NHL Network: College Hockey TV Schedule

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/31/2008 02:58:00 PM |
NHL.com: NHL Network today announced it has reached a one-year extension for broadcast rights to games from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC Hockey).

NHL Network's 2008-09 U.S. College Hockey broadcast schedule is as follows:

October
Friday, Oct. 31 Wisconsin @ North Dakota

November
Friday, Nov. 7 Ferris State @ Miami
Friday, Nov. 14 Alaska Anchorage @ North Dakota
Friday, Nov. 21 Michigan @ Miami (Ohio)
Friday, Nov. 28 Cornell @ North Dakota

December
Friday, Dec. 5 St. Lawrence @ Colgate (Brian Day)
Friday, Dec. 12 Notre Dame @ Bowling Green
Friday, Dec. 19 Clarkson @ Bowling Green

January
Friday, Jan. 9 Minnesota Duluth @ St. Cloud State
Friday, Jan. 16 Cornell @ Union
Friday, Jan. 23 Brown @ Colgate
Friday, Jan. 30 Bowling Green @ Miami (Ohio)

February
Friday, Feb. 6 Denver @ Minnesota Duluth
Friday, Feb. 13 Yale @ Union
Friday, Feb. 20 Denver @ Wisconsin
Friday, Feb. 27 Ohio State @ Miami (Ohio)

March
Friday, Mar. 20 ECAC Hockey Semifinal #1
Friday, Mar. 20 ECAC Hockey Semifinal #2
Saturday, Mar. 21 ECAC Hockey Final

New York Islander College Prospects:
Brian Day-Colgate ECAC
Jason Gregoire-North Dakota USHL
Shea Guthrie-Clarkson ECAC
Troy Mattila-Dartmouth ECAC
Rhett Rakhshani-Denver WCHA
Doug Rogers-Harvard ECAC
David Toews-North Dakota WCHA
Corey Trivino-BU Hockey East
Matt Donovan-Cedar Rapids USHL/Denver
Blake Kessel-New Hampshire Hockey East
Tyrell Mason-Clarkson ECAC
Aaron Ness-Minnesota WCHA
Shane Sims-Ohio State CCHA
Jase Weslosky-St Cloud State WCHA






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Thompson, Hilbert, Park=No Youth Movement

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/31/2008 02:21:00 PM | | | |
Sorry folks, as well as Nate Thompson played for the last week this should not be Scott Gordon's only forward on the ice shorthanded in overtime.

This is a player claimed off waivers with some enforcer skills but this is not a player you look at as part of a youth movement or should be in such a critical role, he won a faceoff to clear the puck at the start of the Flyer powerplay but also fanned on a clearing attempt just before the game winner.

Either way that is not the point here, I would ask the same question if Thompson went end to end and scored the game winner.

After the Islanders overtime powerplay that spent too much time on the perimeter with no speed outside of Mark Streit on the ice, Andy Hilbert and Richard Park came out as Scott Gordon's forwards.

Hard workers? Absolutely.

Players who are likely to score a goal or create a play to win the game?
No, what you see is what you get and the career resume does not lie.

I have written a few times about all the over thirty players on the roster and even though Thompson and Hilbert do not fit that these cannot be called high end prospects at this point.

I'm not seeing some of this by Scott Gordon unless he is falling into the same trap Ted Nolan did playing some veterans which is partly because players like Hilbert and Park are stronger defensively to keep his team in the game.

To be fair also Scott Gordon had the young players on some powerplays and Nielsen set up the overtime goal in Tampa.

I think some Islander fans are under the impression Garth Snow said this team is having a youth movement or a rebuilding, he never said this but his coach does have to give the youth more chances with the game on the line.

If the idea is to play the youth more where was Kyle Okposo or Bergenheim, Nielsen for that powerplay?

Mitch Fritz over Tambellini? Not seeing that either.

I'm still wondering how Blake Comeau is not on this roster or Colliton, Joensuu, Marcinko and a few others like Hennigar or Iggulden or Trevor Smith. Ben Walter is finally getting healthy but after getting a shot here last year does not even seem on the radar.

If Scott Gordon is going to lean more on the vets Garth Snow might as well sign Brendan Shanahan's shot and send Fritz/Thompson to the AHL and make a choice between Park and Hilbert.
************************************************
Anyone else think the Flyer forward tucked Nielsen's stick under his arm and held on as Hilbert kind of did to draw the Isles overtime powerplay?

Nielsen took his shot one against three.
************************************************
For those wondering why the faceoff for the Flyer powerplay at the end of the game was in the Islanders end of the ice the new NHL rule says all powerplays start in the offensive zone.
************************************************
I do not think Gervais batting the puck into the stands is a delay of game as long as he is not on his side of the blueline unless that rule changed also.






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Islander Notables/Quick Hit

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/31/2008 10:58:00 AM | | | | |
Newsday: Greg Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog reports Rick DiPietro was placed on IR effective last Sunday which means he cannot be activated until 11/2 at the earliest meaning he is out against Montreal.

Mr Logan's speculation game on his favorite target now claims the fact DiPietro was not allowed to play in the first four games of the regular season and lasted only seven periods over three games in eight days suggest he’s not in tip-top condition.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
So lets recap, first DiPietro was faking now he was not in top-top condition?

Please stick to the hockey and leave the medicine to the doctors.

Seems this is not about the Islanders injury policy for Newsday/Mr Logan but Rick DiPietro.

How about the Newsday staff put all the injuries under the mircoscope back to last season or at the very least tell us once how many games the club lost to injury?

Mr Logan has not gone this hard after Sillinger, Witt or Bailey among others with injuries so it's not just about the policy. Radek Martinek is this clubs most important player after DiPietro and his absence is enormous to the backline and we have not read a word of speculation from the beatwriter.

Updated 2pm:
Newsday: Mr Logan reports in the Islanders Newsday blog defenseman Freddy Meyer underwent sports hernia surgery and is expected to miss two-four weeks while Radek Martink skated at practice and speculates on his return based on Chris Campoli's recovery.

A Saturday article will be written on defenseman Mark Streit who faces his former team for the first time Saturday.

Updated 3pm:
Newsday: Jim Baumbach has an interview with Islanders legendary President and General Manager, Bill Torrey who talked about the fans having to be patient with the clubs plan and what role he still has with the Florida Panthers.

