Islander News Articles 3/22

Newsday: Greg Logan's recap of New York loss to Ottawa had comments at length from Chris Campoli and Mike Comrie where the beatwriter brought up head coach Scott Gordon's recent criticism of bad apples no longer in the room with their reaction.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
This was a day that merited extra blogs and articles. If Mr Logan had Campoli's comments Friday as he writes where was the blog entry Saturday?

No pregame blog for Comrie, Campoli or even a report while Newsday provides blanket coverage and a live blog of the team they own for their game among several updates.

Sorry gang, no one else will write it so we have to here. Seems like only thing Newsday does more of is advertise their product during New York Islander Hockey games these days.

Campoli and Comrie as expected were both class acts with their comments who went out of their way to praise general manager Garth Snow and owner Charles Wang.

Hopefully there is something on Josh Bailey's two goal game and post-game from Scott Gordon.

Ottawa Citizen & Ottawa Sun: Recap Ottawa's win Saturday 5-2 with early Canadian Press update here.

AHL.com: Reports Bridgeport defeated Providence Saturday 3-2 at Harbor Yard.

2. PRO Ryder, (4) (Penner, Knackstedt), 13:27
2. BRI Sim, (8) (MacDonald, Smith), 13:45
2. BRI Lessard, (12) (Fraser, Sim), 19:39 (PP)
3. BRI Kohn, (4) (Colliton, Wotton), 13:05
3. PRO Marquardt, (8) (Lehtonen), 18:49

Nate Lawson started with twenty eight saves.
Robin Figren did not play.

Hershey won 5-4.
WBS Pens lost in regulation.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio recaps Bridgeport's 3-2 win against Providence at home Saturday night, with comments from Junior Lessard, Dustin Kohn and head coach Jack Capuano and Bridgeport is down to single digits for clinching it's first playoff spot in two seasons. Mr Fornabaio previews Sunday's home game at 4pm against Portland here with blog entries on the game.

Providence Journal: Uncredited special to the Journal covered Scott Gordon's former team in their loss at Harbor Yard Saturday.

Islander News Articles 3/21

Scheduled Saturday blog entries:
Next seasons defense 10am
New York at Ottawa game preview 2pm
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Newsday: William Murphy and Eden Laikin have comments from Charles Wang, Scott Rechler, Tom Suozzi and Kate Murray with Town of Hempstead Hempstead Attorney Joseph Ra who according to Newsday in letters that surfaced this week has told the developers that since the town cannot guarantee a decision by the start of the hockey season, they "may wish to consider whether continued expenditures in pursuit of its application are appropriate or wise." He said that if they consider the state's environmental review process "unduly onerous" they may wish to contact state lawmakers about changing it.


Also reported from this article:
Wang said Friday that if Ra's comment was meant as a veiled threat, "they should say they not going to do it. "It seems like the town wants to say it can't be done by next hockey season," Wang said. "But my commitment to Long Island, Nassau County and the New York Islanders loyal fan base is to make every effort to get a successful outcome by the beginning of the next hockey season."

Murray said in a letter to Suozzi earlier this week, in which she declined his invitation to attend Friday's meeting, that she was "deeply committed to moving the project forward." But she said it would be "inadvisable" for her to attend a private meeting about a matter that she will have to vote on as a member of the town board.

"The town will hold public hearings for all taxpayers," Murray said. "I won't attend a developer's pep rally supporting his agenda."

NYI Fan Central Comments:
So Kate Murray said the exact words I wrote here three days ago calling 3/26 a pep rally.

So a focus meeting on the Lighthouse is now a pep rally for Islander fans to Kate Murray? All the name calling in the papers is just worthless and just another sign this is not going to happen when Wang-Rechler need an answer by if at all.

The question is if Tom Suozzi does let Charles Wang out of his lease in some manner yet to be determined because it is binding until 2015 when TOH rejects the project or Wang-Rechler say enough will Kate Murray and the TOH have any ability to fight that to keep the hockey team here and enforce the lease forcing Wang to sell locally or retain the club?

Sports Network: Had an article on Friday's loss to Carolina.

Newsday: Greg Logan's game coverage of New York's 5-4 loss Friday at Carolina has comments from Blake Comeau and Peter Mannino on some of the calls made or not made while head coach Scott Gordon felt "The two-on-three could have been played differently," by his defense on the game winning goal.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
If anyone caught the Carolina post-game there was Mr Logan scribbling things furiously into a pad as head coach Scott Gordon answered his questions. Not the first time the beatwriter was simply jotting down comments quickly this season. Only Newsday and Mr Logan knows if he carries a recorder or if this is standard practice at the paper or up to the individual writer.

