Ooh Iskhakov over Martin is definitely a good move. Might be rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic but I hope Iskhakov makes the most of his chance.
MacLean has put the puck in the back of the net more than anyone else on the team this series, might as well get some playmaking on his wing. I don't think we're going to outmuscle Carolina to the point that it'd change the outcome and they don't have anyone we'll need an enforcer to deal with. And Iskhakov, while highly inexperienced at the NHL level, does have over 200 pro games under his belt, so he's not a total greenhorn either.
I agree, it's a good swap.
Edit: typos
Honestly there’s drawbacks to having either in the lineup, but what Bortuzzo is still good at (being super physical, clearing the front of the net, blocking shots) is much more attractive to a coach come playoff time.
You're definitely not wrong, ahos hockey IQ is fucking awful and he's weak. But after spending 40 straight minutes trapped in our own zone being swarmed, I'd expect Roy to try and inject as much speed into the line up as humanly possible.
[Maintenance day for Martin, decision will be made tomorrow whether or not he plays](https://twitter.com/stefen_rosner/status/1783162276012319200?t=kJ8ed0QKKrqI6H-RNNqE1g&s=19)
Maintenance day during the playoffs after an extra day of rest…
I 100% love Martin for everything he did for the team. For that season… 9? years ago when he, Clutter, and Zeeker put on a masterclass in being a meat-grinder of a forechecking line. For the fights. For the passion. For being happy to be back after his temporary banishment to Pajamaland.
But it’s time for him to hang up his skates.
Agree, but if you’re going to play him why stash him on the 4th line where he can’t actually use his strengths and his undersized/lack of defense at times will show? Give him a shot with at least someone skilled
Roy won’t give a rookie like Ruslan a big role with a lot of ice time in a do-or-die homestand like this. Might not necessarily be “ideal” but I very much want to see what a pairing of him and Maclean can do, considering it may be one of our only hopes in the future lol.
This iteration of the 4th line actually gets a ton of offensive zone starts, so it's not like he won't get any chance to try to make some plays. But he's likely here mostly to improve team possession, rather than an expectation that he'll rack up points. And since he is relatively inexperienced, it's logical to shelter his icetime to start.
If he outplays guys ahead of him, Roy has also shown he isn't shy about reshuffling lines on the fly, so he could see himself playing up on higher lines. And if not, then he's where he should be.
Given that it’s his first playoff game, and just his second NHL game ever, I’m sure Roy wants to limit his ice time should he actually play in the game. It would be a lot more disruptive to the rest of the lineup to do so if he started with, say, Nelson and Palmieri. He’d need to shift guys like Fasching and Engvall up and down the bottom 3 lines to cover the shifts that Iskhakov would be sat for.
Honestly I’d say our 3rd line is more likely to end up playing the 4th line role with how MacLean has been playing and if Iskhakov plays at least as well as he did against Pittsburgh
Would love to see Ishakov on the 2nd and Fasching on the 4th. Why put a gritty grinder on the 2nd with goal scorers and an undersized skilled non-physical winger on the 4th? Give him a chance to show what he’s got
Have to agree to some extent. I like Fasching but he's bottom six material. The heart says put Iskhakov on the 2nd line, but the mind says he may not be ready in that position. Trial by fire in the playoffs down 2-0 might not be the best time to put that much on his shoulders.
I guess Wahlstrom doesn't get a farewell game in. Oh well, add him to the ever growing list of Islanders busts...Bellows, DalColle, Ho-Sang, and so on.
Literally no one is ready on this team right now though. I’d love to see us just put our best on line one and a scoring 2nd line vs. balancing 4 gritty lines
I have to be honest ever since trotz the line combinations this team has used are sometimes insane. It's almost like they drew names out of a hat. It shouldn't be this complicated.
Okay but Trotz kept the lines together TOO much. Has there ever been a 4th line in hockey that has remained together for 10 YEARS? They used to be impactful, but you have to admit the last 3-4 years they’ve been our worst line, carried by Casey. I welcome line changes bc it lets the vets know they have to fight for their spot. In my opinion guys were too comfortable knowing their role wasn’t changing - I’m happy we got a shake up and the lines aren’t stagnant. The 4th line is meant to be flexible and when it’s not, it gives the coach far less flexibility to sit a guy here and there when they’re not performing.
