Islander News Articles 3/29

Newsday: Greg Logan's recap of New York's 4-3 loss to Philadelphia in a shootout Saturday with comments from Doug Weight on why he dropped the gloves after Jackman was hit in the first, how the team is coming together and head coach Scott Gordon on Yann Danis among a few subjects.

Newsday: Mark Herrmann does a very classy job crediting the fans for their support of a last place team not only last night but at the meeting Thursday and credited the club for how they have played along with owner Charles Wang for his strategy on the Lighthouse, Josh Bailey comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
If I'm going to be heavily critical of Mark Herrmann here I have to give the man his due when he does praise the Islanders. As great as it was they sold out against Philadelphia, everyone knows it's was a big partisan crowd last night with the Isles fan base comprised of kids, on the ice the plan seems to be working with the young players giving this team something every game that is translating not just to good shifts any longer but with goals/points/chemistry and the confidence to make plays at this level.

Newsday: Mr Herrmann also has some comments from Hall of Fame General Manager Bill Torrey about the Isles, and what still are very strong and active ties to the area and the NHL.

NY Post: Mike Puma's coverage of the Isles shootout loss with comments from head coach Scott Gordon on his shootout choices and Doug Weight about the club sticking up for one another.

Note-For some reason Larry Brooks felt obligated to take a very unprofessional cheap shot at Mike Milbury.

Note-If Peter Botte was dispatched to cover the game his Sunday article for the Daily News will be added but at this time of year the Daily News usually bails on home coverage.

Cherry Hill Courier Post: Chuck Gormley's coverage of the Flyers shootout win Saturday.

Philadelphia Inq/Daily News: Combined Flyer coverage.

Delaware County Times: Also has Flyer coverage.

Windsor Star: Bob Duff had comments from Josh Bailey about his year in the NHL with head coach Scott Gordon on his top draft picks development to this level after the game in Detroit on Friday.

AHL.com: Reports Bridgeport lost huge in Hershey in a first place battle on Saturday 7-2.

1. HER Aucoin, (24) (Sloan, Giroux), 7:24
1. HER Bourque, (20) (Giroux, Aucoin), 8:30 (PP)
1. HER Aucoin, (25) (Mink), 18:20
2. HER Mink, (32) (Lepisto, Varlamov), 3:58 (PP)
2. BRI Smith, (29) (MacDonald, Sim), 5:17 (PP)
2. HER Giroux, (53) (Aucoin, Helmer), 12:44 (SH)
2. BRI MacDonald, (8) (Lee, Iggulden), 16:07 (PP)
2. HER Giroux, (54) (Aucoin, Bourque), 17:16 (PP)
3. HER Gordon, (21) (Bourque, Kronwall), 0:43 (PP)

Nate Lawson was pulled after allowing six goals on seventeen shots. Bridgeport had forty shots.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio was at Harbor Yard for the NCAA but had a blog entry on the game.

Note-If the paper has a game article from the Ct Post beyond Sunday's preview against Lowell on the road 4pm Sunday here I will add it in tomorrow.

Ct Post: Dan Sernoffsky had an article that was mostly Bears centric with no Sound Tiger quotes.

Patroit-News: Tim Leone has Bears coverage of their win which gives them a five point first place lead with a game in hand for a team the Sound Tigers led or were tied with only a week ago.

Lancaster Online: Harold Ziegler also has coverage on Hershey's win.

1 x Hershey Bears 73 47 19 1 6 101
2 Bridgeport Sound Tigers 74 44 22 3 5 96
3 WBarre/Scranton Penguins 73 45 24 2 2 94

Hershey plays WBS Pens Sunday

AHL season is eighty games.

Philadelphia 4, New York 3 Shootout

Associated Press: Recaps New York's 4-3 shootout loss to Philadelphia Saturday.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Better team tonight lost the skills competition or decided to turn the shootout into an exhibition, if not for 0.02 at the end of the first the game is likely out of reach for Philadelphia earlier.

Someone is going to have to explain to me why we see calls like the one against McAmmond decide a game but tonight night when all we hear is you are responsible for your stick Jackman takes a high stick in his face right in front of the official, blood is drawn and no call is made nor do the officials even consult with one another?

That turns a tie game with three minutes left into one the Isles take into overtime with a powerplay.

It's huge.

Overall I'm very happy with the Islanders effort.

For a team rested and waiting with all those twenty goal scorers the Flyers were very passive, sat back early and did not try and take it at the Islanders who not only generated good chances but took the early lead and simply were the better team that were standing up for one another beginning with Doug Weight who jumped right in and defended a teammate.

You would be hard pressed to know who was competing for a playoff spot tonight.

Goals? Nice shot by Martinek, good hand-eye by Tambellini but again for me the shifts these young players are having between Bailey-Okposo-Nielsen-Comeau-Tambellini are the story where they create quality chances and it's not one thing but just the body or work as it's obvious they are more and more comfortable at this level.

They are consistently the teams best players game in and out.

