The Islanders were energized and upbeat at the morning skate today, ready for the final push that starts with as tough a game as they can get, with Ottawa tonight. Let's put it this way, they're not going to catch the Senators on their heels again.
When the Islanders won in Ottawa Jan. 13, the Senators were coming off a draining game against the Red Wings the night before. This time, at the Coliseum at 7, the Senators are coming off a nice rest with the All-Star break. They no doubt will be mindful of Freddy Meyer, whose intense hit on Jason Spezza last time knocked Spezza out of the game and set a very physical tone. Expect it to be a tougher test tonight.
Then again, the Islanders know the whole last 32-game segment is going to be a test. The mantra in the dressing room today was that they've got to be more consistent. And Ted Nolan (fresh off a trip to northern Ontario to watch his son play major junior hockey, and a trip to the barber) said that although the Islanders didn't finish strongly before the break, he feels good about the team.
* * *
Andy Sutton is a question mark for tonight. Nolan said the defenseman has flu-like symptoms and will be a game-time decision.
* * *
The eventful Senators career of talented goalie Ray Emery took another odd bounce. He arrived late for post-break practice in Syaosset Monday because he was in Las Vegas. He was not allowed on the ice, Ottawa media reports said, adding that his career with the team could be in jeopardy
Comments (236)
maybe Logan is still in Vegas with Ray Emery....great All Star coverage, tremendous!!!
emery gave the excuse he thought practice was at NVMC but it was at the iceworks...this is fact
Logan's All-Star coverage:
-DP was there
-He wore a red sweater with stars on it
-He wore A LOT of equipment
-There was ice on the ground
-DP stood over blue ice with these sharp things on his feet
-Apparently, other guys with white sweaters were shooting a hard black thing at him
-A buzzer went off and they replaced DP with another guy who also was wearing equipment, BUT it was a different color equipment
-this all took place in some southern city
Back to the blog.
Last week's 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins shouldn’t sit well with Islanders fans. Us loyal Islanders fan has been told to give this team a chance—that this team will fight for every point and fight for every puck on every shift on every night. But all too frequently, that is not the case. Had the Isles come out with a strong performance in Boston, they might have been able to head into all star weekend with the notion that they have over-performed thus far and they might have been able to look down the stretch with a hint of optimism as well as confidence. Instead last week's 4-1 loss to a mediocre Boston team should signal a reality check for the New York Islanders.
The Isles frequently take nights off and shifts off, which leads to clunkers like the 4-1 loss to the Bruins. It makes you wonder had the Isles kept their word and come out skating and hitting (aka outworking) their opponents every game, then they might be sitting atop the Atlantic Division today. And so far, that’s still not beyond a possibility. Last week's game should signal to Coach Nolan that the Isles cannot afford to take shifts off if it hopes to win the Atlantic Division.
I mean, who cares if the Isles outwork their opponents on 60% of their games and sneak into the 8th spot and get blown out in the first round? The hockey world doesn’t remember those teams just as they don’t remember the Isles of last season. That is shown by every expert predicting the Isles to finish last in the league this year once again. On the other hand, the hockey world does remember those teams that weren’t supposed to go anywhere, yet pull it together in order to make a deep Cup run, a la the Edmonton Oilers a few seasons back. This needs to be the goal of the New York Islanders franchise—to make a run at the Cup. Presently, it seems an Isles’ season can be deemed a success if we slip into the playoffs and last at least 5 games in the first round (no brooms!). Everyone considers last season a success. Will it be a success if the Isles duplicate that performance this season? Probably. Makes you wonder what happened to the idea of building on the previous season.
The Isles inability to outwork opponents is evident in the streaky goal scoring of its top forwards (which is probably more nonexistent than streaky). Let’s take a peek at some of the Isles “top-6” forwards as of late.
