ISLANDERS 4, CANADIENS 3 (SO)
Post-game Notebook: O’Byrned by O’Verspeed
10:25 pm - Ryan O’Byrne made a bad play. The kid from Cornell made the sort of classic goof that will be shown everywhere for the next week and probably a lot longer. O’Byrne scored an own goal that Canadiens fans will never let him forget. (Don’t worry, kid. If Bob Gainey starts shopping you tonight, there will be plenty of NHL teams glad to have you).
But while everyone’s killing O’Byrne - how ’bout those knowledgeable, classy Canadiens fans? - here’s a different angle for you. As the Islanders tried to come back from a 3-1 deficit, O’Byrne and the rest of the Montreal defensemen spent most of the second half of the game with Islanders forwards in their faces. This time with Doug Weight on his nerves, O’Byrne cracked. Because of the team he’s on he’ll live with it forever.
After the game, Scott Gordon said that Doug Weight joked that his Overspeed made it happen. Maybe Go-Go’s boys aren’t giving themselves enough credit.
You have to wonder if O’Byrne would have made such a bonehead play if his opponent tonight was one of the 20 teams in this league that just stand around the neutral zone.
And Another Thing
If the Islanders were clueless, rudderless and didn’t have a system to rely on, that 3-1 Canadiens lead would have been 6-1 by the end of the second.
Go-Go Better Than OK
Point Blank received about 30 pesky emails after the disaster on Friday when Scott Gordon“pulled his puncher” (credit: Logie) after Frans Nielsen was run. Most of them had the same bitter tone: “So you still think the Islanders have the right coach”?
Do you really expect me to be so weak and change my position after one bad night?
The Islanders are 9-10-2. This is without their No. 1 goalie and most of their regular defense for the majority of the early season, all while trying to learn Gordon’s cockamamie highly effective system. As brutal as some of the losses - and a few of the performances - have been, I would have signed up for that six weeks ago.
In reality, Gordon’s biggest problem at times has not been a failure to coach a good game, but talk it. His biggest struggles have occurred when asked to explain some of his eye-opening decisions.
In the overall assessment, I never judge the coaches and players of my favorite pro teams by how they answer questions from the media. I’ve seen too many phonies get credit for being great “leaders” because they give a good post-game sermon.
My advice: less is more, Coach. It’s not easy having microphones and recorders thrust in your face five minutes after a game. Some nights, like Friday, you’re far better off saying, “That’s the way I chose to play it.” Then after you’ve had more time to think about it, go ahead and huddle with a Logan and a Billy Jaffe (and a blogger, of course) to clarify your position. Remember: we may ask for an immediate answer, but you do not always have to provide one.
I’m certain Gordon will figure that part of the game out.
Ullstrom Goes to the WJC
Left wing David Ullstrom, on our list earlier today as one of the Islanders’ top prospects, has been selected to play for Team Sweden at this year’s World Junior Championships in Ottawa.
One of the Islanders’ fourth round picks in June, the 6-3, 200-pound Ullstrom could be a sleeper pick and projects as a skill and power forward. Victor Hedman’s on the team, too, but there’s no reason for Ryan Jankowski and his scouts to watch him!
Culture Club
You may recall how I pointed out Saturday how the “you’re-with-us-or-you’re-against-us” culture of the New Jersey Devils may extend to the broadcast booth, where Doc Emrick and Chico Resch thought the Mike Mottau hit on Frans Nielsen was no big deal. Well, here’s another place where it may extend.
On Friday night, the Islanders were credited by the off-ice officials of the Devils with a grand total of 3 hits. Not Trent Hunter, the Islanders. Not for one period, for the entire game.
Now I know the Islanders didn’t exactly make anyone forget Nystrom and Howatt or Webb and Cairns on Friday night. But understand this: if me, Strummer, Vlad, TuxTax, Dmarie and Willis challenged the Blue and Orange to a pickup game, the Islanders’ off-ice officials would show us the respect of crediting us with at least, say, 4 hits.
Streit for All-Star
Several weeks premature, I concede, but if everything holds to form, Mark Streit should be the Islanders representative at the 2009 NHL All-Star Game. Even on his okay nights - he’s had a few recently - he’s still a much better all-zone defenseman than I thought.