Guess my point is if he had quotes on a recorder would he have more things to write stories about?

Carolina News Observer: Chip Alexander's game coverage of Carolina's 5-4 win over New York with blog entries here.

Ottawa Sun: Don Brennan reports Mike Comrie will return after missing two games with the flu for Saturday's game and speculates Brian Elliott should be back in goal trying to extend his personal winning streak to seven games, for the red-hot Senators who have won seven of their past eight and six in a row at home.

NHL.com: John McGourty incorrect points out in an article on Alexander Ovechkin scoring his 50th goal of the season Wayne Gretzky scored fifty goals in thirty nine games the same season Mike Bossy scored fifty in fifty.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Mr McGourty does some excellent work for NHL.com and some quality features on the Islanders, simply got this one wrong.

Ahl.com: Recap of Bridgeport's 2-1 win against Worcester Friday night in Nate Lawson's return with thirty seven saves.

2. BRI Lessard, (11) (Fraser, Walter), 8:34
3. WOR Armstrong, (23) (Cavanagh, Kaspar), 1:13 (PP)
3. BRI Sixsmith, (4) (Haskins, Lee), 6:17

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's recap of Bridgeport's 2-1 against Worcester Sharks Friday night at Harbor Yard with a preview of Saturday's home game against Providence and blog entries here.

East Division GP W L OTL SOL PTS
1 Bridgeport Sound Tigers 70 42 20 3 5 92
2 Hershey Bears 68 42 19 1 6 91
3 WBarre/Scranton Penguins 70 43 23 2 2 90

Bridgeport has seven home games of the ten remaining. (AHL plays eighty)
3/28 at Hershey
4/3 vs Hershey

Point Blank: Mr Botta was at Harbor Yard with an in depth look at the Sound Tigers.

Worcester Telegram and Gazette: Covers the Sharks.

Islander News Articles 1/10

Newsday: Greg Logan had head coach Scott Gordon's repeat comments from his post-game in Calgary on playing more young players, Doug Weight for his part does not want to become a player with a lesser role as long as he is productive.


Earlier Friday:
AHL.com: Reported Yann Danis and Trevor Smith were sent to Bridgeport.

Newsday: Mr Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog speculates that Trevor Smith's demotion means Frans Nielsen could be ready to return.

Friday's Islander Insider was pushed back to Saturday.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Ask me again on Tuesday if this actually matters. Danis is going to have to play in the NHL soon if DiPietro cannot so I would expect he see another start in Bridgeport.

NY Post: Dan Martin has comments from Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo and Mike Sillinger on how the veterans are helping the Islander young prospects and their role.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Not sure when Dan Martin got these quotes from Mike Sillinger or the players on the road trip.

Point Blank: Mr Botta had a few words from general manager Garth Snow on Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey not being named to the young stars team.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
As always I feel NYIFC readers should visit Mr Botta's outstanding blog for the comments he produces. I will only give a short overview here.

Kind of ironic the first overall pick, Steven Stamkos has one more point (14) than Okposo (13) who has played forty games was selected. Josh Bailey has only three less points than Stamkos.

The Guardian of PEI: Reports former Islanders Bryan Trottier, Bill Smith, Bob Bourne and Cliff Ronning will be part of the Oldtimers’ Hockey Challenge Monday at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre.

Daily Gleaner: Reported on Rob Hennigar's game winning goal for his ECHL team after being send down from Bridgeport recently.

Los Angeles Times: Diane Pucin has a few words on the KHL all-star game today (telecast details inside) which will be an outdoor game in Red Square with one squad named after former Islander Alexei Yashin.

Calgary Sun: Reports former Islander assistant coach Wayne Fleming apparently quit as coach between periods for Avangard Omsk who is captained by Jaromir Jagr.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Dave Molinary reports former Islander Ruslan Fedotenko is out four-six weeks after breaking his hand in a fight during a recent game.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Tough break for Fedotenko. I would guess Michael Terrien has about two weeks left to turn things around at best in Pittsburgh regardless of his contract. He was fired from Montreal 1/17/03 for those looking for a connection.