Mike Comrie – 1 goal in his last 11 games
Miro Satan – 1 goal in his last 15 games
Josef Vasicek – 1 goal in his last 19 games
Ruslan Fedotenko – 1 goal in his last 12 games, 2 in his last 31
Sean Bergenheim – 1 goal in his last 13 games, 2 in his last 39
Trent Hunter – 1 goal in his last 17 games, 3 in his last 38
Each of these players above has seen ample time on the Isles first and second lines. And each of these players’ goal scoring is mostly nonexistent. Yes Tank and Hunter have seen more 3rd line duty recently, but each is still given plenty of time on the PP and should therefore be analyzed as a top forward. These guys simply don’t get the job done offensively and it’s time to give others a shot. Why not insert Blake Comeau on the PP instead of a Comrie or a Hunter? Yes Comrie is creative and Hunter can dig pucks out of the corner, but look at the stats I just divulged! NONE OF THOSE PLAYERS HAS AT LEAST TWO GOALS IN THE PAST 11 GAMES!
Trent Hunter is becoming more and more replaceable as this season progresses. I hope the Isles don’t make the same mistake that they made with Jason Blake last season. Ship Trent out for a 2nd rounder at the deadline, and let him take his puck-digging abilities elsewhere. There’s got to be a puck-digger somewhere out there who can score. Or even occasionally score.
DP has looked at bit rusty and only has one win in his last 5 starts to show for it. Perhaps it’s from being overworked, but it more and more looks like he’s struggling with some sort of knee injury but refused to go down and miss his first all star game. He seemed ok on Sunday and hopefully this decision won’t backfire on the Isles’ season.
505:
Hehehehe...
But the dark side has been tempting me since '94 (though its been a bit better since '02) Sometime I wake up and think its still 1997.
I'll be cheering tonight for another embarrassed angry article in the Ottawa media tomorrow. :)
If the Isles win I will post as Barf, the Mog.
I can certainly understand why many are anxious for some additional Islander news... (all-star game, DP's expletive injury, etc.). But I think we should ease up on Logan a bit. From my understanding, the guy has been off since BEFORE the all-star game on Sunday (recall that he's being asked to use up about 143 years worth of comp time in the next few months), and part of that time has been sick time. His absense is evident from Mark Hermann's name on the latest blog post.
I have tried 3 times to write a response to Candyman, and things just keep getting f'd up. I have been too lazy to craft something in word and then post it here, so I guess it's my own dang fault. But the long and the short of it is:
No way Hunter is a top 6 forward on this team. If that is the case, he would have played with the other 5 guys mentioned, and that does not happen. Just because he is on the PP - which needs to end by the way - does not make him a top-6 forward. If he is a top-6 forward, than so is Sillinger, and during the off-season, I said that if Sillinger is our 2nd line center, we are in for a long season. While his production lately may indicate he is our 2nd best center on the team, Sillinger is firmly entrenched - with Hunter - on our 3rd or "checking" line.
I would have liked to see Hunter start the season on the 2nd line, to see if he could still score some. But that did not happen, and the guy is now a bonafide 3rd line winger with 12 to 15 goal potential.
On another note, Candy, how do you leave Guerin out of the top 6 on this team?
Correction: "Syaosset" is really spelled "Syosset". I also prefer to use a period at the end of a sentence as well. What ever happened to spell check? Oh well, I 'll stop there, I don't want to create a Hermann Monster and get kicked off.
Candyman: Thank you for digging up those stats. They are glaring and worrisome at the same time. Maybe it is time to fine tune the "merit" system and perhaps the promotion of Comoeu is the first step.
I guess Guerin & Sillinger have been the most consistent Isles as of late...Park too?
Coral, I agree that Comeau is the 1st step, but I think the merit system needs to include bringing up the kids tearing it up in Bridgeport THIS SEASON.
Bringing up Okposo and Tambellini (and heck why not Frans Nielsen) will create more ticket sales through the end of the regular season by creating some excitement. And given the production of our other top forwards (thanks to Candyman for the stat digging) bringing them up at this point does not necessarily mean sacrificing the playoffs IMO.
(Sorry for the double posts, but my mind just keeps going)
Bringing the kids up also gives you the chance to rest/bench/trade some other guys that are not producing, and also creates some in-house competition (something Nolan says he likes - just look at the D). That would hopefully mean better all-around play for everyone.
I know most of you out there don't agree, but I say pull the trigger and get some more youth up here now, so they are a little seasoned for either the playoffs or the start of next year. And phooey to the contract excuse. If Okposo is that good, he'll be around plenty long enough and worth the pay for this season.
