On the Islanders Beat

LET'S GO ISLANDERS!!!!!!

Without question -
NOLAN SHOULD BE COACH OF THE YEAR!!

Hopefully a good showing will convince Blake and Smyth to resign. Let's go Islanders!

2 Questions...

1.What's the deal with Zednik? Last I heard was that he was out with personal issues. Did we see him play in an islander sweater for the last time?

2. I read that Quint doesnot qualify to play with the islanders for the playoffs... How is that?

Anyone who can shed some light on this for me?

Thanks!

LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!

Are we getting DP back for the series...I heard that he was done for the year, but I read he exercised on the treadmill yesterday, and Nolan said he hasn't made a decision yet. Thursday is a long way away...anybody have an update on him?

NYislanders website says Gevias will be back for the series... no word on Rick, but who knows. They have been very hush hush on his status since admitting he suffered concussions... fingers crossed...

quint is not available because he was signed after the playoff roster deadline. the same thing happened with the rags when they signed strudwick.

Dear Ted Nolan:

First and foremost, congratulations. And thanks. You've given all of us die-hards a reason to be proud once again. We can't possibly tell you enough how thankful we are that you're here.

Now for the most important part. Please, please do not - under any circumstances - allow DiPietro to play in another game this year. You've obviously heard the multitude of thoughts about how you can't fool with a person's life. And I'm sure you've convinced yourself that you'd never risk a man's central nervous system for a game. But I think you must do more than that. You must make a pledge, right now before any of the media speculation begins, that DP is out. Period. No matter what happens. You must send a message to the league, hockey fans, and especially to hockey critics, that the Islanders are a 1st class organization and truly DO put player health above victory. You've already won. No matter what happens against Buffalo, this team is back on the map. Sure - kick some tail in Buffalo. But don't even think of risking what has been accomplished by getting greedy with the team's future at stake. Announcing to the world that the Isles have decided to do the right thing - BEFORE we're even close to a position of being eliminated - earns for this francise almost as much as would be gained from a long playoff run.

Do the right thing.

Quint can not play because he signed after the trade deadline- and therefore is not eligible for playoff rosters.

I hope they don't bring back DP...Dubie is gonna be fine, and DP needs a lot of rest to get ready for the next 14 years.

Go isles! Bring the Smyth magic to NY!!

Thanks, LETS GO ISLANDERS.. That about sums that one up.
Anyone know whats up with Zednik?

Steady, Cincy, Merrick, Miggsey and other vets here. Congratulations, you guys earned it. I still can't believe the way it ended. By the way, if anyone tries to deke Dublieiwicczz ever again in a shootout they should be fined! The guy likes to pokecheck.

Tough matchup but who knows. Edmonton vs. Detroit was tough also. I'm just glad we got Atlanta over the Devils (although I may eat those words in two weeks). Good luck and here's to New York hockey.

LETS GO RANGERS!

Cincy: I agree 100% with your DP blog and I'm 100% certain they will play DP. Like all the other Islander faithful, I'm delighted we made it to the playoffs, what a run and what a huge bonus. I also have been watching all year long and I just can't get it out of my mind the coaching staff are using players to salvage their own coaching careers. They burned out DP thus rendering Dunham virtually useless when we needed him, they've over played Hill and Witt past the point of exhaustion and the transition to a younger team of forwards/defence has been painfully slow. I hope you're right in the end but I have doubts about DP staying out.

DiPi is seeing a neurologist today ...I'll post the link from the tsn.ca article. Dubie has obvioulsy been an huge emotional spark for this team, but it would be great to get Ricky back in net. I doubt he'll be ready for the 1st round, although with that guy you never do know.

I realize that the Isles are a huge underdog, but I've always been a believer in that once the playoffs start anything can happen. If the Isles can stay out of the box I think they have a chance to surprise some people. The Sabres are a very fast and skilled team and I think the Isles could wear them down, but I'm nervous that the Isles "D" might take too many hooking/holding penalties. If the "D" can maintain good positioning and play the body to throw this guys off their game I think the Isles should be able to cycle on these guys.

Can't wait till Thursday ...

Put your razors away ...

