WHAT A FRICKIN’ GAME
1 point, 4 fights and, natch, Brendan Witt in the SO
Let’s get this out of the way first: why Brendan Witt in the shootout? Scott Gordon told reporters - with the straightest of straight faces - his defensemen had done real well in shootouts at recent practices. He told the most defensive of defensemen that he would get him in a real shootout. So he did.
In completely unrelated news, the Islanders pulled to just 4 5 points behind 29th place Colorado in the battle for the top seed in the Tavares-Hedman lottery. The Avalanche play in Anaheim tomorrow. Tampa Bay hosts Ottawa. I was starting to think the Islanders might be rewarded in the lottery no matter how the standings end up for not tanking the season or quitting on themselves. One hopes inserting Witt in the shootout lineup didn’t mess with the karma.
In related news, we stand by our season-long proclamation that Matt Duchene is the third-best player available in this draft. More on the subject of lottery prizes tomorrow.
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Breaking news: the first two AHL playoff games of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers will be played at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on the weekend of April 17th. Ticket information has not been released yet.
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When Chris Campoli was traded to Ottawa, Jack Hillen was the young defenseman most likely to benefit. A month later, Hillen has surpassed expectations. He has made a case to join the nucleus of young players the Islanders are moving forward with.
About a week ago, Hillen approached Islanders head coach Scott Gordon with a personal request. When Hillen was a regular on the Bridgeport-to-Uniondale shuttle, Gordon would host a pre-game video session with the first-year pro. Coach and player haven’t had many of them recently.
“Jack asked if I’d go through clips with him like we used to do earlier in the season,” Gordon said tonight. “I said to him, ‘To be honest with you, Jack, I don’t have as much to show you anymore. You’re doing just fine.”
Since the Campoli trade, Hillen has learned quickly, identifying when to join the rush, when to sit back. Playing the last two weeks on the third D pair with Thomas Pock, Hillen has managed to stay a plus as his icetime increases. Tonight he played 17:54 and had a pair of standout shifts in the overtime.
“I feel comfortable out there,” said Hillen. “I’m having fun.”
Said Gordon, “He’s been more reliable in his own end than we could ever expect of him this early in his career. The difference in his play and his confidence since the (Ottawa) trade has been evident. He’s been great.”
Asked if the 23-year old Hillen’s intelligence and skating ability compensate for his size - Hillen is listed as 5-11, 200 pounds - Gordon said matter-of-factly, “I just don’t see it as an issue. He’s a very good young defenseman.”
Hillen is a restricted free agent this summer. He has made the Islanders’ decision an easy one.
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FLYERS 4, ISLANDERS 3 (SO)
Game Notes
Continuing our Department of Redundancy Department: I’m not even a big uniform guy, but after watching the Islanders play a few games this week in their busy Reebok uniform systems, it’s amazing how far superior their vintage royal blue third jerseys are. Will teams ever learn that nothing beats classic style?
Saturday Night’s Alright…: A big topic of discussion in the post-game was the Islanders’ desire to stick up for each other. Gordon said the team toughness has improved throughout the second half of the season. “For that to happen, you have to like each other,” he said. Also notable in Gordon’s presser was his obvious respect for what Joel Rechlicz has shown thus far.
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Standing up for his younger teammates early in the game, Doug Weight emphatically threw off his gloves and scrapped with Darrell Powe. No matter anyone’s perception of the Islanders’ depth chart for next season, Weight has earned another one-year contract. Mr. Snow?
As for Weight’s fight, what a dopey interpretation of the intigator penalty by the refs. That’s a real hockey fight, borne out of aggression. Those fights should be encouraged, not penalized. Maybe someday the NHL will get that right. There should be a distinct difference between instigation and invitation.
Naturally, there is an obvious downside to an out-of-state team having so many of their fans at a game. Although not to the level of Canadiens fans early this season, the Flyers fans showed up loud and proud. But I have to say, it’s a blast to watch these games from the press box. With the fans from both teams screaming, the event has a English Premier League soccer feel.
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And finally, when a last place team in any major pro sports league other than the NHL finishes out the string, do you ever see games like this?