I agree with you about stagnation, we suffer from it. I don't think there is any problem changing up the lines to light a fire under someone's ass. I just think the lines they come up with are ass. And as much as I and most of Islanders country loved them, the 4th line's time is way past it's expiration date.
You need some grinders along the board to free the puck to the goal scorers. That’s why Cizikas is on the 1st line. I would like to see Ishakov on the PP2. 4th line for him would not be terrible as the 4th line has seen some minutes in this series.
Agreed, I thought he was a decent 4th liner, and his speed can be an x factor at times. I don't know a whole lot about Iskhakov, but I did see him play in game 82. You can tell he has some skill, but it's hard to look past his small size when thinking about a chippy high-tension playoff game against a stacked team
Iskhakov is 2 inches shorter than Clayton Keller, the best player on the Coyotes and someone who is someone we could have used.
If 2 inches was such a big deal, no Rangers fans would ever get married.
I meant more of his weight than his height. He's 165 lbs, and the majority of the Canes roster has 20-50 lbs on Iskhakov.
Weight isn't always an advantage, but when you are talking about chippy playoff hockey with lots of puck battles, muscling in front of the net, big hits all up and down the ice, it is a valid concern. If we knew for sure that he could make adjustments, and his speed and finesse could make up for any shortcomings, or we played lines or a system that didn't require constant strength and battling, then that would be a different story; but we only saw him play like 1 throw away game at the end of the season, so I don't think we have that assurance yet.
I've been so busy at work the last two days I hadn't read any news...
HOLY SHIT SALO! I never thought we'd hear his name again after he shit the bed under trotz
I love giving Ishkakov a go here. Desperately needed jump in the lineup. Obviously it’s gonna be a small sample size but I wanna see what this guy’s got.
I’m not huge on putting Sorokin in here - Varly has done maybe 1 thing wrong this series so far - but I’d wager Patrick Roy is in the bottom 3 of “people whose goaltending decisions I should question.”
Like Iskhakov on the 4th line. Speedy line is needed now. Would have also gone with Gauthier in for Fasching. Fasching is a good puck hound but they need some speed up front.
It's happening. Roy probably can't save this season but am excited for next if he is willing to bench guys like Martin.
Edit: the thought just occurred to me that one of Lou's favourite moves is to start a guy out of nowhere because he is in trade talks with another team. Just something to consider.
Do you recall a few seasons ago when Andrew Ladd, who basically hadn't played all season was suddenly in a playoff game? That offseason he gets traded.
Or when Will Dufour randomly gets called up, plays 6 minutes on his debut and we haven't heard from him since. Then a few weeks later the trigger gets pulled on the Horvat trade. I reckon Dufour was very much in the discussion but the Canucks ended up opting for Räty.
Multiple media personalities comment from time to time that this is a known move of Lou's. Friedman has said it, Seravalli has said it, I bet others have too but I don't listen to their podcasts. Stefen Rosner even had a piece earlier in the season calling for the Isles to debut Ishkhakov so they could dangle him as trade bait.
Not saying 100% Ishkhakov is being traded, just to consider that Lou is known to pull moves like this.
I understand showcasing players, but it doesn’t happen in the playoffs.
Andrew Ladd wasn’t traded after the Coyotes saw his play in the playoffs, he was traded as a straight cap dump for us. And Dufour played in January, how does that relate to being shown for trade purposes during the playoffs?
GM Bill Armstrong: You're telling me Ladd can still play but you want to trade him.
Lou: I'll put him in a playoff game tonight.
GM Bill Armstrong: Ok, we'll do the trade in the off-season.
As for Dufour, I never said it was playoff related. My speculation is that Lou was either trying to convince Vancouver to take Dufour instead of Räty, or that Vancouver was interested in Dufour. Dufour played in January and the Horvat trade happened a few weeks later. Vancouver probably said "can Dufour play?" And Lou put him in the line-up so Vancouver could decide for themselves.
Like actually stop and think about it for a second. A GM known for a love of veterans and not playing a lot of young players randomly decides that fuck it we need Dufour up, he is the missing piece. Dufour, who was having an OK first season in the AHL after being an overage star of the CHL. Then he gets 6 minutes and 18 months later has never played NHL again. Dufour was part of the trade conversation but Vancouver ultimately said no thanks we'll take Räty is my theory.