Defense for Islanders was solid across the board, Flyers did not get many quality chances until the third.

Veterans created their chances too with McAmmond and Weight getting breakaways, the officials made a terrible call against Philadelphia when a player dove and got the puck with his stick but gave the Isles a powerplay.

Also loved how they stood in and fought when it was needed combined with some big hits. Comeau buried a Flyer at the end of regulation. Rule of thumb is you don't wake up Aaron Asham, Jackman found that out the hard way.

What can I write about Yann Danis? He seemed composed and in control for two periods but he cannot allow that first Flyer goal which changes the momentum. It's obvious he's fighting the puck but the third goal he had no chance on as Streit got beat before he almost immediately crashed the net to tie to score.

Down the stretch seemed both teams wanted to get the game to overtime as the Flyers went back into first period mode. In overtime seemed both teams were looking toward a shootout.

Why is Brendan Witt opening a shootout and Mark Streit closing it? No idea but whether they score or not what was the point of that when there are a lot of forwards with better hands who he has used previously?

That one I simply do not get.

Flyer skilled players got the best of a struggling goalie in the skills competition.

Islanders did not skate like a tired team, had more energy and worked to create better chances, after last night's that's about all that can be asked.

All in all, it should have been a regulation win, Islanders were better in most areas.

Philadelphia at New York 7pm Msg+2

Sorry for the late game preview.

Sports Network: Reports Martin Biron will start in goal tonight against New York in a preview.

03/26/2009 FLA 4 @ PHI 2
03/23/2009 NJD 2 @ PHI 4
03/22/2009 PHI 3 @ PIT 1
03/20/2009 PHI 6 @ BUF 4
03/17/2009 PHI 2 @ DET 3

Derien Hatcher is only player on Flyers injury report.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Flyers were waiting in New York for the Islanders yesterday and come off a very tough loss to Florida, as usual Philadelphia is about as consistent as it's goaltending where at one point they look unbeatable and others they simply cannot win but recently we have seen the better team and Biron has the Islanders number when he starts and lately has been the full-time starter.

Carter, Richards, Hartnell, Briere and Knuble are all healthy for tonight's game.

Flyers have a game against Boston tomorrow.

For the Islanders we see how they react off traveling and a big win that the goaltending played a key in but need a few more goals and chances themselves with a lot more fringe veterans in the lineup who are not goal-scorers. Should be Yann Danis with MacDonald coming off injury.

Jim Baumbach pushing for Isles Finances

Apparently Jim Baumbach is questioning why Charles Wang is not able to open up the teams books as he offered to in his recent interview with Newsday if given league permission here and cites a NY Times article from July 2003 by Richard Sandomir in the Times here that I was researching while investigating how much Smg receives from the Islanders where Mr Wang tells all about the Islanders finances.

Mr Baumbach among many things he would never ask about Cablevision/Dolans and how they intend to pay for a 500m Garden renovation or be given City approvals questioned how an NHL team could lose this much revenue and that he can't just take those losses at his word and proof is required.

Of course I included all the documented reports of the Rangers losing 25-40 million a year for him in that era as proof a pro sports franchise can and has sustained those kinds of heavy losses.

No doubt Mr Baumbach will be ignoring any reports of the Rangers losing money now or in the past and will not be questioning his employer or asking for the Rangers books.

NYIFC has posted the articles on Ranger financial losses several times from the Post, Daily News, Washington Times and Arthur Levitt and are available on request for all interested parties.

Islander News Articles 3/28

Will update early Saturday so we have as many quotes as possible from both sides.

Newsday: Greg Logan's game recap has goaltender Joey MacDonald's comments on his first career shutout against his former team in his game recap.

NHL.com: Brian Hunter has comments from Joey MacDonald on his first shutout who credited his team as he talked about his diving save in the second period. Head coaches Scott Gordon and Mike Babcock also discusses the game with Wings defender Nicklas Lidstrom agreeing with MacDonald the momentum swung with the two goals and the big saves.

NHL.com: Larry Wigge does a feature on Bill Guerin comparing his circumstances here vs Pittsburgh and uses Scott Gordon's rotten apples comment to make his point with the Long Island label slapped on virtually everything despite the head coach's praise for Bill Guerin.

Kyle Okposo in this NHL feature that has several subjects but leads with Guerin also has Kyle Okposo's comments about adding a franchise talent or finishing this season strong.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
If Larry Wigge who is a long-time respected writer cannot do the homework or only goes for Newsday blurbs where even Greg Logan speculated he was not talking about Bill Guerin how is anyone else going to get these stories right?

Scott Gordon was on XM radio and praised Guerin earlier this week, that did not make it in this article at all.

Canadian Press: Has Bruno Gervais and Josh Bailey's comments in their recap along with MacDonald.

Detroit News: Ted Kulfan has the recap of New York's 2-0 win in Detroit.

Michigan Live: Ansar Khan also has a game recap.

Detroit Free Press: Also has Red Wings coverage on their loss.

