Islander News Articles 3/15

Newsday: Greg Logan recaps the Islanders 2-1 loss Saturday afternoon in Boston with head coach Scott Gordon's comments.

Boston Globe: Fluto Shinzawa game coverage and live blog has a few words on Jackman vs Lucic.

Boston Herald: Coverage of Saturday's game with Providence Journal paper that covers Scott Gordon's old AHL team.

Newsday: Mark Herrmann's interview with prospect John Tavares where he talks about the Islanders among several subjects.

Edmonton Journal: Had Bill Guerin's comments on his trade from the Islanders and the time he was away from the team before he was sent to Pittsburgh.

Slam Sports: Steve Simmons has comments from John Tavares agent, Pat Grissom who says " I know (owner) Charles Wang is trying to get a new building and that his feeling is, it will be his way or the highway and that if it were Grissom, he would avoid Tampa, Atlanta and the Island at all costs but it's not his choice and his client respects the process and the league. "

NYI Fan Comments:
It's one thing when the Canadian shock jocks like Mr Simmons (who went in this direction a while back) push for things like this but obviously Tavares agent does not think his client should play for the Islanders or a few teams which could make negotiations hard not only now but when the time comes he is a free agent.

Daily News: Elliot Olshansky has an outstanding feature on Jacques Lamoureux, about his very tough fight to overcome depression and as a sophomore who leads the NCAA with 29 goals for the Air Force Academy is a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award this year.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
That's just a remarkable story and my thanks to Mr Olshansky for e-mailing it to me to post here for our readers. I know I'm rooting for Jacques Lamoureux to win the Hobey Baker and be signed by an NHL team if that's what he aspires to. I'm sure some folks remember what former Islander Claude LaPointe went through after he left the Islanders along with Shayne Corson who Islander fans will only remember from his famous fight with Eric Cairns.

Sarnia Observer: Dave Pual had a Saturday feature on Islander prospect Matt Martin who was the prospect on television between periods this week who plays for the Sarnia Sting with fellow draft picks Justin DiBenedetto and Mark Katic.

AHL.com: Recap of Bridgeport's 6-3 loss at Hartford Saturday night which has the Sound Tigers trailing 3-2 at the end of the second period.

1. HFD Moore, (22) (Fahey), 1:04
1. HFD Sauer, (4) (Urquhart, Ouellette), 17:34
1. BRI Walter, (16) (Smith, Lee), 18:26 (PP)
1. BRI Walter, (17) (Lessard), 19:13
2. HFD Sauer, (5) (Denisov, Rissmiller), 15:10
3. BRI Lessard, (10) (Smith), 3:05 (PP)
3. HFD Weise, (8) (Moore, Sauer), 8:12
3. HFD Potter, (8) (Dupont, Parenteau), 19:03
3. HFD Dupont, (13) (Owens), 19:21

Kris Mayotte again started in goal for Bridgeport. Robin Figren did not make his AHL debut.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's coverage of Bridgeport's loss at Hartford Saturday with quotes from Ben Walter who had two goals and head coach Jack Capuano with blog entries here and a brief preview of Sunday's big game against the Bears in Hershey at 5pm here.

Hartford Courant: Covers the Wolfpack win on Saturday and had an article on the Boston Bruins win.

Islander New Articles 3/9

Will fill in the blanks Monday if available.

Newsday: John Jeansonne recaps New York's 3-2 win against Phoenix with comments from head coach Scott Gordon, Yann Danis and Josh Bailey for a team 9-2-2 in their last thirteen home games.

Team Cablevision got a live game blog on the Newsday website, blog updates from Katie Strang and Steve Zipay for the game and an extra article. Mark Herrmann writing from Toronto (baseball) reminded Islander fans in a brief update they now only trail Tampa Bay by four points and could lose Johathan Tavares.

No blog updates in the Islander Newsday space today which apparently now is advertising it's Newspaper during games and on the teams website. Steve Zipay worked on his off-day last week according to the paper.

NY Post Dan Martin with comments from Yann Danis, Scott Gordon and Coyote coach Wayne Gretzky & Daily News.

Arizona Republic/AP: Covers the Coyotes.

AHL.com: Jon Sim has two goals in Bridgeport's 6-3 win against Hartford Sunday at Harbor Yard.

