Islanders website: Has the recap of the Islanders 2-0 loss to the Florida Panthers.
NYI Fan Central Comments:
This is a game you look back at in March and know it's a spot where you left points on the table.
Islanders played a fragile team that gave up six goals in it's last game with Thomas
Vokoun pulled against Minnesota, tonight he had a very quiet thirty one saves for his shutout aside from a Comrie breakaway with virtually no second shots.
No idea what Guerin was thinking in the second period on that one play he had the puck dead center from about ten feet out, one goal could have gotten Florida and Vokoun off their game.
Not that the Islanders were terrible but all night they were a play or a pass short and on several occasions passed on some high quality shots. Tambellini again looked good and a lot of good board work got the club the puck in spots you should make a play from.
Individually I saw some very good play to create chances, Okposo made an outstanding play undressing a Panther defender for a chance with his speed. Bergenheim threw a few hits and got off that line with Thompson and Hilbert that had little chemistry in the third.
Isles first powerplay seemed to be their best one but they never really forced the Panthers out of position. Streit had a lot of shots but missed most of them.
Scott Gordon shook up his powerplay giving most of the players a look.
Have to give the Panthers their due, their defense blocked a lot of shots and they were the better skating club from start to finish who forced the Islanders into some penalties who did more to earn the points tonight.
On the Islanders defensive side if not for some very good defensive play combined with a few great saves from DiPietro, this easily could have been a five or six goal game. Witt, Gervais had a few great player to break up chances, Streit again looked solid, Meyer had one mistake but again was solid. Not seeing Pock or Hillen hurt the club on defense as the group got in the lanes well.
I saw no rust from DiPietro who made a few great deflection saves along with robbing Dvorak and Zednik, he did not start well but from there did everything you can to hold the club in a game.
Eventually you keep taking penalties the other club will make a play which happened in the second period.
Nothing that can be done but other teams are piling up the points, Isles have to keep pace.
I know Scott Gordon needs Richard Park and Andy Hilbert defense and speed with his young players but having them with the teams best scorers when your club is behind is likely not going to produce a play that leads to a goal with any consistency.
Islanders get a little break which buys everyone more time to get healthy and have a little more training camp far healthier than they were in Moncton.
AHL.com: Reports Bridgeport won it's home opener 3-1 on Saturday against Albany with Mike Iggulden delivering a hat-trick, Skinner had two assist, Yann Danis had twenty one saves in the win.
Blake Comeau had six shots on goal.
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has the line combinations in his blog.