Star Phoenix: Cory Wolfe had a two page feature on Islander prospect Jyri Niemi with how awestruck it was meeting a celebrity in Islander captain Bill Guerin.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Funny stuff from Niemi on meeting Guerin.

Chronicle Herald: Willy Palov reports Moncton Wildcat owner aggressively pursued Danny Flynn two years ago and offered him a four year contract to return as Wildcats coach.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Congratulations to Danny Flynn, would not shock me if he is hired as an NHL coach. I wonder if Ted Nolan would work as an assistant for him?

Tri City Herald: Annie Fowler reports the Portland Winter Hawks which had the worst record in the Western Hockey League made an ownership change this week. Former Islander Rich Kromm was fired as head coach and another former Islander, Travis Green was named assistant coach and assistant GM.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Has it really been that long between playoff series wins Travis Green had a full NHL career and now is an assistant gm? He also scored the goal in game seven to elimiate the Islanders against Toronto.

Quick Hit:
I guess Newsday needed another NHL blog for the Rangers to receive even more space than the Islanders and now Mr Herrmann was given such space to so he can write even more often about the Islanders viability.

I suspect Mark Herrmann's content and commentary will be a lot more about the Cablevision owned team in the most postive light possible and we will see more of the usual negative slant the Islanders in whatever crumbs he provides. Do not count on many features like the one on Mitch Fritz which was very good but the exception for Mr Herrmann, hardly the rule.

Too bad for everyone.

I put the link to it on the blog, it is not Islander-centric only so I am not going to use it in the feeder here.







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Islander News Articles 10/31

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/31/2008 03:04:00 AM | | | | | | | | | | |
Newsday: Greg Logan's post-game had head coach Scott Gordon's comments that he considered the game a tie and a step in the right direction along with defending Frans Nielsen for his penalty as the center winger talked about the play and his problems finishing chances so far this season.

Newsday: Mr Logan notes the injured reserve listing for Rick DiPietro on the Islanders website and reports the team will have a statement over the weekend on the goaltenders status. Yann Danis reportedly smiled and said he's day to day.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Mr Logan did not claim Danis may have been faking his smile.

Newsday: Mr Logan's other article is on the enforcers being used as needed with Mitch Fritz comments along with what the coach told Jeff Tambellini about what he has to do more to stay in the lineup.

AP: Has comments from head coach Scott Gordon.

Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News: Has the Flyers coverage along with Phillyburbs.com and Chuck Gormley in the Courier Post here.

WHL.com: Reports Islander prospect Jared Spurgeon will will compete in the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge for Team WHL which takes place from November 17th to 27th as Canadian Hockey League All-Star Teams, from each of its three member Leagues (WHL, OHL and QMJHL), take on the Russian National Junior Team in a six game series.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has comments from Jack Hillen and what he wants to do in the AHL as he makes his AHL debut tonight along with head coach Jack Capuano who has some decisions to make on defense with Chris Lee apparently ready to return.

The Sound Tigers coach also reported Mark Parrish will play Friday as Bridgeport has three games in three days and a double-header in Binghampton along with the game preview here for Friday.

Note-Mr Fornabaio's blog on Thursday afternoon had Mark Parrish's comments.

Press & Sun Bulletin : Michael Sharp has has a very good preview for the back to back games with solid background on both clubs.








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Philadelphia 3, New York 2 Overtime

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/31/2008 02:35:00 AM | |
Islanders website: Has the recap of Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers with Scott Gordon's comments on Frans Nielsen's penalty and how his club got better as the game went along.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Not sure how I feel about this game.

On one hand the club gave up a great chance to the Flyers in the first ten seconds, left Carter all alone on the second goal and simply could not finish in a game that they had to score. I'm not impressed about a Guerin four on three shot from the point and a Hilbert fluke where he misfired were the Isles only goals.

Players like Guerin, Weight, Sim and Comrie have to produce more quality chances in a sixty minute game.

On the other hand other forwards did generate chances and Islanders were the better team in the second half of the game. Thompson, Bergenheim, Nielsen had some great chances along with Hunter getting that nice pass from Okposo in the second.

Scott Gordon's lines were tough to get a read on with a lot of changes as the game wore on. MacDonald gave them every chance to win the game and I loved watching Sutton push Hartnell away from the goaltender shorthanded in the second. Pock broke up a two on one, everyone was steady on the backline all night for the most part and that's hardly a small sidebar considering the injuries on the backline.

Flyers picked apart an Atlanta team struggling on defense going into this game.

Overall it was a waste to play Fritz over Tambellini who took a poor penalty especially considering Tambellini is one of the clubs he has scored against for what that is worth. Hunter's second period penalty against Sbisa was a terrible call where both players should have been called.

I felt the penalty in overtime on Nielsen was a marginal call but a makup call for the one that gave the Islanders an overtime powerplay. Last year it seemed a matter of when before the Flyers got the five on three goal or the Isles gave up a goal on their own the powerplay to turn the game.

Isles four on three in overtime was on the perimeter for far too long with Hunter in front screening Biron. Too bad Hunter missed the wide open net.

Nate Thompson the lone forward in the closing seconds?

Ok. Islanders got a point and had a good overall defensive effort and skated well again, that's the good news.

Bad news is the standings do not lie, it's getting late early.





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New York at Philadelphia 7pm Msg+

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/30/2008 03:20:00 PM | | | |
Islanders website: Has the preview for tonight's game against the Philadelphia Flyers with comments from head coach Scott Gordon and defenseman Andy Sutton who will make his return to the lineup and be paired with Mark Streit.

Newsday: Greg Logan reports in the Islanders Newsday blog Jeff Tambellini will sit for Mitch Fritz as the left wing gives his comments on sitting tonight.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Considering Scott Gordon is shaking up his lines and this is a very fragile club already that does not react well to changes playing a Flyer club that is in it's hot stretch I have a feeling this may not go well for New York tonight.

Islanders may need a high scoring effort tonight from a club that has not shown that to it's game often this year.

I would not have benched Tambellini for Fritz, it's the last thing Tambellini needed for at best a cameo dance or two with Asham unless Fritz is on a top six line.

If Fritz must dress Park or Hilbert have to sit, never a young player.

Will be interesting to see what a Sutton-Streit pairing brings tonight. I would have kept Hillen over Skinner.

