“I don’t believe in giving up until the last song is sung,” coach Ted Nolan said after the Islanders’ 5-2 loss to Ottawa Saturday night.
I’ve seen the inside of a few bars in my lifetime, and I know the feeling. You’re having a nice time, you’re not ready to go home, and then, the bartender gives last call, pours the final drink and turns up the lights. That’s where the Islanders are at.
Closing time could come as soon as Tuesday night. Here’s the simple scenario for elimination: No matter what the Rangers do against Toronto tonight, the Islanders will be eliminated from Stanley Cup contention if they lose to the Rangers Tuesday night at the Coliseum and Montreal wins at home over Boston.
That combination of results would give the Rangers 91 points (or more if they get points against the Leafs tonight) and would give the eighth-place Canadiens 90 points. Tampa Bay, the other one of three teams currently in playoff position that can be caught by the Islanders, already has 90 points. With three games left, the best the Islanders could do is 90 points, and they would lose the tiebreaker by virtue of having fewer wins.
At the moment, the Islanders still can reach 92 points if they win their four remaining games. But the tiebreaker situation means they only would qualify if the ninth-place team had 91 points or less. In other words, drink up.
The loss of goaltender Rick DiPietro because of two concussions suffered 12 days apart crippled a team that already was hurting on defense because of season-ending injuries to Radek Martinek and Freddy Meyer and, most likely, Bruno Gervais. Since DiPietro suffered his first concussion in the first period on March 13 at Montreal, the Islanders have given up goals in 15 of the 17 periods without DiPietro. During the four games he played before suffering a second concussion on March 25, DiPietro allowed goals in seven of 12 periods plus two overtime goals.
The Isles are 0-6 in the stretch without DiPietro and have given up at least five goals five times. They were 2-0-2 with DiPietro and allowed as many as four goals just once.
“This game is won from your goaltender out,” center Mike Sillinger said after the Ottawa game. “You’ve got to play defense first. Look at all the top teams in the league. Look at Buffalo, Detroit, Dallas, New Jersey. They’re all built around defense first. You’ve got to have a good goalie, and from that, you’ve got to have good defense. You’ve got to play good team defense. As of late, we haven’t been doing that.
“Not only that, we’re playing without a [No. 1] goalie. When you don’t have good team defense, and you hang these guys out to dry, it’s not easy winning hockey games. When we were successful before, we were scoring three, four, five goals a game, but on the same side of it, we were playing good team defense. Now, it just seems like whatever we do, if we make a mistake, it’s in our net. It’s not from lack of trying. Maybe it’s from overtrying and pressing. That happens when you have your backs against the wall.”
Sillinger saw a certain symmetry in back-to-back losses to Buffalo and Ottawa this weekend. Both games were tied at 1. In Buffalo, the Sabres’ Thomas Vanek made a smart move, starting behind the net from the left side and then coming back to the left post to stuff a shot past Mike Dunham, who was expecting Vanek to pop out the other side. In the Ottawa game, Mike Comrie made a great individual move to beat defenseman Deron Quint, playing his first game for the Isles, and then ripped an open shot past Wade Dubielewicz. At least, the Islanders kept it close against the Senators at 2-1 going to the third period. Then, an errant shot bounced off the back wall right to Comrie’s stick for an easy shot over Dubielewicz, who had come out on the first shot.
“We’re getting untimely goals scored against us, and we’re falling apart,” Sillinger said. “We’re too far behind to catch up at the end.”
The Isles could say the same thing about this season. The final horn hasn’t sounded, but it looks as if they’re too far behind to catch up now.
Comments (272)
Regardless of the outcome. Tuesday nights game is going to be another great one. My wonders are how it will go down because that series so far this year was DP vs. Henrik. I honestly dont remember how the first four games ended so if they were Isles blowouts then I apologize. In my opinion its a Rangers game if DP is not in between the pipes.
The Isles need to finish strong whether they make the playoffs or not. The reality is though that in the "new" NHL, three things that are essential are skill, speed and smarts. The Isles have been sorely lacking in all three categories. Memo to Garth and Charles: Buyout Yashin, pay Blake and Smyth and find good skating puck handlers that can create offense. Our power play is awful
Yashin must go first and foremost. It's time to wake up and admit 79 was a HUGE mistake - buy him out and we'll forgive you charles. If YAsh is still on this team come training camp 2008 it will be more of the same.
