Islander News Articles 3/7

The game previews will be released at 10am on Saturday and Sunday.

Newsday: John Jeansonne covered practice and reported on all the changes this season/possible callups for Saturday as the Islanders took their team photo Friday. Head coach Scott Gordon did not feel it was a training camp atmosphere with all the turnover and credited Bridgeport playing the Islanders system to make the transition easy for everyone called up. Trent Hunter took what the coach called a " maintenance " day off Friday.

In the biggest shocker of the season head coach Scott Gordon according to John Jeansonne told the media Joey MacDonald would start Saturday in goal.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I guess the Devils can call off the emergency team meetings now that they know who is starting. Injury policy was a league-wide decision, but doing the articles daily here coaches all the time report who will start in advance. Scott Gordon has hidden this like it's a state secret from the media declaring before the season he would not reveal his starting goaltender.

Newsday: John Jeansonne's article was on how unsettling it can be for veteran players like Dean McAmmond and Bill Guerin to pick up and move during a season with McAmmond's story coming to the team he grew up rooting for. Head coach Scott Gordon praised the play of McAmmond and his faceoff ability while McAmmond discusses his future and what it's been like to play here so far.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Where I sit you can have Dean McAmmond or Nate Thompson next season and that's if Mike Sillinger retires.

NY Post: Dan Martin had a small update with Bruno Gervais comments on his scoring struggles, all the posts he had hit in recent weeks and his recent goal against Colorado and also covered the Devils side here.

Newark Star Ledger: Rich Chere has Devils head coach Brent Sutter's comments about the last time the Islanders defeated New Jersey while the writer reports Mike Rupp and Andy Greene will not play. Jay Pandolfo will remain in the lineup while defenseman Niclas Havelid will make his Devils' debut.

AHL.com: Reports Bridgeport defeated Binghampton 6-5
at Harbor Yard Friday night.

1. BNG Hamel, (22) (Lee, Mauldin), 1:01
1. BRI Haskins, (7) (Lee), 3:17 (SH)
1. BRI Colliton, (6) (Iggulden), 8:33
1. BNG Cavosie, (8) (Fata, Petruic), 17:22
2. BRI Lee, (4) (Haskins), 1:23
2. BNG Mauldin, (14) , 2:19 (PP)
2. BNG Petruic, (1) (Zubov, Smith), 12:33
2. BRI Smith, (26) (McLean, Walter), 16:53
3. BRI Sim, (1) (McLean, Lee), 7:42 (PP)
3. BRI Lessard, (7) (Haskins, Wotton), 19:00 (EN)
3. BNG Karlsson, (6) (Mauldin, Lee), 19:35 (PP)

Peter Mannino had twenty four saves in goal. Jon Sim his first AHL goal.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio recaps Bridgeport's 6-5 win against Binghampton where head coach Jack Capuano praised his defense along with Chris Lee while Tyler Haskins comments and previews Saturday's game at home against Philadelphia here.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's blog entry among several items (Dustin Kohn injury) speculates Islander prospect Robin Figren is in Bridgeport and if receives approval to play from his team in Sweden, he might actually play here more than previously thought.

Jesse Joensuu and Joe Callahan were already sent back to the Islanders in the latest paper transactions.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
For those who recall Figren signed a contract with the Islanders last summer but wanted to play in Sweden this year before coming over. This is a little different than an Jesse Joensuu without a contract last year sitting on the sidelines before Bridgeport's final games last season.

I'm not sure if he needs to sign an AHL contract being that he is Islander property already.

Press & Sun-Bulletin: Michael Fornabaio also provided coverage for the Senators with an article centric to their team in the loss.

Islander News Articles 3/6

Will fill in the blanks where I can tomorrow, but it may be later than usual.

Newsday: Greg Logan's early recap (without quotes) notes the Islanders outplayed the Rangers for most of the game but their inexperience caught up with them combined with a few mistakes. Head coach Scott Gordon praised his teams effort, Jack Hillen comments.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Only game all sesson I can recall Mr Logan getting quotes from the other coach, considering Kate Strang and Steve Zipay's Ranger centric articles the Islanders should have had a full article.

