TORONTO 4, ISLES 2
Isles Lose The Battle Of The Rebuilding Teams
10:20pm: Tonight it was the Battle of the Rebuilding Teams. Ron Wilson’s boys really kept control and momentum in this game. The Isles would counter with a goal, but never quite controlled the action or did much more than react to being scored on. The Isles only had some real sustained efforts in the winding down of the 3rd period when they were two goals behind.
OBSERVATIONS
Leafs just pressed and pressed, as the Isles were barely able to get into TO’s defensive zone. The Leafs get rewarded for hard work just under 4 minutes into the game. Yet only 20 seconds later, Bill Guerin redirects a Freddy Meyer shot that has Ron Wilson looking like he just chewed some gravel.
The Isles let Toronto do too much at the start, yet counter effectively. But in the second period they let Toronto take over again.
Blake Comeau really has a nose for the net. Always seems to have a bead on where he needs to be.
Doug Weight is this team’s Crash Davis. The man is making one hell of a season on Long Island, defying many expectations and father time. Only 6 points from 1000.
Speaking of Bull Durham, when is Sean Bergenheim going to stop doing the “Nuke” Lalouche imitation and start settling down and playing hockey without constantly putting the team on the PK? He had 62 PIM last season in 78 games. In 23 this season he already has 41.
Between the 2nd and 3rd period, assistant coach Dan Lacriox talks about “composure with the puck.” That is dead-on as the Isles cannot seem to get much going. The Isles have countered whenever the Leafs have scored, but let Toronto dictate the action that create the situation where they are behind.
The third period is where Toronto seals the deal. The Isles spend the latter part of the period showing the only sustained effort of the night. But it is too late. The Isles never got off the ground, despite flying all the way north of the border.
THE BIG PICTURE
The Isles have dropped 5 of 6, and now 3 in a row. There really needs to be some soul searching and maybe a break for Joey Mac if the Isles are to get some wins before the Isles prepare for DP’s return . . . which might be an uphill battle for Ricky since he didn’t have much of a preseason or much of a season either.
The Isles, unlike the game the loss against the Thrashers where Gordon seemed to be happy with their offensive effort, seemed to derail in the neutral zone. They never really established a offensive push and forecheck. They only got anywhere when desperate. And that desperation never led to any kind of lead or advantage.
Sure, Jason Blake looked like the Blake of old for a game. Give the fella some credit. It ain’t easy over there in Toronto with the expectation and issues. Blake gave the Isles defense fits with a goal, 2 assists in a big effort.
Coaches Comment
“Never got our legs underneath us.”
Gordo laments that the Isles never established any kind of forecheck or momentum, and once that happened they started to take penalties.
Cites Joey Mac as their best player on the ice.
Laments the lack of faceoff wins and the ability to break in off it. Placed Sillinger with Hunter and Hilbert partway because he felt Silly was having a good game and they needed some faceoff wins.
FLU BUG
Per the Islanders, Nate Thompson missed the 3rd period due to the flu.
SOMETHING TO THINK ON
Toronto, if you aren’t familiar with the city, is nuts about hockey. Most Toronto hockey fans who wear their hearts and fandom on their sleeves cannot even get to see the games live. It is THAT hard to get a seat. Instead, they fill the bars and friends homes wearing jerseys cheering their team. It’s something I’ve always wished Long Island would turn back into. I was there when this place lived and breathed hockey. Those early 80′s were great days and whenever I see a game where the Isles are up there in Ontario or when I visit, I lament to a time I remember fondly as an Isles fan.
DP’s RETURN
C.J. Papa says Rick DiPietro will be back “very soon” in the pre-game show. One hopes this is a slow and careful return for DP. This solidifies what hit the radio waves earlier today from coach Scott Gordon who was on Fan590 in Toronto who said that DP is about 3 weeks away from returning.
NEXT UP: Next up for the Isles is Philadelphia tomorrow night who has had their number lately. Isles have a short amount of time to regroup and get off the snide.
What did you think of the game?
53 Responses to TORONTO 4, ISLES 2
Isles Lose The Battle Of The Rebuilding Teams
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Islanders1984 says:
All i want for Chritsmas is: A lighthouse approval and an early gurantee the isles get the # 1 pick
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Frank James says:
I hate to say this but I hope we get a top 2 pick.