One thing for sure is Islanders have to start getting some points or they are going to find themselves in a hole they cannot climb out of by thanksgiving with any realistic hope of any playoff contention over.





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Newsday Holding Islanders to Unfair Standard

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/30/2008 12:33:00 AM |
Just to clarify Tsn: on the amended injury policy states clubs cannot falsify information, or misrepresent a player's condition; but teams are no longer required to disclose the specific nature of a player injuries.

The Red Wings brought up the policy change during the finals and the vote was unanimous among NHL teams for those thinking Charles Wang or Chris Dey are off doing this on their own which only stirs up the fans and does not tell the truth. Mr Logan noted some teams do not disclose injuries like the Islanders then then went right back to complaining about the policy.

So when Greg Logan claims Rick DiPietro (or any player) is faking an injury in his blog he better produce some proof of that and quickly before the club goes to the league and media relations department about his conduct. He jumped all over no press box announcement during the game on DiPietro (like Brendan Witt against Dallas) but DiPietro was still on the Islander bench and then our beatwriter went for Bill Guerin's comments after the game.

Too bad Mr Logan never went after interviewing Radek Martink or some of our others players this hard the last two plus years or maybe they would not be so under-rated around the NHL and more folks would want to come out spend money on tickets to watch them play hockey?

Says a lot when Freddy Meyer can go from New York to Phoenix and back and not even be interviewed when it happened for weeks on end.

Good luck finding much on Tomas Pock in Newsday.

I thought we would have a little fun with this topic that will not go away that has been a major issue for Greg Logan back to last June when he went off in his blog finding out about Guerin and DiPietro's surgery and the new policy which was consistent with the timing of the general managers meeting.

That was the night by coincidence he hooked up with Marc Gandler for the infamous Yashin could be returning headline which Newsday quietly retracted where then-Bergenheim's agent was not even quoted about negotiations.

Anyway all this Newsday complaining got me thinking.....

Surely there must be teams and newspaper writers all over North America complaining even louder than Newsday, a lot louder.

Newsday is not a major player in terms of hockey coverage that does not even attend the Stanley Cup finals or the All-Star game even when a New York Islander is the starting goaltender or even have it's beatwriter blogging when the franchise player got hurt on national television last season?

You would be surprised how this is basically a non-issue for almost every publication outside of Newsday. No other beatwriter or newspaper staff has been acting this way stirring up the public.

Here is a sampling of recent articles on the subject, if anyone can find a media acting like Newsday by all means let us know.

Sun Media: Had Canes GM Jim Rutherford's comments on the subject and a history of how things were done with the Leafs under Pat Quinn.

St Louis Post Dispatch: Jeremy Rutherford did not go off at the Blues for Islander-like statements on Blues forward D.J. King about his injury.

Camwest News: Has Canadian general manager Guy Carboneau's comments the Canadiens are adhering to a new NHL policy which says they don't have to reveal the nature of an injury but Carbonneau did say that Koivu's injury was not related to the foot ailment which sidelined him in training camp.

Isn't that what the Islanders just announced about DiPietro's latest injury?

Red Fisher or Pat Hickey forgot to claim Koivu was faking when they got a similar statement.

Washington Times: Had their newspaper blogger report according to a Caps spokesman former Islander Viktor Kozlov is day-to-day (like us all) with an injury and to enjoy the NHL's new policy on injuries, because that is all teams are required to say.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Dave Molinary reported team officials, again invoking a policy instituted recently by the NHL, declined to identify the nature of defenseman Hall Gill's problem, which prevented him from practicing who recently was expected to sit out a game against the Hurricanes.

Star-Tribune: Michael Russo reported Wild GM General Manager Doug Risebrough would not discuss specifics of Marian Gaborik's injury or a potential time frame for his return.

Funny thing here is only Newsday is acting in this manner, the same paper that did not even report how many man games the club lost to injury last season when they had full injury disclosure with the Islanders leading the league.

Draw your own conclusions folks. I would not trust this Newspaper staff with anything if I owned the club and if they want anything from my team I want the same coverage Cablevision gives their own team on television and in the paper.

We could not even get live internet games on for the preseason and an Msg President who acted like he could care less recently comment. The same company who promoised enhanced Islander television coverage late last season.

They want a discussion on access and information that's where it should start for all of our fans which is a topic Newsday wants no part of writing about.









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Islander News Articles 10/30

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/29/2008 09:46:00 PM | | | | |
Newsday: Mark Herrmann's article was on Joey MacDonald and the opportunity in front of him as Rick DiPietro was not seen at practice by head coach Scott Gordon.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Mr Herrmann had a few Wednesday blogs on practice about MacDonald along with Andy Sutton's return and a few words on Mark Streit.

Windsor Star: Jim Parker has Windsor Spitfire general manager Bob Boughner's comments that they have not heard anything on Spitfire captain Josh Bailey returing to Juniors despite the teams great start to the season.

WHL.com: Former Islander coach Terry Simpson who coached Prince Albert for fifteen years will be placed on their wall of honor on November.

Tsn.ca: Darren Dreger reports the this past June, NHL general managers voted unanimously in favor of limiting how much information is disclosed about player injuries and that the Detroit Red Wings re-introduced the topic at the June general managers meeting while in the Stanley Cup final versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has the latest on the possible return of Ben Walter and Michael Haley along with what's next for Mark Parrish from head coach Jack Capuano.






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Islander-Sound Tiger Notables: Fritz recalled

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/29/2008 12:14:00 PM | | | | |
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports in his Sound Tigers blog Mitch Fritz was recalled to the Islanders.

Mark Parrish practiced on a line with Jesse Joensuu and Rob Hennigar.

Espn.com: Scott Burnside has an early season profile of the Philadelphia Flyers who have now won three games in a row after a 7-0 win against Atlanta on Tuesday.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Flyers picking up where they left off last regular season, either they are in a free fall or dominating, seems to be no middle ground.

Espn: EJ Hradek points out Doug Weight has been on both ends of some hits in his career that have been a bit over the line but in this case he saw nothing out of bounds with Weight's hit and blamed Sutter for having his head down.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I can respect the Hurricanes general manager's comments along with Devils coach Brent Sutter about his son but there is nothing that can be done to regulate a player who puts his head down from taking a hit. This was not as if Weight jumped into him or even raised his arms or used his stick. It was a clear shoulder hit almost by textbook definition and a play Weight has to make.