If it’s possible to quietly carry a team, Streit has done it. His ability to run a power play and log more than 25 minutes covered for the Islanders with so many of their defensemen on the injured list. He turned out to be a natural for Gordon’s system - an amazing stroke of fortune, considering Streit was signed more than a month before Gordon was hired.
GM Garth Snow signed two unrestricted free agents to little fanfare in July. Considering one is his team’s leading scorer (Doug Weight, 4-17-21 in 21 games) and the other has proven to be a top defenseman and will likely be his team’s representative at the All-Star Game, you’d have to say Snow got darn good value.
Just Sayin’
Let’s say the Islanders wanted to take another shot at restoring the confidence of Jeff Tambellini by sending him to Bridgeport for a couple of weeks of AHL goal scoring. Tambellini, who has 0 goals and 2 assists in 20 games this season - 1 goal in his last 50 games as an Islander - would have to clear waivers.
Tambellini - 11 minutes, minus-1 tonight - is in the first year of a two-year deal that pays him $550,000 this year and $625,000 next. That’s not big dough compared to healthy scratch Petr Prucha’s $1.6 mill this year, but Tambellini’s deal is one-way and most NHL teams have trouble enough keeping it to a 23-man roster.
Guess what I’m trying to say is, if Gordon and Garth Snow don’t want to send Tambellini for an AHL tune-up because they’re happy with the rest of his game, wonderful. But I wouldn’t lose sleep worrying about losing Jeff to another team on waivers. And if Tambellini was picked up by another franchise and given a fresh start, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing either.
And Finally…
Late in overtime, Josh Bailey skated over the blueline, slowed down and then feathered the kind of gorgeous pass to Chris Campoli for a scoring chance we haven’t seen in these parts since Pierre Turgeon. If Gordon had the kid out there in overtime tonight, you’d have to expect he’ll be out there for game 10.
Comments.
87 Responses to “ISLANDERS 4, CANADIENS 3 (SO)
Post-game Notebook: O’Byrned by O’Verspeed”
Please Wait
What does everyone think is gonna happen when Comrie Thompson and Sillinger are ready?
I will say this Bailey looks good but I would prefer to send him down and let him start in the nhl next yr and play a full season and not lose a yr of his contract for the next 60 games..
I asked that in the last blog entry, but I subbed KO for Thompson. I completely forgot about him. It is tough to say but as CB mentioned in this blog, do you expose Tambs to waivers and risk losing him? You know we would be talking about it for years if he blossomed in another system. Colliton is a given to go down, Sim to the press box is next, maybe Comrie is hurt longer than first thought? It’s tough…
At this point you have to see what you can get for Comrie and keep Sillinger as another mentor for Bailey. Looks like Josh could use some help winning faceoffs.
Question;If Tamby is sent down and waivers and picked up by another team do the Isles have to pay any of his contract?
In addition, doesn’t Thompson replace Fritz for most of the games? Fritz didn’t even play tonight, so you should keep Thompson in that spot and rotate Fritz in when facing tough teams or tough divisional opponents.
CB,
I’m personally not ready to give up on Tambellini yet. Okposo doesn’t have the numbers either. His minutes are starting to deteriorate in ways that Gordon and Snow wouldn’t even consider for guys like Okposo. I’m not saying he’s gonna pan out, but he has to be given the chance to prove himself - get him out there on the PP with Hunter and Bailey.
Also, CB, if we’re looking for ways to restore Tambellini’s confidence, how about putting him out there in the shootout? Do we need to see Hunter every time? I remember last year in his only shootout try Tambellini scored with an INCREDIBLE wrist shot. Why not give him a chance? Just a thought. I’d be curious to hear what everyone else thinks…
Tambellini is a tough, tough call. Nothing’s working for him, but I can’t really compare him to guys who ended up putting it together. Aucoin missed the net like he was MAB for the first half of a season as an Islander, but you could tell that as soon as he calmed down those shots would start going in. With Tambellini, everything the guy does is soft. Even if he powers through to the net he’s almost a lock to shoot it high or right into the goalie’s chest. I want to give him a chance to succeed, but seriously at what point do you just think it won’t work out for him on the Island? I would try to deal him with one of our extra draft picks for another young forward (I’m very partial to Mason Raymond from Vancouver, but there have to be other young players who could use a change of scenery), or just suck it up and see what we can do.