Rangers can clinch playoff spot at Coliseum Tuesday night.
Bring out your DEAD.
How sweet it is!!!
Let's GO RANGERS !!!
Rangers can clinch playoff spot at Coliseum Tuesday night?
Rangers WILL clinch playoff spot at Coliseum Tuesday night!
Guaranteed, just like a great captain...No the greatest captain did one time.
Islanders will pack their lockers and head to the driving range.
hey how about you guys stay on your blog and let us stay on ours?
get a life
seriously
let them in on the isles blog nothing matters if the lackluster isles can't find a way to play like they care what happens to their season...it's been an up and down road and in the last 15 games down the stretch when it matters most they are 4-11...that is pretty damn horrible...we can pull for a miracle go 4-0 and hope the other teams blow it...
a few weeks ago we were pretty much a lock to make it if we just went .500...a team has to play pretty poorly to screw that up...
can't blame the goaltending (no dp) b/c there was a reliable goaltending option in dubie which is where Nolan should have turned after it became obvious that Dunham was ineffective...
people can rip on yashin but he was good agasint ottawa had 2 assists in 12 min but Nolan insisted on playing RR for something like 18 min...RR is a career 4thliner/minor leaguer who constantly turns over the puck...
tambellini provides jump every shift and Nolan gives him 1-2 min a game...he needs to learn to trust the kids (Tam, even Dubie) and not try to rely on over the hill veterans (Dunham, Hill, Silinger) to carry the whole load of the team...
Nolan is still obsessed with Hunter-Silinger-Hilbert, but can anyone remember the last time that line had a big play?? Silinger had some big goals playin w Smyth, Hunter had those deflection goals, but that line should have been broken up 20 games ago and Hilbert sent to the minors...
Nice job gettin Smyth at the deadline Snow, but the offense was fine what we really needed wat defensive help with Martinek out...if there wasn't a Smyth-caliber defenseman available, with what we gave up for Smyth we could have easily grabbed 2 good quality defensman...
but enough regrets, go 4-0, catch fire, pray for teams to flounder, and make up for it...
if not we can all at least enjoy watchin the rangers fail to win a playoff game for the 10th straight year
Have the Rags been contracted due to lack of interest yet?
Just cripple Flukeqvist Tuesay and end any hope for them. After what Avery the clown did, they have it coming.
Felix do you watch the games at all? Your analysis of the hunter-sillinger-hilbert line couldn't be more off. If anything, Nolan split them up way too early. They were the best line on the team for 4 months and once they struggled he broke it up. Hilbert is much more important to that line/team than you give him credit for.
The one thing I hate about hockey fans is their love for the young players. Tambellini has done nothing this year to prove he deserves more ice time. Granted, he hasn't had much of an oppotunity but it's not like he's an incredible talent. He's a young 3rd liner at best.
And do you really think Dubie was a "reliable backup". Come on, he's a career AHLer. Nolan definitely waited too long to go to him but to call him a reliable backup is somewhat of a joke. The team was playing over their head for the last 2 months before the injury thanks to DP being on fire. They just are not a good enough team to come from behind when their horrid defense and goaltending put them behind.
Hey Greg,
Bring us some information on the Isles signing UNH leading scorer Trevor Smith.
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=UNH's+top+scorer+signs+with+Isles&articleId=3559300b-9766-474b-bfae-de5182aae94b
UNH's top scorer signs with Isles
New Hampshire Union Leader Sports
The University of New Hampshire men's hockey team took a major hit yesterday when sophomore center Trevor Smith signed to play professional hockey in the New York Islanders organization.
Smith, who opted to pass up his final two years of collegiate eligibility, played his first pro game with the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a 4-2 win over the Albany River Rats.
"It's a different style of play," Smith said last night. "It's a matter of making plays and getting it in deep and working the corners. Guys are older, stronger. It's a bit of an adjustment, but I feel I can adapt."
A 6-foot-1, 190-pound native of North Vancouver, Smith led the Wildcats in scoring this season with 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points in 39 games. Those figures more than doubled the 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points he had as a freshman.
