The Islanders’ mathematical focus just shifted from making the playoffs to maintaining a top-five position in an NHL draft touted as the deepest in years. At least, that’s how I interpret the organization’s decision to send goaltender Rick DiPietro for an MRI examination today of the hip injury he suffered in the All-Star Game skills competition on Jan. 26.
It’s an injury that DiPietro knew would linger the rest of the season and that hasn’t prevented him from playing to this point. But the 13th-place Islanders are nine points out of a playoff spot with nine games left, including tonight’s match with Toronto at the Coliseum. Unlike last season, when they made a miracle run to qualify while DiPietro was sidelined by a concussion, they have a team totally decimated by injuries.
Should the MRI reveal an injury of any magnitude to DiPietro, which it likely will do, the club can be expected to shut him down for the season rather than hang him out to dry behind a patchwork lineup for the final eight games. They’re not going to allow the franchise goaltender to be abused like a piñata.
That’s the job of backup Wade Dubielewicz, who has been hung out to dry a few times this season. “Dubie” starts tonight against the Maple Leafs, and Joey Morrison has been called up from Bridgeport to serve as the backup for the foreseeable future.
Islanders coach Ted Nolan acknowledged DiPietro’s absence from the lineup at the morning skate today and said results of the MRI will be evaluated tomorrow. “He’s been having it for a while,” Nolan said of DiPietro’s hip injury. “It’s the same as our team. We have nine guys out of the lineup, and we have two guys that probably shouldn’t be playing tonight. It’s one of those things where the injury bug hit us, and unfortunately, it hit Ricky.”
Of course, anyone familiar with Dubielewicz knows he has no intention of dumping games to improve the Islanders’ draft status. Certainly, the Toronto media had no trouble recalling his play in a 5-2 Isles win over the Leafs in the final week of last season. Dubie won four straight games in that stretch, including a shootout win at New Jersey on the last day to put the Islanders into the playoffs.
“Yeah, that game was fun, and I’m quite sure Toronto fans watched his heroics in the New Jersey game, too,” Nolan said. “That put us in the playoffs and knocked Toronto out. So, Dubielewicz is very capable, and that’s why you have two goaltenders…Wade’s a great story within himself. This guy is a battler, and I wouldn’t put anything past him. He’s a treat to watch compete, and the players are going to play hard for him.”
If the Islanders had a serious chance of making the playoffs, the MRI for DiPietro could have waited, and a few other players on the injured list would be pushing themselves to get back in the lineup. But why should anyone risk further injury under the current circumstances when they can use the extra time now to get healthy for next season?
Fans still are likely to see a good effort from a team featuring the NHL debut of top 2006 draft pick Kyle Okposo tonight and a roster full of young players who are auditioning for spots on next season’s team. Nolan was supportive of Okposo’s decision to leave the University of Minnesota in January and he likes the reports he’s received from Bridgeport coach Jack Capuano, but he cautioned against expecting too much too soon.
“Any time you have a good young player coming in your organization, there’s always that optimism,” Nolan said. “Here’s a good young kid, similar to Ricky coming into our lineup years ago. But you don’t want to put too much expectation on a kid early. You’ve got to let him get his feet wet and let him develop a little bit. People start comparing him to certain players in this league, and it’s an unfair judgment. He’s got to be who he is, and his skill will dictate that.”
From here on out this season, it’s all about the future.
Comments (66)
Smart Move….Stamkos, Dougherty, Beech etc. here we come.
I'm glad to see Rick isn't playing. In fact, I don't want to see him again for the rest of the year. He's obviously hurt and can serve no other purpose than to ruin the team's chance at the number one draft choice. God forbid this team drafts a highly skilled, offensive franchise player... That might lead to some scoring, which could potentially mean winning some games, and, dare I even consider it, a playoff series victory somewhere down the road. There's absolutely no need for him to lace up the skates again this year.
I'm not entirely sure why there's back and forth over Okposo coming up here. Gentlemen, there is but one single solitary way to become an NHL player, and that is to play in the NHL.
