Islander News Articles 11/29

Newsday: Greg Logan's article is on the win against Ottawa, Bill Guerin having a big shootout goal and Rick DiPietro's play.

"We have strong leaders on this team," Nolan said. "They don't lose faith in themselves, and we don't lose faith in them. The captain came through."

"Just to see the puck finally go in was nice," Guerin said. "I don't have many moves in my arsenal, but that one worked."

"People have been waiting for us to go away since the start of the season," Nolan said. "We feel we have a good hockey team."

Newsday: Greg Logan's second article is about Randy Robitaille who went to Russia and played on the same team as Alexei Yashin for a while.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Yashin's shot and offensive game on this team would be a positive. Two goals for ten straight games is not going to be enough long-term.

Newsday: Katie Strang has some comments from Henrik Lundqvist on Rick DiPietro and the rivalry.

"He's fast and he's very skilled with the stick," Lundqvist said of DiPietro. "I think I play deeper in the crease. He's more aggressive and maybe a little bit more of an acrobatic goaltender. I try to be square and stay back a bit more."

"They have three wins so far, so we definitely want to get back with a win [Thursday]," Lundqvist said. "He's been playing really well. Maybe he's a little extra fired up against us, I don't know.

Newsday: Steve Zipay previews Rangers-Islanders from his Ranger centric point of view.

NY Sun: Kevin Greenstein has a feature on the Islanders buying into Ted Nolan's system with comments from Brendan Witt. Bill Guerin talks about how hard the club is working to score more goals.

"We have a great group of guys, we hang out together and we're a tight-knit group," defenseman Brendan Witt said. "Ted makes it fun, he's a good player's coach, but there's also an understanding that you need to put the effort in."

"We're not executing," said captain Bill Guerin. "We're working hard, but when it comes down to it, we've got to get into the areas where you score goals, in front of the net. We've got to pay the price, and we've got to shoot the puck. Guys are trying like crazy, the effort's there, that's never a question. It's just the execution. If a guy's open for a shot, you've got to get the puck to him where he can shoot it."

Daily News: Peter Botte's writes a limited space article on the win that goes far more into the history than the game but does get a few comments from Ted Nolan and Rick DiPietro.

"It's a big win. Obviously we haven't had much success against (Ottawa)," said DiPietro, who made 35 saves in his 17th straight start. "But there's not much time to savor this one. Every season, every game, we treat like a fresh slate."

NY Post: Dan Martin's article is about how last year's team is different than this years, comments from Mike Sillinger, Bill Guerin, Ted Nolan.

"People have been waiting for us to go away since the start of the season," Nolan said of the low expectations that surrounded his team. "But we do simple things. Sometimes, ordinary people can do extraordinary things."

"He's a pure goal-scorer," Sillinger said. "Even though he's going through a tough time, he's very important to us, whether he's scoring goals or not."

Ottawa Citizen/Cam West News: Ken Warren has the Senator's centric coverage of their loss but credited Trent Hunter with Mike Sillinger's shootout goal in his first paragraph. A second article on Mike Comrie discussing Bill Guerin's leadership is also written here.

Ottawa Sun: Chris Stevenson has more on the Senators loss to the Islanders.

Associated Press: Ira Podell seems to have the most complete article of all on the game with comments from Bill Guerin and Mike Sillinger.

"It's a big two points," Islanders captain Bill Guerin said. "They're the top team in the league right now. If we play our game we can play with everybody. And not just play with everybody, we can win."

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has an article on the upcoming games and some team notes.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
It's not in the update but a nice job by the club having the prospect sits at the Coliseum for a game.

Islander News Articles 11/28

Newsday: Greg Logan's article in on Mike Comrie playing his former team, the Islanders record against Ottawa, the club's scoring problems and Bates likely return to the lineup.

"The frustrating thing is that we're not getting a lot of goals," Comrie said of the Isles' recent drought. "It's not from lack of effort or the chances ... You just have to keep your focus and get pucks to the net."