There had been talk during the season that professional scouts, particularly impressed with his hockey sense and hands, were interested in signing Smith. He had not been drafted and thus was a free agent.
The deal with the Islanders developed quickly, said Smith, who on Wednesday had said there was nothing on the table to discuss as far as turning pro and that he intended to be back with UNH.
"We talked to them and then sat down as a family with our advisor and went over it," he said. "It's every kid's dream to play professional hockey and the opportunity was there for me. We looked at the organization and talked to Garth Snow (the Islanders' GM and a former University of Maine goalie). I felt after talking to him it was a great fit for me. . . . We went for it and I'm excited."
He talked to Snow on the phone Friday and made his decision and then contract negotiations went back and forth, he said.
Chris O'Sullivan, an Islander scout and former Boston University player, picked Smith up in Durham at 2 p.m. on Saturday and drove him to Long Island, where he watched the Islanders play the Ottawa Senators. Then he was driven up to Bridgeport for his first pro game.
Smith took three shots but did not figure in the scoring in yesterday's win, which snapped a four-game losing streak.
Bridgeport, which is chasing a playoff berth, has seven regular season games remaining and plays at Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
When the season ends, Smith said, he wants to return to Durham to finish up the academic semester and he said he also plans to get a UNH degree down the road.
Smith's signing marks the second consecutive season that the Wildcats have lost an underclassman. Last spring, Daniel Winnik signed with the Phoenix Coyotes, passing up his senior season.
Smith, with sophomore Jerry Pollastarone on his left and junior Matt Fornataro on his right, led what was listed as UNH's No. 2 line but was its most productive unit. Fornataro was second on the team in scoring with 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 points.
The line was especially potent in the first half of the season as UNH, which won Hockey East's regular season championship, opened up a large lead in the standings.
Smith had 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points in the team's first 20 games. In the last 19, he had seven goals and six assists for 13 points.
Now, he said, it's time for the pros.
"It was a tough decision," he said. "UNH was a great place. It was an awesome time, an awesome group of guys, not to mention the campus. It's a great atmosphere and they put on a pretty good show and it's lots of fun. I spent my two years, now I'm just moving on."
I'm sick and tired of the excuses of injuries. Absolutely sick of it. There is no team that isn't facing major injury issues. I don't want to hear about Martinek. He's one of my favorite Islanders, but he's also been out all season long and they were doing fine without him.
Attention Greg Logan, Billy Jaffe and Howie Rose. As much as I'm sick of the excuses of injuries there's nothing more that I'm sick and tired of than the three of you running your Islanders PR propoganda crap.
Attention Greg Logan, all of a sudden I hear you on radio during intermission last night and you're NOW saying that regardless of if the Islanders make the playoffs or not, this has been a successful season. WHAT??? How much do the Islanders pay you? Enough of the PR propoganda.
Attention Billy Jaffe and Howard Rose, every single ... yes, EVERY SINGLE TIME the Islanders do something negative on the ice, you always have some excuse fot them or sugarcoat it somehow. I mean last night the useless Andy Hilbert rifles a puck over the glass with no pressure on him. Jaffe: "Oh boy, you can't blame Hilbert there, he's been fighting an arm injury all season long." I can't even watch an Islanders game listening to you. It's better with the mute button on. You should stick to sideline reporting on VS. and for the Thrashers. You're actually pretty good at that, but you have no credibility and no business as an color analyst. Stop the shilling, as fans we've been able to see right through it all season long. Enough already. Be objective for crying out loud!
And by the way, Howie, when you do your promotion for The Best Damn Sports Show Period, don't forget to say the word, "DAMN" you arrogant, self-involved, know-it-all p***k!
This franchise makes me ill in every which way.
Rangers did look good tonight. Haven't seen Jagr put that kind of effort in for a long time. I didn't see the whole game, so I don't know whether Avery played do anything stupid.
For next season I'm looking forward to an even greater Ilses vs. Rangers rilvary. This season really brought the rilvary back.
No matter what happens with the points. The upcoming game should be a good one.
Kevin T.
You people are a joke.
A few short weeks ago, when the tables were turned the Islanders looked like playoffs were a given and the Rangers had a mountain to climb just to squeak in at eighth you people couldn't write a post without mentioning how bad the Rag$, Ranjerks or whatever you want to call them were.
