Perhaps NYIFC Wrong & The New York Islanders Will Leave New York

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“I believe this day will go down in history as a first step and hopefully this is the catalyst that will get us going again.”

-Charles Wang 5/31/2011.





Perhaps my earlier entry The New York Islanders Will Never Leave New York is simply not correct.

5/31 was not a good day for the future of this franchise.

For those wondering the legislature can still stop the 8/1 vote by July 17, which is fifteen days prior to the referendum and may well do that if financial plans are not there from Mangano/Wang or the legislature do not like what they read.

“It’s important that we take this step. Today’s vote is to make sure that the tax payers, the citizens, have the opportunity to decide. That’s all it is. There are a lot of details and we’re working through (them)… but by the middle of June, we’ll have all the details. This is what we’re working towards. Today is a great first day.” -Charles Wang

Today the Nassau legislature confirmed my earlier entries, that the New York Islanders are nothing more than political football depending on what party supports a Coliseum plan vs which one did not propose it.

I did not think seven members would be willing to risk killing a plan that may well decide Wang's future interest in owning this franchise even before step one.

They were.

I do believe this plan will ultimately be rejected, but Wang's hotel is going nowhere and that was really what I staked my belief on that the club would never leave, with the simple fact the Nassau Coliseum has to be replaced or repaired and someone eventually has to pay for it.

For a long time here I have been pushing the notion, no one entity or side wanted to be the one to say no and take blame whether it be Suozzi, Mangano, Wang, Murray, TOH.

Now the public can do that for everyone thanks to Ed Mangano.

An easy out to lose the team without getting blamed.

Maybe if this passes on 8/1 the legislature kills it anyway just to defeat Mangano/Republicans so it could go that way with one side getting blamed.

Obviously if this passes 8/1, the democratic legislature will challenge the legitimacy of the vote being done in August as a built-in excuse to reject it or the hundred foot wall called NIFA will kill it for sure.

Perhaps reading all the comments out of Atlanta about low attendance, poor fan support shook me a bit because I have never seen the NHL abandon a market in a modern facility this quickly. This was not Bettman's call (his BOG can only approve/reject a sale/relocation which they will approve to make relocation fees) because the NHL does not own the franchise (unlike Phoenix) but this does open the proverbial box which sets future trends.

I feel so horrible for those folks in Atlanta. ASG was not some individual who simply could not afford to operate a franchise, they simply only wanted to run the Atlanta Hawks, to relocate that team this quickly sets a horrible precedent.

As for the New York Islanders, a franchise near the bottom in attendance for twenty plus years, with no home media support, an owner approaching seventy, in the NHL's second oldest facility, who had every plan rejected to save the team who may finally have his plan rejected by the public themselves?

Sure the teams history should have made them bullet proof for the same reasons NYC never let the taxpayers decided any other teams future.

At that point it's more than fair for Charles Wang to say I've done all I can, the people have spoken and the support is simply not there for this franchise to have a future here.

Mangano made the Islanders future a public decision, so once he has his out why would he drag himself back in or force Wang to stay?

Sure the opposite can happen, Charles Wang digs in even harder, takes his Comcast/NBC/Winnipeg Relocation money and see if a new CBA brings him revenue sharing?

Still, Wang may come to realize why am I bothering if the public support is not there for my efforts and hundreds of million lost on a team I did not even follow when it was winning Stanley Cups?

I'm not entirely sure on Smg lease, Wang is on record he will honor it, but who knows if Mangano lets him out if this fails. Until I read otherwise this is also Scott Rechler's Smg lease to manage the Coliseum until 2015.

I know the LH Project gave Wang an immediate lease out if Nassau could not reach a lease agreement after TOH/Lighthouse approval, but that's not the current plan.

I want to believe my earlier entry a rejection will lead to the eventual compromise that will produce an arena agreement. I'm not sure I can after today because the legislature was ready to stop this before it even began.

Do these politicians care enough to even bothering looking ahead to seeing what the loss of this franchise means? I's obvious we would not be here today if they did.

Keep waiting, push vote back, let others bid on land. Same junk as late 90's, except Judy Jacobs is now on other side.

Today was just a terrible day. Hopefully Charles Wang sitting there had a good reason to be smiling that none of us know about.

Next entry for the first time is going to put the spotlight on our fans and the teams support, no punches will be pulled.



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Updated: Anders Nilsson signed/Islander Notables/Looking Ahead

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Updated 6pm:
Islanders website: Report goaltender Anders Nilsson has been signed to a three year entry level contract.

See twitter for link: Nilsson received a max contract, the highest awarded since lockout ended for a third round pick, and will be in North America next season per his agent.

NYIFC Comments:
That puts Nilsson, Koskinen and Poulin in Bridgeport with Montoya, Nabokov and DiPietro in New York. A lot of surgery/injury among current Islander goaltender ranks, but a signing that had to be done this summer or rights of a high draft pick would have been lost.

ITV: Released Doug Weight's complete press conference.

XM: Had an interview with Kyle Okposo on his new contract, Doug Weight and other items.

Will be toning down blog entries or posting them via twitter. NYIFC is supposed to be more of a blog that's an extension of it's twitter page. It has been a very busy stretch so more has been written here lately.

Setting the agenda:
NYIFC is a hockey blog, not a political blog. Entries have been written on the politics behind this, so from here on we're not going that deep into the political end of things, the recent/past archives have plenty on the Coliseum issue.

The order can suddenly change depending on sudden signings, trades or organizational changes. Bridgeport needs a head coach. RFA/UFA have to be signed or qualified and prospects have to be signed.