i dunno if we sent tambs down, and he does awesome in ahl, then has to come back up through re-entry waivers i see someone picking him up
A shoot out is used to WIN a game, not restore a player’s confidence. That’s what therapy is for.
tambellini STINKS he need to add 20lbs of muscle
Nick, I disagree with you on Bailey and faceoffs. The kid in one of his games won 7 out of 11 of his draws. That’s a big asset to have, a faceoff guy on your side. It’s one reason I was glad we signed Sillinger long term originally, it’s an underrated element of the game that is very important to success.
Just putting it out there, but i think the player im most excited about is bergenheim, finally he is getting more than 4th minutes and he is showing why he deserves it
I’m with you Akeem, I was shouting the same thing about Tambs. What better way to get some confidence back than to win a game with a shootout goal ? We had already stole one point at that time anyway.
According to Gordon, he wanted right handed shooters in the shootout to go high over Price’s glove, and I’m not going to complain with 2-3.
Go Isles !!!!
Habs fans are real idiots for booing Streit every time he touched the puck…the guy left your team because the coach refused to play him full time as a defenseman and kept jerking him back and forth D to F…so putting aside the money, who can begrudge a guy going to a team that wanted to play him major minutes as a d-man…idiot fans
KP, if I happened to not be watching when Bailey won faceoffs, then I stand corrected and apologize.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blYqftFEhAQ
Tamby had a good game I thought…was noticable today. Just has to get his first one out of the way.
Bailey should stay…I’m not the one paying him….and he looks damn good.
Snow deserves credit for Streit, Weight, and MacDonald….arguably our 3 best players this year.
7th, my sentiments exactly. A shootout is to WIN the game, and Tambellini’s pure offensive skills are exactly what you want in that situation. No offense to Hunts, cuz he’s been one of our MVPs thusfar, but for the shootout I’d rather have Tamby - Hunts has been out there a bunch and hasn’t got it done.
Bailey does a good job on faceoffs. Like most young centers that will only get better. I am sure Mr. Trottier will be stopping over to give him some pointers.
Bergy is great. You have to love his game. I really enjoyed after the Canadian player put the puck in the empty net after the whistle that Bergy led the charge to give him a Ricky Riccardo style talkin’ too.
I am not ready to give up on Tambelleni either. I say package him in a deal. He has value. I’d say Sillinger will come back up and play some games but won’t be around too long before being dealt. The same scenario goes for Comrie when he returns.
I often take shots at Andy Hilbert and I still don’t want him on the team but he had a heck of a game tonight so I wanted to give him credit when he deserves it.
Have to retool the defense, Geravis, Martinek and Campolli’s gotta go.
I don’t know how much ice got. I saw him in the first. I didn’t see Laraque and the Montreal coach has the last change and can keep his enforcer away from ours. I still would have given Fritz more minutes.
Bailey keeps getting better. I was almost sure he’d get his first goal tonight, so I guess it is coming on Weds.
Fritz vs. Goddy?
I tell ya what does it tell you when a coach is trying to protect Georges Laraque the former NHL Heavyweight champ from the new champ Mitch Fritz? They clearly didn’t wish to lose momentum by losing a fight.
I thought it would have been cool to have bailey out there for the shootout, with his family and friends in montreal
Oh, Bailey stays and Tambelleni is having better games. He threw some pretty steady checks.
What the hell is wrong with the NJ Devils? 3 hits? You’d think the NHL offices may correct that and serve them a memo to report statistics with accuracy but I doubt it, only a professionally run sports league would do that.
Ottawa twice, Vancouver and now Montreal. Obviously, this is a Canadian conspiracy to prevent us from getting Tavares.
I will reiterate the point of their are 4 Forwards hurt at the moment and although two are expected back this week KO & Sillinger by Saturday which means Fritz & Colliton get sent back down. Tamby would be the next one to be benched, but you would assume Jackman who does not deserve it would have to be the next one sent down. So the only question is are the Isles better off with JB on the Island for the entire season or letting him go back to Windsor and grow and gain some weight?
