New York Islanders: Five Random Thoughts

1) Under performing or Right on Schedule? - The Islanders are win-less. Is anyone surprised? I know I am. Now I didn't think they would come in and blow the doors off but I expected slightly better results. There are two things that are a big concern.

The wild inconsistency in the level of play and the seemingly porous two new goaltenders.

The Islanders have shown entire periods or two what they are capable of. Then they how how fast they can make a great game into a poor one. This is something I thought Head Coach Scott Gordon would have a better handle on with his young team but let's take a step back and realize that we are dealing with a very young team learning a system they may not be accustomed to.

The more alarming concern is the goaltending. Dwayne Roloson can be as hard to beat as anyone when he gets hot. My question is: Is he capable of stopping anyone on a penalty shot or a breakaway?

Martin Biron has not been much better if at all.

Both of their save percentages are an abysmal .891 and .881. I don't care what team you are your not going to win many games with numbers like that.

These are things that can all be rectified. Once the goaltending starts playing to their abilities and Gordon can hammer out the inconsistency in the games we should see a turn around of sorts.

2) John Tavares = The Real Deal. The kid is good. Very good. He has seven points in six games (three goals and four assists). The Okposo-Moulson-Tavares line has been better than we could have hoped.

The problem is no one else is doing much of anything. Josh Bailey, Doug Weight, Blake Comeau, Rob Schremp and Sean Bergenheim all have no goals and have been pretty invisible and need to start chipping in because we cannot expect the Tavares line to carry the load all season.

Speaking of John Tavares...

3) "HI. I'll take a John Tavares Jersey please." - This is puzzling. I go to a New York Islanders team store this weekend with money in hand looking to buy a nice royal blue John Tavares New York Islanders jersey in XXL. The thing is the one I see hanging on display in the store IS THE ONLY ONE THEY HAVE.

Excuse me?

know you can buy them on the web site or order the jersey I want but c'mon people. How does every Islander store not have 150 Tavares jerseys in every color shape and size they make?

I asked the sales guy in the store why they had only one Tavares jersey, expecting to hear "we are sold out." He told me well the Islanders change players so often its tough to know who is going to be here and we don't want to be stuck with jerseys of players who aren't here.

Excuse me? I understand not ordering Jeff Tambellini jerseys or Doug Weight jerseys. But John Tavares is the next big thing in the NHL and he is not going anywhere in the worst case scenario seven years. Every Islander team store should be loaded with Tavares, Okposo, Streit, DiPietro, Bailey, and Hunter jerseys at the very least.

Hey, I can get a Tavares T-shirt, though. The thing is, I don't WANT a Tavares T-shirt. I want a royal blue John Tavares jersey in XXL and the only way to get one is order it and wait.

Sorry, Ill wait until you have them in stock.

4) Lighthouse Update - The Long Island Press said Charles Wang was pulling the plug. Charles Wang said he wasn't ans the story is false.

Charles Wang was supposed to have a meeting with head roadblock Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray last week. What came out of this meeting? What did they discuss?

Only a few people know and they aren't talking. I have a strong suspicion we will not hear anything new until after election day.

So in the mean time we wait. Wondering what the fate of this franchise and in the long run the fate of Long Island will be.

5) Tough Guys? Where?- I like Tim Jackman. Let me start off by saying that. That being said, the guy scares no one especially after getting pounded by the super heavyweight known as.. Ryan Clowe? Please don't put any faith that Joel Rechlicz can do much better than Jackman.

Hey Garth Snow!! I am sure there is a heavyweight out there that can strike some fear into the opposition. Go get one.

Post some of your thoughts on these subjects or any subjects below.