B&O Playoff Notes: Rangers are toast, Price can't Carey the load, Osgood back in top form, and Brad Richards a deadline steal

Eastern Conferene

Penguins v. Rangers - I don't even think Islander fans would have predicted that the Penguins would be currently sitting with a 3-0 series lead on the Rangers. But having watched every minute of every game so far, I can tell you that the Penguins sit where they because they are the far superior team. In game 1, the Penguins came storming back from an early 3-0 deficit and haven't looked back since. In game 2, the Rangers cried that the refs blew the game for them, but anyone who watched that game could tell you that the Rangers were tremendously outplayed for 59 minutes. Game 3 should have been the Rangers night to regain some lost ground in the series, but apparently Chris Simon's vicious attack on Ryan Hollweg didn't knock any sense into the latter. After the Rangers stormed back from a seemingly insurmountable 3-1 deficit, Hollweg for no reason in the offensive zone disgustingly bulldozed Petr Sykora from behind into the boards. That gave the Penguins back some much needed momentum, and moments later, a power play goal. Sean Avery is out for the season, which could remind the Rangers to focus more on playing hockey, and less on how to continuously agitate your opponents with bush league antics.

Canadians v. Flyers - Think about what the Flyers have accomplished thus far. They went from being one of the worst teams in the East one year ago (where the Isles are now) to leading the first place Canadians in the second round of the playoffs. The progression of the Flyers organization shows that a complete turnaround is possible if the right decisions are made. The Canadians' GM should be fired for unloading Cristobol Huet at the trading deadline and forcing an untested and unproven Carey Price to lead the way.

Western Conference

Red Wings v. Avalanche - Nobody here is crying that Ryan Smyth's Avalanche are no match for the Red Wings. The Red Wings are simply a much quicker, smarter, and more disciplined hockey team. I also have no kind words for teams like the Ducks and the Avalanche who each before the trading deadline picked up all-stars who chose to sit out for a majority of the NHL season. In addition, it has been great to see Chris Osgood steal the reigns from Hasek and run with it. Remember, Osgood was run out of Detroit after the Red Wings first acquired Hasek. Osgood quickly became a fan favorite on Long Island--he was a great Islander who was happy to be here and was an instrumental part is getting the Isles back to respectability in the NHL.

Sharks v. Stars - What's wrong with the San Jose Sharks? They just can't seem to put it all together--a great regular season team that simply can't get over that last hurdle in the playoffs. Nabokov is the clear Vezina winner after a remarkable regular season, but he still has yet to carry his team deep into the playoffs. The Stars went out and got Brad Richards at the trading deadline, a move that has already paid for itself.

Golf Conference

Isles v. The Rest - Nothing has really happened in the Isles organization since the end of the regular season. Bergenheim was injured for a few days, DP became a TV star, and Snow signed a few college players. Snow has plenty of work to do this offseason, which we will start to pay more attention to as the NHL season winds down. So for now, the Isles can continue to work on their golf game and can patiently await the rival Rangers to join them on the golf course in the not so distant future.

B&O's Key Factors for the 2008-2009 New York Islanders

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UPDATE: I found a definition for Nolan-type player, for those of you who might be confused. Check it out here...

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Nolan-type
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Here are my following notes/highlights that must be addressed and/or acknowledged before the start of next season.

1. The New York Islander did not lose because of injuries. They lost because they were devoid of talent.

2. Ted Nolan is a good coach, not a great coach. Hopefully next year he will learn to incorporate his younger players at an earlier point in the season.

3. Nolan should be blasted for his horrible powerplay strategies. The Isles looked like they never practiced the 5 on 3. Or if they did, after noticing that it was failing miserably, they never changed it up. The more the powerplay faltered the more Nolan went with a "law of averages" strategy hoping that if the PP stinks, then it would only get better over time. He should employ a "common sense" strategy where if his PP unit stinks, then he should try out new players and a different strategy.

4. Dubie v. Joey Mac? Who cares. Dubie did his job, and Joey Mac could probably do the same job. Don't lose sleep over this conundrum.

5. Blame Snow and not Nolan? I don't think that's fair considering the huge role Nolan plays in who Snow signs. On a normal team, the GM would be solely to blame for the on-ice product. But in the Isles' case, Nolan might be equally deserving of the same blame as Snow.

6. Let Fedotenko walk. Try to resign Joe Vasicek. If Satan will take a pay cut, consider him as well. Cut ties with Hilbert. His role on this team is easily replaceable.

