ISLANDERS NEWS: DISASTROUS YET PREDICTABLE, HUMBLING YET HARDLY SURPRISING
There’s not much more to say about Game 2 that hasn’t already been said. It was a poor, uninspiring performance — though the national broadcast focused on their grit! Their toughness! — masked somewhat by the fact the Isles built a 3-0 lead.
They weren’t horrible up to that point, but aside from cashing in their few chances, they’d been less impressive than in Game 1. Then the Hurricane response to being down 3-0 came...in wave after wave with virtually no answer from the Isles.
I did not see much that I liked, other than Semyon Varlamov and a few forays from the top line, the only one that occasionally gained the offensive zone with some purpose.
Judging by fan reactions on Twitter, the one solace is that while that ending was harsh, humiliating and horrific, it was also fairly predictable. That takes a bit of the edge off.
Whatever. New day, new thread.
Islanders News
- Recapping the gore of it all. [LHH]
- Three Takeaways: You suck, you sucked, you jerks. [Isles]
- J-G Pageau returned for Game 2, logging an assist that seemed momentous at the time. [Newsday]
- Prospect Report: Some Justin Gill, some Tomas Machu, some Isaiah George. [Isles]
Elsewhere
- The Oilers destroyed the Kings in Game 1, 7-4, and it wasn’t really even that close. [NHL]
- Of course Mark Stone and Tomas Hertl each scored for Vegas as they beat the Stars in Game 1. [NHL]
- The Leafs edged the Bruins to even their series at 1-1. [NHL]
- The Lightning are optimistic they can rebound against the Panthers in Game 2. [NHL]
- Alexandar Georgiev just aims to “remain positive” after getting torched in Game 1. [NHL]
- So it’s for real: Lindy Ruff will again coach the Sabres. [NHL]