NASHVILLE 1, ISLANDERS 0
Weight out with groin strain
Doug Weight misses second half of the game with a groin strain. Jeff Tambellini completes Bridgeport stint tonight with third goal in as many games. Blake Comeau plays okay. Howie and The Jaff reference Fiddler on the Roof mid-third.
After the game Scott Gordon says he’s good with the effort of his broken-down lineup, which is fair. Among his other comments to C.J. Papa, the coach says, “We’re thin right now,” “We’re not physically imposing,” “We don’t have a lot of speed” and “At this point right now, we don’t have the personnel that are gonna bury their chances.”
Those points are not inaccurate, but – as beat up as your team may be – a head coach making those points out loud is not recommended in a league where the fans pay to see the games and where you never want your players to give up.
Talk about it in Comments. Your chance to pick the ’09-10 lineup continues in the next thread.
109 Responses to NASHVILLE 1, ISLANDERS 0
Weight out with groin strain
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Mike O says:
Should be another interesting loss down in opryland.
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UIF says:
I’d like to see Comeau-Bailey-Okposo on the same line, let alone in the same game.
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Comeau, Sim and Tambellini should play every game until real help gets here (draft,trade). Fritz forget about it. What’s the problem with the Islanders? Can’t score, can’t make the big save…now the “system” is flawed after 40 min. We’ve seen this all before. This team is like a broken favorite toy, you love it but your mom wants you to throw it away. SOS
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Paul Corujo says:
I would like to start off by stating that i am 27 years old and have been an islanders fan my entire life. I live in Midtown Manhattan and do everything i can to make it to a couple of games a year.
I have never written on any of these things in my life and read everything thing i can find on the Islanders everyday. I am perfectly fine with the re-building of the team, in fact I am a fan of developing kids from within and look forward to seeing our young people like Trevor Smith and Jesse Joensuu play.
With this being said it truly bothers me that Blake Comeau is not playing everynight. Why does this team always have to have some political garbage or stupid secret. I watch almost every game and live with two friends who played in college, i understand the game. Granted Blake is not the next league leading scorer but quite frankly hes better than at least a third of the guys who play on a nightly basis. I thought we were rebuilding? Wouldnt it make sense to play our promising young people? I fell like these guys are trying to actually make it difficult to be a fan. I really just cant comprehend why he isnt playing every night on our second line. Look if Snow and Gordon are trying to turn us fans off then please just let me know so i can get the center ice package and watch one of the NHL’s exciting young teams like the Penguins or Caps.
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kevin says:
hedman and tavares scored at the WJC. hedman got crushed a couple times. i like joes style of play and was pretty good last time he played. should be a good game tonight. GO ISLES
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Marcus says:
I have been an Islanders fan since I’ve been six years old (1979). Witt has a point, I watched the Islanders game against the Capitals on Versus, they didn’t seem to have the legs in the first couple of periods and then in the 3rd the team came alive.
Gordon’s system is exciting: but when I play or workout, there is a limit to how much I can exert myself until I need a break.
I pray the Isles get the new bldg and I hope we can land Tavs or Hedman. But I am concerned that without an adjustment to the game plan Gordon will be doomed as our head coach. I mean come on: even Al Arbour made adjustments during a game and for different opponents.
The hallmark of a great leader is to listen to the people who work for you every once in a while. I hope the boys win tonight.
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DP's Hip says:
You mean when we needed defense to keep a lead, Arbour didn’t use the run and gun?
Gordon loves his wondersystem…..it even gets rid of those smudges on the wall as well as softening hands while you do dishes.
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cgs878 says:
Comeau must have a serious problem off the ice that Gordon dislikes. What other reason could there be for sitting a young NHL prospect (or whatever we should call him ’cause he ain’t a “kid”) who can play better than a lot of others who get regular time on the bench (and ice)?? I dunno, it doesn’t make sense to me.
I know nothing about the Preds, much like I know/knew little about the Jackets until this season, so I don’t know what to expect from the game besides the usual 40 minutes of effort from the Islanders. Ahhh well, I wasn’t going anywhere on an icy Saturday night anyway.
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andy says:
Isles: 1
Predators: > than 1DA….-sigh-….Isles
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Isles Fan in Ulster County says:
Are the Islanders trying to tank the season? If Flash can’t make adjustments, then I can’t see how he belongs to the future of the organization. You can’t play a system for players that you wish you had, you have to do something to accommodate what you currently have. Comeau will sit, Fritz will be the space heater on the bench, and Nashville will make the Islanders look like they belong in the WHA. 6-2 Nash. Go Isles….
