Islander News Articles 4/18

NY Times: Dave Caldwell has what are written up as " recent comments " from Tim Beach, the Islanders’ vice president for operations, as to why the teams long-time goal song was changed, what led them to the song they currently play in an article about goal songs/sirens or music played at NHL games.

NYIFC Comments:
Leave it to the NY Times editor to have Dave Caldwell cover this and revert to it's SI format of features, as opposed to full game coverage for the Devils after sending the Mark Messier Unauthorized book writer/Ranger beatwriter Jeff Z. Klein or Stu Hackel to every road game they could down the stretch.

This is the same NY Times that used AP for Ranger home and road games earlier, missed two of three Islander Msg games a year ago and only had the 3D article from Richard Sandomir as it's newspaper article with an AP blurb on the actual gamehere.

Mr Caldwell (former Isles beatwriter before Ron Dicker) for his lack of Islander coverage had no problem, with a few mild digs at the goal horn writing it was an " army surplus horn " or that a year ago speculated none of the songs used caught on, probably because the team hardly scored and had the worst record in the league.

Mr Caldwell does not bother pointing out the Rangers scored nine more goals than the Islanders a year ago and had the same 222 goals this season, despite injury disparity.

When reporting is poor, little facts like that are overlooked when it's time to take a few digs. My personal take is the Times has been a lost cause for all hockey fans in New York for a long time now and really going back before the lockout, all the publication seems good for today are blog entries with music clips to supplant information after an amateur strategy of covering Europe more than New York hockey.
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Casey Cizikas: Has no points for St. Michael's Majors trailing 2-1 after second against Barrie Colts.

Kevin Poulin: Has allowed five goals Saturday with Victoriaville's trailing Saint John's 5-1 at time this is written.

Travis Hamonic: A late start Saturday for Brandon against Calgary.
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Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's recap of game three 7-2 blowout win by Hershey with blog entries and a preview of game four. Patroit-News: Has Tim Leone's coverage and blog entries with
Lebanon Daily News.


NYIFC Comments:
Bridgeport played a solid first period where they again were better team, but simply did not get many shots from forwards or pressure goaltender Michal Neuvirth despite physical play that gave them man advantage. Out of nowhere the Bears team that has struggled for the better part of seven plus periods, simply played to their regular season record and after they got one goal, made it look too easy, with Scott Munroe not having a chance before being relieved by Mikko Koskinen as they picked Bridgeport and the Islander-centric defense apart.

Blake Comeau did an interview between periods and Frans Nielsen was reportedly at this game.

Six goals in around fifteen minutes, it was beyond impressive and dominating. With Nate Lawson hurt/sitting game three and Munroe pulled, how does Mikko Koskinen not get a game four start, despite allowing two himself?

Bridgeport played them 2-1 in a third period that had little intensity and the Bears seemed to spot it's top players.

Game four 3pm Sunday. Bears lead series 3-0 where Bridgeport has led or been even for seven plus out of nine periods but what Hershey did in second Saturday was no fluke and all about them being an outstanding team many are calling best in AHL history.

Maybe Bridgeport can scrap together a win Sunday, but a team as dominating as Hershey has a huge breakthrough period like they did Saturday usually finishes the job sooner than later. I see no chance of a comeback down 3-0.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

Hershey 7, Bridgeport 2 FINAL

Hershey leads best of seven 3-0.
2. HER Gordon, (1) (Perreault, Bourque), 5:19
2. HER Gordon, (2) (Aucoin, Giroux), 5:44
2. HER Giroux, (4) (Aucoin, Wellar), 10:34
2. HER Gordon, (3) (Aucoin, Giroux), 11:52 (PP)
2. HER Pinizzotto, (1) (Perreault), 12:46
2. HER Giroux, (5) (Bourque, Perreault), 18:12 (PP)
3. BRI Mauldin, (1) (Kohn, Joensuu), 9:11
3. HER Wilson, (1) (Alzner, Bouchard), 17:06 (PP)
3. BRI Reich, (1) (Flood, Joensuu), 17:56
*********************************************
Sound Tigers broadcasters/web casters are Phil Giubileo & Carmine Vetrano for those wondering. Mark Davies made his debut, Robin Figren scratched, Mikko Koskinen on the bench with Nate Lawson out.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's blog entry has the early report setting up tonight's must-win game three for Bridgeport who trail the Bears 2-0 in their playoff series.

NYIFC Comments:
Media sidebar on left side of page has links to all blogs/coverage/twitter from both teams and Islander media updates.

Right side media sidebar has twitter from professional print writers for NHL teams covering playoffs.

Game two highlights have added from Sound Tigers television.

Two games, two third period leads, two losses. Feels like best chance to upset what many feel are the best team in league history, the defending championships have gone by the board unless the Sound Tiges beat them back to back this weekend. Having written this Bridgeport has led for most of this mismatch of a series and played the Bears even for the most part if not having better of play.

Given how head coach Jack Capuano has rotated goaltenders all season, expect this to be Scott Munroe's game regardless of Nate Lawson's leg cramping that forced him to leave game two, visit the hospital but is reportedly home resting.

