Monthly Archives: November 2008
The Islanders are off today, so it’s time for another Top 9. The key word here is important – not memorable, incredible, personally-witnessed, etc.
1. Nystrom at 7:11: As Mike Bossy has said, always seemed right that one of the Islanders’ warriors should get the overtime goal in 1980 for the first Stanley Cup.
2. J.P. Parise at 0:11: In just their third season, Islanders win their first playoff series – on an overtime goal in 1975 against the Rangers in Madison Square Garden, to boot.
3. Tonelli Saves the Dynasty: JT’s biggest – at 6:19 of OT in the fifth and deciding game against Pittsburgh in the first round of 1982 – makes two more Stanley Cups possible.
4. Ken Morrow, naturally: Continuing a tradition of big goals from every source, the defensive defenseman pots one at 8:56 of overtime in the deciding game 5 of the first round against the Rangers in 1984 to keep the Drive for Five alive.
5. Ferraro to Volek: On the franchise’s last historic goal, a blazing Ray Ferraro slides a one-timer on David Volek’s tee at an appropriate 5:16 of overtime to dethrone the two-time defending Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins at the Igloo in 1993.
6. Patty on Easter: In the Easter Epic, Pat LaFontaine scores at 8:47 of the fourth overtime in Game 7 of the opening round against the Capitals in Landover in 1987.
7. Bossy 50/50: The only singular achievement on the list, but a monumental one: on January 24, 1981 Mike Bossy joins Maurice Richard as just the second player in NHL history to score 50 goals in the first 50 goals of the season.
8. 18 Completes History: Islanders become second team in league history to come back from 3-0 series deficit when Ed Westfall scores five minutes into the third period of Game 7 at the Igloo for a 1-0 game win and landmark 4-3 series win in 1975.
9. JT Makes it 15 in a Row: On Feb. 20, 1982, John Tonelli scores with 47 seconds left against Chico Resch and the Rockies as the Islanders set a new league mark with 15 consecutive wins. This was way before you can win a game just by winning a shootout.
Shawn Bates’ penalty shot goal in 2002 is the most memorable recent moment, but the Islanders lost the series. Your reactions to this story in Comments. For talk on the current Islanders, please use the Ottawa game thread below. Thanks.
10:05 pm, The NVMC - The Game: Ending an exhausting run of 6 games in 9 days that featured both impressive wins and troubling losses, the question was whether the Islanders (and Joey MacDonald) would soar or crawl to the finish line. Freddy Meyer goals in the final minute of the second period and early third carried the Islanders to a 4-2 victory. With four days without games, 10-12-2 sounds a lot better than 9-13-2.
For a team that many experts picked to finish last, the Islanders seem downright competitive. Wins like these give reason to call off the Hedman and Tavares Watch – and probably the Cowen and Duchene Watch, too.
The Islanders earned tomorrow off and most players have the option of not skating on Monday.
Power Play: Ottawa 0-1, Islanders 0-5; Shots on goal: Ottawa 21, Islanders 25.
HEADLINES
Bailey Sticks: Playing in his first game since being told he’s in the NHL to stay this season, Josh Bailey was plus-1 in over 17 minutes of ice. Said Gordon this morning, “He’s not like a deer in the headlights out there.”
Silli Closer: Mike Sillinger completed his conditioning stint in the AHL tonight by playing his second game in two nights. After scoring a goal last night in Bridgeport’s win over Hartford, Sillinger made it through tonight’s 4-1 Sound Tigers loss in Worcester.
Mike Fornabaio of the CT Post texted us post-game from the Bridgeport locker room, “He says he feels good.” Next step: how he feels tomorrow and whether he’s ready to join the Islanders roster next week.
Slump Extends to 41 Games: Jeff Tambellini barely played in the third period tonight, saw 7:32 overall and has now gone 41 NHL games – exactly a half-season – without scoring a goal. Time for solutions.
Gervais IRed, Pock Waived, Danis Up: The Islanders announced this afternoon that Bruno Gervais has been placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to Tuesday, Nov. 25. Thomas Pock, placed on waivers, was again the healthy scratch tonight on the blueline.
Yann Danis returned from a successful visit to the AHL to serve as No. 2 netminder to Joey MacDonald tonight and for the foreseeable future. A source said tonight DiPietro will probably start skating next week.
Thumbs Up: $17,000 donated by the Islanders and more than 3,000 pounds of food donated by their fans tonight to the invaluable Long Island charity to end hunger, Island Harvest, as part of the team’s “Hockey With A Heart” initiative.
