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New York Islanders Four Alternate Better Realities

Apr 6, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; New York Islanders head coach Doug Weight looks on from behind the players bench against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The New York Islanders defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; New York Islanders head coach Doug Weight looks on from behind the players bench against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The New York Islanders defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 25, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; New York Islanders goalie Jean-Francois Berube (30) against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets won 7-0. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

No Three Goalie System

When Halak went down with a season-ending injury Jean-Francois Berube was able to step in as the backup, as Thomas Greiss wowed fans, pushing the Isles into a playoff spot and the second round.

It wasn’t an ideal situation even last season, having three goalies on the active roster meant that one was always scratched. It also meant that the ice was shared during practice between the three. Something that irked what was then starting goalie Jaroslav Halak.

Going into this season maybe Snow would trade one of his three capable goaltenders to make room on the roster for youth. But as summer gave way to fall and the season started the Isles still had all three. And it made things worse, much worse.

First, the was the incredibly passive aggressive but very public tweet from Halak (and Berube’s) agent Allan Walsh about the whole situation.

And then there was the dip in form from the World Cup of Hockey hero for Team Europe. Halak, previously a .917 SV% and 2.14 GAA goaltender slipped to 6-8-5 record with a terrible .904 SV% and 3.23 GAA by the end of December. Earning him a one-way ticket to Bridgeport.

Must Read: Halak Waived By Isles

After the “demotion” the Isles quickly found out that JF Berube wasn’t an NHL caliber goaltender and were in a jam. They waited until the end of March to call Jaro back up. Who was fantastic in the AHL.

Since coming up, Halak would play much better. Since coming back from his banishment in the AHL back at the end of December he’s been a 5-1-0 and a .949 SV% with a 1.5 GAA.

It almost as if what Jaro was complaining about, carrying three goalies was true? Sharing the ice with an extra goaltender makes it difficult to get in any sort of rhythm. Unless you’re Thomas Greiss, who’s been fantastic during the entire situation.

If the Isles waived, traded, reassigned, did whatever they could do to keep their tandem of Halak and Greiss from day one, how better does this season look? They wouldn’t be fighting for the few extra points.

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