I will have twitter updates Saturday night during the game, twitter is all over NYIFC but the white box you have seen here all season is at NYIFC2 which is not carrying all the recent blog entries or news articles but only twitter updates for those comfortable with that format as a way to follow or interact.

After Friday night, folks now know where they can follow prospects playoffs and link to their box-scores if they wish to follow beyond their profile links on NYIFC Prospect blog.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

Islander News Articles 4/17

General manager Garth Snow was in Hershey to watch the Sound Tigers on Friday night and confirmed during the first intermission prospect Kirill Petrov was " extended an invitation " to attend the teams prospect camp in July and had nothing to add beyond that.

NYIFC Comments:
The broadcaster said the full audio interview with the general manager should be posted in a few days. Snow discussed the Sound Tigers, Islanders/World Championships and team construction but nothing you have not read in the past, complete with sprinkling in veterans.

In terms of Kirill Petrov, he has a standing contract with another team for next season with Ak Bars, until the Isles pay him to make up for that contract and Ak Bars agrees to him no longer playing for their club (perhaps also wanting compensation) there is nothing to be said regarding next season whether it be New York or Bridgeport. Being extended an invitation for a prospect camp in July is a long way from being free to sign here and coming to terms.

Mckeesport Daily News: Josh Yohe reports Penguins defenseman Jordan Leopold left with 2:41 remaining in the first period after sustaining a possibly serious injury, after being struck by an elbow from former Islander defenseman Andy Sutton. Leopold remained motionless on the ice for quite some time, however was not assessed a penalty in a contest Pittsburgh went on to win.

Associated Press: Also note what happened.

Updated: Tsn.ca Bob McKenzie does a twitter update there will be no league discipline for Sutton.
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Cannot promise this will be part of daily news articles, however for game one I wanted to give everyone some place to follow New York Islander prospect playoffs.

NYIFC prospect blog has local papers for each player with game coverage in most instances.

Casey Cizikas: Has an assist for St. Michael's Majors in their win against Barrie Colts.

Kevin Poulin: Allowed four goals in Victoriaville's loss to Saint John's.

Travis Hamonic: Had a goal, a powerplay assist for Brandon in their 4-2 series opening win against the Calgary Hitman and was selected as first start of game.
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Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's recap of game two 3-2 win by Hershey with blog entries and a preview of game three, while Patroit-News: Has Tim Leone's coverage and blog entries.

Lebanon Daily News: Also covers the Hershey Bears but updated articles appear quicker in sports section as opposed to team page in publication.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

Hershey 3, Bridgeport 2: FINAL

Bears lead series 2-0.
1. BRI Kohn, (1) (Marcinko, Smith), 16:14
2. HER Giroux, (2) (Aucoin), 16:32
2. BRI Kohn, (2) (Flood, Mauldin), 19:15 (PP)
3. HER Giroux, (3) (Gordon, Wilson), 1:32
NATE LAWSON HURT, SCOTT MUNROE IN FOR BRIDGEPORT-NOT RELATED TO GOAL SCORED.
3. HER Perreault, (2) (Gordon, Helmer), 7:06 (PP)
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AHL.com: Has the box-score of Hersey's Bears 3-2 comeback win against vs Bridgeport.

Game three is Saturday night at Harbor Yard.

Game comments:
Game was there for Bridgeport again with third period lead lost. Lawson getting hurt huge because Munroe had to come in cold but with 3-2 game Bridgeport did not generate much at all. Overall it was another game there for Bridgeport against a dominating regular season team that was better than game one but not near their best game. Kohn two goals, MacDonald great and Matt Martin fantastic drawing powerplay and crashing goal.

Michal Neuvirth played well for Bears and was back in net as number one. With Lawson obviously hurt to point he had to leave game and Koskinen with Bridgeport Jack Capunao has a decision to make, but this would be Munroe's game to start.

Ct Post:: Michael Fornabaio has the lineups for game two tonight vs Hershey.

I will have twitter updates during game on sidebars with big box on nyifc2.





New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

Goaltender Review: 09-10 NY Islanders Season

The goaltender reviews will be a lot longer than the Forward/Defender reviews.

Goaltenders:
Dwayne Roloson:
Roloson did everything and more you can ask of any goaltender when he was this teams number one highlighted by that incredible game at Toronto, who was ten games over five hundred at one point, on a team five hundred or lower for a good part of 09-10.

The point has to be made why not just leave him in there as number one and let him run with it the rest of the season (or until he struggled) regardless of Biron or DiPietro?

Having written that he was signed to come off the bench and play well which did not happen nearly enough, not early in the season when he was splitting games with Biron, not when DiPietro returned and not late when Biron was getting the majority of the games.

That second game he started in Tampa late and a few others he came in and frankly let up some terrible goals out of nowhere.

This kind of play is a factor moving forward as he approaches age forty one, it has to be and sure the way he played in 2009-10 he could start full-time for several other NHL teams but his career history also does not lie having him split time with other goaltenders.

Perhaps as he said at one point, he needs more work/shots to play well but he has lost out to other goaltenders in the past and he has taken a team to a final before he got hurt.