The Lightning are on the verge of adding a top 2 player to Lecavalier, St. Louis, and Stamkos.
If they had a plan they would be dangerous.
I will keep hoping the Isles win but man it’s tough to try and rebuild with middling picks (which will happen if we are going to pick between 10-16 for the next few years) when you cannot attract free agents.
It kills me to have to think this way but with Okposo, Nielson, & DiPietro missing big chunks making the playoffs and getting smoked in Round 1 or just finishing out of the playoffs gets us nowhere. -
James says:
They were outhustled, outplayed, outeverythinged tonight… yuck.
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It appears like the NYI have lost their legs, desire or both. BPT are going in the opposite direction, bring on some of that GOOD youth that’s making it happen.
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One step farther from the playoffs, one step closer to worst overall. It is incredible how sometimes this team has us believing, and other times this team has us fading. They have honestly been two completely different hockey teams this season. It has me at least praying that we are the worst, that way we are guaranteed at least one of Hedman or Tavares.
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Vlad from Brooklyn says:
I hate to say it, but if we suck, we suck with style. BD is lookin at the big picture… Here is my look: the team need big changes! This lack of effort night after night is wearing fans down. Enough already, this is not a kindergarden, and players are pros who gets paid enough money to show a lot of effort and put on the show during whole season. Honestly, I’m tired to look for reasons everytime they loose. I don’t mind if the team loose games with effort to win. But tonight’s players williness to play, give me a break! Tomorow Phily is going to rip us in small parts. And, trust me, no 1st draft pick will help.
Sorry, just had to let it out. -
BillCt says:
Having sat through all the home games and watched the away losses this year, I really believe that there is less than a 100 % buy in to Gordons system from the team. There is also the feeling that the team is not CAPABLE of fullfilling Gordons system.
Many of us bought into a rebuild and a youth team.
Maybe we had the OLDEST team in the league tonight.
Garth, lets go with a real re-build, or lets change the system to meet the players on the roster. -
matt says:
I didn’t watch the game at work tonight. Just didn’t have time, DVR’ed it and will watch it when I get home. I don’t know if anybody has noticed that Witt has completely disappeared out there. Believe me I love the guy but I’m beginning to wonder if the guy is playing injured. He has not been playing like himself. Our defense as a whole has been pretty awful. No problem with losing, just like I said when CB was telling us we didn’t have a shot at Taveras, Hedman, Cowen, or any of the top 5 pretty much!!!! LOL!!
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Also pretty funny when Logan called the Thrashers the “lowly” team in the NHL then they went on to beat us 5-1. He then called them “lowly” in his game recap. What does that make us? We really have to stop fooling ourselves here!
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I wouldn’t want to be on that plane tonight. And if Bailey would just get his first NHL goal, we’d have something to celebrate… for a second or two.
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rob says:
Tavares or Hedman? I’m just sayin…
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i listened to the game on the internet radio thru nhl.com. as soon as leafs made it 2-1 i turned it off . i also turned the game off on sat when they went down 3-1 to thrashers.You just know they’re going to lose, but this is what injuries do to a team. They have no fight in them. Pump okposo,comrie, and frans full of brett favre’s old painkillers and get them back out there. ahahah
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Chris TMC says:
matt on Dec 8th, 2008 22:53:48 said:
“I didn’t watch the game at work tonight. Just didn’t have time, DVR’ed it and will watch it when I get home…”
Dont do it, Matt! Save yourself!Sigh.
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Effective passing, breakout and forecheck for more than five minutes? I’m just sayin…
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LOL. I know the outcome already. I’m an Islander fan, I like punishing myself!
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KP says:
I’ve said it before, I don’t mind losing because this year is a lost cause-hope for the best-really want a top 2 pick-season.
Adding insult to our injuries and poor performances is that little greedy sh*t Blake gets on the scoresheet. I know I’m not the only one that is enjoying him flounder up in Toronto.
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mrlbem says:
Woo hoo!!!! Who’s descending more rapidly than us, Mr. Burke?! Seriously, what are the chances of us getting another first rounder via a trade with a bubble playoff team?
