Comrie, on a Horse, in a Pinch

A few days ago, Mike Comrie had the following observation for Arthur Staple of Newsday:

"In this system, you've just got to throw pucks at the net and be in the right spot. It's scrambles, not a whole lot of pretty plays."

I would argue that if the Islanders had enough players capable of pretty plays, they would be more than welcome in the system.

Just over two months into the season, we have system fatigue. It's not that the players are tired of playing it. They, and the coach, have started to tire of talking about it. I don't blame them. I think a lot of fans are just about done talking about the system, too.

That begs the question, why were we talking about it so much in the first place? My memory may be a little fuzzy here, but I don't recall a lot of people talking about the way the Devils played in the 90s until they started winning. And there's your answer.

Entering this Islanders season, we knew that they didn't have the horses to run with the big stables. But we wanted something to pin our hopes on, and it wasn't a donkey. There was, however, a system. So instead of looking at a successful team and wondering what makes them successful, we were left to embrace a system, and hope it would breed success. To take the equine theme just a little too far, that was putting the cart before the horse.

In the midst of an 0-6-1 streak, one cannot root for a system. In the midst of a 6-0-1 streak, one could certainly marvel at the efficacy of a forecheck, or the daring of a pinch.

Until Comrie, Kyle Okposo, Jeff Tambellini, Josh Bailey, and Frans Nielsen are back and playing with the kind of flair that produces pretty plays, there is nothing to do but throw pucks at the net. And if those guys aren't the ones to do more than throw pucks at the net, others will have to be found.

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Good Tidings

Click here to read about the Islanders annual holiday hospital visits. This kind of stuff can't be publicized enough, even though that's not the point. I love the way the whole team gets involved with this and blankets Long Island as best as it can.

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Catching up on some old business...

Game 29: Penguins 9, Islanders 2 (Ooof)

Fantasy Stars of the Game

1st Star: Mark Streit (1 G, 1 PPG, -1, 2 SOG, 1 BkS, 3 hits)

2nd Star: Bill Guerin (-1, 4 SOG, 14 PIMs, 1 hit)

3rd Star: Andy Sutton (1 G, -2, 1 SOG, 2 BkS, 2 PIMs, 1 hit)

4th Star: Trent Hunter (1 A, 1 PPA, -2, 2 hits)

5th Star: Sean Bergenheim (Even, 3 SOG, 1 BkS, 2 hits)

Faceoffs (W-L): Sillinger 10-9, Weight 4-7, Park 6-3, Thompson 7-6, Bailey 5-5

Game 30: Blue Jackets 3, Islanders 1 (Oh Four the Road Trip)

Fantasy Stars of the Game

1st Star: Richard Park (1 G, 1 SHG, +1, 2 SOG, 1 BkS, 1 hit)

2nd Star: Chris Campoli (1 A, 1 SHA, +1, 1 SOG, 1 BkS, 2 hits)

3rd Star: Andy Hilbert (1 A, 1 SHA, +1, 1 SOG, 2 BkS)

4th Star: Bill Guerin (Even, 5 SOG, 5 hits)

5th Star: Doug Weight (-1, 4 SOG, 2 BkS, 2 hits)

Faceoffs (W-L): Weight 4-10, Park 5-10, Thompson 2-4, Comeau 2-1, Bailey 3-5

Game 31: Capitals 5, Islanders 4, OT (Wittlash)

Fantasy Stars of the Game

1st Star: Richard Park (1 G, 2 A, 1 PPG, 1 PPA, +1, 4 SOG, 2 PIMs)

2nd Star: Mark Streit (3 A, 2 PPA, +1, 3 SOG, 2 BkS, 1 hit)

3rd Star: Bill Guerin (2 A, 1 PPA, Even, 4 SOG, 1 hit)

4th Star: Doug Weight (1 G, 1 PPG, -1, 6 SOG)

5th Star: Andy Sutton (1 G, +1, 1 SOG, 2 BkS, 2 PIMs, 2 hits)

Faceoffs (W-L): Weight 9-6, Park 9-12, Walter 4-7, Bailey 1-5

Note: Freddy Meyer put up an impressive 4 SOG, 4 BkS, and 6 hits, but got bumped for his -4.