NY Post: May have Dan Martin's coverage but likely will go all Larry Brooks Ranger-centric with salesman Jay Greenberg's Ranger centric article.

Dan Martin was not dispatched the home team which is disgraceful if part time at best writer Greenberg was around who has been selling Msg teams more recently.

Daily News: Peter Botte's game coverage of the Rangers 4-2 win includes head coach Scott Gordon crediting his team's play, Blake Comeau and Trent Hunter also comment.

Old time Ranger guy Vic Ziegel was brought in to sell Sean Avery.

NY Times: Lynn Zinser's coverage was all Rangers/Avery centric.

Journal News: May assign road coverage.

NHL.com: Reports Bill Guerin had an assist and five shots on goal in Pittsburgh's forty plus shot win against Florida.

NHL.com: Reports Chris Campoli had his first goal for Ottawa, Mike Comrie had a goal and an assist in the Senators win Thursday.

Globe & Mail/several sources: Report former Islander-Sound Tiger Jeff Hamilton was signed by the Maple Leafs.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has comments from Jon Sim on what he can bring to the Sound Tigers along with head coach Jack Capuano as Friday's Bridgeport-Binghampton game is previewed along with the AHL notebook here.

Islander News Articles 1/18

Newsday: Greg Logan's game recap of the Islanders 3-1 loss to the Devils (no quotes at this time) had an earlier article and comments from Wade Dubielewicz, general manager Garth Snow and Columbus gm Scott Howson on the goaltender being claimed by Columbus on waivers here.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Snow knew Columbus was negotiating with the Jackets and there was a chance of this happening. No blame at all on GM Scott Howson, he has every right to improve his club within the rules. Maybe the play should have been for Snow to turn down Dubie wait for another club to sign him and then make the claim but that's easy for me to write.

Newark Star Ledger: Colin Stephenson has the recap of the Devils win.

Newsday: Mr Logan has gm Garth Snow's comments who confirmed the teams Saskatoon camp announcement Monday and three year deal with an option to renew (same as Moncton) as he talked about expanding the Islanders marketing and how he sees the Islander jersey everywhere on the road.

Mr Logan ads the question is whether all those Islanders jerseys could become quaint relics of a bygone era in a few years time as he recapped the Lighthouse.

Newsday: Anthony Rieber stirs the pot with the Kansas City angle getting comments from officials on Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and the Los Angeles Kings and a member of the NHL's Board of Governors and his efforts to land NHL teams.

Newsday: Mark Herrmann has more hysteria to stir up telling us if Long Island losses the club they will never get another professional sports team but credited Charles Wang and defended him as someone who is passionate about his team. He also credited Saturday's fan turnout.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Newsday staff has nothing to write about with no Giants, Jets and no baseball for a while and if these folks do not ring up page views the paper will find someone who will.

The Tribune Review and Post-Gazette sports writers in Pittsburgh did not even go anywhere close to where Newsday is already going when the Pens actually did threaten to leave.

You would think Charles Wang issued a public ultimatum or has said he will sell to the first person and let them move from this kind of hype, it's time for Newsday staff to take a big step back.

Don't be fooled for a moment this is about helping a team in a paper that did not even cover it's franchise player at the ASG last year or did all they could to put Al Arbour night and the core of the four in a bad light.

That folks is the record of coverage and has done damage, when the 25th anniversary of the first cup came around and it was not written about, that's Newsday's record.

My advice would be read the quotes from the folks involved in the Lighthouse Project and the team officials, not most of this junk that goes over the top and beyond is simply done to stir everyone up from a lot of staff who are not fans of the team.

You think Mr Herrmann is ever going to go negative on the Knicks or the Rangers the years they were horrible? Doesn't happen.

Unless there are openings at the KC Star for a sports writer or two.

One thing I will write, if something like this ever did come to pass with the Islanders leaving Nassau County is not the only one to blame for losing this team.

Newsday takes a huge share of the hit also with the Times, Post & News. They kicked this franchise every chance they could when they were down and did not hype them for being as great as they were. A lot of teams performed worse at times and did not take this kind of beating.

Anyone think if the media hyped Weight and Guerin and gave them a proper tribute more free agents would want to sign here? Cannot blame the building so easily for that and a lot of other things where the Islanders did their part and the media coverage failed.

