ISLES BURIED ALIVE BY PENS 9-2
Another brutal loss in a slump extended to 5 games
by B.D. Gallof
Well, someone had to win. The Islanders were on a 4 game losing streak. The Penguins were on a 3 game skid. Someone had to break out of the doldrums and take over. But could anyone predict the blowout that went on in Pittsburgh? Well, we maybe a few of us had an inkling, but not to the extent that went on in Steeltown.
The Isles should have seen the writing on the wall courtesy of the waiver wire placement of Jon Sim. For those like Jeff Tambellini and Blake Comeau, the same warning is there. Play Gordon’s system and make a difference, or else.
Yet once again, almost deja vu to last year, the Isles train has seemed to lose its wheels in December. If you look at the team stats page, it is like a winter temperature reading in Nova Scotia. The plus/minus column is all below zero, and it’s beginning to show more prominently on the ice. Joey MacDonald is not making incredible save after save to dig them out of another one. In this game, he unraveled. Two of the first 4 in the 1st period should have been easy saves.
The Islanders’ and Mac’s heads might be on a tilt. As we all know, Gordo doesn’t like to pull his goalies, right? So he wiley changes goalies between the periods. Yann Danis is no better. The Penguins are jetting past the defense and still able to score. Danis leaves a fat rebound that becomes another Malkin highlight.
Did the Islanders go to the Joey Mac well too often? Did he get a bit burnt out? Eventually there is a cost, and the Isles were not careful about his starts. They seemed more interested in riding him and the wins as long as possible. In this game he came down to earth, and the Isles buckled along with him. Danis needed more starts than just a quick shot vs. Montreal and then sitting on his fanny until they had to send him to Bridgeport to get some playing time.
What we are seeing as Fall seeps into Winter is the same for the Islanders. Their struggle is seeping deeper into a malaise. Confidence, focus and overspeed have been shaken to some off-kilter, if not sinking mix of misses, miscues, and mistakes. This is not the team that not too long ago was actually thinking about getting to .500.
The biggest issue that rears its ugly head is that this team was better on all fronts when trying to compensate for injuries and losses to those like Campoli, Witt and Meyer. The Isles played hard, and perhaps overachieved to meet that challenge. But as those players came back into the fold, things loosened and have since fallen apart. The same level of play, work and focus has not been matched. That hard work and systems play have wavered.
A team is supposed to get better with their best players back. Right? Right???
Yet, the Islanders languish and seem to float aimless in a December daze. It is really up to the coach and players to wake up and break that pattern. For the Isles are in a deep spell, and despite a better effort in Philly, they came apart very quickly tonight with a high power offense cutting through them like a hot knife through butter.
Ok, well, is there anything we can take away with a horrific loss of this magnitude? I’ll give it a go…
Doug Weight had an assist and is only 5 away from the big 1000 now. Andy Sutton, who is having a good season if anyone hasn’t noticed, gets his first goal of the year. Mitch Fritz, Nate Thompson and Sean Bergenheim are the lone Isles players with an even plus/minus. That’s about the best I can do.
For the Pens, give them their due. They were all over the Isles when they smelled blood. Petr Sykora had a hat trick plus an assist on a 4-point night. Pascal Dupuis gets his first career hat trick. Miroslav Satan who is on his usual post-Buffalo pace of just under 60 points had a goal and 2 assists. Sidney Crosby had 3 assists.
Postgame Coach Interview: Gordon looks like he’s been sucking on sour grapes. That isn’t a happy camper who is tolerating the usual questions retreading in something he wants to forget ever happened. It is a short press conference and nothing much to report.
Next up for the Isles is another road game in Columbus on Saturday at 7pm.
Comments.
108 Responses to ISLES BURIED ALIVE BY PENS 9-2
Another brutal loss in a slump extended to 5 games
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AZS says:
BD, you really think Sutton is having a good year??
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Isles72 says:
This team truly sucks. When are we going to see the last of Fritz. what a waste of a body. It makes no sense. Sim gets put on waivers to make room, but then Fritz is still in the lineup. What a joke.
I love the Isles, but something has to change. If this team didn’t play well with young kids, I would be alright with it, but look at all of the veteran players in the lineup. No effort, no skill, no wins. Something deperately needs to be done before they lose even more fans.
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Brian from Massapequa says:
I’m gonna have to agree with AZS. I like Sutton but he looks out of the place in this system.
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Joe says:
72, Sim was useless. Fritz is far more useful as an enforcer (which we need) and probably skates at the same pace. Guys like Fritz provide some entertainment in bleak games. Unfortunately, tonight he couldnt find a willing dance partner.
This whole team is a joke, not that decision. There is more problems than a fourth line guy like Fritz. The best line on the ice was Fritz-Thompson-Jackman tonight, only guys hitting and willing to provide a little spark.
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I think only Striet is the only defenceman that fits Gordon’s system.
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Joe, I agree with Sim, but when your first line is made up of third line players. How many fourth line players can you have on one roster?
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Andy Sutton is the only regular defenseman for the Isles with a positive plus/minus. So, if he’s really out of place, he’s be far more into the negatives…like perhaps Chris Campoli who was -12 before tonight’s game. Or Bruno Gervais at -10. Sutton is getting a good amount of minutes, including key short-handed time.
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Thats a question for Snow but our fourth line has been doing its job, provide a spark, no reason to mess that up. Its up to Snow to gets talent and guys that are willing to fill the roles of the other lines.
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Westfall says:
Wasn’t this team supposed to get better the more they learned this alleged “overspeed” system? This is the NHL – perhaps the other teams have now (already?) figured out how to combat it; that is, go on the attack against the Isles so that they are on their heels and can’t establish the forecheck. Say what you will about Nolan not being a strong Xs and Os guy, but he knew how to match lines and D-pairs against the other team’s top guys, even on the road. Can we PLEASE put together a solid checking line, and make sure Witter is out there vs the opponent’s top line as much as possible? Hearing the Pitt fans chant “we want 10″ and watching two hat trick celebrations was a total embarrassment.