Seems every day something is happening, it was not this active during games.

1. The Memorial Cup and Casey Cizikas has to be signed by 5/31. St Michaels Majors plays semi-finals Friday night against Kootenay.

Toronto Sun: Terry Koshan had his usual issues with the Islanders, but Casey Cizikas comments on signing with the club on Wednesday.

2. 5/31 is the next Nassau County legislature chance to vote for a referendum vote happening in August, after last week who knows if that will be delayed again?

Instead of waiting on twitter updates/articles from this blog/wherever go to NassauCounty.ny.iqm2.com and simply watch meeting/hearing/vote live for yourselves.

3. After that no doubt more financial articles and spin in Cablevision's newspaper and a ton of rhetoric both ways. You know where this blog stands on these items, Mangano/politics/ect.

4. Draft updates/possible signings or qualifying offers to RFA or UFA. NYIFC has opened it's draft sections here and at the prospect blog.

As for UFA The Province: Zenon Konopka's comments on Trevor Gillies, and other subjects.

Notables:
It's great the Islanders locked up Grabner, Okposo and likely will do so with their other RFA. The backloaded contracts speak a great deal to Charles Wang's time as owner whether a Coliseum referendum passes and receives approvals or not.

Charles Wang may not be around to pay those players for a lot of reasons, he will be seventy two come final year of those deals.

It also has to be written who is going to buy this team from him if he becomes in effect, the next Smg with a lot of the property/hotel revenue going to him? It's obvious around the NHL simply owning the building and getting all event revenue is not enough to make owning a team self-sustaining, even when it's new.

When details come out from credible media (source free) with direct quotes regarding financing there will be more to read, not before.
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My initial reaction was taken aback when Doug Weight was assigned assistant coach/assistant to the gm. I wanted a reaction from Jack Capuano, who is now the full time head coach who has Scott Gordon's staff. Sometimes a general manager/coach relationship goes south which could be a problem for someone in that mix if Weight is in the middle which his role clearly suggests.

Doug Weight is as visible and respected a figure as there is in hockey. If there was an issue he would be outspoken so I do not foresee a problem here. Weight will not pull punches.

Previous assistant's to Garth Snow seemed very peripheral or not much detail was brought out or confirmed by articles vs what was advertised. If Weight will be behind the bench for every game we will see. Weight's efforts regarding pp at end of last season failed as someone behind the bench with a lot of injuries in a limited body of work.
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If a job is available elsewhere for Scott Gordon, he should be let out of his contract immediately. If one is available here, and he wants it, he should be retained.
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Put no stock on players invited to draft party who are UFA, some can be retained, others let go.
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The silence is deafening out of Atlanta and very sad for their fans. If ASG can own and pay for the Hawks, they can pay for and operate the Thrashers, it's not the NHL's call until they have a sale to approve or reject.

Bill Daly's comment about Seattle were unexpected for a deputy commissioner who is usually guarded with his statements.
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Tsn.ca: Absolutely hit a home run adding former referee, Kerry Fraser. His work is fresh, ground-breaking and comes from a hockey viewpoint few can relate to. I loved his story about Al Arbour and every entry is very good where we learn things.

No, that site does not have hockey centric rss and badly needs a redesign.

Tsn.ca: On the other side of that coin is Scott Cullen, who refused to acknowledge the Islanders 600+ man games lost to injury when we discussed them, but defended the Blues, John Davidson for not spending and cited injury several times when going through players.

NYIFC Comments:
All I ever ask is the playing field be level for all teams in viewpoints. If Scott Cullen wants to do thirty team reviews and he writes the Islanders season was over by the time Andrew MacDonald got hurt, of course I'm going to point out the club was 4-1-2, in first place when he got hurt in October.

If that bothers him to where he is defensive about it, that says something about his viewpoint not being informed, fair or objective.

Sorry.




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Atlanta 2, New York 1: Not liking this teams effort for six straight games

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Atlanta Journal Constitution: Has game recap of New York's 2-1 loss to Thrashers.
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The New York Islanders are not mathematically eliminated, they had a lot of days off in Florida before coming home to play tonight.

They have not come close to a sixty minute effort or an A game for a while.

I know over eighty two games, teams have clunkers, what happened against Atlanta tonight goes back to previous five games where you could see the skating, passing and play drop significantly, despite the wins/shootout/overtime games.

I also understand they had a few pp goals on the road, they also showed a lot of the poor trends with the man advantage Atlanta handily exploited tonight, dominating the puck and pinning the Islanders in their own end.

Only Atlanta being frankly a struggling team themselves, with Montoya's goaltending kept this from being 5-1 or worse. Sure Montoya turned his pad into the net on Schremp's goal which was brutal and the same goal he allowed in his Buffalo debut.

There is winning ugly, and playing to build something that's a formula for long term success. Beating the struggling Lightning, Panthers with sporadic good moments is not the team we were watching earlier.

If the Islanders played like the team that defeated Boston, St Louis, took forty shots and had pressure all over Atlanta and lost 2-1, credit the other goalie.

In the context of one game, tonight is no problem.

Six games in a row something's missing.

Some individuals had some good moments against Atlanta, especially fourth line, however shots against reflected game/skating/effort tonight. Atlanta was a team with four days rest, coming off an 8-2 still with playoff hopes, two points ahead of New York going into tonight.

Where was the Islanders playoff desperation tonight, or really for the last six games? Jack Caupauno can talk about long road trips but it was three games on road with a lot of days off.