TSN article on DiPi

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=203443&hubname=nhl

Is it true that all these games are on versus and TSN? What about FSNY? I better be able to see these games. Considering there are no tickets left. Somebody let me know what the deal is.
The Sabres have all the pressure. We have nothing to lose.

who would have thought that the new york area would have 3 playoff teams and no playoffs for montreal or toronto? gotta love playoff hockey. anything can happen. we are playing with house money now.

i bet nbc is kicking themselves for dropping a "meaningless" isles-devils game to broadcast flyers-sabres instead.

are the games going to be televised on both versus and FSNY??? for those who dont get the versus channel...

I think the Sabres D could be susceptible to a good forecheck - they're quick at turning the puck up ice, but if you can get in on them fast enough, you can rattle them. The whole team thinks offense first, so if Miller isn't at his best - and he's been on and off since the All Star Break - the Isles may be able to get some goals. But stopping their offense is another story. Very fast, and above all, creative. You need a goalie who can move side to side very quickly. Really, it's all about goaltending, because their forwards are going to burn our D a bunch of times even if we play to near perfection. but what the heck - Isles proved they can win a wild goal-for-goal contest in that game vs. Pitt., so it could be a fun series. I agree with whomever said they'd rather have Buffalo than N.J. in the first round. Buffalo's pace will feed the high playoff energy - N.J.'s style sucks the energy away.

I think I'm on board with Cincy and Miggsey (as usual, I know I say that pretty often). DP's health and future are far more important than this immediate playoff series. Now, on the other hand, we have a confident goalie in Dubie and a team that seems to like playing in front of him. Let's ride that for as long as we can, and we'll have our franchise goaltender back for next year.

Dubie is starting to remind me of Glenn Healy. Let's capture a little 1993 magic and show Ryan Smyth what Long Island playoff hockey is about.

I'm ending all my posts the same way from now on:

Why Not Us?

I think the isles website said that they will be releasing the local broadcast schedule for the playoffs tomorrow. Looks like the folks at MSG and Fox didn't count on having to broadcast 3 local teams playoff series and are juggling things now to make room for the islanders. Damn that feels good to say! All 3 locals in the playoffs... I better go reset the favorites on my remote for quick channel surfing!

AZS: thanks for the heads-up on DP and for the link.

Miggsey: I'm afraid you might be right.

"Why Not Us?"
------------------------------

You serious, aren't you??? Man are you deluded . . . Keep slurping that kool aid.
AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I agree as well. No way DP should even be considered for the remainder of the year.... Too much to risk..

How about those Islander signings in the last offseason. Every single move they made paid huge dividends...

1) Silinger
2) Witt
3) Hill
4) Kozlov
5) Park
6) Poti

Every single one of these guys came up huge at the end of the season....

And there's that smell of cherry banaca again....Admitting my team has nothing to lose and might as well go all-out is called being a fan, fool.

Three NY teams and the Knicks still playing means little or no chance for road games in HD.

Migsey, I wouldn't blame Nolan for puting his best team on the ice and taking a win "now" mentality. Coaches have two jobs during a season--win the next gamne and keep a team alive for an entire season. When it comes to the playoffs, win now takes over. Nolan will try to put the best players on the ice based on what he is given.

Thus, the real people to focus upon are Garth Snow and Charles Wang. They are the ones who have to put the kabosh on DP playing--not Nolan.

I went along with conventional wisdom in thinking Dubie was too small (and I still think that over the long run), but what the Islanders have to say now is that Dubie has proven himself, he is our man, and we believe in him.

Oh....and Why Not Us?

Is Bruno coming back for the playoffs? If not who is playng D?

Good point, Andrew. Not to mention Simon -- I think he was +12 or so pre-slash, right? And then Bergeron and Smyth!

Who would have thunk that after the Neil Smith fiasco this team would gel the way it did. I haven't seen that kind of heart shown by the Isles in 5 years, bless them. During the Milbury era we could have written them off two weeks ago. Amazing. With zero expectations, Snow has been nearly as impressive as Nolan, no?

On a separate note, can anyone suggest bars in midtown manhattan to watch the game not surrounded by Ranger fans? Thanks.