Moving Forward:
Garth Snow has him signed as insurance for 10-11. I expect he will get his chances depending on DiPietro or who is signed, if anyone.

Grade: Starter A, Backup C
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Martin Biron:
I saw about what I expected to see if he did not win the number one spot.

An inconsistent goaltender who did not step up and take the job early when given a fair opportunity with a lot of poor goals against despite a shutout against Buffalo and one other win before DiPietro tied him in wins during one weekend.

The first game in Newark he let up a long/soft goal and that was the trend with some sloppy play/rebounds or just poor play and sure the point can be made the club did not play well in front of him at times. He held them in the second Newark game before the team imploded in front of him. Bottom line Roloson simply beat him out and when DiPietro was ready there was no reason to start him, he got a few days in Bridgeport to tune up and after DiPietro got the flu before the break he got to play on 2/9 and won a few games.

After the break he was back to splitting games with Roloson and this time he emerged as the number one at the end, getting the majority of the games and playing acceptable but you could see poor rebounds/sloppy play even in the wins that were not there with Roloson.

No doubt a good interview/character player, but the depth chart (see DiPietro review) speaks for itself. Don't want to hit this very hard but teams were not rushing out to sign him and inconsistency in play has defined a great deal of his career.

Moving Forward:
Good idea behind signing him, did not work.
Grade D
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Rick DiPietro
He was back for a month and was consistent enough to beat Ryan Miller and Martin Brodeur back to back, he also had some expected rust.

Moving Forward:
Future actions by team doctors and general manager Garth Snow will speak to the future status of Rick DiPietro or if he can get past his knee swelling and return or not. That is something no one knows or disclosing to the public. DiPietro feels he has proven he can play but only he knows along with the doctors/trainers what happens next and it's day to day depending on how his knee reacts.

If his knee swelling goes into a third year it's fair to speculate the doctors are going to advise him and the Islanders he can no longer play. If he can return he's one of the top goaltenders in the NHL but it will take time to shake the rust.

Garth Snow last summer took the first goaltender in the draft when he selected Mikko Koskinen, he picked Anders Nilsson in the third round, he gave Dwayne Roloson a second year and he has what is looking like a player in Kevin Poulin who has to be signed by June 1st along with Nate Lawson, who is developing well in Bridgeport.

Beyond that there is Stefan Ridderwall, Scott Munroe on the depth chart along with Jase Weslosky, who apparently did not play hockey this year at Bemidji State.

Botton line, Snow has already taken some actions to prepare if DiPietro cannot return.
No grade:

On Wednesday defenders will be reviewed.








New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

Islander-Sound Tiger Quick Hits/Notables

Fun part of this time of years is the countless articles on the Stanley Cup New York Islanders, the championship milestones, memorable games, comebacks in series or overtime wins, and even sidebar stories of the playoff beards that make this franchise and it's very rich history a big part of all Stanley Cup playoffs.

ITV continues it's season ending interviews with the players.

Toronto Sun: Terry Koshan has a few words from Islander prospect, Casey Cizikas on the adjustments he has had to make this season as the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors prepare to take on the Barrie Colts.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports Sound Tigers head coach, Jack Capuano is " leaning " toward Nate Lawson as game two starter with no other roster changes expected.

NYIFC Comments:
Nate Lawson and Scott Munroe have rotated games all season going back as far as November. One may emerge as a number one during a playoff series if the other struggles but that is not expected.

Patroit-News: Tim Leone reports Michal Neuvirth came off the ice first at Friday's morning skate and is slated to start Game 2 Friday night against Bridgeport.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

New York Resigns Trevor Gillies

Islanders Authorized: Reports the team has come to terms on a one year contract extension with forward Trevor Gillies with general manager Garth Snow's comments.


NYIFC Comments:
Expect this to be a two-way contract with Gillies assigned to Bridgeport despite not being dressed for game one against Hershey. Joel Rechlicz enters year three of his contract. Fair middle-weight fighter but he will have to do a lot more than fight to play here with any regularity, being baited into a penalty against Devils that cost them a goal is not going to help nor will three minute games.

Only other notable item here is usually Garth Snow does a bunch of signings at the same time and has some restricted free agents/prospects.


Or Gillies gave Snow the look he gave the Devils and handed him a new contract in fear.




New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

Islander Notables: WC Rosters/Sound Tigers

Toronto Sun: QMI Agency reports rumors on Thursday that media giant Quebecor was set to buy the New York Islanders have no foundation nor has there ever been any discussions with the Islanders ownership group.

Tsn.ca: Reports John Tavares was named to Team Canada for the upcoming World Championships.

Team USA Hockey: Released part of it's roster for the 2010 World Championships which will include Kyle Okposo and Jack Hillen.

NYIFC Comments:
Call me the only person in North America wondering if there is any chance Rick DiPietro could be a late addition to this roster? As teams are eliminated from NHL playoffs more players will be added to roster.

Also reported Mark Streit will not participate for Team Switzerland, due to long season and the Olympics. There has been nothing on Bergenheim either way but his injury did not look good at all.

