Will.Pesek

"New York Isles"

United States •

Weight lifts Isles to must win

After the Islanders 7-4 loss to Carolina, the Islanders needed a shakeup-well, maybe they needed a shakeup from November. Thomas Greiss who played every game since Halak has been placed in BPT on December 30, struggled versus Carolina. Nothing happened, as expected. The Isles moved on to play the Boston Bruins who they beat on December 20. Greiss got the nod again for NY and this time he was solid, he pitched a shutout and the Isles won 4-0. Surprisingly, on Tuesday afternoon, the day finally came for Islander fans. The tweet that said "Islanders have relieved HC Jack Capuano of his coaching duties" gave Islander fans a feeling of excitement moving forward.

Doug Weight was named the interim head coach and guided the Islanders to a 3-0 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday. The win not only meant it was Weight's first win as coach put it puts the Islanders back in the playoff hunt. Currently, the Isles are 6 points out (every time you win, you earn 2 points) with games in hand over the teams ahead of them with 3-3(1/2) months left. It is very possible for the Isles to make it, but it is going to take a lot more wins like the Dallas-Boston games.

Who's hot and who's not;
Hot:
John Tavares has been on a tear as of late putting 7 goals in the net in the past 4 games including the hat trick versus Florida last Friday

Thomas Greiss has been nothing short of sensational the past 8 games for the Isles. In that span, he has a 1.99 GAA and a .932 SVP

Whos Not;
Alan Quine:
Quine certainly has been given the opportunity to play this season. in 33 games, Quine has 3 goals and 7 assists. His "dangles" have been there but playing on a line with Andrew Line and now Anthony Beauvillier, he picked up his game as of late and is slowly establishing his role as a "play maker"

Ryan Strome:
Strome, as we know did not get along with Capuano and now that he is gone he has an opportunity to get his career back on track. In his rookie season he plotted 50 points and last season he was at a career low.

Moving forward, the Isles will continue to believe in one another and there is no question, we should beLIeve in them as well