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I certainly care less and less about this team as the time goes on. It’s shaping up to be a really long second half and a bright draft future.
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Jon says:
Could this team end up being historically bad? I know they couldn’t be all-time bad, but they could be the worst Isles team in a while. The 2000-01 team had 52 points.
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JPinVA says:
Witt… signed to play under Nolan. He is just not there in this system. PLEASE DON’T MAKE US HATE WITTER because of your stubborn AHL system.
Sutton… The guy is there every night battling… but you ask him to go red to red and he’s got nothing left in the middle of each shift. PLEASE… STOP THE INSANITY.
Meyer can do this, Campoli can do it, but they aren’t (I’m sorry) NHL level 1-2 defensemen. Neither is Streit(who is tremendous).
Please don’t kill these guys for being who they are. We’re going to have to live through Gordon forcing square pegs into round holes until last year’s draft crop of 5’10 165lb defensemen who “skate like the wind” are ready… for the AHL.
Please… please please… stop this insanity before it gets out of hand.
get rid of all the “nolan type players” get a bunch of liliputions that can skate around and change the name on the crest to the LI Snowlanders…
Put your SIGNATURE on THAT! -
@Westfall,
If Nolan matched lines so well, how come last season was so similar to the way this one has panned out?
There were quite a few barn burners last season as well – so soon do we forget when it’s easy to place the blame on Gordon.
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james says:
System system system system system system! Blah blah blah. Does anyone else notice how no other team talks about a system. Who are the islanders to go out and try to reinvent hockey. Sure it works in some instance, but the isles don’t have the depth or the talent for this thing they try to call overspeed. Go out and play hockey and stop talking about having to stick to the system. Game over.
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Mike from Philly says:
John Tavares welcome to the nightmare known as the NY Islanders!
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matt says:
Witt hasn’t been playing like himself for whatever reason. His play certainly doesn’t match up to well with Gordon’s “system”(God i hate saying that!!!!). Can never imagine Witt jumping up in the play!!! As far as hating Witt, how can you? The guy is hockey!!!!!
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Michael – last year’s team – not very talented to begin with – lost more man-games to injuries than any team in the entire league, and we still finished only three games under .500. You’re right there were some bad nights last year too, but with the lack of talent and ton of injuries, Nolan did a heck of a job squeezing 35 wins out of last year’s team.
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Westfall is correct. We were still winning games 2-1 and 3-2 until the injuries just killed our “D”.
You never saw Brendan Witt behind the offensive goal. Sure, our “D” never scored (except for MAB), but they were allowed to play “D”.
this is snow’s team, and he wants to buy time (2-3) years with EXPECTATION MANAGEMENT.
We had a coach. We had a system (as boring as it might have been) and we could have had some level of continuity… now we have a bunch of chowder heads running the team into the ground once again.
this all began the day Wang let Smith drift away and the circus tent went back up over the coliseum.
Not so fun to watch, is it… all those that don’t care if their team loses every night as long as there is a system in place and we improve through the draft.
I’m a fan… always will be… but Smith and Nolan are laughing big time at Wang and Snow…
Not to mention Lavy… who would eat glass before coming back here. I jsut hope they draft a kid named Barnum next year… and I think most of ou know where that is going. -
Stop with the Nolan sh!t the guy never gave any young players minutes. We are rebuilding. The guy had his own way of doing things. His brand of hockey was boring as he!! to watch. Not saying Gordon is the saviour but Nolan certainly wasn’t. We have no defense, that is the problem. I know he has the same players as last year but these guys aren’t well suited to play Gordon’s (Oh please shoot me!!!) system (I can’t say it again it hurts). We are a really, really bad team. Scotty Bowman couldn’t save us!!!
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jethro09 says:
Well B.D., I’m thoroughly disgusted with this team tonight. No fire. No pride. They quit after the first period. Really, they quit after the third goal was scored against them.
It is disgusting that nobody on that team even made an effort after the first. The Pens kept scoring, kept running their top guys out there on power plays to run the score up. The Pens kept laughing it up while embarassing the Isles and not one guy on the Isles put anyone in a black sweater on their rear end. That’s inexcusable.
THe score was bad, but not as bad as watching this team roll over and die after one Goddamn period. I could live with the score if it just appeared that the team didn’t quit. They quit tonight. Gordon should have made every guy get back on the ice after the game and skated them into the ground.
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I was pissed when the Wanger got rid of Smith too!!! Not that I hate Snow but Smith had something to prove just like Nolan his first year. People who have something to prove will usually succeed in this world. It also gave our Team some credibility which this orginization is starving for.
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cgs878 says:
Thank goodness the next game is against an easy team like the Blue Jackets. That should stop the Islanders’ losing streak. I might actually watch the whole game too… unless the score is 4-1 after the first period again. UGH. What a piss-poor effort by everyone on the Islanders team.
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Strummer's Army says:
Stop with the Nolan crap. He didn’t get anything done here and the team wasn’t really any better then it is now. The only difference was he had a healthy DiPietro for most of the time who covered up the lack of talent on the team.
Stop attacking Fritz, the guy can play and he contributes a lot to this team.
This team is just plain bad. The defense sucks even with everyone healthy. That makes the goalies and forwards worse. There are several AHL players on the roster and I’m talking career AHL’er not up and comers.
This is the worst team and hockey. It is an eye opener that a vet in the 2nd year of his deal is waived and that almost none of the other players on the team thought it would be a good idea to come out the next night and compete hard. There are guys in this team that don’t have a high enough level of intenistity or want to compete hard enough all the time to win.
They’ll end up with a top 2 pick and no team deserves it more. I don’t think many of us were expecting miracles this year but we did expect the team to care and compete.
Bring the purge on many of these guys gotta go.
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Brian B says:
It’s the players…not Gordon. Streit, weight, hilbert, hunter and meyer are our best players. Every other player is inconsistent, makes too many mistakes, and dissappear in stretches too many times.
When you have a team thats not very good to begin with (no star-power whatsoever) and they are trying to learn a new system…its not going to bode well foor that team.
