"It's almost laughable," Islanders coach Ted Nolan said with a disgusted look. "We're much better than we showed tonight. I don't know if they played all that well, but I know how bad we played."
"The way he played typified the way we all played," Nolan said of Bergeron. "He made some bad, bad decisions with the puck. He didn't skate, he didn't move his feet, he didn't do the things he's capable of doing."
"The bottom line is we just didn't compete, we didn't work, we didn't think, we didn't do a lot of things that our type of team has to do," Nolan said. "If they don't do it, that's the result you're going to get."
Newsday: Logan also did an article on former Islander Jason Blake.
"During training camp, I was feeling tired faster," he said. "This is when it wasn't out in the public. I had a feeling something was wrong. But I feel better every day."
"No, it's in the back of my mind every day," Blake said. "I'm faced with it every day because I've got to take this pill. Am I at ease? Probably 90 percent. But there's a little 10 percent that I [think about]."
"The support I've gotten definitely does mean a lot to me," Blake said. "It's not easy for anyone to go through it. I've had a lot of e-mails from guys around the league. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but I'm just concentrating on hockey and my family and moving forward."
NY Times: Dave Caldwell, who's editor did not do an Islander artcle for Wednesday's home game did do a feature today on Bryan Berard with quotes from Witt, DiPietro, Berard and Bergeron. Interesting comment from Berard in that he felt he and Nolan share something in common because the game was taken away from both of them
“He sure didn’t take the easy way out,” said Brendan Witt, another veteran defenseman. “He could have taken his insurance money and left the game. Good thing he’s a stubborn man who loves the game of hockey.”
Daily News: John Dellapina among several articles is reporting former Islander, Dave Scatchard is trying out with the Rangers and practiced with them.
National Post
Toronto Star
Globe and Mail
Toronto Sun: Among the Leaf centric coverage, Chris Johnson does an article on the Islanders being a club of castoff's where Nolan's says he wants to get players here for the long-term.
Toronto Star: Kevin McGran had an article on Berard.
I know I haven't played a lot of hockey the last three years and a lot of people questioned my defensive abilities, too," said Berard. "That was frustrating. But it kind of lit a little fire under my butt.
"I know my offensive part of the game is still there. I'm older wiser, and solid defensively."
NYI Fan Central Comments:
Gist of most of the Leaf centric coverage was Dubie proved last year was a fluke and the Islanders were playing tired, that the Leafs were not under any pressure once they got the lead and the win was not a good barometer. That at best Islanders are a playoff bubble team.
Personally I think Dubielewicz would immediately become the Leafs number one goaltender based on his career resume in Denver and Bridgeport where he's been an all-star and a goalie who thrives with more work, just had no chance last night in front of a club that did not show up.
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's blog is about Stirling and Colley in Bridgeport tonight for the home opener against Norfolk and Mike Dunham in to work with the goaltenders.
Ct Post: Article is about opening night, Jon Sim's injury creating an opportunity with comments from players and coach, Jack Capuano.
"We've got to win at home. It's just one game at a time. I know everyone says it, but it's so true," forward Jeremy Colliton said. "Hopefully, we'll have a good showing (tonight). It's the only way we're going to build anything here."
"The home opener is always a lot of fun for the guys," coach Jack Capuano said. "I told them, the most important thing is to have fun."
To watch or listen to tonight's game:
Norfolk Admirals at Bridgeport Sound Tigers
WHEN — Tonight, 7:30
WHERE — Arena at Harbor Yard
ON THE AIR — Webcast and B2 Networks Internet pay-per-view at www.soundtigers.com