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If only the players just bought into the system……you know…..became faster skaters, all offensive weapons and dies their hair green like Oompa Loompa’s….the system can work, you just need guys to change their physical abilities and mindsets.
Maybe cloning?
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jon says:
the comeau situation alone disturbs me to the point where i’d throw away fan dedication since 1977. i cannot fathom why this kid isn’t playing all the time. he’s clearly the best young player they have today – yes, he’s better than okposo and bailey TODAY (not as much upside) but it angers me that he isn’t playing.
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SIR WILLIAM says:
Botta, Why don’t you give us your opinion why Comeau was not in the line up last night. I say that Gordon wanted to give him a chance to get his game together because he is not exactly lighting it up and his plus minus is terrible.
A chance to sit out and rethink what he is doing out there.
Your take???……Sir William -
Islander505 says:
From the previous thread….(2009 lineup)
Isles 3113 said….
“…why in the world is comeau in with all of those players??…”Cuz thanks to people like Scot Gordon and Sir William, Comeau is NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY WITH ANYONE ELSE.
I figured maybe the guys I listed would let him play with them. -
doc says:
SIR WILLIAM:
I do understand your point about sitting someone that might be struggling… but Comeau was just called up and was playing very well at Bridgeport from all reports. He has not looked bad… in fact has looked a lot more poised than most of his teammates.
Bottom line is… THE PUCK FINDS THIS KIDS STICK!!!
This means one of two things… either dumb luck or he knows what he’s doing out there and has some “hockey” intelligence.
Why should he be singled out to sit and watch and “learn” in the press box when other more glaring weaknesses get to “play” every night?
DOC
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Steve S says:
Did I accidentally take crystal meth, or did Gordon really call Andy Sutton our best player?
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Matt says:
I have a funny feeling we will hear about what is going on with Comeau kind of like how we heard about the Avery incident at NVMC, down the road when unfortunately Comaeu isn’t here anymore.
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Oh and by the way Steve S you sure did here that, another Gordon wacky comment!
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Larry says:
Hey what’s going on with tambellini? I thought his stint was over today at noon?
Sent from my iPhone.
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Rob says:
No tonight is his last game he will be back with the Isles on Tuesday
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i think Sim should be sent down for the year. he’s just awful.
Sent from my iToilet.
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Jon says:
The Isles have 3 points in the last 11 games. No way Gordon can survive if it continues and I can not see what turns it around.
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Tambellini–third goal in as many games. Bingo 4, BPort 1 (final). Last game of his conditioning stint(?)
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Todd says:
Marcus that was a great post man. I said the same thing: Arbour used different systems at different times and he knew that in order to win cups, you had to know how to play ALL the systems. END OF STORY MISTER GORDON
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I hope not. That’d mean he’d be an Islander again. Maybe he can reinjure his hockey game (or undisclosed upper puckhandling injury per team policy) again, needing further conditioning?
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It’s funny, when I think back to when I used to play hockey every day, I realized that I used to play ecactly like this Gordon forecheck thing ALL the time. Now I was the perfect athlete back then, yet every third period I had nothing left, sound familiar?
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What a boring game, but the upside is that the Islanders gave up ONE goal. Baby steps. Gotta love this system that is supposed to generate offense…. I’m tired of Richard Park holding the puck, and can Witt hit someone once in a while instead of looking like a pansy. All in all, I’m glad this one wasn’t a blow out. There has to be some sort of silver lining.
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Lorne Myers says:
MacDonald was great, he does not deserve the lose. Again keep losing to win the Tavares sweepstakes.
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mike says:
Gordon sounds like Bill Stewart in 1999. And we all know what happened to Stewie.
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Strummer's Army says:
Why is Sim still playing?
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dalcy says:
as long as the GM doesn’t trade DiPietro and take a goalie with the first pick next year lets all take solace that either a stud defenseman or offensemen will be playing on LI.
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DOC,,,,,,I am not privy to Gordons thoughts. I just think that is the logical reason why he was sat down.
Can you give me a more plausible explination?
505…Yes, Gordon hangs on my every word and I give him the line combinations via text.
Nobody but JMAC had a good game tonight. No fire, no grit, no heart. I didn’t see the Nashville goalie make one good save.
Early in the year, I felt that you had to give Gordon at least half a season before passing judgement on him. I think that he has used up most of that and that he has
lost this team.He may stay and certain players may go, but overall the team seems aimless and dejected.
