DiPIETRO’S DEBUT: Semi-Live Blogging from FLA
Panthers 6 Islanders 0
SUNRISE, FLORIDA: 9:47 pm - The Islanders failed to score in the first 2:35 of the 5-minute power play before Sean Bergenheim hooking penalty. The Panthers made it 4-0 at 14:15 of the third on a goal by Jay Bouwmeester. But all that, plus DiPietro’s return, is now secondary to the condition of Chris Lee.
We’re making our way down to the locker room area and will provide any updates available.
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9:40 PM, LEE INJURED: With 11:02 remaining, Islanders defenseman Chris Lee was boarded by Olesz. Lee stayed on the ice and a board and stretcher was brought out in a matter of moments. We will do our best to obtain an update on Lee’s condition.
When challenged by Lee’s teammates, Olesz immediately went down to the ice, not interested in a fight. The crowd at the arena fell silent as doctors observed Lee.
The Islanders defenseman was taken off the ice on a stretcher nine minutes after the incident.
Lee received 5 minutes for checking from behind, and a game misconduct.
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9:32 pm - Reaction from goalie coach Mike Dunham on DiPietro mid-way through the third period:
“He’s moving around the net well, and that’s what we really wanted to see tonight. Also looks like he’s seeing the puck well. First two goals, not much of a chance. The third one is something that will come with time as he gets more comfortable. Overall, we’re pleased with how Rick has responded after a long layoff.”
Shots: Panthers 26, Islanders 26
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9:23 pm - In a mild surprise, DiPietro returned for the start of the third period and looks like he may get the complete game. This killed my dream of him coming out after 2 and me having the first blogger mid-game interview in NHL history.
Quiet opening to the period. DiPietro with nice glove save on Colie Campbell’s son five minutes in.
Josh Bailey played 12:21 through two periods. He’s minus-1 with no shots.
Shots on goal: Panthers 24, Islanders 22.
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8:59 pm - On the bright side, nobody has gotten hurt yet - most especially DiPietro. The goaltender is challenging, not shying away from crashes to the net. When he visited the bench for the final (no-) TV timeout of the second period, he was talking instead of stretching or commiserating with trainer Garrett Timms.
Some nifty passing on an Islander power play late in the second, with Freddy Meyer going backdoor to the net. That’s a play you’ll see a lot more of this season. Brilliant save by Vokoun on Tambellini with ten seconds left.
Vokoun has played well, and give credit to the new-look Panthers D for a strong game after two periods. They have kept most of the Islanders scoring chances to the perimeter. That said, the Islanders have not generated enough on offense and they haven’t stood tall in front of their returning netminder. DiPietro has gotten plenty of work in.
Shots on goal after 2: Islanders 22, Panthers 20
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8:42 pm - Panthers take 3-0 lead on power play goal by Rostislav Olesz, a deflection of a point show by Jay Bouwmeester. The goal, scored at 8:47 of second, came after a slashing penalty by Bill Guerin and illustrated what Scott Gordon meant when he said nothing in practice can simulate traffic on front of your net.
The Panthers had taken a 2-0 lead a minute earlier on a goal by Kamil Kreps on assists from Ville Peltonen and Stewart. Not the greatest of support tonight for a returning franchise goaltender. Not the best way for the Islanders to end the pre-season. Gordon cannot like the differential in the scoring chances tonight, although Vokoun has been solid.
Shots on goal mid-way through game: Panthers 20, Islanders 16
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8:30 pm - A Vokoun save on a Park breakaway one minute in and DiPietro save on partial Nathan Horton breakout are the highlights so far. Other than that, not much doing for the Islanders. Panthers getting the better of play, providing DiPietro a good test in his debut.
Shots on goal for the game: Panthers 18, Islanders 13
Join me in the Comments area for some rapid-fire Q & A! Whatever I don’t get to tonight I’ll address by the morning.
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8:07 pm - Panthers take a 1-0 lead when Anthony Stewart coverts a centering pass from Brett McLean at 15:11 of the first. Not a bad goal by any stretch, but arguably DiPietro at his sharpest makes a dazzler. The Panthers scored on their 11th shot of the period.
Say this for the Islanders: they are giving their returning goaltender plenty of work. Two periods of action could suffice tonight.
For the period, DiPietro saved 14 of 15. Tomas Vokoun is 10-10.
