Isles blow another lead, lose to Thrashers

For the third time in four games, the Islanders sat back and watched as a comfortable lead evaporated.

[Tim]

I'm sorry, but Pock is the absolute worst. We need some defensive skill back there.

[Fan]

I feel for Gordon.

[champ4]

does anyone see was is happening on the ice that coach must go or slow!!!!!!! them down hes got them playin to fast and to hard in the first two periods,that by the time the 3rd period comes they have no gas left you cant skate all three periods like that they cant win!!!!! if this keeps up there will be no hope for them.....i do not like this coach i wish nolan was here!!!!!!!!!! how long will they keep him until they have no legs left..... i think his system stinks..........we had such a great chance with the other coaches and mr wong picked the worst one should have spent the money and got a nhl coach who is not running them ragged!!!! this is hockey not baseball you get tired i dont care how you play your game.ice skating is not easy to go that fast paced for three periods....slow down play your game at your own temo we will produce some wins...its horrible to see them win and loose like this....if this keeps up they will loose more ticket sales then in the long run if you would have hired another coach when it comes to spending money its all revelent and witht he economy the way it is there lucky there are still some heart to heart fans like me that havent given yup and still spend money to watch them play.ive moved off L.I but i have the nhl package and im paying for this.cant imagine the money your paying what 88.00 a seat now just for section gate 10!!! islanders must find a way to slow down and must put together allot off wins....if you play the game right you wont be so tired by the end of the third....... lets go islanders.....

[michael]

islanders just need to CHANGE THE SYSTEM if you're leading going into the 3rd period. start playing the trap and slow it down!!

wake up gordon! this 3rd period crap is UNACCEPTABLE

[VA Isles]

champ, I disagree. this team needs to learn how to play hard for 3 periods, and with the cash these guys make, they can practice hard and play hard for 3 periods. Blowing lead after lead is unacceptable, and I blame the players, not the coach. We're 10-15 games into the season, and everyone is calling for his head? Half our D is in the shelf with injuries, DP is out (which is FINE by me), and JMac is holding his own the best he can.

Maybe guys like comrie can be a man, and attack, like other teams do, and we'd be ok. Its a FREAKING YOUTH MOVEMENT guys. We're going to suck this year, and build.(Funny I've been saying that since 93, but only now really believe it).

I am a big fan of the right coach, but in the end, its the guys with skates on who win or lose the game. Be patient, lets see what happens over the next 2 seasons, and we'll worry about it then. Lets just let guys like Tambi, KO, and bergi get comfortable up in the bigs. Though, Tambi's time is running out.

on the bright side, Guerin and weight and definitely contributing more than I thought they would.

[Effigy of the Forgotten]

Tim wrote:

I'm sorry, but Pock is the absolute worst. We need some defensive skill back there.

Yeah, it's Pock's fault that he tried to stop a shot on net. Blame Pock for the teams inability to hold the Thrashers at bay.

Pure and simple - they lost because Atlanta pressured and the Isles caved.

[Doug]

Update on the Charles "Uncle Charlie" Wang ransom to all NY State tax payers with special importance to nassau county:

1.) Housing.
2.) Shopping Mall
3.) Nightlife Center
4.) Lighthouse
5.) New Arena
6.) You pay for all of it.
7.) Lowest payroll in NHL
8.) 3rd highest ticket prices in NHL.
9.) 28 year old rookies (makes nhl minimum)
10.) Goalie gets first start in NHL
in 4 years.(makes nhl minimum)
11.) Last place
12.) Sanjay is in jail.
13.) TV controlled by the Rangers.
14.) Radio is on a college station that you can't get in 1.2 of LI, nevermind NY.
15.) More time, money, and effort spent teaching Chinese kids to play hockey then actually working on the team.
16.) Trade top prospects for Smyth and never request a 24 hour window to sign Smyth. Watch Smyth leave at end of year. Fools.

17.) Hire backup goalie as GM so you don't have to pay him his player contract.
18.) Never fire Mike Milbury, he resigned in shame.
19.) Pass this junk off as professional.

20.) Bring back as many ex Isles greats as possible and give them a night since it is the only way to fill the builing.

[Colin Citra-Florida]

It's funny that you think 20 - 30 year olds can't skate at a high tempo.Montreal does it and so does Chicago and Detroit.I guess their coaches suck too.Just like everything else,change takes time .They'll get it right sooner or later and then you'll say "What a good job that coach did with those kids".

[Tim]

Effigy, I'm not just talking about one play. He's been terrible all year. He couldn't crack the Rags lineup for a reason.

But that was a bad play to make. You don't try to stop a slap shot with your stick when your 5 feet in front of the goalie. That's the goalie's job.

It was a team loss, but Pock hasn't helped any thus far this season. Are you going to argue that too?