Journal-Star: Kevin Capie reports Islanders scout Ken Morrow was one of at least five NHL teams scouting the Peoria Rivermen against the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio previews Saturday's big game in Hershey with head coach Jack Capuano and defenseman Andrew MacDonald's comments.

New York 2, Detroit 0 " Thank God For Night Off "

Associated Press: Recaps New York's 2-0 win against the Red Wings in Detroit on Friday.

I'm sure older fans back from 72-73 understand the title when the expansion Islanders visited Detroit and found that sign waiting for them at the Olympia.

Congratulations to Joey MacDonald on his first NHL shutout which comes against his former team, that sprawling save was one for the books.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Team trying for a league record fifty wins four years in a row not since the 70's and you could see a lot of empty seats and not much noise in that building for a club first overall on a Friday night.

A few posts and Joey MacDonald giving them the goaltending we saw early in the season or as early as opening night with a few incredible saves but for the most part the Islanders got in the lanes, forced mistakes and pressured the Wings.

Without MacDonald's play and the post/crossbar Wings could have had four or five goals, the chances they created they worked hard for.

Some of the calls against the Isles seemed like homer/experience calls like Okposo in the first where the puck was there so it could not be interference or that late third period penalty against Martinek where Johan Franzen was touched and went down like he tried to draw one and did.

On the Islanders side of the puck a very solid team effort blocking shots and making good defensive plays across the board. Gervais looks like he went to the Mark Streit school of defense and to me has never looked more confident jumping in on offense or just clearing a puck when it needs to be. He has been a solid defender for a few years, lately he seems to be able to create offense and playing at a higher level.

On offense the kids with Comeau, Bailey not on that line with Tambellini-Nielsen-Okposo who simply were the Islanders best line worked for some chances with the Islander forwards who simply are not likely to score often.

Give Jackman high marks for his work to create Bailey's goal who got position on Nicklas Lidstrom and earned the second goal. Seemed like if the Isles got one to Streit on one of those powerplays he was going to make it 3-0.

Okposo looks more and more like a franchise player, some of the plays late he was knocking down Wing players on defense, his vision and patience to find Nielsen with that pass who made a great move on Osgood for the shorthanded goal.

A game everyone including the fans can highlight for this season, the kids were the best players, MacDonald was outstanding. Isles got in the trenches and did well against the best team in the NHL, not the kind of skilled offensive win against the Devils but still a good team effort.

Memorable night.

Philadelphia is here resting already, will be interesting to see what the Islanders do Saturday off that kind of win.

New York at Detroit 7:30pm Msg+ Weight Activated

The Islanders announced Doug Weight has been activated off IR and Mike Iggulden has been returned to Bridgeport so drop another player from the man-games lost to injury for Friday's game.

03/24/2009 DET 3 @ EDM 2
03/23/2009 DET 3 @ CGY 5
03/20/2009 DET 6 @ ATL 3
03/17/2009 PHI 2 @ DET 3
03/15/2009 DET 4 @ CBJ 0

Player GP G A PTS +/-
Pavel Datsyuk 73 30 59 89 35
Henrik Zetterberg 69 29 38 67 15
Marian Hossa 68 37 29 66 23
Brian Rafalski 74 10 47 57 21
Johan Franzen 63 31 24 55 19
Jiri Hudler 74 22 32 54 6
Nicklas Lidstrom 71 13 38 51 30
Niklas Kronwall 72 4 42 46 1
Mikael Samuelsson 73 18 21 39 5
Daniel Cleary 66 14 24 38 6

Updated Player Pos
03/10/09 Andreas Lilja D Concussion, knee IR. Out indefinitely

Player GP W-L-OT S GAA SV%
Chris Osgood 40 24-6-8 1048 3.18 .884
Ty Conklin 38 25-9-4 975 2.42 .912

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Detroit Red Wings tonight attempt to become only the third team in NHL history to record three fifty win seasons in a row which has not happened since the 1970's era.

Islanders last played in Detroit December 12/4/2005 and defeated the Wings 2-1 in a game if I recall Mike York scored a late goal. Steve Stirling was into his final month as coach for those looking back.

Needless to write the Wings are an outstanding club but their goaltending at times can be suspect, will they take the Islanders lightly who should not be happy with their recent play or how some games have gotten away from them because those losses seem a lot more about the mistakes by the team than what the other team is doing or do we see the club perform as it did against New Jersey and in Montreal where they generated quality chances and scored skilled goals?

This should be a fun test for the young players, only Scott Gordon knows who gets the call in net but with back to back I expect Joey MacDonald will start against his former team as Danis did against Montreal.

Wings give up some goals, but they also have scored 276 goals.

For the lottery only fans, it seems anything short of a free fall by Tampa and especially Colorado who are playing like they might not gain another point, it seems a three team race for 30th overall which means a first or second pick in this summers draft.

Islanders currently trail Colorado by eight points but with win disparity you can make that nine as the first tie-breaker goes to the Avs despite the Isles recent win head to head.

