7:35 pm, NVMC: No matter where you stand on the Lighthouse Project, almost everyone agrees the Islanders could use a new or completely transformed arena. Hurricane winds wrecked havoc all over Long Island yesterday, including some wreckage of the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike.
Turns out the Millsteins were just a decade ahead of their time. The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum really is falling apart.
Three large sections of the aluminum upper facade of the arena came crumbling down on Saturday around 5:30 pm. Although fans were starting to line up before the Islanders’ game against the Devils, somewhat miraculously no one got hurt. The only inconvenience was some traffic when the main area of the box office had to be closed.
Two of the pieces of broken barn were 2 x 18, the other 12 x 12.
Of course, you can drive to many places on Long Island to witness serious damage. I recommend Capitolian Blvd. in Rockville Centre for an awesome sight of a large tree lifted out of the ground and lying across the length of the block (no one got hurt). You can also check out the front porch of the home I thought my family was moving into this summer.
But in case there was any doubt, the Islanders need a new home. It’s dangerous out there.
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Plus: Bruins management may have loved this result for draft pick purposes, but the Islanders pull to within seven points of eighth place Boston for the final playoff berth in the East. Although the Islanders haven’t won on the road in two months, a not-unreasonable-to-expect four points on this three-game Western swing keeps them in the race.
Plus: It took some growing pains, but Blake Comeau (first three-assist NHL game) can be added to the list of keepers on the core of forwards in this rebuild. Lest anyone forgot, Comeau has a pretty good pedigree. He is 6-6-12 in his last eight games.
Plus: The rest of the confirmed list as of this date: John Tavares, Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, Matt Moulson. Yes, nucleuses (nuclei?) can include effective third-liners like Comeau. And yep, the team needs some size.
Plus: Freddy Meyer is the perfect example of an excellent role player who is sometimes disrespected when he’s playing on a losing team. With his attitude and play, he’s a perfect 6-7 defenseman for the Islanders. No reason not to keep him around.
Plus: Matt Martin, even on an emergency recall, demonstrates how to be a good teammate.
Plus: On back-to-back games, in nasty weather, for a team barely in the playoff race, the fans came out in good numbers. That’s the definition of a strong fanbase.
Plus: Dennis LaRue with the kind of heads-up intelligent penalty call you don’t always see when Nikolai Kulemin attempted to disguise a pick-and-roll. Referees get a lot of carp, often for good reason, but smart work deserves to be applauded.
Plus: Tim Jackman is unable to fight, Dion Phaneuf wasn’t going to fight. The best the Islanders could do is make Phaneuf have to keep his head up for the entire game, know he was marked, and understand the Islanders would not forget what he did to Kyle Okposo. On all levels, the Islanders succeeded.
Plus: Recent adjustments to the penalty kill have paid off. (We’ll save the needle about yet another too-many-men penalty for a different day). Coming into the weekend, the Islanders had given up eight power play goals in their last six games. They were 11-for-11 in these two games with a pair of shorthanded goals.
Plus: By raising some ticket prices and asking season subscribers to pay by April 1, by raising the cost of parking closer to major league levels, some enticing signs are there. The Islanders have every intention of spending some money (some from the Andy Sutton savings), getting out of 26th-30th-28th place and taking the next step. As much as it has been a brutal last two months in the Country, the Islanders are in position to compete next season. Should be an exciting summer.
Comments.
Fella by the name of Dion Phaneuf is playing today for the Maple Leafs. Looking forward to some good family fun. Talk about today’s game in Comments.
9:45 pm: Looks like my prediction of a four-point three game weekend is going to be short by a point. Good for Go-Go’s Gritty-Gutties for ending the four-game losing streak.
As mentioned a few times in this space, Mark Streit, Kyle Okposo, Dwayne Roloson and the rest of the Islanders young and oldish do not give a Cam about The Fall for Seguin and Hall.
If you want to know how much the Islanders are still playing for pride and expect 100% effort from each other, check the tape and watch Scott Gordon’s reaction after Ilya Kovalchuk scored to make it 3-2.
Tonight was the proof. After an iffy start, the Islanders played hard and smart and beat the Devils, who were coming off impressive wins over the Rangers and Penguins. The key moment was a four-minute power play for New Jersey in the third period in which the only goal scored was by Sean Bergenheim. Then the Islanders killed the rest, even when it turned into a 5-on-3.