Will wait on an official release for Frans Nielsen, Kirill Petrov or other possible Islander roster players or prospects.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reported on teams practice Thursday, while sidebar has latest from Patroit-News writer Tim Leone as injuries plus goaltending questions face Bears Head coach, Mark French.

AHL.com: Reports Mikko Koskinen and Jake Gannon were recalled by Bridgeport on Thursday with Bears recalling three from their ECHL team in South Carolina.

NYIFC Comments:
Mikko Koskinen played and won deciding game five for Utah. I don't know why he was recalled so it could be paper transaction, limit to conditioning stint or perhaps he is going to play at World Championships? Fair to write he will not be playing over Scott Munroe or Nate Lawson unless there was an injury not reported.

Updated:
Utah coach Kevin Colley confirms Koskinen's depaeture back to Bridgeport and that Mike Morrison will play games one and two for the Grizzlies Utah here.

USHL: Islanders prospect Anders Lee has been named rookie of the year with Green Bay.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

Team Review: 09-10 New York Islanders Season

As I wrote recently, New York should have been a playoff team this year and there is no getting around that.

In the end it was a mixed bag and a strange season on a lot of levels for the New York Islanders in 2009-2010, but so was the entire Eastern Conference.

If this team played out west and were seventeen points out in March no one would be taking playoffs the last few weeks or improvement beyond numbers in terms of goals scored or differential being cut, realistic contention for a playoff spot would have been gone before the new year.

In this painfully mediocre conference, with the lowest point totals to qualify since the shootout format or 02-03 Islanders, you beat the top teams or earn enough points against them plus have third best record against West you have to make the playoffs and win against the teams struggling. You survive fourteen of seventeen on the road, you have to come home in December and take advantage.

As far as the team result, some things were completely unacceptable like the special teams or third period/inconsistent scoring which are a big part of this final result.

The most dramatic number cut no one will write/know/care about is man games lost to injury dropping from 582 to around 250. If you don't think that's significant Edmonton lost around 540 games in 09-10 and we know where they finished this season, like Colorado last year who were second in man games lost to the Isles with all those second-half injuries (like 07-08 Isles in March) you can start writing that comeback story if they get some players healthy.

This was first time New York missed the playoff without leading the NHL in man games lost to injury since 2001, that also makes this different.

Bottom line, General manager Garth Snow was absolutely right a few days ago, everyone who does return has to be better, starting with how he improves his teams basic construction flaws which were obvious against so many larger, faster, more physical and better skilled clubs with more veterans.

The 2009-10 New York Islanders kept me guessing all year, when they seemed down and out they won against top clubs, when it seemed they got it together and were playing well, the scoring dried up against very beatable teams just as quickly.

What impressed me most is how they stopped the losing streaks, ran off some wins and the hard work almost every single game with so few poor efforts.

Scott Gordon was correct as well because you can take thirty five shots on goal, have another twenty blocked, miss the net on fifteen others and score one goal,

Many will only write about how poorly the team played but having written this as Doug Weight said in January, which for me was most important/memorable quote of season, you need to have players who can finish that hard work.

We all saw that kind of game with Craig Anderson on Core of Four weekend or when Pittsburgh's backup was making fifty plus saves a few years ago at the Coliseum, or Carolina's Cam Ward stopping sixty last season.

Those game changing goals did not happen when it was needed most and it proved fatal, it prevented the ability to put up those long unbeaten in regulation streaks you have to have and close out games you have a lead in where one goal kills any momentum for the opposition.

The flaws in the construction of the club in terms of size, speed, skill were painfully obvious at times. The record against in the Atlantic outside of New York absolutely is a two year trend which cannot be ignored and sure this club was not healthy, however it was less of a factor than the last two years which decimated the roster top to bottom nightly from March 2007 through September 2009.

The hard work/competitive games almost every night speaks to character of the players, the coaching staff and that does have to be another factor in who return vs who is brought here.

Next comes the part where Islander fans start doing the shopping list expecting UFA, but like a year ago that's not going to happen to a large degree at all and not because of money as many will report but job openings.

Jesse Joensuu, Matt Martin, Robin Figren with other forwards along with Andrew MacDonald, Dustin Kohn and perhaps a Calvin deHaan or Travis Hamonic are going to be the players added which is why they were signed and developed.

Rhett Rakhshani has been a top college player at Denver, Tomas Marckino is a big player and there is Kirill Petrov, Justin Dibenedetto and this funny thing happening like AHL veterans coming up and contributing or the scouting staff's ability to find a Mark Streit, Matt Moulson.

I will add a few sentences with an eye-candy grade for individual players in next entry beyond Bridgeport/Islander News updates.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

Islander News Articles 4/15

Will add/update this posting on Thursday depending what's written, working on some Islander end of season blog entries.

Toronto Sun: Ian Busby reports that Eric Nystrom will play for team USA at the World Championships and makes it very clear his roots are in Calgary despite speculation he would sign with New York this summer.

CBC.com: Former Islander general manager Mike Mibury reviews the East, pulling no punches on how many people he thinks really care about his former team on Long Island and also takes some rips at the local politicians.