I want to see Bergenheim, Comeau, Collition getting 18 minutes a game from here on out. Anything less is a failure to understand what the long term, best interest of the franchise is.
I hope Okposo does well tonight.
Oh, so now DP does have an injury? I'm sorry but this organization is a joke when it comes to handling injuries. Why all the secret crap? I understand during the playoffs, but this typical day-to-day means one month BS is really old.
And what is up with DP? We gave him a 15 year contract and he has been hurt EVERY year!!!!! Is he glass??? I'm a little tired of his pouting BS that Steady pointed out. You make a lot of money and you are a professional, STOP POUTING YOU IMMATURE BABY AND GROW UP!!!! Maybe if you let in less than 4 goals a game you would have played against the Rangers. He has been ridiculous since his so-called "All Star start".
You come back from hip surgery that quickly and play the much you are probably going to have some issues. The joint still needs time to settle into place.
That takes time.
Hopefully Rick gets a long relaxing offseason under his belt. He needs it not to mention deserves it. If it wasn't for DP I think this team would be lucky to have 10 wins this season.
I agree - DP is trying to be something he's not. He wants to be the horse that the team can rely on for 65-70 games a year, but his injury history and loud, athletic style prevent him from ever being that goaltender. He needs to play no more than 55-60 games a season, and the Islanders need to sign a 1A goaltender (Esche? I actually wonder every day what would've happened if Legace had signed here - I know Snow pushed for him) to share the load with DP. Dubie COULD be that guy - we all know he hasn't had a large body of work in the NHL to prove either way. If he is, Nolan needs to act like a COACH and rely on him more extensively. If he isn't, he needs to go in favor of another goaltender who can shoulder that burden. The contract means that DP has an obligation to do what's best for the team, not to do his best Martin Brodeur impersonation in some vain attempt to "prove" himself worthy of the contract. The one who is truly worthy of the contract and the franchise tag is the one that puts TEAM first.
This is not a knock on DP - just an honest look at his physical shortcomings. He will never have Brodeur-level endurance, but he can provide us with outstanding goaltending WITHIN HIS MEANS.
Wade Dubielewicz gets the start tonight and Joey MacDonald has been recalled from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. Rick DiPietro will have an MRI on his hip this afternoon and the Islanders expect to have results on Wednesday.
So all along, once again we hide the fact DP is hurt, continue to play him, so he doesnt get P-off, and have him for another 13 yrs??? I love DP, being a ex goalie and all, and now facing 2 torn groin muscles, and a bad hip, which will supposedly take at least 3 months to heal properly, if all goes as plan with my physical therapy...WHY DO WE CONTINUALLY RUSH BACK OUR FRANCHISE PLAYER??? we might as well trade him, if he has to go for another hip operation, or has any minor hip injury, his career might as well be over!! I dont want to see him leave, I think he is a top goaltender in the league and can lead a team us to a stanley cup, with the right team infront of him, but if this injury keeps reoccurring, then we really need to rethink keeping DP!!! Or, instead of allowing him to play 95% of the games, we need to trade for a we established, solid back up goalie who we can depend on and play at least 25 games a season, or even more...its the only way we can try and keep DP healthy and have him play great hockey for the next 13 seasons...And i understand the reasons behind DP playing with his injury, the hopes of leading us into the playoffs...but you cant selfish and foolish which will ultimately hurt you in the end, which as we can see has hurt him..Thats another reason we need a solid backup...i think DUBIE has shown he can be that solid backup, but he needs more ice time, to keep his game solid...so either give it to him and let him prove his worth to the team, or trade for a solid back up who has already proven his worthiness to a team...
Im really excited to see Okposo play tonight, i wanted to get to the game, but being out of work with this horrible groin injury, stil waitin for my disablity check, im broke so i will be forced to watch it on my 52 inch HD tv.....I think bringing Okposo up was a good decision overall....It doesnt give him much time to think about the negatives, if faced with any in this 9 game span.. I think it will give him a taste of the NHL, and gain experience and knowledge on what he really needs to improve on to be the player WE FANS are hoping he turns out to be...I really liked how he answered the question about living up to the high expectations and he answered, no i take it as a challenge...that def. shows that he is a determined hockey player who WILL work very hard to improve his game and BECOME the player we ALL HOPE he will be...I cross my fingers that i am correct about that....