As he has been for almost the entire season, short of a three-week stretch of a three-goalie rotation before the Olympic break, Roloson was superb in stopping 38 of 39 shots he could see.
You couldn’t find anyone in Devilsland who thought coach Jacques Lemaire was going to sit Martin Brodeur anytime soon. Yet there was Yann Danis starting against the Islanders tonight. Butch Goring said he hoped Scott Gordon used the sign of disrespect as motivation. “He’s saying you guys suck,” said Butch. “Now go out there and show him how good you are.”
No word if Gordon said anything to his team about the slight, but he really didn’t have to. The Islanders got the message, and the two points. The pressure is now off the Islanders, which makes them a dangerous team.
Sunday at 5:00 pm at the Coliseum is a crucial showdown with the Maple Leafs. Islanders can pull to within seven points of eighth-place Boston. I hope to be back from the road and at the Coliseum.
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Parking details finally clarified via a Coliseum source. The cost to park at Islanders home games next season will be $10 or $15. It’s only $10, if you can deal with parking in the outer reaches of the lot. The cost is $15 if you want to get a spot closer to the rink and get out of there quickly.
“Media parking is going to cost $50,” said the source, who pretended he was joking.
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Tonight Garth Snow took his play-in playoff idea to Stan Fischler on the Devils broadcast. Snow said, “Single-game elimination would take 5-7 days, and everyone would battle it out for the eighth seed. It was an idea. It was obviously talked about at length.” Snow cited the Carolina Hurricanes, hurt by injuries in the first half, as an example of a team that could benefit by the all-in tournament.
As for his Islanders, Snow said, “It’s never fun when you don’t win. Our future’s bright. There’s a lot of good things we can take from our season. Where we stand is unacceptable. We don’t like losing.”
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Best wishes to Islanders ticket sales executive Theresa Coscia, who is leaving the team this week for a management position with the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL.
Theresa, whom I worked with in my last season at the Islanders, had a tough job on the frontlines working with fans on a daily basis and during some tough times. Yet, through everything, I’ve never heard anything but the highest praise for her integrity and ability to communicate with clients. Long Island loses another great one, this time a graduate of Connetquot high school.
Best wishes, Theresa. I have no doubt you will attain all of your goals.
Toronto and Florida win, Edmonton, Columbus and Carolina lose. Comments on tonight’s game, including your Plus/Minus, and your thoughts on this post. Drive safely.
Chris Botta on Twitter
11:20 am: The Islanders have announced that captain Doug Weight is out for the remainder of the season. Weight, who will undergo surgery next week after playing hurt since his return in January, had one goal and 16 assists in 36 games this season.
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John Tavares may only have one goal and one assist in the five games since the Olympic break, but his coach is pleased with the 2009 first overall pick.
“The improvement in John’s play since the break has been night and day,” said Scott Gordon. “Not everyone may see it, and the numbers may not bear it out, but I’ve seen a big difference. I’m very happy with the way he is competing and the way he has been getting to the puck.”
In the five games, Tavares has an even plus/minus rating while averaging over 17 minutes a game.
Short-term Goal: Asked what he’d like to see from his team in back-to-back games this week against the Devils and Maple Leafs, Gordon said, “You can ask me the same question after we get back from the road trip and I’ll probably give you the same answer. I just want to continue to get better as individuals and as a team.”
Try Nassau Community College: A report from a highly-reliable source on the invaluable fan message board Islandermania said that the Islanders - now in charge of the lot - are more than doubling the price of parking at the Coliseum next season to $15. Islandermania is the team’s official message board and no one on the team has shot down the report.
Early Friday I ran this report by a team source, who denied it but could not announce what the new price will be. Coliseum staffers are confirming that they have been told the price for general parking at the arena for hockey games will be $15. Islanders season subscribers will be offered a discount, but the price will still be a lot more than they are used to paying.
UPDATED at 10:15 am - Team sources continue to insist general parking will be raised to “more like $10 and $15 for VIP.”
We await official word from the Islanders, who now receive the revenue from parking after out-going County Executive Tom Suozzi brokered an eleventh-hour sublease to benefit the team.
If the price is indeed $15 to park at the Islanders’ legendary dump, here’s hoping fans take safety measures making the walk from nearby Nassau Community College. (Then again, don’t be surprised if the Islanders take measures to work with NCC to ensure that’s no longer an option). UPDATE: Readers have written in to report they have recently been nailed with expensive parking tickets at NCC.
