Islanders website: Has the recap of the Islanders 4-3 loss Saturday to the Carolina Hurricanes where they took an all time franchise high sixty shots.
NYI Fan Central Comments:
I could write a novel about this game, it had that much to offer again with signs this team is picking up this system in some areas while struggling with it at others. Carolina looked like a team waiting to lose for a good part of the night.
The Islanders defense is stepping in to create chances and it's forecheck again was very good and forced play.
Islanders had the shots, Carolina had the higher quality chances and they made the Islanders pay when they turned over the puck.
Apparently Rick DiPietro reinjured himself again, if I had to guess it was on the play Streit made a skate save as he dove across the crease.
Of course it has to be written DiPietro is still in training camp mode in terms of games having only started his first seven days ago. His giveaway was not good after the coach talked about letting his defense handle the puck the other day.
Cam Ward did not face many unstoppable shots or plays that created an open net chance aside from Okposo's chance in the first blocked by a defender. Unlike the Craig Anderson game last season Ward had to work for his win with a lot of scrambles in front of him.
Bill Guerin for his ten shots about five were the same low-percentage chances he took last year. Powerplay at times was erratic with a lot of outside shots or plays they were outnumbered on the puck, other times it looked solid with cross-ice passes for shots below the circle.
Freddy Meyer gave as good as got and more with a goal and assist said the other day at times this system is tough for him at times, in the second period we saw what he meant with a mistake he cannot make.
Same for Jack Hillen who did not have his man or Frans Nielsen who got beat on a faceoff and then did not get position against his man in front when DiPietro left a rebound.
Bill Guerin for his leadership cannot take the selfish penalty he took in the second period.
A lot of very good things here too, Thompson had has best game by a mile throwing a hit that led to a goal. Bergenheim again was making plays all night and dominating on his shorthanded goal and I love he drove the net and took out Ward. Park finally was put on the line with Thompson and Hilbert.
Doug Weight showed that's the kind of hit you give out to change momentum and draw a powerplay. Nielsen had a lot of chances, Hunter, Streit was bombing from everywhere and Campoli had a very nice play or two at the net.
It was far from all bad, some good signs but not enough and self-inflicted loss.
Nice play to draw a penalty shot, Weight did not do much with it.
Bottom line about as tough an October loss to absorbe as possible on a night this club badly needed points with all four clubs in divison earning at least one where they took sixty shots.
On the media end a little too much blame game from Billy Jaffe, first he questioned why Nielsen had six blocked shots against Dallas, said he has to make a play and not just shoot, but last week in Florida all I heard from him was the Islanders cannot pass up quality chances and have to shoot.
Live postgame with Gordon/DiPietro comments? Sorry, time for the Msg Saturday infomercial which no Islander fan should bother with until the coverage is equal.
No Martinek, Witt or DiPietro is too much to overcome.
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Sound Tigers.com: Reports Peter Mannino shut out Worcester 2-0 Saturday night. Tim Jackman and Sean Bentivoglio's short-handed goal was the difference.