New York 4, New Jersey 3 ot

NYI.com: Has the recap of the Islanders 4-3 overtime victory at home against New Jersey. Islanders did not win a single game at home last year against the Devils.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Like Bill Guerin said, two points is two points.

How they got them is another story because at best Islanders skated for one period and were not the better team in this game. Shot totals were very misleading.

When they did skate in that second period New Jersey looked completely lost and Kevin Weekes had no chance and the Islanders could have put them away for the night with the plays they were making because they worked the Devils into the ice. Aside from that the Islanders looked terrible and could have given up three or more in the first and third. DiPietro did not get any breaks from Sutton who fair or not bad things happen around him historically and did again tonight when he blocked shot found the net.

DiPietro saved them early and late and finally in overtime on that four on three.

Gervais had a turnover that led to a goal but made a few other plays that were fantastic, Campoli looked dominating at times.

Bergenheim's penalty should have finished the Islanders but somehow New Jersey did not finish them. Of course in the second period Bergenheim was dominating and set up Satan for his first goal on a beautiful power move to the net. Satan's assist was a shot that deflected to Vasicek who made a nice move on a goalie not mobile to tie the game.

So far, so good with Vasieck, already halfway to the six goals he scored a year ago.

Comrie had Weekes beat early in the third and missed one he looked like he should have finished, when he did not and the Islanders wasted a four minute pp in the third they looked like New Jersey was on the power play and scored the tying goal as it expired.

From there it seemed like when, not if the Devils would score the winning goal, Islanders generated very little and all credit to Madden, Gionta and Parise who is going to haunt the Islanders his entire career because he's a star with world class speed and offensive skills. His shot for the 1-0 goal was fantastic and he was the most dangerous forward on the ice.

Johnson did a nice job and had to go back on defense after Berard hurt his groin which is never good for any player much less one with his injury history. Guerin scored the winner but for the most part did not create much and again looked lost with Sillinger and Hilbert. Simon had one nice hit and Park/Bergenheim were very good killing penalties.

Fedotenko does things during a game that go beyond numbers and did the dirty work on the overtime winner.

After the Islanders killed off the overtime penalty, I was surprised the Islanders opened it up and played the Devils game, you got DiPietro vs Weekes in a shootout which should be a clear advantage for the Islanders. They drew a powerfully, they scored and won it so no complaints, but sometimes you have to play the percentage.

Asham looked good and used on their top lines. I was kind of shocked on his third period move to the net and thought he was going to score but DiPietro forced him wide.

5-3 with a week off, three third period leads lost. Could be better, but could have been worse too. The loss of Sim should not be discounted either in this because his energy was being counted on.

Sound Tigers Website: Reports Bridgeport lost 6-1 at home to WBS Penguins Saturday, Ben Walter had the Sound Tigers goal.

Adrian Aucoin talks about Islander fans.

Calgary Sun: Randy Sportak had some interesting comments from Adrian Aucoin about Islander fans going into his first game as a Calgary Flame against the Edmonton Oilers.

"New York was crazy. The fans, the atmosphere," Aucoin said. "There's fights in the stands, fights outside the building before. It's a whole different world.

"I know I haven't experienced anything like that elsewhere. I know this is a good battle on the ice, but people come to watch hockey, not to fight.

"In New York, people go to those games just to get in fights. "There are kids that when they go to Islander games, it's the only (time) they're allowed to say a bad word, 'Rangers suck,' " he said. "Their parents will say, 'You can say it at that game, and that's it.' "

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I have been going to games for over thirty years and never met anyone who went to a game who wanted to personally get into a fight or saw a fight outside before a game at Msg or the Colisum, especially at these prices.

I wonder if Aucoin said these things to the parents when he was here if he felt that way or management who in that era played the chicken dance at the Coliseum. (which returned recently)

Sure there are fights at games sometimes but it's not more pronounced then for other league wide rivalry games. New York City and Nassau County did not have riots like Vancouver did when they lost a cup final either.

Islanders went 0-6 against the Rangers in Aucoin's final year here and in one Msg game was a pathetic minus six before he signed in Chicago after the lockout and was injured for the better part of two years what was the point in saying this about today about the New York hockey fan?