Growing pains, I can deal with and I expected them this year. At any point tonight did anyone here feel that the Isles would come back and win?
I know I didn’t and it appears that the players don’t expect to win either.I don’t know what the answer is, but I know what it isn’t……Sir William
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Team has no direction. Another brilliant post game interview by Gordon, pretty much saying his team sucks and is weak. In other words in my opinion not taking blame for another loss.
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good night all
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Isles316 says:
If the Isles have a set system, aren’t there potential free agents they might alienate who might not fit the system? I don’t really like that but whatever.
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303Joe says:
Another mess of an effort. Gordon was correct in what he said but should have kept his mouth shut. Like Chris pointed out not good for paying customers to hear this. This team is awful to watch to the point I don’t even watch them provided there are other games on and being I have Center Ice that pretty my much all the time so I don’t have to put up wiht their lethargic, lazy, unmotivated play.
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Didn’t Mr. Nolan say the same things last season, and was shown the door?
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Disolutioned Brian in VA says:
Gordon will be fired soon… I am starting to thinks he wants to. Cowboys lost woohoo. Poor Manganelli’s!!
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Jeff says:
Didn’t the coach know his roster when he installed this crazy system? Which scorers are out? Was he hoping for 30+ from DP? This team is beyond repair. The team is in the same situation as General Motors. They should file for bankruptcy and break the onerous DP [union] contract. Get rid of management that got them here, Snow, and start over.
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toorude says:
Shame on the “paying customers” for not already knowing the facts that Gordon stated. An Alternate Captain calls it like he sees it, so why shouldnt the coach do the same. He is right. We jump all over him when we disagree with what he says (ex. sutton is our best player), so now we should jump all over him – when he is only saying what everyone is thinking? Crap is even worse when its sugar coated. Lets all tell (say out loud) the truth and maybe we can get somewhere. Also, I beleive it was Mr Witt on the ice, failing to make a play, on the only goal tonight. I am just saying…..
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OneShotNorm says:
Bill Jaffe reiterated tonight that the expectation going into this season was it would contain many UPS and DOWNS. That is exactly what we have seen so far. The first quarter of the season was better than expected, then injuries piled up (and have not stopped), as a result the youth movement took a hit, and now a 9 game losing streak has everyone (including fans) venting and throwing out their 2 cents.
Gordon is part of the youth movement himself and is a rookie himself therefore I expect mistakes with the press (post game comments), game time decisions (Frtiz sitting on his ass and not giving a piece of his fist to Matteu, etc). The bottom line is that he is not going anywhere and he (his vision which is shared/endorsed with Snow) will evolve just like the team will over the next couple of years.
We are great fans who have proved we have plenty of patience by enduring what the rest of the league considers a big joke for a long time now but we have no choice but to ride the ups and downs and temper our expectations. Hopefully the team learn from this abysmal losing streak and games become more watchable/competitive sooner rather than later.
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Matt Scordato says:
Look at it this way, American Red Cross Night is on Dec. 26th, maybe they can do something to fix this disaster.
Going forward this team will be hard pressed to win another 8-10 games this season. The only way it happens is 1.) Catch an opposing team “mailing it in” thinking a game against NYI is equal to a night off. 2.) DP comes back and steals a win here and there.
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Had DP played tonight, Isles would have lost 3-0.
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the funny thing here is that Gordon is not getting fired. He’s here to stay.
Goodnight.
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Dan from westchester says:
I honestly don’t even know what there is to say at this point. Just a pathetic effort. They don’t even look like they want to be playing which Is just sad.
You know Witt wasn’t the only one who’s not buying go-go’s system. The off ice soap opera is much more entertaining than anything they do on the Ice these days.
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steve says:
haha it’s kind of funny, I didn’t get to watch the game tonight so I don’t know how bad it actually was. But, i read every post and haven’t heard anyone praising the decision to let Comeau play tonight!? I’m just happy someone woke up and realized last night’s disaster and didn’t let it happen again. Plus I’m not gonna lie, I was happy with a 1-0 loss. At least it wasn’t another embarassing blowout. One lucky bounce and we could’ve had a shootout. Not that I’m “happy” losing, but it does bring us closer to the number one pick, and like I said it wasn’t an embarassing “this game is over after the first period wave your white flag” type of loss.
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AZS says:
Arbour was a great coach …but look at the team he had …how many guys from that team are in the HOF? How many of those guys have their numbers retired?