Coming soon: A Q & A with Hillen on the transition college free agents like Matt Gilroy and Tyler Bozak can expect. Comments.
72 Responses to “WHAT A FRICKIN’ GAME
1 point, 4 fights and, natch, Brendan Witt in the SO”
Please Wait
CB: Is it within rules for the backup goalie take a shootout attempt? Let’s give Joey Mac a reward then.
you might as well have wang take a shot if youre going to put witt out there..wtf? first time i can remember wishing tamby was on the ice when witt was announced
also good job fellow isles fans in shouting down the flyer fans they definitely were chirping early..not so much later as we gave them a helluva game!
This is the first tome in a while I’m excited about next season..
It would have been nice to see Witt the worrior get into a fight, instead of the Shootout.
great game!! fun to be at. This team plays its ass off, Gordon has done a great job the last half of the season. FANS LOVE FIGHTS!!! and GO AVS!!!!!
Hey didnt Nolan say last year that Witt was impressive in the shootout practices? Besides that, that game was the best of both old and new school. Me likey!!! They are starting to come together boys…starting to come together! Ohhh yeah Comeau hit, Wrecker bombs and Tamby goal awesome to watch!
What’s everyones thoughts on Danis? I know he has played well at times but tonight was a game where the bad goal he gave up changed everything. Too many goals like that.
I’d say Witt looked pretty happy to be out there. Maybe Gordon’s not just developing the “kids” but some of the vets, too! Good wins this weekend, I almost wish it was October..
Hey why not have Nate Thompson out there in the SO? That was tanking all the way. I want that #1 pick too but this looked pretty obvious.
Does anyone have a link to the FIGHTS from tonights game???
The NHL should have a link on their website so you can watch every fight just like you can see every goal.
Witt in the shootout tells me Gordon really wants to coach Tavares!
Great hit by Comeau!
Great fight by the Wrecker!
Great goal by Tambs.
I admire Jackman and Thompson for stepping up but improving the fighters for next years team is a must.
Great job by Weight in his fight.
Horrible job by the refs for the penalty load after the fight. Ya nail the skill player with all the penalites for fighting a guy who does it all the time.
Horrible job by the ref and the linesmen who were looking right at Jackman when Corburn got him with the high stick and they don’t want to call it.
See the NHL is a bunch of idiots most of us fans love games like tonight, where there is energy, emotion, fights, hitting, scoring. Making the NHL a sissy league is dumb. They should dump the instigator rule unless one player jumps another.
JD just type in NY Islanders to youtube they are probably up by now (then click on date added).
WOW! I didn’t see the game and only heard part of the 2nd period on xm in the car, but it sounds like the game was a throw back to the 70’s/80s based on what i read here and what i read on the box scores. I just got done looking at the highlights and i was looking for howatt and dornhoffer
Gordon just gave us a reminder that these games are meaningless. Play good but not that good! Witt leads off the shootout?? 2 defenseman picked as our top 3 shooters? something don’t smell right!! I think you owe it to the rest of the division to play a full game! If your going to play hard then in the words of Herm Edwards, “play to win the game”! I don’t think they did that in the shootout. Obviously they are as concerned about a shot at Tavares as we are! I think it will be really interesting to see the roster moves as the race develops!! Colorado may not win again this year! I think Snow wants to be rewarded for a season that we were never a contender in! I think that game against Tampa next week may be the first game in history played with 2 empty nets! 7 games to go! The suspense builds!!
It didn’t bother me that Witt took a penalty shot…If he scored a goal and he did take a nice quick high wrist shot and he would have picked the corner but unfortunately Buren made a nice glove save…I admit I would rather see Okposo get another chance since he’s come close several times…
hockeyfights.com has all hockey fights from the league
#12 no-call
im blind..im def…i wanna be a ref
Just looked at the schedule they play Philly again just before the end of the year, I think the Isles should call up Fritz and Callahan for that one.
Bridge got beat 7-2 tonight. Collitton took a huge hit (not sure if he is out or nto)looked like the player left his feat. Haley jumped and bloodied him but later (because Bridge didn’t have a real enforcer dressed) Mink took advantage of Haley and then later Kip (I wanna get Amber drunk so I can have sex with her even though I know she is in rehab) Brennan tried to as well.