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7:55 pm - The Islanders completely whiffed on their power play chance. The only highlight was a three-quarters pass DiPietro whipped to Kyle Okposo, but DiPietro could probably execute that from his room in Vail.
After the power play ended, DiPietro absorbed his first physical contact when teammate Andy Hilbert slid into him. DiPietro shoved Hilbert out of his net and there was no harm.
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7:45 pm - Rick DiPietro made his first save at 1:29 of the first period when Cory Stillman cranked a slap shot right into the Islanders logo on his jersey. He handled it cleanly and waited for the whistle. A minute later, he deflected a wraparound from Stillman.
He looks sharp, but has yet to be really tested.
Besides DiPietro and 2009 2008 first round pick Josh Bailey, I’m not focused in on much because the final score means little and I have a feeling all roster decisions have been made. DiPietro is the story tonight, with a little Bailey on the side.
With 13:09 left in the first, DiPietro has two saves and the Islanders are about to go on the power play.
Islanders lines and D pairs tonight:
Bergenheim - Weight - Guerin
Tambellini - Comrie - Okposo
Hilbert - Bailey - Park
Fritz - Colliton - Comeau
Hillen - Skinner
Lee - Gervais
Pock - Meyer
Notes: Possible dance partner for Mitch Fritz tonight - veteran NHL heavyweight Wade Belak. If Belak’s cranky shoulder is good to guy, that’s a battle of the big boys…
Out tonight but locks for Friday in New Jersey: Trent Hunter, Jon Sim, Frans Nielsen, Brendan Witt, Radek Martinek, Mark Streit.
Out tonight and on the bubble: Tim Jackman (got a chance), Trevor Smith (longshot), Yann Danis (a close second to MacDonald and ready to be No. 1 in Bridgeport).
If I can handle the coordination and eat the press box popcorn at the same time, I’ll do my best to answer your questions during the intermissions. Please put them in Comments now, and please don’t make the questions too long or difficult!
46 Responses to “DiPIETRO’S DEBUT: Semi-Live Blogging from FLA
Panthers 6 Islanders 0”
Please Wait
Chris, what’s your thoughts, Fritz or Jackman? Fritz sounds like he can actually fight. Also, little mention of Colliton. Does he have a shot?
My take: Fritz will be up and down from Bport to LI, based on need for heavyweight. Probably same for Jackman, on need for power forward…CB
Who was on the ice, what was the breakdown with the first goal?
this lack of tv/radio coverage is a joke. how is this team supposed to build a fan base with only providing an option of ticker watching and live blogging?
Forwards didn’t get back. While live blogging and with no TV coverage to view on press box monitor, not going to be able to catch everyone on the ice for complete analysis. Won’t matter to the cause of who makes and doesn’t make the team. I’m primarily watching how the goalie responds…Respectfully, CB
and a radio station out of FLA…. but I’ll thank the hockey gods for that.
Thank you, Chris - and your priorities are 100% correct.
It is on XM 204 as well.
Hey as anyone seen the Franchise ????
Jeff Tambelini where are you ….!?????
The only Franchise player in histor to average 2 goals a year….WOO HOO Cant wait Mr.Snow for your guy to score those 2 goals- hey isle fans Tambellini is the #1 reason why Nolan lost his job
i mean we are talking about Jeff Tambellini not Rick Nash…What a joke this team is….But the Isles do lead the league in “SPINNING STORIES” for there benefit
CB - did i miss your response to the Colliton question (first comment above)? - he seems to be sliding on the depth charts - was a valued prospect at one point some years ago
Colliton is no longer considered a prospect- he is officialy a 4th liner or depth player.
hey Killer: 3 posts in 2 minutes maxes your allowage. Settle down, bud.
As for Colliton, it is what it is: he is challenging for a fourth-line spot - and right now I’d say he is very much on the bubble. That said, Gordon likes him…CB
I have the live tracker going on my site if that helps anyone.
Not easy multi-tasking is it Chris?
Now that DP is two behind (the eightball perhaps) does it appear like he is out of sync? (timing)
Make that 3. Is he moving comfortably or not?
Yea that sort of answered my question.
Enjoyed watching the Islanders practice in Moncton NB . Wondering if Mitch Fritz is going to make team . Was not Impressed with Yann Danis.
