Top Shelf : Islanders Daily 11/16/2013

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Islanders are set to take on the Detroit Red Wings tonight at Nassau Coliseum following their dis-heartening loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.

In that game, New York proceeded to give up 3 third period goals to the former Stanley Cup champions in a game where they sat on a two goal lead and were stuck watching as their passiveness was taken advantage of by a team with way too much experience to be lulled to sleep.

Yesterday would not be without any controversy however, even on a day where the Isles just conducted a routing morning practice. Kevin Poulin‘s post-game comments after the Kings lost were thoroughly analyzed and possibly put into a bad context by New York Post reporter Brett Cygralis.

To say that Poulin was denying blame, as the headline put it, is just absurd and ridiculous. He was merely stating facts that the team has to play a complete 60 minute effort to win in this league, a sentiment mirrored by just about anyone in the room the media, including us, speak to.

Were the goals he allowed ‘lucky’? Perhaps. I am sure he would want to have the first one back but the other two were on deflections and many could easily argue that Poulin gave the team every opportunity to win the hockey game 2-1. You certainly cannot fault him on two deflected shots.

Patrick Roy was and still is known for his confidence and sometimes cocky brass attitude in circles around the entire league and if we do not compare play for a second (as Roy is a hall of famer) would you not want your goaltender to show those same traits? Or perhaps hang his head and talk in downtrodden monotone quotes to the media about how he has to be better and he let the team down.

Head coach Jack Capuano would not announce any lineups for tonight yesterday, saying that Friday would be used as an evaluation day and after this morning’s skate, everything will be made more clear. But Arthur Staple, excellent Islanders beat writer for Newsday, speculated that Poulin ‘could’ be in line for his 4th straight start tonight.

You would have to assume that Colin McDonald‘s spot in the lineup is precarious as well after taking a horrible third period head hit penalty that led to a Kings power play goal.

Stay tuned for our pre-game report this afternoon and snap shots post-game immediately following tonight’s contest.

In Case You Missed It

• Joe Powers reviews the Islanders first quarter (EOI)
• Reagan King takes a stab at the third period woes still affecting this club (EOI)
• Yours truly looks at the rule changes discussed by the GM’s and wonders which ones will work (EOI)
• Art Staple on how the Islanders are not living up to high expectations (Newsday)
• Cory Wright takes a look at the training regimin of John Tavares (Official Site)
• Edmonton’s goal horn actually does work after all (Edmonton Sun)
• Ted Nolan says the bitterness is gone as he mans the helm of the Sabres (NY Times)

Around The NHL

• Buffalo 3, Toronto 1
• Los Angeles 2, New Jersey 0
• Pittsburgh 4, Nashville 1
• Carolina 3, Anaheim 2 (shootout)
• Montreal 3, Columbus 2 (shootout)
• Ottawa 4, Boston 2
• Washington 4, Detroit 3 (shootout)
• Minnesota 3, Florida 2
• Winnipeg 3, Philadelphia 2 (shootout)
• San Jose 3, Edmonton 1

GP

W

L

OTL

PTS

GF

GA

L10

STRK

Pittsburgh

19

12

7

0

24

55

43

5-5-0

Won 1

Washington

20

11

8

1

23

65

58

6-3-1

Won 2

Carolina

19

8

7

4

20

37

51

4-5-1

Won 2

NY Rangers

18

9

9

0

18

41

49

7-3-0

Lost 1

New Jersey

19

6

8

5

17

38

48

5-3-2

Lost 1

NY Islanders

20

7

10

3

17

56

64

3-7-0

Lost 1

Philadelphia

19

7

10

2

16

35

48

5-3-2

Lost 1

Columbus

19

6

10

3

15

48

56

2-5-3

Lost 3

Across The Sound

The Sound Tigers continue to struggle, losing to the Springfield Falcons last night 3-2. Dallas Jackson and Anders Lee were your goal scorers for the baby Islanders. The full story can be found right here on the official page.

Next up is a home game tonight at 7pm EST versus the Hartford Wolf Pack.

1

Springfield Falcons

13

9

3

0

1

19

36

31

6-3-0-1

2

Albany Devils

15

8

6

0

1

17

39

38

5-5-0-0

3

Adirondack Phantoms

15

7

6

0

2

16

36

38

6-3-0-1

4

Hartford Wolf Pack

15

7

6

0

2

16

44

54

3-6-0-1

5

Bridgeport Sound Tigers

13

4

7

1

1

10

35

47

3-5-1-1