FLYERS 4, ISLANDERS 3
Game notes and Bailey poll results
“They made them earn it. Scott Gordon’s club should be proud of the way they played. The cream just rose to the top.”
Darren Eliot of VERSUS
Other than the final four minutes when they couldn’t get anything going down a goal, that about says it all for the Islanders tonight. There will be nights (like last night in Toronto) to pile on about effort and execution. This is not one of those nights. Flawed as they may be, the Islanders left everything they had on the ice.
GAME NOTES
The Islanders have now lost four games in which they led by at least two goals. The NHL game may be a bit more wide-open than it used to be, but that’s at least three too many just 28 games into the season.
Yann Danis played his first NHL game for the Islanders since Nov. 1 and his first action of any kind since playing for Bridgeport on Nov. 28 - a layoff of 11 days. He made some great saves, was left alone all too often and - although he’ll want the game-winning blast by Gagne back - did just about everything he could.
Know this about Jeff Carter: after the Flyers’ setback 2006-07 season when the second-year NHLer scored 14 goals, there was talk Philadelphia was listening to offers for the center. There were questions about his development, but the bigger concern was whether the Flyers could keep him after they spent a lot of money on trade acquistions and free agents. GM Paul Holmgren resisted, which is what smart GMs do.
It’s a move that’s at least two months away if it happens at all, but if Mike Sillinger (16-9 on faceoffs tonight) maintains his level of play, teams will line up one more time to acquire him.
Broadcasters are quick to point out when a goalies gives up a rebound when it leads to the goal. But when Darroll Powe scored off a rebound to tie the game at 2-2, where was the analysis of the Islanders’ D-zone coverage?
Darren Eliot on Mark Streit: “He’s as good as any power play quarterback in the NHL.”
Islanders defenseman Joe Callahan may have been minus-2 in his NHL debut, but with his physical play (3 credited hits) and courage (2 blocked shots) he merits more looks.
My ten-year old son learned something during the Fritz-Cote fight. He honestly had no idea that sometimes these brawls draw real blood. Scared the heck out of him.
This Blake Comeau kid seems like a pretty good hockey player.
Prior to tonight the Islanders were 4-0 in the second of back-to-back games this season. They battled pretty much all the way to the end tonight in their first b-to-b loss, which kind of puts a dent in the argument that Go-Go’s forecheck skates his boys into the ground.
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Just thought of another reason to send Josh Bailey to the World Junior Championships, as we recommended earlier today.
When the half-dozen or so Islanders scouts got to Ottawa to watch Tavares, Hedman, Kirill Petrov (he was invited to Russia’s camp, so maybe) and everyone else, they will have a real, live member of the 2008-09 Islanders to see how the prospects compare, and how Bailey compares to them.
Really now, how cool is that? After another loss like tonight, it’s time to start thinking big picture. Yes, already. The Islanders didn’t plan on losing Kyle Okposo for 4-6 weeks, Frans Nielsen for 2-3 months. They cannot be faulted for that. But they can be honest about where they currently stand and make decisions accordingly. Like giving Bailey the Team Canada experience of a lifetime.
Final Poll Results
Emphatically for Bailey missing 13 NYI games to play in the WJC: 41
Emphatically against the Islanders loaning Bailey to Team Canada: 8
Tons of great feedback from PB readers in the Comments space about sending Bailey to the WJC…
For
Jon: “Send him. He gets good experience and the Islanders get closer to the first draft pick.”
Johnny Islander: “It could be good PR for the Islanders. Every time Bailey is mentioned at the WJC, they would also mention that he’s an Islander.”
Nick: “It has everything to do with level of play rather than meaning of the games…if nothing else, we’ll see what he can do centering guys who can finish.”
John: “The focus of the team should be next year, and missing a dozen or so NHL games will not hinder Bailey.”
Against
Ryan: “There’s really no precedent in the last few years for sending a kid to the WJC after they’ve made their NHL club. If they’re expendable enough to spend 5 weeks farting around in international play, they shouldn’t have made the (NHL) team in the first place.”
KP: “Bailey’s best education is playing against the best level of competition in the world not restricted to age.”
One reader brought up a fair question: would anyone be talking about Josh Bailey going to the WJC if the Islanders were around .500? But that’s exactly one of the points. The Islanders are 10-16-2 and now are without Okposo and Nielsen.
