Islanders Defensive Disarray

The Islanders experienced their most disastrous period ever when facing the Pens, allowing a staggering six goals in a single period. What was even more alarming was the astonishing shots on goal. 

It is easy to blame the defense, but I am here to let people know this is not just the defense. The forwards failed to grasp an essential lesson in this game: the importance of being a complete player. They just threw Sorokin to the wolves; if they were parents, they would have been charged with abandonment of their children.  

The good news is this has not been their habit. Up until the fiasco of the Penguins game, the Isles were on a roll, led by Horvat and Barzal, who have been the players they are paid to be. The forwards were buying into the system to help out on the defensive system. For the most part, they diligently covered their man in the defensive zone. 

The defense was fine. Considering that they did not have Pelech, Polock, or Mayfield, they were on the verge of being spectacular. Dobson emerged as the clear leader of this makeshift group of dmen, effectively plugging up the leaks. Mike Reilly and Robert Bortuzzo have filled in admirably in the absence of Mayfield, Polock, and Pelech.

The Isles just have to work on these breakdowns, expecting to win without playing a full sixty minutes. Yes, they are a solid team, but they need to be better. They must put in a consistent effort.

What needs to put this team into a contender? The team needs to address two key areas: acquiring a scoring forward and another dman to fill in the top six. Whether the Isles make these steps depends on where they are in the standings. If the Islanders are in a wildcard spot, Lou may consider making a trade to improve their chances. However, if they are at least in third place, the team may be willing to trade some future assets to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup.

Randy

The Flames' Dilemma

You can bet the Calgary Flames will be one of the busiest teams in the league over the next little while as they potentially transition from contenders to rebuilders. The team must determine their direction for this season, which will be consistently evaluated based on their performance.

The main decision that has to be made is what they will do with the defensive core. Following the Zordorv trade, only Hanifin and Tanav remained. Naturally, the initial inclination is to trade both of them. The problem is, can the Flames make the playoffs? It begs the question: Can you trade your defense if the Flames are aiming for the playoffs? Only time will tell.

The next question is whether the Flames will promote Wolf. Vladar was outstanding in the last game against the Knights. Without him, the Flames had no chance of winning. His consistent performance proved crucial for the team's victories. Meanwhile, Wolf continues to be an All-Star in the AHL. The Flames will have another issue to deal with as the Flame's depth continues to be a story this year. 

The Flames have seen a resurgence in their leaders, with Huberdeau and Kadri stepping up their game of late. Huby played his best game of the year against the Stars. If the kids can continue to bring out the best in Kadri and Huberdeau, the team could be in for a fun couple of months ahead.

All of this goes to say that the Flames have been fun to watch so far this season. I wonder when or if the plug gets pulled on the season. Will the next trade focus on future prospects, or will the team persist in their efforts to enhance their performance this season? So far, it would appear that the Flames have no intention of giving up this season.