Let's face facts ... the Islanders (as currently constituted) can get as high as a 6th seed and probably will fall somewhere between 7th + 10th in the conference. If we sneak in the playoffs and get bombed again by either Ottawa or say Pitt/NJ then what have we accomplished??? Absolutely nothing. Did anyone see the young stars buzzing around the all-star game (both the regular game and the futures stars game) this weekend? Isles don't have anyone like that ... Okposo maybe? Tambellini? Nielson? Comeau? Walters? Colliton? C'mon ... what do we have to look forward to other than a couple of solid young D-men (Campoli, Bruno) and DP.
WRECK THIS TEAM NOW ... when there's a small shot to get value for guys like Hunter, Satan, Comrie + Tank. Start stockpiling draft picks and hopefully we can get ourselves a Patrick Kane ... Alex Ovechkin ... Sydney Crosby ... Jon Toewes ... Kyle Turris ... Nicklas Backstrom.
In the futures stars game only 9 of the 16 players were first round picks so you can find stars outside of the first round (true, you only get guys like Crosby, Ovechkin + Kane w/ the overall 1st pick but why can't we catch lightning in a bottle and get a great player at 10 or 14 or 18???)
I'm just tired of the same ole routine ... fight like heck all year ... sneak into the playoffs ... exit stage left ... draft a nobody who becomes a nothing. Where's the end to this mad carousel?
they lost a 40 goal scorer, a 25 goal scorer and their top 2 way defenseman last year and replaced them with Bill Guerin....They have a career 4th liner playing 20 minutes a night and on the top line. They have gotten next to nothing from Hunter, Satan, Fedotenko, Bergenheim, Vasicek, etc. So how do you expect them to build on last year.... The fact is, if they make the playoffs at all its pretty impressive. The only creative offensive guy on the whole team (comrie) is the dumbest and most defensively irresponsible player i have ever seen. And somehow this team is in the playoffs right now. I dont think they can hold on, but if they do, this season is a huge success, and next year you build on it if everyone doesnt flee town (you can go Comrie) again.
and look, i love richard park as much as the next guy, how could you not? but please dear God take him off the top line and put Comeau or Tambellini or someone with skill on that line. Let Park be the best 3rd line guy and pk-er in the league where he belongs, and not the worst 1st line and PP guy in hockey.
tonight could get ugly i fear....ottawa is pissed, and deep, and rested....
D$,
I left Guerin out b/c he has been producing (somewhat) as of late. I just wanted to highlight how many forwards are not producing (almost all of them).
Hunter needs to be taken off the PP. As does Comrie. Both create more turnovers and miss opportunities than scoring chances. When that is the case, it's time to try new blood.
I'm curious to see how Nolan uses Comeau on the second line tonight. If he doesn't score on his first 5 shifts, will Nolan reduce his ice time as per Tambellini? Let's wait and see.
Isles Bri:
I am with you on the frustration of the same-old same old in this organization but your point does not address the business end of hockey. The point of the team is to make money and its hard with so much of it on the line for the managers and owner to torpedo a team and take such a hit while gambling for long term growth. The Isles have a tenuous relationship with the casual hockey fan at best and I am sure the organization doesn't want to do anything to drive them away.
To their credit...they've started to come back. The Isles average attendance is on the rise but we've still got a long way to go before game of 8000 or less fans are just an infrequent blip on the radar.
As I said before I believe this organization is in a slow progression that will hopefully take a few more big steps in the next couple of years but the team also has remain competitive to keep the butts in the seats. Thats why I don't think you will see a whole sale change.
I agree with you D-Money about bringing up some of the kids and letting some of the non workers sit. I'm all for creating competition among the group and maybe that is just what they need at this point because I don't for a minute believe they are going to SUDDENLY be consistently hardworking for the rest of the season.
Also wanted to mention what a well written post that was by Candyman above, with some great food for thought.
Also I am definately concerned about DP being "not 100%" but not letting on because of his own competitiveness. We'll see what happens down the line but look what they did with Dubie last year. You never know just when the stars will all line up in your favor despite everything.....
GO ISLANDERS
okposo,
You're right, it must be hard to improve when you replace your best players with castaways. That brings us to my next point:
How many years in a row are we going to be content with 8th place 1st round exits? How many years in a row are we going to fill our lineup with hard-working "Nolan" players?
You know, along with hardworking, they should include somewhere in the "Nolan" player definition: "lacking skill."