Jonathan, I think you might be $h!t out of luck on that one.

Gervias has been playing in Bridgeport and has the green light to return the islanders lineup. Hope he can handle the playoff pressure though. Last I checked, he had the worse +/- on the team. The kids good, no doubt, but I hope he can perform. We don't have many other options other than Fata and Rourke...

I will check the situation with Zednik in Slovak papers and let you know. European guys likes to speak to national newspapers so I will report as soon as I know more...

DP: I agree with all who are shouting for Dubie. It's too risky to play DP in this series. If this would be SC final, maybe I would say go ahead with DP, but in 1st round, its clear NO! Ricky will pay dividends in years to come, he will do his job for this team for next 14 years ... dont worry about him.

Thanks Piero, hope you find something.

On a side note, anyone read about Ed Belfour and others arrested in Miami?

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=203471&hubname=nhl

Hats off to Ted Nolan and every single Islander this season!

Bruno Gervais should at least be able to perform at a Deron Quint level, so I don't expect much of a talent dropoff there. He is a solid defenceman and a lot of that bad +/- happened in the beginning of the season. Once he started getting some real minutes (for a while there it was over 20:00 a game!) his play was better. Don't forget his possible positive influence on Campoli, his old partner on the blue line. Bruno just needs to play smart and stay out of the penalty box, where he will feel shame.

Why not us? LET'S GO ISLANDERS. Too bad we, and the team, have to sit on this euphoria until freakin' Thursday. I like not having any games back-to-back, though.

Jonathan:

Did you notice that Chris Simon (wearing a sin-ugly suit) was waiting by the gate as the team came off the ice last night to pat each one of them on the back? And a big hug for Dubielewicz at the end. Nice to see him still involved with the squad.

I have been an Isles fan since 74 and have seen it all.

To have a chance at beating the Sabres the Isles will have to keep it simple and keep it outside. The Sabres have to learn very early in game 1 that any traffic in frontof Dubie will be met with a pounding. Think NYG vs Buff in the superbowl. By half time the Bills were afraid to go over the middle. We need to put the fear of pain in their heads. Not to mention a bounce hear and there.

Good luck searching all over the cable system to find out where your red-headed step child of a hockey team's games will be shown each night. AHHHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!

Hey Pagliacci... you have a hair on your tongue.

Cincy:

I was going to say someone needs to put the kibosh on him. We've kiboshed before, and if need be we will kibosh again.

Hey Joe DiVolo. At least my red-headed step child of a team digs chicks. Oh, and in the City bars, meaningless Knicks basketball continues to trump your devine Rangers.

Joe DiVola, you call me ignorant but all you do is come onto the Isles site here and berate the Isles and their fans. Can you say hypocrite? besides i never said "because the isles defeated the rangers they will be able to crush buffalo" i was just saying how you and the rest of the ranger fans have been wrong before about hockey games so.....you never know... LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!

busy, busy you must be... love an update on Zednick and DiPi... TSN had an update before ya, but I trust your word more. Thanks.

One last note from my time in Toronto...their goalies are beyond stinky and the whole city knows it. And Raycroft is locked up for the next two seasons!

They're going to have a tough, tough time next year, and they have some bad contracts on the books. McCabe is signed through the 2010-11 season (!) even though he is 32 this season and playing completely indifferent defence. They got so lucky with offencive production this year from Tucker, but when 2 of your top 3 point-scorers are defencemen you're in some trouble.

I have been looking all over to figure out how many times an 8 seed beat a 1 seed in the first round. Anyone know? I cant wait to add one more time to that list!!

ChrissyT:

It's happened seven times since 1994, when the NHL went to its current playoff structure. The last time it happened was last year, when the Oilers beat the Wings.

Mr. wtf thinks the Rangers can be used for comparative purpose with the Sabres. Thanks for the compliment, but not even us stout Ranger fans would buy into that deluded reasoning . . . but what the hey, whatever gets you through the night, it's alright.

