Monthly Archives: January 2009
9:55 am - The Islanders’ backup goalie for tonight’s home match against the Bruins will be Peter Mannino.
The 24-year old netminder is 9-9-2 with a 3.09 GAA and .895 save percentage for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Mannino is becoming the Islanders’ backup-for-Boston specialist. The first time he got the call, it was to be the reserve in Boston. He played the final 13 minutes, received no support and allowed three goals.
Yann Danis gets the start tonight for the Islanders. Nathan Lawson, the Sound Tigers’ best goaltender over the last month, needs to be signed to an NHL deal if he is ever recalled. Lawson will be busy as Bridgeport plays three games in three nights over the weekend.
As we anticipated with our post last night, the Islanders will likely find the second-half solution to their goaltending problems within the family. In our view, this includes Wade Dubielewicz. After Mannino backs up for a game or two, you could see the fan favorite by the end of the homestand.
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Point Blank will be on with Mike Ross on NHL Home Ice on XM Radio at 6:00 pm tonight previewing Islanders-Boston and discussing everything else in Islanders Country.
“Boomer” Ross is an old-school Islanders fan, so these 15-minute hits tend to be lively.
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You Play Editor: Any story ideas for a blogger hitting a dry patch on how to cover the remaining four games of this homestand? Please submit them in Comments. Only need angles for game coverage. Still got plenty of day-to-day coverage ideas.
More to come from the morning skate…
11:10 pm - Although Curtis Sanford has been placed on waivers by the Vancouver Canucks, indications this evening were that the Islanders were not going to put in a claim for the 29-year old netminder. Instead, their short-term focus appears to be on bringing back Wade Dubielewicz or promoting another goaltender – Peter Mannino or Nathan Lawson – from the minors.
At this point – with the team far out of the playoff hunt and still awaiting word on how long Joey MacDonald will be out – there is simply no reason to make a significant, urgent move or go outside the family to upgrade the goaltending. Then again, the way this saga has unfolded all season, it also wouldn’t surprise us to see some out-of-left-field acquisition between the pipes at tomorrow’s morning skate.
Reaction.
1:05 pm – Blake Comeau played his first 19 games of this season in the minors and the next 17 in the NHL with the Islanders. Throughout the entire ordeal, Comeau says it was never unfair, never improperly handled, and never personal between the 22-year old forward and his head coach Scott Gordon.
“No, people should know that we have a good relationship – we did when I was in Bridgeport, and we do now,” said Comeau, who has 3 goals and 4 assists in those 17 games and was given 17 minutes of icetime in last night’s loss to the Rangers.
“Was it frustrating at times? Absolutely,” he said. “But I never thought it was about anything other than trying to help me become a better hockey player, and a better fit for what Scott’s trying to instill here.”
So what exactly was the problem? What was it that Gordon wanted you to change about your game?
“It wasn’t just one thing. People know part of my game is a tendency to hold on to the puck and look to make the play. Scott wants us to keep going to the net. It’s not like Scott was looking to change everything. Most of all, I know he wants me to play to my strengths.”
You went to Bridgeport, and over time your game got better and better. There was a period of time when other players were being recalled. Did you ever feel the process was unfair?
“The bottom line is that Scott kept his word. We agreed there were some areas I needed to work on, and when the time came when I was consistently one of the best players in my AHL games, I would get the call. The more and more I became confident in playing within the system, the better I did for the Sound Tigers.
“There were some frustrating times, but I never felt like the whole situation was unfair to me. Nothing was being handed to me and that’s the way it should be. I’m proud of the fact that we had a lot of team success when I was in Bridgeport. Jack (Capuano) was great with me. He told me his job was to get me back to the NHL. Stuff like that means a lot.”
What’s your working relationship with Scott been like since being called up?
“It’s good. We meet pretty regularly. We go over video together. It’s a chance to see the things that I still need a lot of work on. The communication has been real good.”
Now that you’ve been with the Islanders for a while – even with that one healthy scratch – do you feel you’re here to stay?
“(Laughs) I can’t have that attitude. Believe me: I’m not taking anything for granted.”
He shouldn’t. Unlike Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey and the rest of the kids, Comeau is still living in the team-assigned hotel.
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COMEAU OFF THE ICE
Last Movie in the Theatres: Traitor with Don Cheadle. “I give it 3 and a half stars.”
On the iPod: Collective Soul, Live, Tom Petty
Girlfriend? “Yes, from Kelowna.”
Hockey Idol: Steve Yzerman
Restaurant: TOKU in Manhasset, Buddakan in Manhattan
Parents: “Dad was a project accountant and Mom was a secretary at Millar Western, a pulp mill in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.” (That’s it, below).