NY Post: Dan Martin did a pregame article with comments from Shawn Bates on the upcoming games.

"Now, maybe we have a more difficult stretch."

"But we have enough experience, enough grit on this team to go through that, and hopefully we will."

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has an Sound Tigers notebook that has comments from a few former Sound Tigers in Jamie Johnson and Brandon Nolan. Pascal Morency is expected to miss two-four weeks after cutting his hand in a fight.

Ottawa Citizen & Ottawa Sun: Have Senators coverage with some interesting comments from former Islander Randy Robiaille who was signed by Ottawa.

"Everything starts from the goal on out and they've got a good one in Rick DiPietro," he said, also crediting the work of coach Ted Nolan. "Teddy got in there last year and did a great job of turning things around. A lot of people said they overachieved last year and that was pretty thrilling making the playoffs in the shootout against the Devils. I'm not as surprised by their start like a lot of people would be."

Edmonton Sun: Jason Hills reports Islander prospect Robin Figren missed his last game with a wrist injury, is expected to be out for an extended amount of time and there is concern he could be left off team Sweden's roster for the World Junior Championships. Figren has twenty two points in twenty three games for the Oil Kings after he returned from a hernia injury that kept in shut down in Moncton during Islander training camp.

"I haven't had good timing with my injuries at all this season. In a couple of days I will go for another x-ray and hopefully it's just sprained and not broken and I'll be back in 10 days."

Robitaille signed by Ottawa

TSN.ca: Is reporting the Ottawa Senators have signed former Islander Randy Robitaille to a one year contract. Robitaille must clear waivers by Wednesday at Noon ET before being able to see game action with the Senators.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Don't be surprised to see the Islanders or another club claim Robitaille on waivers, I think Bates return makes it less likely but anything could happen.

Islander News Articles 10/15:

Newsday: Greg Logan's article is about the lack of scoring at even strength which was something the Islanders were very good at last season and Bergenheim's impact Saturday.

"Well, our offense is no secret," Nolan said. "It's not going to come tic-tac-toe and fly down and score off the rush. We're going to have to get a lot of those dirty goals. The way we played in the third period is the way we have to play."


"Bergy helped us a lot," Vasicek said. "He played a great game. He opened so much ice for us. We had a lot of chances. Bergy had one in the second period, and I hit the post."

"I'll do whatever, but playing on the second is much more fun," Bergenheim said. "If we play that way, I know we're going to score goals. My role on that line is to get Miro the puck, and if I get a chance, I've got to score, also. It's a pretty good mix, I would say. We have a little bit of everything in that line."

Ottawa Sun: Bruce Garroich reports the Senators are concerned that C Randy Robitaille may not clear waivers once a contract is completed. Robitaille has to go through waivers because he played in Russia.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I'm following this because Garroich reported Islanders had mild interest and with Sim out for the season would have an opportunity to claim Robitaille if he did sign a contract with the Senators. That said Garrioch puts out a lot of wild rumors, but it is Ottawa centric and he is a former Islander twice.

Personally, I would rather any prospect get a spot before Robitaille III because he cannot score and we have enough forwards who cannot finish.

Cory Witt's media blog: Today confirmed Newsday's Neil Best 1.8 rating on Versus for Islanders-Rangers reported last week here.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
1.8 was as high as any Ranger playoff game last year so for a rating like that for Versus is very good. That said with Dolan hiding Islander games on FSN-2 and networks like Time Warner not even listing the game on it's cable guide it's fair to write as usual all that can be done to keep Islanders ratings intentionally low to justify lack of coverage is in place as always and many fans are shut out.

Unless your a die-hard fan with a computer you just are not going to go looking for FSN-2 which here is the TV guide channel that again does does not even list the game so no casual fans can find it.

Hockey News:
Mike Brophy in an NHL centric article ask were the Islanders signings of Guerin, Fedotenko and Comrie more important than the Rangers signings and are the Islanders the team to watch?

