The Islanders’ Only Nationally Televised Game is Crucial
ChrisTriants | Aug 31, 2012 | Comments 7
Let’s just get right to the point today. While there has not been much going on in the NHL due to CBA discussions, and the looming lockout that comes with them, the NHL decided to move ahead and release the upcoming NHL National TV Schedule anyways.
Every season, I’m always curious to see who the Islanders will be facing on NBC or NBCSN, and every year it’s usually the same deal: The Islanders get one game on NBCSN (formerly known as Versus), and nothing else besides the voices of Butch Goring and Howie Rose. Usually, this one game is against another team that “matters” such as the Penguins, who the Islanders were forced to appear on National Television against due to Sidney Crosby’s “dramatic” return. This game was a disaster.
Well, the Islanders got the same deal as they do every season, except the game itself might not be as appealing to the masses. The Islanders will face-off against the Florida Panthers on NBCSN. The date is October 22nd, and although it’s sort of a weird game to televise nationally, this one might be more important to Islanders fans than anyone else would think.
There must be something to that beginning-of-the-season Florida road-trip. The past two Islanders seasons can be summed up by the results of what happens when the Islanders head south in October. I mention only the past two seasons because, in each of those years, post-trip play was a debacle.
Let’s go back to the 2010-11 season, where the Islanders were coached under Scott Gordon, and expected to have a big season. Of course, the Islanders lost Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo to shoulder injuries right before the season started, but the team still came out of the gates with a respectable start. The Islanders started the season 3-1-2 before their first trip to Florida. They even pulled out a win in confusing overtime fashion against the Tampa Bay Lightning, which pushed them to an NHL-best 4-1-2 record. Things looked pretty good for the Islanders. Then they played in Miami.
On October 23, 2010, the Islanders fell to the Panthers 4-3 despite John Tavares’ first NHL hat trick, and then it all happened. The losses began piling up. First, they lost to 5-3 to Montreal, and then again 3-1. This was followed by two blow-out losses to Philadelphia and Carolina, where the Islanders were outscored 13-3.
Before you knew it, it was Thanksgiving, Scott Gordon had been fired, and the Islanders still hadn’t won a game since Tampa. The Isles had played 14 games, and went 0-11-3, until they broke the streak and shutout the New Jersey Devils on the annual matinee-after-Thanksgiving game. It didn’t stop there, though.
Another six straight losses pushed the Islanders to 1-17-3 in their previous 21 games, which is basically one quarter of the season. It figures that, for the remainder of the season, the Islanders would play their last 50 games the best I have ever seen them play for a 50-game stretch, but it was too little, too late. The season was lost, and the Islanders, who looked so promising for half the season, were too damaged from their post-Florida play.
Fast forward one season, and the Islanders were again expecting a playoff berth. Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo were healthy to start the year, Nino Niederreiter would be on the ice, and the Islanders had goaltending all figured out with Al Montoya and Evgeni Nabokov between the pipes.
The Islanders started off the season 3-1-0, with their only loss coming to the Florida Panthers during an abysmal 2-0 home opener. The Isles followed the loss with three promising wins at home, and then it was off to, you know, Florida. This time, the Islanders fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1. Al Montoya wasn’t too sharp, nor was the rest of the team.
On October 22nd, the theme would carry-over as they headed further south to face-off against the Panthers. Nabby looked good during his second start in an Islanders jersey, but that was it. The Islanders mustered 10 shots in the first two periods against Jose Theodore, who was injured, and had to be replaced by Jacob Markstrom, who stopped all 18 shots he faced in the third. Anyone have any idea where this is heading?
The Islanders went 2-8-4 over their next 14 games.
This season, the Islanders will be back in Miami to face the Panthers exactly one year since their first game in Miami last season. Sure, the game might not be the best game to nationally televise, but it’s crucial for the Long Island fan-base. The Islanders need to get over the hump. They need to make a stand in Florida. They cannot leave their hope on the sands of Miami Beach.
It’s the beginning of the season (only the 4th game), but that’s where the Islanders have faltered in each of the past two years. The beginning of the season has been a setback for an otherwise respectable team. It’s important the Islanders don’t continue to fall into the same negative trends. The New York Islanders have to be seen as a competitive team after Thanksgiving. In order to do that, the Islanders must clear their first obstacle, which will be televised for all of the hockey fans around the country: The Florida Panthers.