I don’t think the Isles are this bad…they are in a slump. Hopefully they get out of it soon…we can get some guys back healthy, watch the players develop, and then root against them at the end of the year to get that high pick. -
Matt… one word… ACCOUNTABILTY.
Sorry you were bored. That guy took crap to the playoffs (almost twice).
I’m glad you’d rather see a 9-2 loss than a 3-2 win, or even a 3-1 loss, where guys fought for each win, and were rarely out of games…and SEASONS… GOD, this season isn’ thtirty games old and for two weeks all anybody can think about is the first pick in the draft.
PATHETIC… just PATHETIC. Has anyone ever been off theri couch… can you imagine having to play on your company softball teams with that attitude. can you imagine what guys like Guerin, Witt, Weight and Sillinger are up against.
Ifeel bad for Gordon… he’s out of his depth… clearly.
Nice call there, GM of the future. Nice draft though… we’re sure to have plenty of undersized “D” men to fit this “system”(yeah it is painful to type) when a real coach has to come in and clean this mess up… AGAIN. -
Awww… I feel *so* bad for the guys on the Islanders (note the sarcasm). They’re making millions of dollars in a crappy economy, and they have guaranteed contracts. They get paid whether they play well or not. Yeah, I feel *so* bad for them NOT!!
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For all the Fritz bashers out there: Fritz is more useful than Sim or Tambellini. He may not be a good player, but at least he tries, which is more than practically any other player out there tonight can say. And Fritzie is a legit enforcer who can fight with anyone. Sim and Tambo do nothing well.
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Nolan “didn’t get anything done” here? He took a team that most predicted would be the worst in the league, squeezed 40 goals out of Jason Blake, 25 from Viktor Kozlov, had Yashin playing at over a point a game until he got hurt, and his team in a playoff spot. Then the goalie who supposedly “covered up for the lack of talent on the team” gets hurt, and Nolan wins the last 5 games of the season with a goalie who was in the AHL all year and actually makes the playoffs. Then, in the summer of ’07, the Isles lose Smyth, Blake, Kozlov, Yashin and Poti. Their replacements are Guerin, Comrie, Fedotenko, Sim and Sutton….a CLEAR drop-off in talent. Nolan still has the team in playoff position at the All-Star Break until the injuries are just too overwhelming. So lets not re-write history and say Nolan did nothing. He did a good job. But I do agree that Gordon is in a tough spot with the lack of talent and ton of injuries so far. My main point was that I would like to seem him alter his style somewhat to allow his top defensive guys to do what they do best, and that is harrass Crosby, Malkin, etc. rather than forcing the play at all times.
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Hey cgs – Columbus is 12-13-3 and Rick Nash has 13 goals. They also play in a very tough division with Detroit and Chicago both playing well, and even St. Louis isn’t terrible this year either. I don’t think that they are the “pushovers” we so desperately hope they will be on Saturday.
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My point… EXACTLY…thanks 18
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JpinVa don’t be sorry I was boerd it wasn’t your fault it was Nolan’s.
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Seriously, Nolan did a good job here, but enough of this BS canonizing him. He made the playoffs in 07 with a stirring run, but everyone conveniently forgets that Nolan’s refusal to pull a clearly washed-up Dunham in favor of Dubie, who really couldn’t have done any worse, put them behind the 8 ball in the first place. I saw plenty of stinkers from Nolan’s teams as well (that pasting we took from Tampa last March, anyone? Scoring 5 goals in the midst of a playoff run and losing to the Panthers? Dubie getting hung out to dry against the Leafs?). He was clearly a headstrong guy who was not willing to go in the only direction this team needed to go in order to compete in the long-term.
I’m done talking about Nolan, and I’m still mystified by all this Chicken Little crap. We knew this team would suck, and guess what, they suck. Suddenly everyone acts like this is a big shock.
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And since people have mentioned moving the vets, can we please see if we can get anything other than a used puck bag for Comrie? His speed is nice once in a while, but he’s been mostly useless since he arrived.
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Comrie’s speed? Guy is slower than molasses!
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Do we have to suck this bad though? Can’t we suck a little less?
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Akeem says:
Wheels are coming off this thing. The only thing that can save this season and get us back in contention (assuming that’s what we want), is a healthy DP putting this team on his back – if he can do it…
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Scott W says:
Hey Guys, I read a number of these posts and I gotta comment.
1-Fritz: Why in the world does anyone want this player getting any minutes. This team is too old and this system is too taxing on the players to waste time on a 4th line goon. Jackman fits the roll fine of tough guy. With a poor offensive team, you cant carry 2 tough guys. Plus, Godard was scratched tonight. Who would Fritz even fight?
2-Scott Gordon looks absolutely lost. So I am not surprised our team is also. He actually brought up the officiating tonight. Saturday, he was ok with the effort. It seems like he is missing the incredible amount of defensive lapses. Not to mention the stupid penelties this team takes. How mamny dump penelties can Guerin, Witt, and Sutton take before he notices the issue is discipline.
3-There is no rebuilding going on here. Guerin, Silli, and Weight are over 36 years old. I know Okposo and Neilsons injuries are hurting us, but to say this team right now is commited 100% to a rebuiling plan would be wrong. Snow is getting a free pass for not having enough talent to compete nightly.
4-Sutton has been terrible. Have we already forgotten the goal he gave to Pittsburgh to win a few weeks ago? He should punish people in the defensive zone, yet he seems to only get mad when the game is out of reach. And talk about bad penelties??
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My last point about Nolan, becasue I’ll defend the guys who defended the crest until I’m done…
Stinkers, over the course of a year… sure.. every team is gonna have them. Every team comes out flat once in a while.
Results are results though. And we’re talking about what we’re seeing, and the lack of confidence we have in it.
Now… if you want to go toe to toe on the Dunham situation looking back with what we know now as tools for speculation.
WHO IS STILL WITH THE ORGANIZATION?
WHY DO WE HAVE TWO GOALIE COACHES?
WHO IS ANOTHER CHOWDER HEAD?
CAN YOU SPELL CRONIISM..(becasue I can’t)?
