Barzal practicing with the team today. Hopefully this means he is playing Monday. Andrew Gross on Twitter: "Looks like Mathew Barzal will participate in today’s practice with #Isles. Out there warming up with teammates. Would be first time skating with team since getting hurt Feb. 18." / Twitter
There was a quote saying that he expects to play without restrictions. While I’m happy he’s going to play, I wouldn’t give him heavy minutes to start the series, put him on third line and let him slowly work his way into game shape. Practice and playoff hockey are very different and I’m afraid he will try too hard to make things happen.
I come in peace Isles fans. Former one myself, LI kid but now a local down south. You guys have a real punchers chance with Soro in the pipes, but I am surprised how little respect Canes have been getting due to Svechnikov injury having the second best record in the NHL by a lot of media and Hockey folks. Brind’Amour has established himself as one of the best coaches in the game right now, and this team consistently out works and shuts down team. Top to bottom they are solid defensively on the blue line and get plenty of scoring from them. Should be tight lower scoring games, I think I read the Canes are 13-2 against the Isles in last 15 games.
Final attendance numbers for this past season. Isles played to 98.8% capacity at UBS. NHL Attendance | Hockey-Reference.com
I don’t know who is disrespecting the Canes, I know I’m not. They are a very tough team to play against and I’m not expecting isles to beat them. Maybe play a tough series but not win.
We got the Mets on our side. New York Mets on Twitter: "Best of luck in the playoffs, @NYIslanders! https://t.co/DopUnmmP81" / Twitter
Is there anyone (here or anywhere else) who is not picking the Canes? They are, and should be, the clear favorites in this series.
Not on these boards, but on HFboards and several media types have not been treating the Canes as the team with the second best record in NHL who played Bruins toe to toe this year.
Islanders look very out of sync, I see Barzal is on top line. I believe that’s a mistake, the team made playoffs without him and should be allowed to keep those lineups and maintain the chemistry they created.
Well, that's what happens when one team has an NHL-level power play (barely) and the other one doesn't.
I know it's only one game but does anyone think things will really change in the Isles favor. Carolina will shut down the Isles offense. 0 for 4 on the PP last night. Great job. My guess going forward is the Canes win game 2. Split at UBS. Funeral game will be game 5.
I think the Isles have the advantage if we are looking at 2-1 games on Sorokin alone. I wasn’t discouraged from last night’s game. Cut down the penalties and I think the Isles win this series if the play continues to resemble last night. that being said (and I may have said it last year as well), watching the Kings/Oilers last night made me miss hockey after what the Islanders have presented us with the past five years.
I hope you are right. Last night 0 for 4 on the PP. Carolina 2 for 4. That's your game. 5 on 5 they were fine.
Looking forward to the Rangers-Devils series. I think this one is going 7. I don't know who will win as both teams are pretty evenly matched.