I don’t think if Arbour coached this current team he’d be able to do much better. A coach is important, but is only as good as the players he’s given. Just my opinion …
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Isle in Dixie says:
Was at the game tonight. I agree with SIR WILLIAM’s post, “No fire, no grit, no heart”.
My nine year old son who plays on the Squirt team I coach said, “I think the Islanders need a pep talk”. I advised that they need more than that.
Positives from tonight: Bailey and Pock both gave my son a puck and LI was well represented at the game as I spoke with fans from Commack, Dix Hills and New Hyde Park. -
beatlebailey says:
Why do the Islanders suffer all of these groin strains? Answer: The FREAKING SYSTEM is not suited for many of these players. Good coaches are flexible. And Gordon’s postgame quotes are kiling me!
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Westfall says:
Top 10 questions I am afraid to answer:
10) Is it possible that there is not a d-man at B-port that is better than Thomas Pock?
9) Did Gordon really say we have no size?
Did Gordon really say we have no speed?
7) Did Gordon really say we have no scorers?
6) Is it possible that Gordon will google the name “Bill Stewart” sometime tomorrow?
5) Why I am not in the Islanders’ HOF yet?
4) Why does a 22-yr old get scratched on a team committed to a youth movement?
3) Why does that same team dress a foward who does not get on the ice for even one shift?
2) Has there ever been an Isles team that has been worse at even-strength than this one?
1) Has my partner Jiggs recovered from his ordeal?In closing: Witter’s comments were 100% DEAD-ON. It shows on the ice and off the ice how much this guy cares about his team and winning.
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…and I want a bailout for the remainder of my season tix package!
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WOW!!!
I just watched on DVR. DreadfulI think we all can put up with a rebuilding… it’s what we’ve asked for. But rebuilding with a daily effort and a lot of losses is one thing… NO EFFORT is unacceptable.
I play harder in my deck hockey league with a bunch of 40 and over guys.
Post game comments are the type that get coaches fired.
I didn’t think it was possible until the past 2 or 3 days.
Gordon is on a short leash. End of story.
The JACK CAPUANO watch starts soon.
DOC
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Injuries aside… to call out your team to basically say that “we don’t have the personel, the size or the speed” is basically saying we don’t have anything. What else is there in hockey besides that?
Effort, grit and Nolan type players.
We’ve seen that before.
DOC
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They just skated around tonight, no killer instinct. I’m glad my DVR screwed up and I only had to watch the 3rd period of this one.
Scott, I’ve been willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, but comments like this and continued bad play will make it very hard for me to be as generous in the future.
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How do you go out and run a practice tomorrow and ask these players to go through the wall for you after the players have heard those comments?
Okposo, Park, Hilbert, MacDonald and to a lesser extent Streit, Meyer, Bailey and Comeau played skated well.
Not one solid body check in the game delivered by the Islanders.
DOC
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Back on November 9th this is what was written about Quenville and the Blackhawks…:
The Hawks are 5-1-2 since Quenneville took over for Denis Savard on Oct. 16, and his philosophy of skating hard at all times, including practices, and pushing the puck forward whenever possible is becoming instinctive for the second-place club.
And Chicago is now 18-6-7 for the season after starting 1-3-1 and fired Savard after realizing they needed a change.
And Savard is revered in Chicago!
DOC
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Score-oTime says:
Quenneville told Snow he wanted to take a year off? Ha, he wanted no part of our never-ending circus. When will respect come back to this once proud franchise? Will the team even be on LI when it does?
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Gordon’s post game quotes are scary. He seems to push the blame on the personnel as if the sacred system cannot be blamed, or questioned. Guess what, coach!? When the team fails, it is as much YOUR fault as it is theirs. You lead them. You devise the strategy. I was behind Gordon in the beginning, but I know when to admit defeat. You can’t continue blaming the players for not fitting the system, and not take a serious look at the system itself. Maybe the glorious system that won 50 for Providence in the AHL isn’t suited to a league with actual talent. All I want for Christmas is a new coach.
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I bumped into a ranger fan friend that pretty much summed it up: “The Islanders have been rebuilding since before I was born!” He is 20. We haven’t had a skilled goal scoring forward since Bossy retired. This fan base wants to win so badly that we all come on here and make our voices heard. People still go to games because they love the Islanders. But a couple more weeks of watching this crapola, and some people are going to stop caring. I’m waiting for a splash or a something to kick this team in the rear. Pitchers and catchers in february all….