Without question, the Islanders will be quick to point out the crazy cost of parking at Yankee Stadium and countless NHL rinks. Like comparing the Islanders to the Devils, however, this is apples and oranges.
Comments on this post and tonight’s game. Have a good week, everyone.
12:30 pm, Iceworks: Islanders head coach Scott Gordon is extremely comfortable with the direction of his team.
Asked by a reporter after today’s optional practice about the differences between the Islanders and Saturday’s opponent, the New Jersey Devils, Gordon - while respecting the Devils’ championships and annual competitiveness - said it’s a case of apples and oranges.
“The Devils are re-tooling. We’re trying to rebuild with a master plan of winning a Stanley Cup,” said Gordon. “We’re not re-tooling. We’re still trying to find the tools.
“With all the changes in coaches and managers here, there hasn’t been a stretch of continuity. We haven’t deviated from the plan. Garth (Snow) hasn’t traded any players in a panic. We haven’t given up something that we’re going to miss.”
Gordon has seen improvement in the core of his team’s approach from last season to this season.
“I see a level of consistency,” said the coach. “The power play and the penalty kill…there’s no question we’ve got to get better. Five-on-five, we don’t give up a lot. With a young team that could use a lot of practice time, and in a year with a condensed scehdule where there hasn’t been much, I’ve been happy with what I see in our work.
“You have to remember, the roster didn’t change a whole lot - except for the goaltenders. Now, for me, it’s about finding a few missing pieces to fill in.”
Finally, Gordon was asked if the Eastern Conference standings board still hangs in the locker room like it did in mid-January, when the Islanders were still in the playoff hunt. Affirmative.
“Look at the standings and know what a lousy feeling it is,” said Gordon, referring to his players. “Remember this day.”
Comments.
9:42 pm - In an interview with rightsholder MSG Network, Islanders general manager Garth Snow said his team’s future is bright, he is building a “consistent contender” and the team’s goal is to make the playoffs next season.
After defending his play-in playoff proposal - “There were 16 teams in the playoffs when there were 21 NHL teams, and now there are 30 teams and there are still only 16 playoff teams,” he said, dead seriously - Snow was asked by Howie Rose about his team. Here is an unedited transcript:
This is clearly Year 2 of a rebuilding program. Where are you right now relative to your expectations?
I think there are a lot of bright signs for the future when you look at our team. Kyle Okposo has taken a huge step in the right direction. Josh Bailey…when you see the difference in him after a summer of training, he came in and looked like a man. John Tavares is gonna benefit from a summer of training.
I don’t think people realize that after a player is drafted, the emphasis when the season ends is to get in shape to do well at the (draft) combine. That’s not necessarily getting in shape for a hockey season. It’s no fault of any player. It’s just the way the system works…and obviously, leading up to the draft, there’s appearances, commitments made, whether it be in the media or certain markets.
Then as the player enters into the market he is drafted by, there’s a lot of commitments and time that takes away from training. There’s an added benefit for John to get a really good summer of training.
Do you feel (Tavares) needs to get significantly stronger to take the next step in his development?
He’s going to get stronger just because he’s a 19-year-old kid. Sometimes we lose sight of it.
What about from a technical standpoint, in terms of skating and an ability to stay on his feet…does that comes with more weight and more bulk?
I can tell you from my own experience, when you’re 19 years old or 20 years old and playing against men who are 28 and 32 years old, there’s a big difference. And not only in strength and conditioning, but what you find works maybe in college or junior might not necessarily work in the NHL.
Those are lessons I know are sometimes frustrating for our fans, but things are going in the right direction. We have a great group of young players. We have a good nucleus. We have solid leaders in that locker room. It’s going to be fun watching this team evolve and grow up.
Will Rick DiPietro play again for the Islanders this season?
Yeah, we believe so. The swelling has gone down and he’s been skating with Sudsie (Maharaj) and Mike Dunham, our two goalie coaches. I fully expect him to play at some point.
What happens as you get into the summer if there are any lingering questions whether he can carry a big load next year? For the sake of this conversation, we’ll assume (UFA Martin Biron) goes somewhere else. Do you then need to find another veteran goaltender as you did with Biron to pair with Roloson?
