New York 3, Montreal 2 Shootout

No one wishes to be negative all the time.

I remember in the great old days the Isles would struggle for a bunch of games, then win, and Al Arbour would unload on them.

The New York Islanders won a skills contest and will be credited with a win.

When teams win/lose shootouts, it seems many of the games are written up like the club that won/lost was great/terrible.

Some good things happened for New York in this game. MacDonald's defensive efforts were special, Streit's pp goal (Moulson pick notwithstanding), some efforts by Ullstrom, one hit by Jurcina to spring a rush.

Hamonic just would not quit on any play, Streit also.

Still the biggest takeaway for NYIFC watching this game was how a Montreal team that played the night before (poorly by their own account) outhit/out-skated New York in the third period, and for a good part of the game overall despite the Isles strong second period.

This is the 14th place team, coming off a poor effort, playing the night before, starting it's backup.

Granted any team can beat another on any given day in this league.

Montoya looked unplayable early and got lucky the first shot that got through his pads went wide, he did not see some shots late either, but he hung in and got better as the game wore on. I believe that's the first shootout win he's posted here.

Don't ask me why David Ullstrom was on right wing and Bailey was on left wing. For the good chances Reasoner did generate, he should sit for Tavares, Bailey, Nielsen, Cizikas down the middle until there is an injury/same for Pandolfo.

I liked what I saw from Niederreiter, so much that I'm wondering why not give him some shifts with Tavares? Okposo was trying to play physical, the fastest he moved all night was when someone hit Streit after a whistle and Okposo threw a punch which was great.

Okposo's missed open net early, his marginal penalty, not so good.

What was Grabner doing in overtime with that pass back in his own end around the boards that looked like a Montreal forward dump-in? Was hoping to see some speed after he looked quick on some rushes against Philadelphia.

The club has something to feel good about for a few days.
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I guess Jack Capuano did not know in the ten minute postgame, Peter Ruttgaizer, was asking about how the Isles defense played during the late/ot penalty kill? Capuano started taking about the Canadians skill?

Mr Ruttgaizer did not seem to understand the Bell Center has never been the home to a Montreal Canadians championship as he went on about the rich history in the building.

Depth Gone, Even Strengh Scoring Not Happening, Slumps Expected

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Of course, they could have bounced a few past Alex Auld Friday.

Matt Moulson could have scored on his breakaway, Tavares was robbed, Weight took the puck at the net like he was ten years younger than his birth certificate, however that's not the point, it's about building something for the long-term here.

Enough opposing coaches/players credited the Islanders hard work last year or being a tough team to play.

When you think of how this club was on special teams a year ago, the pp has been a fantastic trend so far.

The starts to games, the even strength scoring are all alarmingly poor trends for more than a few weeks now.

Rick DiPietro starts Saturday.

Scott Gordon was surprisingly upbeat in his post-game press conference after a third straight loss Friday here which Cablevision promised to show but eventually decided not to wait for and after a while cut the telecast off so Msg+2 could show it's test pattern.

New York again did not start a game well at all, not only on the scoreboard, but in terms of creating chances, it's a trend that has lasted quite a while and very noticeable.

It's been a different than a year ago (not counting injuries) however the trends/NHL averages/player careers suggest the pp was not going to carry them for eighty two games. Tavares is not going to be a goal a game player, Doug Weight, James Wisniewski are not going to make a run at a hundred points.

This means others have to step up, and fast. Travis Moen looked like a superstar driving the net for two huge goals in back to back games.

Paging Jon Sim/Trent Hunter/Zeon Konopka.

I maintain Blake Comeau has not been the same player since he was banged up repeatedly in games, or does not have the extra step. Josh Bailey has looked pedestrian (granted only two games) where before he looked like a first line center in how he was playing in all three zones.

With Bridgeport getting a rare weekend off, Rob Schremp either waits in Ct for Wednesday or returns to New York. If Gordon maintains his stance from a year ago that Schremp must play center, Bailey is moving back to wing.

What if Bailey needs to play center to be as dominating as he was?

So much for depth.
Milan Jurcina was injured Friday against Montreal and is out for Saturday. This means Bruno Gervais has his full time spot back on defense, Trevor Gillies likely goes back into the lineup vs Philadelphia.

Time to start reversing the trends, the 6-1 losses/poor games all teams have over eighty two contests are also one of the trends due to happen soon.

The even strength scoring is overdue, so is a sixty minute effort.

Things have to start balancing out, regulation losing streaks cannot happen in this league if you expect to be a playoff team.

Bottom line in an eighty two game season there are x nights you are going to be the better team and win or play just well enough to steal points, or the team is going to have a clunker and lose big.

It's what teams do in those other games up for grabs that separate the contenders and pretenders.

Six points/three games were just lost that were clearly on the table for this team to win, they got none of them.

Successful teams find a way to win those points, this team must do the same thing.

Don't count on another year of three clubs under ninety points making the playoffs from this conference, last year was the exception, not the rule.