For my money I'd like to see the Islanders put on a very impressive show tonight because the turn-around back home the next night will not be easy with the Flyers already in New York on Friday waiting and coming off a bad loss themselves.

This is the final game against the Western Conference.

Looking ahead for NY Islanders

This time of year always bring a few surprises like Trevor Smith being signed April 2, 2007. Sean Bentovoglio was a later signing that same year in May so I'll keep an eye out.

Prospects blog feeder usually catches this information. Not sure many of you found the prospect blog for NYIFC but I think those who do will find it one of the best updated anywhere with information here where you can get local coverage or team information on every prospect in the organization.

No doubt the Matt Gilroy watch picks up steam as he just won the Walter Brown award Patriot News with most NHL teams rumored to be looking into signing the UFA free agent defenseman who has no cap on his contract because of his age and is in the mix for the Hobey Baker.

New York Islanders:
For the New York Islanders we have a season to close out (hopefully with a few wins and no more injuries) and some playoffs after two years for the team in Bridgeport where there is a fair chance they can go far this spring.

Tragic number for finishing with worst record/primary lottery spot is down to nine which means combined wins/ot/shootout points gained or lost by Islanders, Tampa or Colorado who controls tie-breaker (lead by seven wins) so you can add a point to their record despite them leading the Isles by eight points currently.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers:
Isles are sending Blake Comeau, who's the only regular with Jack Hillen and Mike Iggulden but this team at the start will not have Kyle Okposo. Jeff Tambellini would have to clear waivers as well as Frans Nielsen and were not on Bridgeport's clear day list here.

Josh Bailey is not eligible to play for Bridgeport so this team will not have a heavy Islander flavor beyond some spot callups like Joe Callahan, Jesse Joensuu, Andrew MacDonald and a few others.

Prospect Signings:
The clock is also ticking on the 6/1 deadline to resign 2007 draft prospects from CHL such as Mark Katic or they can re-enter the draft. There has been no resolution with the IHL on European prospects on a transfer agreement so there is still no Stefan Ridderwall deadline or anyone else from that league.

I guess that includes the KHL for their veteran league.

Most of the Isles college prospects are not graduating this summer, some could be signed and enter the organization but for now whoever stays in school is not required to be tendered a contract.

Of course there is always a Rob Hennigar or Joel Rechlicz prospect in the mix.


NHL Draft/Free Agency/Roster Speculation:
Obviously the Isles are going to stock up big time again in this draft.

Free agency like last summer it's not just about the money or reaching the cap floor but to create room to fit a player on your roster.

If John Tavares were drafted here with Nielsen and Josh Bailey a first line center cannot be signed or you have to place them on the fourth line with Park-Jackman signed for next year

I suspect Weight's return depends on if the Isles win the right to draft Tavares or not.

With Bergenheim, Tambellini, Comeau what left wing do you want to kick off the team to sign a first line left winger? We did this last year and had our poll and managements actions reflected our poll on who would play where. All of them were benched or played on a fourth line or sent down, Jon Sim was waived twice before being demoted and has a year to go on his contract.

First line right wing (Bill Guerin's spot) is the only spot in play (Okposo-Hunter-Jackman) with Garth Snow needing to find someone who can fill the scoring with a franchise player or someone with NHL scoring ability.

Defense is locked tight folks with Witt, Sutton, Martinek, Gervais, Meyer and Mark Streit all signed for next year with Jack Hillen unrestricted. Anyone talking drafting Hedman, signing Mike Komisarek or even Gilroy has to make a trade for any of them to play here.

It's not just about signing players, rosters spots have to be created first.

I suspect Garth Snow has a trade or two to make.


NYIFC:
Still waiting on an official lottery date. I have not made any final decisions for a closing date for this blog right now partially because I'm waiting on the lottery.

Bad news is looks like 3/31 or 4/1 coverage with Caps game will be missed here entirely.

Still, it will be a fun ride to the end.

Islander News Articles 3/27

Newsday: John Jeansonne covered practice Thursday with head coach Scott Gordon's comments on the effort in the 6-2 loss and how he is using his young players.

Injury updates are given on Doug Weight and Sean Bergenheim.

Newsday: Eden Laikin recapped Thursday meeting on the Lighthouse which had no new announcements beyond County Executive Tom Suozzi quoted as saying if the project isn't approved, there won't be sufficient funding to rehabilitate the Coliseum - making it hard for the Islanders to remain.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Begging the question why doesn't Nassau County's current Executive condemn former County Executives Tom Gulotta's lease with Smg so whoever owns the Islanders can get their full ticket revenue, parking and concessions?

Newsday: David A. Levy, counsel to the supervisor of the Town of Hempstead is given a full article in Newsday where he says the delays over the years is on Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, who took years to approve a project, a developler and that the TOH is moving as fast as possible as Supervisor Kate Murray's actions were defended and have expedited this process as concerns of what the scale of this project will bring to the area.

NY Post: Dan Martin had three paragraphs on tonight's game and last night's meeting with his own speculation, he obviously was not in attendance.