I also am excited about this years draft...As i said previsously i dont follow much of the minors coming into the draft, but all i keep hearing is how deep it is, and this kid STAMKOS...I looked him up on youtube, and found a few videos of his play...cant really determine hwo good he is from them, but he did have a beautiful breakaway goal in the skills competition.....I hope we can get a top 3 pick, and we either grab STAMKOS, or another highly skilled offensive player we can put on a line with Okposo...And i also cross my fingers, snow doesnt draft a defensemen or ANOTHER GOALIE!!!!!! we need offense.....we need speed....and we need excitement....
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!
Well said Frei...... all points...especially the 20 minutes a game for the kids.
As far as all of this other talk about the "secrecy" about DP's (and others) injuries.....C'mon guys the "Cone of Silence" about injuries in the NHL is as old as Edward Platt's decaying bones.
Every team throws a cloak over aches and pains.
As long as there are Avery's out there (and there are A LOT of them), there will be players on opposing teams that will try to "accentuate" an injury during a game.
It's no big deal.....
tonysac
"i wanted to get to the game, but being out of work with this horrible groin injury, stil waitin for my disablity check, im broke so i will be forced to watch it on my 52 inch HD tv....."
Only in America.
505........I should of stated, due to the extreme pain i am facing, with the uncontrolable aching i encounter during long periods of standing or sitting i will be unable to make the game....and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!
tonysac,
Ease your pain.
Invite DP, Sim, Sillinger, Campoli, Gervais, Hilbert, Sutton, Bates, Witt, (who am I forgetting?, I am SO CONFUSED!!) over to watch the game.
Tell Hilbert to buy the beer but don't let him serve any, unless you have a lot of paper towels in the house.
do you think anybody really cares how big ur TV is
505....GOOD IDEA!!! If your disabled due to injury, job related only, feel free to come over and watch the game at mi casa.....and even better idea with hilbert not serving the beer...we all know he cant hit an open net, god only knows he cant pour a beer into a mug....
Rick i was hoping YOU would care how big my tv was....Its been my ultimate goal this season to impress you with how big of a tv i have..Hoping with that, you would become my friend, and come over and watch islander games with me, along with all the injured islanders..DID IT WORK????
DP injures the hip again?
Gee. I wonder how many saw this coming? While he's at it, let them take a look at his shoulder too.
I must say the rest of the season is nothing more than a big scouting event for the Islanders: who stays and who goes in the off-season; are the kids ready to make the jump to the NHL; is our backup goalie capable of 20 games and have a winning record; where will be in the draft order etc etc.
Would like to see some potential out of Okposo tonight.
DP should go on a long vacation
Excited 2 c Kyle play 2nite
Lets go Isles!!!
Oh Boy!!! I'm going to attempt to keep this short ... we all have a game to watch tonight after all.
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First I'm going to make a comment about the whole DP situation.
505 nailed it ... the "Cone of Silence" is pervaisive not only in the NHL .. but in all sports .... and for good reason. I think 505's mention of the Avery type player looking to exploit an opponent's injury is Exibit 'A' and the only exibit you need to justify the secrecy.
That said ... if the injury was known by the coaching staff they should of began to wind DP down... even in the middle of the playoff chase. Why? Because with DP's contract there is more at stake than to shoot for a 6th - 8th place finish. DP hasn't looked good since he "tweaked his F'n hip" at the all-star skills competition. The stats don't lie. Even Logan pointed out his save % before and after. We've seen DP labor in his lateral movements and cheat a bit which got him caught out of position in and around the net sometimes.
The last game I was at was at the Rock against the Devils. I think they lost that one 4-2. On that day in the arena there was a buzz about Sillinger being out for the rest of the season b/c of hip surgery. One of my friends that was with us is an orthopaedic surgeon and made some comments about DP's past surgery. He said that even though doesn't do arthroscopy (I think that is what he said is a hip doctor) he does know a bit about the proceedure and healing time.