The 6-1 losses are going to be happening soon via Flyers, Devils & Rangers if this team does not raise their game significantly. If I were deciding on players or the interim head coach status this is where I want to see if this team how hard this team is willing to compete down to game eighty two.

Clunkers? Sure, all teams have them.

Six games of ok to fair/poor efforts is not convincing me.

Easy from a keyboard to coach, tonight was the night to see Capuano do a little line juggling in my estimation to shake up some players.

Buffalo's number to eliminate New York stands at three/Sabres have games in hands and wins tie-breaker.

Streit not to return this season, draft pick Brian Day in Bridgeport on ATO, along with several other players per Ct Post.

NYIFC Comments:
Bridgeport was eliminated last Saturday, Day is a prospect who has to be signed upon graduation. From what I'm reading Anders Nilsson's team is in playoffs (Nilsson and team doing very well) so he likely will not be making a cameo on an ATO as we saw with Kevin Poulin or others.

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Atlanta 2, New York 1 Overtime

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All you'll see is the 13th straight headlines but it does not tell the story of this one. Atlanta was rested, at home and just came off blowing out Washington, and for a good part of this game they were outworked.

New York played well, they missed chances, hit post or were robbed, but were getting to the net.

Atlanta was forced into a time out in the third and they had Thrashers scrambling and they did it with in back to back games with only five defenders after the first period.

New York skated well, and were creating chances five on five, they even showed a little speed. Grabner was moving very well, Comeau also.

If not for the hand pass goal to make it 1-1, New York wins 1-0, that was just a terrible non-call.

DiPietro was very good in goal.

No complaints with their effort, they work like that on Wednesday they have a real chance to earn two points, saw some good signs today.

Howie Rose is Cablevision's employee, he works for Msg and James Dolan, just like Goring does, and Billy Jaffe did. His unprofessional conduct and explanation for it is fine, but the New York Islanders should not have to tolerate his frustrations/technical issues/whatever, regardless of what Msg pays them to bury most games on their network.

Not calling for his dismissal because of today, that would be for years worth of issues here that have nothing to do with Sunday's game in of itself.

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Islander News Articles 1/30

Newsday: Greg Logan's game recap reports Islander head coach Scott Gordon did not even wait to hear a reporters question about earlier blown leads before launching into what the Newsday beatwriter calls a rant who wanted to talk about his team getting five points in it's last three games and his young players.

Kyle Okposo also comments about his third period who credited Comeau and Bailey for their play-making.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
I thought Scott Gordon was under the weather during his post-game, apparently he got a bit annoyed beyond Msg+ postgame.

I will put up the video when/if ITV has it.

Was he upset with Mr Logan, C.J Papa, Mike Knobler, AP/CP reporter?
George Henry had an AP entry.

Safe bet Times, Post and Daily News were not in Atlanta.

All I know is Newsday has played up the third period blown leads all season, if the Islanders were the Knicks I wonder if the perception created and theme would have been the same if their prospects won the game in similar fashion?

This is why teams needs more than one beat reporter/newspaper. You need competition between papers/professional writers for scoops/information and if things get tense in interviews the papers/reporters not involved usually will report the story and play no favorites.

Remember Barry Baum vs John Vanbiesbrouck back in 2001 here or the Ranger beat writers ganging up on a Toronto radio personality last season?

One thing for sure, if Newsday is the issue here the staff will make sure to gang up on the Islanders with no response from the club.

Good for Scott Gordon, this team has been in a lot of close games lately and have not had the third period theme surface for a while, the kids and the win did deserve to be the story.

Newsday: Greg Logan in a late blog entry had comments from Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo about how their line played under pressure with the focus on the third period they produced.

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Mike Knobler's coverage points out the Thrashers moved closer to the Islanders for 30th seed and a better chance at Tavares in the game recap.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Dave Molinary reports on former Islander Miroslav Satan who has one goal in eighteen games after a good start for Pittsburgh with his comments along with gm Ray Shero and head coach Michel Therrien.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has Jeremy Colliton's comments on returning to the lineup for Friday's game against Hartford with head coach Jack Capuano's comments.

New York 5, Atlanta 4

Sports Network & Associated Press: Recaps New York's 5-4 win against the Thrashers in Atlanta.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Did you really expect it to be easy?

Islanders played a game in Atlanta last February, they led 3-0/4-3 and needed an overtime goal to finally win which was their last stand in 07-08. We all know how the earlier game in Atlanta played out with the Islanders blowing a 3-1 lead, losing 4-3.

Atlanta is around the top ten in league scoring and dead last in goals allowed, these are the kind of hockey games they play which is why we see so many wild games especially when they play in Atlanta.

The 2008-09 New York Islanders are not built for that kind of hockey game, they are built for the Atlanta team that came out to start this game who were terrible in all three zones. Thrashers did not backcheck, skate or win the puck and got some brutal goaltending from Kari Lehtonen.

The stick-check from Bailey and pass to Okposo for his early goal was amazing, the key third period play where Comeau fed Bailey who found Okposo was another beauty with the game in the balance.

Okposo beyond his goals simply looked dominating at times the way he was driving the net and backchecking which Billy Jaffe did a fine job illustrating at one point. I think that was the best overall game in his young career.

This combined with some of Frans Nielsen's plays are what Garth Snow's plan should be about along with every feed Mark Sreit can set up his teammates which is why Trent Hunter opened the scoring.

Thrashers were so poor in the first it easily could have been six or seven goals, Bill Guerin hit a post, a few other chances down low, Weight finally banged in a rebound.

Yann Danis made that big save on Kovalchuk to close the first but as soon as the second opened Atlanta started skating and taking the play at the Islanders who did not score on some key powerplays that could have put the game away.