Updated 11:00am
Newsday: Mark Herrmann in the NHL Newsday blog on had more on the exchanges between the Islanders and Wild in Wednesday's game where he used the Minnesota coverage.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
This was after at least two Ranger blog entries on their Thursday loss begging the question what took so long when Islander fans may have wanted to read this the day after the game?

Detroit News: Ted Kulfan has an update from Red Wings Practice and confirms former Islander Chris Osgood will start Friday.

Detroit Free Press: George Sipple has Red Wings line changes at practice Thursday with Helen St.James article on the Wings here.

WXYK.com: Has audio of Red Wings Head coach Mike Babcock's comments about the Islanders.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports Rob Hennigar was called up from the Utah Grizzlies on Thursday.

AHL.com reported Joel Rechlicz and Mike Iggulden were returned to Bridgeport but those could be paper transactions only.

Bridgeport has a rare Friday off but plays a big game in Hershey Saturday.

Lighthouse Meeting Updates

Newsday: Katie Strang in the Islanders Newsday blog is hosting a live event for tonight's meeting also Mr Botta at Point Blank is giving minute by minute updates for those interested.

Islander News Articles 3/26

Newsday: Greg Logan's game coverage had comments from Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau, head coaches Scott Gordon (on several subjects) & Jacques Lemaire who was not happy with some of the hits by the Islanders.

Also reported the Isles had a brief statement on Rick DiPietro while Dr Logan again questioned the medical staff on Andy Sutton who was not cleared despite wanting to play.

NY Post & Daily News if writers were sent to the first home game in a while.

Pioneer Press: Brian Murphy recaps Minnesota's 6-2 win against New York on Wednesday.

Star Tribune: Michael Russo's game coverage and blog entries here.

Detroit News: Dave Dye reports former Islander Chris Osgood will start Friday against his former team.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio in his Sound Tigers blog reported Hershey regained first place over Bridgeport with a win on Wednesday and WBS Pens also won on Wednesday.

Minnesota 6, New York 2

Associated Press: Recaps New York's 6-2 loss at home against Minnesota Wednesday.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Very disappointing result for a team playing excellent hockey at home. Almost seems like the last week or so the Isles bubble popped and what was helping them win and play competitive has let some games simply get away from them.

Bergenheim out, Joensuu in Bridgeport, Thompson-Park back in? Sure Park has scored since his return but it's not the same quality goals and chances as the Devils game or the Habs game.

Minnesota brought a lot to this game after they started slowly. Very chippy game with a lot of hits and scrums. Almost seemed like the fighting/scrums woke the Wild up and motivated them with the standings.

Islanders started the game well, did not sustain it long and considering they were the rested team there is no excuse for that. They had the better legs early but after Gaborik beat Thompson down low off a great centering pass to tie the game things changed quickly.

Streit a beautiful dish pass and a nice screen by Iggulden for Gervais who had a perfect shot. Big hits by Tambellini and Thompson early.

Yann Danis has to stop the second goal, the reaction by Scott Gordon on the bench said it all, he was not set or had his pads together, aside from that he did not have a lot of help or too much help on Skouka's third period goal with the screens from three Islanders or the one Owen Nolan shot off Gervais.

Overall his reactions were not sharp but again he did not have a lot of help.

Smg opened the door a second early which is why Comeau landed on the other side which could have been a serious injury, did not see anything out of line from the Wild there but loved Okposo's reaction.

Comeau kept talking penalties and fighting back. Too quiet a night from Nielsen. Bailey had a great third period chance, Tambellini a few plays at the net.

Tim Jackman needed to get involved in this one a lot more in the physical department.

Did Hilbert deflect it with an open net off Backstrom who was at the top of his crease which means Hilbert deflected it the wrong way? Second goal since he returned from injury which we all know is not nearly enough.

Nate Thompson's first NHL assist on that quality shift from that line.

For the Wild the best player on the ice was the best player in the building and that's Marian Gaborik with his four points. He got to the net for a goal and set up several others.

Three on three down two goals and Scott Gordon with the last change had Gervais, Martinek, Nielsen on the ice, eventually Witt came on. I know Okposo, Comeau and Streit were in the box, I think Bailey was in the lockeroom.

Would not have been the worst time to play Tambellini but that's an easy second guess.

Howie Rose called this one like his car was double-parked and running with the Minnesota trap angle which was disrespectful to a cup winning coach who's had a great deal of success. Wild in the second dominated the puck in the Isles end of the ice and missed a lot of shots which were not credited and came at the Islanders hard in the third.

Wild looked a lot more entertaining and played less of a trap than the Rangers have for over three years.

What was the cheap shots with Marc-Andre Bergereon's missing the net, that was uncalled for by Rose also.

Howie Rose had a very poor night doing his Vancouver media impersonation earlier this season.