Sarnia Observer: Dave Paul reports on Sarnia's shootout loss. Islander prospect Mark Katic was the number one star of the game with a goal in regulation.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
No trades for Sarnia involving Islander prospects at the deadline.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports Bridgeport lost 4-1 at Providence Friday, Joe Callahan who scored the lone Sound Tiger goal and head coach Jack Capuano comment.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio's blog does a good job breaking down the matchups and explaining where the game was lost here along with other items.

Saturday Bridgeport is home to Hartford with nothing on weather canceling the game at this time.

Providence Journal: Has coverage of Providence win against Bridgeport at home Friday.

Islander News Articles 1/9

Another blog entry has already been written and is scheduled for released around 3:30pm. If there is an Islander Insider I will try and get that in first.

Newsday: Greg Logan's early recap (no quotes at this time) reviews the game and the key moment which was the goal twenty three seconds after the Islanders tied it on Tambellini's second of the season.

Note-Mr Logan's early game article above was altered into almost a full update on Rick DiPietro with far less about the game. Thursday night's edited version shortly after the game is a lot different than what is in Friday's newspaper.

Newsday: Mr Logan had more from head coach Scott Gordon and Rick DiPietro on the goaltenders condition and why he did not play in Calgary with a reevaluation coming when the team returns to New York.

Newsday: Mr Logan's article has Mark Streit's comments on being named to the all-star team.

Canadian Press: Has Mark Streit's comments on making the all-star team in an interview and what it will be like returning to Montreal.

Globe & Mail/Canadian Press: Recaps Calgary's win against the Islanders.

Calgary Herald: Scott Cruickshank recaps tonight's 5-3 win by Calgary against New York.

Calgary Herald: Vicki Hall has Kyle Okposo's comments about playing against his boyhood idol, Jermome Ignila as both players comment while Scott Gordon praised Okposo's play.

Calgary Sun: Has Flames coverage on the game while Steve MacFarlane had Eric Nystrom's comments that it's tough to see the current Islanders struggle based on his experience growing up around the club but be back on top soon. Mike Comrie also talks about how brutal losing is and the toll it takes but feels the Islanders have some great young prospects that are learning as they go.

Sarnia Observer: Reports at press time there have been no trades involving the Sting heading into Friday's noon trade deadline in the OHL.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Sarnia a while back was one of the teams considering trades because they were struggling but won some games. Matt Martin, Mark Katic, Justin DiBenedetto are Islander prospects who play for Sarnia.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's article is on goaltender Peter Mannino who had struggled recently but also has not played in almost two weeks with the limited games and the Islanders situation in goal forcing Danis to get a start. Mannino and head coach Jack Capuano comment.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio previews Friday's game against Scott Gordon's old team in Providence.

The Hour.com: Mike Madar has an article on Mike Iggulden and Andrew MacDonald being named to the Canadian All-Stars and has a complete Sound Tigers report.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Excellent report, very well detailed, surprising for a paper not providing daily coverage.

More from Scott Gordon, Prospect Game

Newsday: Greg Logan has a blog update with head coach Scott Gordon's comments on how he will not be having scrimmages but do what he has done with rookie camp and that is have controlled scrimmages within practice where teaching is done as Mr Logan writes about how squads will be divided in the upcoming days and what the routine will be.

Scott Gordon feels this is how he will teach the veterans and introduce everyone to his concept of increasing team speed within his system as no one will be considered a returning player and that's this is all new to everyone as they do drills that touch on things he wants his players to accomplish in a game as opposed to the usual scrimmage where the club plays and beats on one another as he wants that saved for the opposition.

Mr Logan is promising a recap of the prospect game in Shelton.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
For someone like myself who understands coaching strategy and systems this is a little different to not have regular scrimmages. It will be interesting to see how a guy like Bill Guerin, Mike Sillinger or others who have their own routines and concepts of camp and what they feel they must do to be ready conflict with the coach.

I suspect a rookie NHL coach may have to put up with a little resistance to this approach from the ten year veterans but I loved what he said because obviously he's seen some tapes of this club's weaknesses and this team needed a lot more in the technical department.

He may be talking above some folks with this but he's got me fascinated, for it to work the players have to buy in.

I suspect the Sound Tigers website will have something on the game in Shelton along with Mr Fornabaio during the afternoon.