I won’ t forget that run after DP was taken out, and all the debate that went on about Dubie (who put us in the playoffs the year before) and Dunham… but HONESTLY… who do you think forced that situation. The guy who cut Dubie and Nolan adrift, or the guy who called Newsday to defend him when Snow put the knife in his back (under the testicle-less viel of saying that Nolan didn’t have confisence in his short overweight yoda-ish being)
WHO HAS A SHORT MEMORY…Cheers,
Chicken A Little
Director, Risk Assesment
Barnyard Productions -
Scott W,
Please, enough with this “Gordon looks lost” garbage. When does he look lost? When you see him for 3 seconds at a time on TV? Gimme a break. As for your idea that there is no discipline on this team, CB himself has noted how these guys get a MAJOR earfull in practice when they screw up in games. Unless you’re an experienced hockey coach, i’ll leave the evaluations to the coaching staff that actually watches every practice and every shift of every game. -
KP says:
All this talk about systems and breakdowns is a cover for one thing -
This team is short on the one thing that you need to win in the league above all else – TALENT!!
There just isn’t enough major league talent on the Islanders. And that’s not a shock to anyone who follows hockey. Look at our top line – two FORMER perennial all stars way past their prime here to do nothing but provide mentorship. Weight and Guerin aren’t top line guys on anybody’s team in the league. Minus Trent Hunter, the rest of the team is glorified third and fourth liners being thrust into second line roles. The injuries to what was shaping up to be a legit second line with Nielsen and Okposo don’t help that much either.
And oh yeah, our #1 goalie hasn’t even played two full games yet this year.
This is all a recipe for disaster on Long Island, and the bleeding probably won’t stop anytime soon.
And I really want to know if Rick was healthy, would he have started 18 in a row like JMac did?
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I don’t care what anybody says, this was good for the team. They need to wake up immediately! We know what Weight and Guerin can do, but what about everybody else? These next few months should be an audition for anybody that wants to be a part of this franchise next year, or who will be gone by the deadline. Next year we will be even younger, and a team on the rise with a lot of promising young talent in the line-up. For these mid to upper twenty year olds who want to stick around on the team, they need to prove it now. Even players like Comeau and Tambellini, as BD said, need to prove themselves now or be gone. We won’t be in the playoffs, but the remaining games should be a playoff for the players on this squad to determine who will stay and who will go. Keep crossing the fingers for dead last in the league, and we are guaranteed at least Hedman or Tavares. The rebuild truly starts at that point.
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Who knows? Snowy just might trade the 1st or 2nd overall pick for the 5th pick and a couple of fourth rounders.
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SIR WILLIAM says:
Where are all the Comeau supporters?
Minus 7 in just 4 games.
Team is 0-4 since he came up.
Only played about 10 minutes (only Firtz played less)
I thought he was the savior. What gives? -
Akeem,
Thats great he yells alot in Practice. It seems to really be working. I do not need to be a hockey coach to see that the production is not there and this team looks lost. Much of this falls on the coach. I am leaving the evaluations up to the coaching staff, however, do I trust them?? -
Neil says:
Tavares/Hedman Watch Off!!
Tavares/Hedman Watch On!!
Tavares/Hedman Watch Off!!
Tavares/Hedman Watch On!!
Tavares/Hedman Watch Off!!
Tavares/Hedman Watch On!! -
Nick,
one last thing… the guy you are valiently fighting for to make billions of dollars is laying low because his partner fingered him in September as the reason he is in jail. So when the dust clears over bail-out after bail-out your boy is gonna be PE#1… and MAYBE that is why the county government doesn’t want to get behind him right now…
Just a thought.
And I’m not making crap up… look it up.
(I’m already in violation of way too many of CB’s rules… not gonna start posting links as well)
And when he’s forced to liquidate assetts, what do you think the first thing to go will be?
Why do you think chicken-hawk Bettman is hangin’ around so much.
Come on nick… come over to the side of good. Fight the good fight. We can use a warrior like you. Truth, JUSTICE and the Family Guy! -
Comeau is not a savior. He probably projects to be a 15-20 goal guy who’s a solid all-around winger. But if its between him and Tambellini, I have to say that Comeau has created more scoring opportunities for him and his linemates in 4 games than Tamby did in 20. Btw, JPinVA – your last post was a classic!
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Ron Lindenhurst, NY says:
CB,
I just felt like drowning in whiskey after the second period. I thought I would never see a plane crash in my life, but the Islanders just burn burn burn.IS THERE ANY HOPE?
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Greg from Bay Shore says:
Don’t stand up for Fritz, that guy is garbage. He is a novelty act because of his freakish size. Anyone who plays 2 minutes a game does not contribute a thing. He can barely skate. I long for the days of a Steve Webb. Even though he had hands of stone and could not score at all, he busted his ass out and Fritz does nothing like that.
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JPinVA – just to be clear, I meant that your rant (#40) on Dunham was classic. As for Wang, I am fully behind the Lighthouse project and hope it gets approved real soon.
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Where’s Alexei Yashin when we need him?
Just sayin….
LOL!!!
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doc says:
Despite the score, I saw some real positives in tonights game…
1. at the 13:34 mark of the 3rd period, Danis succesfully stopped a rolling puck with the butt end of his stick.
2. At the 4:49 mark of the 2nd period, Mitch Fritz completed a flawless line change by jumping over the boards instead using the gate at the end of the bench.
3. At the 17:27 mark of the 3rd period again… (a period that would have to count as the Islanders best period of the game as they only gave up 1 goal) Thomas Pock was able to successfully execute a rim around the boards without letting the puck exit the ice surface for a 2 minute delay of game penalty.
DOC
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I know you are, and thus my respect. But sometimes HOCKEY is secondary… and getting to TRUTH clears crap like this up.
It’s only entertainment, after all.
I have no problems with Chucky makin’ a buck. I’m all for it. Almost worked for him before I left NY.
Notice how they’re out of CELEBRATE THE PAST nights… Does anybody remember al Arbour night, which if reported correctly, was that other guy’s idea.
