ISLANDERS 2, ANAHEIM 1
Plus: Your Qs on Jovo, JJ, JB, JT, KC and more
Five minutes in and Scott Gordon already had the dry-erase board out. It wasn’t even a TV timeout. The coach has been in all-out teacher mode on the homestand, and tonight it paid off in the first period as the Ducks often looked like they didn’t have any answers for the pre-pinch. They also couldn’t solve Frans Nielsen (two assists), or Yann Danis, who responded to Gordon’s encouraging words today with his best performance in the NHL.
And then the Islanders sustained nothing for the next two periods while holding on for the 2-1 win and ending an 8-game losing streak. Is there really any need for our further incompetent analysis of that subject?
When Anaheim pulled their goalie in the final minute-plus, it was Tim Jackman and Nate Thompson doing all the heavy lifting. After the Ducks’ timeout with 30 seconds left, it was Jackman, Thompson and Richard Park.
Jackman, Thompson and Park - three ball-breakers earning their places for next season.
The one thing you couldn’t miss was when the teams came out for warmups at 6:30. The difference in size between the Ducks (large) and the Islanders (not large) was remarkable. One of many areas the Islanders have to address as they rebuild the roster.
The sheer joy of the first NHL goal by a guy like Kurtis McLean who worked his tail off to get here will never get old. A goal by Kyle Okposo and McLean’s first NHL goal chased J.S. Giguere and gave the Islanders a 2-0 lead with five minutes left in the first period.
In a stunner, Chris Pronger did not try to decapitate anyone in the final seconds.
Scouts: Nashville, Detroit, Atlanta, Phoenix. Upgrading the Thrashers’ roster would seem like a good idea for the Islanders, eh? (I know, probably just a pre-scout for next week’s game).
Official Attendance: 11,853
Life Story of the Night: Brendan Mikkelson of the Ducks playing in front of his dad, original Islander Bill Mikkelson - who hadn’t been in the Coliseum since his playing days. Bill toured the arena and visited the team offices, where he posed for a photo in front of a shot of the 1972-73 Islanders. The barn hasn’t changed a bit.
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Q & A
Getting to some of your questions posted today for the long All-Star break…
MT wants to know how it’s determined which players talk to the press after a game?
The media asks and the PR staff does its best to make sure everyone is available. You can usually count on the following. After a win, everyone wants to talk to the goalie, the game-winning goal scorer and anyone with two or more points. After a loss, everyone wants to talk to the goalie, the captain, and a veteran with an excellent perspective (like Richard Park). After a really bad loss, you want to talk to Brendan Witt - because he’ll give it to you straight.
C. Felix wants to know if it’s true the former owners kept Roberto Luongo in the minors to avoid paying him a bonus and if Luongo said back then that he’d never play for the team again.
Yes, it’s true they did it to get out of paying a very substantial bonus. (This was in the days of huge bonus clauses for entry-level players). However, Roberto - and his agent, Gilles Lupien - handled it like true professionals. They did not complain, saying it was merely business. Roberto made no threats.
SteveNYC asked about Ed Jovo turning down a trade to the Islanders last season and wanted to know which players the Islanders were sending to Phoenix.
It never came even close to that point. Ed, with a growing, young family and new home in Arizona, made it clear to Coyotes management he was not giving up his no-trade to LI or anywhere else. Trade assets were not discussed.
DallyMac wants to know if you’ll see Jesse Joensuu in an Islanders game this season.
Depending on how much the roster is ripped up at the trade deadline, you cannot completely rule out an appearance by Joensuu. But my understanding is the Islanders want JJ developing in Bridgeport this season (and likely most of next) before consideration for regular duty in the NHL. That said, you could see a cameo if needed, and also to give the Finnish kid a taste of how much more he needs to improve his quickness.
Dan from Westchester asks if there was any chippiness in negotiations with Jason Blake.
No, it was pretty straight-forward. The Islanders wanted to sign Jason for three years at their number (figure around $10 mill). Jason wanted five years at his number. He got it from Toronto. I’ve talked to Jason over these two seasons. He loves the Islanders and the community.
mtrico asks if John Tavares is important enough to the Islanders that, if they got the No. 2 pick in the lottery, they would package it with something big to get the first pick.