Campoli and Martinek have to go, Strummer, u must be kiddin,how many isles have scored two in a game this year.Who are the isles gonna get for silly, comrie a bag of pucks. Defense looks pretty good. the problem is putting the puck in the net.what happens when slly, comrie, and ko come back. bye fartz, take tamby with u.
Kudos to Bill Guerin. He could have emerged from that goal with an elaborate celebration, but elected just to skate back to the bench - past the Habs.
He knows that kid is going to get ripped. No need to rub it in.
Martinek,Geravis, and Campoli just aren’t that great. Even Jaffe gets on them. Campoli is the best of the three but if we start combining those guy with some of the obvious trade guys then value comes back. If you want more offense you get a more competent defense to take pressure off the forwards and d-men who are better hitters(this team needs some hitters all over the roster), fighters, passers,and shooters. Goals against will go down, won’t get pushed around, and offense will increase.
Bailey stays, you don’t send down one of your best players so you can get guys like Comrie, Tambelleni, Hilbert, Sim etc in the line up.
I am aware Jon Sim was signed to play for Ted Nolan. He has moments but they are very few. He really makes a lot of just dumb mistakes. He often is caught off-sides, dumb penalties etc. He doesn’t seem comfy in this system at all.
There’s no downside to keeping Bailey here… so he plays this year and year one of his contract counts. So after 3 years you sign him to a new contract. Why do they keep getting it wrong. They make it sound as if he’s not allowed to be sent back after 9 games. He can still be sent back… just his contract status changes.
DOC
Strummer, you wanna get rid of Martinek and Campoli??? They’re two of our best - i think we’re fine on D, I take sutton witt martinek streit and campoli over most team’s 5 top D-men…
Madchef how could you disrespect Fritz by calling him Fartz? They guy has been nothing but a positive.
Great win… albeit slightly gifted. This does make up for the last meeting between these two teams… karma my friends… karma.
DOC
Akeem I sure as hell would not take those 5 over most other teams 5. That is just crazy talk. Keep Witt, Sutton, Streit. You could make an argument to keep Campoli pending who esle was added but no way are Martinek, Meyer, Geravis, or Pock deserving to be an Islander (except for all their help with getting a high draft pick). Thee are MANY better d-men in the league.
Laraque was hurt… pre-game scratch.
DOC
Aw good catch Doc, I missed that.
Strummer, i didn’t say there weren’t many better d-men than some of our guys. Of course there are many. I’m talking as a unit. Our top 5 vs other TEAM’S top 5, we’re not that bad.
mostly cause its funny. I am a huge isle fan but how can you take a s#$% on campoli and martinek or are u avoiding that question. Fritz is great when he fights and is effective but most of the time he is keeping score or sharpening his skates….just sayin. and damn try and keep the internet violence to a minimum.
Akeem I am just saying it could get much better with some different players and differnt types of players. Since there are needs and there will be players getting moved it is a good opportunity to get. As far as what is around the corner you’d have to say yes to Hillen but he, Kohn, Katic (if he gets signed)are pretty much the same guy, MacDonal the d-man too. We then drafted some more talented but small d-men in guys like Ness. Other then Harmonic and Neimi it seems like most of the guys coming up are pretty similar to the guys I mentioned.
Mad, I think Martinek has come to expect losing. It’s not that I don’t like him but he takes bad penalties and his on ice positioning is not good. He isn’t physical enough and he hasn’t finished a season in a while. So I think it is more like thank you for your service but while you have some value I’d like to move you on and get just as good or better of a player for you while I can. What I wish they would have done with Kenny Jonsson. Campoli again is the best of the bunch with the most potential and again I wouldn’t mind him staying but again if an upgrade can get had and the guy is more physical then I’d send him off too. Geravis just needs to go.
Well said, and can’t disagree.Sucks that Martinek has been solid for so long with nuttin to show. But being stuck with them for now is better than MAB, or Pock, or Skinner. We still need a sniper, someone who other teams fear with the puck. We don’t have one right now. D seems to be our best asset aside from Jmac standing on his head every night.
aw man, I had managed to purge MAB from my memory….crap, have to take an extra Melatonin tonight to sleep.
