Good Morning, Islanders Country.
Typically, crisis management is needed when there has been a sudden, unpredictable event or an unforeseeable consequence. Experts are brought in to strategize as to how to best minimize the damage.
The Isles’ shaky start wasn’t unanticipated. The daunting schedule always made it plausible, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t nearing a crisis point.
Yes, it is only six games - and they’ve had slow starts before, but for a team very familiar with each other, they are behaving like a group in search of an identity. When Lane Lambert was hired, the thought was his existing relationships would make it easier to transition to a new style of play.
“I think it’s a real tremendous advantage,” he said back in May. “I’ve been here for four years. I’ve been working with each individual for that period of time, for the most part. I think it gives us an advantage to hit the ground running.”
But that hasn’t felt the case. Veterans have been scratched, defense pairings are being shuffled. The old assistant / new coach is admittedly moving players around to generate chemistry that remains as elusive as it was last season.
They haven’t found a plan that works over the last three games. We’ll see if the plan changes or the execution of the plan improves on Wednesday night.
Coming up, the start of the season has fans on edge and the team’s beat writers explain why. Plus, the Hockey Maven makes (not writes) headlines, the time Nick Leddy made Isles history, and when it comes to revving up fans on the video board, Ralph Macchio is the best … around.
Let’s dive in.
📰 NEWS: The Islanders were off on Monday with practice scheduled for today ahead of Wednesday night’s tilt with the rival New York Rangers at UBS Arena.
It was a day for reflection and venting (more so venting) for Islanders fans on social media, from those who feel the team’s cup contention clock is ticking to those who believe the window has already shut.
The writers covering the team presented a more toned-down view of things:
Andrew Gross, Newsday
So far, it’s the same team with the same results.
And that hasn’t been a good thing for the Islanders. Six games into the season, president and general manager Lou Lamoriello’s unshakeable belief in his core group has not paid dividends.
Joe Pantorno, amNewYork
Two facts can be mutually exclusive when looking at the New York Islanders start to the 2022-23 season.
It’s too early to slap a label on and prescribe them a place in the standings.
Their early lack of production and attention to detail provides quite a red flag.
Kevin Kurz, The Athletic
Already, the Islanders are showing signs they may be a team bordering on crisis. They are 2-4-0 on the season, with their only two wins coming at home against lowly West Coast teams Anaheim and San Jose.
Oh, and their next three games are against the Rangers, Hurricanes and Avalanche — all legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. This could get worse before it gets better.
⏭ NEXT UP: The Islanders host their cross-town rivals on Wednesday night at UBS Arena. Puck drop versus the Blueshirts is scheduled for 7:30 PM.
📊 STANDINGS:
👏🏻 CROWN JEWEL: The organization announced that it will honor hockey historian and longtime fixture on Isles telecasts Stan Fischler, aka “The Hockey Maven,” by naming the press level “The Stan Fischler Press Level.”
"To have my name on the press box is roughly equivalent to something like having a little banner for me," Fischler said to NewYorkIslanders.com. "In my personal journalistic life, this is the crown jewel."
📚 SOUND SMART: Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, the Islander defense has scored seven goals; they didn't score their seventh goal last season until January 1st. The Isles have three defensemen with two goals on the season; last season, that did not happen until game 38 (February 1st vs. Ottawa). The seven defense goals lead the NHL; Noah Dobson's assist gives the defense 13 points this season.
🗓 THIS DATE IN ISLANDERS HISTORY: Nick Leddy becomes the first defenseman in Islanders history to score on a penalty shot when he beats Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson at 17:19 of the first period in a 4-2 win. Leddy registered the second two-goal game of his career on the night and added an assist as the Islanders won their sixth straight game.
🎧 Islanders Anxiety: And The It Went to Hell: The Islanders drop three games in a row and Mike and Dan aren’t happy about it, or about their upcoming schedule of difficult opponents.
🔗 Islanders mirroring last season's team, and that's not good by Andrew Gross, Newsday “The Islanders insisted last season’s disappointment was an aberration fueled by a COVID-19-impacted schedule and roster. Lamoriello doubled down on his belief in his core group.”
🔗 Islanders slow start raising questions: ‘We’ve got to lock it down here soon’ by Joe Pantorno, amNewYork “Lambert has already tinkered with his lineup, scratching established veterans like Josh Bailey and Anthony Beauvillier in consecutive games during an unsuccessful Florida road trip that featured losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers.”
And we leave you with this…Cobra Kai star Ralph Macchio has a new book out “Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me” and has been making the media rounds.
In The Athletic, he talks about his relationship with the Islanders and how it has evolved since the 1980s, including his frequent video board cameos.
“We were not at the forefront of technology at the old barn. So, it was later on, and once they could show clips, I would hear “(You’re) the Best Around,” and I would know in a second I would be up on the scoreboard — and more so recently. But even before “Cobra Kai,” it would happen. - Ralph Macchio
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.....REALLY, however much I'm absolutely NOT a fan of LL, can't imagine what MORE he COULD'VE done this offseason; were VERY few realistic or viable free agents and as I've noted, were they to have added Gaudreau, LIKELY Mathew would've been traded (how would THAT have gone over with MANY fans, prospective FUTURE player arrivals, draftees? Barzal's struggles are a HUGE part of why the team at large, does.....)