I don’t know at this point, but let me answer it another way. If the team that gets the No. 1 pick believes in Tavares over Hedman, there won’t be anything you could give them that would make them relinquish the top pick. If the Islanders pick second and Tavares is gone, they will take Hedman.
JT wonders if the Islanders have talked to the New Jersey Nets about being a partner in the Lighthouse.
Not yet, but I’ll say it again: there’s a better chance of the Lighthouse getting done than the Nets moving to Brooklyn.
I got to meet Dr. J twice. Once as a kid when I won a sporting goods store contest to be Nets ballboy for one game, and once when my Flyers colleagues introduced him to me when I interned in Philly.
Matt asks for an update on free agent college prizes Matt Gilroy (of North Bellmore) and Tyler Bozak.
My hunch is you won’t hear anything for a while. In fact, the next update could be the sudden news of where they signed. I believe the Islanders are very much in play for Gilroy, but Bozak is a longshot. Tyler did suffer a torn meniscus and is out until mid-March, so the Islanders do have that going for them.
Pete DeBenedetto gets nostalgic and brings up WBAB’s “Deep Cuts” and requests tales of former Islanders.
When I was a teenager and my brother worked at the radio station at SUNY-Farmingdale, I got a prime gig. In return for dodging cars and handing out BAB bumper stickers in the freezing cold of the parking lot, I got floor seats for a split bill of Blue Oyster Cult and Foghat at the Coliseum.
If the blog makes it to the offseason, I promise plenty of tales of former players. There’s so much going on in-season that it’s tough to get to many. I’ve talked to the ex-Isles but haven’t had the time to write the stories yet.
Coach B asks if the Islanders could take a goalie with one of their projected 17 second round picks in 2009.
Yes, I would think so - especially if a high-value kid was still on their board.
Doug F inquires about Islanders prospect Jason Gregoire.
The team’s third round pick in 2007, Gregoire is a freshman forward at the University of North Dakota. With each game, icetime and responsibility have increased for the Winnipeg native and he is 9-9-18 in 26 games this season. Although he didn’t land a spot in our early-season list of the top ten NYI prospects not in Bridgeport, Gregoire’s stock is rising.
Fauxrumors asks if the next Lighthouse “maneuver” will be Charles Wang visiting Kansas City and wonders why the Islanders don’t just come out and announce a drop-dead date. Faux says there must be one.
I disagree, Faux. I don’t think they’re anywhere close to a drop-dead date. As for Charles visiting K.C. in the next few months, I doubt it. But if there continues to be little progress on the project, I would recommend that Charles get to the exhibition game there in September. Shoot, Newsday would have to send Logie and a photographer!
Looks like I’ve already addressed the majority of questions that I can. Thank you also for the story ideas. Ridderwall tomorrow. If you’d like, feel free to keep the questions coming from now through Sunday.
67 Responses to “ISLANDERS 2, ANAHEIM 1
Plus: Your Qs on Jovo, JJ, JB, JT, KC and more”
Please Wait
I’m liking Tim Jackman as part of the core. He’s got size, the speed and strength, lots of effort and he’s still improving. Imagine if some of these guys could play with some real skill players? Glad they got a “W”.
Great job by Gordon during postgame tonight. He backed up his comments about Danis and also seemed like he might have had something to do with the Islanders not picking up Sabourin. He wanted Danis instead. Good job on all ends with that.
Hey CB what’s this “If the blog makes it to the offseason…” Do you not plan on doing this blog for the offseason on? I hope that’s not true cause it provides great insight and it’s the best blog out there about the Isles (BD and Logan are a close second). Or is that insinuating that if the Isles move to KC? Just curious.
Nice to get to enjoy a win for a week or so.
I looked at the three stars and am beyond puzzled. Geravis over Okposo or Neilsen? Seriously? Is it his b-day or his family is in town? I haven’t seen the 3rd period yet but he was less then impressive in the first two and Okposo’s goal and Nielsen’s two assist more then trump him. Not too mention Streit etc.
