They had no problem getting the coaches comments/players available for the fans on video.
No excuse for the Islanders not doing the same for our fans.
Outside of Naslund missing practice the Rangers come in with no reported injuries which tells most of the story of this season for both teams. One team has less than ten man games lost to injury, the other two hundred sixty plus.
NYI Fan Central Comments:
A lot of things working against the Islanders tonight.
Injuries, disparity in records against the opposition, the recent losing streak and a team that lives and dies by it's trap with the home ice disadvantage a big factor against with bypartisin crowds in both buildings. The breakdowns by the Islanders on defense have been damaging and show no sign of letting up.
Islanders whenever they get a few days off come out and have played with a lot of rust and are coming off a long trip.
Can Scott Gordon's skaters create quality chances and force the Ranger defense and goaltender to make mistakes or will it be an early Ranger lead followed by lockdown mode with shots but few quality chances? Lundqvist despite his two recent shutouts has given up a lot of goals when Tom Renney's trap fails in front of him and lets up more than his share of softies. For the Islanders defense that has Martinek back but lost Meyer can they tighten up, cut down the turnover and protect Joey MacDonald better?
The Ranger powerplay looks a lot like last year's Islander powerplay in how many shorthanded goals they surrender, no doubt Richard Park and the Islanders will be going for it shorthanded.
Chess-hockey against Tom Renney is not very entertaining and demands a lot of patience but this is how he demands his club plays. They take few shortcuts and give the younger players their minutes and have strong survival skills in games to secure that regulation point.
For me this is just another game and will not be memorable in a lost season when it's over regardless of what happens unless one of the kids delivers a hat-trick or something along those lines.
All the Islanders are working toward is the lottery, no one game can change the standings.
Updated:
Not game related but Mr Logan in the Islanders Newday blog reports Rick DiPietro is seeking second opinions with the recent swelling in his kneehere.
Andy Sutton has to have additional surgery and is expected to miss an additional eight-ten weeks.
Atlanta Thrashers.com: Reports the Islanders traded defenseman Brett Skinner to the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange forward Junior Lessard.
Lessard (leh-SAHR) has played in 41 games with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League this season, recording six goals and five assists for 11 points. The 28-year-old Quebec native has played in 27 career NHL games with Dallas and Tampa Bay, scoring three goals and adding one assist for four points during parts of three seasons. Lessard has also played in 298 career AHL games, recording 86 goals and 92 assists for 178 points in five seasons.
NYI Fan Central Comments:
Don't read a lot into this an a possible NHL trade, Okposo, Hunter and Jackman seemed locked in on right wing and Guerin has a NTC. At best Iggulden gets a callup for Jackman for a few games at some point. Skinner did a nice job here earlier at a time the Islanders were winning/competitive but with the competitive part of the playoff chase out of reach if someone is recalled there is a big mix of veterans and prospects.
Best of luck to Brett Skinner.
AHL.com reported Yann Danis was recalled to backup Joey MacDonald.
ITV finally had some comments from the coach and players today which I put on the sidebar. Scott Gordon had a little fun when Howie Rose asked a question by saying who's the new guy which cracked up everyone.
