Islander News Articles: 4/17 THE FINAL DAY

FINAL ENTRY WILL BE 2PM FRIDAY.

Newsday: Greg Logan basically repeated his Thursday blog entry that Matt Gilroy will not be signing with the Islanders and all indications are that they are out of the running for the BU Hobey Baker Award Winner, who likely is headed for a larger hockey market according to the beatwriter.

His agent, Kent Hughes, who felt Gilroy would sign in the next week at the latest had the following:

"He's sorting through the interest and trying to figure out what his next step is."

"I don't want to comment on the Islanders, and as far as the teams it's down to, until he's made a decision, I'd rather leave it."

Toronto Sun: Mike Zeisberger had Matt Gilroy's comments on the Toronto market and their organization/media as he was in Boston for the Bruins playoff opener and could decide by the weekend but will take his time before making up his mind.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
I guess this is the anti-Greg Logan approach with Mr Zeisberger selling Leafs like he is on the payroll, meanwhile our beatwriter goes exactly the opposite way even though the Islanders play in the New York market which for the other sports here is a very big market.

Mr Zeisberger also reported Maple Leaf GM Brian Burke would not grant the Wild permission to let Dave Nonis, the Leafs' senior vice-president of hockey operations who is the man in charge of the negotiations with Gilroy interview for the Wild position of general manager here.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
For those who recall Burke and Nonis worked together in both Vancouver and Anaheim before joining the Leafs this past season.

Yournabe.com: Jeremy Walsh reports the United States Tennis Association has sent out a request for proposals from architects with the intention of possibly building a roof on the Arthur Ashe Tennis Stadium in Flushing but the group’s ambitions do not currently include enticing the New York Islanders to move in, officials said and last weeks report that USTA Director Danny Zausner was interested in attracting an NBA or NHL team like the New York Islanders to the stadium, but USTA spokesman Chris Wittmeier said Zausner was misquoted.

“That’s other people’s speculation,” Wittmeier said. “It’s not even on our wish list. The way that Arthur Ashe is engineered and configured, it wouldn’t work for hockey.”

“ The Parks department has not been approached by the Islanders, but we are open to the idea of looking at options for having the team in a Queens park,” said Parks spokeswoman Trish Bertuccio.

The Islanders did not respond to requests for comment by press time Tuesday for this late Thursday article.
**************************************************************
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has comments from head coach Jack Capuano on some of his team's injuries but extra bodies without being specific as he felt this was a close knit-group. Andrew MacDonald also was quoted in the article.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio also had the game preview.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers
WHAT -- Game 1, East Division Semifinals (best-of-7)
WHEN -- Friday, 7:30, Saturday 7pm
WHERE -- Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y.
ON THE AIR -- Webcast and Internet pay-per-view at www.soundtigers.com
REGULAR-SEASON RECORDS -- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 49-25-3-3; Bridgeport 49-23-3-5

Newsday: Greg Logan previews Friday's game against WBS Pens with head coach Jack Capuano's comments who says Kyle Okposo is going to play a lot of minutes in these two games before he heads to the World Championships and talked about WBS Pens speed, transition and down low play. Mr Logan was a bit off on Jon Sim's AHL stats stats or did not have numbers from the final Bridgeport weekend who returns to the Coliseum at least in the early article but went through the roster including prospects who could see action including Max Gratchev, Robin Figren, Justin DiBenedetto among others with Ryan Duncan.

Times Leader: Tom Venesky had the latest from WBS Pens practice with head coach Todd Reirden's comments.

Citizen's Voice: Jonathan Bombulie has a full preview of the series and Thursday's practice with comments from WBS Pens goaltender John Curry who made his debut in a game against the Islanders this season in relief and made one of his other two appearances against New York.

Islander News Articles 4/14

Will add in more articles later tonight or tomorrow morning to this entry.

Newsday: Greg Logan has general manager Garth Snow's comments that he is considering several options with his draft pick regardless what happens tomorrow and will not rule out a possible trade, head coach Scott Gordon comments on his goaltending and what could be done with the pick.

"We can't control what unfolds," Snow said, "but I do know, whichever scenario it is, we'll get a good hockey player."

"There's five or six that are good players that I think will be selected in that range. There's a process we're going to go through, and we're going to have our meetings and have some really good debates on what decision we ultimately end up making."

"It's a desirable situation to be in leading up to the draft," Snow said. "I would be crazy not to take [trade] calls. It's part of my duties as general manager to look at all options."

"It's too early in the process," Snow said. "We have our scouts following players and teams now. We have meetings coming up in the next week or so. We have another round of meetings in May and June."

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Obviously the general manager and the staff is going to go through the process which means for Islander fans the drama will continue until they select on draft night whether we agree or not.

Newsday: Mr Logan also had comments from general manager Garth Snow who declined Monday to discuss the Newsday beatwriters late Sunday report about Rick DiPietro seen using crutches recently.

"You're asking about players' rehab and what they've got to do,'' Snow said. "I'm not going to get into all the rehab. What I will say is Rick is progressing nicely. We expect him to be skating in August like he usually does in getting ready for training camp."

"His rehab is going smoothly," Snow said. "We're planning on him starting to skate in August. That's the protocol for his rehabilitation."

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Not going to hit this very hard but Cablevision owned Newsday Ranger beatwriter Steve Zipay Monday was not critical of the team he covers not announcing any update at all on an injury to Chris Drury or had one word of criticism all season for the team the paper owns going with league policy in the extremely rare instances they did sustained an injury while the Islanders took a verbal assault almost on a daily basis in print from Mr Logan and the Newsday staff for the first few months of the season.