Islanders offense dried up in the second aside from a few spurts and they had only three shots in the third not counting Hunter's post. Without Danis strong play they do not win here despite the four goals which he did not have much chance on beyond the Reasoner goal where Martinek lost his man but blocked what looked like an open net for Peverly shortly afterward.

Brendan Witt was good in this game again, Kovalchuk hit him and he got the worst of it. That extra step is clearly visible in his skating. Saw a solid game from the rest of the defenders.

So what happened in the third? Atlanta does what their record says they can do, skate and score some goals in bunches. One outside shot, you could see the 4-2 goal coming as soon as Gervais-Comeau failed to finish and were caught. Long time since I have seen a goal and a penalty, Park had it called on him.

Martinek lost Reasoner.

Finally Atlanta gambled and lost, Comeau to Bailey to Okposo was just an amazing setup. Nielsen drew a powerplay after that to take off the pressure.

Scott Gordon or the assistants seemed to make it hard on the Islanders at the end.

Why is Jackman-Hilbert-Thompson this teams go-to players in the final minutes of a close game? Nielsen, Okposo did not get on the ice until the final ten seconds.

We saw this same strategy against Anaheim in the final minute.

Not a ton of impact from the new veteran line tonight in their shifts after the first period. Weight had his goal and some early shots, Comrie had a partial breakaway early but little else.

They faded in the third with the rest of the team.

Someone is going to have to explain to me why Richard Park is in Jeff Tambellini's spot and what becomes of him and Comrie when Bergenheim returns?

Jackman plays with a ton of heart, is mildly effect at times with the puck and brings grit (tonight he had a goal) but seeing him against a superstar like Kovalchuk in the final minutes is just a bad strategy and the same goes for a fringe player like Thompson.

It's things like this that make me wonder about this coach. You are not trusting your franchise prospects or letting a Guerin-Weight decide the game. I'm not sure what this is.

Ok, the Islanders finally got a twenty first century road win (not counting NHL overtime point in Buffalo) which would have been a tie in 72-73 and have gained five of the last six points.

They have been better than competitive. I wanted the shutout for Danis but he'll have to settle for another win.

New York at Atlanta 1/29 7pm Msg+

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Mike Knobler in his blog reports the difference in the standings between the Isles and Thrashers record right now is the head to head games with Atlanta 3-0.

Updated Player Pos Injury Expected Return
01/20/09 Garnet Exelby D Leg IR. Out until at least late January
01/27/09 Jim Slater C Shoulder Questionable for Jan. 29


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Atlanta played and lost in Dallas 2-0 on Tuesday. I would expect Kari Lehtonen to get the start here who did not play the earlier games.

Atlanta has Ilya Kovalchuk, White, Kozlov, Little, Hanisey & Amrstrong and despite the Thrashers record can put up a four or five goal game. The Islanders do not have this element.

That game the Islanders led 3-1 in Atlanta after two periods and lost for me was the most frustrating game of the season. Weight, Hunter, Hilbert, Campoli likely in, I guess McLean, Hillen are not recalled while Sim and someone else sits out.

Islanders not going to win many games being outplayed as they were against Anaheim, they were playing some low-scoring games and have been more than competitive for a while now.

Rust has not been a friend to this team all season. This little stretch against Atlanta/Tampa are four point games for the bottom spot.

Updated 5:00pm:
Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog reports the lineup has Richard Park on left wing in Jeff Tambellini's spot who apparently will be a scratch while Andy Hilbert goes to the fourth line for Jon Sim while head coach Scott Gordon comments.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Hilbert has done a fair/good job recently, he should not be sitting so Richard Park, can take his spot or Tim Jackman, Nate Thompson or Andy Hilbert should dress.

Jon Sim should also be dressing also over Jackman.

Last we looked Thompson is not some projected great prospect.

Islander News Articles 1/29

Newsday: Mark Herrmann has comments from former Islander Jean Potvin in an article about comparisons between this team and the 72-73 version because of the current road losing streak.

This article does not take into account an overtime point in Buffalo on December 27th.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
The Islanders and Atlanta Flames were both expansion teams, that version of Atlanta moved to Calgary. Mr Herrmann of course neglects to write that this Islander team has lost over three hundred man games to injury which is a large part of why they are in last place which is why it makes little sense to compare them with an expansion club.

Also the NHL did not have overtime/overtime losses in that era.

Hopefully this is not the only game preview for the paper?

NY Post: Dan Martin has comments from head coach Scott Gordon on his practice lines with Mike Comrie and Doug Weight.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
These writers sure love stamping that Long Island label on everything. Why not just start slapping a New Jersey tag on the football teams or the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan on everyone other club depending on where they play.

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Mike Knobler has the latest on the Thrashers which contains player features about Niclas Havelid and Tobias Enstrom, not 72-73 Flames or anything from Phil Myre who played against the Islanders in the 1980 finals but was part of that club.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
That's how you market players and make them known around the league, the media does features on them. When was the last time Campoli, Gervais or another player received this kind of feature in the local papers?

Players on the Islanders are under-rated in league circles, local media cannot put that on the arena but themselves.

Metro Daily News: Ken Hamwey has an interview with former Islander coach Peter Laviolette about what's next for him as he plays the waiting game and reflects on his time with the Islanders and other teams he coached.

Nanaimo Bulletin: Reports former Islander Bill Smith, Cliff Ronning will be part of the Old-timers’ Hockey Challenge goes Tuesday (Feb. 3) in Nanaimo.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Smitty and Ronning are playing more hockey these days than a lot of Islanders on the current roster.