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Ziggy Palffy was a skilled goal scoring forward. Todd Bertuzzi too but he blossomed after being traded. The Rangers might have won a cup in the 90′s but really what have they done before or since? Yes, they are high in the standings this year but despite all the exposure they get and all their crazy spending they haven’t been much better then the Isles. I don’t think in the time since Bossy retired they have had a goal scoring forward as good as Palffy. Don’t say Jagr either because he was never the same guy he was in Pit.
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changger says:
The Islanders have not won a playoff series since 1993. The only other teams that haven’t won at least one playoff series since that year are Nashville, Atlanta and Columbus. Oh the Pain!
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tom says:
don’t turn this into a “how i can top you on how bad the isles are” thing. ok? it’s more embarrassing than a losing team… to have fans whine all the time.
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DonK says:
Quit.
It’s the dirtiest word in hockey.
It’s what the Islanders are doing — and anyone who watches this team honestly can see it.
In the immortal words of Pete Seeger, the Isles “get up and go has dun’ got up and went.” Witt, who re-upped and will be captain next year (assuming he’s still there), basically told his coach that his system won’t work with this personnel — a contention Gordon has resisted. This group looks like it has stopped playing for its coach (or anyone else).
With the exception of the third period against Washington, the Isles have been in a coma for a couple of weeks. The Mitch Fritz situation is embarrassing to player and coach and leaves the team a forward short. The DP fiasco at the start of the season made the Isles look like a (excuse the Gretzky-ism) Mickey Mouse organization. Gordon looks like he’s in over his head (though injuries are a valid problem).
Gordon’s appraisal of his team, as now comprised, is quite accurate. They have no size, little speed and negligible skill. They’re using a career AHL goalie, who’s playing pretty well but can’t cover up his team’s boatload of mistakes. Their No. 1 pick last spring is showing why kids should learn at the junior and minor-league levels instead of being thrown into the NHL (one could also make the case that Mr. Okposo would profit from some more time at the Bridge). They have — maybe — six legit NHL players right now (plus a couple more who are hurt).
Garth’s picks from 2008 and 2009 had better be good, because his team as presently put together sure isn’t.
The Isles are tied for last place with Tampa Bay, but has a good chance to end up 30th because a) they’re lousy, and b) Tampa and Atlanta play each other six times; the Isles have no gimmes in the Atlantic.
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Alex Kinkead says:
Wow that game literally put me to sleep. Id rather see the 9-2 Pens slaughter than this snooze fest.
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sppedthisup says:
watching sweden canada last night the puck loves tavares and hedman was the best skater on the ice. need one
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brian says:
It’s a shame that the woeful Islanders, are using injuries for their futility. The Isles haven’s won a playoff series in 16 years. I guess it has been the injuries?? It’s amazing how no blame is placed on Snow. Two years ago the Isles made the playoffs. Now the are, by far, the worst team in trhe NHL.
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Dallas MacDonald says:
Doesn’t anybody around here get it. You don’t get Tavares or Hedman by winning hockey games. We have lost 9 in a row, and we are still tied for last with Tampa. Brian Burke gets it in Toronto and those guys are wining more than they are lsing right now, and he will strip that team bare by the deadline in an attempt to finish bottom of the league. Yet we whine and complain about the system after losing 1-0. Why don’t we blame the loss on MacDonald too while we are at it. Oh yeah some have.
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SAD, SAD,SAD. The way it looks we may never win another game this YEAR. Something has to change: MGMT, PLAYERS, COACH, OWNER… Do something, the ship is sinking very QUICKLY…..
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Mike says:
Thank God for NHL Network can watch REAL NHL teams. I stopped watching the Isles on tv.Last night HNIC Vanc & Hawks that is hockey not the Ice Follies in Nassau County!
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And how did the Blackhawks get the players they got, from losing and a magic pingpong ball. I.E. the Islanders this year.
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G. Howatt says:
Please!! Gordon don’t justify the issue with the thin lineup game..Good coached teams win no matter what,, thats why you get paid the BIG $$ for…. when you have Branden Witt telling the coach how to coach there is a problem, that would not happen under Mr.Coach Al Arbur or Ted Nolan…Thank you very much and Merry Christmas!! to all…..
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edturner says:
How is this team going to sell tickets for the balance of this season?
This team (wait, I can’t cross out words like CB) this is not a team. This is a bunch of guys wearing the same jersey.