POST-GAME SOUND
A visibly confident Joey MacDonald shook off the notion that he was tired playing his sixth game in 9 nights. I asked him post-game if he’s getting more involved vocally “in the room” as he continues to establish himself as this team’s No. 1. “No one knew I was going to play this much, but now I think everyone’s starting to get more confident in me,” the goalie said. “I’m out there to make the big save and hopefully the guys feed off it.
“The guys battled tonight. They blocked shots, paid the price. That was the difference between tonight and yesterday.”
A Question for Andy Hilbert: Andrew, can I please be your agent?
Colliton Perseveres: This may not do him any good with tough roster decisions likely this week, but seems to us Jeremy Colliton – despite tonight’s minus-2 – gets the message and is a pretty good fit for what Go-Go’s trying to do.
Just Sayin’: Is the NHL so offended surprised every time the Islanders score a goal that they have to review almost every one?
Game Rating (out of 5 stars): 2.5 - A chaotic but entertaining first period, followed by an almost unwatchable second and grind-it-out finish.
Islanders Performance: 4.0 - You play your sixth game in 9 nights and win, you get 4 stars.
Event Rating: 2.5 - We understood the FireDancers when the Islanders and AFL Dragons were under the same umbrella…ella. But sorry old friends, we do not get the Ice Breakers – dancers performing choreographed “routines” in the aisles. For every person smiling, there are plenty cringing.
We’re pro-Ice Girls, pro-everything in the name of different, dazzling, entertaining, corporate-sponsorable or even just a good creative try. We don’t know what category the Ice Breakers fall under. When the routine was over tonight and the PA announcer said, “There they are, the New York Islanders Ice Breakers,” not a single fan applauded. The Islanders do a lot of good things. This enterprise does not look good on the franchise.
Official Attendance: 13,108
Courtesy of Kinger: Until now, the Islanders had never beaten Ottawa more than twice within the same season and never defeated the Senators three times in a row.
Scouts in Attendance: Rangers, Detroit and Florida GM Jacques Martin, (spoil-the-rumor-fun alert) whose Panthers play at the Garden tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in Toronto…Brian Burke named President and GM of the Maple Leafs. Yes, eventually he and Garth Snow will talk. No, we do not see a fit – especially where it involves the prodigal Islander, Bryan McCabe Jason Blake.
Islanders Press Coverage: Greg Logan and Mark Herrmann of Newsday, Dan Martin of the Post, Peter Botte of the Daily News.
Mark has recently started an NHL blog, furthering his newspaper’s status as (The Hockey) Newsday. In his latest post, Mark has an item on friend Jiggs McDonald being stranded in Bangkok.
Next Up: The Islanders have full practices Tuesday and Wednesday at Iceworks before they play Alexander Semin and the Capitals in Washington on Thursday.
The Islanders are back at the Coliseum next Saturday for the Atlanta Thrashers.
Quote of the Day: Ottawa defenseman Luke Richardson is retiring after 1,417 NHL games to be an assistant coach. Every member of the rebuilding Islanders should heed Richardson’s words:
“Every game in the league is a privilege, although it’s easy to take for granted. The older you get, the more you realize that.”
POINT BLANK PSA
Sticks and Steaks with the Islanders: Join the Islanders for their first Sticks and Steaks Dinner. From now until New Year’s fans have the opportunity to place a bid via www.newyorkislanders.com to have a steak dinner with their favorite Islanders player at Rothmann’s Steak House and Grill. This event is closed to the general public so only the highest bidders (and one guest each) will have access. All proceeds go to the Islanders Children’s Foundation.
Event Details: Cocktail Hour, Followed by Sit Down Dinner (Open Bar). Sunday, January 11, 2009, 5 pm – 8 pm, Rothmann’s Steak House and Grill, 6319 Northern Blvd. East Norwich, NY 11732. Log on to www.newyorkislanders.com for more info and to place your bid.
Comments.
5:00 pm - Defenseman Thomas Pock, the lone Islanders’ healthy scratch on D tonight, has been placed on waivers.
Assuming Pock clears – and our hunch is he will – Pock could soon join what is already a fairly sound defense in Bridgeport and will be available to the Islanders as a depth defenseman.
The move could also enable Pock to continue developing in the Islanders’ and Scott Gordon’s system. After serving a 5-game suspension for a high elbow on Ottawa’s Ryan Shannon, Pock did not return to an open spot on the blueline because Freddy Meyer came off the injured list. The Islanders picked Pock off the waiver wire from the Rangers at the beginning of the season, but his play has been subpar and he did not make a case for the Islanders’ top-six.