ETC: No word from the Islanders on the health of Joey MacDonald or Rick DiPietro, or the identity of the team’s other goalie when the Islanders host Boston on Thursday night. Scott Gordon said he hadn’t spoken with Garth Snow yet, but he probably is as this is typed at 1:00 pm.
Said Gordon: “Come tomorrow night, there’s going to be two goalies.” Looks like Yann Danis will be the starter, while Wade Dubielewicz, either of the two Bridgeport goalies (Nathan Lawson or Peter Mannino) or a mystery free agent will be the backup.
Trent Hunter and Sean Bergenheim were given the day off the ice.
Comments.
The Islanders gave at the office tonight and their young players – 9 of 18 skaters age 24 or younger – played well. Most – kudos to Tim Jackman – played physically. The Rangers bounced in one more.
It was not an exceptional display of hockey by any stretch of the imagination, but for one night the Islanders could leave the rink with their heads held high about their battle level.
With 1:20 left on the clock until there were 23 seconds left, this was the Islanders’ lineup with the goaltender pulled:
Comeau – Comrie – Okposo – Hunter
Campoli – Streit
In the final 23 seconds, Scott Gordon sent out the following:
Okposo – Bailey – Guerin – Hunter
Campoli – Streit
Gordon was very complimentary of Josh Bailey, saying that his improving faceoffs were a big reason he could play him at the end of the game.
Kyle Okposo had stretches where he was the best player on the ice for either team. Blake Comeau looks like he can stay a while.
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The Final Sore: The man-games lost to injury for the Islanders and Rangers before tonight’s game:
Islanders: 263
Rangers: 10
The Islanders are leading in something.
At 5:01 of the first period, Joey MacDonald left the game and was diagnosed with a groin strain. He will be re-evaluated tomorrow. In a tough spot, Yann Danis did well.
Word backstage was that goaltending coach Mike Dunham was prepared to enter the game as the Islanders’ emergency goalie if needed.
Could the next goalie to drive down 95 be Wade Dubielewicz?
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Putting It Together: MSG Network’s Joe Micheletti to PB during the second intermission on Kyle Okposo: “He has the size and the ability, and what I like about him is, he really looks like he’s learning how to use it. I know earlier in the season he wasn’t skating, wasn’t putting everything together. But he’s been so much better the last few weeks and he looks outstanding tonight.”
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Perception Really is Everything: My neighbor, the infamous Joe from RVC, comes up to me while our kids are at Wrestling practice and says, “Geez, Bill Guerin hasn’t done much, huh”? (Like I want to be thinking of that crap while shaking out the cobwebs at 8:30 on a Saturday morning).
Fast-forward to tonight, and I’m sitting in the press box, checking out tonight’s game notes. I look to see how Guerin’s doing. Then I look at Rangers big tickets Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, along with Guerin-contract-comparable Markus Naslund, and view their stats:
Guerin: 13 goals, 18 assists, 31 points
Gomez: 8 goals, 21 assists, 29 points
Drury: 13 goals, 16 assists, 29 points
Naslund: 14 goals, 14 assists, 28 points
Guerin, on the worst team in the National Hockey League, has totals that would rank him tied with Drury for second in goals on the Rangers to Naslund and second in points to Nikolai Zherdev. Guerin’s -9 is on par with Naslund’s -11, Gomez’s -10 and Drury’s -5. The Rangers’ lineup has earned twice as many victories as the Islanders.
Of course, stats aren’t everything, but it seems Guerin’s not doing so bad. Would seem wise for the Boston Bruins – starting to get hit with the injury bug – to see if they can bring the hometown boy back to Beantown for a Cup run.
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The Phone Call
Don Waddell: Hey Snowy. So here’s what I’m thinking. We send you Kovalchuk, Colby Armstrong and our 2009 third round pick for your first rounder in ’09, Kyle Okposo and Chris Campoli. What do you think?
Garth Snow: Hmm…How about we give you Brett Skinner for Junior Lessard?
Waddell: Deal.
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Game Rating (out of 5): 2.5: The close score resulted in drama, but this game was not going to bring back memories of 1984, 1993 or 2007 for that matter. The reality is that the Islanders are in last and the Rangers are an okay team with salary cap problems that may prevent them from getting any better this year. The effort from both teams was never in question.
Event Rating: 3.0. We’re as into this Lighthouse thing as much as anybody, but the Islanders should occasonally adjust the pre-game strategy they’ve employed all season.
It’s 6:58 pm, the crowd is juiced, the scoreboard host has just announced the starting lineups for the Islanders and Rangers. The lights go down, the crowd goes bananas and…wait for it…the scoreboard shows the “Meet Me at the Lighthouse” video. Talk about a buzzkill. It’s like putting in the Reservoir Dogs blu-ray and getting Must Love Dogs.