Daily News: Peter Botte/Kristie Eckert combined game coverage.

NY Post: Dan Martin's game coverage.

NY Post: Larry Brooks made the case of a New York Islanders vs Ranger outdoor game in 2010 but made it appear as if the Islanders are the only local team struggling for ratings and exposure.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
A few nice words in there from Mr Brooks but ratings do not lie. Ranger hockey is not a national draw on NBC during the season or playoffs and when he talks about the most important American markets, this market is all baseball and football.

That is not changing.

One look at the dwindling space for hockey in his own paper says it all as he had to become a baseball writer the last few years. This is a big sports market, a small hockey market.

The Rangers need an outdoor game just as bad as the Islanders.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's live blog recaps Bridgeport's 3-1 in Binghampton on Saturday here.

1. BRI MacDonald, (6) (Nikiforov), 2:31
1. BNG Carkner, (3) (Shannon, Zubov), 9:17 (PP)
1. BRI Joensuu, (13) (Walter, Smith), 14:18
3. BRI Smith, (20) (Lessard, Iggulden), 1:33

Nate Lawson had twenty nine saves.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio previews the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins game Sunday at 1pm which is a Bridgeport home game.

Press & Sun-Bulletin: Has the Senators coverage.

Islander News Articles 1/17

First time the Islanders have played a Saturday game for a while, our little tradition here will be the put NYIFC in third jersey mode on such days.

Newsday: John Jeansonne has Saturday coverage with Wade Dubielewicz first comments heading into the Devils game who won in Columbus 2-1 Friday with Kevin Weekes in goal here.

Brendan Shanahan was not listed on the scoresheet.

Newsday: Anthony Rieber & Jim Baumbach report NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said this week that the Islanders are not looking to relocate but have comments from what they call a person familiar with the planning of their exhibition game in Kansas City as a showcase game as they recap comments from Mr Bettman on his XM radio show on Thursday.

NY Post: Dan Martin has Wade Dubielewicz's comments with head coach Scott Gordon. There is a chance Dubielewicz could start against New Jersey.

NY Post: Mr Martin also had Bill Guerin's comments who felt he and Doug Weight have upheld their part of the bargain and is very disappointed with the seasons results but hope they can contribute together when Weight returns.

NY Times: Dave Caldwell covered Dubie's comments yesterday with some post-Boston quotes from Scott Gordon.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
The Times went to Islander practice, Lynn Zinser went to Chicago? They did not cover these games when they played at Msg.

What are we all missing here?

NYI Fan Central Comments:
We do not even get two articles for games much less a day off from the Post?

AHL.com: Reports Bridgeport lost against Hershey Friday night at Harbor Yard 5-3 dropping them into third place.

1. HER Osala, (19) (Bouchard, Wilson), 2:24 (PP)
1. BRI Iggulden, (17) (Smith, McLean), 7:11
1. BRI Walter, (9) (Smith, Iggulden), 15:43 (PP)
1. HER Perreault, (7) (Bouchard, Osala), 16:28
2. HER Giroux, (30) (Lepisto, Bourque), 15:54 (PP)
3. HER Giroux, (31) (Aucoin, Perreault), 7:34 (PP)
3. BRI Walter, (10) (Lee), 8:50 (PP)
3. HER Bouchard, (12) (Laing, Sloan), 11:20

Nate Lawson allowed five goals on seventeen shots.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has an full interview with Sound Tigers President Howard Saffan where he makes clear the following regarding Thursday's News and points out attendance is up in Bridgeport this season to fourteenth overall:

"One has nothing to do with the other," Saffan said. "We played a team this year, the Houston Aeros, owned by Minnesota. Proximity, one team versus the other, is fairly irrelevant.

"I'd be kidding you if I didn't say the convenience of Fairfield County to Long Island wasn't important, but at the end of the day, the New York Islanders need a place to develop players in the American Hockey League."

"We've built a good fan base. You can tell by the attendance," Saffan said. "My concern is, working with the Islanders, growing up on Long Island, desperately not wanting to see the Islanders forced off Long Island by politics."

"Charles' vision was to create a development that would be spectacular and draw people to Long Island. That's the premise for the Lighthouse project," Saffan said.