You could always follow the Newsday LiveBlog Drinking Game. We decided we have to drink every time Comrie does a toe drag or someone mentions MAB.
Btw, since that shmo Carbonneau reminded me of that 93 season (which by the way, was the season that got me into hockey and the islanders - i was only 13) I went on Youtube and was watching highlights of that 93 playoff run. Absolutely great stuff. There was a team with real heart and character. That Ranger Maloney had to break it up by trading for Hextall and getting rid of Healy, and Turgeon for Muller.
Akeem, know what you mean. I was 8 that year and the long scar above my left knee is the result of my celebrating Volek’s goal. Watching the refs hand Montreal the conference finals, between LeClair’s overtime goal with too many men on the ice and the uncalled elbow to Brad Dalgarno’s head, was a different story altogether.
Do you guys really? that would be pretty funny. You should also take a drink every time Howie starts talking about Ed Levine (people would be hammered!)
I’m sorry maybe I read it wrong but did somebody just say that out of Camps, Gervais and MARTINEK that Camps was the best and the 3 really aren’t that good?
WOW. Sorry but somebody just isn’t paying enough attention to Radek Martinek.
Speaking of Bailey and faceoffs, one of his best “little things” plays tonight was on a faceoff win. The icing at the end of the shift (one of many) where Trent Hunter dove for the cross-ice pass to try and touch it and prevent icing?
On the ensuing faceoff, with the whole line tired and in need of a line change, Bailey wins the defensive zone faceoff by chipping it up and over, out of the zone, down the ice, enabling the exhausted Islanders to change.
I don’t know if that counts as a “win” on the official faceoff stat, but it sure was a win in terms of the little things you need to win a game.
I just looked at the three stars. I know they are done by the local media at the game but this is nuts. Hunter was given the games 3rd star. The first and 2nd stars were both given to Canadian players.
While the game was a SO loss for Montreal it was still a loss. You’d think 2 of the three stars at least would be from the winning team. I wonder if they are as innacurate as NJ with the hits too?
Dominik - I saw that too and was amazed. Wonder if it should count as icing, officials probably didn’t notice.
Strummer - I agree that there are some d-men that stand out from the rest of the bunch, namely Witt, Sutton and Streit, but that’s why there’s a difference between a top 2 and a top 6 d-man. I would add Martinek and Campoli to the keeper category of the Isles defense, Gervais, Meyer and Pock can fight for the last spot.
I like how this team looks right now. Keep Bailey when Comrie and Sillinger comes back. Move Comrie to wing and let Weight, Bailey, Sillinger and either Park or Thompson be the centers. If we can keep on rolling until the trade deadline I’m confident some of the veteran players will score enough points to build some kind of trade value.
What do you think we can get for Comrie? This stretch just shows how much we do not need this guy. He doesnt fit in with the overdrive sys
Joe, I think we could get pretty good value for Comrie. Several teams are trying to fill the need at center and there isn’t too much out there. He was obviously injured more then anything when he was playing earlier this year. His year last wasn’t too bad, he’ll fight from time to time. I think to a Chi or team out west he may return a pretty solid prospect or maybe as high as a 2nd. However, package him with another guy that we are gonna move anyway and watch the return shoot way up.
I have a feeling we are gonna deal with Chi. Not the whole Khab cap deal but they are desperatley trying to make the playoffs. They need a #2 center and more depth at center plus some other things some of our extras could really help them on. Since none of the Isles player contracts are nuts a deal could happen with us without them having to dump salary to do it.
I also think we’ll trade with Van after they find out what is going on with Sundin.
The good news are many teams have tons of injuries this year and that drives the price up.
Although I usually agree with you strummer got to disagree about Martinek. He hasn’t been himself since coming back, I’ll give you that. The guy is one of the best positional players on our team. I did see him make a gaffe tonight no doubt. Probably needs a couple more games to get it together. Gervais once again didn’t disappoint, he was by far the worst player on the ice next to O’byrne of course, LMFAO. How many times did he have one hand on the stick in our zone half a$$ playing the puck. Man he is hard to watch. That O’byrne kid is going to have a tough go for a while wow.Have to go on the Canadians boards for this one! I have a feeling we aren’t going to pick first overall. Love to win but Hedman as well as Taveras on this team would be a God send!!!