He admitted that he doesn't know the exact proceedure that DP had ... whether it was total hip replacement or just a hip resurfacing. He said if it was a total hip replacement he thought DP had come back way to soon ... that in order to put on stress that an average person would put on the hip takes about 3 months ... and for an athelete to perform the high stress activities that would be forced on the hip he figured an extra month or 2. He said if it was just resurfacing that he could cut the time off by a month .. and that it makes it easier to do a revision. I didn't read the article about DP yet .. so I don't know which one DP had ... but my friend said it looked like DP was laboring ... and he'd seen DP in the previous games and he noticed a big difference in the way he moved.
The thing that alarms me is the title of the article "Rick DiPietro out for MRI exam"... When I mentioned to my friend Marc that the Isles should just secretly send DP for an MRI exam ... Marc said ... nah uh.... the thing about either hip proceedure is that the metal implant prevents an MRI or X-Ray from seeing any wear or damage.. and it will block the imager from seeing if there is bone wear too. I'm not expert ... I'm just passing along what I was told the last game before the trade deadline.
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Okposo:
Look ... I don't expect Okposo to be the second coming of Mike Bossy ... he's got talent ... and he's proved he can succeed so far at all the levels he's played at. Sure... he'll make some mistakes ... that is expected. We've seen our vets do it all year. I just think this is a great learning experience for KO and it gives us fans something to cheer for down the strectch. Win Win as far as I'm concerned. I'm not worried about his confidence .. he seems like a very level headed guy.
Good Luck Kyle!!!
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Nolan:
Nolan isn't perfect either ... but what he did with this team before the Injury / Flu bug-a-boo was pretty impressive as far as I'm concerned. The PP might be a good issue to hold over him ... but really now ... Garth is the one who traded MAB ... and if Nolan didn't like MAB so much ... he wouldn't of played him on the PP... Right?
I think that combo of the loss of MAB's blue line offense, injuries and the flu bug were just more than the team could endure .... I mean come on!!!! They were only winning one goal games when they were 95%- 100% .... am I right? So put a team on the ice that Nolan can coach.
Nolan ... warts and all is an exceptional coach that maybe can't make lobster salad out of a can of cat food ... but he made it more paletable for much of the season. Right Steady?
Oooooopppsss .... I failed to keep it short....
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tonysac ~ sahweeet TV dude.
You should just have Hilbert clean up after the party
Ya know ....we got EXACTLY what we asked for in January ... or was it December? .. I forget .... this roller coaster ride had more ups and downs than an Elliot Spitzer appoinment at the "special" massage therapist's office.
We wanted youth ... we wanted to see what the kids could do .... well ... now we get the reality of our prospects full brutal force down our throats.
From my perspective I see some promise in some players... as has been touted and praised on this board by a lot of you guys.
Kyle Okposo will be nice to see for the last 9 games ... I said it in the fall ... and I'll reiterate ... because I have to stand by my previous words .... I'd rather see the Isles lose with the kids playing hard for a job ... than to watch some of the clowns we have / had bore me to tears in a 1 goal loss.
So season #2 starts for me tonight .... after the loss in Montreal ... I finally succumed to the reality of NO SHOT IN HELL!!! I don't need a math lesson from Howie Rose and Billy Jaffe to tell me the playoff hopes are over.
GAME ON!!!! Let's GO T.O.!!! Kyle 3 goals 2 assists ... Dube gets yanked in the second and Isles lose 7-6.
Rollercoaster ride into the home stretch ... Arms upppp!!! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!
HEY!!
19Isles...
I called a 7-6 game at the end of the previous blog.
Except I spread the scoring out a little more.. In fact I even gave Hilbert credit for scoring one, which he would now have to do from TonySac's living room. (I am SO CONFUSED by all of these injuries.......who the hell is playing tonight??)
"Scorecards, getchur scorecards.....who needs a scorecard!!"