Minnesota at New York Msg+2

03/24/2009 MIN 1 @ NYR 2
03/22/2009 EDM 0 @ MIN 3
03/20/2009 MIN 0 @ NJD 4
03/17/2009 COL 2 @ MIN 3
03/15/2009 MIN 3 @ STL 5

Updated Player Pos Injury Expected Return
03/23/09 Brent Burns D Concussion Out indefinitely
03/23/09 Mikko Koivu C Knee Out until at least early April

Stat Player Total
Points Mikko Koivu 62
Goals Owen Nolan 22
Assists Mikko Koivu 44
PIM Derek Boogaard 87
Plus/Minus Derek Boogaard 3
PP Goals Owen Nolan 10
SH Goals Mikko Koivu 2

GP W L OTL GAA SV%
Niklas Backstrom 63 32 22 7 2.36 .921
Josh Harding 18 2 9 1 2.15 .932

Star Tribune: Michael Russo in his blog discusses how the Wild played and the chances the failed to finish in Marian Gaborik's return.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
For the Wild about as close to a must-win as a team can have without facing elimination without Koivu who is one of their best players. For the New York Islanders a chance to defeat a team that outplayed them earlier this season when the Wild were struggling.

First visit in a few years for the Wild to the Coliseum. I would expect a callup from Bridgeport and that does not include Joey MacDonald's likely activation. Does Scott Gordon save Yann Danis for the Red Wings in Detroit on Friday?

Strategy, Minnesota is not a strong offensive team whether it be by system or the Gaborik injury, it should be a low scoring game, we'll see what the Isles can generate.

Forget Doug Weight, Sign Zigmund Palffy

Forgive me folks, as well as Doug Weight has performed on the powerplay what center do you plan on moving between Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen and maybe John Tavares so he can be a top three center who had four goals (including Ryan O'Byrne) and ten assist at even strength in forty four games with a minus twelve rating?

Do I again write about Mike Sillinger's comments he expects to be in camp next year or Dean McAmmond combined with other center prospects long overdue to play on the fourth line at this level to say nothing of Park-Thompson?

Why was it Rob Hennigar was signed at age 25 again if he's not going to get a chance on a fourth line someday?

Doug Weight's earlier comments about staying are very classy, a few months ago he did not sound like a man ready to give up his spot for a younger player.

What's going to change come September?

If the Islanders need a veteran how about someone who can put the puck in the net and at the very least used to be a dynamic player the fans can identify with.

This would not be playing the sentiment card but one that makes sense if you are looking for some scoring for someone who is off the NHL radar.

Zigmund Palffy, thirty six years old.
Skalica Extraliga (SVK) 07/08 46 30 45 75
Skalica Extraliga (SVK) 08/09 53 52 47 99

For those wondering how much former Islander Zigmund Palffy has struggled since he left Pittsburgh a few years ago.

I would absolutely make a call and see if he wants to return to the NHL if he's healthy and producing to this degree.

Anyone think he will do much worse than Bill Guerin on right wing with three goals in his last twenty games?

Not putting down the leadership or character of Guerin-Weight, at some point you do have to have a few players who can put up the numbers.

I may be in the minority but Palffy if he is playing well and Tavares would be a heck of a good combination with Okposo-Bailey.

It's not the same player from ten years ago, but if the Isles are going to add players on the other side of thirty five, this seems the best one for them because they need scoring.

The worst that can happen at 3/26 LH Meeting?

I keep reading we are coming down to the end of this process and we will find out about the teams future.

Isn't this more we will find out about the owners status in terms of his future?

What is Charles Wang ready to tell us about the future of his hockey team tomorrow if the TOH does not approve this project?

He cannot move this team until 2015 unless TOH approves the project and Nassau cannot negotiate a lease. Anyone think Kate Murray or TOH is going to greenlight this just so Nassau can not negotiate a lease?

If TOH turns down the project the lease is binding unless Tom Suozzi and Charles Wang have a secret deal that has not been reported to let him out of his lease early, a few articles have talked about lawsuits and jail-time if the team was moved before 2015.

There is also Smg's lease which runs until 2014 no one is talking about and the Cable contract that runs until 2030.

Is Mr Wang ready to sell if the project is turned down because that's his only option unless the NHL will let him terminate the franchise which is absurd considering Msg is an older facility and a few teams in this league play in old buildings like Detroit that have had attendance issues at times despite their success.

If the franchise were terminated or operations suspended he losses what he paid for the club and still has player contracts to honor starting with DiPietro and Yashin.

If the New York Islanders had their parking, full ticket sales and concessions combined with revenue sharing even in their current situation they would not be losing more more than most clubs in older buildings.

Most NHL teams still lose money and plenty of it, Msg before the lockout was losing 25-40m a year which we have referenced several times. A lot of folks reference Forbes but they have no hard data from the NHL or any team, that's total guesswork from them.

So I'm asking, what bad news is he ready to tell us beyond he needs to Lighthouse or he will have to sell which is terrible news but should not necessarily mean this team relocates.

And absolutely not before 2015. Tom Suozzi cuts some kind of deal to let him out of his lease early that is going to be fought long and hard and may be tougher to do than approve the Lighthouse.