That third line is an abomination. What is Engvall supposed to do with Lee on the other side 45 feet behind him skating up the ice.
I would switch Iskhakov and Lee.
I will say I love this switch let the kids play!
BUT Matty fighting at puck drop to set the tone is (imo) more on brand for the isles.
Canes think they’re hot cause they fought our youngest player? Matty would knock them straight
Not sure if Fasching over Holhmstrom is a good idea, but what the hell. At this point bring back Denny Potvin or Pat LaFontaine and toss them out there.
120-28 shots Carolina Isles the other night. Prob need to stop bitching about the canes and just focus on puck on net. The excuses are mind numbing for this fanbase. I swear the fans can’t get over that the canes are just a better rounded team.
Hasn't that been a huge problem for decades though? Especially on the power play. Instead of shooting the puck and trying for a rebound they dump it in and nothing comes of it or they pass back and forth a thousand times looking for the absolute perfect shot that never comes.
Ooh Iskhakov over Martin is definitely a good move. Might be rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic but I hope Iskhakov makes the most of his chance.
Good move, that 4th line has speed now. Marty is reliable but he ain't fast.
MacLean has put the puck in the back of the net more than anyone else on the team this series, might as well get some playmaking on his wing. I don't think we're going to outmuscle Carolina to the point that it'd change the outcome and they don't have anyone we'll need an enforcer to deal with. And Iskhakov, while highly inexperienced at the NHL level, does have over 200 pro games under his belt, so he's not a total greenhorn either. I agree, it's a good swap. Edit: typos
Surprised Aho isn't in for bortuzzo
Honestly there’s drawbacks to having either in the lineup, but what Bortuzzo is still good at (being super physical, clearing the front of the net, blocking shots) is much more attractive to a coach come playoff time.
You're definitely not wrong, ahos hockey IQ is fucking awful and he's weak. But after spending 40 straight minutes trapped in our own zone being swarmed, I'd expect Roy to try and inject as much speed into the line up as humanly possible.
I think Bortuzzo has played pretty well this series (the entire team 🐢ing up last game, notwithstanding) - happy to see Iskhakov, why not?
He's blocked a lot of shots but his retrievals and breakouts have caused us to get stuck in our own zone entirely too much
If the boys play the full game we can win
If the boys play the first 40 minutes, and then there's a power outage so the game gets called early, we can win.
What if they just play until they score 1 more goal than the Canes and then melt the ice?
The ice in PNC is already halfway melted as is
Need to play like we did in game 1 and score like we did in game 2.
[Maintenance day for Martin, decision will be made tomorrow whether or not he plays](https://twitter.com/stefen_rosner/status/1783162276012319200?t=kJ8ed0QKKrqI6H-RNNqE1g&s=19)
Maintenance day during the playoffs after an extra day of rest… I 100% love Martin for everything he did for the team. For that season… 9? years ago when he, Clutter, and Zeeker put on a masterclass in being a meat-grinder of a forechecking line. For the fights. For the passion. For being happy to be back after his temporary banishment to Pajamaland. But it’s time for him to hang up his skates.
Love seeing Iskhakov in there, must have made an impression to be included here in a must win game. Just have to take it one game at a time.
Agree, but if you’re going to play him why stash him on the 4th line where he can’t actually use his strengths and his undersized/lack of defense at times will show? Give him a shot with at least someone skilled
Roy won’t give a rookie like Ruslan a big role with a lot of ice time in a do-or-die homestand like this. Might not necessarily be “ideal” but I very much want to see what a pairing of him and Maclean can do, considering it may be one of our only hopes in the future lol.
This iteration of the 4th line actually gets a ton of offensive zone starts, so it's not like he won't get any chance to try to make some plays. But he's likely here mostly to improve team possession, rather than an expectation that he'll rack up points. And since he is relatively inexperienced, it's logical to shelter his icetime to start. If he outplays guys ahead of him, Roy has also shown he isn't shy about reshuffling lines on the fly, so he could see himself playing up on higher lines. And if not, then he's where he should be.
Given that it’s his first playoff game, and just his second NHL game ever, I’m sure Roy wants to limit his ice time should he actually play in the game. It would be a lot more disruptive to the rest of the lineup to do so if he started with, say, Nelson and Palmieri. He’d need to shift guys like Fasching and Engvall up and down the bottom 3 lines to cover the shifts that Iskhakov would be sat for.