(Flashback to my old Harry M vendoring days at MSG).
Ice chips ~~~
Okposo #21 .... He didn't pick it ... it was selected for him. He was #9 at Minnesota ... obviously that isn't available. #12 at the Bridge .... and is available ... why isn't he wearing #12??? Hymmmmmmmmmmm whose # was that? I guess they don't want Nolan to be thinking about Simon every time he sees Okposo ... but I say .... why not .... that means he'd end up playing KO a lot .... and put him on the PP. Can't hurt ... right?
OK ... that is my wise crack for the night....
KO will probably get some good time tonight anyway ... he's playing with Park and Comeau ... and they have been consistently been getting lots of time the last 2 weeks.
Pre-game is on ..... ha .... Deb is talking about the # thing now...
Later Skaters
LOL 505 .... we'll see how the game ends later ... if we nail it .. it will be a combined Oracle moment .... hey Steady! You see 7-6 on your scoresheet?
Uh yeah you mean Joey MacDonald.
Yes 19Isles, I agree......
Despite where this team is right now, and where it is headed this year on the downside of the Great Adventure Kingda King roller coaster......
I have had an ABSOLUTE BLAST, and have thoroughly enjoyed the season. Well worth the buck 50 investment in Center Ice and the money spent on a coupla road trips to watch the boys.
Ted Nolan kept this squad entertaining, if nothing else.
(Even if his system of play CRIPPLED most of the squad).
And, even now, I look forward to watching ALL THE KIDS over the last 9 games.
In the immortal words of some goat or something in Chicago....
GET 'EM NEXT YEAR!!
BTW, re- KO's number............2 + 1 =?????
I hate to be a wet blanket but I am hoping the Isles lose the rest of their games for a better pick. I really don't want us to win this game tonight. Especially against a Toronto team we a jockeying for draft position.
If anyone wants to talk about the game or anyother Isles related issues.
IslandersPirateHaven;
http://z9.invisionfree.com/IslandersPirateHaven/index.php?act=idx
Can you handle the freedom?
Leafs are responding in the Stamkos lottery by sitting Sundin and Antropov tonight...
EXACTLY MY POINT (West Coast Fan)
Come on everybody WAKE UP !!! DP is fine. You think it is a coinkydink that all these guys are out ????? If they tell you guys are just sitting than the fans would REVOLT !!! So they say they have tweaks, or flu's, or other injuries.
Antropov is FINE!!! All of the players in the NHL could say they have an injury right now. They are all injured. The teams that are out of it are USING THAT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE!!!
**All I am doing is watching Kyle tonight...Early on I like the way he parks himself right in front of the net. Looks a little tired getting back, but it is early. We shall see ! **
OMG!!!! DAVISON GOALLLL!!!!! The longest goal of the season
His name is # 3.... Please do not make the mistake again or suffer my wrath :) !!!
Figures that piece of SH^T scores the one time we do not want him to !!
p.s For all those complaining about the fact the Isles hide their injuries .... Ummmm, I can name another team that does that and their coach is considered an absolute genius fior doing so...Pats
All teams these days hide their injuries. I hate our bobbles more than ANYONE, but that I cannot blame them for. IMO
Steady .... I'm a Yankee fan ... I can't call him #3 ... that number has a whole different meaning to me .... however ... I'll call him #1+#2 .... and I was thinking the same thing ... I was like ... the guy can't even lose right.
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You have to hide your injuries .... if you don't you put a target on the player's body that is hurt. Why the league even makes teams disclose that there is an injury in the first place is stupid.
Comrie had a shoulder injury during the playoffs last season .... and as far as I'm concerned ... he still has it .... shut him down too and get that taken care of.... then bring Walter back up.
"Figures that piece of SH^T scores the one time we do not want him to !! "
THAT IS EXACTLY what I said when that GD 12 hopper skidded by Toskala.
Gotta give Nolan credit though, he had him there on the PK.
Attaboy Davison, (what's his number?), just got 2 minutes for High Sticking. Let Martinek serve it for him.