NYIFC Comments:
Sounds harsh but people in New York (not just LI) care enough to point out how many mistakes were made under your tenure (also when you were selling tickets) that contributed to putting the organization in it's current spot which absolutely still resonates with many folks who decide to purchase tickets.

In terms of prospects Travis Hamonic (Brandon Wheat Kings) who advanced to semi-finals against Calgary begins Friday 4/16 here. Galtender Kevin Poulin (Victoriaville QMJHL) opens against St John in QMJHL semi-final starting also starting 4/16.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports Head coach Jack Capuano, and players felt goal late in third was a " joke " with Islanders Garth Snow in attendance. Lebanon Daily News Patroit News all recap the Bears 4-3 comeback overtime win in game one.

NYIFC Comments:
Sidebar has all blogs/twitter updates from writers, I did live blog and twitter through game and had a lot of fun, despite tough result. Game two is Friday night at Giant Center.

And for those who just want in-game twitter updates NYIFC second blog has only the twitter box updating the games without all the new blog entries.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

Hershey 4, Bridgeport 3 Overtime Final

Hershey leads series 1-0.
Scoring
1. BRI Smith, (1) , 5:40
1. BRI Martin, (1) (Bentivoglio, MacDonald), 15:14
2. HER Giroux, (1) (Aucoin, Amadio), 5:33
2. BRI MacDonald, (1) (Reese, Reich), 19:59
3. HER Bouchard, (1) (Wellar, Wilson), 14:14
3. HER Perreault, (1) (Giroux, Bourque), 18:52
OT: HER Joudrey, (1)

AHL.com: Has the recap of Bridgeport's 4-3 overtime loss after leading by two in third.

NYIFC Comments:
Game was more than there for Bridgeport with Holtby shaky and pk doing a great job, no idea if high stick on tying goal but Bridgeport had two goal lead and opposing goalie out in a game that would have had Hershey doing some serious second guessing.

Munroe was good, he did not have to steal the game from the opening minute as Bears seemed a step behind for much of this game.

If series goes deep and Bridgeport comes up short it's the game you absolutely know you had to take.
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Twitter updates listening to Sound Tigers audio web-cast of game one.

Radio/webcast/audiocast coverage from Bridgeport Sound Tigers games are announced by Carmine Vetrano here Hershey is covered by WQIC 100.1 FM and Sportsjuice.com which will start it's pre-game at 6:40pm Wednesday.

AHL.com: Will have game center up at 7pm with lineups/live box-score.

For those who wish to watch I'm sure that option is available through pay services on Neulion/AHL. If I discover something for free I will post it here during night or have it available for game two.

Aside from that the full media/twitter/blog coverage is available from both clubs on sidebars.

Updated: All radio/webcast are working and free for both teams, Scott Munroe for Bridgeport starting in net. Brendan Witt out along with Klementyev/Motherwell and Justin Dibenetetto.

Rhett Rakhshani is playing his first AHL playoff game paired with Mike Radja.

Reese-MacDonald paired to start game, Dustin Kohn is back playing and Trevor Smith opened scoring and hit a crossbar going for his second. Holtby not having a good start for Bears. Matt Martin has made it 2-0 for Bridgeport.

Twittering from this point during game one.

Let the playoffs begin.



New York Islander Fan Central Twitter Page

Islander News Articles 4/14

Seems the best I can offer for New York Islander fans in terms of professional print media (for now) is ITV player exit interviews on sidebar at this time.

Not every local paper did twenty four interviews like Atlanta, however the Isles season wrap has been written for over a week beyond the games being played.

Updated:
Islanders Authorized reported Islander prospects Rhett Rakhshani and Blake Kessel have been named All-Americans for the 2009-10 college hockey season.

Ft Worth Star Telegram: Mac Engel has former Islander captain Bill Guerin's comments in how it relates to Mike Modano in Dallas when he was not playing for a winning team here and contemplating retirement.


NYIFC Comments:
Bill Guerin knows more than the fans but to be fair the Islanders did make him their captain and no one could expect all the injuries when he was here nor was he traded here but he signed on of his own choice. His former teammates Ruslan Fedotenko, Miro Satan also went to Pittsburgh with him. Not every player can be traded to a team with Crosby and Malkin.

Mike Modano of course has been with one team his entire career while Guerin has moved on countless times.

Atlanta Thrashers: Co-Owner Bruce Levenson announced Don Waddell has been promoted to team President and Rick Dudley to General Manager and that head Coach John Anderson and Assistant Coaches Randy Cunneyworth, Todd Nelson and Steve Weeks will not be retained. Waddell will focus primarily on all business aspects of the organization, and as General Manager, Dudley will be responsible for hockey operations.


NYIFC Comments:
Mike Milbury was never promoted to team president when he resigned as general manager so Thrasher fans are not going to be happy with that one. John Anderson like Scott Gordon was a very successful minor league coach with the Wolves but unlike Gordon had far more to work with in terms of NHL ready talent and a franchise talent like Kovalchuk. Maxim Afinogenov came off the scrap heap as a camp invitee with eight goals and had a nice comeback under Anderson.

Not sure Rick Dudley will be a vast improvement going from associate gm to the top spot but he was only there for a year and may have been groomed for the spot since day one.