Thanks For Reading! Feel Free to Comment Below!
Follow @ChrisTriants
Filed Under: New York Islanders
The Isles are “otherwise respectable team”? I think that’s a stretch to say the least. Unless being amongst the doormats for the last 5 years is respectable. I think you meant to say they played respectably when they weren’t horrible. That I can agree with. lol
This team was expected to make a playoff berth? BY WHO?
Some of us fans optimistic fans and the Islanders themselves. So to say that they were “expecting” a playoff berth is a stretch. I don’t think I can even remember when the last time this team was projected to be a contender. Do you know this? It would be interesting to know.
Anyway, last season I really was excited and I believed it was the year this team makes some hay. I was excited and optimistic because of what you described as their “best 50 game stretch” the season before. Unfortunately, last season, was a major wake up call, for me at least. You said they have to get over the HUMP. I think that hump is to learn how to deal with success. They need to grow up and learn how not to get too high if they get to a good start. I have mentioned this here before. Whenever the Isles seem to get some positive attention, from the media, it is the moment the Isles revert back to SUCK. I also don’t want to hear these kids talking playoffs before the season starts or when the season is just getting started. That is what they were doing last year. They fell flat on their faces. I have a feeling the guys wont be talking a big game again if they learned their lessons. They should just learn to stay even keeled during the ebbs & flows of a long season. They need to do their talking on the ice. No need to talk bold. Not until you prove yourself.
I also don’t want to hear these kids saying “this is a playoff atmosphere” when we’re less than 2/3rds into the regular season…These Islanders have no clue what a playoff atmosphere is really like…In fact they should learn to treat game #1 as if its game #82. It gets annoying to hear them talk “make or break” when their not even 75% into the season. These guys need to learn that game #1 counts just as much as game #82. Maybe if they had that mind set they wouldn’t be saying “this is a playoff type game” or “this is a playoff type atmosphere” until their actually in the playoffs. I mean I wouldn’t mind it if they were battling for a spot with a few games left in the season But not that early in a season. Its ridiculous.
Bottum line is this all comes down to COACHING. We need a friggen real coach that brings accountability. Not FRED FLINTSTONE!
edit:
“The only people projecting a playoff berth are” some of us optimistic fans and the Islanders themselves.
It’s fair to say only optimistic fans were “expecting” a playoff berth, but more than just the optimistic definitely felt the Islanders were going to at least push for one. Small sample, but:
http://islanderspointblank.com/news/theyll-be-in-the-playoff-race-until-the-endscouts-poll-season-preview-part-1-the-standings/
No, the team hasn’t been projected to be a “contender” since…probably before the lockout, but as a maturing team (we all hope so anyways), the Islanders should be expected to at least push for that playoff berth.
Anyways, it’s true. The Islanders have a huge coaching problem. I cannot tell you how many times I was yelling at my car radio as I listened to Capuano say “well, the kids put up a good effort” as they lost throughout the season. There was no accountability, and no, they have no idea what a playoff atmosphere is like.
They need to win, and put together winning streaks. Too many times I’ve seen them win 3-4 games in a row (and very impressively), but then come out the next few games with absolutely nothing. They need to find it night after night, which is something I haven’t seen since pre-Gordon.
Last year they never won more than 3 in a row. You’re 100% right about cappy.
This is true. The streaks I am referring to are since the Gordon era. I hope we see something new behind the bench.
Because it won’t let me respond on the other post regarding Thompson, I have to say this: Thompson would at least show some fire. I think Thompson is a good coach based off his ECHL championship and what he did with basically nothing down in Bridgeport. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t mean he’s proven by any means, but the fact that he’s suspended in the AHL for a tirade shows he has more emotion in one game than Cappy has shown all season. The Islanders need to be held accountable, and a coach like Cappy cannot do that. The Islanders need emotion more than anything else because the type of game they play is often lethargic.
A little emotion from our coach would be a good thing, for sure. It was great to see Dough Weight get fired up when the zebras were screwing his team. I understand that Cappy wants to teach them to stay even keeled and not to get to high or too low. But there comes a time when you should get mad and show some passion and fire..
Agreed. I would love to see some fire and passion from the guys behind the bench. The coaches need to bring respect to this organization ON the ice. Obviously, they aren’t playing, but show some emotion. The coaches need to show the fans that they’re watching the games too.