Wang has left the building, and he put barbarians at the gate.
this is just mike mildew redux.
Wang’s last words to Snow…
“Here’s the keys to my beat up hummer, there’s only a yearleft on the lease, so try not to devalue it too much.”
“hey can I bring my boys along for the ride?”
“sure” -
Matt: Comment #36 is classic.
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Nice job doc, keep that sense of humor, we’re all gonna need it in a big way over the next 4 months.
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Scott W, you’re right yelling doesn’t always do the trick, but you’re the one who asked for discipline
…obviously the production isn’t there, cuz we got smoked. But if you’re astute enough to notice the numerous “defensive lapses”, you should be able to notice that the Isles got hosed on those 3 straight first period penalties – even Brendan Witt, the consummate professional, was going CRAZY. Officiating isn’t why they lost. But he wasn’t wrong, so give the guy a break. -
(CB I apologize in advance for this and I will gladly ban myself from here after this posting)
It legitimately makes me angry that I can’t be in favor of this project without being called a shill or accused of being on someone’s payroll. If I really wanted to participate in bribery or aiding a crook I would have joined the Blagojevich administration and solicited the bids for Obama’s senate seat.
I did read an article about it. As a matter of fact, since people seem to think I have a problem with objectivity, here’s a link to it so everyone else can read it:
http://java.sys-con.com/node/666065The facts currently say that Wang wasn’t charged and that a man who is currently in prison, and has been for over a year, has suddenly come up with “new evidence.” Doesn’t pass the up-front smell test…man who’s in prison suddenly says someone else committed the crime he’s doing time for. Please keep me posted on Kumar’s search for the real killer, but until someone tries on the bloody glove, it’s all speculation. In addition, anybody calling someone a criminal for a crime for which they were never charged is hysterical at best and slandering at worst.
I started supporting the Lighthouse because I knew it was the only way to keep this team here. A large portion of the fan base seems to have responded to the actual danger of losing the team by making snide remarks and wishing the team would move every time they lose a game or you don’t like the player they picked in the draft. I didn’t do that; I chose to fight, and I chose to actually go out there and put myself on the line for the TEAM, not for Wang or anyone else. I couldn’t care less about who makes money off this deal, and honestly JP, if you owned the team and this was your project I’d support it just as strongly. I would love to take my (future) children to the arena and tell them about all the greatness that was once on that sheet of ice (OK, a sheet of ice 5 feet higher). I would like to look at that long scar above my left knee and think about David Volek’s goal and how I got so excited I tripped and tore my knee on the coffee table, not be reminded of loss. I would like to see people my age (early 20′s) stick around this area and contribute to the fabric of society, rather than having people head for the hills because it’s so darn expensive to live here, and even if you do live here it’s even harder to get ahead.
Teddy Roosevelt was right, with that classic quote:
“It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”I would rather be out there doing my part than up in the balcony next to Statler and Waldorf throwing tomatoes at those who are at least trying. You claim to be on the side of good, fine. Each side in a conflict claims to be on the side of God.
The facts in this whole thing are very simple:
- There would very likely not be an Islanders if not for Charles Wang, whether you love him, hate him, or are indifferent. Until Jim Balsillie buys some other team I wouldn’t feel comfortable putting the team up for sale and actually keeping it here.
- Nassau County required both a new arena and a plan for the surrounding property in the Coliseum bids. Calling it a land grab by a billionaire is completely disingenuous.
- We knew this team would suck with DP….and shock of shocks, it sucks without DP. It’s almost funny to read the comments, which seem to range from “We could make noise in the playoffs!” to “Fire everybody!” depending on the outcome.We’ve dealt with a lot of crap as Islander fans, and the team is actually in danger now. You can choose to fight, or you can choose to heckle. Your call.
CB – until you drop me an email stating otherwise I’ll take leave.
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WESTFALL….Solid all around wingers are not minus 7 after 4 games. And nothing suggests that Comeau will score 15-20 goals since he has 9 goals in 57 games so far.
Are things so bad we now compare scoring chances?Comeau is just another of far too many 10 goals scorers that the Isles are full of.
Bergy, Park, Hilbert, Jackman, Thompson, Sim, and Tambellini will all be lucky to hit double digits this year. Add in Comeau and Fritz and it’s clear to see why we stink. Most of our forwards can’t score. Hopefully Okposo and bailey will break this trens but it ain’t looking too good right now. -
BRAVO!!! Nick… BRAVO…!!!
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When Fritz is out there for more than 20 seconds he reminds me of one of those HUGE ROBOTIC CREATURES from the early star wars movies… the ones in the dessert.
there’s gotta be a star wars geek .. I mean enthusiast, out there to help me with their technical name…
But… it is nice to have him on the bench until something better is available. It might help protect the smallish players on the team from getting killed.
Nick and ol’ 18… I’d also like to see some aspects of it get done. You tow definitely know more about it than I… but it seems like it’s a tad overblown in a space that has so many existing problems that it will mainly add to.
Much like the team’s rebuild… I just kinda wish that they didn’t go for everything at a time (CBA/Disasterous Economy) when slow and steady (hey, where is that guy) might have eventually won the race.
But it’s cool that you guys are fighting. -
Perversely, the bad economy may actually help the project. I say this purely from my own noggin, but there are 2 potential factors in play here:
- Our president-elect announced a huge infrastructure investment, and there is that abandoned rail spur going from the Garden City station to just north of the Coliseum. A development this large could attract money from the government to solve the transportation problem.
- Nobody else is spending money on new construction. Suddenly a project that puts a few thousand people to work looks pretty good.This is the sense I get from talking to people at the TOH and Nassau County. It looks in all honesty like this will get done. We’ll have an arena, and a sports tech center, and shopping, and apartments, and Celebration Plaza, where we’ll have rabbits, George! Rabbits!
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nick,
I know you’re done.. but that quote is classic… I just cut and pasted it to the windsheild of my car. I’m gonna point to it (because I don’t have the stamina to read it) every time my wife asks me why I didn’t ask for directions.