There are trends to be broken all over Philadelphia on Saturday for Scott Gordon's players.

-NY Times: Dave Caldwell was allowed to do a feature on Zeon Konopka, but not cover the game.

The Times did not cover the game at Cablevision Garden vs Carolina Friday.

-Oregon Live: Nino Niederreiter had an assist in Portland's 4-2 win over Kelowna Friday.

NYIFC Comments:
The local paper that covers the Winterhawks is on NYIFC prospect blog for those who would like to follow Nino Niederreiter's game by game progress.



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Islander News Articles 4/3

Newsday: Greg Logan's game recap and a second article on the loss of Streit and Okposo perhaps being for the season with more lottery speculation here.

Montreal Gazette: Pat Hickey recaps New York's loss against Montreal Thursday night.

Daily News & NY Post.

Northeastern University: Reports Thursday Men's hockey coach Greg Cronin (former Sound Tigers coach) has been named New England Hockey Writers Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award as NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year. Cronin led Northeastern to 25 wins and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1994 this season. Cronin was already named Hockey East Coach of the Year.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Congratulations to Greg Cronin who not only coached in Bridgeport but was with the Isles for years.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio previews Friday's win in regulation or else game if the Sound Tigers have any hope of catching the Hershey Bears for first place trailing by three points with Hershey and WBS having a game in hand. Jesse Joensuu's recent struggles are the focus of the article with prospect Maxim Gratchev the latest who could see action in the final games with Kevin Poulin.

1 x Hershey Bears 75 47 21 1 6 101
2 x WBS Penguins 75 47 24 2 2 98
3 x Bridgeport 76 45 23 3 5 98

Like the NHL, AHL first tie-breaker are determined by wins as here so with Bridgeport having only four games remaining in an eighty game schedule for now the Bears and Pens have on paper an extra point to go with game in hand.

Montreal 5, New York 1

Associated Press: Has the recap of the Montreal Canadians 5-1 win against New York on Thursday.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Not much to say on this one, tough night.

Sure seems like calls on being made on standings or reputation these days, Isles had not given up that many shorthanded in a game this year and all due respect to the Habs skill they got some bounces or deflections off Islanders for two of the goals.

Montreal was more impressive on the plays they did not finish.

Canadians scored a few nice goals in the second but without Halak being on his game early Isles have a few goals themselves. Thompson got a few chances, Nielsen one or two and Tambellini had an excellent game bouncing off players and creating chances beyond his nice shot for the only Islander goal.

You see Bailey feed Bentivoglio and out of the camera Jackman is getting called, then another at the start of the second for what looked marginal, that is not the Canadians talent taking over, that's the officiating.

Still, Isles only generated one goal in a game that was over basically by the half-way point.

Sure faceoffs did not help but they did not create some of the calls or bounces off Islanders that led to them. Danis had little help and Thompson for a second night was beaten down low for a goal against.

Would not be an Islander game without an injury, with Hilbert likely going out for the season.

Scott Gordon was furious behind the bench around the time Weight fought, loved the bench reaction to both Islander fights with the players supporting them.

Msg sure did spam that out of town scoreboard tonight, if Howie Rose wants to talk Rangers so much go cover their games, he seemed to lay it on a little thick tonight about the Canadian fans in the building.

No doubt the fans wanting one of those two picks got what likely had to happen.

I wanted a good Islanders effort and did not see much of it after the first ten minutes which was when they should have been most vulnerable.

Five games left, unless Colorado has a win or some points in them, Isles cannot gain more than five points.

Montreal at New York 7pm Msg+: Smith, Bentivoglio Recalled

The Islanders will be without Kyle Okposo (day-to-day, strained groin), Mark Streit (day-to-day, strained groin) and Dean McAmmond (day-to-day, sick). They have re-called Trevor Smith and Sean Bentivoglio from the Bridgeport on an emergency basis.

Niagara University: Issued a classy release for their former player by two years in Sean Bentivoglio getting the call for his NHL debut.

Add another two players per game to man games lost to injury starting tonight.

Goaltender Carey Price will not play tonight against the Islanders because of illness. Jaroslav Halak will get the start and Marc Denis has been called up to play the back-up role. - TSN

Updated Player Pos Injury Expected Return
03/10/09 Francis Bouillon D Groin IR. Out indefinitely
03/31/09 Roman Hamrlik D Upper body Questionable for at N.Y. Islanders
03/31/09 Sergei Kostitsyn LW Upper body Questionable for at N.Y. Islanders
03/09/09 Robert Lang C Achilles' IR. Likely out for the season

03/31/2009 CHI 1 @ MTL 4
03/28/2009 BUF 4 @ MTL 3
03/26/2009 TBL 2 @ MTL 3
03/24/2009 ATL 3 @ MTL 6
03/21/2009 TOR 5 @ MTL 2

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Fair to write this is as close as it gets to an elimination game tonight for Montreal who lost both games at home to the Islanders and trailed 4-1 in the Coliseum game before rallying.