(3) Totally agree. This blog is better than newsday. I stopped reading that like 3 months ago. The information on here is second-to-none for Islanders junkies like myself. CB-Great job. No Islander coverage in central jersey. So this is quickly becoming my favorite site. I can read what CB and other Islander fans have to say. And put my thoughts out there!
Congrats Kurtis McLean! Proud of ya! And Yann Danis…
(4) Haha! There were only 2 stars tonight! But honorable mention should be the 4th line-Jackman, Thompson, Sim. They would have got a star but as usual Sim get called for a dumb penalty. Keep McLean and waive Sim. Again.
Anyone want to see more of McLean the rest of the way? Another player I’d like back up is Trevor Smith. Maybe after the deadline. These guys scored their first NHL goal in less the 5 games each. Tambellini has 2 in 40 games. He is the equivalent of a AAAA baseball player. Too good for the minors-can’t cut it in the majors. They are wasting ice time for other players who deserve a chance. He’s had one long enough. Look it up the guy has I think 7 NHL goals in about 10 games. Enough is enough with #15
That was 100 games! Tambellini stinks
Can’t anyone on this team hit the net with a shot. If I hear one more time (Islander player fill in the blank)”misses the net” I’m gonna go NUTS!!! In baseball pitches have to “throw strikes”. In hockey in order to score a goal you have to get the puck on goal i.e. hit the net!!
cb any chance we could stage a PB protest outside kate murrays office let her know people care about the islanders so we can get some awnsers from her. Maybe get Newsday and MSG + to cover it and maybe even alittle advertising for it at the NVMC??? Could get you outta time out
Strummer, Gervais played 25 minutes and was up agaisnt the Getzlaf line all night. I agree Nielson should have been in there but Gervais had a solid game.
two days after I questioned whether Kyle Okposo should be on the point during the power play, he scores from the point on a power play. Okay Kyle, I did say you belonged on the power play.
Unlike previous games, the Islanders had a huge advantage in blocked shots..something like 22-8 with 4 minutes left. Usually it is the other way around.
I don’t think the Islanders would have won this game if the Ducks hadn’t played last night. But I’ll take it.
Thanks CB
CB-Any chance the Islanders will send Tambellini back to Bridgeport where he belongs? As mentioned before I’m growing sick a tired of him. If he is one of the reasons Snow and Nolan clashed then I’m sorry-the Islanders made a fatal mistake by firing Nolan. This team is not built to play Gordon’s style and it shows. I know they are depleted with injuries but and I know they’ve entered a yout movement but I have to say Trevor Smith and Kurtis McLean are better than Tambellini
But I am happy they won tonight. They were totally outplayed. But as Jim Clark said-I’ll take it. It may be another month before we taste another W
Dooks - I said the same thing during the game, waive/release Sim, keep McClean.
To All - I can’t wait to see what happens if Kate Murray actually has the nerve to show up for Town of Hempstead night on Saturday 2/21 vs the Devils. Could be ugly!
Oh by the way, don’t be fooled by that one shot we are credited with during the 3rd period. It was nothing but a clearing attempt that went all the way down the ice. That was generous to say the least. Even though we won, I was not a happy camper during the first 17 minutes of the 3rd period.
CB- I love ya, but Gregoire plays for the fighting sioux of north dakota.
keep up the great work and I love the q&a’s
thanks for the save…CB
No question that we stole those 2 points tonight. Yann played well but got some big time help from the posts. It’s nice to have luck on our side for a change.
cb any shot at us trying to acquire mike komoseriak in the summer
i thought the officiating was horrible tonight. mostly against the isles. missed a huge hold on park’s stick late in third. why did ducks get to switch players after final icing call to end game? can anyone explain that? frans has great visions - he and kurtis almost hooked up three time tonight for a goal (including the actual goal). We need kyle to continue this progress. thought guerin was going to go at it at one point tonight. somebody woke him up.
i thought that someone asked CB about his “timeout” status. and he ended tonight with - i answered those questions that i “can” without a word on his communication with NYI contacts. you think he is not allowed to talk about his timeout status anymore?