You know what happens when you assume, Howie. With Rick, with what he’s gone through and the way he’s rehabbed, this is why for us it’s important for him to get in games now.
Well, then if he comes back and plays ten games (this season) will that satisfy for you that you have no issue with him going forward? Or will there be that lingering doubt that he can play a significant number of games?
The one luxury we have is Dwayne Roloson, who’s under contract for next year. He’s obviously a goaltender who’s played extremely well for us and he’s carried the load. It’s a luxury that we have.
When you got to the trade deadline, you were five points behind and you made the decision to trade Andy Sutton. Andrew MacDonald got hurt the first game back after the Olympics and you brought up Dylan Reese, an inexperienced player as opposed to trying to get Brendan Witt through recallable waivers. What’s the thinking there in terms of going young or with a veteran to make that last playoff push?
For me, when I was looking at the situation, that Ottawa game (before the Olympic break) was a big game for me. We were up 3-1. We win the game and we’re four points out of a playoff spot. There’s been several other games I would classify in that category. For us, we did a premptive move, moving Greg Moore for Dylan Reese. We felt he could be a depth defenseman. We have the luxury of recalling Brendan Witt. We felt we had depth in that area. (Bridgeport defenseman) Mark Flood, although he’s been hurt, he’s playing this weekend.
I would say the big positive in all this was the emergence of Andrew MacDonald, Jack Hillen and Dustin Kohn. In the weeks leading up to the deadline, they performed at a level we felt put us in a position to win hockey games.
From my standpoint, the goal is to bring the consistent contender to Long Island and win a Stanley Cup. If the opportunity presents itself, that we can make a move that helps the long-term and the short-term, we’ll do it. For me, it’s pretty easy. We felt that we were gonna make moves to help us bring a Stanley Cup back to Long Island.
What would your report card read for Scott Gordon’s work?
I think he’s done a great job. If you look at the way Andrew MacDonald and Jack Hillen emerged on the blue line, the development of Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo, John Tavares, Frans Nielsen - one of the most underrated players not just on our team, but in the league - I think he’s done an excellent job.
Looking toward the summer, what would you identify as your biggest need?
We obviously want to improve in a few areas. We’d like to add a couple of defensemen.
Is size an issue?
Yeah. In a perfect world, we’d have six 6-foot-7 defensemen, 250 (pounds), that could skate like the wind. We’ve had some success July 1 - Mark Streit, Dwayne Roloson, Doug Weight, Matt Moulson. We feel we can go out and improve our team. Our goal is to make the playoffs next year.
You’ve got fans who are patient. You’ve got others who are disgruntled. What’s your message to them?
We’re gonna build this the right way. Our goal is to bring a Stanley Cup back to Long Island, and we’re just gonna execute that plan.
You are cordially invited to discuss Garth’s remarks and submit your own Plus/Minus from tonight’s game.
Toronto, Carolina and Columbus all win one-goal games - the Leafs and Canes in overtime. Holy crap.
Predict the homestand: Three home games in four days. Three winnable games. I say the Islanders pick up four out of six points. What say you? In Comments.
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You’re Never Out of it: At the general managers’ meetings this week in Florida, the Islanders presented a proposal to improve their chances of qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs in future seasons.
The Islanders’ concept - delivered by GM Garth Snow - was for a “play-in” mini-tournament in which the teams at the bottom of each conference would square off against each other to qualify as the eighth seed.
After playing 82 regular season games, teams 8-15 in the East and West would still get a shot at making the playoffs. Wouldn’t matter if you were essentially out of the hunt before Christmas, as the Islanders were last season.
The Islanders, who appear poised to finished 26th or worst in the 30-team NHL for the third consecutive season, apparently did not receive much positive feedback. The Columbus Blue Jackets pushed for the removal of the “loser point” for teams losing in overtime or in the shootout. That proposal was also dismissed.
The story of the Islanders’ idea was first reported by TSN, Sportsnet and the Canadian Press. One journalist in Boca Raton said the best aspect of the concept was the laugh it brought to all of the hockey people and media at meetings predominantly focused on rulings on hits to the head.
When asked by Point Blank about the merits of the team’s proposal, a National Hockey League source replied, “The chances of it happening are the same as it being taken seriously - zero percent.”
Here’s what I want to know. Let’s say, as they did last year, the Islanders play 82 games and finish last in the league. However, they win the play-in tournament and get swept by Washington in the first round.