To regulate this out of the game completely would be the equivalent of trying to eliminate knee on knee hits.





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White " Home " Jersey............ Next?

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/29/2008 12:00:00 PM |














If I'm the Islanders management or the person in this decision making process, it's time to go all the way with uniforms and bring back the same version in white and make both the full time home and away uniforms starting next season.

The only thing that will happen is everyone will love the uniforms and the club will sell a ton of them and make a lot of money.

You want to release a third jersey in 2010-11 by all means re-introduce to dark blue jersey's from the last few years without that four stripe patch and call it a day with uniform changes.

That patch is not a symbol not of four cups but four bad ownerships put on the jersey by Howard Milstein.

Gang of four, Pickett, Spano and Milstein are what those stripes mean to me.

Of course this version of the home whites will do just fine too. I love watching John Tonelli jump into the air after the goal.











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Islander News Articles 10/29

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/28/2008 10:22:00 PM | | |
Newsday: Katie Strang has Kyle Okposo's comments on his play along with head coach Scott Gordon's on the other things he did well along with the pressure on some of these young players.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Too bad we did not get this article a day ago, instead our fans had to wait for another writer. I really like Scott Gordon and what he is trying to do with these kids, I only wish Comeau and a few others were part of it.

Would not ruin my day to see Katie Strang take the beat full-time at this point.

Sarnia Observer: Reports Islander Prospect Mark Katic was named to team Canada's roster for thee sixth annual ADT Canada Russia Challenge and will compete in the Nov. 24 game at St. Catharines.






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Islander/Sound Tiger Notables for Tuesday.

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/28/2008 08:55:00 PM | | | | |
Islanders website: Announced on Tuesday Andy Sutton will make his season debut on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers and Jack Hillen has been sent to Bridgeport.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
A bit odd Skinner stays in the lineup who played limited minutes Monday unless another change is coming on defense. Either way Hillen seems the better choice to stay over Skinner.

Seems a question of when before the next injury happens.

Newsday: Katie Strang covered Tuesday's practice which included DiPietro watching from the stands and that Meyer is unlikely to play against the Flyers.

Islanders website: Has the latest prospects watch update which will be posted on the prospect blog as all have been archived back to last season.

Newsday: Arthur Staple's turn to help out Greg Logan as former Ranger beatwriters stick together and lob softballs at the house team in comparing both Newsday hockey teams. Mr Staple also questions if playing Jack Hillen, Nate Thompson and Tomas Pock are part of a youth movement or a trivia answer?

In comparing both local teams Mr Staple admits Newsday is making too much of this injury-disclosure stuff but then adds at 2-6 with a bleak future, what else is there to talk about besides DiPietro? He then goes on to blast the Islanders injury policy and completely contradicts himself by writing the injury policy would still be an issue if the Islanders were 6-2.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
As expected the entire Newsday staff is going to take their shots here at the club.

How dare the New York Islanders act like other sports teams and restrict information (per NHL rules) from a paper that has treated the club poorly for years and now is owned by another NHL team with a beatwriter who has been anything but professional giving us retracted headlines Yashin could return.

Funny but the Islanders are getting more coverage now from Newsday then they have since 2002. I thought Greg Logan told us last Jaunary when he could not be bothered blogging about DiPietro getting hurt in Atlanta when he had full disclosure from the club on injuries that coverage would be reduced in the future when he did his interview with Chris Botta who had to go to Atlanta to do Newsday's job for them?

Last I looked isn't Jack Hillen just a year out of college and a player Garth Snow said was like having another number one pick?

Newsday: Anthony Rieber's turn to dump on the Islanders for their media/injury policy in ranking local clubs and writess the Islanders are doing their best to create drama and tension and says how many other pro teams who are covered by one newspaper on the road have a media policy?

NYI Fan Central Comments:
All the drama and tension is on Newsday's side who are acting very unprofessional when Greg Logan writes himself a lot of clubs have the same policy.

Mr Rieber comes off like a man who sounds like Newsday is doing the Islanders a favor providing road coverage. That's the same Cablevision-Newsday who cannot even approve live internet coverage for preseason games or send a writer to Atlanta to cover the goaltender at the All-Star weekend.

Tsn.ca: Has a report on the NHL rookies as the ten game mark hits and in some cases decisions must be made on whether they stay or go back to juniors/AHL.

ECHL.com: Bridgeport recalled goaltender Nathan Lawson with Yann Danis up with the Islanders.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Considering Bridgeport does not play until Friday draw your own conclusions as to how long DiPietro could be on the shelf for.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio blogs on who Mark Parrish skated with at practice on Tuesday along with a lot of items on the Sound Tigers.







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Stick To The Plan, It Is Working Despite Standings

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/28/2008 08:04:00 AM |
I'm well aware despite early standings or in the final results folks will not want to read a blog entry this clubs plan is working, especially when it's not generating many goals from it's young players or in this case one goal from Kyle Okposo.

Some of this is more a byproduct of the injuries on defense and players being put into roles that are asking a lot. Last night Campoli and Streit were over twenty five minutes as Gervais came close to thirty the previous games. Pock almost hit twenty minutes while Jack Hillen played over fourteen.

Still I see Nielsen, Okposo and Tambellini getting close in chances or defenders joining the play with good speed on their counter it's obvious something is different and better. The fore-check is stronger as is the team speed, they are forcing the opposition into mistakes. Hunter looks better with Nielsen and Tambellini than he did with Sillinger and Hilbert last season.

I also love what I am seeing from this defense stepping in to the offensive zone and finishing chances. It's not only Streit but even little things like Gervais getting some early assists or Meyer scoring.

Only thing they are not doing is making the other club pay with some powerplay goals
combined with taking far too many penalties, when one player is off it does effect the group as Bill Guerin said.

For what it is worth his leadership has been more visible on the ice and I love how he stood up for his teammate last night along with Thompson.

Last year despite where the club was I saw too many games where the offense was
nowhere to be found for the first half of games and just won ugly off DiPietro's goaltending but they did not build anything.

I know the standings tell a far different story but the team play is stronger. Like the seven game losing streak last January you could see signs this club is coming close to breaking out with some wins.

Of course we all know that has to happen soon, so far the survival skills to get games to overtime right now also is simply not there.