I just now am able to breath again. My heart just started beating again. Its last beat was Saturday about 3:30 when the Flyers made it 3-2 and got 2 late shots on net, and did not start again through 2 of the greatest, most gut wrenching games, I have ever scene. I have said a million times that the NHL playoffs is the most exciting sporting event there is, year after year. I have no idea how they will beat the Toronto/Montreal game and then the Isles/Devils games of the last 2 days. I hope the playoffs wont be anti-climactic, but I cannot imagine how these up coming games can be better then the last 2.

Great job Islanders!!!!!! Way to never give up!!!!!! Can you make it slightly less exciting in the future. I am not sure I can take it. Ahhhhh, just keep winning. I'll keep a defibulator close by.

Great job getting into the playoffs but lets face it - the Islanders don't stand a chance against four rolling lines of offensive generating hockey.

Mix that with an Islanders team that gives up a league-leading number of shots on goal and you've got nothing but a sweep coming to the island.

Sabres in four and outscoring the Islanders 25-10.

When did i say that mr. Joe DiVola? Maybe you misunderstood me. you said the Isles were going to get "toasted", i said that you guys said the same thing when we faced the rangers.... did that happen? i think not, in fact the Isles won. therefore i was pointing out how you guys have been wrong about your predictions before

Mr. wtf thinks the Rangers are as good as the Sabres . . . wtf? indeed.

Just saw on the NHL website that Dubie got the NHL's first star for the week. Well deserved!

Its like talking to a brick wall.....

i take that back, i apologize to all brick walls out there

Hey Joe D, From an old blueskirt why don't you get off the Islander blog and see what's up with Daddy's Boy Dolan's team.
God knows we've had a long and pathetic history. That a-hole Emile Francis ruined us for good.

I do apologize however to all the people who want to seriously discuss the Islanders because that is what this blog is about

wtf -- I think the best thing is just to ignore it and conduct our discussion (not that I've abided by that myself). He's probably 12 or younger and just wants any kind of attention.

Andrew, great point about the good off-season moves, and all the more reason why DP should categorically not play for the rest of the season. There's every reason to think the Isles will be better next year. Don't have to take an all-or-nothing approach this year.

Brooks Simpson -- There is a response to your response about the HOF. I made the mistake of relying on the Rangers' own retired numbers, of which there are only two who fit my criteria of being primarily associated w/ the Rangers. There's Messier (Oil) and Richter (not HOF) and (I think) Gretzky (Oil), plus Giacomin and Gilbert. Checking the Wiki, I just missed that Gilbert had been inducted. My bad. None of the others you mentioned have had their numbers retired by the Rangers, which I foolishly assumed meant there were no other HOFers. After looking at the HHOF website, I did a little more research. Turns out the Hockey HOF was for a long time much easier to get into than in other sports. According to the Wiki on the HHOF, there were years in the 60s when as many as a third of the players in the league were inducted(!) This would explain why the Rangers are stingier about retiring numbers than the HOF is about admitting people (In other sports, it's almost always the reverse -- every team has retired numbers who are beloved locally but not HOFers). It seems that in "modern" times, the HHOF has tightened up standards to bring it more into line with other HOFs, so that only the truly great are inducted (can't be certain of that without doing more research). So, bottom line is, this may not be the best way to make a comparison. (And actually, I have to give the Rangers organization credit for NOT retiring the numbers of non-greats who are nevertheless in the HHOF.) So I guess I'll have to content myself with other measures (e.g., the old standby of 4 Cups in 35 years vs. 1 Cup in the last 67).

Just another friendly Ranger fan chiming in with congratulations on what seemed to be an impossible task - it was gut check time and your boys rose to the occasion.

The fact that Brodeur didn't play has absolutely nothing to do with your accomplishment, and those in Toronto who have anything to say about it need look no further than a 7-2 loss to the Rangers and a 5-2 loss to the Islanders in the final week of the season.

Should be an entertaining playoffs for those of us from NY state.. good luck!

Oh and how could I forget your boy Dubie with the ice water in his veins! That's another underdog story in and of itself..

Always great to see a humble guy "wait for his opportunity" and take advantage of it, to use his words (loosely). Great work!