“I think that game against Tampa next week may be the first game in history played with 2 empty nets!”
GREAT comment, Stevie (#15). It was also a great game to be at, which I had the privilege of doing. The Flyers fans almost rival the Rangers’ in terms of obnoxiousness, so much that it almost would have been worth it to beat their team. I said almost.
Hey CB, Great camera angle on the non call by the ref on the high stick on Jackman! As the camera panned back you see the ref clearly watch as Jackman was nearly blinded by a high stick. the ref wasn’t 10 feet away looking right at it and NO CALL!!!! Before Jackman even passed the ref (calling for the penalty)blood was streaming down the side of his face and yet inexplicably NO CALL!! Talk about no respect by the refs for the Isles in general, but for a players safety as well!!! Your thought CB??!
what an exciting game tonight. it stinks that we lost but we put up a fight against one of the better teams in the league.
A bunch of Bridgeport players that weren’t on the road trip showed up at teh Colesium tonight. I saw Travis Hamonic, Robin Figren, Max Gratchev and Pascal Morency walking around.
I don’t think Gordon picked Witt for the shootout to “tank”. He just rewarded a defensive player because there’s no pressure to win. Trying to lose on purpose is different from being carefree about the result of a shootout (aka crapshoot). In any case, you can’t really “tank” a shootout. Goalies know the tricks of most regular shooters, so going against an unknown quantity like Witt is not necessarily easy. Besides, people underestimate the ability of these guys. Just because you’re not a point scorer in the NHL doesn’t mean you don’t have any ability to score a breakaway. Any high draft pick has been putting pucks and balls and makeshift items in the net long before hockey became a career.
Mark Streit is the Islanders’ top scorer and one of the highest skilled offensive players on the roster, yet to some, even Streit’s appearance in a shootout smells fishy. Go figure.
The instigator penalty was so wrong I can’t even write anything coherent about it.
My friends and I have been season ticket holders for the past five seasons, and as most loyal Islander fans know, my friends and I who attend nearly each and every game have had to endure some pretty harsh outcomes, especially this year. But we buy into the whole “building for the future” line the team has been feeding us. We long for the day when we can all “meet up at the Lighthouse”.
Tonight’s game was home game number 37 out of what has been, as promised, a very long and painful 41-game home season. We’ve watched the boys in blue and orange blow more than a few third period leads. We’ve been to games with more than a few thousand empty seats. We’ve dutifully kept our eye on the TavHedDuch Watch. Heck, we’re company guys.
We came into the Old Barn to watch what was expected to be another meaningless late-March game against Philly. Yet it felt like the Isles were playing Montreal all over again. Thousands of Philly fans occupied our seats. Loudville never had a chance. Security guards were assaulted by female Philly fans… dads had to protect their children from verbal insults all night long.
But when New York came out on top 2-0, something happened. The kids skated. They fought. Boy, did they fight! They passed, and skated, and fought some more. There was so much energy in the stands, on the ice, that the roof blew off. And when the meltdown happened all over again, what happened? They tied it back up! And they fought some more, and skated, and…
And Gordon decided to send up defensemen for the shootout. ANY other game, and we probably wouldn’t have cared. But TONIGHT? Heads should roll. Dozens of season ticket holders were screaming for Gordon’s head BEFORE Witt started towards the net. Scott Gordon was the real hero for the Fliers fans tonight.
I saw Glenn Hughes tonight so I just got finished watching the game on DVR. I really thought they were gonna win this one but oh well… shame that goal in the 1st was a tenth of a second too late, because that would have been the win right there. Regardless it was an unquestionably entertaining game!
hey if there a handfull now next year watch out!!!
go fish!!!
hey no ones ever gave the the anything. even in the 80s.
srew everybody. underdog all the way.
lets get all the red tape out of the way and move forward.
kate should let the men play the game.
go fish!!!!
ps nystrom game winner in calgary. nice guy!!
