Boston 3 New York 2 (Bridgeport)

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Cut downs and possible Niederreiter news expected on Sunday.

New York lost 3-2. See twitter feed for what little there was in a game where video feed did not work for one period, with no sound until 13:00 minutes left.

Montoya was said to play very well. Tavares scored at five on three, Comeau made a great circle around offensive zone, before putting it in front to Reasoner who scored.
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Islanders website: Released the Islanders lineup vs Boston tonight at Webster Bank Arena, which will be an ITV webcasted game.

Some twitter updates, but not a lot tonight unless something significant happens, obviouly Niederreiter out (also Rolston) places Parenteau back with Tavares-Moulson and no true right wing alternative.

A lot of veteran defenders. Streit plays back to back.

MacDonald finally gets a game. Seems the goaltending will play out as the two veteran goaltenders (DiPietro-Nabokov) will get most work vs one who was in the AHL last season, and finished out the year playing well, and was rewarded.

Sorry, but reports of Nabokov starting in Bridgeport were incorrect, Montoya started.

As an older fan, I'm used to the regulars getting a lot of games together at the end of preseason, however perhaps in today's NHL the standard (especially here) is to come out of it healthy which will not happen.

In the end, regardless of my thought process or what's transpired in the past, practically every team will not be playing games for close to a week before opening the season.

Florida comes here in a week, who finished their preseason earlier than the Islanders, not like there is a carryover effect.

If last season taught us anything, 4-1-2 and what happened afterward had nothing to do with preseason beyond Streit-Okposo injuries.

Devils 1, New York 0, Niederreiter Injury

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The latest version of the New York Islander Fan Central header features Captain, Mark Streit, in the classic white jersey, along with many players wearing their updated 2011-12 uniform numbers. The Dynasty Section was also given a slight new look with updated images of our legendary champions.

Biggest takeaway from this game is Niederreiter's groin injury, no replay of what happened exists so no point speculating. Also if Niederreiter, Rolston, and Rakhshani out that leaves the right wing short a forward with only Okposo and Parenteau in terms of what qualifies as top three lines, with some experience or potential.

Given the left wings are Moulson, Grabner, Comeau, the centers, Tavares, Bailey, Nielsen and Reasoner, what else can Rolston be considered but a right wing?

DiPietro played entire game and was sharp, aside from two poor turnovers. Streit, Comeau looked best for Islanders. Haley, Staios took a few un-necessary penalties.

Strome's penalty was a five minute, and the kind that could be reviewed.

Islanders with a more veteran lineup were largely outworked, while the Devils team rested most of it's regulars. New York was outnumbered and generated little, a bit more than game against Calgary, but not much. Streit had some outside point shots which Hedberg handled with no rebound.

Nabokov expected to start vs Boston.

Not the kind of game that's going to impress the coaching staff, largely outworked, outnumbered and outskated, in a contest with little intensity.

See twitter feed for the rest.

Islanders website: Cost cutting Msg/Dolan hires someone named, Peter Ruttgaizer, as Msg's only Islanders in game host at this time, while Msg provides the Devils a full staff of game employees that as of last season included Christine Simpson here.

NYIFC Comments:
Cue the silence from Dolan's paid salesman or those who need his credential to make a living in fear of maintaining employment for once again going dirt cheap on New York Islander coverage, while claiming themselves as media reporters?

You know the drill.

Staios Signed By New York/Weekend Games Live Webcast

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Rhett Rakhshani is out 6-8 weeks with a knee injury sustained in Calgary.
Trent Hunter signed a one year deal with the Los Angeles Kings.

Islanders website: Report the New York Islanders have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with defenseman Steve Staios updated to include his comments.

NYIFC Comments:
Obviously not my first choice, however we'll see how things play out. The loss of Katic, Jurcina for now and the six month injury time frame for MacDonald, do not make this the worst signing.

Islanders twitter feed has tonight's lineup in Newark vs the Devils, which will be live streamed on the Islanders website, and again keeps out many of the clubs tops players.

Here's Friday's 20-man roster headed to New Jersey:

Rick DiPietro starts in goal.

Forwards: Comeau, Reasoner, Niederreiter, Pandolfo, Bailey, Parenteau, Martin, Strome, Wallace, Gillies, Frischmon, Haley

Defensemen: Streit, Staios, Ness, Eaton, Donovan, Mottau
Goaltenders: DiPietro, Poulin

Devils website: Reports Johan Hedberg starts again, which will again be leaving out many of their top players.

Islander Forwards Clear Waivers, Will Play This Weekend?

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Islanders website: Report Trevor Frischmon, Tomas Marcinko, Dylan Reese, Tim Wallace and Ty Wishart are eligible to play for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers this season, but does not eliminate them from making the Islanders roster.

Andrew MacDonald will play against the Devils, per the Islanders twitter feed.

