Islander News Articles 9/30:

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/29/2007 09:47:00 PM | | | | | |
Ct Post covered Islanders-Devils here.

"I think I contributed to at least a dozen of those shots, letting up rebounds," said Dubielewicz, who in May signed a one-year contract that should make him the Islanders' backup goalie. "I made it tough for myself."

"He played really well. Dubielewicz is a good goaltender," said Islanders assistant coach Gerard Gallant, who led the bench with coach Ted Nolan away after a death in the family. "He had his best game of the preseason, for sure, at least 20 really good saves."

"I'm seeing pucks well. I'm stopping them well," Dubielewicz said. "My rebound control is still in preseason form."

"It felt pretty good to be back here," Dubielewicz said. "It gave me some sort of a sense of comfort. I felt back in the routine of the past few years."


"The ice made it tough," Dubielewicz said. "You made that extra stickhandling move, you got that extra wobble."

"It was a very good crowd here," Gallant said. "It was a good game to play in Bridgeport."


* The Islanders had a few chances in the third period, but future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur let nothing else past him.

* Former Tiger Jeff Tambellini cut to the net with 13:45 to play but couldn't sneak the puck through Brodeur. Brodeur also stopped Ben Walter, who drove to the net for the rebound. Both teams committed some turnovers, and the Islanders went 0-for-4 on the power play.

Newsday released it's Islander preview tonight for those interested.

NYI Fan Central Comments:

Not sure whether to call this Saturday or Sunday's coverage because it was written on 9/28 and in terms of a preview it's the same tired summmary on the summer that does not mention the players still here or anything about the defense or DiPietro. I don't know how Newsday's headline writer or Logan can call this a preview.

Basically it's more of the same from Logan about who the Islanders lost in UFA and what it took for Comrie and Guerin to sign here as well as bringing up past issues with Comrie. A few new comments but nothing that tells about how the club will do this season or why.

Newsday does do it's overall predictions written by Ranger beatwriter Steve Zipay
here and of couruse does not include the Islanders in the playoff mix or tell us why.

Zipay as always outblogs Logan about ten to one in the only paper that covers the Islanders which is not good.

Ct Post also has a feature on Drew Fata here. Sound Tigers lost to Lowell here Saturday night.

Updated Sunday am
Logan updated his earlier article to include some questions about the club here which includes a seventh place prediction and the schedule. Beief update on the game is posted
here.

Updated 10/1:
Aaron Asham had a few words on 9/30 about the Islanders here.

"I know of some places where not everyone gets treated the same," Asham said, referring to the Islanders, whom the Devils defeated, 2-1, last night at the Arena at Harbor Yard to finish the preseason with a 4-2 record.

And which player or players might have gotten preferential treatment?

"(Alexei) Yashin maybe," Asham said.


* Even though there were clearly some issues, and Asham even had a fight with goalie Rick DiPietro during one practice, he did not leave the Islanders with a lot of bitterness. He felt it was time to go and the Islanders weren't devastated that he left.

"The Islanders were going in a different direction and I thought it was time for a change for myself," Asham said. "They had some young kids over there. (Jeff) Tambellini was ready to play and they've got (Sean) Bergenheim. I had some options to go out west. For myself, the east is the way to go. There is less travel and it fits my game."

"There have been a lot of changes on the Island. A lot of things going on," Asham said. "The Devils are always playing to win the Stanley Cup. I figure I have a better chance than anywhere else. I knew they came to play every night. Lou (Lamoriello) and the staff gets the most out of their players. Lou runs a tight ship here. I'm at a point in my career where it's time to get serious and make a bid for the Cup."


NYI Fan Central Comments:
No bitterness but a few upfair comments and no blame for his own inconsistent nightly performance as he got several chances on the top lines and never stepped up
to become a top six forward with skills that say he should be a top six forward.

This is why the Islanders did not keep him and why he did have to take a pay cut this summer and there was no rush of reported job offers for his services.