Gopher Sports: Reports Islander prospect Aaron Ness collected four assists for Rookie of the Week honors for the his second league award in three weeks after taking defensive honors after his tournament MVP award at the Dodge Holiday Classic. 

Islander News Articles 12/24: Happy Holidays

Newsday & NY Post & Daily News: Has coverage of the Islanders 4-2 loss to Atlanta.

Atlanta-Journal Constitution : Mike Knobler has the Thrashers coverage.

Team USA Hockey: Has the boxscore and recap of Team USA's 5-1 win against Russia Tuesday night. Islander prospect Kirill Petrov had the second assist on Russia's only goal. Blake Kessel was held scoreless in another game where team USA had a huge shot advantage.

This concludes all pre-tournament games before Friday.

New York Islander Fan Central would like to wish everyone and their families a very Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah.


See you Friday.

Atlanta 4, New York 2

AP & Sports Network: Recaps the Islanders 4-2 loss against the Islanders on Tuesday

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Good effort, especially the second half of the game, just not enough.

Even someone like a Bryan Little with hands and a finishing touch would do wonders for this roster if they could develop or add one player like that.

Hilbert made a nice play for his goal but he cannot do it, neither can any of the other forwards at least right now.

Comrie-Comeau-Okposo looked very good as a line and generated a lot of chances, they did not finish. Comrie reverted to forum with a selfish penalty that most likely cost them a point in regulation which is nothing new.

Too bad when they generated a third period powerplay out came Guerin-Hunter-Park after the tv timeout.

Callahan made some good plays but Todd White took the puck and drove the net when getting past him. Streit, Meyer, Campoli looked good also trying to create offense. Overall defense did not do a bad job here, Pock shot and joined some rushes, Little scored his powerplay goal from a very tough angle against him.

Tambellini-Bailey-Guerin looked like dead line skating most of the night, I know they created a chance late but at times they were pinned in their own end far too long and they looked overmatched.

Bergenheim had his shorthanded goal, he has to produce more. I guess Park-Hilbert go with Hunter while Walter and Bergenheim would be my pick to skate with Hunter.

MacDonald juggled a few but played well enough for a win.

Not much else on this one, Atlanta blocked twenty five shots. That Islander first powerplay when Okposo was on looked very good, did not see the Islanders create or sustain much for about half the game after that but Hedberg had to make a few good saves.

Jon Sim's goal bought him a spot on the sidelines after being on the powerplay? One
extreme or the other.

Atlanta at New York 7pm Msg+

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Mike Knobler recapped the Thrashers ugly 6-2 loss to Toronto on Monday, Keri Lehtonen played in goal but will not be in net tonight according to the paper.

Marty Reasoner did play.

Erik Christensen Shoulder Out until at least late-December
Garnet Exelby Legs Out until at least late December
Steve Rucchin Concussion Doubtful for 2008-09 season. Expected to retire
Zach Bogosian Leg IR. Out until at least late December
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NYI Fan Central Comments:
In short Atlanta comes in struggling as bad as they did last time when they beat the Islanders 5-1 and Scott Gordon credited an effort afterward where they spent a lot of time in Atlanta's end of the ice but generated few quality chances.

Difference this time would be Thrashers come in a tired club where last time they were on Long Island (while Isles were on the road) with one game in a week. Having written this Pittsburgh had seven players out and playing a seventh game in ten days scored nine goals against the Islanders so do not put a lot of stock into rest, injury or time off.

For our home for the Holidays (and the playoffs) 2008-09 New York Islanders not sure if Hunter or Weight will play but it's doubtful. Tambellini is here but does he play with the five other left wings or is Comeau going to be moved over to right wing again so he can play like a confused player?

This is about a winnable game as you can find but Islanders have faced a lot of struggling clubs and lost. A nine game streak should be enough, with Toronto scoring and playing well Friday could be a very tough game.

Whatever postgame/articles I have will be after the game in a combined format.

Islander News Articles 12/23

Newsday: Chris Mascaro reports goaltender Rick DiPietro participated in practice Monday while head coach Scott Gordon comments he has made a lot of progress but there is no timetable for a return or a trip to Bridgeport and for now it's just practice. Kyle Okposo comments on DiPietro.

Scott Gordon also comments on making himself available to all the players with regard to his system and discussed the play of Joe Callahan.

Owner Charles Wang attended practice. Andy Sutton is out six to eight weeks, Weight-Hunter day to day.

NY Post: Dan Martin has more from Scott Gordon about goaltender DiPietro while Richard Park talks about the clubs attitude being pretty good but that the players would not be human if they did not have a slippage in morale after losing nine in a row. Park also felt DiPietro was moving a lot better than he did when he returned in October.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Mike Knobler has the latest on the Thrashers who are home to Toronto Monday night and in the middle of fourteen games in twenty six days.

Johan Hedberg is expected to start against New York according to the writer and Garnet Exelby is in a walking soft cast/boot as his hairline fracture heals, Marty Reasoner is day to day with a sore hand.

Windsor Star: Jim Parker reports Spitfire gm Warren Rychel has heard nothing about Josh Bailey returning to juniors as he looks to add Jonathan Tavares to his roster.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
In short folks this is kind of like the NHL trade deadline in the Canadian Hockey leagues. Jonathan Tavares plays on a team that is not very good so they are looking to move him. Sarina with the three Islander prospects in Martin, Katic and DiBenedetto won a little recently but are another club that are what we could call sellers as the deadline approaches.

A year ago Robin Figren returned to the Oil Kings from the WJC and the general manager listened long and hard to offers to trade him.