Would that mean, because of the round robin, they would lose the top pick in the draft? You’d have to think so, which would really make a person wonder.
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Future Watch: The special edition of The Hockey News is out now, with Calvin de Haan (28) and Travis Hamonic (61) the only Islanders placing in the top 100 among prospects not in the NHL.
As many readers have mentioned, the Islanders’ overall grade of B+ (up from C+) is skewed a bit because all players 20 and younger are included when grading team performance. For the Islanders’ grade, John Tavares and Josh Bailey count. According to The Hockey News, the Islanders are eighth in the league. The top five: Los Angeles, St. Louis, Colorado, Chicago and the Rangers.
Among the locals, the Rangers - with former Islanders scouting boss Gordie Clark running the draft the last few years - placed three players ahead of de Haan: Derek Stepan (16), Evgeny Grachev (21) and Chris Kreider (22). The Devils’ most recent first round picks made the list: Jacob Josefson (37) and Mattias Tedenby (40).
The magazine polls 23 NHL scouts to establish its rankings.
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Tonight’s Tilt: The Blues, who will start Chris Mason in goal, have not played a game since Saturday. St. Louis is an impressive 18-10-4 on the road this season, fourth in the NHL. Only elder statesman Keith Tkachuk is out with an injury.
As reported by Katie Strang, the Islanders are not recalling anyone for tonight’s game. This means Jeff Tambellini has a chance of getting in.
As reported by Mike Fornabaio, Josh Bailey will likely make his American Hockey League debut if Bridgeport qualifies for the playoffs. Bailey, along with current Islanders Andrew MacDonald, Dustin Kohn, Dylan Reese and Trevor Gillies, has been placed on the Clear Day list for the Sound Tigers. John Tavares, although eligible, was not put on the roster by the Islanders.
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The Plan: Garth Snow on “NHL Live” on Tuesday: “The future is bright. We’ve just got to stick to our plan and make these young kids realize how important these wins are down the stretch.”
On the trade deadline: “There were a couple of offers for our other free agents. But we were five points out from a playoff spot. For me, it would have sent the wrong message to that locker room and to our fans. These games down the stretch are so valuable for our younger players.”
At least two wins in these three games. Your prediction, and thoughts on this post and tonight’s game, in Comments.
Finishes the season 7-18-25 in 44 games.
This is a two comments-per-reader thread.
While the hockey team has lost 14 of its last 17 games, this has not been the best of times for the Islanders on many levels. Despite the embarrassing stretch, the franchise has plenty of moves to make to begin to turn the Country’s frown upside-down.
Here are just a few decisions the Islanders could very well make, or might want to consider, in no particular order of importance.
1. Name Kyle Okposo captain: You say the team is all about the home-grown corps - make it official. Okposo is ready and can handle it. He also happens to be the best young player on the team. Kyle only has 14 goals in ‘09-10, so no one can blame the pressure of the captaincy if he doesn’t burst out of the gate next season.
Okposo is the second youngest team-leading scorer in the NHL (after Patrick Kane, born six months later). He’s an outstanding leader who’ll have Mark Streit as an experienced deputy. Do it before the end of the season and have the supremely-respected Doug Weight offer his blessing.
2. Give Matt Martin a few more games: Okay, so maybe the Islanders don’t want to add too much youthful energy to the NHL roster. You don’t want to earn too many points and blow a shot at kids like Tyler Seguin, Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler. You also don’t want to hurt Bridgeport, which is four points ahead for the final playoff spot in the AHL East.
Andrew MacDonald and Josh Bailey in AHL playoff games would be a good thing. All that said, make the NHL team tougher and more exciting - heck, throw the fans a frickin’ bone - and give the tenacious Martin a few games at home.
3. Sign Travis Hamonic: The Islanders are going to sign the hot prospect anyway. There is no way they are going to let Hamonic re-enter the draft. Instead of doing it in late April or May, finalize the kid dman’s three-year entry level deal during the hockey season when people are still talking and writing about the Islanders every day.
4. If he’s the man, give Scott Gordon an extension: Virtually every team in pro sports refuses to let their head coach enter the final year of his contract as a lame duck. (I know this not just any franchise). The uncertain status weakens a coach’s influence on his team and the subject will be discussed all season.