CB, maybe the faltering economy is a good omen for the Islanders, a franchise whose most successful seasons came during periods of economic and political disarray.
Think about it:
late 70’s: “stagflation,” Carter administraion
1980: hostages in Iran, record high interest rates
1981-1983: very high interest rates, steep recession
1987: year of the stock market crash
2001-02: 9/11, end of the internet bubble, recession.
How much ice time is Bailey getting?
From my angle, DiPietro is moving fine. The team in front of him ain’t. He hasn’t been amazing by a long stretch, but I wouldn’t go nuts thinking the goalie can’t move. As I write that, DiPietro just took a delay-of-game penalty…CB
Bailey played 6 minutes in the first and has had a few shifts so far in the second…CB
Okay. That’s actually good. What’s in front of him can change.
rabbi: Way too over my head to address your economic evaluation. I hope it was rhetorical! CB
Kevin: You’ll see Fitz on the NYI this year. Maybe not every day but as a Bport or LI press box nuclear weapon Snow presses the button for when needed…CB
just kidding around.
Bailey, Park, and Hilbert on for one of the goals against…Tambs line for the other i think, plus a pp goal…
CB, Are you getting any indications based upon ice time on who may being reassigned?
Brian: not necessarily from ice tonight, but I should have my P.S. (Pure Speculation) up tomorrow morning after I dig a little more.
I stand by my contention that Bailey will be returned to junior and that Fritz and Jackman could be back-and-forth from Bport on need. The 12 forwards making it will be the 10 healthy people on one-way contracts - plus Comeau and Okposo.
On D, I have Hillen and Pock making the squad over Lee and Skinner with the Islanders carrying 7. MacDonald over Danis in net.
Crap, I just blew my whole P.S. story for tomorrow! CB
CB…a bit off topic. Do you see any chance that next season the Islanders will get rid of the ugly RBK Jersey’s and go back to the tradional look? Everytime I see the RBK jersey I just cringe?
Game related….does DP look game ready for Friday or should we expect Joey Mac?
Looking at the TOI, it’s very evenly distributed with the exception of Colliton and Comeau. Any indication why?
I know the answer to that one:
If the Islanders were going to change jerseys that would have to have been decided a long time ago. The current jersey isnt going anywhere. If you dont like the current jersey, there is a third jersey that is a retro which will be unveiled in November.
Hey CB
Do you think if the team had some better state of the art practice facilities and modernized amenities (like most NHL clubs do), the amount of injuries would be less?
-P
Chris, I know that. I am hoping that the retro jersey will become the new jersey. The current RBK jersey looks like awful pajama’s. The Islanders bascially took every new jersey concept and puked them onto the current Islander jersey. Way to busy. There was absolutly no reason to tinker with the jersey. You dont see teams with history like the Wings and Habs coming out with gimmicky jersey’s to make money. Do you agree?
hey chris,
Love the new website and daily updates, having both you and BD’s blog this year is going to be a real treat.
I’m going to the season opener in Jersey, from what you’ve seen tonight and from who you’ve talked to do you think he’s going to start that game?
Who’s down?
So much for no injuries. Good grief!
They just said Chris Lee, hopefully he is alright.
Patrick: injuries have nothing to do with state of NYI facilities.
Andrew: I predict MacDonald Friday, DiPietro Sunday. But that is based on zero information.
Say a prayer for Chris Lee. Goodnight for now…CB
LETS GO ISLANDERS… THE REAL GAMES START FRIDAY….. LETS ACTUALLY TRY AND SCORE SOME GOALS… COME ON TAMBS… FRITZ GET A FIGHT,,, LETS GO ISLES
despite not being able to watch this game or even listen to it on local radio - I am coming away from the blogging and internet coverage thinking the effort was poor and we will be desperate for goals all season.
we lost. 6-0.
i still shake my head when i see “Mike Dunham” and “goalie coach” all in the same sentence. ugh.
Great Showing by the boys tonight….”Clap Clap”
Looking foward to many more this year- i know they wont let us down
Ok we got spanked! It happens..
6-0… prelude to the real season people. I guess Teddy wasn’t so bad after all.
If the Isles can play Boston all year long we’ll be in good shape…maybe?
Who is Chris Lee? Is he a hockey player, i’ve never heard of him? When did we get him? Where did we get him from? Is he taller than 5′11? Does he fight? Is he any good?