Now that the lights have gone on and its last call at the Mausoleum you want to have peace and quiet?
Hell NO!
Have fun watching the Rangers officially put the nail in the coffin Tuesday. I am going to check and see if there is tickets available right now.
Kevin T,
He played, he was real stupid! Fought, Scored two goals and had a assist. So if you call stepping up big and carrying your team to the playoffs stupid. He is as stupid as they come. Islanders fans should stop the hating on Avery and just realize that you wish your management had it in them to go get him before the Rangers did.
I've seen nothing from this team in the past 3 weeks that would make me believe they'll run the table and win 4 games to close out the season. Looking ahead, Yashin's salary goes UP again next season...he's already over 7 million. Good grief.
2006-2007 New York Islanders
Time of death: 15:41 of first period on 3/13
Cause of death: stupidity
R.I.P.
well, at least i won't have to spend money on playoff tickets
LETS GO METS!
The hammer is in the air and the Rags, as you call them, are ready to bring it down to put the final nail in the coffin. Oh, how bitter sweet. It must piss all of you Isles fans off a great deal.
Even if the Isles are dumb enough to play DP (Can they play with the franchises health/career/life one more time?), I don't see how the Isles can beat the Rangers with the recent performances of the two teams. It's going to be fun to watch.
Ok guys, Lets leave the Isles fans alone and look at our own team on our blog, because honestly, they've suffered enough from their classless organization. Let's leave them alone, We have to worry about ourselves.
And for those of you who do say "stay on your own blog" you should really talk because before we played you the fifth time someone wrote on our blog "you cant beat us"
So karma has come back and I refuse to waste more of my time on here. Just tellin my fellow Ranger fans to leave u all alone and just worry about the Rangers.
Season's Over!
WOW...you all ask me to stop writing and then EVERYONE stops except some Rags fans that have not seen a Ranger Playoff win in 10 years.....
Good job to your team....For nine years you ahd the highest payroll and DID NOTHING, then traded them and got some nice young talent....Good for you...Win a playoff series!
Sorry DP and John, but the morons posting on here are clueless about the game of hockey and could not tell you the difference betweeen a hockey puck and a ring ding! Calling the Isles brass Classless???? Clueless maybe NOT classless......Look in the mirror for cheap shot thugs like Avery and Hollwig who hit from behind on almost every play...THOSE players are the ones that will be GONE in the coming years!!! Althought Avery is exactly what your team needed...sad but true!
DP ~ I had Saturday season last year for the Amazins and YES everyone thought I was nuts since I live in MA....Love my teams though and making sure my kid does not grow up rooting for Big Papi! LOL BIG WIN LAST NIGHT......Look sharp! Season Jet also :) :)....
It's not about the playoffs anymore - obviously. So Tuesday's game for the Islanders is purely a matter self-respect and sending the right message for next season.
This is a rivalry - one of the very best in pro sports - and it's gut check time. It's actually the 2nd "gut-check time" for the Islanders. They failed the 1st one by folding miserably as a team and not putting up any kind of a fight for their playoff lives over the past 10 games. Notwithstading the injuries and excuses offered to the contrary (even by the mainstream hockey establishment), it's been embarrassing as a fan to have to watch your team fold like they have. Too slow, too unskilled and too injury plagued - yes - but absolutely no physical passion in their game. Take note: their leading scorer is boarded with less than a minute to play Saturday. Their francise goaltender is mugged less than a week after suffering a concussion. And not one glove is dropped in defense. Barely a word is exchanged.
So Tuesday is a 2nd chance. A way to set the tone for next season. And it's not about the final score. The Isles can score fewer goals than the Rangers and still "win" this game. A message has to be delivered loud and clear to Avery, Hollweg, and Orr. Jagr, Nylander and Callahan have to be subjected to the same abuse as that dished out to DiPietro. Asham has to forget about his bum hand. He'll have all summer to heal. Witt has got to step up and teach Avery that there is a price to pay for even the possibility that he intentionally injured our francise goalie. And slime-bag Hollweg should not be allowed to leave the ice on any shift without feeling pain.
The final score of this game will not be measured in goals scored. It's a matter of self-respect. And it's personal.