Pioneer Press: Bruce Brothers has assistant general manager Tom Lynn's comments that former Islander Marc-Andre Bergeron sustained a lower body injury against the Islanders and will be out for weeks, not day.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has a feature on Sound Tiger right wing Mike Iggulden with comments from head coach Jack Capuano as he talks about how well he has played and Iggulden about his one game callup against the Islanders last year with San Jose.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
A six foot three scoring right wing looks like a very good fit in Trent Hunter spot while he's out or in Tim Jackman's minutes. Scott Gordon needs some speed and scoring skill.

No summary from me covers Jack Capuano's endorsement for Iggulden's play.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio also has the Sound Tigers weekly with a lot of items which includes five questions with Jason Pitton which should wrap Sound Tiger coverage through Christmas.

Islander News Articles 12/7

Newsday: Greg Logan has the recap of the Islanders 5-1 loss to Atlanta, head coach Scott Gordon credited the effort and pointed to the disparity in chances his team had along with how few sustained chances the Thrashers got. Andy Sutton talked about the penalties and said the team has to stick to the system while goaltender Joey MacDonald talked about how he has to play better and felt he let the club down while Mr Logan brought up the issue of fatigue.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
If MacDonald says he is fatigued that is one thing but I cannot put any of those goals on him or any kind of wear given where they were scored. If Scott Gordon wants to say his team put in the effort where were the quality chances for all the disparity in play/shots against? Hedberg needed one very good save on Jackman to show for his nights work and another on Sillinger in the first, that was about it.

Edit-Add in Comeau's two early chances. Someone have another I would like to know?

Daily News: Peter Botte's game article (no quotes this hour) but some on last years youth movement with Gordon vs Nolan.

NY Post: Dan Martin's article was on a club looking for positives about losing to a club 5-1 with the worst record in the Eastern Conference with Scott Gordon, Andy Sutton, Joey MacDonald & Blake Comeau.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Mike Knobler recaps the Thrashers win and has blog coverage.

Star Phoenix: Cory Wolfe & Kevin Mitchell has Mr Wolfe traveling with the Saskatoon Blades through B.C. who sat down with defenseman Jyri Niemi who talked about being named to team Finland for the WJC & Christmas traditions back home.

AHL.com: Recaps Bridgeport's 6-3 loss at Harbor Yard to Norfolk on Saturday.

Scoring
1. NOR Potulny, (3) (Bochenski, Konopka), 3:31 (PP)
1. NOR Kearns, (5) (Mihalik, Heward), 7:47
1. NOR Kearns, (6) (Simek, Ward), 16:54
2. BRI Smith, (10) (MacDonald, McLean), 0:23 (PP)
2. NOR Bochenski, (10) (Konopka, Potulny), 10:37 (PP)
2. NOR Bochenski, (11) (Potulny, Konopka), 11:43 (PP)
3. NOR Segal, (9) (Ward), 9:00 (SH)
3. BRI Smith, (11) (Walter, Iggulden), 13:06 (PP)
3. BRI Iggulden, (14) (Smith, McLean), 17:51 (PP)

Jeff Tambellini had eight shots and was a minus one.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had head coach Jack Capuano and Mike Iggulden on the Sound Tigers loss with the head coach not happy with losing the physical game or having the legs under them in this one.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Bridgeport will see a lot of Norfolk in the next few weeks. Jack Capuano seemed to have no problem going to Utah for toughness.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has Jeff Tambellini's comments who talked about having to create time and space to get his chances when he returns to New York after his conditioning assignment along with a preview of Sunday's game in Lowell here.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio's blog includes Bridgeport goaltender Nate Lawson getting injured on a hit from a Norfolk Admiral (Jason Ward) and not returning after he relieved Peter Mannino who allowed all six Norfolk goals on thirty three shots.

Norfolk Virginian-Pilot: Covers the Admirals.

Atlanta 5, New York 1

Sports Network: Recaps the Islanders 5-1 loss on Saturday to the Atlanta Thrashers.

Up there with Buffalo for the worst effort of the season despite the final score, kind of team play where a gm/coach has to wonder if it's time for a trade after the game in Washington because despite the shot disparity and the Islanders in Atlanta's end of the ice they did not generate nearly enough quality chances.

No excuses at all for this and the Islanders got exactly what they deserved.

Atlanta was horrible in this game for sixty minutes.

Takes talent to come out and generate that little in quality chances against another club waiting to lose that gave up an early goal (had only fourteen shots and led
5-1) that kept giving the Islanders powerplays who generated virtually nothing with them.

Sooner or later Atlanta was going to get some chances, they got a bounce on Boulton's goal off Witt but it never should have come to that. Sillinger did not have Little.

Another game where the Islanders could not put two passes together in the offensive zone or sustain any kind of forecheck after the opening two minutes where Weight's
low-percentage pass made it to Streit before Guerin took a return for a shot that went through Hedberg.

Scott Gordon looked like a man who found some of Ted Nolan's old powerplay notes to live and die by.

Powerplay time he put on Hilbert, Park out for close to two minutes each in the first two periods knowing their career offensive numbers do not lie.

Islanders died, this is where the game was lost because they needed a shooter.

Expecting skill goals from them is not going to happen, a bounce off someone for a rediretion goal sure (Meyer) but this is not how you score big goals with any kind of consistency.

Career records do not lie, same for Jackman, Thompson.

Put Bergenheim (who at even strength better get his act together with the offensive zone penalties because it looks lazy and immature) on the powerplay for a whopping twenty seven seconds through two periods?