1. BRI Sim, (3) (Lessard, Lee), 2:09 (PP)
1. HFD Pyatt, (15) (Parenteau), 13:06 (PP)
2. BRI Colliton, (7) (Sim, Mannino), 10:33 (PP)
2. BRI Sim, (4) , 14:51
3. BRI Colliton, (8) (Lee, Smith), 0:41
3. BRI Smith, (27) (Colliton), 3:31
3. HFD Rissmiller, (8) (Parenteau), 12:02
3. HFD Ouellette, (12) (Owens), 12:37 (SH)
3. BRI Haskins, (9) (MacDonald), 19:47 (EN)

Peter Mannino started in goal (21 saves) for Bridgeport who drew close to 14,000 this weekend for games.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's game coverage of Bridgport's win against Hartford and blog.

Hartford Courant: Covers the Wolfpack.

Islander News Articles 2/19

I will try and fill in the blanks when/if I can on Thursday.

Newsday: Greg Logan/Steve Zipay combined game coverage articles of the Islanders 3-1 loss where Andy Hilbert talks about the dirty hit on Bergenheim who also comment here while head coach Scott Gordon credited his young players for standing up to a bigger team with the injuries the Islanders had.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Kind of games you really miss a Trent Hunter, Mike Sillinger and Doug Weight with the play very physical as it was on Monday against Pittsburgh too.

Another area this team presently is outmatched although in the previous Coliseum game the Islanders outhit the Rangers which Mr Logan did not note.

Newsday: Mark Herrmann compared Wade Redden with Mark Streit and the strategy behind the signings with Streit's comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
What Mr Herrmann failed to note is there is not a lot of pressure in this market playing for the Islanders or Rangers, one look at the back page of his own paper says it all for where the focus is because it's not on hockey.

Islanders could just have easily had Redden but there is the front-loaded contract issue which if was offered by Garth Snow had never been reported. All I do know is he did his homework on Streit and Doug Weight and regardless of the record made some wise choices.

NY Post & Daily News: Their editors did not send a writer from either paper to cover the Islanders story or produce a single quote, the Post even sent a writer to Hartford while Jay Greenberg and Larry Brooks waved the Ranger pom poms.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Usual disgraceful decision at both papers or too bad the editors do not demand quotes from both teams. I guess we'll see multiple Islander articles on Friday's off day from the Post.

NY Times: Dave Caldwell was dispatched to cover the game and the article for this one was Ranger-centric. Times send AP for prior Islander-Ranger Msg games.

I'm not sure if Journal News covers every game but the coverage is no longer Islander-centric when Andrew Gross used to update. Sam Borden or Rick Carpiniello who recently returned to this beat usually has a lot of bite against the Islanders
here if anything to contribute at all.

The News and Observer: Chip Alexander previews Thursday's game against Carolina with the following from old/new coach Paul Maurice:

Defenseman Joni Pitkanen is out, Tim Gleason will be back in.
Cam Ward will start in goal against New York.

News Observer: Mr Alexander also has blog updates for the paper.

AHL.com: Recaps Bridgeport 1-0 win against Hartford.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's game coverage for Bridgeport at Hartford on Wednesday with blog entries here had Nate Lawson on his shutout, head coach Jack Capuano on the road win.

Hartford Coutant: Has Wolfpack coverage of Wednesday's game against Bridgeport.

Islander News Articles 2/18

Newsday: John Jeansonne does a very good job with an article on Frans Nielsen where head coach Scott Gordon praises the young center for his makeup and smarts on the ice while the center discussed how Gordon talked to him every day which helped him be less afraid to make mistakes.

NY Times: Bryan Heyman has an excellent feature on Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo with comments from head coach Scott Gordon, general manager Garth Snow and team captain Bill Guerin which looks like it was put together last week around the time of the Devils game in Newark.

NY Post: Dan Martin has the first comments from head coach Scott Gordon about his job security with a few words on Frans Nielsen.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I guess my only question would be did Gordon adjust his defensive strategy for his job security, but like a professional he will do his job and whatever happens beyond that is out of his control. Given Snow's earlier endorsement and the injury circumstances I do not see a change unless the draw of Peter Laviolette proves too much but that's doubtful and a long way off.