The fans against sending Bailey to Team Canada make some good points, but I really can’t see the argument for having the prospect play these next 13 games wth a last-place NHL club over playing for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships.
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One of the things about this non-stop blogging is you get frustrated when you fail to clearly make points. In my opening to yesterday’s Pre-Game, I talked about how the Maple Leafs were “descending rapidly,” which is the smart thing. For a counterpoint, I mentioned how Scott Gordon was charging ahead, keeping things positive, playing 37-year olds big minutes (and the same goalie every game). I wrote that based on all of the above, this is a game the Islanders “should” win.
My point was kinda wise-ass. It wasn’t a prediction. It was intended to be a somewhat sarcastic commentary on how the Islanders are still trying to win now and so therefore should beat a rapidly-descending team like Toronto. Didn’t mean to make it sound like I had the Islanders favored. We all know the result. Yeesh.
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For those of you who missed the morning shift…
Steve Webb’s W20 Foundation, which he started to promote and support youth hockey in his adopted home of Long Island, is holding a fundraising raffle. And what a prize Steve has lined up. Raffle tickets are $25 each, but the winner gets a hockey fan weekend of a lifetime:
- 4 Tickets to the NHL All-Star Game in Montreal on January 25, 2009. (With the Canadiens’ 100th anniversary, these tickets are impossible to get).
- 4 Tickets to the NHL All-Star Skills Competition the night before.
- One night hotel accomodations for 4 on Saturday, January 24.
And to top it off, travel in style with round-trip air transportation for your group of 4 out of Republic Airport in Farmingdale.
Raffle ticket sales continue through Jan. 6, 2009. The raffle will be held the next day. Steve left me a voicemail early tonight saying that thanks to the passion of generosity of Point Blank readers, his fundraiser had a very good day today. Let’s keep it going for him and the youth hockey players of Long Island. To purchase tickets and learn more, click here or go to Steve’s foundation website at www.w20foundation.org.
Well-done by Christine Simpson and the crew with VERSUS. Good excuse to run this one. Your game reax and final votes on the Bailey thing in Comments, please.
48 Responses to “FLYERS 4, ISLANDERS 3
Game notes and Bailey poll results”
Please Wait
Weight is that much closer to 1000 and Comeau scored (far faster than Jeff). Other than that… I could have been Christmas shopping.
This year is a lost cause. There was a report that we are already last in attendance, with this economy and our play that’s not going to change.
I am not trying to be sarcastic here, but could anyone blame Wang if he gave up and sold? I am really worried about our future on Long Island.
Witt either hurt or suck. He is not even close to being the witter from last year.
Any chance Kirill Petrov defects while he’s in Vancouver and plays for the Isles this year? haha
Congratulations to Blake Comeau! May that be the first of many this season. Glad they had more jump tonight and both teams kept it fairly interesting. At least it wasn’t a blowout. Woohoo.
I’m so looking forward to the 2009 draft lottery.
Man, do I wish we could have Jeff Carter on our team
Witt has not been Witt all year long. I don’t know if he isn’t fully recovered or not but this is not the Witt of last year.
Way to go Comeau, Bergy, Bailey, Fritz, Guerin and Weight. The team does player better when Fritz is in the line up.
Interesting plot line, Burrows from Van gave almost the same hit to a Nash player tonight that Nielsen received. Of course the Preds went crazy and got revenge. I am interested to see what “NHL JUSTICE”-JOKE hands out.
Two quickies:
1) Need another reason to send Bailey to WJC? Let him tell some of the other top players in the world FIRST HAND how great NYI have treated him, what a great opportunity it is here….
2) If Witt is not 100%, is he a Half-Witt?
LOL
At comment 1 not 2. Just kidding, kind of…
Tavares plese!! :oP
Witt and Sutton are too slow for the overspeed system. I thought Callahan played a good game tonight. If Sin would have hustled to the puck behind the net, Aaham would not have scored. Sin has to go.
Comeau 1
Tabellini 0
…I’m just saying
Mike in Richmond…
100 percent agreement on that Sim play where he got crushed.
As the play was happening I said to myself….who is that lollygagging to the puck….And then sure enough KA-BOOM!!!
Bad play all around by Sim, he paid a painful price for it and it cost us a goal.
Sim sucks.
I must concur Sim sucks.
I wonder if Witt is not a fit for the system or just injured? Sutton played very well when he first came back, so I think he can play in the system very well.