Big Jim the NHL site has a very good article on Komisarik a few weeks ago. He spoke of his love for him Mom and how close he is to his entire family and especially now his Dad that his Mom passed on. When I read it I thought it greatly played into our favor him wanting to be near his family because family is obviously huge for him. It discussed how he refused to wear #8 in the all-star game even though he is a starter and Ovechenkin is not because he believes that Ovei should have been a starter.
Then the news has been steady from legit hockey sources that Komisarik has been offered to Tampa Bay. He now knows the team trying to resign him has also shopped him. I think that bodes very well for him deciding to test the FA market.
Yes, I totally agree please get rid of Sim, there are too many others who deserve that ice time.
Said the puck will bounce their way sooner or later. Great game they looked a little slow in the second but Danis played great. Too bad they are off for a week as this was a nice win to build off of. They are competing thats all we can ask…
why is this so exciting that the isles won!
sat behind the ducks fathers tonight, good bunch of guys, agree with other posters,i love the play of jackman and thompson, and what they bring. for a fourth/energy line these two guys are great.the third guy (sim), does he have “pictures” of wang? again i ask when/if they get healthy please, please don’t let pock(who sucks) hold a roster spot over hillen, who has been ok,or another young player.
another point i really noticed was the size of the anaheim players,i knew pronger, paros,etc were big, but getzlaf and ryan are BIG and can really skate,where does i sign up for some of these big dudes?
Hey CB, great work.. much appreciated.. my question is during this trade deadline or the offseason, do you think the islanders sign a goaltender like backstrom, conklin or craig anderson to split games with ricky? almost like a hasek/osgood tandem? two number 1’s?
Interesting, according to the NY Post Chi and Pitt is interested in Guerin (Do I finally get my wish for Byfurgelin? And have to learn how to spell it?) and Columbus and Colorado in Weight, which we’ve steadily heard.
What I continue to wonder is what is Pho and Minn interest? Witt?
i have been against trading good vets who want to be here(weight,guerin,etc) i know witt signed to stay, but it’s obvious either his heart or his body is not into this year.love what he brings to the team,in a wasted year where ricky has been shut down, if witt has been playing hurt, why not send him home?if he’s not hurt and just can’t mesh with gordon’s system,be proactive on the pr front and maximize his value.playoff teams(not us)love players who hit, and scrap and play hard, ask jagr about witt.
One major improvement from Mondays game that I saw tonight was blocking shots, it seems to me that their at least working on the little things. But from the end of second and almost the whole third period the Isles seemed worn out.
Congrants to Mr. McLean, hopefully it was the first of many to come lol
CB, this question might be a bit of a stretch, but suppose we do get the #1 pick, and the team picking 2nd really wants Hedman (say, TB keeps Lecavalier, St. Louis, Stamkos, they desperately need D more than they need another big-name forward). Any chance Snow would gamble that TB does take Hedman, and swaps 1st for 2nd? I don’t know why TB would go for this deal, unless Snow does a good acting job, pretending to prefer Hedman, and getting TB to give up a later pick in order to guarantee the Dman for themselves…after all, Lightning owners have already made some rash moves since taking over. Sorry if this is too hypothetical or out-there.
Even more out-there, remember when the Canucks pulled off deals to get #1 and #2 for the Sedin twins? Do you see any possibility that any team is going to come away with both Tavares and Hedman?
Sim sucks, he has gotta go. Overall, good game in front of the home crowd, the fourth line is the best thing we got (minus Sim).
According to the Game Notes available at customer relations, the Islanders roster averages 6′0″ and weighs 198. The Los Angeles Ducks of Anaheim averages 6′2″ and weighs 203. But it seems ever ynight the pre-Kansas City Scouts are the smaller, scrawny bunch.
Mike Ditka once gave up his entire draft to select Ricky Williams. ShardZ’s scenario could work if Islanders are 1 and Tampa 2. Swap a 3rd round for a second in addition to first round picks if Garth can snow Tampa that he wants Hedman. He convinced Wang he was ready to be a GM, why not an ownership group that is paying Barry Melrose not to coach, if that is what Melrose did.