Hey Rob (25): You complain about using defensemen. First off defensemen scored 2 of the 3 goals tonight. And in case you didnt notice defenseman Mark Streit is the Isles leading scorer. He is the reason they even got to OT in the first place. Also, Witt was an unexected choice of course- but he took a good shot… better than Okposo has done in the SO to tell you the truth.
In my humble opinion the “dozens of season ticket holders screaming for Gordons head” need to get over themselves.
Exactly right TMC!!!
I want to agree with “what a frickin’ game”. I’m watching the re-broadcast because I missed the live one. Fantastic game. Tons of beautiful chances by the Islanders. Rechlicz fight was awesome. Comeau, Bailey, Okposo, Nielsen, Streit and even Tambellini are consistently the best players on the ice nearly every game. I’m impressed with Gervais’ improvement since Campoli got traded. And Jack Hillen makes me confident that the blue line will be all right next season. Tambellini’s goal…. let’s keep doing this, Jeff. More goals. All game he kept himself open, and in that top slot area where he clearly does the most damage. I’m excited for the rest of the season, and next.
The Daily News & NY Post SUCK. I went to the online version of the Daily News and couldn’t find ONE word about the game. And here’s the Post’s opening comments :
By MIKE PUMA
March 29, 2009
So much for a little Islander momentum heading into the final two weeks of this lost season.
But then, this is why they are the Islanders, residents of the Atlantic Division basement and owners of one of the NHL’s worst records.
All the Isles had to do was survive the third period against the Flyers last night and they would have something respectable: a two-game winning streak against playoff teams. Instead, the Isles collapsed and watched Philly grab a 4-3 shootout victory at the Coliseum
CB -
An answer to you last question…Yes. As a Mets fan, I sadly point to the last game at Shea last year, without giving much thought to it.
For all of you detractors out there … if Witt would have scored (and that was a GREAT save by Biron) we all would have been laughing and whooping it up. Coach gave a guy who is an absolute freakin’ warrior a pat on the back and the “Defensive” defenceman responded with a shot that was tracking upper corner.
What more do you want?
It was a great game and for the first time since ‘93 you can actually feel the building excitement about this squad.
My wish - that Islander fans that are stuck in the negative cycle that seems to have followed this team forever will be able to break free enough to enjoy what is actually happening with this team.
Great job this weekend boys … great job!
People need to lay off Gordon. The Isles had this game in complete control until Danis gave up a softie from the right wing wall. The next goal wasn’t much better with the brutal rebound given up.
I know I’m tough on goalies and sometimes to a fault, but when it mattered, Danis blew it. I also can’t stand a goalie that everytime they make a save they look behind themselves.
Am I the only one who feels the fans in Brideport are being robbed? They support the team all year long and then get the first two playoffs games moved out of their building. That stinks.
#36, you definitely have a case. I was at the Sound Tigers game last Sunday and one of the fans was upset because the playoff team will be comprised of a lot of Islanders, not the players that got them into the playoffs. Now this. And I’d love to say that it’s just the first two games of what should be a long playoff run, but if the Sound Tigers go far and the Coliseum turnout is good, they might have more playoff games there. Hopefully, they’re smart enough to take care of the Bridgeport fans who have supported the team the whole year.
Never thought of that UPSTATE you’re absolutely right.
You guys are right about the Sound Tigers. That is a shame for the local fans who probably wont make it down here to see the two games. If I were the organization I would at the very least give them a ferry voucher they can use upon presenting their tickets to the ferry. That being said I wouldn’t mind checking out the team, being the last hockey playoff game I was at there were beer bottles littering the ice.
Loved the fact that Witt was in the shootout. I was actually hoping that the Flyers would have won in regulation, and that was a weird feeling given how long I have been rooting for the Isles. This draft pick is a huge deal to this team, and we ALL should realize it.
These “losses” will be easily forgotten when this team starts to roll in about 2 years.
Never thought about taking games away from Bridgeport fans. I do see that point. I sorta looked at it as a way to showcase a bigger stage to the younger guys(which is why I think so many Soundtigers got a shot this year) and to maybe make more money if people go to these games.