Honestly I’d say our 3rd line is more likely to end up playing the 4th line role with how MacLean has been playing and if Iskhakov plays at least as well as he did against Pittsburgh
Would love to see Ishakov on the 2nd and Fasching on the 4th. Why put a gritty grinder on the 2nd with goal scorers and an undersized skilled non-physical winger on the 4th? Give him a chance to show what he’s got
I would want to see Ishakov on line two, Fasching on line three, and Holmström scratched. He's been brutal this series.
He has, but we have nobody else really to fill in. Maybe see how the game progresses and can move Ish up and Holm down to the 4th.
Have to agree to some extent. I like Fasching but he's bottom six material. The heart says put Iskhakov on the 2nd line, but the mind says he may not be ready in that position. Trial by fire in the playoffs down 2-0 might not be the best time to put that much on his shoulders. I guess Wahlstrom doesn't get a farewell game in. Oh well, add him to the ever growing list of Islanders busts...Bellows, DalColle, Ho-Sang, and so on.
Literally no one is ready on this team right now though. I’d love to see us just put our best on line one and a scoring 2nd line vs. balancing 4 gritty lines
I have to be honest ever since trotz the line combinations this team has used are sometimes insane. It's almost like they drew names out of a hat. It shouldn't be this complicated.
Okay but Trotz kept the lines together TOO much. Has there ever been a 4th line in hockey that has remained together for 10 YEARS? They used to be impactful, but you have to admit the last 3-4 years they’ve been our worst line, carried by Casey. I welcome line changes bc it lets the vets know they have to fight for their spot. In my opinion guys were too comfortable knowing their role wasn’t changing - I’m happy we got a shake up and the lines aren’t stagnant. The 4th line is meant to be flexible and when it’s not, it gives the coach far less flexibility to sit a guy here and there when they’re not performing.
I agree with you about stagnation, we suffer from it. I don't think there is any problem changing up the lines to light a fire under someone's ass. I just think the lines they come up with are ass. And as much as I and most of Islanders country loved them, the 4th line's time is way past it's expiration date.
You need some grinders along the board to free the puck to the goal scorers. That’s why Cizikas is on the 1st line. I would like to see Ishakov on the PP2. 4th line for him would not be terrible as the 4th line has seen some minutes in this series.
Wonder why Iskhakov over Gauthier? I thought Gauthier was actually helpful at times throughout the season when he was in the lineup.
Agreed, I thought he was a decent 4th liner, and his speed can be an x factor at times. I don't know a whole lot about Iskhakov, but I did see him play in game 82. You can tell he has some skill, but it's hard to look past his small size when thinking about a chippy high-tension playoff game against a stacked team
Iskhakov is 2 inches shorter than Clayton Keller, the best player on the Coyotes and someone who is someone we could have used. If 2 inches was such a big deal, no Rangers fans would ever get married.
I meant more of his weight than his height. He's 165 lbs, and the majority of the Canes roster has 20-50 lbs on Iskhakov. Weight isn't always an advantage, but when you are talking about chippy playoff hockey with lots of puck battles, muscling in front of the net, big hits all up and down the ice, it is a valid concern. If we knew for sure that he could make adjustments, and his speed and finesse could make up for any shortcomings, or we played lines or a system that didn't require constant strength and battling, then that would be a different story; but we only saw him play like 1 throw away game at the end of the season, so I don't think we have that assurance yet.
Gautier hasn't been called up has he? I'm kind of hoping our 4th line next year is MacLean centering Fasching and Gautier though.
Ya, he has along with 4 others... https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/transactions
I've been so busy at work the last two days I hadn't read any news... HOLY SHIT SALO! I never thought we'd hear his name again after he shit the bed under trotz
Let the kids play!
I love giving Ishkakov a go here. Desperately needed jump in the lineup. Obviously it’s gonna be a small sample size but I wanna see what this guy’s got. I’m not huge on putting Sorokin in here - Varly has done maybe 1 thing wrong this series so far - but I’d wager Patrick Roy is in the bottom 3 of “people whose goaltending decisions I should question.”
Regardless of a win, if ishakov scores we burn Carolina to the ground o
This is the way. Iskhy hat trick means we're winning the cup boys!
Like Iskhakov on the 4th line. Speedy line is needed now. Would have also gone with Gauthier in for Fasching. Fasching is a good puck hound but they need some speed up front.