Islander News Articles 10/13:

Newsday: Greg Logan has a very good article with Chris Simon who returns from suspension tonight against Philadelphia where he goes into detail of his suspension and what happened on the night he chopped Hollewig. This against the backdrop of the Jesse Boulerice twenty five game suspension.

"I didn't swing my stick at him," Simon said. "I chopped him. I know it's wrong, but it wasn't a golf swing or a baseball swing like everybody else says. I don't want to do that again. But I'm still going to play the same way I always have. It was a reaction thing, not an action.

"Getting hit the way I did, I was injured on the play. I wasn't myself. I was half-knocked out. It wasn't like I was looking for anybody. I didn't even know who hit me. He came back towards me, I was hurt, and that's all I could do. I didn't want to get hit again."

"When I'm fighting, if I hit somebody hard and hurt him, I know what's coming. Because the guy is trying anything he can to not get knocked out. That's what happened to me. I think if I had been hit again on that play, I would have been out. That's the only logic I can put to it."

"I go out thinking about what I have to do to stay in the league, to play my game," Simon said. "I've always been the type of player who's stuck up for myself and, more importantly, for my teammates. All I've been thinking about is my first game against the Flyers. I'm really excited to get back out and help the boys."

Greg Logan: Updated his blog late Friday and reported Nolan put the team through a very hard practice Friday. Jeff Tambellini was sent back to Bridgeport because Simon was activated, Bootland will dress for the Flyers, Bergenheim is being moved up to the second line and only six defenders will dress and drew praise from Nolan. Bates is at least two weeks away from returning.

“I thought Jeff got much better,” Nolan said. “The game against the Rangers, he played a great game for us. The other game [against Toronto], it wasn’t just him. It was everybody.”

“We have to pull a ‘D’ out,” Nolan said. “I talked to the team. We’re not going to take anything for granted. You have to play hard if you want to play. It’s just that simple. If life were that easy, we’d just show up and play and not worry about anything. There’s only a few chosen people in this world that can do that. We can’t. We have to work or you don’t play.”

Ottawa Sun: Bruce Garrioch is reporting former Islander Randy Robitaille may be signing with the Senators and there has been mild interest from the Islanders in bringing him back as well. A source said the Senators' deal for Robitaille, who would be joining his ninth NHL team, was still being worked out late yesterday.

Espn: Reports former Islander John Vanbiesbrouck will be inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame Friday.

Sound Tigers Website: Has coverage of the 2-0 win against Norfolk and Joey MacDonald's shutout.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had three blog updates. Tambellini's return for the Sound Tigers in home opener, and a quick ECHL update, centered around a win in the home opener.

Ct Post: Also has an article on the game. Tambellini had a goal and an assist.

"In the third, I thought we dominated," said MacDonald, a free-agent acquisition this summer who earned his 17th AHL shutout and first for Bridgeport.

"Our goal is six penalties or less in a game, and we gave up seven. (MacDonald) kept us in the game," coach Jack Capuano said. "We were a little sluggish early, not moving our feet, which is not what we want."

Virginian Pilot: Paul White has the Admirals coverage of the game along with Steve Stirling's comments.

Sound Tigers play at Lowell Saturday night.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Busy off day top to bottom. A little surprised Tambellini got demoted for Bootland but this could be temporary. Good sign he went right back to the AHL and help the Tigers win by scoring. Interesting Bergenheim got promoted for taking a penalty against Toronto and was benched while Tambellini was demoted. A little surprised Nolan worked the club hard after five games in seven days, but apparently he wanted to send a message.

I'm not sure what Nolan's going to do with the defense after only five games where things have been unsettled. I do not think Bergeron has any special dispensation nor will Berard who was minus three and for that matter the same applies to Andy Sutton.

If Johnson outplays all three, Johnson should dress, I'm not sure what it means when Berard practices with Johnson but I can see Sutton and Bergeron both benched.

I don't put much stock in Garroich rumors and normally would not waste blog space here with them but this one is Ottawa centric and specific, let's just hope the Sens win this one and sign Randy Robitaille.