Bruno Gervais has been placed on IR retroactive to Tuesday, November 25 and was not among the skaters this morning in a rehabbers-only workout at the Coliseum.
Mike Sillinger plays the final game of his AHL conditioning stint tonight when the Sound Tigers play in Worcester. If the veteran center is cleared for continued play, he will join the Islanders for practice on Monday.
11:50 am – The Islanders made it official on Josh Bailey with a press release this morning. The lead sentence reads Bailey “will remain with the Islanders for the 2008-09 season.” I would take that to mean – as Greg Logan foreshadowed with Garth Snow a week ago – that Kirill Petrov has a better chance of playing for Team Canada at the WJC than Bailey does.
Since Bailey started playing in the NHL, I’ve been firmly in the camp that he should stay under Scott Gordon’s tutelage for the rest of the season, that there was no point in sending him back to 23-3-0 Windsor. Of the team’s apparent stance that Bailey is 100% Islander and will not have the three-week Team Canada experience, I’m not completely sure that’s the way to go.
More than buying the Islanders some decision-time with Mike Sillinger (probably) and Mike Comrie (skated today, so eventually) returning, Bailey playing a vital role on Team Canada at a WJC in Ottawa would be an extraordinary opportunity for him. The experience would likely stick with him more than playing the Thrashers three weeks from Tuesday. Then again, Team Canada is already without top defensemen Drew Doughty (LA) and Luke Schenn (Toronto), so it’s possible Bailey may not miss out on a gold medal.
Bailey met the Islanders and Ottawa press this morning, displaying the poise and maturity that’s kept him here. He revealed honestly that the first few games, “I didn’t want the puck as much – now I want it and have the confidence to hold on to it to make the right play.” He spoke of how veterans likes Doug Weight and Bill Guerin have provided invaluable leadership. He announced that he was moving in with Kyle Okposo, Nate Thompson and Bruno Gervais. He said he was moving out of the Marriott, which he liked, but “it won’t be an emotional goodbye.”
As for playing on Team Canada in Ottawa, Bailey said, “I knew it would be a fun thing, but I’m totally okay with that. No matter what the team decides, I know it’s what’s best for me.”
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Okposo Out: The Islanders had a morning meeting, but not a morning skate. The healthy Thomas Pock and the injured Comrie and Kyle Okposo skated. Gordon said the team had hoped to have Okposo back this weekend, but now it won’t be until next week. (After tonight, the Islanders do not have a game until next Thursday).
Comrie Return Not Imminent: Mike Comrie had a lengthy discussion with reporters after his skate this morning about his return from offseason hip surgery. The end result, as far as we could decipher, is that his return is not near. Comrie said his goal is to come back and be the player he was at the start of last season when he was healthy and contributing on a nightly basis.
ETC: Same lineup against Ottawa tonight as yesterday in Boston. With Sillinger (goal last night in Bridgeport’s win over Hartford) likely back tomorrow, the roster could have changes before the Islanders’ next game – Thursday in Washington…“NY Hockey This Week” will be on 1050 ESPN Radio after Syracuse Football today at approx. 4:00 pm. Don La Greca and I have a quarterly report on the Islanders, Devils and Rangers.
UPDATED, 2:00 pm - Yann Danis recalled from Bridgeport to back up Joey MacDonald. Peter Mannino back to the AHL. We really must start redaing those game notes!
Talk about Bailey, tonight’s game and all thing Islanders in Comments.
11:20 pm - While the Islanders are saying they are planning for an announcement on Saturday, the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League had one of their own today. Josh Bailey is not returning to his junior club, the Spitfires announced during their game on Friday night.
Bailey called his Windsor coach, Bob Boughner, before the OHL game on Friday to break the news. Said Boughner, the former NHL defenseman: “It’s not the phone call you want to get.”
The news is not a stunner, especially after the 19-year old center played more than 19 minutes in today’s loss in Boston.
Said Boughner, “We’re happy for Josh because we’re trying to send guys to the next level, but this leaves a big hole for us.” The Spitfires are 23-3-0.
When Jim Parker of the Windsor Star called the Islanders for verification of the story, the Islanders said they had no plans for an announcement on Friday. Read Parker’s story here.
The Islanders host Ottawa on Saturday night. The game will be Bailey’s 10th of the season, and the first year of his three-year entry-level contract will kick in.
Reaction?
As the decisions begin to pile up on Garth Snow’s desk – what to do with Josh Bailey today, how to adjust the roster if Kyle Okposo returns tomorrow and Mike Sillinger returns next week – add one to the list. This has now officially gone on too long with Jeff Tambellini, and the Islanders must get in fix-it mode immediately. There is one obvious remedy.
