Islander News Articles 12/16:

New York Islander Fan Central | 12/16/2007 04:27:00 AM | | | | | | | | | | | |
Newsday: Greg Logan's game article on the loss, Witt vs Crosby and Chris Simon's actions with comments.

"Crosby and I are shoving each other," Witt said. "I got cross-checked four times. It's one thing to even it out, but for [Crosby] to come out with nothing doesn't surprise me. He's going to get a lot of calls that way. I voiced my opinion to the referee. He thought I was playing him too tough. There's no liberties for special guys. The same rules apply ... I thought we should have both went."

"He probably was penalized because he started it," Crosby said. "I'm not going to say I wasn't doing anything. But we probably had an even amount of whacks and maybe they saw he started it and that's why he got it."

Dripping sarcasm, Crosby added of Witt, "He's a pretty clean player, so he probably was in the right there."


Newsday: Neil Best has an article on NHL center ice with comments from Josh Bernstein, the Islanders' VP of marketing and communications.

Newsday: Greg Logan also has comments on possible steroid use in hockey with comments from Brendan Witt and Ted Nolan about former Islander Sean Hill. Rick DiPietro commented on the Mitchell report.

"I think it's cheating," defenseman Brendan Witt said yesterday. "I would have been the last to think it was in hockey, but obviously, there was a guy last year and he was on our team. You never know until that urine test comes back.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
All due respect to Greg Logan but the Islanders need to be interviewed about issue's closer to home starting with their play on the ice. If Newsday wants to give him more space for this fine, but his space should not be used for the players to talk about baseball after a hockey game.

Newsday: Ranger beatwriter Steve Zipay got some very classy comments on the Islander dynasty from Wayne Gretzky when he was in with the Coyotes in his Ranger centric coverage.

"It's a pretty unique place," said Gretzky, almost 47 and weathered by the off-ice side of the game, "because the Bossys, the Trottiers, the Potvins, Smiths, Nystroms, they built a dynasty here; they built something pretty special. There's always this sort of Oiler-Islander matchup rivalry, but the reality was, in a lot of ways, we idolized what the Islanders did. I think that part of our success was because we did respect them so much, we understood how hard they worked and we understood how committed they were to winning championships."


NY Post: Dan Martin's game coverage was on Sidney Crosby's special treatment from the Islanders side of things with Mike Sillinger accusing Ruutu of maybe faking his injury a bit.

"It's frustrating," said Mike Sillinger, who had a great chance to tie the game on a breakaway in the third, but his shot sailed high over the net. "You want to see it called both ways."

"They called what they called," Sillinger said. "I think [Ruutu] may have faked it a bit, as well."


Daily News: Peter Botte was allowed to cover this home game and in his limited space got comments on the Islanders version of special treatment given to Sidney Crosby.

"I can't figure out how two guys have a pushing match, and two of their guys jump on our guys, and we end up shorthanded," said Isles coach Ted Nolan. "Someone has to give me an explanation how that works."


Arizona Republic: Jim Gintonio did a full feature article on Mike Sillinger where he talked about how he likes mentoring the young players, the lockout, his well traveled career with a few comments from Ted Nolan about Sillinger and former Coyote, Mike Comrie.

"When I signed here, they wanted me to play a role here and groom the young kids and be a role model for the young kids."


Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Dave Molinary & Tribune Review: Rob Rossi has the Penguins coverage of the game.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's game coverage on the Sound Tigers 2-1 win against Binghampton is on Jamie Frasier returning to the lineup and making the play to set up Ben Walter for the game winning goal. Coach Jack Capuano and Jamie Fraser talk about the win. Ryan Kinasewich, Dustin Kohn and Olivier Labelle where scratched. Fraser, Comeau and Bootland returned to the lineup. Bryan Trottier was behind the bench with assistant Pat Bingham; assistant Bernie Cassell was in the press box.

"I thought it was important, after what happened the last game, to keep it simple and try to play well," said Fraser, who did. "It was a great team effort, too. Everybody played simple and played hard."

"Jamie skated really well," Bridgeport coach Jack Capuano said. "He used his legs and made some tremendous passes offensively."


Albany River Rats at Bridgeport Sound Tigers
WHEN - Sunday, 4 p.m.
WHERE - Arena at Harbor Yard
ON THE AIR - No radio; Webcast and B2 Networks Internet pay-per-view at www.soundtigers.com

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has a full feature article on goaltender Mike Morrison.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio's blog had more on the game from the line combos to Joe Rullier's ejection to a lot of odds and ends. Jeff Tambellini had the other Sound Tigers goal.

Press & Sun Bulletin: John Nash covered the Senators loss at Harbor Yard.

Pioneer Press: Bruce Brothers has a full feature on the struggles of Kyle Okposo who is off to the World Junior Championships with comments from his father, coach and some current and former teammates.

"People doubt you when you don't play well," Okposo said.

Rocked by the early pressure of being a returning first-round draft pick, he said at times he felt "I was just going through the motions. I didn't feel good about where my game was at all."