Scott Gordon and these players are on the right track and I do think they are onto something here that is being built to last. I only wish Comeau, Colliton, Bailey and a few others were a part of it right now.

As I wrote in my preview I expect this to be a different year, the injuries are killing my sixth place prediction along with Comeau in Bridgeport but I suspect this team will be far better for what they are doing now then they were at the end of last season.






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Islander News Articles 10/28

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/27/2008 10:17:00 PM | | | | |
Newsday: Greg Logan begins his coverage where he left off the last few days with his DiPietro speculation game as Bill Guerin and head coach Scott Gordon talked about his teams penalties and the opportunities for Joey MacDonald and Yann Danis.

MacDonald was disappointed his club did not get the bounces.

Greg Logan unfortunately struck again in the middle of the night on early Tuesday with another long blog in the Islanders Newsday space essentially complaining about the injury policy and Monday's release on DiPietro as we got more on his injury speculation game here even going back to how the goaltenders concussions were announced in 06-07.

Afterward our fans finally got a few words about the game with Scott Gordon's comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
That's kind of funny Mr Logan writes with all the focus on DiPietro’s injury there was no room in today’s newspaper for a few other interesting comments.

Doesn't he mean all of his focus on DiPietro's injury?

Considering how well some of the young players performed they deserved a few words in the paper but Mr Logan is very upset with the injury policy and our fans pay for that. I thought this was about the fans need to know but it's clearly about his need to know along with issues he has with DiPietro.

I guess our beat writer will not even let us know about the game very much as part of his next policy change, all in the name of our fans.

Sorry folks. I absolutely would like to take the coverage in another direction but this is where the articles go and I am not writing them.

It's absolutely not where I wish they would go either.

I'm as tired of Mr Logan's act with this as everyone else is by now and as I have written the Islanders are doing what a lot of pro teams do with the policy, there is nothing ground breaking with what the club is doing here.

At this point Mr Logan should have his editor talk for him and keep our fans out of the middle.

Days like this I would not mind one bit if Newsday went paid subscription only.

Newsday: Mr Logan's other article was basically a blog reprint of the situation with Doug Weight and Brandon Sutter which head coach Scott Gordon also comments on.

Newsday: Mark Herrmann does what he does best and that's play the Islanders viability game once again telling us the club could be moving without a single word on the subject from anyone who would be involved in any such decision and that the days in the Islander-Ranger rivalry could be numbered. Bill Guerin comments on the loss along with a few softballs for Ranger coach Tom Renney.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Welcome to how the Newsday staff fights back and kicks a team when it's down. Not pretty or very professional from Mr Herrmann who always has his Ranger pomp poms out.

It's sad but this is what our coverage is these days. Not another goal from Mark Streit or a defense that is scoring goals with half the backline out or Scott Gordon's system producing chances we did not see last year along with a faster Islander team.

It's only been a few weeks since Mr Herrmann did his latest Islander viability dance which is into double-digits over the last year for almost any possible reason for him to bring it up. His act has gotten very old on this subject having to take an extra kick at the club and it's fans after a tough loss or when good news happens like Al Arbour night he makes it all about the club trying to sell tickets.

It's done to upset the fans and play for the worst.

I guess the young players like Kyle Okposo and how well they played last night just was not a story if he wanted to write about the future so much.

Newsday: Mr Herrmann's other article made sure to get the word fishing in the first sentence with regard to the Islanders new retro uniforms with Bob Nystrom and Josh Bailey praising the new look.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Those jersey's look fantastic, just make them the full time uniform starting next year along with bringing back the same in white.

NY Times: Lynn Zinser has the Ranger-centric article.

NY Post: Dan Martin's very limited space article was all about DiPietro and the clubs injuries with Bill Guerin's comments, nothing on the game beyond the score here. Larry Brooks of all people to point how out the Islanders were taking the play at the Rangers for a good part of the game here.

Daily News: Peter Botte had Bill Guerin's comments about the Islanders having to stay in their system and his quotes on DiPietro's absence.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Mr Botte wins my personal pool of what writer would first mention the team in it's early seventies look could finish with a similar record.

AP: Ira Podell's recap of the game includes the Islanders announced that D Brendan Witt would miss three to four weeks with an undisclosed injury while the Canadian Press here reports Rick DiPietro incurred a lower body injury Saturday night unrelated to his previous injuries and is day to day pending additional assessment and treatment. Freddy Meyer sat out Monday due to an abdominal strain.







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Rangers 4, New York 2

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/27/2008 09:54:00 PM |
AP: Has the early recap of the Rangers 4-2 win against the Islanders Monday night.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Not much to write tonight, more tomorrow.

Islanders did not get the breaks or finish the ones they did, MacDonald's first goal against was not a good one and deflected off Guerin but he more than made up for it, hopefully he did not get injured himself when he got hit.

The pk gave them a good chance going into the third killing off the five on three.

Okppso finally finished one and again just showed signs he is a player with excellent potential who had some great shifts. The Ranger trap is most dangerous and waits for chances or powerplays and that's what they got when Bergenheim and Weight went off.

Just too much working against this team right now with all these defenders and the starting goaltender out but again I see a group of players looking good in this system creating chances and looking better collectively then they did for a good part of last year.

Some good signs, not enough to win a sixty minute game. The Islander powerplay has to give them more. The hitting, fights favored the home team and they did a good job again sticking up for one another.

I sure hope we see the full roster at some point because in the standings it is as bad as it can get.






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New York vs Rangers 7pm Msg+

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/27/2008 03:24:00 PM | |















Islanders website: Released it's new/old third jersey with a 360 degree picture of Bill Guerin.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Looks very good with the white lettering and numbers.

Newsday: Apparently after Greg Logan could only manage going to Peter Botte of the Daily News to take a little dig on the club's injury policy in a blog about Doug Weight-Brandon Sutter among other things Jim Baumbach decided to help out Mr Logan here in a surprise middle of the day article that basically played doctor and ripped DiPietro's contract here and the decision behind it.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
The problem Mr Logan/Newsday has with DiPietro and the Islanders is out of hand.

Mr Baumbach is way out of line here writing DiPietro is far from the best goalie in the league that he is now just known as an injury-prone one considering where DiPietro had this team last January in the standings but it does reflect how much this beatwriter/newspaper wants to run down this player over this injury policy and for other reasons that go back to last season.