Get Blake Comeau who was easily the best Islander forward (two excellent early chances, pass to Sillinger for good chance, big second period hit and setup) twelve seconds?

Skill players make skill plays. Forwards who do not have hands will most likely not score which is where Jackman comes in who was one of the few other forwards working but we know will not finish on a regular basis at this level.

Not much else on offense except Comeau finding Streit in the third for a post before hitting one of his own.

Sutton was a horror show, his second period turnover for Kovalchuk's goal, the third period penalty with Park's stick.

Pock another minus three and some running around.

MacDonald should have sued for non-support, major league chop when he came out late in the game.

Good thing Atlanta is a terrible third period team so the Islanders could barely test Hedberg.

This loss was that bad, so were the Thrashers.

Will be interesting to see how Scott Gordon reacts live. sorry Hockey Night New York so no dice, time for more 1994 infomercials from Msg.

Atlanta at New York 7pm Msg+

Comeau recalled, Tambellini on conditioning assignment.

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Mike Knobler's Thrasher update from Friday will tell you about a team that has blown several third period leads that would be in a playoff spot if not for the late game collapses.

No, he was not writing about the Islanders, who apparently share something in common with one of the clubs behind them in the standings.

Of course Atlanta was one club that rallied to beat the Islanders.

They come to New York five games under after a 5-1 loss to Ottawa on a five game losing streak after a recent five game winning streak. They did lose 5-4 against Montreal (fourth goal after an empty net score by Canadians) so this team can put up some goals between Little, Kozlov and with Kovalchuk they have one of the most dynamic players in the NHL despite head coach John Anderson being the latest to try and change his game somewhat.

If Atlanta on a five game losing streak with one game in seven days does not come in and play as desperate as a club can be for December they need some changes.

Ondrej Pavelec has started two of the last three in goal who defeated the Islanders in one of his early starts after being called up.

Injuries
C Steve Rucchin Concussion Doubtful
G Kari Lehtonen Back IR
D Mathieu Schneider Upper body Questionable
D Zach Bogosian Leg IR

From the Islanders side they need to be just as desperate because three games under in this league means you are going nowhere but to the lottery. Without Okposo, Nielsen, with Sillinger-Thompson someone is going to have to step up here (don't count on pp goals from Park-Hilbert) but more importantly this club has to start playing some defense regardless of whether it's Pock in or Martinek because MacDonald is not getting a chance and giving them outstanding goaltending.

This is one of those games Scott Gordon should have his club ready to get after the Thrashers from the opening drop of the puck after what we saw in Washington. I have read alot about the Islanders weathering other clubs storms this seasons to start games. It's time the Islanders come out and get right after Atlanta.

Last time on home ice for a while, they need two points here and something to build on.

If they can't it's time to callup some speed and skill from Bridgeport.

Updated:
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports in his blog Blake Comeau has been recalled to the Islanders while Jeff Tambellini agreed to accept a conditioning assignment.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Waste of time for Tambellini, nothing left for him to prove in the AHL regardless of how many goals he scores, we saw this a year ago when he went down and dominated, he was recalled and it amounted to nothing. He either figures it out here and the Islanders give him that time or it's time to find another organization for him.

Apparently Blake Comeau can play Scott Gordon's system in Bridgeport, now we see if he can win over the coach who sent him down or is this all tied in with Tambellini because both play left wing.

At the very least I get Comeau in a third jersey for the header, about a year to the day he was recalled last time after Chris Simon's suspension.

Updated 4pm:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Mr Knobler reports Johan Hedberg gets the start in goal for Atlanta. No one returning who was on Thrashers injury report.

Islander News Articles 12/6

Newsday: Greg Logan has Kyle Okposo about on his wrist injury which is now in a cast and will keep him out an additional four-six weeks and what it means not to be playing. Head coach Scott Gordon comments about what this does to a club trying to work in it's young players as he spoke about Okposo's & Nielsen's absence to his lineup.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Mike Knobler reports in the Thrashers blog they have been in New York since the Ottawa game on Wednesday. Atlanta's first stretch without back to back game since Nov. 23 and 24, and another three day break after the Islander game.

Ilya Kovalchuk played a season-high 25:25 at Ottawa, half with Chris Thorburn and Marty Reasoner. Former Islander Mathieu Schneider (shoulder) has not rejoined the team but according to the writer there was a possibility he’d be back for Saturday’s game. Word as of Wednesday night on Kari Lehtonen (back) and Zach Bogosian (leg) was good.

AHL.com: Recaps Bridgeport's 6-5 shootout win in Binghampton Friday night.

Scoring
1. BRI Smith, (9) (Kohn, Iggulden), 4:17
1. BRI Joensuu, (9) (Comeau, Walter), 9:35
1. BNG Regin, (3) , 10:49
1. BNG Regin, (4) (Hamel, Kudelka), 13:02 (PP)
1. BRI Iggulden, (13) (McLean, Callahan), 14:47
2. BRI Walter, (5) , 6:37
2. BNG Petruic, (1) (Zubov, Bois), 14:50
3. BRI Joensuu, (10) (Comeau), 10:28
3. BNG Fata, (2) (Smith, Hennessy), 15:46
3. BNG Shannon, (6) (Zubov, Kudelka), 19:34 (PP)

Nate Lawson had forty six saves on fifty one shots.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio recapped Bridgeport's 6-5 shootout win in Binghampton with comments from head coach Jack Capuano, Blake Comeau and Jesse Joensuu who had two goals including the shootout winner.

SoundTigers twice surrendered two goal leads.