If I were the GM, I would disband this group at the trading deadline and rack up as many picks in this year's draft as possible. Perhaps then we'd be able to make a run at the cup in say 3-5 years when DP is in his prime.
Healy,
Think of it as a long term investment. While getting those 2 playoff games per year is nice, getting 5-10 games for multiple years would be better. Wang can afford it.
Healy ... valid point but if anyone has the "cojones" to do just that it's Charlie Wang!!! He's been patient and accepted losses ... sure, he wants to make money but that's what the Lightpath Project is for!!! LOL Seriously, Isles will be in this same 6-10 seed in conference rut for the next 5 years (and never making it past the first round of playoffs) if they don't make some drastic changes ... we need to capitalize on DP while he's young and able to stand on his head most nights ... who knows, maybe he becomes a Martin Brodeur or Dominik Hasek or Mike Richter in his twilight years but that's asking an awful lot for an awful long time. Do you want to bank that DP will be a top 5-10 goalie in this league every year for the next 10 years??? I hope so, but w/ his potential for injury I'd say not.
The biggest flaw w/ all NY teams is the unwillingness to re-load. All the pro teams must seriously under-estimate their fans thinking we can't accept 1 step back for 2 or 3 steps forward. Look at the Knicks as a prime example. Yanks are rare entity that can stay strong w/ top players (and big bucks) and still get a bunch of youngsters that look like real deal players. Isles will never get that b/c 1) money factor 2) free agents won't make Isles their top choice unless we have a solid foundation (which we don't right now) 3) NVMC ... so, we desperately need to load up the future talent (something mad mike failed to do properly) and then shoot for the Cup in 2010 ... 1983 is starting to feel like along ways away don't you think?
It was fun watching them make their way to the playoffs last year. It was fun because we thought they had a nucleous to build on. the lineup that was projected fo rthis year's team was to be one step better than the team that gave the Sabres all they could handle last year.
When Ryan Smith opted to go with a WINNER (eigth seed in the west instead of the east) that plan was scrapped for plan B. Then the self destructing prophecy of getting the best out of a player turned into a nightmare.
Blake.... career year... payday with the leafs... good riddance.
Kozlov... career year... payday with the caps... I can only laugh
Poti....... career year... payday with the caps... again I laugh
Yashin... best year as an Isle... fans tired of him... cut him loose.
Snow goes out and does a great job in assembling a team to replace the one he just lost....
Comrie... I suspect this guy has been playing though injury all year... possibly traded at the deadline... or cut loose in July.
Fedotenko... has not made the step up. solid player... but has not reached expectations... may resign... may opt for a one year deal with a team with more talent to get his FA value higher.
Sutton... EXCELLENT ACQUISITION... is stuck here for two more years... but may also have gotten banged up a few weeks ago and has lost the edge he was playing with. the team just doesn't have the depth to let him sit for a few weeks to heal.
Vasicek... first ten games he easily replaces Kozlov's contribution... then he has a series of incidents that sets him back 3 years in development. He's lost his aggressiveness and only scores garbage goals here and there. WHO IS THIS GUY?
Guerin.. another excellent acquisition, but may have been asked to do too much. He has handled the captaincy like a champ, but where does he fit on this team offensively. He should be a second line wing, but he's asked to be a first liner... and he maynot have the wheels anymore to carry that mail. But he's a gamer, and a far better captain than the one we cut loose.
So if they don't start letting guys like tambellini, Nielsen and Walter play important roles with 30 games left where will this team be in July....
Last year they unloaded Zhitnik just to make time for Campoli... well... now it's time for them to cut loose satan just to make time for Tambellini... And while they're at it, if I'm wrong and Comrie's not hurt and they are going to cut him loose too... then do it now and let Nielsen or Walter take his roster spot.
Show some damn stones and make a little commitment to these guys.
I can't see this team making the same mistakes again this year at the deadline... That said its still 5 weeks away... If it were up to me I would like to see where I stand in 3.5 weeks and then make my decision if these players are expendable... But not satan and comrie... Those guys can go now
KH
Over the next 5 weeks and right up until trade deadline someone here is gonna have to take on the powers of Abraham (not Lincoln), and guide Snow to through the trials and tribulations of these hectic weeks.
How does Garth respond to the burning bush inside of NVMC if the Isles fortunes go south?