"Over the course of the past 24 months, politicians' timetables and developers' timetables are quite different. Charles continues to lose $20 million a year. (Wang partner) Scott Rechler and Charles are absolutely committed to this project."

"I know Charles many, many years. I've never met a person more committed to Long Island than Charles. The only way the Islanders move, in my opinion, off Long Island is if (town supervisor) Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead turn down the Lighthouse project in a timely fashion."

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Normally I like to do a summary for everyone but too much for me and I wanted exact wording for you.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio recaps Friday's loss with head coach Jack Capuano and Nate Lawson with in-game blog coverage here and previews Saturday's game in Binghampton here.

Harrisburg Daily News: Covers the Hershey Bears with Patriot News here.

Islander News Articles 12/21

Newsday: Greg Logan recaps the Islanders 1-0 loss to Nashville. Head coach Scott Gordon's comments about the injury to Doug Weight along with his clubs play while goaltender Joey MacDonald credited his defense and Joe Callahan who was called up.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Scott Gordon did not talk long in the ITV postgame but he said a lot about the club on offense in terms of getting to the net.

Not a lot of speed.
Not physically imposing.
Do not get the puck to the net when they do get there.
Do not have the personnel that are going to bury chances.

He did credit his club and discussed the injuries also.

Point Blank: Mr Botta for his part did not think those comments were the right thing to say out loud in a league where the fans pay to see the games and where you never want your players to give up.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
At least we heard the word " We " a lot which our fans did not get last year from Ted Nolan which Mr Botta brought to everyone's attention.

Nashville City Paper: Matt Wilson recaps the Predators 1-0 win against the Islanders on Saturday.

Nashville Tennessean: Is the Predators primary paper.

Tampa Tribune: Erik Erlendsson had more than a few animated comments from Martin St.Louis after Tampa dropped it's fifteenth one goal game of the season with head coach Rick Tocchet also talking about his players.

Tampa remained 30th in the NHL for those wondering.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
I posted this because the question is how long before we start seeing some of this from the Islander veterans or Scott Gordon?

Atlanta visits Tuesday.

Updated:
Late Sunday Morning Mr Logan had an entry in the Islanders Newsday blog
here where Andy Sutton talks about his injury and the team having to play with so many players and credited the coaching staff for working so hard to teach the players. Joe Callahan talked about his opportunity and praised his roommate from camp (Sutton) while Bill Guerin acknowledged it's time to give the kids more opportunities even if they are in a tough spot.

Mr Logan is trying to find out more on Doug Weight for later today or tomorrow's article but sometimes it takes a few days.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Sutton went out of his way to praise the staff, good stuff from him and Callahan. I wanted more from Guerin who understands prospects have it tough but also must be very disappointed with where this season has gone and what it will likely mean.

Nice job by Mr Logan getting us more on a Sunday after a lot of travel for him.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio recaps Bridgeport's 4-1 loss to the Binghampton Senators with former Sound Tiger Drew Fata scoring twice. Jeff Tambellini, who had Bridgeport's only goal and head coach Jack Capuano comment on the loss.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Tambellini talked like a man not sure if he will be coming back. He either returns or has to clear waivers to stay with Bridgeport. With Weight's injury the roster spot is there for him to come back but they may need to recall a center also.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio also previews Sunday's game against Lowell at 4pm.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio also blogged on the loss.

Press Connects: Michael Sharp covers the B-Sens.

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.

Bridgeport 6, Binghampton 2 (St Johns NF)

Sound Tigers.com: Previews tonight's game and reports Nate Lawson will start in goal along with both teams travels going from PEI to Nova Scotia.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio in his Sound Tigers blog reports tonight's game in St Johns NF has been moved back a half hour to a 6pm start time.

Dustin Kohn and Blake Comeau could play tonight along with several subjects.

Mr Fornabaio may have another live blog for those looking for updates beyond AHL.com in game.

AHL.com: Reports the Sound Tigers defeated Binghampton 6-2 at St Johns's NF on Wednesday with Nate Lawson in goal.

Sound Tigers website: Recaps Bridgeport's 6-2 against Binghampton with boxscore.