Rangers are vermin.
I think Cincy has it right. Try to kick the crap out of the Rangers players... make the fights count... who cares about the final score?? This is a rivalry that has been revived! It's obvious that the Rangers need a good ass whooping so maybe some more of their players can join the injury list. A good stick to the head for Avery & Orr & Hollweg... a good stick to the knee for Lundqvist... crash 'em hard and show no mercy. What do the Islanders have to lose?? Not much. They can heal over the summer.
Then again, what do I know?? I'm just glad that the Mets are playing again. It was getting boring watching the disintegration of the Islanders every week.
It would be typical of this organization to put in a big effort against the Rangers tomorrow night, and then put in 3 stinkers in a row to finish it out.
They don't deserve to make the playoffs. They came into March in excellent shape, and have proceeded to stink it up at 4-11.
Going forward, either sign or buyout Yashin, sign Blake and Smyth, let DP heal, bring in Okposo, and find another Witt/Aucoin type to fortify the D.
That would be "restructure or buyout Yashin."
This one's for all the big mouth raggie fans spouting off on this board.
Wait big mouth's... just wait. And prey that your team doesn't have another painful, ugly, early exit from this year's playoffs. Heaven forbid that they get swept.
With you all running your yap's like you are, you'd better hope they win it all.... cause when that final horn sounds to end your season, the first thing you'll think of are ALL THE ISLANDER FANS laughing our @sses off!!!
who excactly is going to be issuing this "payback" to the rags? have we forgotten that the isles are one of about only 5 teams in the nhl without an enforcer? i guess when you have so many skilled players, you can just skate circles around opponents, therefore you don't need a fighter..lol actually it's no coincidence that after losing simon, alot of our other players lost something from their game. m
Interesting here as expected with the game coming tomorrow night. So I will try to stay level headed and speak objectively instead of jumping out of character and joining the bashing.
Cincy,
You write hear all the time and you phrase it all right and I agree with you. They need to let it all hang out and play tough. The Rangers will and this will be the biggest game for the rivalry all season. Should be interesting.
Bitter,
You are exactly that and it shows so it's easy to take your babble with a grain of salt. Fights? How many have happened this year in this rivalry? Injury list? Ranger have had more then there share and still found ways to win games. Shannahan, Straka, Hossa, Tyutin, Rachunek and I am missing more for sure. So don't act like the Islanders are the only team to face injuries and adversity this year. Every team does. Still have to play hockey and show up each night. Your own coach said his team mailed games in. Point your frustrations in the right direction. Not to mention the fact that yes, you never give up and say die. Not even if your not making the playoffs but, at the same point you don't go out to intentionally hurt anybody. That makes your post comical. Please, somebody hurt the Rangers...poor Islanders?
So, Cincy thanks for talking sense and being real. As for bitter have fun watching the game tomorrow. And seeing how you are probably 'For all the Big Mouths' No Rangers fan is crazy enough to think this team is going all the way. But, the Rangers were outside looking in not too long ago and look what they have done. Good shot at 6th not just making the playoffs. Also two years in a row in the playoffs.
So when they make their exit the last thing the fans will do will be think about Islanders fans. It will be to sit back and look at what a great year they had especially second half, glad they saw playoff games and look forward to trying it all again next year.
Well, there's one good thing about DP being out for tomorrow night's game: we won't have to listen to the word "sucks" being added to the "D.P." shouts. "D.P. sucks" was very confusing to listen to until I realized that the Islanders fans were shouting the "D.P." part and the Rangers fans were shouting the "sucks" part right after it.
Devils FIRE Claude Jullien !! WTF ??
Uncle Lou is as crazy as Mad Mike..
Same kind of move he made in 2000 firing Robbie Ftoruk in March of that year and they went on to win the cup with I think Larry Robinson..This time Lamarillo is taking over.
What the heck? Firing the coach, even though the team is solidly into the playoffs?!? How's that gonna motivate the troops??
Hey Sweetie Pie,
I said Dubie was a reliable OPTION (a career minor leaguer who might have caught fire) and should have been given the opportunity to play when Dunham blew 4 games in a row...
No one should ever defend Hilbert, he never scores, yes he has a tireless work ethic but that is why guys like Steve Webb play for a year or two then go unwanted in the NHL b/c to play in the NHL you have to have some small amount of SKILL...