With reports of DiPietro coming back I wonder if 1) The plan on playing him 17 straight games. 2) Will they do the right thing and acquire the right type of d-men before their franchise player returns?
Sim is slow and is not anything this team said he was, which is something anyone who watched him would know.
Gotta love Fritz being in the lineup. Hope he stays up to re-match Godard on Thurs. We play Minn next Friday and then Nash sat, with Boogaard and Belak, Id expect him to be in. Then Atlanta, whom we had a physical game with last time, Tues after that.
Isles have actually lost five times when leading by 2 or more (once in shootout), most in the league. They also blew 3-0 lead to Jackets before winning in OT.
One day closer to John Tavares (or Victor Hedman - any way to get both?).
I think Josh Bailey would benefit from staying put with the Isles. Why? Did that switching around from team to team last season do anything good for Kyle Okposo’s development? I guess we’ll never know, but he played in the WJC and hasn’t set the world alight yet this season. Not to hold that against him, I think he will be fine just as soon he heals that injury and get some quality ice time with Bailey to develop chemistry.
Hell, Bailey has showed he belongs. I personally think that a player should play on the highest possible level (if he belongs), and that’s the NHL.
Sending him to the worlds would also make it look like Snow kind of regrets not sending him back to the OHL.
I cant really complain about anyone in this game tonight… they just played well and lost. Thats gonna happen. Im just glad they played a much better game tonight than they have been playing lately.
Before Sim started this season, his last game was the 2nd game of LAST season. And before those 2 games (assuming he played) was the last games of the 06-07 season. The guy has played 30 games in 20 months. He missed an ENTIRE season. Thats bound to set someone back.
Plus, cant we say that the Flyers made a good play behind the net hitting Sim? Why does it have to be that Sim sucked? Why do Isles fans jump on every assumed bad move a guy makes? If Sim was so bad, Im sure Gordon would do what was necessary and reduce his minutes. Fritz is a great fighter, but Id take a guy like Sim, who can play, over him anyday.
Sim was gliding to the puck… even looked over his shoulder to see the pressure coming… and made a terrible play. Lazy.
Yes… Cote made a very good play to do what he had to do… and what he is supposed to do… which is forecheck and force a turnover. Sims job is to NOT let that happen.
I’ve seen enough of Sim. 30 games is more than enough to get his wheels going.
DOC
And YAAAAYYYYY!!!! Fritz won (almost) a fight… I feel so much better about this team.
DOC
In the pre-season game I watched, Witt looked like he’d reinvented himself. He was moving faster than he had in the last two seasons and was in deep a number of times. Tonight again he was doing things you never would have seen in the last two years–he crashed the net on two separate occasions.
Despite that, it does seem like his play in his own zone has fallen off–but so has everyone’s. This team has had more trouble with breaking up cycles and starting up a breakout under pressure than anything else. That seems like a systemic problem, not a Witt problem.
Is he injured? Maybe. We’ll find out in 2010.
Thought the boys played well, just not talented enough to pullout the victory. glad to see Comeau get his goal although he was on the ice for at least three against (I think, if memory serves me). Instead of implying he should have been up sooner maybe some credit should be given for sending him down and getting him to play the way he should of from the beginning.
By far the best thing that could have happened in this game did happen. No it wasn’t the islanders getting a meaningless win, and no although I still want to see it it wasnt Bailey scoring his first. It was my boy Blake Comeau scoring his first of the season in only his second game! Way to make a statement!
3rd game…
Holmgren tried to move Carter and a 1st round pick for Tomas Kaberle at last season’s transfer deadline. So it wasn’t Holmgren’s smarts that kept Carter in Philly, just the circumstances of Kaberle’s NTC.
As for Josh Bailey, I agree with Andreas the Badger (#20). Bailey’s an NHL pro now and needs to stay in that environment to work on his game under the watchful eye of Gordon and company. To disrupt that process because of a junior tournament is not worth it in my opinion. He’d be away playing different kind of hockey in a different environment. He’d have to acclimate again after returning while possibly being mentally (if not physically) sapped after the tournament. The NHL is the toughest hockey environment in the world. You don’t need to make it harder by taking your top kid out of that environment for a taste of the WJC. The only reason you’d send him away is if he were in danger of not playing enough minutes in the NHL.