"I think it's wide open," said Islanders Head Coach Jack Capuano. "We have to win hockey games. Just because those guys were sent down on waivers doesn't necessarily mean that (they can't make the Islanders roster). Those guys are going to play this weekend, they're going to be in the lineup."

NYIFC Comments:
Very surprised by Capuano's comments that those players are going to be in the lineup this weekend because that means someone has to sit. At some point the players on the depth chart expected to play opening night, have to get a few games.

I guess not.

Goaltender Work and Lack Of AHL Preseason A Problem

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Updated:
Trevor Frischmon, Tomas Marcinko, Tim Wallace, Dylan Reese and Ty Wishart have been placed on waivers. Many had to be placed on waivers to play for Bridgeport, Marcinko is likely headed back to Europe per his contract agreement.

Wishart is a bit of a surprise.
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Unconventional for the New York Islanders not to have preseason games scheduled for players, who need to be at Webster Bank Arena or returned to their junior teams.

Hate to write it, and it's not just the Islanders based on the released AHL composite schedule, but to not have any preseason games scheduled for Bridgeport, leaves too many players here when veterans needs to get ready, and the prospects need to get ready in Bridgeport, where the Islanders will host a game before the Sound Tigers.

For what it's worth Calgary plays it's final preseason game on Thursday (one more total than New York) so many teams will be sitting around for a good week practicing.

Six more periods Friday and Saturday are not going to be enough for myself to make judgments, I guess a big part of it will be practices.
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Canadian Press: Has Islander assistant coach, Dean Chynoweth's comments on the game, giving Nabokov blanket praise.

Nabokov for his part was positive, but this did not make it onto the Islanders website:

"My goal is to be in the net, to get the call and go in and do my job. But sometimes it's out of your control," Nabokov said. "In a perfect world, I would want to play more exhibition games but it's such a short pre-season and they were six goalies here. It's not my call, I'm just going out there and doing my best."

NYIFC Comments:
Nabokov's correct. Is this his look before the season opens or do three goalies go into opening night with only partial preseason games, to say nothing of the very small body of work Koskinen, Poulin and Nilsson will receive on a weekly basis?

Garth Snow is a former goaltender, he knows the need for work better than anyone, but left himself fifteen periods to accommodate six goaltenders. If I'm the coach DiPietro and Montoya need to play full games this weekend.

Even that's not nearly enough, it's a fair point for Nabokov or anyone to raise.

Calgary Herald: Former Flame, Steve Staios talks about camp with the Islanders so far.

Who's In/Out?
Barring injury in the next few days............

I see no real surprises after preseason. Maybe Jurcina's injury means Staios is signed but I would pass, go with Wishart (updated was placed on waivers) or deHaan or explore the market, I suspect Staios will be signed or gone by Friday so he can hook on elsewhere, even if MacDonald sits to open the season.

I would not take a chance on Ness or Donovan this early.

I expect Niederreiter sticks around at least until Rolston is ready. I do not see Pandolfo making the cut with Reasoner, Haley, Gillies. If McNeely dresses and does well it would not shock me if he earned a spot.

Frankly it's time for Kabanov, Strome to return to juniors, Strome with his first professional contract.

Calgary 2, New York 0

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Islanders twitter feed posted Jurcina - strained left groin, Rakhshani, left knee injury. The biggest takeaway from this night.

Beyond that was not a good effort on either side, Calgary appeared to dress more regulars. Islanders seemed reluctant to shoot a few times.

Only thing that was disappointing was Comeau being used out of position, where he fell asleep on Flames shorthanded goal. Staios gambling and losing at the point for the second goal, not a big deal. Dehaan fell once, hit a post.

He also broke up Jokinen's chance, then tried to throw a hit and bounced off him, he was not checked by Jokinen, announcers need to watch plays better.

Nabokov's goaltending solid, his stick-handling was poor. Best moment were watching Donovan's steady play, Strome setting up. DiBenedetto was in on some scrums, Gillies threw a perfect hit early.

Looks like announcing crew used old cue cards with notes on the Islanders.

Where was Theo Fleury to take the penalty shot?

New York At Calgary/Notables:

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Updated:
Tonight's game will shockingly be televised by Msg from Calgary, which likely means NHL Network feed. More below on this subject.
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The Islanders have their lineup out for Calgary game. Nabokov is expected to make his debut. Reasoner/Rahkshani/Kabanov are expected to play. Staios is listed to get his third game in a row against his former team. Gillies has dressed for every game as has Pandolfo.

Comeau-Reasoner-Rakhshani
DiBenedetto-Ullstrom-Haley
Pandolfo-Frischmon-Wallace
Kabanov-Strome-Gillies

Defensemen
Jurcina-Staios
Donovan-de Haan
Reese-Wishart

Goalies
Nabokov
Koskinen
Islanders website: released their internet feed preseason schedule.