… Stay cool bro! -
NICK……..First, I know how hard you have worked to support the Lighthouse Project.
But don’t get too crazy about Wang being innocent just because he’s not in jail right now. I know quite a lot about this case and can tell you that Wang was considered an unindicted co conspiritor in the CA scam by the Grand Jury and the US Attorney. He escaped by a whisker. And it’s not over yet.
Don’t be fooled by the fact that Wang was not charged. All that means is that the AUSA didn’t have enough evidence to convict at the time the Grand Jury term expired. An AUSA will not indict unless they are assured of a guilty verdict.So, what I’m telling you is that just because Wang escaped for the time being doesn’t mean he is innocent. It just means that the Feds didn’t have enough evidence at that time. Kumar may still see his partner join him.
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You’re right SW (yes I’m violating my rule already). He hasn’t been charged yet, and we should absolutely worry if he is. Unless he’s charged with anything, I don’t want to worry about it.
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scatchard38 says:
Let’s see. Ted Nolan has coached 4 seasons in the NHL. The 2 times he made the playoffs his goalies had the following stats.
1996-97 Hasek 37-20-10 .930%(1st in league)
1996-97 DiPietro 32-19-9 .919%(6th in league)His second year with each team he publicly fought with his GM and was fired.
Ted Nolan has coached his last NHL game. -
And another thing. When a new President takes office, all the AUSA’s resign and the President gets to appoint a new AUSA for the Eastern District. So that means that in January a new set of eyes will be looking at the CA case.
If someone in the political world, Dem party or the Justice Dept has it in for Wang a whole new can of worms may open up. -
Islander505 says:
GENTLEMEN……and LADIES….
Last I checked……
The sun will rise tomorrow.Saturday is another day.
Let’s see if our boys have an ounce of self-pride left. -
Isles Fan in Ulster County says:
Ted Nolan needs to stop fighting with his GMs.
This is another loss to forget about, but the Islanders need to stop this crap. Are they an NHL team, or an ECHL team? Oh well, everyone knew the Isles were going to suck this year, so how surprised can we be?
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goaler says:
This was a rough loss… I tell you what though, the idea that Gordon looks lost might have some validity to it. The only thing is I’m pretty sure it’s not because he doesn’t know how to coach, but because he’s not 100% used to the idea of being an NHL coach quite yet. In the AHL the emphasis is on development and conditioning. The NHL is the final product. I think Scotty generally looks lost when he has to go out and find positives to talk about after the game to whatever media is listening. That puts Gordon in a really tough spot because even though the team is “descending rapidly” right now he has to coach and talk as if he’s going for the cup. I’d be lost too if I had to talk about the positives of a game like this.
On the bright side at least the team is descending rapidly. We have lots to look forward to come draft time next summer. My only hope is this time Snow really looks to the best player available. I’ve taken a liking to Josh Bailey, and while he may wear the “C” some day for the Isles he seems like the second coming of Michael Peca rather than a real star; but you never know, that star probably will be taking passes from Bailey, so at least there’s that.
My biggest beef with the Islanders right now is, and has been for a while, goaltending. In a loss like this the whole team sucks, but in 1 goal games (or maybe just the 3rd period) , even if the final score is 9-8 goaltending makes all the difference. And, to take that a step further, managing goaltending make the difference for a season. Right now, Joey Mac has started about as many games as he was projected to all season and he has performed admirably, but he has played too many games in a row and just has not had the team around him to keep up that kind of schedule. He’s played like Roberto Luongo but probably starting more games in a row.The only problem is that, because of the way the goaltending has been handled there is no viable backup. There might be if Gordon, Snow, or someone had suggested scheduling starts for backup #2 Yann Danis, but no one thought of that. In a healthy setup the team would have started Danis two or three times as Joey Mac’s consecutive starts ran into the teens. It surprises me that two former goalies apparently don’t think of that kind of thing at all.
If Garth Snow was really serious when he was talking all that noise about wanting to win now he would make a move to take a guy like Dwayne Roloson off Edmonton’s hands so that the team could at least tandem him and Joey Mac and have some good productivity in goal. But that won’t happen. And it shouldn’t.
At this point I hope no one bends on the issue of letting DP play when he wants to as opposed to when he should. That has happened the last two years and he has just further injured himself. Why keep doing it?
Furthermore, a few question for CB; what would happen if the team actually brought in a super qualified backup? By that I mean what would Ricky’s reaction be if over one of the next few off seasons a comparable guy like Chris Mason, Patrick Lalime, Dwayne Roloson, etc. showed up at camp? Would the team even think of that? Should they? And do you think the goaltending situation just hasn’t been given enough thought? And is mismanagement of goaltending a trend in the organization as 5-0 Nathan Lawson hasn’t played a ton in Bridgeport? Is DP’s contract keeping the team from even having a backup that doesn’t need to surprise management and the fans? What gives?
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isles72 says:
heh , I laugh at the people that bitch about the team yet in the same breath want us to land tavares/hedman
if you want either of those two you should be happy with 6 game losing skids
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bossy22 says:
CB,
Don’t ban Nick, he’s has a wealth of knowledge and he loves this team. Nick, you are the braveheart of the Isles fans….keep up the great work, don’t let the foot off the peddle when it comes to preaching the good word of the Lighthouse. As for the game, I agree with many people here….if it smells like crap and looks like crap…..there is a good chance it is crap. We knew this team would struggle from the start. Look on the bright side, we are only half a year away from hearing….WITH THE NUMBER #1 PICK, THE ISLANDERS ARE PROUD TO SELECT FROM THE OSHAWA GENERALS OF THE ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE….JOHN TAVERAS.
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Joey303 says:
Bring back Sim!!! The isles never gave up 9 goals with him in the line-up
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"Dissillusioned Brian" in VA says:
Well at least we will get 1st Pick, right Snowy? or will you trade down to get character, or more talentless prospects.
Glad I was at a bar to watch this one. My friends were laughing at me. They were like 6-1 in the 2nd Geez you guys blow! Saints/Bears and Miller Lite girls bailed me out from this trainwreck!!