After today’s team-low 9:20 of ice (1 shot, 2 penalties) in a 7-2 loss in Boston, Tambellini now has 0 goals and 2 assists in 22 games with the Islanders this season, 1 goal in his last 52 games as an Islander. He has not scored a goal in his last 40 games. The idea that Jeff’s game can make the transition in the midst of an NHL season to a more Andy Hilbert-like two-way style is ludicrous. To be an effective player, Tambellini has to be reliable in his own end and contribute at least 15-20 goals a season. Neither is happening right now.
Call it a band-aid, but there is a partial solution. The Collective Bargaining Agreement allows a player to be sent to the minors for “conditioning” for two weeks – without having to clear waivers – if the player agrees to it. If they haven’t already (one has to believe they have), the Islanders must consider a conditioning stint for the left wing in Bridgeport.
Tambellini’s struggles may not have killed the Islanders up to this point, but today’s 7-2 loss in Boston - in which the 170-pound Scott Gordon student David Krejci powered his way to the kind of goal that Tambellini has not – really put his struggles under the magnifying glass. To be generous, there have been perhaps 5 games this season when Tambellini has made a positive impact. It is now at a point where even if you choose to look at this as the coldest of businesses, his value as an asset is now minimal.
Since Tambellini has a one-way contract for this season and for next season, the odds are slim a team would snatch him off the waiver wire if he was sent to Bridgeport the traditional route. Nevertheless, the team and Tambellini should work out a conditioning agreement that’s best for everyone. The left wing can play for Jack Capuano in the same system for two weeks in the American Hockey League, score a few goals, build up his confidence, value and everything else.
This has gone on far too long for Jeff, a very skilled player and a terrific young man I had the pleasure to work with. He’s Islanders royalty, but for reasons far beyond being his father’s son, Jeff deserves every chance to get it right here. I’m sure the last thing the franchise wants is to see a talented youngster thrive somewhere else. Still, Tambellini is now at a crossroads, and for two weeks of games the Islanders must have a better option somewhere in the farm system.
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Two Steps Back: On Wednesday night the Islanders were one period away from reaching .500. Ten minutes after the Sid & Geno show had ended and the Penguins had come back to win the game, an Islanders fan was still in the Coliseum stands, his head in his hands but with plenty to say.
“What a setback,” he said, sitting in his seat adjacent to the tunnel where the players (and media) head to the locker room. “We close out this game the way we should have, we’re at .500, we’ve now beaten the Penguins and a bunch of good teams and all of a sudden XM, Versus, TSN and everyone else has us in the conversation about the other competitive teams across the league.”
Today the Islanders were down 2-1 in the third period when Manny Fernandez stopped Bill Guerin on a breakaway. Before you knew it, the score was 4-1 and Peter Mannino was making his NHL debut while Joey MacDonald was steaming on the Islanders’ bench.
The Islanders have made a lot of progress the last few weeks despite some major injuries and while learning a difficult, punishing (Ken Hitchcok’s word) new system. Even in their train-wreck moments, they’ve been a blast to watch and at times highly effective. On Wednesday night the Islanders were one period away from reaching .500. Now they are 9-12-2.
These last two games proved they are not ready to be considered in the top half of the league. In the marathon of the NHL season, there is still plenty of time.
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ETC: An agitated Billy Jaffe in the final seconds of today’s third period blowout, as Michael Ryder was camped out in searched of a hat trick: “Somebody’s gotta put him on his butt in front of the net! I know there’s four seconds left, but you gotta do it. Do it for the kid in net, Mannino.”
Gordon called today’s performance, “Our worst game since the Buffalo game.” The coach said he pulled MacDonald because he is playing tomorrow at the Coliseum against Ottawa and he didn’t want the goalie subjected any more to the Boston onslaught and the Islanders not backing each other up.
Nate Thompson (almost 12 minutes) and Jeremy Colliton (10) – the only Islanders today at plus-1.
Weekly reminder: do not wait for a trade to change this team. All solutions will likely have to be found on the Islanders and Bridgeport rosters, and from players coming off the injured list. See you at the Coliseum tomorrow.
Comments.
Nate Thompson returns in time for his old team. Mitch Fritz back to Bridgeport. Greg Logan with an excellent post from today’s practice. I’m away Friday “on assignment” but should have a post-game notebook. Talk about the game in Comments. Contribute your how-the-NYI-make-life-worth-living posts in entry below. Safe travels.
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