When he won or made the all-star game these same reporters were nowhere to be found which is the rub in the reporting, no one even bothered writing when he got hurt in the skills-competition.

I saw the shock-jock game from Baumbach/someone coming a mile away and I suspect we will see more of the same from the usual Newsday suspects who are going to tear down DiPietro and the club every chance they can.

This is very much about their access and it's no holds-bar, the fans get caught in the middle and the media counts on the fans using that to rip the club.

Don't buy this spin folks, there are legitimate reasons to blame the club for things they have made mistakes about but this is not one of them. It all comes down to the media playing for the worst in the fans because they do not like a policy or a player.

Islanders website: Has the preview for tonight's game against the Rangers.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I'm sure our fans will get a look at what we hope are some version of the 1972 uniforms as the story line then becomes will this club finish where the 72 version finished in the standings?

No Martinek, Witt, Meyer or likely Sutton and DiPietro hurting or not playing.

I hate to spoil the party but no NHL team is going to play good hockey for very long with those kinds of injuries facing them. I think any game now is going to be tough for the veterans and kids who all have to be pressing and now do not have the best options on the ice in the positions they need to be in for the system to work.

We saw how tough it was to finish against Carolina and how easily they gave it back after they scored. Carolina missed some great chances too.

Tonight's game:
One team got a game to overtime on a bad goal Saturday in the final ten seconds, the other took sixty shots and missed a penalty shot in the last seconds.

One team plays a very tough trap to keep shots down for it's goaltender and comes in healthy with most of it's games scripted like chess. The other right now has no identity and fighting just to get it's bearings with injuries in a new system with it's depth stretched to the max and a lot of flaws in it's roster makeup along with a new coach just getting his first look at the league.

For the Islanders plan to have a chance, it's roster has to stay healthy. That has not happened which effects everything so no idea what to expect game by game.

We can only hope the fore checking keeps generating more chances as it has and the defense pinching keeps scoring. Tonight the Islanders have to get in the trenches and outwork the Ranger defense and play the game in their end of the ice, the kids need a big night resulting in a few goals so they get some confidence going.

Seven games is a long time without a goal from Nielsen, Tambellini, Okposo. Hopefully that line with Thompson, Park, Hilbert stay together and keep plugging so Sim and Bergenheim can play on lines more likely to score.

Anyone notice how many goals this defense has produced while in March a year ago after the Bergeron trade no defender could score?

There are signs some of this has been working, but the losses will cause a lot more frustration.

Another game, another opportunity to get something started, the point differential is already a big problem considering the early conference standings.

This comes down to what the Islanders can do here with what they have and the home ice disadvantage for both local teams is always a factor with so many opposing fans at the Coliseum and the Garden.






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Islanders Setting New Standards? Not even close

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/27/2008 10:36:00 AM | | |
I thought we would have a little fun with the media game and point out a few other local examples that make the New York Islanders seem tame by comparison for anyone who thinks the Islanders are breaking barriers here or even coming close.

I wish I had video of this but I stumbled onto it that night on YES and it was better than the game. The audio does not do justice how upset the Yankee manager was on live television during a post-game interview about injuries.

I can give you Steve Stirling press conferences and game highlights from ITV as far back as 2005 but not a Yankee post game last month.

Mr Logan wants to talk about access and information he should start there because the New York Islanders at least give us that to make up for it's print media.

By all means listen to Yankee manager Joe Giradi pre and post game with it turning very ugly on live television last month here with the media calling the Yankee manager a liar according to Bob Raissman of the Daily News here afterward.

If that is not enough by all means listen to Laveranues Coles of the Jets only a few days ago:




I know it's easy for our fans to just get frustrated at the club and whenever anything happens it's time to use it as a referendum on everything back to 1983 but our club is hardly doing anything out of line here.

You know I agree with the New York Islanders the policy and why.
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As for some of this stuff between Newsday, the Islanders and Mr Botta's blog I take no side whatsoever beyond our club receiving fair treatment from it's media.

I'm not doing this blog for access, scoops or page views and I do not play the bonds, ties or friendship game when it comes to my viewpoint.

I'm not writing to make a name for myself or pretend to pass my views off as part of the professional media or work in the sports media business.

In other words I do not have to do anything for anyone but my readers and that's provide an honest blog for you about our team whether the news is positive or negative.

All I ask in return from the media is to give our team and it's fans fair treatment because that's what they deserve, no more and no less.

I do not think that is asking a lot.

Thanks for reading.






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Islander News Articles 10/27

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/27/2008 07:37:00 AM | | | | |
NY Post: Dan Martin has comments from Doug Weight who feels the Islanders are coming out of it's three game losing streak and that he can see the improvement while Bill Guerin called the loss inexcusable acknowledged the effort and play was better.

The early part of the article was Weight talking about playing one of his former teams.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
This was the Ranger article in the paper today for those wondering that was basically all Islander including practice update from Sunday.

Newsday: Greg Logan's article is essentially a repeat of his Sunday afternoon blog as the beatwriters end game with the media policy and DiPietro's injury saga continues which for some reason now includes Mr Botta's Point Blank blog as a part of the story because he reported DiPietro will not play.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I feel bad for DiPietro in all this, he said himself this has become a distraction and he is correct. Bottom line is he has to do whatever it takes to return to full health for as long as it takes and follow the folks who make the medical decisions.

Beyond that he plays when he is ready whether it be tonight, next week, next month or next year.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio's article has head coach Jack Capuano praising Tim Jackman's example he sets for the young players while Jeremy Colliton talks about how the team has to skate and be physical regardless of who it is along with some changes made to the forwards.

Watertown Daily Times: Max Delsignore has Bridgeport defenseman Chris Lee's comments on his overtime preseason goal and his concussion against Florida as he is expected to be cleared Monday to rejoin his Bridgeport teammates.

Updated:
Apparently Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog is still playing the fan card for our benefit as the whining & complaining continues about the media policy as now we have to read about things regarding Mr Botta and their communication and not tonight's game here.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Sad day when Dan Martin has more from the players on how they are getting better in this system then the person assigned to provide coverage cannot give it a rest. I guess now hockey takes a backseat?

Maybe Mr Logan would like to save some of this energy for getting our fans some television programming from his boss starting with a pre-game tonight if he wants to continue his writer for the fans act.

All he does is rally the fans against the club for a lot of other reasons that have nothing to do with the injury policy.