Maybe we could trade Comrie for O’byrne and a pick, I think he’ll be available.
I’m not sure why everyone wants to jump on the trade Comrie bandwagon, I understand he didn’t look to good in the first couple of weeks, but does anyone think that maybe his hip wasn’t quite 100 percent. I mean the same thing happened last year, he was one of our best forwards and then got hurt and that’s when his production fell off. Plus to tell you the truth all you would get for a player like Comrie, who would be a rental to most teams, would be a middle of the draft pick. No one is going to give up the farm and top picks for a rental player unless they’re a superstar.
Plus it’s not everyday we find a skilled player who wants to actually stay on Long Island.
try to get rid of sillinger. comrie they are going to slow things down…
Montreal fans knowledgeable? I live in Nova Scotia, they are the less knowledgeable fans in Canada. You have to remember these are the fans that roited in the streets, destroying their city because Rocket Richard got suspended for hitting a Bruin over the head with his stick and then punching the ref. They don’t want O Byrne anymore, We’ll take him on the Islanders. And yes there are Islanders fans in N.S., Paul Boutlier is from my hometown of Sydney, he won two cups and went to the finals with the Isles during his time there. Go Islanders
The Commodere says: PLEASE. NO MORE HUNTER ON SHOOT-OUTS. CB HAS A BETTER CHANCE TO SCORE! THE FILM OF HIS ATTEMPT LAST NIGHT SHOULD BE LOCKED IN A BOX AND BURIED - FOREVER. GO ISLES.
Actually I believe hunter has a good shootout record. And if you remember, he scored last time, it was just inexplicably called off on-ice and then they couldnt overturn that bad call because they didnt have the angle on it.
What I fear is this about Comrie, a torn (and subsequently repaired) hip labrum is a very very difficult injury for a top flight hockey player to come back from to full strength. This would apply not only to Comrie but also to DiPietro.
Since the all star game is in Montreal is there any choice but to send Streit?
And watching Bailey makes me think of Adam Oates and that ain’t bad.
Logan mentioned in his article that the 3rd Habs goal went in off a skate and I thought I saw that too but figured I was nuts since there was no review. Surprised nobody’s mentioned it.
On coach Gordon: I officially like him. My feeling is that he made a mistake in not sending Fritz out in the NJD game. Clearly, he is a rookie NHL coach, but has very much shown he has major upside talent as a coach. Similar story to Laviolette…..I like this system. As a fan who goes to about 25 game a year - its entertaining to watch.
On O’Byrne, I have not heard of him before, but bet he turns out to be a good player in the NHL. Tough break for him. I hope he snaps out of it by scoring a hat trick in the 12/4/08 game vs the NYR!
On Tambellini, I agree - he should be in the shootout. Even if he were able to get an empty net goal, it might just get him going. He is rapidly turning from a prospect to a suspect. I hope he pots a few vs the Pens on WED. I would vote for more patience for him and fully give him more time.
On the Devils - about time we turned up the gas on this rivalry. They seem to be real mean spirited and try to intimidate us. They have a terrific coach, and when healthy - a legend NHL goalie. I admire the way a guy like Clarkson plays. Lets see how they play us next year at NVMC….see how tough they are then.
On Fritz:
This may sound silly, but we have not done so badly since Fritz was recalled….Do we have a winning record with him in the lineup?
He is a deterrent to other team’s goons. I just wish that he had more hockey sense and skated better. If we can get him to the point when he is not a defensive liability on the ice ( and he has not played enough for me to make an evaluation for sure - but I would guess the answer is that HE IS as of now) - then I would seek to dress him for games in our division and those teams that employ more than their fair share of goons ( i.e. Anaheim)
Mark Streit has been a good pickup for us as well as Doug Weight.
Pat
That was well said C, and if you look at how things started out, I wasn’t so sure about Gordon’s “ways” or how this team would do, but lately they have really showed up and I think the guys have been working really hard to make something happen out there and it shows, We even beat Montreal! you go boys! and to hear other teams are making mention of the in your face not letting up, I’m glad for them. See? maybe we wont end up dead last.
Jeff Tambellini, well, I was in his corner for a long time, I really thought he would break out and show up, but it’s just not happening for him, I don’t know what they’ll do, I feel for the kid, I know there’s more to him it’s to bad he can’t find his way.