Did anyone else hear TonySac's scream from LI when Coliakovo(sp) blew his groin on the Bergie check.
Damn you Dubie......get soft.....Atlanta has a chance to win tonight.
Why is Dubie playing so HOT tonight??!!
Regarding Toronto ~ Is this what the Islanders look like when they pour shots on goal and can't get one in?
The anonymous above 19Isle was me.
The Islander505 above is not..
Okay, if I can take a page out of the Howie Rose Wet Dream Destroyer book,,,,,has Dubie ever PITCHED A SHUTOUT?
Comeau and KO look very comfortable with each other.
Comrie and Guerin have put a stamp on their envelopes.
I think Mcdonald should start the 3rd.
C'mon Isles.....St Louis and Atlanta are both tied 1-1 in their games...
IT"S A 4 POINT SWING NIGHT GUYS!!
Any chance of signing Joe Pisarcik to quarterback any power plays in the 3rd?
Rangers in-between periods had 3 past players race around the ice on BIG WHEELS. Talk about a dog and pony show....CLASSLESS
What's next, Billy Crystal will play net ?
NEVER make fun of the Isles again. You will NEVER see Bossy or one of our past H.O.F on a big wheel to sell tickets as a silly p.r event. Sad. Embarrassment to NY!
505 ~ Your Rose Wet Dream post worked ... I refreshed my browser and about a minute after I read your post TO scored.
Nice!!!
Funny thing is ... I still cursed when they were scored against ..... habit.
One big observation ... the kids speed aren't giving the Leafs much chance to set anything up .... they are forcing the play ... especially at the points ... the Leafs are going to have to do something on the rush again to get something going.
KO is getting more and more comfortable ... last few shifts he's helped get the offense going.
So much for 7-6 game eh 505? LOL!
That is more like it
I completely understand everyone wanting the 1st pick overall....SO DO I !!
Yet at the end of the day....YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE ....I do not like to be considered the worst. Not in me....Should not be in any NYer !!!
It means we are that much further away from the place we want to be.
Well, I liked the effort, but I liked the outcome even more.
By the way, if anyone wants a good laugh, head over to NHL.com. They link to a feature on the Ducks website touting how MAB is ready to step in for Pronger and lead the Anaheim PowerPlay...it might be the best piece of comedy writing I've seen in a very long time.
Steady ... I doubt very much LA will catch the Isles ... too far out. I find it hard rooting against the Isles ... doesn't feel natural at all. I liked the energy .... and Comrie? I found myself rooting for him to score at the end there .... but HE has ZERO zip on his shots... shut him down and get a scope in that shoulder ... we still have a year now invested in that shoulder.
I give Kyle a B+ ... he did everything but score or get an assist. I was slightly impressed. He brings a few different tools that not one player on the team has shown me .... and Colliton opened my eyes a bit too .... and Meyer ... is he getting better and better? Or is that just me?
LOL Nick ... I read that piece on the Ducks & MAB yesterday ... classic.
19ISles....You bring up a great point.
My 4 yr olds shot is stronger than Comries. His shoulder is putty. The Bobbleheads give him another year deal.
It is mind boggling.
Steady,
"....I do not like to be considered the worst. Not in me..."
I don't like it either, but it is what it is. Injuries to the D in the 2nd ripped the heart and soul out of the squad. This was a defensive team that lost it's defense.
There comes a point when you gotta look to next year and do everything you can to improve next year's hopes.
If that mean scrambling for a better draft pick and starting next year's preseason tryouts right now, so be it.
Just my opinion.
And remember....we're still in the hunt for the Hummer Challenge.
Nolan is kinda ripping the vets in the post game presser.... saying the vets gotta compete ... lead the way.... he liked the energy from the kids ... ironic eh? He looked totally aggrevated.
19Isles
"..and Meyer ... is he getting better and better? Or is that just me?"
Meyer has gone beyond silver lining in the season.
He has been outstanding.
If Campoli and Gervais recover okay, and Martinek stays healthy, I am REALLY LIKING OUR D next year.