Gordon has one season left on his three-year deal. If Charles Wang and Garth Snow stand by their chosen coach and his system - unless they believe Scott Bowman could have done much better than 52-79-17 with the roster they gave him - they should extend Gordon a season or two. It would be a powerful message to the team, and the fanbase.
5. Win a home game or two: In the pursuit of suckulence and a top-five spot in the lottery, the Islanders can go to Vancouver and California and lose after midnight for all most of the Country cares. However, lineup schminup, the franchise does not want to fall on its face before the thousands still paying to see the boys at the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike.
You think it’s fun for the front office’s sales force to host a potential client at a home game and the team lays an egg? The Islanders host St. Louis, New Jersey and Toronto over the next four days. They are capable of winning all three. Taking two in regulation would do the heart good. Remember, fellas: loser points = no good.
6. Kidnap Kirill the Thrill: Whatever it takes, get the franchise’s top skilled forward prospect - only highly-skilled forward prospect? - out of Russia and to New York. Like almost everything in sports, it’s all about the money.
7. Find the next Jack Hillen: They often don’t work out as well as Hillen, but collegiate free agent signings are like free draft picks. The Islanders, still with holes all over the depth chart, are looking into signing an available college stud or two. Right wing Bobby Butler, with 25 goals and 47 points in 32 games this season at New Hampshire, would be a good place to start. Any combination of size and mobility on defense would also be worth the investment.
8. Burn the jammies: Thank heavens, but the Reebok uniform pajamas systems are almost a thing of the past. Start spreading the news that the return of the classic look is near and will never change again.
9. Bolster Bridgeport: Jack Capuano continues to make tuna salad out of too little on the farm. The Sound Tigers, with a roster as thin as the Islanders and denied the joys of a goal-a-game by Jeff Tambellini, somehow found a way to win three games in less than 72 hours last weekend.
Trevor Smith has stepped up since the arrival of his New Hampshire teammate, Mike Radja. The goaltending has been strong. Despite the freefalls of rookie prospects Justin DiBenedetto and Robin Figren - a combined 19 points in 121 games - Bridgeport could make the playoffs. The Islanders franchise could use a strong showing by its development club in April.
10. Host a first-class FanFest: The LA Kings did this last offseason with terrific results. They even had seminars with three of their most popular goaltenders, three scorers, three fighters, etc. The Blackhawks’ event for this summer is already sold out. There is no reason why the Islanders can’t take a three-day weekend and turn it into a celebration of Islanders hockey. The good thing is, you don’t need a state-of-the-art arena to pull it off.
11. Leak those scouting trips: Remember the golden times of almost a year ago when one day Logie would report that Wang and Snow were in Brampton, then I’d find out when they were in London? Yup, it’s that time of the year again to get the faithful excited for the draft party. Hit the road (again and again), young Jankowski.
So maybe the Islanders will miss the playoffs again. Doesn’t mean they can’t lead the league for the second year in a row in Draft Party attendance.
Keep in mind, Snow said after he selected John Tavares that the goal scorer was his definitive choice from the moment the Islanders won the lottery in April. Reports of a fan and Internet-inspired selection have only become exaggerated with time. The Islanders know who they like in the top five. Might as well get some buzz out there in a few weeks.
12. Extend Matt Moulson: One of the few real happy stories with the big club this season, the highly likeable Moulson rose from relative obscurity to become the Islanders’ leading goal scorer. Moulson’s 23 goals are five more than second-ranked pal John Tavares and as many as Trent Hunter, Frans Nielsen and Sean Bergenheim combined. The restricted free agent must be re-signed. Make it for a few years. How many players or prospects on the roster have his hands? (That’s a rhetorical question).
13. Be Honest and Forthright: Since the Islanders are asking their fans to pay now for next season and get answers later, it’s only right to expect Charles Wang to address some questions about his hopes and plans for the future of the hockey team and arena. I’m certain he will with Long Island’s newspaper.
14. Re-think that April 1 deadline for season ticketholders: This little website has heard from more than 200 season ticketholders not amused by the invoices for 2010-11 they received last week. Much more on this at a later date, but here’s the short version: for a friend of mine with two seats in the corner 300s, between tickets and parking, his life as a dedicated Islanders fan will become at least 30% more expensive than it was the last two seasons. (The parking issue is a story in itself, as many of you have learned).
Oh yeah, and season subscribers that don’t pay by April 1 will see the price of their seats go up. Last year my friend paid over eight installments and without any interest.
