Author Archive for ChrisTriants
Writes at Islanders Op-Timism. Islanders Season Ticket Holder who tends to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hofstra Graduate currently working at Portnoy, Messinger, Pearl & Associates. I definitely want to end up working within the world of hockey. Blog: www.IslandersOptimism.com E-Mail: ChristopherTriantafilis@gmail.com Twitter: @ChrisTriants
Isles-Pens Series Recap: What Went Wrong, What Went Right, Top Moments
The New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins just wrapped up the most exciting Islanders’ playoff series since the Islanders and the Maple Leafs went seven games in 2002. The series was physical, even nasty at times. There were a ton of goals scored. There was plenty of drama. The heavily-favorited Pittsburgh Penguins were given [...]
Playoff Preview: Isles, Penguins Set to Meet in Postseason for the First Time Since 1993
The playoffs are upon us, Isles fans. You may have wanted Pittsburgh. You may not have wanted Pittsburgh. Regardless, the New York Islanders drew the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Could it have been prevented? Sure. The Islanders didn’t close out the season as we would have hoped [...]
With Playoff-Picture Cloudy After Isles Loss in Philly, Just Remember “Why Not Us?”
You just cannot win them all, Isles fans. I wish we could, but it’s never going to happen. Eventually, your team is going to lose. The loss sits as a thorn in your side, but what are you really going to do about it? Cry? Pout? The New York Islanders just clinched their first playoff [...]
Isles Clinch Playoff Berth; Built to “Upset”
We did it! The New York Islanders are going to the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 NHL season! So what if it took a loser point to get there? The Islanders will be playing hockey in May for the first time in two decades. A point earned in a 4-3 shootout loss [...]
Isles Win 5-4 (SO) Over Jets, Prepare to Land into Playoffs
We’re almost there, Isles fans. After being counted out at the beginning of the season without having the chance to prove themselves, the Islanders magic number is 3 with only three games remaining. I guess we play the games for a reason, right, analysts? The disrespect has lessened, but there are still plenty of “professionals” that [...]
Tavares, Top-Line Awaken As Isles Rake in Another Two Points
I’m not scared when the Islanders fall behind. It’s a completely different feeling from what we have been used to over the past few seasons, but when the Islanders are behind, I’m just not worried. The New York Islanders fell behind early again the Toronto Maple Leafs. In fact, the Islanders fell back on hold [...]
John Tavares for MVP? Not This Year.
As the Islanders have been surging towards a playoff spot, I’ve been reading a lot about the Islanders and the possibilities of individual awards – things like “Jack Capuano should win the Jack Adams,” have been sprawled across my news-feeds. I read some Tweets with “Nabokov” and “Vezina” in the same sentence. Of course, I [...]
Bruin Up Two Points in Boston: Nabby, Bailey Grind Isles to Victory
This game was never about “escaping with one point” and getting out of dodge. The Islanders needed to come away with two points tonight, regardless of their opponent. In what could be a potential first round playoff matchup, Islanders-Bruins was a game that the Isles needed to prove they could win. Last night, the Isles [...]
Sell-out Crowd Recharges Islanders in Sweep of Lightning; Joensuu Debuts
“We want playoffs!” – That was what the sold-out crowd at the Nassau Coliseum was chanting after the New York Islanders defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning by the score of 4-2. I know I’ve been critical about us as a fan-base, but I want to applaud all of us. In a game that was not perfect, [...]
A Quiet Deadline was a Good Deadline for the Isles
The trade deadline came and went. What seemed like a very boring trade deadline livened up a bit at the end, including a deal that saw Marian Gaborik moved from the Rangers to the Blue Jackets for Derrick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, and John Moore. And, despite a few rumblings, the Islanders went off quietly on [...]
Plan Falling into Place as Islanders Sign Anders Lee, Assign Strome, Pedan to AHL
Yes, it’s April Fool’s Day. No, none of this news that you’re hearing is an April Fool’s prank (unless you bit on the trade that had the Rangers getting Steven Stamkos from Tampa Bay in exchange for Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik, JT Miller, and two first round picks). The Islanders have signed Anders Lee (Notre [...]
It’s an Isles Trade Deadline Preview
This season’s flying by. Although it may feel like the lockout is long gone, the NHL season’s end is close and we have the lockout to blame. Under normal circumstances, the 30-game mark is just over one-third of the season, but instead we’re talking about the final third of the season. Don’t get me wrong. [...]
Doesn’t Matter How They Win, As Long As The Isles Do
I’m tired of it. It’s annoying. I don’t want to see it anymore. I’m not talking about the Islanders blowing leads either. When’s it going to stop? The “same old Islanders” comments. The “this is why the Islanders will never get out of the basement” comments. The “this team isn’t improving” comments. Stop it. The [...]
Isles Salvage Two Points at the End of Disappointing Homestand; Nabby Earns 55th-Career Shutout
Looking at it with a “glass-half-full” perspective, the Islanders ended their home-stand on a positive note. After losing their first three games in the third period, the Isles held on to a 1-0 lead all the way until the end of the third period, capturing the two points in a 3-0 victory, ugly third-jerseys and [...]
Third Period Plague Crushes Isles as They Head into the Weekend
This Islanders team is different. It’s better than last season, yet just as frustrating. It’s strong on the road, but absolutely miserable at home. One thing is for certain, and has carried over from 2011-12: the Islanders are still not a good team in the third period. Oh, no, the Islanders are actually awful in [...]
Isles “in” on Andrej Sustr
The New York Islanders head into the Nassau Coliseum looking for the season-sweep of the Montreal Canadiens tonight. Michael Grabner and Matt Carkner return to the Islanders’ line-up tonight, which should be beneficial to an Isles team that is heading into the final stretch of the season. Grabner remains third on the Isles in goals [...]
For the Isles, Learning How to Win is a Reason for Optimism
The Islanders pulled off the sweep in Florida yesterday by defeating the Florida Panthers by the score of 4-3. It’s been years since the Islanders came away with the two points in regulation against the Panthers in the Sunshine State, but the Islanders got them and leap-frogged the Rangers for 9th-place in the Eastern Conference. [...]
Rested Nabby, Isles Pull the Cord on Bolts
Nothing better than waking up in the middle of March with the Islanders in the playoff hunt. That’s right. The Islanders won 2-0 over the Tampa Bay lightning last night, keeping them three points out of eighth-place, and four points out of sixth. Love it when our own fans say “well, they beat a bad [...]
With Grabner Out, Time to Hold the Real Passengers Accountable
Oh, boy. It looks like the injury bug has hit the Island once again. Arthur Staple reported that Michael Grabner would be our for at least 7-10 days with a shoulder injury, and is to be evaluated in a week. That is not very reassuring for Islanders fans, who may not be able to see [...]
John Tavares Scores 100th Career Goal in Isles Big Win Over Caps
This one had all the makings for something horrible. Wearing their black jerseys, playing an afternoon game, and facing a goalie making his first NHL start, the Islanders normally drop games like these. Not today. The Islanders came to the Coliseum and defeated the Washington Capitals by the score of 5-2. This was the fifth [...]