I liked what I saw of Spiller tonight as well......let's see more of him..
Where's Fata?
KO had his chance to bring the crowd to it's feet tonight....
On the 3rd period wraparound.
Toskala was down on the ice.
I was hoping he would "pull a move" and pick the puck up with his stick and do a lacrosse -like net plant with it over the prone Toskala.
That would have made more than a few highlight clips.
Someday.
STL and MON are 3-3 in the 3rd and Legace is standing on his head fighting off a never-ending power play. (one after another).
C'mon Blues. At least get the point.
505 I concur on the D ... I'd like to see Fata get another look. Spiller didn't look lost ...
About what you said about losing our D in the 2nd half ... absolutely on the spot. They certainly were the heart and soul of this team. We never were scoring during the season. The few 4 and 5 goal games the Isles did manage to have were anomolies. Which is why I said earlier ... what does anyone expect ... since we were getting our wins by one goal in the first place.
Next season there should be a few more kids sticking... Tamby even had a nice game. I think he needs to be put with a finisher ... it seemed to me he was blowing past Guerin with the puck ... and needs a passing partner ... I think he needs a bit more confidence and has to shoot the biscuit.
A top 5 draft pick this season (Stamkos would be great) ... and the Isles have the making of a pretty competitive team in a couple of years.
We've been down this road before ... but different ownership and management. Although they aren't perfect ... I think I have more patience than I did back then and would like to see the Isles build a core from within than to play free agent roulette.
"Nolan is kinda ripping the vets in the post game presser.... saying the vets gotta compete"
See my post above re Comrie and Guerin stamping the envelopes.
Loved Joe Backtothenet on the last PP. He's in the offensive corner skating back and forth by himself (with his back to the net, of course) and the Toronto guy is simply shadowing him from about 10 ft away.
IT'S A POWER PLAY JOE!!!
Not a PK
505 ... yeah ... That Okposo wrap around attempt really stuck out for me ... the way he came around down the boards ... and turned on the jets to get around the D .. then chugged behind the net and all he need to try to do (which is very hard at that speed by the way) ... when he came from behind the net was jam on the breaks and pull up and roof it. That is a scorers goal kinda shot .. most players can't do that at that speed / level. Patty LaFontaine did it on several occasions.
I just realized something.......all my earlier posts about injured players going over to TonySac's......I forgot about Fedotenko......
hmmm.....good idea.....who's Fedotenko?
STL gets a point....they are fighting their own losing streak.....and they ARE fighting. C'mon, get a cheapie in OT.
No draft pick on JD's mind right now.
Thatta Boy Kyle!!!!
In Kyle's post game interview he describes the wrap around chance and said if he realized he had that much time he'd of tried a move instead of rushing the shot.
I think next time he has that chance we'll see something special.
GEEZUS, Chris Jackman just pulled a Hilbert in OT.
Blues win in the shootout.....excellent.
Bad news is that they go to Ottawa Thursday.
505 ~ Reading your last post about St. Louis kinda gets a reaction like this ......
"Blues win in the shootout.....excellent"
OH YEAHHHH!!!!!!!!
"Bad news is that they go to Ottawa Thursday."
OH NOOOOOO!!!!!!
Actually 505 .... Ottawa hasn't played that well since the break either ... and St. Louis has much better talent then their record states ..... even though I'm from the same school as Steady that says you are only as good as what your record says you are.
What a game, i must say i enjoyed watchin the game with all the injured islanders, and 505...Tank never showed up...Got lost on the way, too bad he didnt have Okposo's GPS handy.....KO impressed me, I thought he had a solid game and i believe we will be more impressed as these 8 games pass...Very good position player..Great back check towards the end of the game, and beautful wrap around, i was also hoping to see him shed some ice and put the puck top shelf, but he had to much speed comin around the net.. AND his first shot on net in the first period, beautifully placed shot..., .Comeau continues to impress me every game, this kids hockey sense is just phenominal, but he needs to shoot the puck a little more..Bergie, well he def is the most improved younster.. and who ever asked if everyone heard me yell when torontos player pulled his groin...Lets just say, Unfortunately i feel his pain...its the worst injury i have ever received...Dubie stood on his head....what else is new, our goalies have to stand on their heads every game in order for us to compete.....