10/20: New York vs New Jersey FSN 7pm

Islanders Website: Has the pregame for tonight against the New Jersey Devils and former New York Islander Stanley Cup Winner Brent Sutter who returns as a head coach.

Devils head coach Brent Sutter told the media this morning that he will go with Kevin Weekes tonight in goal, following New Jersey's 4-0 loss to Philadelphia on Thusday.

Aaron Asham also makes his return to the Coliseum tonight.

NYI Fan Central Comments:

Brent Sutter won two cups here, is a former captain and no hype at all for his return? He was not at the 25th anniversary celebration.

Devils game against Philadelphia was not like the Islanders game vs Toronto where it was too many games in too many days because New Jersey competed. Brodeur's defense deflected in a few outside shots and the play on the ice was closer than the final score. Not sure what kind of team the Devils are under Sutter yet, he's done some things to shake up how they play but they are scoring goals which means the Islanders may have problems keeping up unless some players can break out who have no goals or have not been producing.

Going to the game, will have a full recap tomorrow.

Ct Post: Sound Tigers play Saturdayt at home against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7pm.

Game is available on WAVZ-AM 1300; Webcast and B2 Networks Internet pay-per-view at www.soundtigers.com

Islander News Articles 10/20:

Newsday: Greg Logan's Saturday article is about the penalty killing going into Saturday's game against the Devils and why once again the Islanders are shorthanded so much.

"The way Andy Hilbert penalty-killed and Richard Park doing the five-on-three," coach Ted Nolan said, "these guys don't get the notice of guys who score hat tricks or the guys who stop goals, but they're just as important."

"Probably the biggest reason is that most of our killers are carryovers from last year's team," Park said Friday after practice for Saturday's game against the Devils at the Coliseum. "Being familiar with each other's tendencies is a pivotal ingredient to having a good special team."

* Asked why the Islanders draw so many penalties, Park said:

"I can't pinpoint the reason. It's not like we're hooking and going for a ride. I think the biggest thing that's real positive is we haven't focused our energy on the referees too much for calling penalties and let that frustration set into our game."

AHL.com: Reports the Bridgeport Sound Tigers won at home against Hershey Friday night 3-2. Ben Walter had two goals, Blake Comeau had the other goal. Mike Morrison stopped twenty one shots for the win.

Updated Saturday:
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has the recap on the Sound Tigers win.

"I felt pretty good," said Morrison, who got his first start; Joey MacDonald was home in Canada as his wife prepared to give birth. "I wanted to get those first couple of early saves in, to feel it off my body."

"Mike played really well," coach Jack Capuano said. "He gave us a chance to win the game."

CAMPOLI COMING INTO HIS OWN

NYI.com: Jason Lockhart, Website/Publications Coordinator did an article on Chris Campoli and how he's not only among the leaders on the Islanders in terms of production but among all NHL defenders. He's also up in the hitting department numbers.

"Chris was everywhere last night," said Ted Nolan after practice today. "He'd rush the puck up and then be the first one back. He had a great game."

"It's just me playing my game and recognizing the opportunities to jump into the play. I don't think I'm jumping into the play anymore often than I did last year or the year before. When opportunities come I just want to take advantage of them."

"My role has changed this year," said Campoli. "I'm playing more and with more confidence. All that matters is that we keep winning, and I do what I can to contribute."

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I'm not sure Campoli's doing anything significantly better than he did a year ago besides displaying more of a physical element to his game and maybe the natural progression of a young player in his third season. Last year he got hurt in camp and lost a spot that seemed to be his going into last season before an injury set him back and he had to win over a new coach. This year he has been healthy and just like his rookie season knows when to jump into the play and has finished his chances. I think the early goals have helped his confidence as well as the support Nolan has given him but in terms of being a much better player the jury is still out.

Also any credit to Campoli has to go to Bruno Gervais as his defensive partner. I personally felt both of them were fine as a unit and any talk of them going down was a step backwards because they have shown signs they can play as top four defenders in this league and contribute at both ends of the ice.