Does Garth sacrifice one of his 1st round sons at the request of some higher gods in the NHL?
What about the number 7th son of the the 7th son, Trent Hunter?
Can Garth cast aside the biblically perfect number?
Dare I say that it will take a Wise Jew (or Yoda, or even Mel Brooks--MOICHENDIZING!!!) to help guide him through this time.
Let us all pray.
C'mon 505, all Garth needs to do is preach patience...it worked last summer didn't it? Only question is, how long can he keep that sermon going?
WOW!!!! tsn is a god damn joke....there power rankings released on monday have the isles ranked 25!!!!! 25!?!?!?!? ARE YOU F8888G kidding me ?!!?!?!? the bruins who are 1 game ahead of them are ranked 14....the rags, sabs, hurricanes, and caps are all ranked above them....TSN IS A JOKE!!!!!!!!!
I saw that too islesfan and did exactly the same thing: laugh. I mean, I know the Isles have not been lighting it up lately, but for those teams to still be listed ahead of them is ridiculous.
TSN must continue to rank teams based on pre-season rosters and not actual results in games played.
METS GET SANTANAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Please all stop with the DP having tough games....He has proved time and time again that he is untouchable when it comes to blogging. He is our heart and soul.
CM....Nice to see you quit the chatter on Sillinger. FINALLY!
Regarding TSN's power rankings, I have written to Scott Cullen on numerous occasions and he usually responds to my letters. Here is what I sent him this afternoon...
-------------------------------------------------------------
Scott,
Here's an indicator that TSN simply hates on the Isles. I've done a little research on this week's NHL Power Rankings. Here is how the following major sports sites broke this week down.
ESPN: Isles - 12 Rags - 15
CBS Sportsline: Isles - 16 Rags - 17
Yahoo!: Isles - 18 Rags - 19
Fox MSN: Isles - 15 Rags - 20
Sports Illustrated: Isles - 15 Rags - 22
Average: Isles - 15.2 Rags - 18.6
TSN: Isles - 25 Rags - 17
While TSN comports with the general hockey community's power ranking average regarding the Rangers (18.6 avg v. 17 TSN), TSN clearly disfavors the Isles (15.2 avg v. 25 TSN). That's 10 spots lower than the average of 5 major sports sites.
Scott I'll ask you this. If the Isles continue to play at this same level for the rest of the season--you know inconsistent hockey that keeps them around the 8th seed, are you really going to finnish off your year's power rankings with a playoff team in the 25 spot?
I could understand keeping the Isles lower than 15, maybe at around 20 sounds reasonable. But a playoff team at 25 is just laughable. TSN is so reliable, it discredits the site when such obvious disfavoring appears.
-justin
Let us know his response!!!!!!
505 -- I am only the Wise Jew for marketing advice (and with some help from many on this board). I don't think I'll have access to Garth to share my thoughts on how to build the team.
And Moses came down from the mountain and saw the people had made an idol and yay, they bowed down before the Golden (and brown) Bruin, 4-1 before the Break of All the Stars in the Heavens. And Moses was wroth and flung down the tablets of the playoff berth and smashed them on the ice. And he saith unto the Islanderites that they must return to the Nolan work ethic and the defense of the Lord DP...
(OK, not my best work, but I am in a rush to get out to the game...)
A great, historic day for L'Orange et Bleu de L'Herbe. Let's hope L'Orange et Bleu de la Glace can make it a twofer, by taking TWO!
(This use of the French language has been brought to you by MAB, who will score in victory tonight and officially make Steady his fangirl...)
Well done KH,
That's a keeper.
Mutter that prayer before you chomp into your Nathan's tonight.
Steady
The Met's STOLE Santana
Gonna make the Isles visit to St. Paul all the more uglier in 2 weeks.
And I don't think I can burn any incense or elicit any divine intervention on that one.
Last time I was in the St. Paul Cathedral (1980? quite the structure) I was very lucky to escape without being nailed by the proverbial lightning bolt.
There's something sacrilegious about 8 drunken wedding attendees showing up 10 minutes late, loudly singing "get me to the church on time" as we stumbled through the oaken doors.
Not to mention the $1200 or so in water damage that never got paid to the Radisson St. Paul. (I think we're beyond Statute of Limitations).
Oh those frivolous days of a wellspent youth.