If they are looking for the top pick and no attendance, their plan is working.
If their plan for 2008-2009 is anything else, their plan is not working.
CB, maybe Charles will chat with you for the blog?
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What great coach talks about injuries being the problem? Has Tom Coughlin blamed the Giants last two losses because Jacobs and Plaxico weren’t in the lineup? Laviolette would always say “we cant worry about who is not in the lineup and worry about who we have in the lineup.”
We all knew we would be bad. I know some people are frustrated with the negative comments and I understand that but I think we could all handle losing a bit more if the team gave an honest effort and their coach didn’t have that deer in headlights look.
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Apparently many players did try to tell NOLAN how to coach… and therefore NOLAN is no longer the coach.
DOC
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isles72 says:
center ice pk is great .
watch the exciting games and peek in once in awhile to make sure our boys are losing but winning the tavares/hedman lotto .
I feel bad for the boys , but this year is the sacrifice for better years to come .
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Do not worry, it is only a matter of time before Gordon quite.
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Sorry, meant to say quits
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valentino says:
If we finish dead last and SNOW drafts a defenseman over TAVARES – I am going to lose my mind.
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Watch us win the Tavares sweepstakes and Snow will trade down for a bunch of mid round picks.
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godforbid.
we need scoring talent, not defense.
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mrlbem says:
Hmmmph. The 1972-1973 Islanders needed a scorer in the worst way going into the 1973 Amateur Draft. They also needed a stud defenseman. They opted for the defenseman and took Denis Potvin. Had they gone the other direction, we would have had Tom Lysiak, who ended up being a very good player, but not a franchise cornerstone. Hopefully they draft the franchise cornerstone.
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Let’s just worry about taking the best player, regardless of who it is. Having watched them both, I think it’s Tavares, but who knows? It’s no use talking about those guys right now unless, as above, it’s in the context of the WJC. Thinking about the draft, and especially pre-emptive whining about the draft, accomplishes nothing.
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guerin13 says:
i find it interesting that before the season started a large portion of isles fans wanted this team to finish dead last so we could draft tavares/hedman. now that this is happening a large portion of the fanbase is furious. you can’t have it both ways. this really shouldn’t come as a shock, there just isn’t much talent here. i think you’ll feel better at the trade deadline and at the draft.
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Guerin, it’s a sad reality around here. If they were winning the people who wanted Hedman and Tavares would probably be furious because it meant no high draft pick. Sadly, this is a team that’s not very good, and there will be many long stretches like this interspersed with some stretches where they click and look decent. Let’s hope we can set a good groundwork for next season and beyond.
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Thanx #74 for saying it in a different way. It’s one thing to lose while trying your best, it’s another thing to lose w/o trying and losing your fan base at the sametime. It’s all about how much money does Wang wants to lose before the rebuild works (2-5yrs). Their has to be a happy medium somewhere. Thanx CB
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Willis says:
I don’t mind them being last but I don’t like the no effort. Sadly, I think the two are intertwined. How can you (a player) feel good about the next game when you can’t get anything going in the current one because some of your teammates have given up and don’t seem to care? It just brings everyone down and they seem to be at rock bottom now. One good thing is “life goes on” and soon something will happen that will light the fire again and we will see some sparks of excitement. Until the next wave of depression hits. Reality. Hopefully next year is better. I’ll still be watching.
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This was mentioned above so I apologize, but people just need to get this through their thick skulls …
IN ORDER TO BE BETTER IN THE FUTURE WE MUST LOSE NOW! IT WOULD BE BEST IF WE LOST EVERY SINGLE GAME! WE NEED TAVARES OR HEDMAN AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THEM IS TO LOSE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!
As long as the younger guys play and skate and learn then it’s a successful season. KO, while he hasn’t been putting up numbers yet, is clearly a talent and is skating circles around most. Bailey is 19 and learning valuable lessons. Comeau can straight play – whether he’ll be here on not who knows? But the point being us winning enough to finish 9th or lose a 1st round game isn’t going to cut it. Face it, that big UFA savior isn’t coming here! We have to stink and rebuild from the farm – whether you like it or not – so stop the whining and just deal with it …
Some of you act as if we were Cup contenders and are choking …we were picked to finish last and guess what – God willing we will! We need Tavares…end of story…
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Cary says:
First time comments visitor…
Chris thanks for the awesome site.
Sorry to bring it up, but I doubt the system. The idea of a system of play is that if it’s executed well it doesn’t matter (too much) who’s on your roster.