AHL.com: Reports Bridgeport defeated Norfolk Tuesday in overtime 3-2.

Tobias Stephan started in goal and had twenty three saves for the Sound Tigers.

1. BRI Bentivoglio, (6) (Lee, Callahan), 1:59
1. NOR Segal, (17) (Smolenak), 19:22
2. NOR Segal, (18) (Smolenak), 12:27
3. BRI Walter, (12) (Iggulden, McLean), 0:29 (PP)
OT. BRI Fraser, (6) (Smith, McLean), 4:39


Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's recap of Bridgeport's overtime win against Norfolk with blog coverage here has Jamie Fraser on his overtime goal, Ben Walter and head coach Jack Capuano.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio also previewed Wednesday's game against Hartford who now has Dallas forward Sean Avery for the same reasons Bridgeport has Stephan who has won a lot of games for Bridgeport in goal.

Mr Fornabaio reported there is a chance Joel Rechlicz could be called up to Bridgeport.

Norfolk Virginian Pilot: Usually has staff reports as opposed to Paul White's coverage for road games.

Islander News Articles 1/31

I will add what I can to this entry on Saturday which at best will most likely be a NY Post article previewing the game.

The pregame blog is set for release around 1pm. Panthers had three papers do a pregame for them.

Newsday: Barbara Baker covered Islanders practice with comments from head coach Scott Gordon about the chemistry between roommates Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo while Doug Weight compares Bailey to himself when he was a young center.

NY Post: Dan Martin's article ignores Bailey's game in Atlanta entirely, his assist total and goes right to the standings, Kansas City rumors and his earlier injuries while both he and Scott Gordon comment in a limited space preview.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Did Dan Martin even watch the Atlanta game or see his play making, was this absolutely necessary to drive away anyone who may want to become a fan of this kid?

Even stranger the Post had someone named Howard Kussoy do a small game preview with Kyle Okposo and Scott Gordon's comments here after starting with a foolish line to open an Islander playoff spot is as likely as a Mike Tyson Presidency.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Only thing less likely is the Post actually doing two articles about the Islanders on an off day. The Post wants to impress me have someone blog and go out on the road like Mark Everson does. They did not even send Larry Brooks to Pittsburgh to cover the Ranger game.

All this limited space there is only time for player and coach comments, not junk.

Palm Beach Post: Brian Biggane has the latest on the Panthers along with George Richard's coverage in the Miami Herald with print and blog coverage here.

As always the Islander Prospect Watch Updates are listed on NYIFC prospect blog which has the last year archived.

AHL.com: Reports Bridgeport lost 3-1 in Hartford on Friday night. Peter Mannino returned from the Islanders to backup Nate Lawson.

1. HFD Moore, (14) (Parenteau, Sauer), 13:21 (SH)
3. HFD Owens, (8) (Fahey), 15:21
3. BRI Smith, (23) (Wotton), 18:17 (SH)
3. HFD Ouellette, (9) (Owens, Sauer), 18:48

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's print coverage has head coach Jack Caupauno who felt there were some passengers for his club which was blanked for the third time in five games. Joe Callahan also comments with postgame blog here with the Saturday pregame vs Portland written here.

Hartford Courant: Covers the Wolfpack.

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.

Islander News Articles 1/15

Newsday: Greg Logan repeats most of his earlier blog entry on who the backup goaltender will be including head coach Scott Gordon comments but does have a few words from Yann Danis about starting.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Danis played a very even preseason with Joey MacDonald and did not look out of place in any of his starts. For two periods he looked good against Montreal given he had to have some rust on his game and on Tuesday responded well. I expect if he does play for an extended period he will do a solid job in goal.

NY Post: Dan Martin had most of the same comments from Scott Gordon and Yann Danis that appeared in Newsday.

Boston Globe: Fluto Shinzawa reports in the Bruins blog defenseman Aaron Ward, injured against Montreal on Tuesday will not travel to New York and is out. Patrice Bergeron, Milan Lucic, and Andrew Ference will travel. Lucic is the closest of the three and said tomorrow remains a possibility, although he said he is not 100 percent.

Mr Shinzawa reports Lucic has not participated in a full-contact practice with battle drills, and speculates it's doubtful he'll play.