*********************************************************
Boston Bruins.com: John Bishop has a running blog of the game at Shelton which at this time features a 6-4 New York lead and a Sean Bentivoglio hat trick along with a Joel Rechlicz fight after a five goal second period for New York.


Team 1 2 3 F
Boston 2 2 0 4
NYIs 1 5 2 8

Bruins: First Period -Knackstedt (Lehtonen) 1:18, Nelson (Marchand) 14:24. Second Period – Wheeler (Fritch) 11:02, Sauve (Marchand, Fritch) 12:36. Third Period – none.

Islanders: First Period – Bailey (Smith) 11:37. Second Period – Marcinko (Gratchev) 6:24, Bentivoglio (Henniger) 10:09 PP, Smith (Bailey) 13:18, Bentivoglio (Nikiforov, Katic), Bentivoglio (Henniger) 19:23 SH. Third Period – Gratchev (Marcinko, DiBenedetto) 19:35 EN, DiBenedetto (Marcinko) 19:47.

Fighting Majors: Boston – Fletcher, 15:58, 1st. Marquardt, 15:07, 3rd
New York - Rechlicz, 15:58, 1st. Haley, 15:07 3rd.
Regan gave way for Hutchinson at 9:57.

Newsday: Greg Logan blogged on the 8-4 prospect win with head coach Scott Gordon's comments on how the club played as he praised Josh Bailey and Mark Katic among several players who stood out.

Sound Tigers website: Recaps the Islander prospects 8-4 win over Boston with comments from Scott Gordon and Sean Bentivoglio.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had an updated box score on the game in his blog.
********************************************************
SI.com: Jim Kelley of SI is setting new standards for misinformation regarding the New York Islanders in an article about players with something to prove that Doug Weight has bounced all over the map in recent years when aside from a late season rental to Carolina in 05-06 had been with St Louis since 2001-02 and that he should quit because one could argue even god has forgotten about the New York Islanders.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
SI seems to have a very big grudge with this franchise that does not reflect the teams record and especially Mr Kelley who Mr Botta had a few choice words for recently regarding his sloppy reporting.

Note-The training camp primer links were posted in the prospects blog sidebar, just a list of players with their profiles and a few players from Utah included.

Defense and goaltenders today, forwards Friday.

Islander News Articles 8/22

The News Pictou County Nova Scotia: Report the Islanders will be sending an ITV camera crew up to Pictou County this weekend to cover the second annual Play the Pros event at John Brother MacDonald Stadium with Jon Sim's comments on the event started by Sim and the Devils Colin White.


ECHL.COM/serveral outlets: Report Andy Sertich was resigned by the Utah Grizzlies.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
His profile was updated back on 6/26 which is still on the sidebar because he played twenty eight games for the Sound Tigers last year. With the ECHL movement involving players it's not feasible to keep stats/profiles for entire rosters with so many changes, only the ones who played a significant time for Bridgeport will be added to the sidebar.

Sudbury Star: Bruce Heidman had Wolves owner Mark Burgess comments on what the plan is for Columbus draft pick Nikita Filatov if Blue Jacket management decide he should start the season in Juniors with Sudbury with regards to contracts in Russia and transfer paperwork.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
A few reasons why this was posted:
One to show that draft picks on the fence between NHL or junior hockey start their season with the pro clubs training camp.

Another would be to show what it's going to take for Filatov to play in Junior hockey if he does not make the Columbus roster.

Finally because players like Josh Bailey at his age it's NHL or juniors as the two options, there is no AHL/ECHL option at that age. Once they hit that nine or ten game mark in the NHL they cannot retrun to juniors and must remain in the NHL as we saw long ago with Tim Connolly.

Quick Hits:
* Long time assistant coach for Scott Gordon Rob Murray was hired as new coach in Providence so he will not be coming to New York.

* I think Mr Botta set a record for longest paragraph as a title to an article in his latest blog entry. It seemed to fit in the widget but I'm going to throw a little criticism here at Mr Botta because if he's writing and telling us to ignore Newsday or the articles from an Anthony Rieber or Jim Baumbach or it will only get worse because of the what it generates in terms of page views and hits why did he not ignore Mr Kelley's article in SI which a week ago instead of giving him more page views and hits which will make Mr Kelley's bosses happy?

Mr Botta's heart is in the right place with his comments and intentions just like the folks who did the same with Mr Rieber and Mr Baumbach. I hope he understands this cannot be selective where we pick and choose the folks who put out this kind of content on the club.