One hell of a trade for my Amazins.
Does Comrie use a mylec street hockey stick? It is like he is shooting a nerf puck. If the goalie sneezes it stops in its tracks.
Hey Captain.....How about a hit or a big goal.....DO SOMETHING!
I waited 5 days for this.....It took them 17 minutes to realize the game had started. I'm telling you the Rags are going to get really hot, so we need to step up!
Bergeron with another lazy pass. That goal was his fault.
Where was Silinger?
Too old to catch up menatlly and physically.
touche
Way to cost us another game MAB you complete and utter MORON!!!
On the ice for three of their goals....Two of them 100% his fault!
WHY DO THEY KEEP THIS GUY ??????
**Sorry for my above vulgarity. The guy just drives me nuts.
Only good news on this game is Bergy had a great effort!
***Candy you are now embarrassing yourself even bringing upo Sillinger. He is our 3rd MVP this year behind DP and Park.
Steady
Sillinger was mentioned because when MAB went behind the net, it was Sillinger's responsibilty to cover Fisher, which he did not do. Sillinger was mentioned only for that play, not the entire year. But you are right, def the 3rd MVP.
Come on guys....That play should never of happened.
Yeah Steadman let's forget about Witt and Martinek and you know the rest of the team that doesn't get scored on every they are on the ice. Silinger is #1!
Silinger has had some big goals as of late, but you're obviously not watching the games as attentively as should someone who takes on the obnoxious tone of voice that you do.
Watch the games man. He is constantly found out of position and he turns over the puck more often than not. He is a weak passer and and a slow skater.
I personally would like to see Johnson eat up a few of MAB's minutes, and honestly use MAB just for te poweplay, and use Johnson for defense. I think Nolan needs to take a long hard look at the kid to see if he has a future with this club.
The Anon above was I, the Candyman. You can't only highlight the good while neglecting to point out his flaws. Silinger's game as slipped greatly this season. He is not in my top 10 for MVP.
MAB played like an idiot tonight. Why not try him out at F instead of AJ?
Does anyone else miss the Barry Manilow commercial overflow?
Just admit you are wrong for once peppermint patty. Funny how that is so hard for you.
You pick on a guy that poors his third line talent on the ice every night. He never takes a night off. He has scored more meaningful goals for us than any other Islander outside of Park.
Yet you choose to pick on him b/c he plays in positions and at times that our top forwards cannot. Blame mgmt for that, not the player. You give our Captain a pass, yet he has done NOTHING !!! Comrie? Tank? Please.....His play dwarfs all of theirs.
Than you bring up defensmen to argue your point....Name the offensive player that has had a better year??? Witt and Martinek are great players.......They have not had a better year than Silly.
Shame you NEVER admit when you are wrong.
Here we go again.
The first headline on the main pages today from the Newsday Ranger gremlins in the headline room:
Senators "TROUNCE" Islanders..
Trounce is too strong of a word.
As was last weeks "rout" headline about the Boston game
Trounce is the perfect word to some frustrated Ranger fans working on the headline desk who saw their own team fail to pickup any ground tonight.
Unbelievable that the powers at Newsday allow that crap.
Fair and balanced.
But the Rangers "fall" to "division leading" Carolina.
How valiant of the Rangers.
What the headline overlooks is that coming into the game the Rangers had a better record than the Canes.
The people working on the headline desk need to be throttled.
Fair and balanced
But the Rangers "fall" to "division leading" Carolina.
How valiant of the Rangers.
What the headline overlooks is that coming into the game the Rangers had a better record than the Canes.
The people working on the headline desk need to be throttled.
Fairly and with balance
505:
hahaha which one is the typo?
First one didn't go through right away so I edited the 2nd one
Except for the fact that I had a nice time in section 329 with some very very devoted Islander fans (though all of them are Yankee fans, so I couldn't savor the Santana news with them), this was a frustrating game. I don't know how it seemed to those watching on the TV, but we weren't really outplayed. Several bonehead plays (including two atrocities by MAB) were the difference in the game. The Sens did NOT dominate the ice, pin us in our own end for long stretches, etc. We were right there with them and in fact controlled play for sustained stretches and generated some really nice chances. Gerber outplayed DP. I know it's blasphemy -- and believe me I am a HUGE Ricky fan -- but on this night, he was outplayed.