Everyone,
Are people still happy with Nolan as coach? To me he has been questionable at best. Yes he kept us in the playoff race when we were expected to finnish last, but his headstrong reliance on Dunham was strange. He constantly made excuses throughout the year...he blamed the refs, or injuries, never seeming to hold his players responsible...I mean the guy even defended Chris Simon, who concussion or not, should never be defended. He embarrassed the Islanders organization, cost them a possible 2 points, and acts like that should never be defended.
Ted Nolan is the best coach to come to Long Island since Al Arbour. He defends his players as all coaches should and this is why they are willing to run through brick walls for him. he did not straight up defend simon at all either. He simply stated that punishment did not fit the crime.
Nolan has this franchise going in the right direction and the progress this season has been more than evident. When you lose the best player on your team who also happens to be your goaltender, its going to be tough to continue winning games.
Lets go Isles
Nolan's "magic" has worn off, and his constant excuses made me sick.
His "loyalty" to his veterans and players who were in training camp is admirable, but cost us points (ie Dunham).
I guess they couldn't run through those brick walls in March.
I realize losing DiPi was HUGE...but many nights the rest of the team did not show up.Where was his motivation THEN ???
Exactly Mick, run through brick walls???? DW, these players couldn't run through a wall of toilet paper these days...
Tambellini bashers, before this recent collapse, the isles were 10-2-2 with Tambellini in the lineup...make what you will of that...
Let's go Snow, fire Nolan take over as coach just b/c it would be crazy
here we go again, another fan looking to blame anyone and everyone for the teams failure. Some things are out of Nolan's hands. You cannot claim that any other coach would have been able to do more with the talent he has after the injuries. Your mad at him for starting a proven NHl backup instead of an unproven and solid at best AHL Goalie? I like Doobie too, but Dunny is and has been the backup all year so the starts shoudl go to him until he falters as he has, and now Doobie should start. You cant fault the guy for giving Dunham a shot. If he continues to play him, then yes its a bad move. Either way, neither goalie is qualified to be getting starts at the NHL level, and when you dont have a quality goaltender, you cant simply fault the coach. Either way Nolan is solid, the injuries have watered down the talent on the Isles leaving him little to work with. Lets just wait and see how these last few games turn out before we go evaluating anyone.
Perhaps a "fault" of Nolan's would be letting Dunham "get rusty" because he believed that nothing would ever happen to DP - after all, the way DP was playing, "what could possibly happen" to knock him out of goal?
Listen guys, im a huge Nolan fan, but poor form putting Dunham in for all these games without DP.....if you saw the way dubie played sat. night you can see we would be sitting in the 8th spot if not just outside of it
I threw my share of hats on the ground due to Nolan's insistance on Dunham. Three goals on six shots in Florida was all I needed to see of the guy. But maybe there were reasons. Maybe Dubie looked awful in practice, or something. But, to me, that did seem really ridiculous, and I think we'd have won in Fla. and had a shot in Buffalo if Dubie had played. Not that he's that great, but three goals on the first six shots in Fla., and five goals on the first ten shots in Buffalo...you can't really expect much worse than a .500 save percentage from Dubie. It seemed clear to me that Dunham was just playing an angle and hoping, rather than seeing the puck, and his habit of kicking every rebound directly into the low slot is pretty maddening.
Also, Nolan seemed detached and lost after the Simon thing. I know they're friends, and what not. Maybe he took it really badly, but I thought there was a detectable drop in his enthusiasm in interviews, etc. after that. And that whole "feeling sorry for themselves" bit seemed to start at the top with him.
Overall, I'd give him high marks for the season, but it'd have been nice to see him kick their butts in gear when the going got tough towards the end.
Many of the fans here still had hope at the start of the weekend, it's too bad the players and coaches had already packed it in.
How the heck do you people think we will get the Rags back if we play well against them???? They are one of the hottest teams in hockey heading into the playoffs...You sound like bitter little kids or Rags fans of the past.....
We have NO ENFORCER....so get the idea of getting anyone "back" out of your heads...
Cincy ~
As for setting a tone for next year....That is kind of hard to do when you will have around 50% turn over in the locker room.