OK, and honestly, WHY is johnson still up????? he really needs more time in the minors to work on his positioning, keeping his head up when he skates, play the body, and stop taking penalties because he is out of position....Bring FATA back up...im sick of #2...And i hate to say this, because ive been a huge berard fan ever since we drafted him, but he makes such terrible low quality passes...He's caused so many turnovers on the PP at the point, its ridiculous...I still love the guy, but hes gotta make smarter passes...
Reiger looked pretty good on the PK TONIGHT...BIG KID, would of like to see him get an opportunity on the PP and place himself infront of the net, which they said he loves to do in bridgeport!!!
Guerin, Comrie, Satan, are MIA....they honestly have disappeared on the ice and its embarassing....these guys are gettin outplayed by the youngsters..it looks like they have NO DESIRE to even be on the ICE!!! so you know what...bench them, and give the kids more ice time...OH and tambellini....i dont know, i see something in this kid, i know alot of us have had negative feelings about him, but with the more ice time hes getting i see more and more positives...the kid can skate with the puck, he has a wicked wrist shot as we saw during the shootout..he jus tneeds to use that shot more during the game...As someone else stated, he was FLYING past Guerin...and he def needs a finisher on his line...
OH and before i forget, last night i had a dream davision was going to score a goal...I forgot to post it before the game, and when he scored i was like holy shiatzu..but he still stinks...
Its time to get our 1st round pick, to get HEALTHY, and to SIGN SOME TALENTED UFA'S...
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!
Last Post, was written by, TONYSAC...thank you and goodnight
Sources tell TSN the New York Islander goaltender has a right hip problem that is going to require surgery. The decision was made after DiPietro underwent an MRI today.
It's expected the surgery could be performed as early as Wednesday....
DP AND THE ISLANDERS ARE IN BIG TROUBLE!!!!!
TonySac...
"Tank never showed up...Got lost on the way, too bad he didnt have Okposo's GPS handy...."
Are you talking about the party at your house or his season?
"Sources tell TSN the New York Islander goaltender has a right hip problem that is going to require surgery. The decision was made after DiPietro underwent an MRI today."
Hey Steady......
From the "hindsight is 20/20"....I KNOW that I was posting on this board in December that I HATED the idea of DP going to the All-Star Game..
We may have to to sign Ray Fosse to play goal next year and for the next 10 years.
.
If DP is out for a long length of time you need look no further than the BOBBLEHEADS for again trying to reinvent the wheel and giving a 15 year contract!
FIRED SNOW....SELL THE TEAM WANGER....
Well, I think only 505 is awake to see this tonight, but I wanted to share some cool experiences I had at tonight's game. I had my meeting tonight with the Isles' front office folk, at the game, in a suite. Turns out the only suite available for our meeting (me, my co-writer and one person from the Isles) was the one used by injured players, which tonight was pretty full. Sillinger, Campoli, Gervais, Witt, Hilbert, Sim, Bates and Fedotenko were all there. I was tempted to say to them, "You know guys, Steady's really disappointed with the effort in this room," but I thought that would be unprofessional. ;-)
Actually, for most of them I just got a brief introduction. I was there to have this meeting after all. But I did get to talk to Brendan Witt and Bruno Gervais for a few minutes at the end of the game. Both were courteous,even warm, without the slightest bit of attitude. So of course, I told Witt that I post on a board of diehard fans and his nickname among us is "Braveheart." Both he and Gervais got a real kick out of this and gestured as if painting their faces. Hope it catches on among Witt's teammates. (I also had the satisfaction of being asked to describe the ad to them, which they both liked...)
I can't go into details of stuff I learned about the organization, but I will say that they are thinking long-term, not short-term as people on this board often fear. Really. And they know what is in their long-term interest. Also, there is a lot of optimism that the Lighthouse will get done.