Islander News Articles 12/19:

New York Islander Fan Central | 12/18/2007 10:18:00 PM | | | | | | | | | |
Newsday Katie Strang has more on Chris Simon from Ted Nolan and Bill Guerin but the coach said the club has more pressing issues with some very interesting comments about ice time and reassessing his lines.

"We haven't been playing as well as we should've, and there's a lot of people in that category that could play better. To replace one Chris Simon, we can do that, but to get our game back to where it has to be, that is the bigger issue right now."

"We've watched it go on for too long. It's going to be a merit system. It doesn't matter who you are, you've got to perform and play hard, and if you don't, someone else will,"

NY Post: Dan Martin's second off day appearance in a row is on Ruslan Fedotenko's run in with Simon when he was with Tampa Bay which led to a suspension. Ted Nolan singled out several Islanders who he has not been pleased with but for now is not making changes.

"I remember I hit him pretty hard and I'm sure he didn't like that," said Fedotenko, who was with Tampa Bay at the time while Simon was on the Rangers. "Sometimes, emotions take over and you just react. It's not a big deal. It's part of hockey. I hope to see him soon."

"We have faith in this group. You need your best players to be your best players. We need [Mike] Comrie, we need Bill Guerin, we need Fedotenko. It's not added pressure, just the responsibility of that line. Andy Sutton, [Bryan] Berard, [Marc-Andre] Bergeron need to play better."


Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has comments from coach Jack Capuano and Jeff Tambellini that moving him from the point on the powerplay back to the wing position down low has helped him. There is more speculation on when his next callup to the Islanders could be.

"It gets you in the game a lot," Tambellini said. "You're fighting for rebounds in front of the net. Sometimes, at the point, you can feel like you're just standing there, watching."

"When you go up there, do as much as you can and hopefully get a chance to stay," Tambellini said. "When you come down, hopefully play well enough that they look to you when they need somebody."


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

Bridgeport recalled C Keith Johnson from Utah (ECHL). LW Kip Brennan is suspended, and LW Sean Bentivoglio (neck) is questionable.

Kalamazoo Gazette: Rick Shanley reports on team USA playing against the Kalamazoo Wings in a tuneup for the WJC where Kyle Okposo scored in a 4-2 win.

"They gave us a great game; They play hard," said Team USA forward Kyle Okposo, the seventh overall pick in last year's National Hockey League draft. "We turned the puck over a couple of times and they pounced on it. That's how the tournament is going to be, so we were lucky to be able to play these guys."