Colin Campbell must go go go! CB with that said what are the chances of Witt and a pick, or Witt and Pock, or Witt and Gervais for Jay Bouwmeester. Witt certainly would fit in to the Panthers defensive style of play, and JayBo would be a good fit for Flash Gordon’s style of play. I think it would actualy help both teams rather than be a bust. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Witter, but….. I think everyone would be happier. Players, teams and fans…. What do you think?
Chris- Justin DiBenedetto update might be an idea. He Seems to be tearing up the OHL. Why did he fall so far in the draft? When might we see him?
CB;
Is there any chance the Isles move some vets for prospects and not just picks?
It seems like it’s been ages since we made a deal for another team’s prospects. I think amybe asking for a first rounder is too much for what we have. I don’t see anyone shy of weight worth more than a second since he got injured.
The only player on this roster outside of Bailey or Okposo that can get us a first is Streit.
I remember reading your blog back in 2007 when the Islanders drafted Mark Katic, you said something like, “How much did the Islanders like Katic? Well when it was our pick and the player I was told that we were targeting was still available I expected to hear his name, but instead they picked Mark Katic, so they must like him alot right?” I was just curious, who was the player that we were targetting? Did we draft him in a later round? I’m sure you probably can’t mention him by name, but maybe you could drop a few subtle hints in your response as to who it was…
Where is our Enforcer? This team needs to gtet MUCH BIGGER and tougher. We need a player that will actually show the fans at the collisium standing instead of the always in your seat pics we get on most if not ALL Islander games. Still a pretty BORING group here on the Island?
With that being said Fritz sucks and the islanders did a real poor job in the toughness dept this year. BOOO!!! Bring up the Recker and give hi, a shot.
CB
“Incompetent analysis”?
“lack of hockey expertise” in the post -Devils game post?
Definitely some tongue-in-cheek inside stuff happening there!
Maybe those were a few of the phrases lobbed your way following the “keystone cops” post?
Love to see Neilsen getting stronger every game. . and Okposo is exciting to watch every night. If Danis plays like this - let him and Joey split time the rest of the way.
Hey with such a big lead in the race for the #1 pick.. feels good to get a win. . especially when the kids played a big role.
Asked this in the prior discussion but it is more fitting here since it’s post game. How was Danis’ rebound control? I didn’t get to watch the game and the stats show he played pretty well but we all know stats can be deceiving. Thanks.
How did Tamby do last night? He was buzzing v the Caps with Nielsen/McLean? Maybe Hunter is too slow for that line…
CB said “Not yet, but I’ll say it again: there’s a better chance of the Lighthouse getting done than the Nets moving to Brooklyn.”
I live down the block from the Atlantic Yards site. At times I have wondered about the possibility of Mr. Wang moving the Islanders to Brooklyn, reuniting them with the Nets and allowing me to relive my adolescent years. Now that it appears the Yards is not happening, I am thankful, as it was a scam from the start. I expect we will soon hear of a Nets move to the Rock in Newark. However, given that Mr. Wang’s first choice was to buy an NBA team and the Islanders were an afterthought, I’m thinking that if he can pry the Nets from the Rat (Ratner) and bring them into the Lighthouse, it may help move things along rather quickly. Anyone else wondering about this?
“I want you all to know that I thought Yann should have had that first one.”
Ha…well played, coach. The look of sheer relief on Gordon’s face right as the game ended was the shot of the night I thought.
Like everyone else is saying, I’m happy the Isles won but they were horribly outplayed and were very lucky to get the W.
Witt is a huge liability and can do nothing right these days.
The team should do nothing but practice shots on net during their time off. The glass and boards behind the net get a workout when the Isles take a slapper or wrister.
before the season would you have taken 15 goals and steady development by Okposo? I think he can do that and will consider his season a success if he does
I think you’ve met Dr. J a third time that you are forgetting - he dropped the puck before an Islander game several years ago during the time when Charles Wang was in the running to buy the Nets.