As he wrote, “After sitting through these three dreadful seasons, it’s going to cost me more than a grand extra in tickets and parking to come back? And I have to pay for next year’s seats before this last-place season is even over”?
One has to assume the Islanders plan on adding a top three pick, Petrov and at least two premier unrestricted free agents this summer. I’m well aware Islanders tickets are less expensive than most in the NHL, and so is the parking. You’re well aware of the team’s lack of any real success in this generation.
The Islanders must be planning to take a major step forward on the ice. They have to be. If by any small chance they are not devising something special this summer, the Islanders should re-consider its approach with the people they consider their most important fans.
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Please read and react on FanHouse, and spread the word about the cause. Thank you…CB
Trevor Gillies’ gets a rare shift late in the third with the game tied 2-2 and gets called for a boarding penalty. The Flyers score on the power play to win.
All the slumps - eight road losses in a row (all in regulation), Snow/Gordon on the road in the division (except MSG) and vs. the Flyers (NHL-worst 15 losses in a row) - continue. When the Islanders were up 2-1 in the third, I was getting ready to kid Howie Rose about not being there.
Dwayne Roloson does everything to help his team win, again.
John Tavares and Kyle Okposo score in the same game for the first time since. Nov. 13.
During the second intermission, Jeff Carter tells VERSUS that the Flyers have to go harder to the net because the Islanders’ defense is so small.
Scott Gordon tells Katie Strang before the game, “There’s no question that there’s a mismatch from a size standpoint.” The coach also says Gillies will be with the big club through at least the weekend.
Islanders fall to 0-3 since the trade deadline, a season-low six-games under .500 and ten points behind the eighth spot in the East.
The Maple Leafs won in overtime. The Panthers won in a shootout in Minnesota. (Florida management has to be pulling its hair out). The Blue Jackets were victorious in Anaheim.
Rob Schremp suffered a right knee injury and will be evaluated by team doctors on Wednesday.
The Islanders have no practice on Wednesday, host St. Louis on Thursday, the Devils on Saturday and Maple Leafs (winners tonight) on Sunday.
See you Wednesday.
Point Blank live in-game commentary tonight begins at 7:15 pm
The Islanders are due to win. They are also due to win in Philadelphia. During this tumultuous, rollercoaster, almost-never-boring season, would it really be a surprise if they get the two points tonight?
The Orange and Blue have not beaten the Flyers on the road in the Garth Snow/Scott Gordon era. In fact, they have not won anywhere on the road within their division these last two years other than Madison Square Garden.
Beyond Gordon’s time, all together the Islanders have lost nine in a row in the city of Brotherly Chippiness. The last time they won in Philadelphia was when Ted Nolan was the coach, Wade Dubielewicz was the goaltender, Ryan Smyth was the de facto leader and the good guys won four in a row in that final week to make the playoffs.
The Islanders’ current 14-game losing streak against the Flyers is the longest active head-to-head slump in the NHL.
The Islanders’ last victory anywhere on the road was exactly two months ago today in Phoenix. Thanks to the Olympic break, that is only a slump of seven games.
They enter the game nine points back of Boston for the final playoff berth in the East. Five juggernauts - the Rangers, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Florida and Carolina - stand between them. This has become dire enough that some team broadcast insiders have begun tweeting more about what losses mean in the hunt for Tyler Seguin, Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler. Of course, we are above that and will wait to see how the Islanders perform up to Game 70.
(Columbus, 6-0 losers, did not show up in LA last night).
The Islanders have a few wins at home on the horizon. The boys are due.
Notes: Tonight’s game is at 7:30 and will be on VERSUS with Doc Emrick and Billy Jaffe on the call. On Islanders radio station WMJC (94.3 FM), Chris King - since there is no MSG show to simulcast - will do the play-by-play, color commentary, sideline reporting and mix drinks. If you get the station, you know Kinger will make tonight an entertaining three-hour information session about your favorite hockey club.
The choice of Trevor Gillies as a recall tonight is interesting because Peter Laviolette has not been playing heavyweights in his lineup. Gillies might be able to stare down Daniel Carcillo, but the Flyers’ middleweight agitator will most likely not fight him. Chris Pronger is not going to take himself off the ice for five minutes to fight anyone. Perhaps Gillies will keep the peace and will play more than the three minutes Gordon gave him in his debut.
More to come.
