The Islanders remain, miraculously, on top of their division (and ahead of Tavares and the Leafs, somehow). It’s a weird season with the Pens not in playoff position and the ragtag group of non-stars that make up the Isles are on top. Trotz has to get coach of the year, right? Their defense is so hot that both of their goalies are tops in the league.
Any day, I’m still expecting them to revert to the mean, but it’s probably late enough in the season that they’ll still make the playoffs. No one expected this – the pre-season word was that they are throwing this season to get a top draft pick.
Plus the Islanders have their remaining home games and the first round of the playoffs in Nassau, that’ll help.
This Washington Capitals team is maddeningly inconsistent. Two real stinkers in the past week with an inexcusable loss to the Ducks and a bad loss to the Sabres. Naturally, they give up a goal to the Rangers in the first minute this afternoon!
If you want inconsistent, check out the Dallas Stars. One day they’re amazing, next day they can’t, in the words of the coach, make a 5 foot pass. I bet Monty wishes he’d stayed in the college ranks.
The Stars made a nice move in picking up Mats Zuccarello from the Rangers. Things start off great with him too. He has a goal and an assist in his first game, against the Hawks. Of course, near the end of the second period, he blocks a shot and breaks his arm. At first they were saying he’d be out for a month, now I am hearing surgery and out for the rest of the season :smack: Without stellar goaltending, I don’t know where the Stars would be.
I hope what you are hearing is wrong, Ike Witt. Zuccarello has always been one of my favorite players and I have no idea why the Rangers let him go so cheap. Or did he want to leave? Anyway it was so cool to see him in a Stars uniform. Now this. If he’s out for very long he probably won’t be a Star next year. You are for sure right about goaltending keeping us (kind of ) alive.
Yeah, that was a great and a terrible game at the same time. I was really happy about getting Zuccarello, and he produced nicely in his short time with us. The current news is that surgery is happening to put a plate in. But it’s a clean break, and he’s still projected at four weeks.
Still, ugh, was happy to have him here. Maybe L’Esperance* can do more if he’s called up again.