Proud about being the WORST team in the NHL? I stopped watching the games because I would rather watch paint dry.It is really sad what has happened to this once proud franchise.
That was cute of you to quote Darren Eliot, Chris. I’m sure the countless veterans on the team appreciated them. The little engine that could known as the isles put up a good fight. But from what I saw, the Flyers were the younger team. The myth the Isles are putting out there (led by Botta) is that the Isles are this young team with a bountiful future. I’m sure Guerin and Weight and Hilbert and Sim and Sutton and Streit and Witt and Sillinger want to hear they are apart of this engine that could. Funny, with Bailey and Comeau….what quality youth was even in the lineup? This Callahan guy?? LOL
It’s been about 25 years since the Isles were a good team. Now the PR Department is quoting an announcer from Versus who said “the Isles put up a good fight” againt a team (the Flyers) that was younger then them. Just another sad moment in the past 25 years of futility if you ask me.
I’m going to apologize off the bat because my first comment will not be popular with some here …
But, what did Fritz do in this game that warrants him staying up? He took a penalty in the very beginning of the game because he can’t skate with the other players, and he got all bloodied by a guy smaller than him. I mean I get it …he fights …and I love fighting in hockey, but how many slow guys do we need on this team when the coach’s whole approach is to be a skating team? Fritz, Sim (lazy needs to go), Silly (like but too old and slow), Sutton and Witt (both hard nosed guys but are done), and even Guerin looks a pace behind …I mean how many of these guys do we need?
Jackman can skate, and fight …he’s enough in the line-up for me …bring up some younger guys so that we can really rebuild and put Fritz in the minors where he can knock out guys and take lazy holding penalties
my biggest worry for the rest of the season? we get the #3 overall pick
Violins Ready:
Yes, like Darren Eliot said, we should all be soooo proud of our beloved Islanders. Witty, Billy G., Sill, Sutty, Dougy and the rest of our 30+ group put up such a good fight. And now we have powerhouses from others teams AHL’s rosters like Pock, Callahan et al. to lead the charge. We are rebuilding, yet the only youth that finds its way to the lineup is Comeau and Bailey and before that Kyle. But that Bergy and Nielsen we love so much, even though it took Neilsen until he was 24 to crack this talended (LOL) lineup. But wait, we have that Campoli guy and we get to watch opposing players skate around him night after night. Yes, I am sooooooo proud of the direction of this team. Espeically after our GM admitted that he has tried to sign Free Agent, even offered more money, but no one wants to come here because of the dumpy arena. And they are selling this phony “rebuild” simply because no one wants to come here. Yes, I am sooooo proud.
It’s over. Season is over. Dump ‘em.
Again with the false quotes. It really is true- fewer and fewer people even seem to care about facts or whats true anymore. If they see something repeated, thats good enough- they dont even care if its true, just seeing it repeated enough times somehow MAKES it true in their minds. It is SAD.
Bill/Jim is the same person, who either hasn’t read my countless criticisms of the team or is just upset about 10-16-2 and looking for an angle. It’s all good. I must have missed the parts where I’ve written this team is currently young and the talent is exceptional. Let Bill/Jim do his thing. Looking forward to whatever his next fake name and email address is…CB
Bailey should play where it helps his development the most and I think it is with the Islanders. He looks like he belongs in the NHL. If management decides he would be better playing playing in the WJC, so be it. But I look forward to his shifts. That and figuring out how we will blow it each night. Much like the Casey Stengel Mets: embrace the horror. Someday the team will be back on top. They may be in Toronto or Kansas City but the Fishsticks will rise again.
I hate to say this, but I now agree with the majority. Isles need to get the #1 or #2 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. Our luck Tampa will get it again.
When the trading deadline approaches, hopefully the Isles will be able to unload some of the vets and get something good in return.
I believe the free agent pool this off season will be better than last. Maybe the Isles can overpay (not years wise) for one or two free agents.
Last but least……. DO NOT suit up Rick until he is 125%!!!!!!
BTW…. Is it true that Mike Comrie is on this team????