There’s plenty of time for that. Not five minutes before faceoff.
“The Chicken Dance” has its second of three airings this season. Seems like the Rangers always score after it’s played.
Courtesy of Kinger: The Islanders’ power play is now 0-for-22 in their last 8 games against the Rangers.
C o K 2: The Islanders are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. But at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum against the Rangers, the Islanders have only 7 wins out of the last 29 games against their archrivals.
Scouts in Attendance: Minnesota, Phoenix
Back to Tavheduch
The latest in the race for consensus No. 1-A pick John Tavares and No. 1-B Victor Hedman (at left, via Expressen). Second place gets you either Hedman or cut-above consolation prize Matt Duchene.
1. Islanders 12-27-4 28 pts (43 games)
2. Atlanta 14-24-5 33 pts (43 games)
3. Ottawa 14-21-6 34 pts (41 games)
4. St. Louis 16-22-3 35 pts (41 games)
5. Tampa Bay 13-19-10 36 pts (39 games)
TW Notes: Thank heavens for Mike Smith and the Lightning getting all those points for losing in overtime and shootouts. But if Tampa Bay trades Vinny to Montreal for Chris Higgins and futures, watch out…The Islanders still have two games in hand in Ottawa. Incredible to think that at this time a year ago everyone had the Senators going to the Stanley Cup Final.
To answer a frequent question in Comments, this is how I predict the Islanders prefer their Tavheduch:
1. Tav
2. Hed
3. Duch
Good night! Comments.
UPDATED 7:55 pm - At 5:01 of the first period, Joey MacDonald left the game with a groin strain and was replaced by Yann Danis. He will be re-evaluated tomorrow.
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We mostly joked about it happening when Wade Dubielewicz bolted Russia in mid-December, but Greg Logan has just reported that Dubie could be an Islander again in the very near future. GM Garth Snow told Logan that the team has had some talks with the cult favorite’s agent.
The bigger story of a Dubielewicz signing would be the cause. Rick DiPietro has had a series of doctors visits the last few days, and we could know this week if he can play again this season or will be shut down.
On the MSG Plus pre-game, Snow admitted he was “concerned” about the health of DiPietro but reiterated the organization will continue to have a cautious approach to the goalie’s recovery.
Looks like we could have resolution on DiPietro soon. And quite possibly the return of Du-bie, Du-bie.
Reaction.
3:40 pm - (BD here) The New York Islanders have acquired RW Junior Lessard from the Atlanta Thrashers for defenseman Brett Skinner. Per the Isles announcement: Lessard will report directly to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Lessard is a former Hobey Baker winner. Now 28 years old, has been unable to make the jump to a regular spot in the NHL despite what some some considered to be offensive potential. He was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Atlanta Thrashers this past summer.
With the Chicago Wolves of the AHL this season he has 6 goals and 5 assists for 11 points in 41 games.
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1:05 pm - The Islanders just announced that Andy Sutton had surgery on his broken foot suffered in mid-December and is now out an additional 8-10 weeks.
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The Tavheduch Watch – that’s Tavares-Hedman-Duchene for those just joining us – is off for tonight in Islanders Country. The Islanders are hosting the New York Rangers. We try not to speak for Islanders fans, but we’re fairly certain that for the three remaining games against the Rangers they would sacrifice anything for wins.
That’s how much these games mean to the fans of both teams. And make no mistake about it – the Rangers badly need this one tonight, too.
Scott Gordon this morning told the press that his team’s last place standing “does not take away from the magnitude of this game.” Amen.
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TiVo Alert: Garth Snow does a sit-down with Billy Jaffe tonight on the MSG Plus Pre-Game Show.
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Asked by Sam Rosen of MSG about the young players the Islanders need to see make strides, Gordon went to the lengths of listing them:
Josh Bailey
Frans Nielsen
Sean Bergenheim
Kyle Okposo
Nate Thompson
Jeff Tambellini
Blake Comeau
And those are just the forwards. On D, you could add the still-young Chris Campoli and Bruno Gervais to the list. Over the last few weeks, the stock of Gervais (more on him later in this post) seems to be slowly rising while Campoli – paired with Thomas Pock tonight – has not played his best hockey.
Asked if it was risky to have so many youngsters on the power play, Gordon thought about it, smiled and asked back, “What’s the risk”?
At 19 points out of 8th place, none whatsoever.
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Yann Danis was today’s lone professional goaltender on the ice at the morning skate. Joey MacDonald gets the start tonight.
Just as MacDonald says he prepares himself like he is starting every game, no doubt Danis prepares himself every day to pack a toothbrush.
Jon Sim will not be on the power play tonight. Sim is your Islanders healthy scratch tonight.