Islander News Articles 3/25

Newsday: Greg Logan's article has more on Mark Streit with a few words on former Islander Marc-Andre Bergeron and head coach Scott Gordon as the Wild visit tonight.

NY Post: Dan Martin has more from Mark Streit on why he signed with New York and how it's worked out for him.

Also reported Doug Weight is expected to play later in the week.

Minnesota Star-Tribune: Michael Russo (former did Panthers coverage) has the latest on the Minnesota Wild who come off losing 2-1 in a trap fest game from both sides against team Cablevision.

AHL.com: Reports Bridgeport lost at home Tuesday to Worcester 5-3, where both Nate Lawson was pulled and Peter Mannino played.

Mike Iggulden played for Bridgeport.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's game coverage and blog entries here on the loss to the Worcester Sharks.

1. WOR Zalewski, (12) (Moore), 2:00
1. WOR Fenton, (5) (Fornataro, Joslin), 3:13 (PP)
1. BRI Joensuu, (18) (Bentivoglio, MacDonald), 7:31
1. WOR Fornataro, (10) (Demers, Fox), 10:48 (PP)
1. WOR Fenton, (6) (Armstrong, Fox), 19:13
2. WOR Desjardins, (8) (Demers, DaSilva), 15:53
2. BRI Bentivoglio, (9) (Colliton, Lee), 16:41
3. BRI Walter, (18) (Wotton), 15:48

Streit Nominated for Masterson Award

Islanders website: Announced the Long Island Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association Nominated New York Islanders Defenseman Mark Streit for the Masterson Award with a link to an Islander Newsday blog entry from Greg Logan with the defenders thoughts here with head coach Scott Gordon's comments.

Point Blank: Mr Botta had more on today's nomination with general manager Garth Snow's comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
If nothing else we found out who makes up the current local chapter of the professional hockey writers association. He should have been nominated for Norris based on his overall play, this seems like a token nomination for a different award just to recognize his effort in some way.

Not the right way.

Mets, Jets, Islanders take it on chin from Newsday

This article has nothing to do with the New York Islanders, but if you feel Newsday has double-standards in their reporting depending on team, this one's for you here.

Wallace Matthews I believe surfaced last July for an article titled:
Snow forecast, lets hope Islanders aren't buried for those wondering when Ted Nolan and Garth Snow went their separate ways.

I do not recall Mr Matthews surfacing since for a New York Islander article.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
My point with this baseball-only article on this day is to ask the question how come Newsday staff does not ask the exact same questions of both teams that play at MSG?

When the Jets signed/traded whatever for Brett Favre last fall Matthews wrote about the Jets that day as he did the Mets today.

We see Newsday staff gang up on the New York Islanders like this with Mark Herrmann usually leading the charge.

Meanwhile the owned by Cablevision/Newsday Knicks (28-42) clinched an eighth straight losing season, tying the longest run of futility in franchise history (1959-60 to 1966-67) and the Rangers look very much like the Islander teams that qualified for the playoffs after their eight years of being the league's laughingstock franchise spending record amounts of payroll.

How come we do not see the same criticisms from writers or columnists from Newsday staff?

I think it's a fair question to ask.

Final Poll Results:

Final Poll Results are in.

Pick the goalie you would sign for 09-10?
Joey MacDonald 9 (11%)
Yann Danis 71 (88%)

Thanks to everyone for voting.

I suspect one of the goaltenders will have to test free agency if Rick DiPietro is healthy for next season because with Mannino and Lawson under contract there is no longer room in Bridgeport.

Surprised at the overwhelming numbers here considering MacDonald played so well and kept the Islanders in contention for so long with a defensive system that needed to be changed and was at some point.

Having written this Danis has been outstanding in goal for the club and would be an excellent goaltender to resign also.

For me the question remains how will they play backing up at this level coming off the bench after weeks without playing? They both proved they can play very well for long stretches and hold the team in games which we did not know going into the season as starters which was great news and a bit surprising.

Danis needed a little time when he first got a chance to start, MacDonald we have not seen come in with a lot of time off until recently and had a knee injury so it's tough to say about him also coming in cold after being Bridgeport's starter a year ago.

Whoever they sign I suspect will do a good job.

So why did Isles fail to make playoffs?

Last year the New York Islanders fell out of contention when the 402 man games lost to injury finally caught up with them in March. A lot of the writing here and in most media circles were that they would go into camp relatively healthy for about most of the summer.

Never happened.

This season the club will approach six hundred man games lost to injury by the time it's over.

That is the main storyline of the 2008-09 season because in a lot of ways 2007-08 never ended. DiPietro never got healthy from his knee surgery, Comrie & Sillinger played hurt or came back too early or were re-injured again and we never got to seem them at their best. Brendan Witt missed a stretch early but finally appears healthy, Radek Martinek, Andy Sutton, Freddy Meyer missed a lot of hockey.

I'm almost shocked Witt recovered fully from his third knee injury in the last calendar year.