The other night Howie Rose made the point that Gordon won’t change his system and that the players who don’t fit it will drop off over time.
Well this just in: if Andy Hilbert is the player who most excels at the system, this is going to be the most agonizing rebuild in the history of professional sports.
The system is based on a level of pressure which the Isles don’t seem capable of generating consistently and that is read all too easily by NHL players and coaches.
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The current angst for most is not really over the losing. It has to do with whether the coach and system to which the team is dedicated is the right coach and the right system. Can it work in the NHL? And should the coach be playing it for 60 minutes, especially if you go into the 3rd period with a lead? As an example, you can go with a “no huddle” offense in the NFL and have the opposing defense on its heels most of the time you employ it. But then when you get to the fourth quarter, and have a lead, do you really want to continue with that “system” or do you shut it down and try to have your offense take as much time off the clock as possible? Obviously, it’s the latter. I don’t see why that’s so difficult fo Go-Go to understand.
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I’d be more mad if I was a TB fan this year.
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Jon says:
the goal of this season… rebuild right? can anyone honestly say these guys has become more of a “team” over the last few monthes. can anyone say the younger players are becoming “better” because they are getting minutes now (minus comeau). im guessing and hoping we wont be seeing 30% of the current players on the roster next year. this isnt rebuilding, this is a sick joke.
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oh yeh and MITCH FRITZ is BY FAR the worst player in the NHL.
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BP says:
We are paying a lot of (could be used for other things) season ticket money and going to the games really isn’t a fun night out. I get it, we need to be patient but with Billy and Howie hammering that home on every telecast….it hurts the season ticket holders who have been the most patient fans on the planet since the 80s!We are still here. Owners,coaches,GMs and players AND Color Analysis are NOT. They leave,believe me, the fans are the only ones who are patient. We get it.
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I think most of understand the benefit of finishing last or near last. Of course that requires losing HOWEVER, a team can still compete, entertain, and not push its fans (ticket buyers) away from watching games due to extreme boredom! Have a little respect and deliver a respectful effort. The latest losing streak is fine but more often than not the games have been unwatchable. I usually know and plan my week around when the games will be on but lately I have started not to care, that cannot be a good sign. Just to be clear, it has nothing to do with me being a bad fan (I have watched probably 60% of all games since 1980), this is just bad boring hockey lately.
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Cary, don’t forget Richard Park…….He fits into the system as well. There you have it…….Park and Hilbert to build your team around.
anyone see there is a team in Brooklyn called the Aces? I am thinking of checking that team out. -
It still comes down to effort. These are professional athletes, conditioned at the highest levels.
I see other teams skating circles around the Islanders for 60 minutes most nights… that means they are playing a system that is high output for 60 minutes.
That’s all Gordon is asking of his players. WE act like asking hockey players to play for 60 minutes is a lot. Do we want them to play for 42 38 50 or 60?
Jogging on a homerun trot is one thing… Not running hard to first base on a potential double play grounder is another.
We are only asking that they run hard to first every play.
DOC
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Pat says:
Does “the end justify the means?”
How would you like to be an Isles ticket sales person right about now?
The bigger question – is how would you like to be a BlackHawks ticket sales person now?
That is my hope – that after we load up on STUD players who will be Isles for the long haul – we can regenerate this team. With the economy in the tank and no prayer for the playoffs – lets pull a 1984 PENS – and TANK and get that next franchise player. I hope that we can turn it around like Chicago seems as if its on the way to. Hard ticket to get again……..and maybe we can get back to that?
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I don’t mind losing. I don’t want it both ways. What I want is to see something like improvement, and Gordon isn’t showing it in these last few games. The game against the Caps was excellent. They lost, but respectfully. I know every loss isn’t going to be respectful, sometimes you will get blown out (like the Isles 3 times this season), but the roster decisions are aggravating. I’m glad Gordon attempted to fix them in Nashville. If Gordon is losing the locker room, then the rest of the season is in trouble. We aren’t going to see the improvement with half-hearted efforts from players, and the ones who are giving their all can only realistically play so many minutes a game. The injuries suck, but Gordon has to rise above it. He has to tune his system to the NHL level. Third period blown leads were the first strike, poor roster decisions are the second strike…. time to hit the ball.
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Pat:
That would be awesome. Let’s just see a little better effort along the way so that it looks like things are moving in the right direction despite the losing.