Canadians were in New York as Islanders played in Washington.

Should be Danis against his former team who played very well against them last time out, he needs a strong sixty minutes tonight.

I expect the Isles to be a little tired tonight, but sometimes the team waiting starts poorly. Sure would be nice to see the Isles get some calls but that does not seem likely. One thing for sure is you take all the players out and add Streit to this and still play competitive it's all you can ask for.

I do not expect to see Colorado gain another point, which means Isles gain six points in six games they will improve to 29th.

Islander News Articles 4/2

Newsday: Greg Logan's early recap with no quotes at this time.

Washington Times: Corey Masisak's game coverage on Washington's win over New York with blog updates.

Washington Post: Tarik El Bashir's game coverage and blog entries.

Montreal Gazette: Herb Zurkowsky reports
Sergei Kostitsyn is out with an upper-body injury Thursday and Roman Hamrlik, who left the previous Montreal game did travel to New York.

Telegraph Journal: Kevin Barrett lists former Islander head coach Ted Nolan and current assistant John Chabot as possible candidates for the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL in speculation.

Daily Free Press: Ben Seal has a few words on Islander Prospect Corey Trivino of Boston University.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has the Sound Tigers notebook.

Islander News Articles 3/13

Apparently Newsday is going to do an actual Islander Insider for the first time in about a month Friday.

Newsday: Greg Logan's game recap of the Islanders 3-2 overtime win.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
It should be noted Steve Zipay did an article and a blog packed with post-game commentary from the players.

Montreal Gazette: Pat Hickey recaps New York's 3-2 overtime win against the Canadians Thursday night notes Kyle Okposo scored in his fourth straight game with blog updates here.

Canadian Press: Has a recap that's a bit longer.

Chicago Tribune: Chris Kuc reports Blackhawks goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin could return from injury and start on Sunday against the Islanders.

USA Today.com: Kevin Allen reports the leadership for Team USA Hockey met recently in Florida to discuss the 2010 Olympic roster as Mr Allen had some speculation on the roster. Toronto gm Brian Burke is the general manager for the squad.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has comments from Sound Tigers President Howard Saffan about the clear day list decisions and that Kyle Okposo will be going to the World Championships as Jamie Fraser being left off the roster is discussed with head coach Jack Capuano's comments.

Bridgeport is at Springfield Friday.

New York 3, Montreal 2 Overtime

Montreal Gazette: Recaps New York's 3-2 overtime win against the Canadians Thursday night.

Associated Press: Also recaps the game.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Congratulations to Mike Iggulden on his first NHL goal.

Last year the Islanders played a game in Montreal, they were chasing the puck all day long with only Rick DiPietro holding them in before the Habs finally broke it open, afterward Red Fisher wrote DiPietro threw the puck down the ice at one point just to show his forwards this is how you need to move the puck crediting him holding them in.

I know the Canadians have been struggling and played without Kovalev, but this was all about what the Islanders did. They forced Carey Price to play outstanding or it would have been over in regulation.

Second best effort this season after the Devil win. I don't care about the goals but the skating, passing andn skills that created those plays. Isles just took over this game from Montreal and that's what's memorable.

Sure, it's great Okposo scored in overtime (he was outstanding all night) but how they dominated down the stretch was no fluke, they outskated and dominated a fast, skilled club.

It was very impressive top to bottom with a team short a man.

Considering how the first ten minutes went Islanders could have fallen behind 3-0 if not for Danis and a favorable review, turns out Montreal scored it's goal off a Martinek deflection on a bad angle shot.

After that Jackman drew a powerplay, Islanders started skating. Iggulden not only made the play against the boards but finished a perfect pass from Comeau to tie the game.

Second period was all Islanders, Price stopped Bailey's breakaway and the Islanders until the Canadian got on a late powerplay carried play.

I thought Bailey had one of his best games of the season.

Tambellini a beautiful play at the net early in the second where Jackman drew his second powerplay for the Isles.

Welcome to the NHL Joel Rechlicz, he sure did not lose his first fight, welcome to your first NHL KO for Tim Jackman who buried Gregory Stewart.

Nielsen was outstanding in this game, he finally got rewarded with another goal against Montreal. When Nielsen and Comeau have their passing game going they are creating all over the ice.

Streit had a big game against his former club and hit the crossbar just before Nielsen deflected in the 2-1 goal.

High marks to Nate Thomspon, he won some huge faceoffs shorthanded and the pk did a great job down two man, too bad Thompson did not get it all the way deep on the final clear but his play shorthanded was excellent.

Danis did not have to be the best goaltender tonight but he was very sharp early and it was great to see him win against his former team in front of his family.

The result tonight was great, how they got that result tonight after the first ten minutes is what I will remember most.

Anyone really think considering how Boston has played lately the Islanders are not going to be in Saturday's game given how they have worked?