In this instance today Mr Logan has a job to report and is obligated to press the general manager for comments on something he writes in the newspaper about a player injury in terms of Rick DiPietro, Snow is not required to be specific by league rules but if he goes beyond upper-lower body is not allowed to make a false statement.

NY Post: Dan Martin also had the general managers comments on the teams season, the lottery, the draft in June and goaltender Rick DiPietro with Mr Martin also reporting DiPietro was seen on crutches.

"I don't think when you're in 30th place, we should be satisfied with any one aspect that transpired this season," Snow said.

Point Blank/Mr Botta: Has an excellent interview with Pierre McGuire of NBC/TSN on the top picks and the NHL draft.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
As always folks should visit Mr Botta's outstanding blog for the information he works to produce for our fans.

Associated Press: Has a brief preview of Tuesday's NHL lottery with teams and percentages to win the top overall pick.

IIHF.com: Had the release announcing Mark Streit will play for Switzerland at the World Championships.

Globe & Mail: David Shoalts reports Leafs general manager Brian Burke hopes to sign Boston University defenceman Matt Gilroy, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner as the top player in U.S. college hockey as early as today while Toronto Sun Steve Buffery reports talks between the Maple Leafs and Gilroy continued Monday, but no deal has been reached with BU spokesman Brian Kelley saying the defenseman is going to take the next couple of days to decide which NHL team to sign with.

Canadian Press: Has Senators general manager Bryan Murray's comments that Mike Comrie did not do enough in his twenty two games with the Senators to warrant a new contract in a season ending review.

Tampa Tribune: Erik Erlensson reports the Lightning will send former captain Dave Andreychuk to represent them during the proceedings after winning last year.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
That means for those scoring at home Garth Snow is not required to be on live television tonight or represent the club on stage.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has the Sound Tigers Notebook with comments from head coach Jack Capuano

Islander News Articles 4/11: Bridgeport wins Friday

The pregame will post at 10am Saturday with no additional blog entries scheduled at this time before the post game.

NYIFC will be in Third-Jersey mode for the entire weekend with the rarely used Dynasty Header on display.

Newsday: John Jeansonne covered Friday's practice where head coach Scott Gordon talked about the differences between the first and second half along with all the injuries and what he's looking for from the Islanders first round pick in this summers draft.

Point Blank/Mr Botta: Friday afternoon among several items reported Kyle Okposo did participate in a full practice and that head coach Scott Gordon said he would meet with the team’s medical staff before deciding whether Okposo would play in either or both home games this weekend to finish the season. Andy Hilbert will likely return to the lineup against Philadelphia.

Associated Press: Has a preview of Saturday's game against Philadelphia where the Flyers have a lot at stake entering this game.

USCHO.com/Several Oulets: Reports BU defenseman Matt Gilroy is the Hobey Baker Award winner with his comments heading into Saturday's NCAA Frozen Final against Miami.

Newsday: Mark Macyk has comments from Matt Gilroy's family on him winning the Hobey Baker and what's ahead for him after a great college career.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Islander prospect Corey Trivino also plays for Boston University as their third line center here.

AHL.com: Has the Recap of Bridgeport's 4-3 win against Springfield Friday night at Harbor Yard.

Nate Lawson started in net and missed an empty net goal at the end in the final minute.

Ryan Stone sure loves playing against Bridgeport or the Isles, no matter what organization he plays for as he did his 2006 playoff imitation.

Anyone notice Jon Sim with thirteen goals has one less goal for Bridgeport than all the players tied for second on the Isles with fourteen goals?

Scoring
1. BRI Haley, (5) (Hennigar), 3:22
1. SPR Potulny, (36) (Stone, Eberle), 17:08
2. BRI Sim, (13) (Lee, Iggulden), 0:56 (PP)
2. BRI Lessard, (13) (Joensuu, Walter), 1:35
2. SPR Willis, (5) (Linglet, Stone), 5:15 (PP)
2. BRI Joensuu, (20) (Callahan), 14:56
2. SPR Potulny, (37) (Stone), 18:33 (SH)

Ryan Duncan made his debut for Bridgeport. Jesse Joensuu, Mike Iggulden played for Bridgeport.

None of the recent signings from Sarnia played nor did Max Gratchev or Robin Figren.

Former Islander draft pick Ryan O'Marra played for Springfield.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's game coverage and blog entries here on Bridgeport's 4-3 win against Springfield Friday features head coach Jack Capuano and Jesse Joensuu on the game and what place the team finishes in means.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio's game preview for Saturday against Lowell is already available.

Lowell Devils at Bridgeport Sound Tigers
WHEN -- Tonight, 7
WHERE -- Arena at Harbor Yard
ON THE AIR -- Webcast and Internet pay-per-view at www.soundtigers.com
RECORDS THROUGH THURSDAY -- Lowell 34-35-2-7; Bridgeport 47-23-3-5
SEASON SERIES -- Bridgeport leads 4-1

LAST MEETING -- The Devils won 5-3 at home March 29.

Springfield Union News & Sunday Republican: Fran Sypek's game coverage noted a crowd that looked like only a thousand fans despite announced attendance.

Philadelphia defeated Hershey Friday in the old Spectrum's final regular season game ever is in fourth place and would play the division winner in round one.

WBS Pens defeated Albany Friday.

Updated Standings:
East Division GP W L OT SO PTS
1 x Hershey 78 48 22 2 6 104
2 x Bridgeport 79 48 23 3 5 104
3 x WBS Pens 78 48 24 3 3 102
*********************************************
Saturday games:
Lowell at Bridgeport
Norfolk at WBS Pens (Norfolk won big Friday)
Philadelphia at Hershey
********************************
Sunday game:
WBS Pens at Hershey

This makes it very tough for Bridgeport because someone (maybe both teams) are going to gain points.