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Yashin for President says:
As much as I cant wait for the draft, I am pumped for the world juniors.. We can pretty much watch the top 5 picks if I’m not mistaken..
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Strummer's Army says:
OK, I agree with all above. Out hit, out played etc.
Which team’s philosophy is to rapidly decline?
I am glad we are going to be in position to get Tavares or Hedman.
Did someone give COmeau a dirty hit? I didn’t get to watch the full game yet.
Does it baffle you that a team run by a former goalie, coached by a former goalie, and that has two goalie coaches doesn’t know how to use their goalies? What is this 17 straight games for MacDonald? He looked mentally exhausted after 9. With all the talk this summer about not over using Rick they don’t seem very sincere with regulating keepers games. Give Danis a game, he can’t do any worse. I mean is he going to cause the team to lose a game?
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Please bring Fritz up for tomorrow in Philly. Thompson will probably sit with the flu.
Also, before DP comes back please add two tough, big, crease clearing d-men.
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I agree strummer with giving Jmac a rest, I mean really what gives? Its a joke that they made a big deal talking about how DP doesn’t need to play so many games this year and then they play Jmac in 17 straight. Give Danis some time, really couldn’t hurt!
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I agree with giving Big Mac a rest, too. There is no reason to play him in even more consecutive games than the Devs would play a healthy Brodeur!
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Joe says:
So will Thompson be in tomorrow?
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I doubt Thompson will play tomorrow. They’ll give him IV’s during the night and tomorrow to build his strength but if he couldn’t finish tonight they won’t expect him to play an entire game tomorrow. My guess is he’ll sit at least until later in the week.
I wish when I got sick I could get IV’s it cuts down the time your sick!!!!
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Damn, were going to be one soft team against the Flyers.
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So they’d be one soft team against the Flyers if Fritz and Thompson played. Most of the guys on the Isles are soft.
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Not if Fritz played but without Thompson, Jackman will have to take on Cote/Asham/Powe by himself.
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It amazes me how many guys of all sizes Philly has that can and will fight. With Fritz in they’ll play nicer.
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james says:
Fritz brings nothing to the table other than fighting. The reasons why he shouldn’t be up here is simple. Why be scared of mitch fritz? 1. you have the instigator rule 2. the other player doesn’t have to fight Fritz 3. I haven’t seen him hit anyone. Granted he hasn’t played at all, but he’s not exactly smooth or swift on his skates. What the team needs is a primeau or probert or domi or mccsorley or ill even take a baumgartner. I know there has to be some players like that left. A player first and fighter/tough guy second.
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JPinVA says:
Overseed… that is what a golf course in a predominantly hot, but varying, climate does when it’s native bermuda grass goes dormant in the winter.
Overspeed… that is what an NHL team has their AHL affiliate play to get their principle prospects in shape for the faster NHL.
Both have their positives, and their places. You don’t overseed in the spring because it chokes the bermuda. You don’t Overspeed in the NHL because your opponents are too good and you choke off the efforts of your own players.
Tonight was another travesty. they didn’t play the canadiens, the bruins, or the red wings… they played the Toronto Maple Saps… and they were completely DOMINATED.
I don’t question anybody’s effort… but I do question THE PLAN.
Snow declared a period of rebuilding… to REBUILD you might want to start with a base of some sort.
Players… It would be nice to see the younger kids learning and growing…. but they’re all injured because their coach refuses to protect them.
A core system… So far I don’t think they’ve won more than 2 or 3 third periods all season… But they have lost 2 and 3 goal leads pretty consistently.
They are trying to teach a defensive system that appears to be a chinese (no pun intended) fire drill.
A stable organization… They had some stability the previous two years… a solid defensive core (boring as hell), but something to build on as younger players grew…
Let’s call a spade a spade… Nolan didn’t have a problem with youth… Jeez, the guy worked great with kids… and probably will again….TEACHING THEM HOW TO PLAY THE GAME…Snow won a power struggle, and this is what we got in return… MANAGED EXPECTATIONS…fans actually rooting for their team to LOSE.
LEMMINGS!
