one player to "win the game" or make a big play or whatever other cliche answer you want. The team starts relying on each other as a whole unit rather than as a single player and a supporting cast. 3) The players left over almost feel like they have something to prove. They push extra hard to win games and prove that they weren't just that single superstar player and had more to give offer than just that one player.

I find it hard to argue that losing a superstar player is good for a team in the sense that the team on paper gets worse. However, I think it can bring out better play from players that hadn't had the chance.

It's also a good reason why the "change of scenery" also works for some players. They weren't getting the time or had the trust of the coach to excel but on a new team with new teammates things can be different.

And sometimes teams finally just figure things out. They stop trying to play as individuals and start working for the benefit of the team as a whole. Sometimes it takes a few years for young teams to finally become something more.

Well the Islanders finally lost a game but they still have more points than the Maple Leafs.

I cant wait for their rematch against the Lightning. If they can beat the best team in the league again, then you know it's for real.

I might go to that game since it's only 1 quick bus ride away from my house.

having more points than a team that has lost 7 of their last 10 games isn't a big accomplishment

I'd still gloat about it though. I probably felt exactly the same way when Calgary passed them in the overall standings. It does get really old in Canada especially because the sports media practically gets off any time the Maple Leafs do ANYTHING. Nylander not signing before the season started meant constant speculation for weeks as to what he would get and how his return would affect the team and on and on.

It doesn't seem to matter what is happening either. When they are playing well it is speculation as to if they can keep it going. If they are losing then the speculation is about what is wrong with the team and who is getting traded. Sports writers in Canada can't get enough of writing about the Leafs.

geeogree : For us Isles fans it's more about Tavares than the Leafs themselves, although everything you said about media attention is 100% correct. It feels amazing that Tavares left to go to the Leafs, and now we have more points without him than the Leafs do with him.

It's official! The Columbus Blue Jackets have swept the Tampa Bay Lightning 4 games to 0 in the 1st round of the NHL Playoffs! This is the 1st playoff series win the Blue Jackets have ever had, and they did it against a Tampa Bay team that tied the all time record for most regular season wins, and led the NHL in points!

It's never been a better time to be a Columbus Blue Jackets fan! They may have been the last team in, but now they have just as good of a chance as anyone to win the Stanley Cup. CBJ! CBJ!

Woooohooooooo! My Minnesota Wild just were announced to get the Winter Classic next season! I've been waiting like 8 years for us to finally get the dang thing. We got a stadium series game like 6 years ago at the U of M's stadium but finally the big boy, "The Winter Classic"!!


I'll definitely be at this one. I'm hoping they let us wear the Minnesota North Stars jerseys of our old squad that were stolen from us and moved to Dallas where there is no snow or ice. lmao!

I'm changing this thread to make it for the 2020 Playoffs which are about to start.

I think there are a few exhibitions games coming in a week (28th, 29th and 30th) before a day off and then the playoffs start August 1st.

I'm super excited that there are going to be more sports things happening again. I've missed having them to watch even though I didn't watch them a ton.

And the format is changed because of the shortened season. Instead of a 16 team format it's a 24 team format which really changes who could win the cup.

I might do a more in depth post about who I think will win the first round after the exhibition games are done.

i think boston bruins should be in this one. they were in 1st in the division. bruins is the team to beat.