I'll cast my vote for DP not playing... and if he's cleared to play it had better not be by some organizational hack. Either way it's just too risky... FOR RICKY.
BUT...BIG BUT... as anybody who ever played anything... it's hard to tell a kid like DP that all the work he put into getting the Isles into the playoffs will be put on the shoulders of Yoda.
This is where NOLAN, and SNOW have to make a stand, as Miggs said... and JUST SAY "NO"!
Dump and chase... quick clean changes... one forechecker... no stupid penalties... and play your arses off!!!

PS: You know it's a good week when there isn't one Yashin basher on the BLOG.

WHY NOT US?

BTW: Smyth deal... not so bad, huh? Even if he doesn't sign, that's 2 games, 17k seats at an avg of $100... you just paid for Blake next year... +TV MONEY! Now if they could get the parking revenue Wang wouldn't have to dip into his pockets to sign Poti.

Oh, I left something very important out of my wordy HOF post:

Why not us?

After 24 hours, I think I can say that was the greatest "poke check" in hockey history.

The rest is gravy, enjoy the home games!

Kevin T.

Dump and chase against Buffalo?

I'm afraid that's probably not going to work - one thing every forgets to mention about Buffalo (considering that for the majority of the season they haven't HAD to) is play very physical.

Remember Umberger?

Kevin T,

Yes it was. Here's a great photo of "The greatest poke check ever made."

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/ny-spisles0409pg,0,2110187.photogallery?coll=ny-sports-headlines&index=8

JP: Great take on the playoff revenue. And obviously I agree on the DP issue.

But ONE forechecker? Don't play in fear of your opponent's strength. Prepare to SLAM their weakness. They're soft in their own end, with a young netminder who's vulnerable to traffic in front of his net. The forecheck is exactly what the Islanders need to do to have any chance at all. Puck cycling. Making them expend their energy on defense. Otherwise the only play is to try a center ice trap, which absolutely will not work. Our defense is too slow to react at the blue line.

Forecheck. 2 deep. Hit 'em HARD and try as much as possible eto keep them on their heels.

Why not us?

Unfortunately for the fans, the only way we can beat Buffalo is to play like the Devils...boring hockey.

Clog up the middle, check them hard and be patient...this will frustrate them and then we will have to capitalize on their mistakes.

We have to try and make them cycle and not "run and gun" on us...if we let them, we will be finished early.

I saw the game where Toronto blew a 4-1 lead against the Sabres - the Leafs had all of their success early when they played physical and didn't let the Sabres defense breathe. That's what the Isles need to do. On the other hand, when Toronto thought they had it won, the Sabres stormed back in dramatic fashion, so that's a potent reminder of what they're capable of regardless of the score.

SabresFan,
First, let me say that I think we have a donuts chance in Rosie O'Donnel's Trailer...
But, of course, I do think we have a chance. And that chance is clogging up the nuetral zone and playing sound positional hockey. I don't think the Isles can play catch up against your boys...
I was there when we clinched our first Stanely Cup appearance against the Sabres... and I'll be there Monday night. I can't wait.
Good luck... I just want to see good hockey... and be part of the crowd at
FORT NEVERLOSE!!!!

WHY NOT US???

UpState Isles Fan -

Congats on being super old and reminding us of meaningless history.

I firmly believe that Colorado showed the NHL how to beat the Sabres - play a sufficating trap ala Devils - however, the Sabres have shown that with speed and trailing offense - the trap gives up the blueline in favor of snuffing out control along the boards. The Sabres will force the defense back, move the puck laterally and create shooting lanes.

Check it out for yourself - it's the hockey equivelant to Randy Moss sprinting at a defensive back and then turning it into a comeback.

If the series goes longer than four - it will be entirely because of Nolan who inspires even overrated slackers like Satan.

Go Sabres.

SabresFan:

I do remember Umberger. I also remember the first thing you're taught in hockey is "Keep your head up!"

Campbell really did clean him out, though. Umberger didn't know what hit him. He was looking at the ice, then all of a sudden he was looking at all of the Stanley Cup banners hanging from the roof of the Sabres' arena...oh, wait.

