After 33 games in the books, Noah Pedrazzoli checks in on the vibe around Islanders Country as the team gets back to health.
An Introduction
The New York Islanders are in the midst of another rocky season. The injuries that have incapacitated a substantial portion of the lineup, especially Anthony Duclair and Mathew Barzal, have hindered their offensive capacity.
However, the Islanders are still very much in the playoff race and are doing whatever they can to continue to rack up points as reinforcements continue to arrive.
After coming off a tough loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, what are the vibes on the Island?
Good Vibes
After an OT loss to the Montreal Canadiens and a devastating loss to the Seattle Kraken, the Islanders rallied the fanbase with two wins against the Carolina Hurricanes and the Ottawa Senators.
The Islanders started Ilya Sorokin back-to-back against both the Hurricanes and the Senators where he stood on his head to say the least. Posting a .903 save percentage against the Hurricanes and a .935 versus the Senators, Sorokin has continued to be the reason why the Islanders are still alive in the playoff picture.
Anders Lee continues his spectacular year and JG Pageau has stepped up to the mantle with his playmaking ability. Simon Holmstrom has also improved and adapted his style of play to fit with Patrick Roy’s vision while showing flashes of brilliance with his puck management skills.
Simon Holmstrom! 🚨#LGI | @ford pic.twitter.com/MolHxJCO7i
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 15, 2024
Simon Holmstrom pots a goal vs, the Blackhawks
“When they do win, the games are typically nail biters to the end with fans on the edge of their seats fearing another brutal 3rd period collapse. ”
Bad Vibes
The overarching issue besides the injuries is the sloppy style of play. The team looks disoriented and fatigued. Win or lose, the Islanders look lost, lacking their trademark grit of the past. This can be accredited to the constant roster shuffling, but signs of weakness are only beneficial to their competitors in the standings.
During their win against the Ottawa Senators, the Islanders were outshot 31 to 13. They consistently lost puck battles and turned the puck over.
In fact, it has been a consistent issue that has put a strain on their star netminder, Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin has been outstanding, but he can’t do it all on his own.
The Islanders need to clean up their defensive play and mount efficient counter attacks as they did under Barry Trotz in the past.
This roster lacks identity.
In their recent bout against the Kings, the Islanders didn’t wake up until late in the first period when they were already down 2-0. In fact, the Islanders trailed in their wins over Carolina and Ottawa before mounting comebacks.
The Islanders have shifted from taking control early only to give it up later in games, to starting behind the eight ball from puck drop and playing catch up.
As we get closer to the season’s halfway point, the Islanders still lack balance through 60 minutes of hockey.
Overall Vibe
While the Islanders should be commended for having the will to remain in playoff contention, they are struggling.
After a disheartening shutout loss to the Hurricanes, the vibe check rating has dropped to 2. The Islanders continue to kindle the flame of hope even with a crippled roster by bagging points where they can, but the flaws in their game continue to reveal themselves on a nightly basis.
Even when they win, the games are typically nail biters to the end with fans on the edge of their seats fearing another brutal 3rd period collapse.
The Islanders are expected to have Anthony Duclair return which should galvanize the offense. And a healthy Islanders’ roster could provide some more hope and stability. But after a string of uninspiring losses, the future is currently murky and unpredictable.
The Islanders have their work cut out for them as they sit last in the Metropolitan Division. We’ll see what kind of team shows up in an important game against the Maple Leafs in Toronto Saturday night.
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