Buffalo 5, New York 3

New York Islander Fan Central | 12/12/2007 09:52:00 PM | | | | |
Islanders website: Has the recap of tonight's 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

“We gave them too many chances,” said an agitated Ted Nolan. “We got into penalty trouble. We just need more and have to have a better effort.”

“Sean Bergenheim was probably the best player on the ice,” said Nolan. “Hopefully his energy will rub off on the rest of us.”


NYI Fan Central Comments:
That was a team with a worse record than the Islanders that outworked and outskated them for far too much of this game. No excuse for such poor play and penalties across the board collectively. You can pick out of Sillinger, Berard, Guerin, Martinek, Sutton for some turnovers or mistakes you cannot make. You can credit Buffalo for putting up a wall of bodies in front of DiPietro on many of the outside shots that he could not see.

Too much pressure on DiPietro as they were in his crease all night. The fifth Buffalo goal on a backhand was a killer after they battled to get back to 5-4. The early powerplay with Satan on point and Park up front looked lost, Satan got his goal from where he would usually shoot as a winger.

Bergenheim had some good chances and again looked like the best forward. Comrie was good early but Tambellini with Comrie and Guerin played most of the last two peirods on defense and lost a lot of battles.

Game could have went either way if Hunter's shot in the second was not deflected from in front with an empty net or Bergeron got his shot through. Miller had to be good at times too, especially in the first peirod when his defense was gift-wrapping chances for the Islanders to finish. Of course Miller gift-wrapped one of his own which the Islanders took advantage of.

We'll see if there is any injury fallout from this regarding Martinek.

Ted Nolan should be running out of patience with a few players on this team, this is a game you have to get a point from when you come back to make it a 4-3 game.

Bill Guerin's best pass in months was to a Buffalo Sabre blind off the boards for a goal. Sillinger's take down for that five on three power play was just a poor play.

These are the club leaders, they cannot make these kind of plays for the Islanders to have any chance.

AHL.com: Report the Sound Tigers lost 4-3 at home to Albany Wednesday. Dustin Kohn had his first AHL goal in the third peirod and an assist in the loss. Steve Regier had his ninth goal.