Well that being said I have to go pratice..I’m getting ready to face the blue an orange with you guys in a pick up game.. ( lol! cute! )
Have a good one
Maybe I have to start paying more attention to religion - miracles do happen! How about that WIN?! The only bad luck went to Central Park breaking his stick on the empty net shorthanded. Would be awsome if he scored.
Absolutely agree with CB: If we keep winning, keep the current roster.
Bailey become an Islander from the first game he played.
Gervais is the only weak spot on the D. But, as CB said, it has to be 23-man roster. We just need to patiently wait fo Mayer’s return.
It is nice to hear from Hockey Central on Versus that Isles have been playing some outstanding hockey. Finaly - some recognition.
At this point, you trade Comrie for anything. Considering there are some teams out there looking for secondary scoring, he has some value around the league, but given his contract is up at the end of the year and it is worth a decent chunk of change, I think realistically the return right now would be a 2nd or 3rd round pick.
“In Latin, tuxtax was the equivalent of “bam” or “whack” and was meant to imitate the sound of blows landing.”
CB I think we could get a few hits in.
Other than that…Write that road game in the books as a win and move to the next (Silent Prayer to the Hockey gods). I think the game would have seemed a lot more even if you turned down the sound…Imagine the Coliseum that loud and into the game on a Monday Night? Wish we could find a way to make that happen. Anyways, as lucky as the Isles were last night, the did not let up which game them a chance to win. We should all appreciate the effort last night. It was a fun one!
Hunter does not belong i a shoot out couldn’t agree more commodore. Ryan, expect comrie to be traded. We can only hope sooner than later. By the way he sucked before he got injured.
I think Hunter should get some consideration for the AS game. Either him or Streit, for sure.
I’d take Prucha at 1.6 over Tamby at .5, personally.
Strummer’s - I’ve never understood your issue with Marty. Last night’s game would have been over either late in the third or in OT (don’t remember) when the other d-man left his man all alone in front and Marty dropped his stick down to break up the pass. He picks off more cross-ice passes in our zone than anyone (including a beauty last night that would have ended the game either late in the third or in OT…don’t remember exacly), and between that and Witt and Sutton blocking a ton of shots, and Campoli and Streit supporting offensive rushes, I would take our D over many others in the league.
I watch as many games as I can on Center Ice, and there are some pretty dreadful D corps out there. The Isles are lucky if Meyer is their #6 on a healthy squad (and health is the real big issue with them…). The only thing they need back there is a true #1. If our D was, say, Phaneuf, Witt, Marty, Streit, Sutton, Campoli, I think it’d be top five in the league, and definitely one of the most well-rounded.
Tuxtax, we didn’t let up what? Getting hemmed in our own zone. I’m happy that we won but if there was ever a game we didn’t DESERVE to win it was that one! We couldn’t get out of our own end. We blocked a lot of
shots which kept the total down. It is nice to win a game like that, you know steal 2 points. God knows teams have been doing it to us for years but lets not fool ourselves and say the effort was there when we couldn’t get out of our own zone. We were clearly out played.
Martineks first few back have been a little tough for him. I do remember that play last night and it pretty much saved a goal. He is one of the best positional players I’ve seen since Kenny Jonnson on our team. Think he just needs some more time coming back from injury. He is one of our best dam.
Bailey makes passes and sees the ice the way no 19 year old should be able to. The guys is going to be a stud. And imagine if Petrov ever comes over here and turns into what people think he will turn into. Garth’s decision is looking better and better by the day. Wow, maybe the guy who has been in hockey his whole life knows more than people who post comments on blogs???? Crazy world.
about the devils..at least we have 2 huge rivals now. i think some of these upcoming devil games are going to get real real ugly,blood will be shed
Bailey looks good but he has played 7 games in the NHL.
We can only hope JOE RVC
Surprised that no one has mentioned Sim. He brings nothing to the table and took some stupid, untimely penalties last night. I would consider moving him and Comrie before Tambellini. At least Tambs has age on his side.
On another note, what was up with our PK in the first 2 periods? They were sitting back and not pressuring the points (Markov!). They readjusted in the 3rd but only after almost giving me a few heartattacks earlier in the game!