As fans, how could you not be sick of this????
PS: Bergy has so many penalty minutes because he’s one of the few guys on this team with the stones to stand up for his teammates. Yes, he probably leads the team with minor obstruction penalties, but a lot of them are like the one that was called tonight… “standing to close to a guy who can’t skate”. I wish elias had a stat about how many European players get called for these “objective” obstruction penalties… while canadien players club each other in front of the net.
Thank you Gary Bettman. -
EdTurner says:
“Toronto, if you aren’t familiar with the city, is nuts about hockey. Most Toronto hockey fans who wear their hearts and fandom on their sleeves cannot even get to see the games live. It is THAT hard to get a seat. Instead, they fill the bars and friends homes wearing jerseys cheering their team.”
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Which is why with no Lighthouse project there is a very good chance that The Islanders will become Toronto’s second team. -
bill says:
A battle of “rebuilding teams”. Chris, the Isles have Guerin, Sillinger, Weight, Sutton, Streit, Meyer, Sutton, Sim,Hilbert, Thompson, Park et al in the lineup. The Isles continue to perpetrate the myth that they are “rebuilding”. They aren’t “rebuilding”. Teams rebuild with youth. How many mentioned players qre over 30? 8? A team with half the lineup 30 plus is not rebuilding. We must be a bunch of idiots for believing this.
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Brian says:
Are we “rapidly descending” yet?
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On Edge says:
Discouraging. Will say I am tiring of Bergie’s act a bit. He is one of the youth foundations. I get it. But undisciplined play like his hurts this team more than helps it.
Agree with Bill 33. Too many older guys that will not be part of this teams future. I would expect there to be some movement – hope there would be – as deadline comes. All the above mentioned should be made available to obtain more younger prospects. You need to achieve “critical mass” with developing younger players and will see more success and signs of a better future.
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Willis says:
Sigh. Nothing to say, you people have said it all. Is this the December slump? Oh well, on to the next game…..wonder who gets hurt tonight.
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Jax says:
Keep losing boys. It will only help us in the long run. Short term failure leads to long time success. Keep stocking up on extra picks. I would trade Sutton & Weight in a package deal at the deadline. You might be able to get a decent return from a team looking for a couple of pieces for their cup run.
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Pat says:
We “won” another “4 point game” vs. a contender for Tavares/Hedman….. Good result vs ATL and TOR – to “win” a tiebreaker to decide seedings for the draft.
Any chance Fritzie is on a train to Philly tonight ? If ever a situation calls for him – Philly on the road – this is it.
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cgs878 says:
My recipe for another loss tonight: bring up Fritz and give him 10 minutes of ice time, give Danis the start in goal, play Silly-Guerin-Weight + Comeau-Bailey-Park, sit Bergenheim for 2 periods (or bench him for the game), and see what happens.
I’m starting not to mind the losses so much. If the Islanders can keep giving Toronto, Atlanta, and (hopefully) Ottawa and Tampa Bay 2 points in the remaining games, they should be on the fast track to a #1 or #2 pick in this draft. Just keep the kids healthy from now on!!
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Jim says:
Only the Islanders could get away with what they are trying to sell. They are not “rebuilding”. How many rebuilding teams have countless over 30 players? Plus there would be more over 30′s, but the Isles were shunned by several of the bigger name free agents.
They don’t have any quality youth to add to the lineup at this time. They couldn’t get the top tier free agents to sign here. So they sign guys like Guerin and Weight, they dress Bailey (and make it sound like he’s Howe)and they lose game after game. And then they sell to the fan base that they are “rebuilding”. Yeah, right. They aren’t rebuilding. They are just a terrible VETERAN team!
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DP says:
Double sigh. of all the teams in the league this one is definitely the “Charlie Browniest” wonder if they have internalized a defeatist mentality? Except for JMac of course who is playing with heart and soul maybe for a starting goalie postion somewhere else next year, and who can blame him, carpe diem! Coach should play Danis tonight and give our #1 a deserved rest.
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>>>Short term failure leads to long time success.<<<<
Short term failure??? 20 years of futility is not short term bro.