[Life long fan]

Look at this positives - the franchise is finding new, creative ways to disappoint all of us. Am I down too many brain cells or did last year's group hold a strong win % record with the lead going into the third period?

[MIKE]

Gordon...don't blame losing a lead on old habits- You're allowing it to happen so you are responsible-

[isles1976]

Champ, I think you're spot on. The first thing I thought of when I heard about the constant uptempo strategy was you can't do that for three periods, especially without the talent to keep the pressure on, and you definitely can't do it over the course of 80+ games. This will only lead to injuries around January, just like last year. There's something to be said for the fragile psychology of this young team having a tough time finishing games. "Here we go again..." is in their heads now. Hopefully they'll stay positive.

[champ4]

va, i agree to dissagre the fact that if they need to play hard and fast then they should be able to have it i them by the third period..not blowing the leads we would have a hand ful of wins they just seem to stop skating in the third period why? well being a fan so long its always something we just seem to be a third rate team.i just dont understand. lets go islanders.

[VA Isles]

I think Colin hit it on the head. If the other elite teams can do it with young guys and keep that tempo, why cant we learn to do it? THIS is the time to learn it when they are young. I think that they need to learn to finish games, and that comes with experience.

They are inexperienced and they tend to coast when they get a lead. Every young player goes through that phase.

[Mike Bossy]

If hockey games were only 2 periods, the Islanders would be 11-2.

[Hockey North]

Heatly, Spezza and Luongo-to name a few-should be the cornerstones of this team right now. But it was theorized not so long ago that the fans wouldn't wait for these "younger" players to progress (no patience) and it would be better to make a splash right away (2000/2001) and Peca and Yashin were traded for. Wang's biggest mistake was listening to Milbury tell him this. Well, here we are starting over again and where is the patience now? Snow at least recognized that the organization needed quantity over quality in terms of the last draft. That's the only reason he traded down. To stock up on picks and to rebuild. Guess what, the team is going to lose a lot this year but needs to stick to the plan. Snow will not trade down again next year if its Tevarras he's got the chance to draft.#1 picks didn't hurt the Penguins who totally sucked a few years back. For now, the Islanders are in transition and Wang is simply waiting for political approval to spend HIS OWN money on a new building. That will, in turn, bring the Islanders into the 21st century in terms of not losing money hand over fist and the ability to sign the odd free agent with talent. What's taking so long politically? That's what I don't have patience for, not the hockey team. FYI, the team having trouble playing hard for 60 minutes is not so much a coaching or system problem but the fact that the better part of defense and goaltending are currently not playing due to injury.

[Florida Ed]

MIKE wrote:

Gordon...don't blame losing a lead on old habits- You're allowing it to happen so you are responsible-

Sorry but Gordon doesn't lace them up. The players need to show some responsibility!! I was at this game and the isles were skating and playing hard for two periods. The guy that was sitting next to me was so PO'd at the Trashers after two. I told him don't worry we will make a game of it. The third period the isles were on their heals and running around the defensive zone like a bunch of mites!! Yes it was Pock's fault for the goal there was NO ONE between him and the goalie. You DO NOT stick your stick out in that situation. It was even a weak shot!!!

[Albuquerque Mike]

Memo to Snowclown: Satan now has 8 goals. How many does Okposo have? At this rate he will score 7 goals for the season. This is the player who will bring the glory back to the Isles? He's actually screwing up Guerin and Weight with all his out of position running around. He and Tambellini are a waste! At least Nielsen is starting to show some skill. Keep him with Hunter. Bring Comeau back to play left wing with Guerin and Weight. As soon as the wounded D-men start coming back waive Pock. More goals bounce off him into our net than anyone else.

[Hockey North]

"Satan now has 8 goals. How many does Okposo have? This is the player who will bring the glory back to the Isles?"

Yes, Okposo, 19 years of age and in his rookie season while currently being experimented with on his OFF wing with two over-the-hill but-all-the-team-can-attract-w ithout-a-new-facility veterans will single handedly lead the team back to glory. But only if the Islanders bring back Satan and sign Crosby or Malkin to play with him. Maybe also, bring back Czerkawski.

[Effigy of the Forgotten]

Tim wrote:

Effigy, I'm not just talking about one play. He's been terrible all year. He couldn't crack the Rags lineup for a reason.
But that was a bad play to make. You don't try to stop a slap shot with your stick when your 5 feet in front of the goalie. That's the goalie's job.
It was a team loss, but Pock hasn't helped any thus far this season. Are you going to argue that too?

I hear ya. I haven't seen Pock make much of a difference out there for the Isles, although I don't watch them unless there are no other games on TV. I liked Pock, but Renney never gave him a chance, even after he played well in the 2006 playoffs.