We are and Have Been DREADFUL ever since Al and Torrey left! WOOOOOOOOOOOO! -
the bomber says:
i honestly think that if the islanders played the Sound Tigers in a best of 7 game series it would go seven games. We have 14 guys on our team and a goalie that are absolutely not a bit better than the top 14 guys in Bridgeport. You could exchange them ALL and not notice. I’m serious. We lose cause we are devoid of any playmakers that can score at even strength. We should trade Weight and Streit right now while they have value, cause even that wont last.
and finally, the fact that Garth Snow is going to keep Josh Bailey on the poop deck of the Titanic to watch it sink instead of sending him to the WJC where he would flourish and be happy just shows how absolutely rudderless this organization is right now…
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Snow is indeed an idiot for keeping Bailey on this trainwreck instead off sending him to the WJC! Just to justify his pick and spite Candada. Snow is one arrogant moron who is absolutely clueless as a GM. But would you expect anything less from one of the “Boston Idiotic 3″, aka Snow/DP/Gordon!
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Dadi says:
C’mon B.D….”warning’s there for Jeff and Blake” ??? How’s about Guerin, Comrie & other veteran pussies…
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Dadi,
I am sorry, but how can you rip into Guerin? Comrie is understandable, but Guerin has been nothing short of superb not only as a leader on and off the ice, but as a player on the ice. He is contributing offensively, defensively, and playing a good game for a team that does not know how to play NHL hockey just yet. Guerin is the best leader we’ve had on this team in God knows how many years, and he is teaching these kids invaluable things about playing the game. Go ahead and insult Comrie, he hasn’t proven anything yet, but everyone here would agree to save the comments on Guerin.
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UIF says:
Little late to the Nolan party I guess. One thing I have noticed is that other teams’ star players are running all over the Isles this year, and are always wide open, whereas the last two years it was always a given that Witt would be directly in their faces making their lives miserable all game. I like Gordon, but I think he really needs to work on this team’s defensive focus. I will not bash either Nolan or Gordon. I liked Nolan, and thought he did a lot with a little. I like Gordon and think he just needs to adjust a bit to the NHL. He’s got the offensive zone pressure thing down…maybe he just needs to work on matchups a little better.
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Mike says:
It is clear that this team is not capable of playing Scott Gordon’s system. They might play it for a period here or there, and have played it for a few games sprinkled in. On a tough, long road trip to cities hosting teams with more talent, we might want to be adjusting certain aspects of the team. This idea of constant working and forechecking has to tire out the boys. I don’t think they lack effort, I think they lack the ability to play this system. The defensive unit needs to make adjustments. Aggresive forecheck means fewer bodies back checking, and against fast teams like the pens, you cannot afford to forecheck half heartedly and not backcheck harder.
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Tony says:
I agree wholeheartedly with Post 21, Jethro09.
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Railbait says:
JP,
I believe you are talking about the AT-AT.
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larry says:
i havent read any of the posts above yet, i will later today, but i just want to point out, this is exactly what everyone around the nhl thought the islanders would be this year. its no shock. 10-17-2. in years past we did better then what “hockey people” thought we would. this year we are not. and thats not a shock. new coach, new players, new system. as for our “best players” maybe we dont need our “best” but the “right” players. when you have 3 or 4 outta the 5 guys on the ice capable of playing our system, its like your playing the penalty kill the whole game.
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Vlad from Brooklyn says:
Well, Isles just lost their first game of 9-Ball billiard tournament. Lets face it – it wasn’t hockey. At least 1st pick fans are happy. And we all playing the Blame Game. Not to mention our “Rebuild Plan specialists” from pre-game comments who tried to prove me wrong…
Let me repeat my point: You want to be a good team and win – don’t give up and fight for it! It doesn’t matter if you are Sim, Tabellini or Comrie. The only good moment from yesterday’s game was Tim Jackman. Even though it was not a good decision to pick on Fedotenko(who is not a cheap-shot player), but at least Timmy showed everyone that he cares.
About “Overspeed system”: it’s a great system for AHL level, but on the NHL level it needs some big ajustments. NHL is much more physical, so defensive “zoning coverege” does not work. And in my undersnanding: offensive forecheking is not just to be present out there, but to attack their Ds and press them for mistakes and having another teammate behind to back you up. -
vlad i agree with you, you can see the guys on our team who really attack the D on the forecheck and those who dont. whethers its because they physically cant keep up the pace, or because they revert to old ways and dont want to.
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AJF says:
If last nights game was indicative of anything, its that this team needs Ricky back in the worst way. This is a team that is obviously built around one player, and if that player isn’t in the lineup for an extended period of time, these are the results you get. Its no secret that goaltending is the most important position in the sport, without a marquee goalie this team really has no chance at being a contender. There is light at the end of the tunnel however; Ricky should be back soon (hopefully at 100%) which could be just the medicine this club needs to turn this season around.
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I think we are all on the same page here…You cannot play a system that only 5 people on the team are capable of. If you want to reconstruct the whole roster to fit the system, I say go for it. It worked in Jersey, and works yearly in Detroit. The Red Wings never sign people that cannot fit in the system. I like the theory of the Overspeed system, but I think there still needs to be the ability to kill it at any time in order to adapt to the way the other team is playing against you. When you play teams like the Penguins and Maple Leafs that feature speedy, quality puck moving d-men, the forecheck needs to be more calculated and deliberate. There are times to add pressure and times to sit back and maybe pick off an outlet pass. The difference between the AHL and NHL is not only physical, but that the NHL is always about adjustment and adaptation.
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Rick DiPietro
A. Cannot score goals
B. Cannot play with defensemen in front of him that leave forwards uncovered and allow them at the net untouchedDon’t know too many goalies that could survive behind this team.
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Mike, I’m 100% with you on that.
Only one ting: As I remember DP scored some empty netters. -
Yes. Witt looks slow and so did Martinek.
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Ed 339S18 says:
Last night’s 2009-10 exhibition game (the 2008-09 is over, done and and stick a folk in it) had the stench of the 1990′s Fishsticks Era when he Islanders would struggle around .500 and an collapse in December from a lack of talent. I’ve seen this disgrace before and too often.