It looked like we were playing a little scared on the PP and even strength. We always seem to play that wy in that building.
I cant believe the crap that some people are laying on Sims lap. The guy has been putting up lots of points lately and is on pace for a 20G season, which is more than he has ever accomplished in the NHL- lay off him.
I thought Sim had a good game last night.
Matt, the boys did get outplayed last night… I am not going to argue with you that Montreal is a superior team offensively, but offense is not the only thing that counts in a game…sometimes desperate defense does help win a game as well. Blocked shots are a good thing! I bet Joey Mac isnt even that tired today after last night simply because of the Blocked shots…Sutton and Witter giving up the body gives the goaltender confidence and makes the team still push the puck in the third period and put pressure on the other team even if they were outplayed. Like I said before thank the hockey gods, write it down as a win, but appreciate the effort the team put forth even if it was nowhere near overspeed.
BTW, how and why are we going to trade Comrie and Sillinger and Tambellini and Sim and Campoli and Martinek and Gervais? I say stick with this team! There is no point in moving anyone right now…
I love how Montreal just gave themselves the first two stars of the game anyway even though they lost, haha.
Higgins - 0g, 1a, 1sog…first star of the game.
O’byrne should have been the first star. Would’ve been if we were at NVMC. We did block a lot of shots last night but our defense was backing up the whole night I don’t know if you can call that good. Jmac had another good game, made some amazing saves and got some help from the post. Comrie has to go. He is lazy and always has been and is not someone who I want playing with Okposo and Bailey. Bad example. He just plain sucks. Don’t know why anyone likes him. He is a prima donna. The guy is so weak on the puck coughs it up real quick. The guy makes some real horrible passes. Don’t care if he led the team in points last year. Not a stats man but look at his plus minus last year on a supposed defense first team. Gervais is one of the worst defenseman I’ve ever seen. He is MAB without the offense. I know he is a nice guy and goes to charity events but he sucks. If we coul get rid of both of them the team would be better off.
I think that Guerin was classy for not reacting to his SO goal in front of the Habs. Bailey looks great so far. The win last night should have been traded for a win at home in the last Habs-Islanders game. Ahhh well.
OK, on second thought Comrie can go…
Pretty bad huh? LOL.
I didnt need much convincing on Comrie, tell you the truth I havent liked him since he got here. Sad thing is, is that he might have led the team in points last year, but the only flashy highlight was the one time the infamous toe drag worked against the Sharks.
We may not have deserved to win but how many times over the years have we deserved the win but because of bad calls and bad bounces we lost. I’ll take the win and be happy we got some luck (another important part of the game IMO)!
I guess that’s basically what you said, Matt. Sorry, it’s hard to keep up with the amount of comments every day LOL!!
My thoughts on Tambellini are that I’d be okay with him in the shoot out. But if he could play better elsewhere I would be okay with that also. I just wish the kid luck at this point. AND I don’t think he’s ever going to be….say, Sidney Crosby, so I’d let him go and I WOULDN’T boo him when he came to visit.
Campoli just had a bad game. He’s been pretty solid and is still developing. He is a D that will contribute goals for us and to me that is ’nuff said.
Re: the pick up game, count me IN, anytime!!! Glad to see you’re feeling better CB!
Campoli is where he needs to be… 5-6 “D” with about 17 mins. It’s good that they have four defensemen that belong in the NHL. That’s a start.
They don’t need to improve from the bottom, they need to (over the next two years) find replacements for the oft injured Martinek (who has been one of the best values in the NHL, but isn’t a 1st pair D). I feel the same way about Witt. I love the Witter, but he is most effective as a second pair “D”. Sutton and Streit aren’t the best first pairing, but FINALLY we have a NUMBER ONE pair. Sutton can clear a crease, and Streit is a solid offensive threat… and CAN MOVE THE PUCK OUT OF HIS OWN ZONE.
Witt and Hillen will be the #2 pair next year, and campoli will still be that “on the fence” guy. Hopefully Meyer will come back and campoli’s play will improve. Gervais is back to the 2006 Gervais that seemed lost… If he couldn’t translate for them in Montreal he’d be totally worthless right now.