Obviously Kozlov-Anderson comments in the paper sure did not help the coach who where I sit was not the problem in Atlanta nor can Waddell be blamed for Kovalchuk not being signed.

Don Waddell has a decade of poor decisions as reasons to have been outright fired, not promoted. Kovalchuk not signing would not be one of them.

Scott Gordon should be asking Garth Snow for permission to contact Anderson if he wants another assistant because he's a quality coach. Not sure where former Islander Steve Weeks fits in this but he is out as well.

Star Phoenix: Prospect Jyri Niemi is expected to sign a pro contract but he also comments he could return to Saskatoon, the writer points out he was drafted by the KHL last summer.

NYIFC Comments:
Niemi has to be signed by June 1st by the Islanders or he can re-enter the draft.
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Most funny/sad thing I have read in months is Neil Best quickly throwing out supposed positive Ranger ratings Sunday (he quickly claimed highest since 1995) with four teams playing or getting ready to play on the Dolan's network Sunday looking to find their game, then writing how quickly Msg kicked the Rangers post-game off tv for Garden's franchise team (Knicks) and even had some mild criticism of new 2010 Msg employee Bill Pidto of Espn fame because he did not tell fans where they could watch the post-game interviews on-line?

What's sad is Mr Best who is a veteran media person did not care to note the New York Islander overflow game on Msg+2 (earlier that week Islander game was bumped off Msg+ for Rangers) was abruptly cut off on Time Warner NYC at 8pm with no post-game, no Scott Gordon interview and no shirt off the backs ceremony or season final wrap to be met with nothing but the test pattern followed by a blank screen.

This is the same admitted Ranger fan Neil Best " Who leaves no stone unturned " who sold Msg's 3D game like the super bowl, gave it huge blog space/along with Msg renovation updates while only Charles Wang was quoted about the 3D experience for all the negative coverage he receives in Newsday in helping another owner out on a night he did not have to even appear at Msg.

Best of all (pun intended) this media writer completely ignored the Rangers all-time NHL/NBC low 0.5 rating three days earlier (0.8 in New York on 3/21) for their must win against Boston in that same space?

NYIFC Comments:
Don't want to rip the man nor does it matter who his favorite hockey team is, but this is exactly what happened Sunday, on 3/21 and 3/24 and his job is to report all problems with telecast and all ratings for games. Not possible to ignore such slanted coverage standards nor is it fair to New York Islander fans which is why I bothered writing this.

Now that we got that out of the way.
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Setting the coverage for the upcoming Bridgeport-Hershey playoff series, which is all hooked into sidebars with respective blogs/twitter feeds.

Ct Post has Mr Fornabaio's Sound Tigers coverage and the Greenwich Times also seems to carry these updates.

Norwalk News has infrequent Sound Tigers coverage that sometimes is subscription and sometimes is available, I will not be linking to those updates here but will provide the link in this one entry.

Mr Fornabaio tonight broke down the teams and has Hershey in five games here with Andrew MacDonald, Dustin Kohn and Dylan Reese comments on their time with the Islanders and the upcoming series.


NYIFC Comments:
It appears from the article Dustin Kohn was practicing which hopefully means he is ready to play. Dylan Reese ironically played only one game with Bridgeport after Garth Snow traded for him and he scored in 3/2 Bridgeport's loss to the Hershey Bears.

Both writers had the Bears in five and they follow both teams daily. Defensive chemistry does not happen in a vacuum and a lot of players from New York are heading into Bridgeport's defense.

In terms of the Hershey Bears coverage it's the Patroit News & Lebanon Daily News.

ECHL.com: Reports Islander prospect Mikko Koskinen is playing the deciding game five for Isles co ECHL affiliate Utah Grizzlies tonight which concluded with a 5-1 Utah victory so Koskinen has more hockey to play.

NYIFC Comments:
Reason for this singular Utah update is Las Vegas paper speculated former Islander Mike Morrison would get the start and if Utah losses some players from the Grizzlies could see action in Bridgeport depending on injuries/clear day list.



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New York Finishes 5th In 2010 Draft Lottery

NHL Lottery just concluded and no change in top five based on final standings. New York will select fifth in June.

NYIFC Comments:
Hopefully the last time New York has to send anyone to this event unless it's for the same reasons Peter Chiarelli was there. Last year was about being on defense and keeping the top spot, this time was about hopefully moving up.

Bottom line Garth Snow, Ryan Jankowski will add another top prospect to the organization.



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Islander-Sound Tigers Notables/Quick Hits

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio in his blog reports forward Michael Davies of Wisconsin is with the team on an amateur tryout and Brendan Witt remains away indefinitely along with other changes.

Updated 2:30pm:
Patroit-News: Tim Leone reports the Bears have yet to announce a game one starter with some injury concerns in goal with Michal Neuvirth, but does have their projected line combination's.

Updated 7pm:
Patroit-News: Reports Braden Holtby will start game one for Hershey on Wednesday.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had latest comments from head coach Jack Capuano, Matt Martin and Trevor Smith as they discussed the very tough series ahead.