No matter the outcome last night, what a great weekend of hockey by the Isles.
As for Gordon, I think we are seeing what he can do with players that fit his system.
With a healthy team next year and an addition or two, I’m really looking forward to next year!
cb, ”this event had a English Premier League soccer feel”???? no, sorry but your wrong there. I was in England from march13-march24 and I went to 4 English Premier League matches (manchester united v Liverpool @ old trafford, aston villa v tottenham hotSpurs @ villa park, tottenham hotSpurs v chelsea @ white hart lane, aston vill v Liverpool @ Anfield) and although the atmosphere in last night’s game was great and far better then tuesday vs wild it was still not even remotely close to that of an English Premier League match. There are a few major differences, first, in the English Premier League fans dont sit down and constantly sing songs and chant for there team, second they have segregated seating (wich i would love to see in the Coliseum), and third you can DIE out there! its not just bicker and backdown (made notorious by ranger fans) ITS FOR REAL OUT THERE! I came back with songs to sing, chants to shout, and an understanding of why segregated seating would enhance the experience, but its not the same if im singing and chanting by myself, and I dont expect to see segregated seating any time soon as it would require the ticket sales department to actually do some real work and research (although it would make the experience much much better for everone!).
The Soundtigers are not screwing their ticketholders, the Arena at Harbor Yards is. They booked Sesame Street Live for the first weekend of the AHL playoffs, and cannot accomodate the home games. The SoundTigers should make a good run into the playoffs, so this may prove to be win-win for all. Even with a good showing at the Coliseum, I doubt that future games would be moved to NVMC unless there are additional arena conflicts.
To those upset about the two Bridgeport games being at the Coliseum, my understanding is it happened not because the Islanders hijacked them, but because the Arena at Harbor Yard booked events that weekend…CB
I like Danis but somehow I didn’t come away eith good feelings about any of those Philly goals Draw your own conclusions.
The Avs have 6 more wins then the Isles which will go in our favor in a tie..
Thanks for filling in the blanks about the game guys … I missed last night’s game … saw the highlights and read the game thread along with this thread … I wouldn’t read to much into Witter taking the shoutout attempt… These are NHL players and Witter has a decent shot … just hardly uses it .. The Isles aren’t loaded with many snipers to even think it was that odd… Weird … sure … but I can see Gordo’s point if he was good at practice (assuming it’s true) … 4 years ago my team won a playoff game in the 14th round of a SO on a goal scored by one of our defensemen that hadn’t scored a goal since 2001.
The BST fans losing 2 playoff games is a bummer … I think the Isles should compensate the fans with travel vouchers at the very least if they make the game at NVMC … or tickets to 2 playoff games at the arena at Habor Yard for ST season ticket holders that weren’t able to make it to Long Island. Sounds fair enough .. right? Afterall … I’m sure they are going to make extra cash (I’d assume anyway) with the extra tickets sold at NVMC just do to the capacity difference.
TO: 318-J-1
Settle down Francis.
The Sound Tigers at the NVMC is just a taste of what happens if and when the Isles leave. Minor league Hockey will be back on the Island.
I was there last night (Section 308) and while the Flyer fans were loud it was nothing like a Rangers game. They basically were in 2 sections of the Coliseum. I think it’s getting overblown a bit.
#52, thank you. It’s unbelievable how paranoid some people get about visiting fans. There were maybe 1000 Flyer fans, almost all of whom were in the top 2-3 rows of one of the end zones.
Bottom line, the Flyers,Rangers and Habs fans over run our building because they can get seats. I remember years ago when it was Isles fans who overran arenas in Jersey and Hartford.
Our attendence is up over 1,000 from last season so as a whole, the fans are showing up a bit more. I also think they have had more weekend and holiday games but I’m not sure on that.
Both games should be in the afternoon so people who supported them all year can catch a ferry and still get home at a decent hour.
Danis is playing himself out of next years roster. These last games are HUGE for his career.
Brian Burke was on the radio in Toronto the other day and he agreed with a caller who compared Duchene to Gilbert Perrault. He loves his hands.
