e series (2-0-2) before Sundays loss. ... Gonzalezs sixth-in | Forum

The New York Islanders fit into that uncomfortable category of Geez, Im not really sure if theyre a team on the rise or just going in an ever-expanding circle. Cheap Jordans Ireland . After making their second consecutive playoff experience and winning their first playoff series since 1993 last spring -- a six-game victory over the Atlantic Division champion?Florida Panthers?-- the Islanders cant afford to take a step back.The problem is, theres no real tangible indication this team is any better than it was last spring -- and, in fact, theres some widespread belief that it already might have regressed after losing key pieces Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen and Matt Martin.In a division in which everyone else seems to be on the rise, thats not good news. And if the Isles really arent poised to build on last seasons successes, how does that impact captain John Tavares, whose contract ends after the 2017-18 season? He already is the subject of no small amount of rumor vis-a-vis his next port of call.And thats all on the ice. Off the ice, the Islanders will begin their second season in Brooklyn still very much needing to clarify their long-term future at Barclays Center after a first year that can only charitably be called an up-and-down one in their new home.Biggest new facesIt is still more than a little mystifying why the Islanders decided early on that they werent going to re-up Okposo, who signed with the?Buffalo Sabres, but were willing to basically give a similar contract to Andrew Ladd, who is almost two years older. Ladd, who signed a seven-year deal worth $38.5 million, is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and the former captain of the Winnipeg Jets. Hell be a welcome addition to the Islanders locker room, but its a stretch to see him as a 30-goal guy. And the term of the deal (seven years) looks like itll be a killer -- and maybe sooner than later.Joining Ladd up front will be Jason Chimera, who is coming off a nice run in Washington -- although at some point the hard-skating 37-year-old is going to run out of gas, isnt he? Speaking of older players, 35-year-old?Dennis Seidenberg?parlayed a nice turn with Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey into a one-year deal with the Islanders, whom hell help out on the blue line. But there was a reason why Seidenberg didnt fit with the?Boston Bruins, who were looking to get younger and more mobile on defense.Biggest unknownsWith Okposo and Nielsen (who signed with the?Detroit Red Wings)?gone, thats 116 points out of last years lineup that has to be replaced if the Isles are to continue flirting with being a top-10 offensive team (they were 11th last season). Ladd and Chimera will bring some offense, but which of the kids will step forward? Ryan Strome went from 17 goals two years ago to eight last season and was a healthy scratch at times in the playoffs. Josh Bailey, the ninth overall pick in the 2008 entry draft, has never hit the 20-goal plateau. He had 12 goals last season and just one in the playoffs. Shane Prince and Alan Quine were both impressive in the playoffs but have little NHL experience, while another top prospect, center Mathew Barzal, has impressed at camp for the second straight year.As for the goaltending, itll be interesting to see how the story unfolds this year after Thomas Greiss took over for an injured Jaroslav Halak and was excellent in guiding the Isles to the upset of the Panthers in the first round. Halak is healthy and was clutch for Team Europe, which he helped guide to the World Cup of Hockey finals. But the issue with Halak, as always, is durability -- and it would surprise no one if the Isles have to patch together their goaltending as the season moves along.Sure thingsWell, theres John Tavares. And thats as sure as it gets for the Islanders. He probably doesnt get the attention that guys like Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby or even Ryan Getzlaf do, but Tavares is one of the premier two-way centers in the game and works tirelessly to make himself the most complete player he can be. He was terrific playing out of position for Team Canada, which tells you how humble he is, and he will continue to set the tone in the dressing room for an Islanders team that he basically carried single-handedly into the second round last spring.PredictionLots of teams are trending north in the Metropolitan Division. Im just not sure the Islanders are one of them. Seventh in the Metropolitan Division. Air Jordan 6 Ireland Online . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. Wholesale Air Jordan 6 Ireland . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. http://www.cheapairjordan6ireland.com/ . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday.DENVER -- Tyler Chatwood pitched six strong innings, Nolan Arenado hit a go-ahead single and the Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Sunday to win the three-game series. Chatwood (6-3), who went the distance last time out but was a tough-luck loser to Zack Greinke and the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0, allowed seven hits and two runs, one earned. Starlin Castro had four hits for Chicago, matching a career high, and Anthony Rizzo homered. Edwin Jackson (6-11) settled down after a rough start to go seven innings, allowing five hits and four runs -- three earned. All the damage off him came with two outs. Jackson, whose three-game winning streak was snapped, struck out five and walked two, both in the sixth. With two outs, he walked Carlos Gonzalez and, after Gonzalez stole second, issued a free pass to Michael Cuddyer. Arenado followed with a single to shallow centre that Junior Lake fielded on the run. Gonzalez beat his errant throw home, which sailed over the head of catcher Welington Castillo. The ball bounced off the backstop and rolled into the Rockies dugout, allowing Cuddyer to score from third. Arenado also came home but the umpires sent him back to second, ruling the ball dead when it rolled into the dugout. Rex Brothers, in the closer role with Rafael Betancourt (appendix) on the disabled list, allowed a leadoff double in the ninth by Castro, who scored on Alfonso Sorianos groundout. After walking Cody Ransom, Brothers struck out Lake for his fifth save.. Cheap Air Jordan 6 Ireland. Like Jackson, Chatwood had a shaky first inning but managed to get out of it unscathed. With one out, Castro and Rizzo hit successive singles. After Soriano grounded into a fielders choice, Nate Schierholtz drew a walk to load the bases before Chatwood fanned Lake, blowing a 95 mph fastball past him for the third strike. Chatwood couldnt escape trouble in the sixth, though. Rizzo started the inning by homering into the left-field bleachers for his 14th of the season. One out later, Schierholtz and Lake hit back-to-back singles and both advanced on Chatwoods errant pickoff throw, leading to Schierholtz scoring on Darwin Barneys sacrifice fly as Chicago tied it at 2. Colorado took a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by Gonzalez and a run-scoring double by Cuddyer. NOTES: Chicago continues its 10-game road trip Monday at Arizona where Matt Garza (6-1), who remains the subject of trade speculation, is scheduled to pitch the series opener against Tyler Skaggs (2-1). ... Colorado resumes its 10-game homestand Monday, opening a four-game set against Miami with Drew Pomeranz (0-3) taking the mound against Tom Koehler (1-5). ... Chicago was unbeaten in four consecutive series (2-0-2) before Sundays loss. ... Gonzalezs sixth-inning stolen base was his 100th as a member of the Rockies, tying him with Juan Pierre for fifth on the clubs all-time list. ... Castro had his 10th career four-hit game and first since Sept. 19, 2012, against Cincinnati. ' ' '