Bridgeport Scoring:
1. BRI Smith, (5) (McLean, Iggulden), 3:49
1. BRI McLean, (6) (Lee, MacDonald), 13:34 (PP)
2. BRI Marcinko, (2) (Pitton, Haley), 8:23
2. BRI Callahan, (2) (Haskins, Bentivoglio), 11:20
2. BRI Colliton, (1) (Comeau), 17:23
3. BRI Iggulden, (9) (McLean), 10:30

Islander/Sound Tigers/NHL Notables

Islanders website: Jason Lockhart has the weekly prospect watch.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
All Islander Prospect Watches back to last season are archived on NYI Fan Central Prospects Blog by date order.

NHL.com: Released it's voting page for the NHL All-Star game, seems a bit slow to work on day one.

Newsday: Greg Logan has Doug Weight's comments in the Islanders Newsday blog about Bailey learning to play at this level and the youth movement while pointing out the significant injuries this team has had while at the same time now allowing it as an excuse.

Mr Logan points out some may accuse the club of playing for a lottery draft pick this season, but to do so disrespects the effort they've given while fighting to overcome injuries but at the same time felt the club didn't play their youth enough last season to determine and might as well do so now in the case of Bailey.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Mr Logan is correct on injuries but he barely writes about them himself unless it's to complain about league/team policy.

I'm not big on excuses for losing myself but few clubs in this league could sustain the loss of it's starting goaltender, Witt, Martinek, Meyer, Sillinger, it's number one draft pick, now what seems like Comrie and the earlier loss of Sutton-Campoli to start the season that does not even include Bergenheim-Tambellini both hurt in camp.

Not even Nate Thompson could stay healthy, the injury list has been long in Bridgeport too.

Still this team has been in position to win almost every game outside of the Buffalo game and they have been outscoring last year's club.

Folks want to claim they are playing to lose, I disagree because they have done everything but finish games, many nights the Islanders are the better club for a good part of the night.

Are they a flawed club? Absolutely on a lot of levels, but terrible teams get blown out every other night 5-1 or are usually not in the games, so far that is not this group or close.

Regarding last year I have no idea what Mr Logan is talking about not giving the prospects a chance. Last year with all the injuries everyone got a look from Colliton to Matt Keith to Ben Walter along with Comeau. I cannot think of anyone who did not get a few games or more from Bridgeport.

Scott Gordon/Garth Snow not only demoted Comeau but the coach put down his contribution last season which seemed over the top when he gave his initial comments about what he saw on film last year. That is not consistent with what the general manager had to say earlier in the summer.

Newsday: Mr Logan also had more from Gary Bettman on the Lighthouse Project where he does not know about Mr Wang-Rechler's financing on the but urges the green light now. Mr Logan claims Charles Wang said in a meeting with Newsday's editorial board early this year that his financial well is not bottomless and denial of the project might force him to consider selling.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Funny but those comments did not make the paper at the time Mr Wang meet with Newsday's editorial board or the sports pages?

Point Blank: Mr Botta has more on the arena subject/Mr Wang's patience as well as a blog entry here on coaches and young prospects submitting past examples in his experience where a coach benched a prospect for a reason that did not seem to make sense along with a few words on Scott Gordon-Kyle Okposo-Jeff Tambellini.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Good stuff from Mr Botta, but he needed to put the Comeau-Gordon issue center stage because it looks even worse than the disconnect he felt between Ted Nolan and Robert Nilsson.

At some point I suspect if Garth Snow's coach has no use for Blake Comeau, Garth Snow will be forced to move Comeau as he did Nilsson when Nolan had no use for a player. Big barometer in the gm-coach working relationship is to agree on young players and move the ones the coach does not feel is part of the answer.

National Post: Howard Berger reports Jason Blake was furious after being scratched by Leafs coach Ron Wilson for Tuesday's game with the former Islanders comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
There is nothing short of re-entry waivers and the Leafs taking contracts from the Islanders in another deal that makes this feasible. Ron Wilson is doing what he was hired for and it's working, if Jason Blake does not like being scratched or placed on a fourth line he has to work harder.

Journal Pioneer : Jason Simmonds has more on the Sound Tigers-Senators game in Summerside PEI on Tuesday.