I understand all the grumbling about the direction of the “youth movement” given the current paucity of youth on the current roster. Even with Okposo and Nielson taken out of the equation the current team is not a very young one. However, my impretation of the youth movement is that the Isles have long neglected the path of developing their own players and starting with the ‘08 draft they were going to begin the process of stockpiling draft choices and begin the youth movement from the bottom up. Yes we all want to see the younger players in the system play right away, however, if they are truly committed to this model the young guys have to play and develop at the level that they are most ready for now. That means not rushing players who are not ready. The current group of older vets on this team are just placeholders until a few years from now when we will see if “the plan” bears any fruit. I’m not defending managements plan but I think if it is going to work we have to be patient and give it several years. Currently its frustrating to watch but hopeful….maybe.
Leaving everything you have on the ice is great, BUT the Isles need WINS. That’s how I rate professional sport franchises. Play to win or stay home. More than likely the Isles will be mathmatically eleminited from the playoffs by Christmas. Neither Wang, Snow or Gordon will get any pats on the back from me because of that fact. Moral victories went the way of the do-do bird for this franchise. It’s time to put on the big boy pants and join the NHL. How ‘you played the game’ is great in cities like Providence & Moncton. Doesn’t translate so well here.
Spinner9 on Dec 10th, 2008 10:12:47 said:
“I understand all the grumbling about the direction of the “youth movement” given the current paucity of youth on the current roster. Even with Okposo and Nielson taken out of the equation the current team is not a very young one.”
To the contrary- the Isles are SO young that a good amount of the young talent on the team is still too young even to play in the NHL. Thats what year one of a youth movement means. Year ONE… you cant expect all the kids drafted in the last year or two to all be here- it just doesnt work like that, you know?
Spinner9 on Dec 10th, 2008 10:12:47 said:
“I understand all the grumbling about the direction of the “youth movement” given the current paucity of youth on the current roster. Even with Okposo and Nielson taken out of the equation the current team is not a very young one.”
To the contrary- the Isles are SO young that a good amount of the young talent on the team is still too young even to play in the NHL. Thats what year one of a youth movement means. Year ONE… you cant expect all the kids drafted in the last year or two to all be here- it just doesnt work like that, you know?
Spinner9 on Dec 10th, 2008 10:12:47 said:
“Yes we all want to see the younger players in the system play right away, however, if they are truly committed to this model the young guys have to play and develop at the level that they are most ready for now. That means not rushing players who are not ready.”
EXACTLY!!!
Also agree with Spinner’s above comments. Some of you really need to put aside the ridiculous negativity for just a second and check into a little thing called perspective. JUST WHAT THE HELL DID ANY OF YOU EXPECT WITH THIS TEAM?
And, not that there’s a chance in hell this happens, but enough of the man-love for Fritz, already. This team plays better with him in the lineup?? Sure, they do. This was probably the best game they’ve played with him in the lineup - but it was another LOSS, just like the majority of the games he’s played in so far. Think it was coincidence that they couldn’t get anything going in the last four minutes? Yeah, they left it all on the ice - but is having Weight on the ice for over 22 minutes really a good idea? But, hey, thanks for that 2 min, Fritz.
Rant over.
I am all for a Youth Movement, However the youth must show signs of talent and natural ability to be a 1st or 2nd line player to make a difference on this team and i feel that the islanders are still struggling with that. i dont see any natural goal scorers or even 20 goal scorers! my opinion!
I enjoyed watching last night’s game, which is something that I can’t say about many of the previous few games. At least there was some spark until the horn sounded.
As far as Bailey and the WJC, IMO the circumstances of this season lead me to the conclusion that Bailey should go and enjoy the WJC while he can. The Islanders are going nowhere this season, and they can spare his talent for a few weeks. If the circumstances were different (say, the Islanders were a few games over .500 and competing night after night to climb the standings & get points), then I’d feel that Bailey should stay and skip the WJC.
I have a few ideas for team’s loosing reasons:
1. There is no consistency in the way Isles are playing, which is understandable - the age, skills, and expierence differences between guys is big.
2. Luck of 100% effort from the whole team every night. Looks like there are still some black sheeps in the barn.
3. The D-system clearly does NOT work. Even with Great JMac between pipes the opponent teams still score a lot of goals each game. If nothing is going to change, there are not gonna be any shotouts for our goaley this season.
4. Go-Go Gordon doesn’t have a ruling touch in his way of coaching(just a thought). Sometimes somebody need some spanking.
5. Plus all other common reasons (injuries, no goal scorrers ect.)
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Did anyone noticed that Pock actualy had a good game. And Congrats to Comeau with firs tally of the season! Many more to come.