* Goaltender Manny Fernandez will be available tomorrow. According to the Herald, Fernandez has been suffering from back spasms.

* Matt Lashoff, back on emergency recall will be the team's sixth defenseman against the Islanders. Vladimir Sobotka has been recalled from Providence and join the Bruins on this two-game road trip.

Sobotka is taking the place of Martins Karsums, who has been assigned to Providence.

Boston Herald: Steven Harris has Bruins coverage.

The Vanguard: Tina Comeau reports the Legendary Hockey Heroes came to the Yarmouth Mariners Center Tuesday for the Oldtimers' Hockey Challenge which raised over $3,000 for Juniper House with Hockey Hall of Famers Bryan Trottier, Steve Shutt and Billy Smith along with hockey legends Bob Bourne, Cliff Ronning, Gary Leeman and Gord Gallant who defeated the Tri-County Law Enforcement All-Star Hockey Team 11-6.

Daily Gleaner: Bruce Hallihan reports the all-stars meet the Legendary Hockey Heroes at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Aitken Centre. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket will go towards the Brendon Oreto Kids program.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Anyone else find it absolutely incredible Bill Smith is going back to back, Bryan Trottier who just returned from China and all these legendary Islanders/former players keep going while here not too many players can stay healthy for long?

The Record: Jeff Hicks has an interview with former interim Islander head coach Bill Stewart who talks about wanting to get back into coaching in junior hockey and can once again enter the US after years of working in Europe.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Bill Stewart was banned from entering the United States for twice smuggling a Ukrainian-born player over the Canada-US border in the baggage compartment of the team bus.

AHL.com: Reports Bridgeport lost at Hartford 4-2 Wednesday.

1. BRI Joensuu, (12) (Bentivoglio, Wotton), 2:06
1. HFD Parenteau, (16) (Sanguinetti, Anisimov), 13:13 (PP)
1. HFD Dupont, (9) (Anisimov, Parenteau), 18:26
2. BRI Walter, (8) (Iggulden, Joensuu), 17:11
3. HFD Owens, (7) (Urquhart, Weise), 2:48
3. HFD Pyatt, (8) (Moore, Fahey), 14:22

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has Bridgeport Sound Tigers coverage of their 4-2 loss in Hartford.

Junior Lessard made his Bridgeport debut on right wing.

Hartford Courant: Has Wolfpack coverage.

Islander-Sound Tiger Notables

Newsday: Greg Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog reports head coach Scott Gordon said he was not in a position to provide updates on the condition of either Joey MacDonald or Rick DiPietro at this time but tells the beatwriter his gameplan is to tell Yann Danis he is going to play against Boston.

Mr Logan also reports Garth Snow has been in contact with Wade Dubielewicz agent since the end of last night's game however no indication yet of an imminent signing at this time as the beatwriter notes Vancouver waived backup goaltender Curtis Sanford (7-7-0, 2.62 GAA, .906 save percentage) but also could be in the process of determining how long MacDonald will be out.

Vancouver Province: Jason Botchford reports the " likeable " Curtis Sanford if he clears waivers after the 9 a.m. (12PM EST) Thursday deadline will be re-assigned to AHL Manitoba.

The recent acquisition of Jason LaBarbera is one reason for today's move by the Canucks with Roberto Luongo readay to return the other.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Islanders have first claim on all NHL waivers given the standings.

0-2-0, 3.57, .860 in last 3 GPI

Sanford's recent injury problems/game results here which conflict slightly:

Dec 31, 2008: Groin, sidelined indefinitely.
Jan 7, 2009: Missed 3 games (groin).
Dec 31, 2008: Groin, sidelined indefinitely.
Dec 1, 2008: Back injury, day-to-day.

Jul 2, 2008: Re-signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Vancouver Canucks to a one-year contract salary: $650,000.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio in his Sound Tiger blog reports both Peter Mannino and Nate Lawson are in Hartford and expected to dress for tonights game but will have another updated around 6:50pm.

And at 6:50pm on the button another update reporting Peter Mannino will start here with the lineups which includes Kenny Morrow with the team.

Utah Grizzlies: Released emergency backup goaltender Jay Stevens for those wondering if there is a ripple effect.