Games like this make you realize we're only a couple players away from really being among the better teams in the conference. We acquire one big D man by trading underperforming assets (for Campbell, who the Sabres have to know they won't sign, contingent on a negotiating window like the Mets have with Santana?) and bring up Okposo/Tamby/Nielsen(?) and maybe we go a couple rounds (plus the late-season and playoff experience for the kids would be invaluable...)
Unfortunately, I don't get to be Moses. But I am hoping Ted went biblical on the Islanderites after the game for their stiff-necked defiance of the commandments (see above).
I know this is nothing new on this board, but I was wowed by Comeau. He is all over the ice, he hits, he makes smart plays, he does daring things with the puck without getting burned. This is an exciting young talent. Let's call up some more exciting young talent!
P.S. I know the Campbell trade above is absurd... what do we have that Buf would want beyond the end of this season? If they trade him, they trade him for picks or young talent.
I've said this before in my previous blogs: Keep the kids down there for now. Most trades are not going to be made by any team at this point until the trade deadline. Until this current, low scoring team is out of contention, keep with the status quo. It may only be a few more weeks before any deals can be made anyways.
But I have to agree with KH, and letting Comeau get more ice time on the top two lines.
I know this can be a frustrating team to watch, but I would rather let the kids develop a little more this year, and then get a really good player in the draft, and see how training camp goes.
KH, don't forget Walter down in the minors as well. Was supposed to be Comeau's line mate down in Bridgeport.
Ole Steadman,
Very good Einstein you're one real rocket scientist pointing out how the Isles forwards have done nothing this season. What does that have to do with my point?
Sil does pour his heart into every game. He just simply isn't physically capable of competing throughout an 82 game schedule.
What am I supposed to admit I am wrong about?
I said Sil was partly responsible for the 4th goal. (He was and Jaffe agreed with me during his broadcast). I said SIly constantly turns the puck over and is slow and is a weak passer. He is all of the above.
Oh and Pepper Mint Pattys are NEVER wrong!
Moses, very good observations on the overall tone of the game--although you can see how a team like Ottawa moves the puck tape to tape so much better than the Isles.
I was ready to pounce on Comrie, but for the most part, he had a good game. The setup on the Berard PP goal was one of the prettiest plays of the year--and so rarely seen from this team. That's the kind of puck movement that need to be consistently shown on the PP. Alas, we still need finishers, and there are not many.
It's funny how MAB and Steady are joined in my head like some Rohrschach (sp?) test. When he coughed up the puck for the back- breaking goal in the 3rd, all I think of was some guy in Boston tearing up his basement! But I should note that as mentioned above, for a veteran, Sillinger has his own surprising inconsistencies--especially throwing the puck blindly up the middle at least once a game.
505, maybe I'll see you in Minny next week. It may be the only place I see the guys win.
Thank you Merrickkkkk!
Someone else has noticed as well. You can join the group of people who watch the entire game. It's an exclusive club.
Merrick,
"505, maybe I'll see you in Minny next week. It may be the only place I see the guys win."
I won't be there.
Opted for a rags game at the NVMC 03/06.
have a coupla guys here, one who has never seen a live hockey game and another (an Isles fan) who has never beento or seen a game in NY.
The worst team in the NHL is coming to town!!!
Can we break our 0 for January at home?
"Sil does pour his heart into every game. He just simply isn't physically capable of competing throughout an 82 game schedule."
Don't know about that, since he's gotten much better as the season's gone on, rather than starting out hot and then cooling down. So far, Marty and Campy seem to have more trouble with the length of schedule and the physical rigors involved there. The older guys seem to just take more time to get going - Sillinger, Guerin - heck, even Brodeur started out slow and everyone was saying he was finished. I'd take Sillinger on my team any day...it's most of the six forwards in front of him that are embarrassing themselves, imo.
That said, his faceoff ability, leadership, and ability to put in a couple of goals as well will probably make him somewhat popular as a depth center come the deadline, and if they can get a decent prospect or pick for him, that's something to consider.
I refrained from making any pre-game or post-game comments because I didn't want my remarks skewed by how I felt about the Isles probably / actual performance against a hungry Ottawa team.
I think we know after half a season .. even with the Jekyl and Hyde routine that the Isles have played all season .... where the Isles are in the NHL food chain.