Focus on what is really important here....Signing our free agents, sureing up the defense, teaching these guys to stay out of the Penalty box, and keeping WANG THE F^*K away from ALL hockey decisions..
Screw the Rags....They got us this year...Who cares...They have done nothing in 10 years....Let them have fun and MAKE SURE we do not fold like a cheap tent next year!
Steady I am with you (cant believe i just wrote that)we gotta buy out Yashin (wang can affordit) after that our focus should be rienforsing the D and signing Blake and Smyth. We need a stabilizing force on the blue line ala Adian Aucoin when he was with us. Not saying go out an get him cause his contract is ridiculous. i would keep Witt, Martinek , MAB and Poti from this group. I would send Gervais to the bridge to become their anchor. What do you think ?
I want to make a comment to all you retarded Fish Stick fans.
AVERY is not the casue of your demise, the fact you guys suck is!!!
It seems to me the Fishies were on a real roll untill Yashin came back, then DP gets hurt, Simon's brainless hit and ......
Why don't you guys grow up and get a life.
Enjoy the playoffs fellas!!!
No body said Avery was the cause of us not making the playoffs brainiac. Learn how to read Rag. Take it slow , sound it out ......
SickRangsfan~
How old are you? How many cups have you seen? What was your payroll in the time you have been a fan?
Nuff said....Go back to bed...No one here cares about anything you say or write as it has ZERO hockey knowledge behind it....There are a few Rags fans here which we all enjoy b/c of their keen hockey sense....You are not one of them!
Uncle Jr ~
Agree 100%....I would also add an annoyance....a Ruutu if he is available....Let other teams deal with the annoying pests like we do!
If they do not sign Blake I will go balistic...
Isles sign Trevor Smith? The art. read like Trevor Smith was Ryan Smyth. Anyone know anything about this kid? If he is such a great pick up, why was he not drafted? Anyone?
Steady we def need an annoyance, (Ruttu would be perfect) to offset Avery and his type. Aside from Asham we have no-one who other teams fear. Even Simon before the stick incident didnt fight that much. I only remember 3 or 4 fights this year from Simon. BTW i would re sign Simon.
TO THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS:
Check these guys, hit these guys, fight these guys....we have Canadian players let's play like friggin Canadians!!!!!!!!!!!
Our reputation is on the line!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LET'S GET THE LET'S GO, BACK INTO THE ISLANDERS!!!!!!!
Win or Lose we need to see this team lay it on the line!!!
That's all I want to see tomorrow night.
RANGER FANS:
And as to the Ranger Fans who seem to enjoy invading our BLOG and call us cry babies...look into the mirror....you're still blaming Denis Potvin for ruining Ulf Nillsons career...Please....Ranger fans are the biggest bunch of cry babies in all of sports, and everyone knows it...come on...1994 was a friggin gift just to stop hearing you guys cry all of the time.
You have a blog...use it!
You’re backpedaling again. If I recall correctly (and I do), you posted earlier that you favored signing UFAs Blake, Smyth, Kozlov, Simon, Asham, Poti, and Hill. You also said to keep Bergeron, Martinek, Gervais, Witt, Satan (with reservations), Hunter, Sillinger, either Park or Hilbert, and Yashin (I’ll save this gem of an idea for a separate discussion). That’s 16. Last I heard the roster limit is 18, not including the backstops. So, please explain where you get to a 50% roster turnover for next year?
While you’re at it, you might want to also explain how GM Steady could afford to sign Blake for 3.5 million, Smyth for 6.0 million, and continue to endure thru Yashin’s 7.3 million cap hit, while at the same time also sign Poti (currently at 2.75 million), Asham and Simon (currently at 1.0 million each)… AND leave yourself enough cap space to bolster the backline with the solid D man we so desperately need.
Here’s my bottom line for Tuesday… You don’t need an “enforcer” to put someone down face first with shot to the back while in front of your own net (remember the blind side hit to Smyth at the end of the last game?). You don’t need an enforcer to make a strong move to the net, with OR without the puck, and make a strong impression upon Lundqvist’s mask with the sharp part of your elbow. Heck, just take 2 of our smaller “enforcers” and shadow Jagr until one gets a nice clear shot to his shoulder. A message needs to be sent… don’t mess with our franchise players, or we’ll mess with yours. Unless this team sends that message that they’re willing to stand up for themselves, no team will ever show them any respect, and no self-respecting free agent will ever want to play for this team.
