New York at Minnesota 8pm Msg+2

New York Islander Fan Central | 12/19/2008 01:04:00 PM | | | |
AP: Previews tonight's game against the Minnesota Wild.

Curtis Foster and Owen Nolan look like the players out for the Wild.
Backstrom should be in net.


NYI Fan Central Comments:

Always fun seeing the Islanders head out to markets they do not play often. A year ago this was the game the club the Isles finally gained a point after getting past the flu that set them up for the six game winning streak. They did blow the lead in regulation and the Wild were a very fast team that won in overtime.

Bridgeport has a lot of extra players, Islanders seem to have a surplus so spin the wheel whether Fritz, Walter, Jackman or Sim sit for a Comrie/possible Okposo return.

Minnesota comes in a low scoring club on a big losing streak but that includes somewhat of a bullet with Marian Gaborik just returning to the Wild lineup this week and scoring in his return game. Over/under for how many Marc-Andre Bergeron complaints about the Islanders starts at about two, he's done a good job in the plus/minus department so he deserves some credit.

One team is desperate, the Islanders passed that point around a week and a half ago, maybe the comeback against Washington helps but it will take more than deflection goals on point shots to win unless MacDonald can steal one or this team can put together some goals and play defense.

With Brendan Witt not thrilled with overspeed, Scott Gordon has to be under the gun a little here. A few more players speak up it comes down to the coach or the players. A win and something to feel better about is really needed by this group in the room.

More losing and more talking by the players usually means a choice, we saw this in Tampa.

Updated 6pm:
Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog did not get much more from head coach Scott Gordon on Brendan Witt & the coach did not even care to give the media the scratches. He did talk about DiPietro, the state of the goaltending and the lack of practices while the goaltender who skated did not wish to discuss his time table for return with Newsday or Howie Rose.


NYI Fan Central Comments:

Not sure what else Scott Gordon can say about Witt. Good for DiPietro keeping to his earlier word of not wanting to be a distraction. Any surprise Mr Logan will have comments from former Islander Marc Andre Bergeron for some more x-mas cheer?

The beatwriter without Mr Botta never would have put in the paper that Witt is a player who went through thin and thinner with the Washington Capitals in the pre-Alexander Ovechkin days and can handle it. He had a blog, two articles and did not do it until Mr Botta made it clear Witt loves it here and does not want to be traded.


Updated 7pm:

Krys Kalanos was called up to replace Owen Nolan.

Pioneer Press: Bruce Brothers has Kyle Okposo's comments on returning to Minnesota and said he stays in touch with former coach Don Lucia.





AddThis Feed Button