They are a 6-10 team in the conference. Love the team warts and all ... I see disagreements between posters on here ... and even with that I sometimes can see both points of view's arguements. You just have to look at it from that person's expectations for a player.
Take Silly ... I think playing the role that he's playing ... his output is about right... especially considering his age. He's scored some key goals this month and carried the team when others had fallen.
On the other hand ... Silly sometime has brain farts ... or doesn't show up for one shift and it ends up hurting the team .. because I think sometimes his linemates rely on him for 100% all the time. It's not humanly possible ... especially if you are killing penalties. I look at the Isles as an old car with some new parts ... a great car that gets you where you want to go. However, there are knocks and pings ... the some of the spark plugs aren't working and just need to be changed out for new ones.
I'll leave it at that and comment later this evening more.
Candy Man ( I think on the man part).....What are you even doing back on this blog? You got bored on your own pathetic creation?
Easy with the "Einstein" comments lolly pop kid. We do not have to get imature do we? Want to talk about the fact I crush you in the game of life? Stick to the topic of hockey sunshine.
Sorry I do not write on 5 blogs a day and proof read my work as if it is a piece of art.
TRY LISTENING (or reading) You are one of those people that do not listen(or read) to what others say. You just like to hear yourself talk (or write.)
How about some humility. YOU WERE WRONG ALL YEAR !!!
All year you have stuck up for MAB, Comrie, and Guerin. All year you have put down Sillinger. Take a poll which guy has meant more to this team. Come the trade deadline, Sillinger will fetch more than any of those other guys.
Go read all your past post putting Silly down. You look and act like a fool. The grinders on this team have kept us in this race. That is a simple fact.
Last night......YES Silly should of gotten back a little quicker. Yet the play should of never happened. Your boy MAB gave the puck away. He blindly sent the puck right to the Ottawa forward. Rather than beat him up, you blame the guy that had to turn around and get back. Comical
I am done arguing with you for good. You don't listen to anyone anyway. all you do is talk down to people b/c you created a blog that three people read and post on. Good to see all your childhood dreams came true!
LETS GO ISLANDERS !!!
I just have to say that I have had it with MAB. Please sit his butt down until you can make a trade. Oh and let me add Satan to that list too. For a sniper he sure does miss the net alot. Time to move on IMO. Lets take Satan and Hunter and one more under-acheiver and trade them for enogh assets that we can package together for Campbell. We don't have what Buffalo wants right now, but it does not mean we can't trade for it and then move it along for Campbell. Then bring up some of the young guys from Bridgeport to fill Satan and others spots.
Johson is an upgrade over MAB and he likes to shoot the puck on the PP. He can move the puck well and has decent skills for a D-man. Now lets play the guy and say good riddance to MAB. To me MAB is like the field goal kicker on a football team; scrawny little misfit that can't throw, catch or tackle but he can kick the ball a country mile and is only an asset when he scores points. Miss some kicks and your useless. For MAB, don't score on the PP or generate offense than you too are useless. Time for some Ben-gay in the jock and a seat in the press box.
Now we know why EDM got rid of MAB for a bag of pucks.
Steady,
I come here to state my opinion. I dislike many of the things SIlinger does on the ice. You call me an embarrasment. And I'm the immature one?
The only thing steady about you is that you steadily are enfatuated with the grinders. Grinders are great but you can't win Cups on a team of all grinders. Sil's time is done and he should be shipped at the deadline for a decent pick (listen to upstateIsles).
I do listen to others, it's only you that I don't listen to--b/c you're the only one on this blog who attacks every point of view that I have. (You also make up things like that I endorsed Comrie and Guerin). If you happened to read my "pathetic" blog (which receives about 500-1000 hits per day and as many as 50 comments per post, far more than any blog from the Isles blog box) you would know that if there is one player on the Isles that I despise more than Silinger, it's Comrie.
I left this Newsday blog b/c of the attack dogs like you. You make it unpleasant for others to honestly state their opinion. I point out Silinger's flaws (he has plenty) and now I act and "look" like a fool. You are enfatuated with the Candyman aren't you? You can't help yourself.
Back off man.
Why don't we calm our heated tempers with a fond look at the goal Hemsky scored 2 seasons ago on the Sta