NYIFC Comments:
Jyri Niemi needs to be signed by June 1st or he can re-enter the draft, he was fighting with tape on his hands in Saskatoon's playoffs Friday according to the Star Phoenix but the Blades were eliminated on Monday.

Quick Hits/Notables:
* For those wondering my viewpoint is New York Islander fans are not entitled to Bridgeport games at the Nassau Coliseum because Sound Tigers fans followed that team and paid for tickets all year at Harbor Yard, what happened a year ago was not acceptable on any level.

* It's going to be quite an interesting little sidebar show watching Msg forced to showcase the Devils vs Flyers after Wednesday (of course Knicks go on prime Msg over Devil playoff hockey Wednesday) with absolutely nothing else to put on television in terms of hockey or basketball, hiding them on Msg2/+2 is not going to fly and their hockey night show if it appears will have to be Devil-centric.

The Devils signed their television contract a few years ago and wanted a little more (with money) which led to that brutal Metro channel being eliminated and a fair share of Devils game on Msg prime channel. This was something apparently Isles had no control of when John Spano signed the Isles extension back in the 90's and for a while took eighteen percent of all Msg television revenue before that was renegotiated and the deal extended to 2030 here while the Garden was pushing for a more competitive New York Islander team.

* It would be great to see Bridgeport Sound Tigers game televised this weekend and you can bet the Hartford Wolfpack would be on prime Msg before the Devils if they had qualified for a game or two.

I'm going to do all I can to drive up Devil ratings because it will only enhance the message that covering all local teams equally are good for hockey and all should receive year-round with classic games/features plus anything else to help showcase hockey in a market where hockey is virtually invisible with the general public.

On the national playoff front Ed Snider/Comcast version of newly purchased NBC will not be showcasing Flyer-Devil hockey on Dick Ebersol/Sam Flood's watch in the opening round to a point even Phoenix will appear on NBC against Detroit before Martin Brodeur, Zach Parise or Ilya Kovalchuk are showcased in a market where three teams fan bases can only inflate low hockey ratings.

Anything Canada? Comcast/NBC want no part of so no Crosby-Ottawa/Ovechkin/Montreal, not about teams or records but markets.

* Perhaps Kenny Albert if Cablevision wants him to be on television calling Islander hockey can head to Harbor Yard with Chris King? Steve Albert older fans will recall did Islander hockey on channel nine in 1980 and on the radio.
**********************************************************

Quick Hits:
Great stuff from Sheldon Souray of the Edmonton Oilers pulling no punches on team management Sportsnet with a disgraceful display out of Edmonton Journalhere here with their guarded/protect the Oilers management/coverage/ad revenue in Journal blaming Souray for his part and one newspaper sponsored blog suggested Souray should not have been so reckless.


NYIFC Comments:
I'm not saying who is right or wrong here but there is a point to be made.

This is why I was so critical with all the anonymous quotes/rhetoric the last few years coming out of the Islanders invisible print media. If a player or coach says something on the record it should be reported with no punches pulled. Our team is barely covered locally, however if when they are to dig up dirt when no player puts his name to it to me is just something written to stir things up.

The Edmonton Journal proved by their coverage/analysis it is nothing more than an extension of team management and the Oilers advertising department protecting the club by criticizing Souray. You can bet if this happened here those same reporters in Edmonton would be roasting Charles Wang and Garth Snow (cue the ten year history repeated and not four playoffs in six years) that was selling Eric Brewer as Ray Bourque when he was traded for Roman Hamrlik over a decade ago.

On the other side of the media fence is the outstanding work by the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Chris Vivlamore with Slava Kozlov's harsh criticism of head coach John Anderson and his staff here with the coaches response to his player here.


NYIFC Comments:
Mr Vivlamore makes it clear in his blog " I will let you decide what you think " as he posts both Kozlov/Anderson comments and gets out of the way to let both men tell their side and that is exactly the way it should be.

None of this backhanded anonymous garbage we get here from a paper that did not do twenty four interviews as this writer for Thrasher fans here did in their newspapers blog.

Great job.

* On the hockey playoff front I root more for players vs teams as we watch the countless New York Islander retrospectives on their incredible history filter into so many series story lines. I would like to see Andy Sutton, Chris Campoli or Adrian Aucoin in Phoenix who have silenced a avalanche of negative media win a cup.

On the ice I think all the Eastern Conference teams have significant weaknesses with the Devils, a sub-five hundred team for a good part of the season who did their best work decimated by injuries, who scored less goals than the Islanders and it's wide open top to bottom.



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Islander News Articles 4/13

NY Post: Tim Bontemps is the latest extra from the worthless Post hockey media staff to throw a few token paragraphs as a season wrap up with quotes from John Tavares and Scott Gordon as apparently full-time home writer (when it's not a Ranger or Devils game) Dan Martin faded away from coverage.

NYIFC Comments:
Of course this beats the Daily News which was too lazy/cheap/indifferent to cover the final games or wrap the season as Peter Botte was sent to go cover the Yankees and at best would have been given the same token space. Understand this is not the writers fault as indifferent/weak as their reporting is, this goes entirely on the sport editors and the people they report to.