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You may recall a note before the road trip about Gordon spending extra time on the ice with Bruno Gervais. The coach and the young defenseman said this morning the after-school sessions were about simplifying his footwork.
“Sometimes, defenseman overly complicate their footwork, make an unnecessary amount of cross-overs,” said Gordon. “Bruno was struggling with that when he returned from injury. Now he’s playing some of his best hockey.”
The 24-year old Gervais acknowledged his poor play when he returned to the lineup, citing a “lack of confidence” while getting his injured leg back to 100%. “There’s been a huge difference,” said Gervais. “The confidence is back. I don’t think about the leg anymore, and a lot of that has to do with the work (trainer) Garrett Timms and (strength coach) Chris Schwarz did, spending so many hours with me.”
The defenseman knows he still has a long way to go, but is inspired by being paired with all-star defenseman Mark Streit.
“I brought a lot of bad habits earlier this season,” he said. “I was trying to compensate, and wound up cheating. Skating has always been a big part of my game. But now I feel like I’ve made it back, and with some help along the way my performance is finally getting there.”
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Where’s (The Hockey) Newsday?: With the Islanders hosting the Rangers tonight in Game 43 of the season, Newsday – which is owned by Cablevision, which owns the Rangers – did not have a story on the Islanders or the Rangers in this morning’s print edition.
There wasn’t even a story on newsday.com advancing tonight’s rivalry matchup. The paper almost always puts its overflow coverage on the website, and writer John Jeansonne was at Islanders practice yesterday. UPDATE: John’s story on the rivalry posted.
The Islanders took out a full-page ad in today’s Newsday promoting their January schedule of games and promotions.
I know the Giants had Hefty Bag day yesterday and Eddy Curry…well, you can read all about it in Newsday. And in fairness to Long Island’s newspaper, they did fly Logie all over the West for the four-game trip and had stories from Jeansonne on Sunday and Monday. But the absence of any Islanders-Rangers coverage – not even a story on Cablevision’s sister team, the Blueshirts? - is a surprising development.
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No word yet on Rick DiPietro, deemed “medically cleared to play” for the Edmonton game on Monday he backed up and the Calgary game on Thursday he watched in street clothes. Have to believe Danis could be emergencied for each game of the homestand.
No word yet on Mike Sillinger, perhaps more support to the notion that Ol’ Man River may have scored a goal for the Islanders in Madison Sqare Garden in the last game of his NHL career. Ten days ago, we wrote an admittedly premature ode to Sillinger that you can read here.
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Timeout or no Timeout, it doesn’t change what I write. I praised and criticized the Islanders before the T.O. and will continue to do as warranted for as long as I do this.
Comments. Guidelines. The one about baiting or brawling with fans of other teams is particularly relevant today.
Can’t tell you how many times over the last two decades I’d be sitting next to a writer in the Coliseum press box and he’d say, “Wow, more Rangers fans here tonight than Islanders fans.” Then the Islanders would get the first goal, 70% of the place would go nuts and he’d say, “Scratch that.”
But don’t get me wrong: Rangers fans show up in full force. And 6,000 Rangers fans can easily sound like 12,000 when their team is doing well. Of course, the best is when both teams are competing. On those nights, there’s nothing like it in pro sports.
Here’s my formula. No matter what percentage of Islanders vs. Rangers fans it looks to be when the game starts, add 20% to the fan ratio of the team that scores first. And if either the Islanders or Rangers build a big lead, fuhgettaboutit. (By the way, what’s up with the visiting team doing so well in this series lately?).
One man’s estimate of the approximate ratio of Islanders fans to Rangers fans at the Coliseum through the generations…
1972: The NYI Are Born
75% Rangers fans - 25% Islanders fans
1975: Post-J.P. Parise
Islanders 50% – Rangers 50%
1978: Islanders on the Verge
Islanders 65% – Rangers 35%
1980: Stanley Cup Champions
Islanders 75% – Rangers 25%
1983: Dynasty
Islanders 80% – Rangers 20%
1988: The Hall of Famers Retire
Islanders 70% – Rangers 30%
1993: Turgeon & Co.
Islanders 75% – Rangers 25%
1994: The Darkest Day – Game 4, First Round
Start of Game: Islanders 50% – Rangers 50%
Final 5 Minutes: Rangers 95% – Islanders 5%
1995: Rangers Post-Cup
Islanders 50% – Rangers 50%
1997: Islanders Gory Days
Rangers 55% – Islanders 45%
2001: Islanders Revival
Islanders 65% – Rangers 35%
2003: NYI Good, NYR Not
Islanders 75% – Rangers 25%
January 13, 2009
Islanders 50% – Rangers 50%
If one of the teams takes a two-goal lead, it will seem 70-30.
Thanks to PB reader Dino for the image of his nephews. Comments.