His complaining is now the biggest distraction of all but at least he is keeping up with Mr Zipay so I guess that's something?

I expect Mr Herrmann or someone from Newsday will have Mr Logan's back if this goes much further. All of this is very much about friendships, bond and ties along with access and has nothing to do with our fans and information.

I'm kind of laughing at all of this folks and I hope you do also.

The New York Islanders are not breaking barriers or inventing rules here with it's policy and a lot of pro teams do the same thing as we saw with Joe Giradi on television late this season and Mr Coles just this week.

It's beyond comical a team beatwriter writer who did not once write about the team on his beat losing four hundred man games plus to injury a year ago or even bother blogging or writing when DiPietro got hurt in Atlanta all of a sudden is this fired up about the reporting of injuries?

All I know is I would like to get back to some actual hockey reporting.







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Islander Notables/DiPietro, Meyer, Sutter

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/26/2008 07:08:00 PM | | |
AP: Reports Rick DiPietro will see a doctor on Monday for an undisclosed injury and is questionable to play against Rangers, Yann Danis was recalled on an emergency basis. along with defenseman Brett Skinner.

Newsday: Greg Logan in the Islander Newsday blog confirmed through a team spokesman Rick DiPietro will undergo a doctor’s examination Monday.

Brett Skinner was recalled to replace Freddy Meyer who was injured in the Carolina game according the the beatwriter on an emergency basis along with Yann Danis.

Mr Logan also writes Newsday (I guess that means not Greg Logan) had questions for general manager Garth Snow who defended the NHL policy as a way to protect his players from being targeted by opponents citing league rules that permit teams to withhold detailed injury information, no quotes from the Islander general manager.

Mr Logan also noted many teams choose to provide specific injury information, including recovery timetables, but others do not.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
What a shock the New York Islanders are the only sports team either way who take nothing less than an outright assault from their beatwriter among all the clubs who do not provide specific injury information which is the rub here for those who have not had enough of this yet.

Apparently the Islanders must do what the Cablevision-owned Newsday beatwriter wants or this is how he will report. Are fans of other clubs being put in the middle of this by their beatwriters?

Not a chance.

Aside from everything else I wrote about Mr Logan's coverage our fans need to understand this is the same Greg Logan who is employeed by a company that does not give our team a pre-game, did not show one preseason game or even allow live internet preseason coverage from camp.

They did not even give us live television coverage when Scott Gordon was hired.

Where was Greg Logan to complain about this for us being that he seems to be playing the fan card on the injuries and our need to know, he sure did not play the fan card on our television coverage or our pregame coverage?

But then Mr Logan would have to complain about his new employer and Cablevision/Msg policies which is never going to happen, Neil Best would not even touch that instead turning it around on the team.

You want to impress us Mr Logan being that this is all about our access to information blog and ask our fans what they wanted more, television coverage, preseason televised games, a pregame or specific injury reports?

I bet the television coverage wins hands down.

I know our fans complained about that, where we you aside from sitting on the sidelines in silence?

You did not even complain about the lack of live internet games by Cablevision in the preseason.

Finally for all the time Mr Logan and Newsday had full disclosure about injuries in the last year it's kind of ironic our beatwriter never wrote once the team on his beat led the National Hockey League in man games lost to injury with our four hundred.

Sure seems hypocritical to me but NYIFC is only a team-sponsored blog because it's linked to the blog box?
**************************************************************
It just does not end with the injuries, now Freddy Meyer? No team can stay competitive with all of these players going out injured. I wonder if Scott Gordon is starting to regret what he signed on for here despite the real hockey story being how good his system has looked at times the last two games?

In an attempt to end the day on a good note AP: Brandon Sutter was released from a local hospital Sunday.

Mark Parrish should be reporting to Bridgeport today.







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Greg Logan goes off at Islanders Policy----again

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/26/2008 08:05:00 AM |
Newsday: Apparently Greg Logan decided to finally do some passionate hockey blogging about the Islanders like Steve Zipay does for his team several times a day.

Too bad it was not about the game, how the team played or to profile a player but what amounts to his latest public tantrum about club policy on injuries which began back in June when he found out Guerin-DiPietro had surgery.

His latest is DiPietro may not have been hurt but the team/Gordon/Snow did not want to talk about if he was pulled because the Witt injury was announced in the press box Thursday but not an injury to DiPietro.

Apparently Mr Logan now says he will make his own policy where he says he will insult the Islanders injury reports the way they insult his intelligence and of course played the fan card as if he does this for our benefit?

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I think it's time Greg Logan find another team to cover, his act has gotten old.

Mr Logan, the team does not trust you or Newsday's staff for their coverage of our team and I do not blame them. This goes back before the company that decided to regulate television coverage got control of Newsday.

Do not use our fans to act like your doing anything for us when you could not even come close to keeping up with Mr Zipay last year and wanted no part of DiPietro starting the all-star game while Zipay was live-blogging the young-star game for his readers.

If you were here for us we would have seen at least as many blogs and features as the other club in Newsday received last season.

You could not even bother blogging on DiPietro's injury at the skills competition and ignored the goaltender won six games in a row after the ASG.

You're all over DiPietro only when it's bad news and did not dare pull this on Guerin, Comrie, Sillinger, Satan or another veteran who also played hurt and struggled last year so do not mislead our fans claiming you treat everyone the same.

Not so, not even close.

DiPietro lost a member of his family and you turned it into a circus when he did not play, when he returned and struggled you wrote he was hard-headed on 3/20.

You ran to Nolan and made his contract public issue last season over gameday coverage and got everyone talking about it, not the Islanders. Following that you magnified an issue with Dubielewicz out of all proportion where Katie Strang covered a team event the next day and Nolan even said he did know there was a dispute.

You did a fine job stirring the pot on Snow-Nolan not being on the same page to where they finally decided to part company, sometimes all it takes is the media to push a bad relationship over the edge.

Receive any Thank You cards from Ted Nolan lately?

What happened the night in June after the team announced it's injury policy?

You hooked up with Marc Gandler and we saw false headlines the next day about Yashin that had to be retracted by your paper after an earlier mistake where your paper did a headline Nolan threated veterans with trades.

You did not even bother with a Bergenheim update when you had Gandler so please give everyone a break about what you are doing for our fans.

How many articles so far in the first seven games Bailey may not have been the right choice to stir up the public?