Bryan (37): For that persons information, Comeau started this season as a Soundtiger. So did Jack Hillen. And since Sim has been assigned there, he is a Soundtiger. Does this person want to give back all their goals and hard work? The team wouldnt be where it is if they did. LOL- so who the heck are “all the Islanders” who are going to be there for the playoffs who havent already BEEN Soundtigers?
And 318-J-1 (43): WOW. Um, OK. I personally happen to think the soccer game attitude is overtly pseudo-macho silliness, but lots of people love that stuff so more power to them- as long as its on a soccer field I reall dont care. And regarding the concept of forced segregated seating in the NHL, its a notion that thankfully would never even be considered. The same way I get mad when people trying to make NHL hockey more like baseball and basketball, trying to make NHL hockey more like soccer would be just as dumb. I dont want NHL hockey to be more like any other sport… if I wanted to watch all those other sports, I would.
this is a huge groin kick for all sound tiger fans and really has to make me question if i want to re-up my season tickets
And what “groin kick” is that? That their arena is not available? Would you rather them play their playoff games in the parking lot???
That Newsday blurb is garbage, and shows just how little that paper cares for their “hometown” team. The Isles may have blown it for 4 minutes in the third, but they outplayed Philly all game, and even scored seconds after Philly took the lead. Newsday is just mad the Rags lost. If the Islanders are going to improve for next season, they don’t need to win the last 2 weeks of games just to take themselves out of the basement. First or second pick, or bust… preferably first pick. It was a good game where they outplayed a playoff team, didn’t get pushed around by goons, and came away with the feel-good extra point. Next season is looking up.
Rechlitz is easily the BEST fighter on this team. Way to go Joel!! Great game!! BEST this year for me, even though they lost.
just spent the weekend at the Arena at Harbor Yard for the NCAA’s….great venue, great building awesome place to watch games - they did a real nice job hosting the East regional. Can’t believe they scheduled Sesame instead of Soundtiger playoff games! Really screwing their fans. Bizarro!
(11) Click on my name to see the fights.
(58) Watched Brian Burke in between periods of the Leafs-Bostom game and they asked him about Tyler Bozak. I hope he was being sarcastic but he said he didn’t know who he was. Geez I hope I am being naiive.
#64…I can’t blame the arena. Seasame Street is guaranteed revenue, and likely big crowds. I can’t see them turning that down for the possibility of a lesser attended minor league playoff game.
There was a time when the Knicks in the early years played playoff games outside of the original MSG, because the circus made more money.
For Chris TMC and mike that have posted here or on Mike Fornabio’s blog say take the ferry over to watch the playoff games, are you going to pay the fare to bring my car or do you except me to walk to the arena? I don’t think so.
I think that, thanks to Sesame Street on Ice, you should be happy that they will be here instead of in the parking lot. If you dont like it, you really should complain to the venue- not be mad at the Soundtigers, the Islanders, or fans who are saying to make the best of things. Hows that?
aren’t ALL the players fighting for that top spot on the big boys team.IGGY(ig-glue) ,JJ,and Lessard,should be called up. and for them moving The Sound Tigers To NVMC i rather see them move$$
#19 on that game we should all have a big tailgate no empty spot,,if were going to a SOCCER TYPE FAN base(media) why not be like THE NFL Fans and get drunk in the parking lot…lets drink this season away
*** That was 1 of the better games to watch recently - there was some real intensity at the game and the fans LOVE the fights, when is the idiots at the NHL realize this and stop ‘adjusting’ the physical part of the game for soccer moms! its NHL hockey and its supposed to be tough/rough at times!! —- Why was ‘the wrecker sent down? and im sorry but i want the Isles to finish last.. im looking at the BIG picture! I want them to play hard, progress, experience, etc bu i want them to get that pick………
No matter how much they tone down the physical part of the sport, they will NEVER attract my wife(the only one that does NOT watch hockey in my house) to the game. The fights were awesome, and the Islanders are much better watch because of it. I would rather watch this team now then the Detroit Red Wings. BORING!!
Chris TMC - at least we are in the playoffs. At at the moment based on the standings, the soundtigers would be opening on the road on those dates so sesame steet would not be a factor.