Let’s start with the players:

Who’s been great this year:

1.-Kyle Quincey, one of my personal favorites of this year, in Detroit he was a nobody (not because he didn’t play hard, but because the star filled defense of the Red Wings limited his ice time), if you read my article after the Red Wings won the Cup, you’ve might have seen that I sort of saw this one coming.

2.- Milan Lucic, If someone asked you one year ago, who is Milan Lucic? more than half of us wouldn’t have known what the hell were you talking about. This has been the Boston Bruins year (even if San Jose is higher than them on the overall Standings), all because players like Lucic have been clicking for their team (as a matter of fact I could also have chosen half of the roster, but Lucic has become one of my favorites this year)

3.-Patrick Kane, maybe one of the most predictable picks for this year, after all he’s been one of the brightest stars of the Blackhawks roster, when I look at how this guy and Jonatan Toews have changed the Blackhawks from a bottom of the standings team to a top team in the west makes me forsee a great future for the Franchise.

4.-Zach Parise.- No Brodeur = No Playoffs? Ask this guy! He’s been the most valuable Devil on the roster, his offensive explosion has given hope to a team that after the Brodeur injury was supposedly out of the playoffs.

Who’s been not so great this year:

1.- Marian Gaborik, I must say it’s not a 100 percent his fault, but he was going to be one of the “players to watch” this season as he will become a UFA, but still this guy played less than 15 games for the Wild, a team that was hoping to sign him long term or deal him at the deadline. Good luck trying to deal a guy on the long term injury list! It’s a shame because he’s a natural goal scorer.

2.- Chris Osgood I must say one of my favorite players, he’s led my favorite team to two cups (I’m not counting 1997 because it was Mike Vernon not Chris Osgood in goal), but this year he’s been not so great.

3.- Alexei Kovalev.- A point per game guy that just isn’t producing as much as last year, but then again he usually is a second half of the season guy

4.-Vinny Lecavalier, a franchise player that’s just in the middle of a franchise in conflict, in my personal point of view it’s not his fault, he just has no chemistry with his current roster, maybe the Lightning should shake things up for him or the roster (let the debate continue).

On teams I’ve got two choices on great:

San Jose: who would have imagined last summer that after just adding Rob Blake and Dan Boyle this team would be this Good! It really makes me wonder, can Ron Wilson take you all the way to a Stanley Cup?

Boston Bruins: WHAT A CHANGE! In just one year, they went from the 8th spot on the east to leading the east, it’s amazing! Everything is clicking for a team that was “lost” without Joe Thorton

On bad teams:

Ottawa: What the hell happened? Nothing is clicking, and unless Bryan Murray accepts it and shakes things up NOW things will probably go worse.

Dallas : Is one player that much a difference? Sean Avery’s prescence aparently destroyed a team that was supposed to go deep into playoffs.

Last night, the Isles played one of the better teams in the league, the Montreal Canadiens, and one could see early on this game would be no different than the previous few. Though Montreal sleepwalked through the first period, by the second, this was a case of Men playing against Boys. Montreal got goals from ex-Islander Roman Hamrlik, Alexei Kovalev and Guillaume Latendresse to seal the victory. Rookie goaltender Jaroslav Halak recorded the shutout.

I wasn’t being flippant with my remark about the template. These remaining games are all about the Isles seeing what they have to work with next year. In that respect, there is definite reason for the fans to have hope. The young players like Tambellini, Comeau and Bergenheim are all improving on their play from game to game. There is very little support around them due to injuries and a general lack of talent, so they are learning how to make their own breaks. Coach Ted Nolan has finally overcome his own reluctance to give these neophyte significant minutes and the move should pay off some large dividends next season and beyond. I can think of worse situations for young players to devlop in. Let me them see what they’re dealing with now as opposed to later.

Dipietro’s recent goaltending has stymied some of the rumors that he is playing with a debilitating injury. He made several key saves to keep the game within reach, particularly during a stretch in the 2nd period where the Habs were buzzing. Most observers likely have to feel sorry for Rick. He really has played his heart out this season, but it seems like he has to put together “Perfect game” after “Perfect game” in order for the Islanders to be competitive. That’s an unrealistic situation for any goalie.

There is a hot rumor going around that Tuesday night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs will feature the NHL debut of top prospect Kyle Okposo. At the very least, Islander fans should have something to cheer for.