Yashin MUST be bought out. Everything depends on us getting rid of that contract. If Yash stays then we can not have Blake and Smyth AND find a quality D-man. Its all up to wang admitting Yash was a mistake and eating the rest of that contact( he can afford it) That is the only way we can build on the positives of this season. If Yash stays then we will have more of the same - an uninspired group that straggles to get to the 8th spot.
that's strugles not straggles
put yourself in Blake's park's, Hilbert's or anyone else not making 7 mil on the Isles - Why would I give 110% when the captain of my team who is the highest paid player on my team BY FAR is just mailing it in every night? The guy is a cancer and nothing will change if he is still on the team .
Cincy ~ I said those are the players I WANTED SIGNED not that it would happen....You are clueless...Keep writing how you want Yashin to defend our turf on Tuesday night. Are you kidding me??? leave the hockey talk to us ...comprende? "Send a msg. for net year" are you serious????? Half these guys go out for beers with the guys on other team the second the game ends!
Uncle Jr.... Jordan Tootoo would be good also!! Pest with fists of fury !!!
See the Devils fired their coach??? What did Julian do pull a Nolan and sleep with someones wife??? geez ???
my previous comment is addtessed to Steady
LOL - Yashin defend our turf ??? Thats the funniest thing i have ever read. Yashin is AT BEST a pp specialist. The guy cant skate, gets muscled off the puck 9 times out of 10, has zero leadership qualities, and shys away from any physical play. Dont even get me started about what happens when he goes to Ottowa and gets booed. Leader - Dont make me laugh.
Steady - any way we can get a Jose Reyes clone on the Isles ???
No you know what's funny- Sather's quote when he was in Edmonton "If I had the Rangers payroll I would win the Cup every year" NOT !!! Now that is funny.
More funny stuff - you have a Queen in net and a lady from France on your jersey.
Steady: listen butt-munch. Defend your argument with something other than an insult. Or some lame "these guys go out for beers together" line. Give me a break. I think Mr. Freud had you pegged buddy. Hockey talk? You're the guy who complained that Snow gave away York, for cryin out loud!!! You're the one who hates the moves management makes, but the you want to resign 90% of the team!!!
Get a clue and tone down the personal attacks pal. Either that or see a shrink. In the mean time, you still haven't provided me with the names of those other 99 players traded at the deadline with signed contracts.
FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!! FIRE NOLAN!!!
Now or Never? I vote never.
Steady -
Your pathetic loser with no life and has nothing better to do then piss his life away dreaming of yesturday. I can't stand losers like you that have an idea of what hockey is really like by reading the papaer. Take it from someone who played the game you still have much to learn, little boy. So go on, and enjoy the game tomorrow I KNOW I WILL.
TRUE HOCKEY KNOWLEDGE
Good point TrueFan
i like you
Smyth skated with Sillinger and Hunter at practice today. Too late in my opinion. That should have happened 10 games ago.
Cincy ~
Just stop...You are wrong and you know it...You wrote an immature comment that "we got to take it personal, blah blah blah" like a teenager who does not know or care about the game would write.
As for 99 other players, do yourself a favor and go to tsn.ca and look them up...You will find thousands....Get the "hockey bible" as well and read away.....I am not going to bother everyone with names of guys traded during a playoff run....I'll give you two of the best ever though....BUTCH GORING and a little known defenseman from the Bruins named Ray Bourque......
Uncle Jr....Start a WE WANT REYES duplicated webstie! lol
TRUE HOCKEY FAN ~ Well if you play the game why are you calling yourself a "FAN?" Go back to bed...and by the wy you are fooling NO ONE...We know you are "sickrangerfan" by the way you write....YOU ARE CLUELESS !!! I have forgotten and played more hockey then you ever WILL KNOW OR DO!!!
p.s I watch hockey to form my opinions as well as have played some...I would never get my hockey prowless from the likes of Larry Brooks and other clueless hockey writers, although there are a few on tsn.ca I like!
DP's injury is unfortunate...but anyo