I was working on a Long Island Life story tracking down former NY Nets at the time and went to the game to speak to Dr. J. If I’m not mistaken, I believe he called Jason Kidd nuts for not wanting to move to Long Island.
good catch, Jim. I probably forgot about it because, unlike the first two times, I didn’t get a picture with Dr. J!
Wang, Tom Suozzi, Erving and Denis Potvin dropped the puck at an Islanders-Panthers home opener…CB
Thanks Chris! For the Honest answering of “MY” question.:(
Okay, the win was nice and we’ll enjoy it for a week, bu let’s get back in the tank!
Nothing really new here, but Yahoo! sports has picked up on the Lighthouse/Kansas City/Coliseum story:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=ys-islanders012109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Speaking of former players hanging around the Coliseum…
Ran into Janne Niinimaa a few years ago when he played here at the Linkin Park show. I had floor seats. I hung out at the area near the blue line by where the Isles penalty box. I look over to my right, and see Janne Niinimaa sitting in the penalty box with some chicks and beer. The though of seeing Niinimaa in the box when there wasn’t even a game going on was hardly a shock. The next day the Isles had an afternoon home game for what was I believe MLK day. Niinimaa looked like crap on the ice, probably because he didn’t leave the show until 1130 at night. More likely was that he just flat out sucked.
We won. Wow- thats cool. The Isles actually have a pretty good record against the ducks (the Isles are 6W-1L-1T against the Ducks this century)but I didnt think it was going to apply this time. WTG, Danis!
And I must say, coach sounded like he has a little faith in Yann Danis when they asked abut him last night!
toorude on Jan 21st, 2009 23:22:20 said:
“i thought that someone asked CB about his “timeout” status. and he ended tonight with - i answered those questions that i “can” without a word on his communication with NYI contacts. you think he is not allowed to talk about his timeout status anymore?”
I of course cant speak for Chris but the way I see it I think that it was pretty much a joke- once that he made when he didnt get calls back for a few days- and thats all there is to that. Obviously its over, but people are still pringing it up over and over. I think people take this kind of stuff way too seriously as if it was some kind of an official statement when it wasnt.
SIZE SIZE SIZE remember how the rangers small but skilled players were mauled by philly in the playoffs several years ago? they were called smurfs! check out TSN roster stats on team size do the math the isles are the smallest team in hockey! was at the caps game they looked like giants playing kids! the best young draft piks, prospects. and smallish players need protection to perform without undue intimidation that doesn’t get solved by a goon. our defensive lack of size is particularly glaring. if we lose tavares we at least get a very big D . the key to the isles dynasty was potvin!
Oh god KP, if there is one former Islander that I could not stand purely from watching him *cough* “play” it has to be Janne Niinimaa. He always looked like crap on the ice.
Went to the Sound Tigers -River Rats game in Albany last night, 4-2 win for the Tigers. Joensuu looked a step slow,
Lawson haldled the puck pretty well and was solid in net. MacDonald and Kohn were solid on D. The only player that stood out was Trevor Smith, with a number of steals, power play goal and great hockey sense. I’m sure we’ll see more of him.
I was at the Foghat/BOC show. I’d seen BOC at the colley three times (Black and Blue tour was the best), but that was the best Godzilla…
Somebody else brought this up in a previous thread. They have been drafting small for years.
One player is just not going to do it. Do you think there will be a focus this year to increase their general physical presence?
Nice to experience a win for a change. Ugly at times, sure, but it counts all the same.
For all of the whining about the goaltending around here, it certainly wasn’t that or the defense that was a problem on the homestand. Giving up an average of only 2 goals per game against teams like the Rangers, Bruins, Devils, Caps, and Ducks is fantastic, and certainly something to build on. Imagine what could be if the offense could hit the net every now and then. Yeah, Danis is far from perfect, and will still give up the soft goal on occasion, but he’s been great since Mac went down. Definitely worth giving him a shot (along w/Mac) the rest of the way this year.
Congrats, Kurtis McLean. More than justified his callup, and has shown great chemistry w/Tambellini & Nielsen.