Stop wasting time with trying Pock, Tambellini. Thompson, Sims, Comrie, Meyers, Denis, etc. and see what our real prospects can skate in this league and Gordon’s Go-Go system. It’s time for Snow to back up the garbage truck.
Somewhere Ted Nolan must be happy he escaped the Island and cash his checks.
Ps: As for the way the Pens displayed sportsmanship, BOO! HISS! You don’t embarrass an opponents no matter if the opponent (Islanders) embarrass themselves from a lack of effort and/or talent: It’s really bad Mojo!!!!!
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Willis says:
GREAT POST NICK #60
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Another suggestion I have is that Bailey goes back to Juniors for the WJC, DP is held out til 1000% (not a typo), and we work towards dumping salary, and acquiring prospects for our veterans. Mike Comrie, Witt, Martinek, Sutton, Weight, and Billy Guerin all have trade value and we can bring back a number of decent kids. Play hard, but finish last and grab one of the super prospects in June. If you are going to rebuild, do it 100%. Sign Mike Komisarek for next year and work towards 2010.
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I agree that Ricky can’t score goals, but he does alter how a team goes about their forechecking (there are few goalies in the league that you can say that about). And yes he cant cover guys in the slot you are 100% correct about that. I just see a difference when he is in the net, I’m not saying the club plays harder when Ricky is in there, but maybe they dig a little deeper, maybe they backcheck with a little more intensity. He is a presence, he’s a total game changer. Winning hockey always starts in goal. Just my opinion
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Hey… it’s good to see some other people posting what I’ve been ranting about for weeks.
DP will make a difference, but not that big an impact. I don’ tthink he can protect the net better than JMAC has done in 80% of the games he’s played. His impact will be the ability to move teh puck up before the opposing forwards can get to it. JMac has been very timid about handling the puck after getting burned early.
I am going to hold fast to my square peg, round hole theory.
Just teach NHL hockey, if you’re capable(and that is the question) because this just goign to be a big mess at teh end of the year if it doesn’t work. We will be loaded with undersized players that have speed, but can’t defend their own end.
I am going to repeat this for those who didn’t see it 250 posts ago.
Last night therion said, “The islanders play a very RISKY system. We need to play the boards tight, and we will get a lot of chances”
Well, Gordo, if a hockey idiot like me can blow holes in your REVOLUTIONARY STYLE OF PLAY, then what’s going to happen when a respectable NHL coach with some talent on his roster gets his hands on it…
Two hat trick celebrations…and games you’re out of before your 3rd line has 2 mins of ice time. -
railbait… no more calls, we have a winner. Mitch “AT-AT” Fritz…thanks.
the only other thing I cou,ld think of was when I took my daughter to see Monsters Inc on Ice… If you didn’t have a 5 year old in 2005 it would be hard to get my “Sully on Ice” reference.Thanks CB for not giving me the boot this morning.
Have a great day all… just remember… WE CAN’T LOSE TONIGHT!!! -
Ray C says:
I really hate the annual December meltdown. Seems like this happens every season right back to 2000 when i first bought season seats. The look on Gordons face, i actually feel bad for him, he must be wondering WHY AM I HERE?? Like his recent predecessors- Laviolette, sterling, Nolan the more things change the more they stay the same. Still, the hustle of park, hilbert, bergie etc… is fun to watch. Gotta love Streits slapper from the point, hip checks from sutton. Most of all the heart of witt. a few positives in this very bad time…. so who gets shopped?????
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Sir William, did Comaeu steal your girlfriend or something? The guy is a -7 bcs. the team got blown out last night. Nobody is saying he is the saviour. He is just a decent player who is fun to watch. And for those who want a new owner his name might be Basille and we all know what that means! Be happy we still have a team. I don’t love Wang, believe me I don’t, but appreciate the fact that he is trying to keep the team here!!!
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Here is my theory on guys like bergenheim and hilbert: they are nice players to have around, but while hustle is nice it is not the sole contribution towards winning hockey. Ability, creativity, and intelligence are the key. Other teams have these “role players” as well. Guys like Marty Reasoner, Mike Knuble, Pascal Dupuis, John Madden are what become of guys like Bergenheim and Hilbert when the system incorporates their style rather than relying on it like Nolan and Gordon.
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If Bergenheim turns out to be Madden or Knuble I don’t think we could be unhappy with that! Madden is a excellent all around player as well as Knuble. Bergenheim might turn out better though. He shows some flashes of brilliance occaisionally. Also is a bit chippier than those guys.
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I love them but they are in systems that benefit them as players and the team. The systems they play in are designed for them to be valuable contributers whereas the Islanders rely on them to be the drivers of the system. If they don’t go hard 100% of the time, the team performs poorly in general.
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SW, not that blake is gonna win a selke or a hart, but he was +1 in that creepy ol’ Nolan system. he might be an okay hockey player.
Matt,
I agree on your point with Bergy and Hilbert. They are like the pistons of the engine that keep it running…I just wish somebody would have thought to take the SNOW tires (Guerin, Witt, Sutton, Sim) off grandpa’s truck before they took it drag racin’…. (just a thought) -
Isles316 says:
I was on an airplane last night and saw the updates on EspnNews. I guess I picked a good day to travel. Reading everyone’s quotes makes feel for you guys. This is as tough as it gets. I see reasons why people are questioning Snow and Gordon. I don’t understand how Gordon only plays one “system” and can never adjust to any one else. Pittsburgh basically plays our system agaisnt us and beats the heck out of us whenever they want. Remember they scored 4 in the third period of last game as well. Feel better guys.
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DP's Hips says:
When you go ALL OUT from 20:00 of the first and get tired by the third, you stay all out and give up leads and lose.
Some system.
How about protect the lead with a trap……or does Gorton’s accumen allow for anything but this one myopic system?
I have a positive! The sound on the Dolavision HD feed didn’t fade in and out for a change! Other than that… I got nothing.