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303Joe says:
What a mess they made of that game. Didn’t expect much from this team coming into this year and were not getting it. But the only think I ask for is an honest effort and we did not get that Saturday or last night. Now tonight they play a surging Philly team which will surely result in a loss. Hopefully some rumors about Tampa are true and they make a move to get another big name if so they will move along in the standings leaving the Isles and Atlanta for #1 and #2.
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Angry Petes Brother says:
People
everyone needs to wake up and realize that anything less than Tavares on this team would be a colossal failure. We need cant miss prospects – not long term projects. Scouting and drafting hasnt exactly helped the cause all that much (ex. Parise).
TAVARES OR BUST -
Isles316 says:
I think what needs to be looked at, and someone said it earlier, is the Islanders defense. It’s been awful all season. And if we are honest with ourselves, they aren’t good on paper. Witt hasn’t been fantastic, Campoli is decent but he isn’t as good as we all thought he could be, Sutton I can’t stand, Martinek is never healthy along with Gervais, Meyer gives an honest effort but he is a decent 6th guy at best, Pock actually hasn’t been brutal but he is no good.
Too many defensive breakdowns, too many scoring chances agaisnt.
Someone said something about the system the Isles play being a problem. The problem I see with it is that they only have one system and can’t adjust when it isn’t working. Basically teams beat them at their own game. Pittsburgh and Montreal came roaring back in those 3rd periods because they just pressured the Isles defense who couldn’t do squat in return.
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Jim- You are right about that, but for the first time in a long time they actually have a long term plan. let’s just hope they can stick with it. Trust me I’ve been watching this garbage for 25 years and I know it’s frustrating. But we are die hards, so what can you do? Maybe we were born to be tortured.
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doc says:
I don’t like the losing… but the idea that there isn’t a youth movement is just not true.
There’s a requirment of payroll minimums which guarantees that veterans will be on the roster.
Neilsen, Okposo = hurt
Baily, Comeau and Bergenheim are here.
Tambellini hasn’t worked out.
Campoli has been making improvements.I know it’s not Taveres and Hedmen (sp) Crosby, Stamkos etc… but it’s a start.
DOC
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PotsnTrots says:
It’s REALLY SAD when Entire Offense is Weight and Guerin (and a bit of Hunter & now Comeau) for the most part this season. Isles OFFENSE is Doomed if team is run by Goalies Snow/Gordon/DiPietro. They need Morrow as asst. coach and a Trotts as the other, any elite D An DO Men who are good asst. coaches for that matter… Maybe Get rid of Chabot and LaCroix already!?
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Dan from Westchester says:
What happened to the fire this team played with in November?? At least you felt like they competed every night. . Even when they would lose, it was entertaining hockey. Last night and past few games – just awful.
Valiant effort by Joey Mac last night trying to cover up for sloppiness of Isles D, but only so much one can do. . Agree with above posts – Give him a rest already!
Bought the 3 game holiday pack last week. . needless to say one week later having serious case of buyers remorse!
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A youth movement is not just seen in an organizations NHL team, but with all their young players throughout the hockey world.
This is the 1st year of rebuilding the ENTIRE organizations stock of youth. You’re not going to see a roster of young players because like someone mentioned, you need to hit the cap floor. All youth movements involve some vets. As the years go on, the Isles should get younger and younger.
And why are some fans complaining about the Isles keeping Bailey with the team when an equally crappy team is playing Stamkos regularly? -
Tom says:
Where’s CB?
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Buy the Holiday Fun Pack. It’s a steal, plus you’ll get to see the Ice Girls in their Santa Baby outfits. Heh.
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Why is that professional teams don’t have a nurse come in and have the organization get flu shots? Many major businesses do it now a days. It prevents employees from missing major time off. Its a very cost effective measure to take.
Please name Kenny Morrow and official assistant coach and let him work with this defense on a daily basis.
Going back to Thanksgiving Eve 3rd period against Pittsburgh, their team defense has just been awful. Guys are out of position and Joey Mac is beaten back door over and over.
There are no excuses now, only Marty is out (I don’t think Bruno is a top 6). Pock isn’t very good but one guy shouldn’t cause the defense to derail like this.
Tavares/Hedman here we come, full steam ahead!