Would be nice if there were a few line changes after the break, assuming guys like Hunter and Bergenheim are back then. How about keeping McLean with those two guys, and putting Hunter with Thompson and Jackman? Think that line would hit a few things? Goodbye, Sim. And it seems like Okposo and Comeau are just carrying Comrie these days. Give him a seat, at least for a game or two, and put Park in between those guys (then put Bergy w/Bailey & Guerin) for a line that simply would not get outworked - something that Comrie’s lazy play allows far more than it should.
The crowd booed the Islanders for not getting a shot on goal in the 3rd period… and yet they were winning 2-1. Booing the winning team at home… ain’t that just the way it’s going this season?
How many sticks has Guerin broken this month? He keeps shattering them on his slapshots. At $200 a pop, that’s pretty damn expensive.
Overall, it was another watchable game. Danis was the difference maker. I was impressed with Getzlaf’s passing/shooting ability. That kid Ryan is awesome too.
I hate to zero in on one play to bash a guy, but I was scratching my head at Comrie’s play when he had the puck up high in his own zone and just lightly pushed it onto the Anaheim player’s stick. I thought Comrie had looked really good since coming back up until about three games ago. It’s tough to figure. One night he was moving well, fighting for teammates, involved in plays…then it’s like the switch just fell to the “off” position.
On Danis…if Gordon is cool with actually playing him sometimes once Mac come back, then that’s a good thing and erases the need to trade or sign another goalie. TMC - you’re right, the coach sounded more encouraged last night, although the game Danis had last night left little to question imo.
“The crowd booed the Islanders for not getting a shot on goal in the 3rd period”
cgs…I know Howie said that, but I initially thought they were booing the call on the ice…I think it was icing but it looked like the Anaheim defender could have played the puck. I guess they were probably booing the shot thing though.
I think people were probably booing both!
Everybody on here agrees…get rid of Sim. Takes too many dumb penalties and isn’t doesn’t have a role. I say the same thing about Tambellini. Why is he still in the lineup night after night? He doesn’t score goals, he doesn’t make plays, he doesn’t fight, he doesn’t penalty kill, and they don’t use him on the power play. Why is he a regular? Send him down when Weight, Hilbert, Bergenheim, or Hunter come back from injury. McLean deserves a chance. Tamby has had TOO many
(61&62) It’s also possible that the crowd was booing Guerin because he wouldn’t fight the Duck player (forget who it was) that was all up in his face. A lot of things happened at that point in the 3rd.
I don’t mind Guerin not fighting (he needs to save his strength for his stick-breaking shots) but why do I always notice him bumping into his teammates? Seems like that’s been going on all season. By now I thought he’d have a handle on that kind of thing.
I saw that Comrie pass too (UIF) and noticed how little he seems to be doing again. I’m going back to my “get rid of him” position.
Also Tambellini is always ‘behind’ and doesn’t seem to have “that one thing” you see signs of which gives you patience to wait for him to develop. I am wondering how long you have to give somoene before they become a charity case and you’re wasting a spot.
Willis- lets face it Tambellini is waste. He has played in 116 games and has 6 goals, 23 pts. That is awful. Now I know that he doesn’t exactly play on Sidney Crosby’s line but I bet goons like George Parros, Derek Boogaard, and Colton Orr have better career stats than that. Enough is enough. He’ll only be a role player in the NHL and that role will have to be as a checking line forward (ie. Blair Betts or Jed Ortmeyer). Problem is he isn’t that great defensively so he needs to work on that to stay in the league. Currently on this Islander team he is useless because he doesn’t do well anything that we particularly need. Time for someone else to get a chance. Personally I think the only reason he is on the team because he (mainly, as well as a few other young players caused a rift between Snow/management and Ted Nolan and they need to justify why they fired Teddy. Alos I think the Islanders are giving Tamby a million chances because he was a one-time first round pick that they traded 2 good players for. A guy like Kurtis McLean or Trevor Smith would never have gotten the chances (100+ NHL games with that lack of production) Tambellini has gotten because they are dime a dozen players-never drafted. I’ll be honest-they both are better as far as I’m concerned
Keep the Blog going CB….you deserve a meatball hero from Raimo’s!!!!!