* Finally the widget on the sidebar with the schedule now includes all the Islanders preseason games, impressive work from the folks behind this.

Islander News Articles 12/29:

Newsday: Greg Logan's article is basically a repeat of the comments made on ITV by Ted Nolan on DiPietro. Only new information here is Ruslan Fedtonko lost a fingernail on the hit to his hand against Ottawa.

Newsday: Greg Logan's blog at 10pm has details on Okposo's contract which was a three-year entry-level contract worth $2.55 million which would double if he were to meet all the performance bonuses.

Also reported:
Because Okposo signed before Jan. 1, if he plays nine NHL games or less this season next season will be considered his first year. If he plays ten games, then this season will be considered the first year of his contract.

AHL.com: Report the Sound Tigers lost 4-2 at home against Providence Friday, Jeff Tambellini scored both Bridgeport goals.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's game article is centered around the eight overall penalties which forced the Sound Tigers to play a large portion of the game shorthanded. Providence only had one pp goal but scored shorthanded.

"We didn't come out ready to play," coach Jack Capuano said. "That's a good hockey team. We prepared like we prepare for any other game. They showed why they're in first place, with their speed."

We've got to stay positive. We've been playing well," Capuano said. "We showed how we can play in the third period."

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio also blogged on the loss with comments from Captain Mark Wotton.

Providence Journal: Has an uncredited article on the Providence Bruins win.

Usa Today.com: Kevin Allen at the WJC has a few words on Kyle Okposo from team USA coach John Hynes.

"And Kyle Okposo (New York Islanders) is doing the same. They are both playing very strong, solid games. They are talented players, but their work ethic and leadership have been really important to our team."

Islander News Articles 12/28:

Newsday: Greg Logan's article has comments on the breakdowns and mistakes that led to Ottawa's goals. Ted Nolan comments on a powerplay that keeps allowing goals, Brendan Witt, Wade Dubielewicz and Bill Guerin comment talk about the loss.

"It was a tough break to take a penalty when we already had one," Dubielewicz said. "A tough team like that with a five-on-three, they're going to bury it. From that point, I felt we were kind of on our heels. The five-on-three pretty much killed us. 'Hunts' makes a strong play and the guy falls down. It's a bad break."

"The game turned in the first two minutes of the second period," Guerin said. Referring to Spezza, Heatley and Alfredsson, he added, "They've got the best line in hockey. They dominate at five-on-five, never mind five-on-three. We put ourselves in penalty trouble, and it made a big difference. There's not much one guy can do when he's being thrown to the wolves."

"We didn't play an intelligent game," defenseman Brendan Witt said. "When we beat them at home, we were disciplined. But we exposed ourselves tonight and they took it to us. They scored three of five goals off the rush. Dubie's a good goalie. It seems like when he's in, we really expose ourselves instead of just playing with confidence. But he proved last year he's an NHL goalie."

Newsday: Greg Logan got comments from Chris Botta on Rick DiPietro's injury status, Ted Nolan comments on Radek Martinek now point to his day to day injury lasting a few weeks as he is in a walking cast. Shawn Bates season ending hip surgery and Dubie speaking to Ted Nolan about a Bridgeport conditioning stint before DiPietro was injured.

Team spokesman Chris Botta said there's a chance DiPietro might return to the lineup as soon as Saturday night against the Devils at Nassau Coliseum. "We're very convinced he's OK," Botta said.

Asked about Martinek's condition, Nolan said, "Last time I checked, it wasn't a serious injury. But it's enough to at least be two weeks."

Newsday: Greg Logan's pregame blog points to a lot of instances where the Islanders have not been up front with regard to injuries and expands a lot more on his second article.

Ottawa Citizen & Ottawa Sun: Have the Senators coverage on their win.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio's article is on the return of Jason Pitton from Utah who still is recovering from a shoulder injury and has to be checked out by the Islanders team doctors before returning to game action.

"I was able to go down and play a whole lot," Pitton said. "They roll three lines and an extra, so I got a lot of ice time. It was an experience I hadn't had before. I worked on my game. I worked on my skills."

PROVIDENCE BRUINS at BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS
WHEN — Tonight, 7:30
WHERE — Arena at Harbor Yard
ON THE AIR — No radio; Webcast and B2 Networks Internet pay-per-view

WCF Courier: Jim Nelson has a feature on Islander draft pick Blake Kessel.