Top six defenders on paper played about one game together.

Josh Bailey missed the early part of the season with two injuries, Bergenheim, Hunter, Nielsen, also missed significant time with Okposo.

Outside of Bill Guerin who did not play in preseason (until the end) coming off surgery himself was the only one who returned healthy and stayed off IR.

Doug Weight cannot be expected to play eighty two games and eventually was injured twice missing most of the second half. Even Mark Streit was not immune.

You can also put the coaches system in this mix when the veterans are asking for alterations and changes which were made, it was a factor given the prospects have played very competitive since late Jaunary.

Mostly though, this season was decided before it started. That game against Pittsburgh where they lost the three goal lead was the beginning of the end, even the games they were winning were more about the other team or MacDonald keeping them in.

I predicted this team to finish sixth and stand by that if they were healthy, the fact they have been so competitive with so many prospects in the lineup suggests with some healthy veterans scoring and a defense able to keep the pressure off they would have gotten more games to overtime and won.

Would the coaches system have become even a bigger story in why they failed to make the playoffs? Yes.

I wrote a lot about survival skills to get games to overtime the last two years.

That did not happen either which was another factor in the teams free fall out of contention.

Bottom line since Jaunary 2008 the New York Islanders have not gotten back to full strength. Even before that we now know Sillinger was playing hurt.

Islander News Articles 3/24

Newsday: John Jeansonne's article had comments from head coach Scott Gordon on Tim Jackman with the forwards comments about next season and what he did to improve his skating last summer.

The coach also reported goaltender Joey MacDonald is " all set " to return and that Doug Weight and Andy Sutton were at practice but have not been cleared to return.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I found it somewhat interesting Jackman said instead of having to prove himself to ownership, it's just to prove to the coaches and my teammates that I can do what is needed next year.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's article is on Kurtis McLean's torn Achillies with his comments how it could have happened doing anything as the wall ball/soccer tradition was written about and that he faces four to six months of rehab.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
He's right that it could have happened anywhere and this is a standard warm-up for a lot of players. Only problem is now do the Islanders-Sound Tigers consider resigning him this summer?

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio also has the Sound Tigers weekly and previews tonight's makeup game against Worcester at Harbor Yard despite both teams meeting Friday here with Bridgeport able to clinch their first playoff spot in two years as early as Wednesday.

Suggestions for Scott Gordon and Garth Snow

Anyone who thinks rotten apples comments or bag skates from Scott Gordon are tough forget some of the things Al Arbour used to do as coach.

* Rookie Denis Potvin's now famous skating session with the legendary coach in 1974 after he missed the team bus for a game in Philadelphia and was told to be at practice the next day and find him there with Arbour and his whistle.

* One day the Islanders showed up at a practice facility to find that an egg had been placed in each of their lockers.

"What Al told the players was, 'If you carried that egg with you last night when you played, you wouldn't have broken it because not one of you touched a soul," Bill Torrey recalled.

Pat Price smashed an egg over Arbour's head and was traded within two weeks.

* The Islanders had played poorly on the road in Los Angeles and Arbour had essentially said that his team had "gone to the dogs." He said they had played like dogs.

The next day they flew to Vancouver and Arbour asked Torrey to go for a walk as he sorted out what was going wrong. On their journey, they stopped at a general store, and Arbour spied a bag of dog biscuits sitting on the counter. He bought them.

"I said Al if you're hungry we can go have lunch with the players," Torrey said, laughing at the memory. "But he had a plan."

Arbour went to the dining area where players were having lunch and he told the waiters to put a plate of biscuits on each table instead of dessert. Arbour and Torrey waited around the corner to monitor the reaction.

"And I remember Al peeked around the corner, and he turned back laughing, ‘can you believe that Stefan Persson just ate one,’" Torrey recalls.

Then Arbour and Torrey heard all of the players barking like dogs, and Arbour knew that he had made his point and had a good laugh at the same time.

* This to go with legendary stories of Al Arbour driving his cars into ditches or an airplane during playoffs or walking off a roof to get a hammer in one story.

Kurtis McLean Out for Season/Quick Hits

Islanders website: Announced forward Kurtis McLean is out for the season with a torn achillies.


Updated:
Media Blog: Reports the NHL Lottery Draft Drawing has been tentatively scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 14.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
It should be noted McLean's injury was not counted on our man-games lost to injury recently because his status as an Islander or Sound Tiger has not been updated.

I will add in the games the Islanders played recently with McLean out to our official/unofficial number which would be five starting from the first game he missed on 3/12 in Montreal.

Total games lost to injury 505 so far, last season 402.
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* Not much to write about the New York Islanders and Queens anymore until the Lighthouse is off the radar and Charles Wang says he is willing to sell to someone who is willing to play there in the future or retain the club himself until 2015 (and keep absorbing losses) until NYC pays for an arena (not happening) as part of the development.

I do not see Charles Wang retaining ownership until 2015 without the Lighthouse project approved.