The storm surge continues, this time swallowing the whole of Long Island. The Carolina Hurricanes have completed a second-round sweep of the New York Islanders, ousting Barry Trotz‘s beloved Brooklyn boys with four straight victories.
By Peter Hassett 3 weeks ago
The New York Islanders defensive transformation under new head coach Barry Trotz was nothing short of revolutionary. In the 2017-18 season, the Isles conceded 293 goals against, which was league worst. This season, it’s down to 196, best in the league.
No doubt this is in large part to Robin Lehner and Thomass Greiss having stellar seasons under goaltending coach Mitch Korn, but systematically Trotz has implemented a structure under which the Isles have flourished.
So where has that defensive structure gone against Carolina, and why was it so effective against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round?
By Julia Karron 3 weeks ago
The 2018-19 Caps are dead and gone, forcing us all to reckon with a grim reality and an impossible question: who do we support now?
By Peter Hassett and Julia Karron and Brennin Weiswerda and Cara Bahniuk and Ian Oland and Rachel Cohen and Donya Abramo 4 weeks ago
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ season is over. Known Penguin slayer, the orca of the Eastern Conference, Barry Trotz coached his New York Islanders to a four-game sweep. The Isles won Game Four 3-1.
This will be the first loffs since 2015-16 that the Capitals and Penguins will not meet.
By Peter Hassett 1 month ago
After Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders on home ice, the Pittsburgh Penguins are one loss away from first-round elimination.
We made it all the way until now before writing about this. Aren’t you proud of us?
By Peter Hassett 1 month ago
The Washington Capitals dropped a 3-0 decision to the New York Islanders on the final day of the NHL regular season. The game was meaningless to the Capitals and we now know that the boys will be taking on the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the playoffs.
The Caps out-shot the Isles 29 to 24.
By Chris Cerullo 2 months ago
Saturday night, the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders matched up in a game that mattered none to the good guys and only little to the bad guys. That’s the great analysis you can expect from CFTC when it’s game number 82.
Nada in the first just like Adam Cole got nada last night on Takeover. Val Filppula opened scoring on a breakaway and added another in the third. Matt Martin empty netter.
Islanders beat Caps 3-0.
By Chris Cerullo 2 months ago
The regular season ends tonight as the Washington Capitals host the New York Islanders for game 82. There’s nothing at stake for the Caps in this one, but other games will determine who their first round opponent will be. I imagine we’ll be watching the Atlas Corporation out-of-town scoreboard a lot tonight.
Puck drop is at 7 PM, and you can stream the game using the My Teams app. Chris has recap responsibilities, and he promises not to abuse the privilege again by sharing more unsolicited opinions about Mountain Dew Baja Blast.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
Last summer, John Tavares made a free agency splash when he left the New York Islanders, the team that drafted him, in order to pursue his childhood dream of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Islanders fans were miffed. When the Leafs traveled to play the Islanders earlier this season, Islanders fans chanted “we don’t need you” and burned their Tavares jerseys en route to a 6-1 whooping of the Leafs.
But Tuesday night, the Leafs got their revenge with a 2-1 win, which clinched their spot in the playoffs. Tavares scored the game-winning tally.
Less than one minute after his goal, Tavares served a slashing penalty on Matthew Barzal. An irate Islanders fan next to the penalty box unloaded on Tavares in a rant worthy of a Dear John video.
By Julia Karron 2 months ago
This past weekend I concluded my planned arena visits for the season.
I saw the Capitals vs New York Islanders at NYCB Live on March 1 and then stuck around to see the Caps play the New York Rangers on March 3.
Earlier in the season, I was also able to see the Capitals play the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in October (but please forgive me, I wiped that horrendous game out of my memory and forgot to write my review).
Let’s discuss why you should go see some hockey in New York.
By Cara Bahniuk 3 months ago