Cincy,
I've had a few chances to watch them this year. They are quick and they make good solid first passes. I think the Isles will take their chances when Witt and Hill are on the ice, and lay some pressure on them with, of all things, their fourth line... but unless Blake and Robby have early success on the forecheck I wouldn't look for that as the norm.
They do have to change it up throughout each game, but I plan on seeing some early, boring hockey, and a lot of pressure on their PP to score. ALMOST EXACTLY OPPOSITE of what they were like before they got Bergeron.
Hunter, Asham, Witt and Hill have to HIT EVERYTHING that moves...

AND NEVER DISCOUNT THE PRESENCE OF CAPTAIN CANADA... Ryan does everything!

Why not us?

"History is meaningless" is the eternal rallying cry of fans whose teams have never won anything.

WHY NOT US?

Hey,
Sabres fans... while you're on the blog. I have a question. Why do the Sabres' fans hate Satan? Honestly, is it because he left?
He has been a stand up Islander for the last two years... and I'm pretty sure Sterling didn't INSPIRE ANYBODY.
His numbers have been down this year, but I'm glad he's an Islander...

>>"History is meaningless" is the eternal rallying cry of fans whose teams have never won anything.

Actually - it's the GOP battle cry.

go Sabres.

Satan an overrated slacker? Did you watch the Devils game? First man in on the forecheck every time, took the body, and STILL made it back to defend our own zone. Don't be bitter because you lost him.

JP- or anyone else- any idea on what the TV money actually is? Clearly its gotta be good...but I wonder with 3 NY/NJ teams in it, if that has any impact.

This is gonna be good...

Why not us? Believe.

i agree that it would be too risky to put DP back in net this season....the risk being that we might lose the game with one of his pattented bonehead plays or easy goals. DP should be the backup next year until he shows that he's a better goaltender than Dubbie, because at tis time he's NOT better than Dubbie, he just makes more money....what happened ranger fans? did you count your chickens too early? atlanta will blow your crappy team out of the water.

JP: I think you're on to something. Changing up on strategy depending especially on which D pair is on the ice sounds right. Trap with Poti and MAB. SLAM with Witt, Hill, Hunter, Asham and the 4th liners. I'll buy into that. It's just that I cringe at anything coming toward our blue line with speed when Hill is on the ice.

And what a twist from the beginning of the year. The Isles PP and PK both rank higher than the Sabres. Who would of thought? For that matter, why not us?

I agree with Cincy. If the Isles only send in one guy and play back sooner or later Buffalo's speed will force the Isles into taking penalties. I feel like that would just be a slow death. I really think the Isles should try and take the body whenever they get a chance. They need to get the puck in deep and use their size to cycle and get to the front of the net. That's their only hope. Plus, they obviously need some huge goaltending with sound positional "D" ...

should be easy ;-)

I haven't a clue what the TV revenue is. I'm sure they're getting hosed... but I hope that will change when there is a bidding war for them. There are plenty of questions NEWSDAY could answer, like:
What is the status of the SMG (coliseum) deal?
Is D'Amato still pulling the strings there?
What kind of influence does Dolan have on the Islander's revenue stream... isn't that a conflict of interest?
What is keeping Charles so quiet about things that have come up recently: Simon's penalty, Brashear's lack there of, why is the playoff schedule published so late.
Why does his MARKETING DEPARTMENT (I'd love to blame this on Milbury, but I'm not sure it's him) do such a terrible job?

I don't live in NY anymore, but from what I hear if you're not looking for the Islanders you might not know they even exist? That may be a big reason why they didn't sell out for some of the most exciting and important games this year.
I don't have any problems with the product they put on the ice (like my friend Steady), but behind the scenes it seems like they are dropping the ball.

imus: maybe you need to first re-think the "nappy-headed ho" remark before you make such statements. Seriously, don't you realize that the entire post-break success was due almost entirely to DP? The guy was a brick wall despite a decimated bacl line. Notwithstanding his once-a-game puck handling ego play, the guy was aces for us this year.

I-Man:

Lunacy. DP is clearly the #1 goalie as soon as his brain unscrambles.

DP is "Mr. Right." Dubielewicz is "Mr. Right Now!"

Cincy:

Completely agree - this is a matchup series, especially for the forwards who are going to have to backche