7. Do not ride DP into the pavement. He should get a max of 60-65 games next season.

8. Do not make the same mistake with Tambellini that this organization made with Robert Nillson. Everything all the Tambellini-haters say about Tambs, said the same thing about Nillson: he's soft on the puck, he's lazy, he doesn't put up numbers, he's a career AHL player, blah blah blah. Nillson's confidence was destroyed by a coach who didn't believe in him. The Isles better get it right with Tambellini, who has all the tools to be a very good NHL scorer. If Nolan is as good a coach as many believe he is, then he should be able to harness those tools, right?

9. Don't change much on the blue line. The Isles should be set there for next season. Consider moving Gervais for an offensive player.

10. Overall, not a useless season for the Isles. We got to see where many of our younger players stand and got a glimpse of Okposo and Hillen. But the Isles and Snow/Nolan need to remember that solid teams cannot be built on grit alone--teams need a certain amount of skill. Nolan will forever favor those players who resemble himself as a player: talentless, hard-working, gritty, career-minor leaguers. If Nolan can actually get a group to play the gritty blue collar style he preaches, then I think the Isles will be fine. But don't kid yourself into believing the Isles put in a good effort every night before the injuries piled up, because they didn't. This upcoming final year of Nolan's contract should be judged on how hard a young team will work for a gritty "hard-working" coach.

B&O Playoff Challenge

This year we will be conducting our first annual B&O Playoff Challenge.

The contestant with the most wins will be our champion. Extra points for correct games. Who knows their stuff?

The First round matchups are....
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Montreal(1) v. Boston(8)
Pittsburgh(2) v. Ottawa(7)
Washington(3) v. Philadelphia(6)
New Jersey(4) v. New York R(5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Detroit(1) v. Nashville(8)
San Jose(2) v. Calgary(7)
Minnesota(3) v. Colorado(6)
Anaheim(4) v. Dallas(5)

FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME

By: BIll (Guest Columnist)

This summer will be the defining moment for the Snow/Nolan regime. The team, as it stands now, is full of holes and there are teams in the Eastern Conference that are becoming stronger (Washington, Philadelphia, Montreal).

As it stands now, goaltending appears to be a real strength. I think that both Joey Mac and Dubie have proved to the rest of the NHL that they are capable backups Unfortunately, one of them has to go. Mac has a signed contract for next year and my gut feeling is that Snow would like to see him emerge as the back up. Dubie, on the other hand, is an UFA. My feeling is that the Isles should resign Dubie to a two year deal and then move one of the two.

I personally prefer to see Dubie stay just because he bleeds Islanders blue and orange. He has proved to me that he is more than an adequate back up and that he could easily play 20 games next year.

Joey Mac, with a signed deal, should bring some kind of pick or prospect before the draft. I hope that Snow doesn't pull another "brain freeze" and allow Dubie to walk away for nothing in return as he has done several times in the past. He will certainly attract some offers and he should be locked up ASAP.

Loyalty to this franchise has been in short supply over the last years and at some point the franchise has to reward the players that really want to be here. Hunter was a good start and Snow should continue it with Dubie.

Random thoughts:

Sillinger should retire or be bought out, if he cannot be moved before the season starts. He was a good stopgap but clearly his time here has passed.

Comeau is a decent player but he is being hyped way beyond his talent. He holds the puck too long and does too much sideboard play. He should blossom into perhaps a second line player. He is not as good as his hype and is simply a solid player on a bad team. He only has 8 goals in 50 games. He is a future building block but by no means is he star material.

Colliton is a sleeper who should replace Hilbert next year. If he puts on some muscle over the summer, he could be a tough player to move from in front of the net. He is also a very good player on the PK.

Okposo looks like he will one day be a frontline player here. Finally, a first round pick that lives up to his reputation.

Steve Regier doesn't appear to have a future in the NHL. Anyone here think differently?

Tambellini has disappointed me this year however, I would like to see what he could with Franz Neilsen as his center all year. They worked magic together in Bridgeport this year and I see no reason why they should not at least be given the chance to do the same here.

What is the consensus on Joe V.? Stay or go? I waffle. I know that if he goes he will score 30 goals for his new team. If he stays he will hit 15 again. What say you?

MY GOODBYE LIST:
Tank
Satan
Sillinger
Hilbert
Joe V ????

Next time I'll address the defense.....BILL