The Associated Press ironically had the longest update where Doug Weight makes it clear he wants to come back with the Islanders next season along with Scott Gordon's comments.

NYIFC Comments:
Scott Gordon's comments came from his ITV post-game. Islanders usually get a much better article when AP writer Ira Podell is not involved because he always has a negative slant to any of his commentary while he goes the other way on Cablevision's team with the glass half filled. Sad part is this comes from the NY Times of all places that I do not believe had one Islander-centric update all season.

As for Doug Weight, he had one goal and despite his leadership has not been healthy or effective since December of 2008. He proved the critics out of Anaheim wrong a few years ago but the size, physical play, speed and skill mandate his spot on the forward lines/power play go to another player.

Islanders website: Reports last year's representative in Ken Morrow will once again be at the table when the ping-pong balls start flying.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports the Sound Tigers will practice Tuesday and travel to Hershey with roster changes between Utah-Bridgeport and New York.

NYIFC Comments:
Bridgeport played Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

A flat out shame Josh Bailey is not part of this while Alexander Ponikarovsky get's to participate in Pittsburgh's playoffs but spin the wheel and take a guess because that's Colin Campbell/his staff and how they determine suspensions, if Ponikarovsky was not playing the Islanders Sunday I doubt he would have been suspended for that game.

Utah is the Islanders ECHL part affiliate that also has had Mikko Koskinen playing for them since returning from hip surgery ECHL.com interview 3/26, he was 7-1 but has been pulled in two of four playoff games and is not expected to start in the deciding game tonight in their best of five series with former Islander Mike Morrison the projected starter according to the Las Vegas Sun here.

Side-bar is doing all newspaper/twitter updates on the Bears and the coverage is very good.







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NYIFC Returns Full Time For Bridgeport Playoffs

I have decided for the duration of Bridgeport's playoffs NYIFC will re-open to full time daily blogging using our old format with game one against the Hershey Bears on Wednesday including all AHL newspaper coverage for both clubs.

NYIFC will not link to Newsday coverage in a single blog entry until it is completely free and accessible to all of our fans regardless if a writer is sent to Harbor Yard and will I only use the professional print media (Ct Post) and AHL.com along with box-scores. Hershey's primary paper RSS is now linked to media sidebar on left side of page.

NYIFC prospect blog has several rss feeds, twitter updates from teams along with ways to watch/listen to games in addition to this.


NYIFC Comments:
Bridgeport is changing divisions for the playoffs (going back to division they played in last season) and going up against a team that many consider the best in a generation in Hershey (Washington Capitals affiliate) with an incredible record so it may well be a very short series as Tim Leone of the Patroit News is predicting along with a Calder Cup repeat for the Bears. Head coach Mark French is concerned about Nate Lawson and Scott Munroe & the Sound Tigers 11-5-1-0 finish for an opponent which had the same point total as the Bears a year ago in the same divison.

To the best of my knowledge an upset will be a task of monumental proportion nor will Bridgeport even have Josh Bailey and for now apparently Dustin Kohn. Bridgeport posted a negative goal differential of 201-220 but will face a team 60-17-3 with 342-198 goal disparity.

Hershey beat Bridgeport 9-2 earlier at Giant Center 2/27 and beat them again at Harbor Yard badly 6-3 on March 2nd.

I remembered both those games. Sound Tigers coach Jack Capuano had to use both his goaltenders in both games and that 6-3 game at home was 6-1 before two late Sound Tiger goals, Hershey had fifty shots in the 9-2 game which is very unusual for a team that scores nine times because it usually means some bad goals on first shots.

Andrew MacDonald was returned to Bridgeport Monday along with Dylan Reese, Michael Haley, Kohn and Joel Rechlicz here. Brendan Witt's father in-law is ill and left the team this weekend after not missing a single game since he was sent to Bridgeport earlier so his knee has responded fine despite several three games/three days situations.

The twitter box many have seen all season here will not be back until after the Sound Tigers playoffs conclude but the NYIFC updates will post on twitter and there will be some Islander related twitter entries plus twitter updates are all over NYIFC anyway at the top and on the sidebars.

The secondary NYIFC blog will not carry these written updates.

Our sidebar feeds have been updated to include newspaper links to Hershey's primary coverage for the latest including Tim Leone's twitter feed here. The Ct Post does not have an RSS feed for Bridgeport games but Mr Fornabaio's twitter and blog rss are on our active sidebar.

This also means some New York Islander blog entries will be returning here for a short time as the season is wrapped up, however there is little to add on the bouncing ping pong balls Tuesday beyond fifth (70 odd percent), first (less than eight percent) or sixth. (whatever else percent)

New York cannot move to second, third or fourth. It's first, fifth or sixth.

I have not decided if this will go as far as the World Championships that will include Scott Gordon as team USA head coach but much of this depends on how the Sound Tigers do.

What I can guarantee is this is not a full-time permanent return to our old NYIFC format which I have no interest in doing. This is just a nice way of thanking all the folks who have followed here and on twitter all season with a little extra hockey and making up for the playoffs that were not covered here last season when things were closing down.




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