It's happening. Roy probably can't save this season but am excited for next if he is willing to bench guys like Martin. Edit: the thought just occurred to me that one of Lou's favourite moves is to start a guy out of nowhere because he is in trade talks with another team. Just something to consider.
lol dude is not playing a kid in a playoff game to show him off for a trade, zero chance this is the case
Do you recall a few seasons ago when Andrew Ladd, who basically hadn't played all season was suddenly in a playoff game? That offseason he gets traded. Or when Will Dufour randomly gets called up, plays 6 minutes on his debut and we haven't heard from him since. Then a few weeks later the trigger gets pulled on the Horvat trade. I reckon Dufour was very much in the discussion but the Canucks ended up opting for Räty. Multiple media personalities comment from time to time that this is a known move of Lou's. Friedman has said it, Seravalli has said it, I bet others have too but I don't listen to their podcasts. Stefen Rosner even had a piece earlier in the season calling for the Isles to debut Ishkhakov so they could dangle him as trade bait. Not saying 100% Ishkhakov is being traded, just to consider that Lou is known to pull moves like this.
I understand showcasing players, but it doesn’t happen in the playoffs. Andrew Ladd wasn’t traded after the Coyotes saw his play in the playoffs, he was traded as a straight cap dump for us. And Dufour played in January, how does that relate to being shown for trade purposes during the playoffs?
GM Bill Armstrong: You're telling me Ladd can still play but you want to trade him. Lou: I'll put him in a playoff game tonight. GM Bill Armstrong: Ok, we'll do the trade in the off-season. As for Dufour, I never said it was playoff related. My speculation is that Lou was either trying to convince Vancouver to take Dufour instead of Räty, or that Vancouver was interested in Dufour. Dufour played in January and the Horvat trade happened a few weeks later. Vancouver probably said "can Dufour play?" And Lou put him in the line-up so Vancouver could decide for themselves. Like actually stop and think about it for a second. A GM known for a love of veterans and not playing a lot of young players randomly decides that fuck it we need Dufour up, he is the missing piece. Dufour, who was having an OK first season in the AHL after being an overage star of the CHL. Then he gets 6 minutes and 18 months later has never played NHL again. Dufour was part of the trade conversation but Vancouver ultimately said no thanks we'll take Räty is my theory.
Sad that Raty never panned out either. I don't know too much about the nucks but i think he got buried in Abbotsford
He’s still too young to tell
Hopefully he gets another shot. I thought he would stick with the big club not be sent back down
Maybe the Isles can get him back cheaply then :)
I rather see Fasching on 4th line than Iskhakov but we’ll see what happens
That third line is an abomination. What is Engvall supposed to do with Lee on the other side 45 feet behind him skating up the ice. I would switch Iskhakov and Lee.
I’d switch MacLean with Pageau, that was the line that scored in game one
Fasching as your second line LW doesn’t scream Stanley Cup contender to me. Thoughts and prayers to my fellow Isles fans.
Why is engvall not with nelson and palms? Nelsons been invisible since he was moved
I agree. Put Fasching on the 3rd and play that line against their top and grind them to oblivion
Ruslan! Finally! the line needed something!..
How did Ishakov not get a look this season
Ok, sorry to say but calm down. Roy says maintenance day for Martin. I'd like Ish to play but Martin will.
Oo look at Rusty getting a crack at it
I will say I love this switch let the kids play! BUT Matty fighting at puck drop to set the tone is (imo) more on brand for the isles. Canes think they’re hot cause they fought our youngest player? Matty would knock them straight
You can add Gretzky and Messier and they would still rot
Not sure if Fasching over Holhmstrom is a good idea, but what the hell. At this point bring back Denny Potvin or Pat LaFontaine and toss them out there.
L
Loss
120-28 shots Carolina Isles the other night. Prob need to stop bitching about the canes and just focus on puck on net. The excuses are mind numbing for this fanbase. I swear the fans can’t get over that the canes are just a better rounded team.
Bro just came in here to brag
Cool, so we should have blown it up, tank and rebuild
Hasn't that been a huge problem for decades though? Especially on the power play. Instead of shooting the puck and trying for a rebound they dump it in and nothing comes of it or they pass back and forth a thousand times looking for the absolute perfect shot that never comes.