Playing Hooky= Playing Catch-Up

Dear Blog,

Well, you and I have some catching up to do. It's been a whirlwind for me this week, what with endless lacrosse practices and classes, and schoolwork and trying to find time to sleep in between. College is definitely something to get used to. However, with the Islanders having lost three in a row right now, I think it might be a good thing that I haven't been able to watch.

Not that it makes it any easier. Whoever makes up the Isles' schedule really doesn't like the team, do they? Otherwise they wouldn't have stuck us on a nothing channel like MSG+ 2, which doesn't even exist unless all three teams play each other one night. I understand it's because of overflow, but would it be too much to ask to at least make a real channel for us, if that's the case?

At any rate, even a better channel wouldn't help the Isles, who supposedly made a few strides yesterday against San Jose after looking flat against Los Angeles on Monday and then getting completely drubbed by Buffalo on Friday night. Matt Moulson even put the Islanders on the board first, and from what I hear we were spirited and feisty early on. But then things started to pile up, and the pressure was put on, and we just lost it. It's a shame, once more to lose, but it's expected. We can't yet establish a forecheck, and our D is just not good. Our young players still need work, though they have been producing, and as for the system... maybe we shouldn't go there just yet. But something has to be changed. Maybe the D pairs need some tweaking; maybe the lines themselves... maybe Richard Park has to be taken off the faceoff circle... something needs to be fixed. Or maybe they just need time to "jell" and become a cohesive unit.

The rest of this month doesn't look too promising for the Isles as far as looking for a win is concerned. They play Carolina on Wednesday, then Montreal, and match up with teams like Washington, the Rangers, and Buffalo once more to close out the season. With teams like these, the Isles are really going to have to assert themselves and get something going, and fast.

Till next time,
Angie