DOC
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randy boyd says:
well, Scott, if you want your team to be more “physically imposing” let the 6’6″ mammouth off the bench for a shift or two every period.
want some speed? maybe stop playing the older guy you recently WAIVED and bring up some young legs. Gordon is all over the place with his lineups and his comments. We all know that he is dealing with injuries, but so is every other NHL coach except Tom Renney.
Garth, stop the experiment before you blow up the lab. Gordon must be gone.
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I agree the Isles need to be bad to eventually become good. But people here act as if this was the Isles strategy, and amusingly, you act as if the Isles deserve credit for this. The fact is the Islanders a laughingstock. Garth Snow thought he was putting a good team on the ice. He wanted to make the playoffs this year. He deserves criticism. In the day and age of parity and a salary cap, there is no excuse for the futility we are seeing.
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Disgusting, just disgusting. Gordon has completely lost his team. Hopefully he can grab the reigns before losing one of the best defenseman this team has had since Jonsonn. It’s going to be a sad day when Witt gets traded because of this half wit. No pun intended.
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isles14 says:
Ridiculous. The more I watch this team and the more I hear Gordon talk the more I think he’s the Jeff Tambellini of coaching: well-suited for the AHL but clueless in the NHL. Butch Goring made comments like this on a pre-game show a few days before he got fired.
I’m trying to stay as positive as I can but it’s getting harder and harder. Last night I didn’t see them play any system, let alone Gordon’s. I’m all for the rebuild but only if it shows progress and regardless of the injuries I’m seeing absolutely no progress. A little with Okposo. A bit with Bailey. That’s about it.
I pray this Lighthouse Project goes through, because if not these will be concerns of fans in Kansas City or who knows where. They say it’s always darkest before the dawn. Let’s pray there is one.
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Lighthouse goes through, expect more ideas of this nature for a long, long time. I just want a new owner and an end to these ideas and hires and the perpetual joke this franchise is made by the Chief Idiot. Pray for a Miracle, not a Lighthouse that will glue Wang to this team for good.
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ny711ot says:
Dallas, we can accept losing behind effort. if the team gave us glimpses, if the coach gave us some indication of proof, then we can all accept losing. but the focal point of this coach is his system…and his system isnt working …worse, it doesnt appear that it can work….its a system that doesnt value hockey sense(see comeau), operates on a frenetic pace and doesnt allow plays to develop, neglects defensive responsibility , puts tremendous backchecking pressure on the forwards, seems to put no value on taking the body, and requires perfect goaltending.
so even with a tavares or hedman where r we headed with gordon at the helm…. -
Makela24 says:
Two Points:
1) Don’t mind playing the veterans over youth until trade deadline. Beleive the reason they are being played so much is to create some kind of market for guys like Weight/Guerin/Comerie/Sim, etc. If they are playing most minutes after Feb, would be disappointed.
2) It has been documented, and unfortunately said by our coach (which I believe between saying it and not sticking up for Neilsen, will be his demise), that we are not fast, skilled, or strong enough to compete at the NHL level. Seeing that this is a lost season, in brining along the kids, I would like to see a commitment by the Islanders to try to increase thier offensive abilities. I don’t care if they lose 10-2, or 8-5. They should just say, we are going to try to score on every rush, even if it means sending 5 guys crashing the net. They cannot score 5 on 5 so it is only way they are going to learn how to finish….plus it would be fun to watch. Watching a defensman start from behind the net, stop skating by his own hash mark, then throw a puck to no one with any speed in neutral zone is making me sick.
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Marc says:
Just watched game on DVR yesterday. All things considered – injuries, pathetic effort just one night previous, etc – I could live with a 1-0 loss on the road against a decent team like that. At least Comeau was back in for Fritz.
And then I watched the post-game.
My own damn fault for setting the DVR to record it, and my own damn fault for then watching it, but I was just stunned to watch Gordon make those comments. What happened, Coach, hadn’t lost enough of the guys in the room yet? Wanted to take a few more out? Because I can’t think of any other reason to have made those comments.
Being a rookie coach excuses many things. Comments like those, however, are not one of them. Let’s see if Gordon handles the damage control this time as well as he did with the Witt comments a few days ago.
It will be interesting to see how the Witt thing plays out. As Billie said, that second goal last night was directly attributable to his turnover in the offensive zone. I think what we’re seeing is the discovery by some players that they don’t ‘fit’ in this system and the writing on the wall is being read by them. Too bad, love Witt and all he brings, but he really isn’t mobile enough to play the uptempo system.