The New York Islanders do not trust you, don't ever play the card you are here for us because that is an outright lie.

You forgot to write Freddy Meyer was bone-headed for his turnover.

This is what happens folks when one media person covers a team and there is no one in the media to keep him honest. Mr Logan pulled this on the Jets or Coles this week after the Jet receiver was a lot less eloquent than the Islanders five other writers would have blistered Mr Logan because there is media competition with football.

Sorry to write I suspect folks who work well together will stick together here and justice by avalanche will be the rule. When a club is struggling it's very easy to play the fan card and gain support.

I suspect no team has less trust for it's beatwriter or it's local media than the New York Islanders, given I read these articles and post them I do not blame the club one bit.

If Greg Logan does not like it, feel free to put in for another team beat.

He comes off like the Islanders pull what the Knicks do clearing questions/interviews with security following them and even those writers did not go off this often about team/league policy.

But those writers still love the Knicks and that's the rub, for Greg Logan this is another assignment, nothing more.

Star-Tribune: Michael Russo did not take this kind of unprofessional tantrum when the Wild reported Marian Gaborik was out with his latest injury and listed it as lower body and the general manager did not want to talk. He did not go into a tirade about everyone can figure out where he has been injured.

I think it's time for a new beatwriter.











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Islander News Articles 10/26

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/25/2008 11:13:00 PM | | | | | |
Newsday: Mr Logan in his game recap writes Rick DiPietro's turnover was " bone-headed " but did not go in the same direction with Freddy Meyer or other players made critical mistakes.

Head coach Scott Gordon could not talk about DiPietro's health citing the clubs injury policy only saying the goaltender was not pulled for his play. Doug Weight talked about his missed penalty shot and the terrible ice conditions while Rick DiPietro preferred not to talk about his injury until more is known and felt it's been too much of a distraction.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Hard-Headed last March, now Bone-Headed a week after returning?

Greg Logan obviously does not like DiPietro for reasons that go beyond the ice, this comes off as unprofessional combined with another statement about club policy.

If Mr Logan is going to write this about DiPietro he has to write the same thing about Meyer, Nielsen or Hillen for poor decisions, he went out of his way to point out crowd reaction when DiPietro did not return.

Scott Gordon seems to put distance between himself and club policy when he says this is what he is stuck with, not a good sign he is on board with management.

DiPietro was not carried off the ice and seemed ok on the bench, we'll see what happens from here regarding how much time he misses of if a goalie is recalled.

Newsday: Greg Logan's other article seemed pre-written with Mike Comrie's comments about the young players scoring struggles and what it takes to break out, gain confidence and win some home games. Scott Gordon talks about Tambellini and Nieslen having to be better but are getting this kind of opportunity for the first time.

NY Post: Dan Martin very limited space article has Rick DiPietro's comments on his turnover.

Daily News: Peter Botte's limited space article had more of the same from Rick DiPietro along with Doug Weight talking about his penalty shot.

Carolina News Observer: Chip Alexander's blog and game coverage here.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has the recap of Bridgeport's 2-0 win at Worcester with comments from Peter Mannino, head coach Jack Capuano & Jeremy Colliton.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio's post-game blog was about how the Sound Tigers looked the exact opposite as opposed to last night as the game progressed.

Worcester Telegram and Gazette: Has the Sharks coverage.






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Carolina 4, New York 3: DiPietro injury

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/25/2008 09:43:00 PM | |
Islanders website: Has the recap of the Islanders 4-3 loss Saturday to the Carolina Hurricanes where they took an all time franchise high sixty shots.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I could write a novel about this game, it had that much to offer again with signs this team is picking up this system in some areas while struggling with it at others. Carolina looked like a team waiting to lose for a good part of the night.

The Islanders defense is stepping in to create chances and it's forecheck again was very good and forced play.

Islanders had the shots, Carolina had the higher quality chances and they made the Islanders pay when they turned over the puck.

Apparently Rick DiPietro reinjured himself again, if I had to guess it was on the play Streit made a skate save as he dove across the crease.

Of course it has to be written DiPietro is still in training camp mode in terms of games having only started his first seven days ago. His giveaway was not good after the coach talked about letting his defense handle the puck the other day.

Cam Ward did not face many unstoppable shots or plays that created an open net chance aside from Okposo's chance in the first blocked by a defender. Unlike the Craig Anderson game last season Ward had to work for his win with a lot of scrambles in front of him.

Bill Guerin for his ten shots about five were the same low-percentage chances he took last year. Powerplay at times was erratic with a lot of outside shots or plays they were outnumbered on the puck, other times it looked solid with cross-ice passes for shots below the circle.

Freddy Meyer gave as good as got and more with a goal and assist said the other day at times this system is tough for him at times, in the second period we saw what he meant with a mistake he cannot make.

Same for Jack Hillen who did not have his man or Frans Nielsen who got beat on a faceoff and then did not get position against his man in front when DiPietro left a rebound.

Bill Guerin for his leadership cannot take the selfish penalty he took in the second period.

A lot of very good things here too, Thompson had has best game by a mile throwing a hit that led to a goal. Bergenheim again was making plays all night and dominating on his shorthanded goal and I love he drove the net and took out Ward. Park finally was put on the line with Thompson and Hilbert.

Doug Weight showed that's the kind of hit you give out to change momentum and draw a powerplay. Nielsen had a lot of chances, Hunter, Streit was bombing from everywhere and Campoli had a very nice play or two at the net.

It was far from all bad, some good signs but not enough and self-inflicted loss.

Nice play to draw a penalty shot, Weight did not do much with it.

Bottom line about as tough an October loss to absorbe as possible on a night this club badly needed points with all four clubs in divison earning at least one where they took sixty shots.

On the media end a little too much blame game from Billy Jaffe, first he questioned why Nielsen had six blocked shots against Dallas, said he has to make a play and not just shoot, but last week in Florida all I heard from him was the Islanders cannot pass up quality chances and have to shoot.

Live postgame with Gordon/DiPietro comments? Sorry, time for the Msg Saturday infomercial which no Islander fan should bother with until the coverage is equal.

No Martinek, Witt or DiPietro is too much to overcome.
**************************************
Sound Tigers.com: Reports Peter Mannino shut out Worcester 2-0 Saturday night. Tim Jackman and Sean Bentivoglio's short-handed goal was the difference.






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