Ct Post : Mr Fornabaio has a brief preview of Saturday's home game and a postgame blog with more from Comeau and a lot of items here.

From the pregame Fritz played, Jeremy Colliton was out with a sore knee among the injured/scratches.

Press & Sun-Bulletin: Has Michael Sharp's game coverage.

Islander News Articles 11/7

Newsday: Greg Logan has the early of tonight's 4-3 loss to the Thrashers with comments from Scott Gordon on the club getting away from it's system/not skating and Joey MacDonald.

Note-Only team Cablevision got the live blog tonight in Newsday from Katie Strang.

Anthony Rieber, Arthur Staple also had softball articles for the house team the last
few days but Mr Staple made sure to take another kick at Islanders injury policy.

Islanders got one article from Katie Strang and one blog from Mr Logan by contrast and no live blog.

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Mike Knobler has the Thrashers recap along with a blog for the team in the paper.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's article reports Ben Walter is expected to make his debut this weekend for Bridgeport after an injury that goes back to Islanders training camp.

Atlanta 4, New York 3

Sports Network: Has the recap of the Islanders 4-3 loss in Atlanta to the Thrashers.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Simply no excuse for this and you can see it coming a mile away, enormous difference between two games under with a three game winning streak and four games under.

That's as bad as you can give away a game in this league against a beatable opponent and wipes out the last two wins, a lot more talk than action from the veterans here who needed to give this team a goal.

They had to come out of this game with points and went into the third with everything working for them, first Campoli losses his man, MacDonald throws the puck in the stands for another play that leads to a goal.

After that the Islanders are so fragile they cannot even setup against a team they seemed poised to put away in the second period. Finally a bad goal deflects off Pock and they have virtually no response.

Where is the leadership on this team to settle them down?

First two periods Islanders got in the lanes or Thrashers missed a few or MacDonald made a few good saves. Islanders powerplay held down Ilya Kovalchuk, that pathetic change gave Kozlov the Thrashers goal but Nielsen was very impressive and his rush before the goal was better than his goal, Hunter scored from his wheelhouse and the Thrashers seemed very content to lose.

No excuse for losing to this club like this, even with Martinek, Witt and Meyer out, they simply stopped skating and waited to lose.

Devastating loss, even for November and frankly they got what was deserved here.

Three goals should have been enough or they should have had the confidence to play a system that was working.

Bad teams lose games 6-1 and are just outclassed, Islanders are beating themselves.

New York at Atlanta 7pm Msg+

USA Today/AP: Has the preview for tonight's game against the Atlanta Thrashers.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Atlanta comes in off one of it's best games of the season where they scored five goals against a club that shutout the Islanders with Ondrej Pavelec, a young goaltender who played a good game.

Reality is Richard Park had his little two goal stretch, the career record says it will not last and to rely on his production or putting him in a top nine role is not a good bet if you want sustained scoring.

Kyle Okposo again did not look as sharp as a left wing nor were Guerin or Weight a big factor Tuesday.

Even strength this group needs a few goals from it's forwards.

Islanders have to to get their three goals and play some better defense and keep the shots to angles MacDonald or Danis can handle.

Atlanta has one great player and a few dangerous ones. Players like Enstrom are solid on the Thrashers backline.

Could be a misprint but Mitch Fritz name was not in the Islanders website preview in terms of the posted roster.

Islanders need two points here again, even early November standings require nothing less.

Jon Sim plays the first game against his former club.

Updated:
Bergenheim out, MacDonald starts according to Newsday.
No changes.

Islander News Articles 11/6

Newsday: Katie Strang's article is on Jeff Tambellini playing more physical along with comments from head coach Scott Gordon about what he must continue to do and Bridgeport head coach Jack Capuano about how Tambellini played for the Sound Tigers.

Jack Capuano also has a few words about Blake Comeau's recent play.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
He's getting to the high quality area's of the ice and working to get in position, if he does this the goals and points will come. The chances have been and that's what you look for. Is Scott Gordon pushing his buttons? I have no idea but if he does not do these things he will play his own way out of this organization because he has had a lot of Islander coaches and enough chances.

Priceless shot of Edmonton gm Steve Tambellini in the stands at Msg during the semi-fight/shoving match.

Atlanta-Journal Constitution: Mike Knobler's coverage includes an update on starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen's back which has kept him out since last week as he skated along with Scott Gordon and Thrashers coach John Anderson having in-game interviews with Darren Eliot.

Ondrej Pavelec started in goal and won in goal 5-3 against Florida in the Panthers last game, Zach Bogosian has started rehabilitating his broken left leg and expected to be our for about six weeks.

Grand Forks Herald: Brad Elliott Schlossman had an update on Islanders prospect Jason Gregoire with comments from UND coach Dave Hakstol.

Rapid City Journal: Jim Holland reports former Islander head coach Ted Nolan visted the team Wednesday. Nolan according to the writer has ties with Rapid City coach Joe Ferras, who was an assistant coach with the Sound Tigers before coming to Rapid City.

Nolan addressed the team before a practice at the Roosevelt Ice Arena.


Windsor Star: Dave Waddell reports on former Al Arbour assistant Brian Kilrea being honored as the CHL's winningiest coach.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's game article is on left wing Blake Comeau and Bridgeport moving into a tie for first place with Hershey at 8-3-0-1 after Wednesday's win with head coach Jack Capuano's comments on his winger and the clubs play. It's the first time the Sound Tigers have led their division this late in a season since March 2004.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio had a post game blog with a lot of items.

Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Has the Pens coverage along with beatwriter Jonathan Bombulie's excellent blog coverage of the club here in the Citizen's Voice.