BUFFALO at ISLANDERS, 7:05 pm
Many Sabres ill; Ruff lowers bar on energy level
FINAL HOURS!!!: Go here to make your Point Blank donation to Companions in Courage and help in the donation of XBox 360 kiosks at two Long Island hospitals.
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UPDATED at 4:15 pm – This is a unique approach. With several of his players reportedly ill, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff tells the Buffalo News he expects his team’s energy level to be low tonight. Mind game or bar-lowering? We’ll find out in a few hours. Good opportunity for Islanders to jump on Buffalo early and win their third in a row.
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11:00 am - The latest in a long series of tests arrives tonight as the Islanders host the Sabres, undefeated on the road so far this season.
Martin Biron gets the start against his former team. Since both teams played last night – Buffalo beat Toronto on an overtime goal by Tim Connolly – neither team had a morning skate today at the Coliseum. As a result, we probably won’t learn anything about the lineups until 90 minutes before game time.
With the Islanders 2-0-2 in their last four and coming off consecutive victories, Scott Gordon is probably not looking to tinker with his lineup. The only reasons for change tonight could be if Doug Weight is not strong enough after recovering from the swine flu to play three games in four nights and if any of the defensemen are banged up enough to open a spot for Freddy Meyer.
I’ve always thought the post-Rangers hangover was a media invention from Rangers-obsessed reporters. The Islanders’ won-loss record in any scenarios in the last 15 years is not sterling. They haven’t been good just after Rangers games, they’re struggled on Tuesdays after daylight savings time, Fridays on the road, against teams with S in their names and on your birthday.
All that said, tonight is not just a challenge because the Islanders are playing an excellent road team with one loss anywhere all season. Let’s see if the Islanders can summon the energy, passion and execution tonight when the intensity in the stands is not half of what it was when they defeated the Rangers on Wednesday. Let’s see them do it all over again after winning on the road last night against one of the best teams in the league.
For a team led by Kyle Okposo and John Tavares, it would be another significant step for young mankind.
96 Responses to BUFFALO at ISLANDERS, 7:05 pm
Many Sabres ill; Ruff lowers bar on energy level
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Joseph says:
Let’s go Isles
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jim says:
I thought we were commenting on the Ice Girl….
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matt says:
lets get to .500 tonite. just saw the highlights for the first time since i saw the game last nite what a great pass by tavares in ot.
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Bob Bassen says:
Wow!?! How did you know that the Isles lost on my Birthday?!?
Guess it’s the scheduling for the Olympics, but attrition and injuries are going to be commonplace league-wide, for sure!
Anyone know the time-table for Hunter?
Go Isles! -
peter puck says:
Don’t laugh but I think that Ranger hangover bit goes back to 1975. After JP buried the puck in OT the lost the 1st 3 gamse to the Penguins
the original “Ranger Hangover” -
Dan says:
I will be at the game.
LETS GO ISLANDERS
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Blizzard says: …..ummmm nice pic CB. Also, its time to give Buffalo a road loss. GO ISLANDERS!!!!!
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billy says:
as of right now the isles are tied for 8th seed and have the 5th best pk and pp
a win against a third straight good team tonight would be awesome. im gonna tape the game and watch it after i get home tonight
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Danielle says:
I really wish Rollie was starting. He said he’s at his best when he’s playing consistently and I think they should take a chance on that. He was amazing last night and if we had that every game – oh, the possibilities.
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billy harris says:
you’ve gotta love the isles’ hustle the past two games. there’ll be mistakes along the way but you know what, this team just might be learning to play winning hockey. they sure have been an entertaining team to watch for many of the games so far and the thought that they can stay close against better opponents is a sight better than the lackluster junk we’ve suffered under for years. everybody ought to send a little positive vibe towards uniondale tonight and hope we can hang their first road loss on the sabres…
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cusi says:
amazing? Rollie made some huge saves, no doubt. But let in 2 soft goals. Give Biron a shot against his old team that he has played good against in the past. If they can win tonight, wow!
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jim in 226 says:
billy, wishful thinking, pp% Isles are 17th at 20%, and pk% Isles are 13th at 80.4%. Still much improved from last year though.
Big problem is Isles are 27th in 5 on 5 goals for/against. -
mike says:
That could be the BEST looking Ice Girl they have had? They should start a Ice Girl league like lingerie football.
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Crackhead Theo says:
Jim #13, I think he was referring to how the Isles fare in the East, not the whole league. they are 5th best on PP and PK in the east as of now.
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Staten Islander says:
3 in a row would be nice
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Brian in VA says:
Love the icegirl CB… Let’s Go Isles! Let’s Go Phils!
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joe fred says:
If they primarily use this Ice -girl in the Isles advertisements, it may put more people in the seats! Let’s go ISLES!!
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beatlebailey says:
Thanks for the Halloween eye candy PB! Havent even read the blog yet!
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WM says:
The Isles just began a stretch of 17 games in 32 days (Oct. 28 – Nov. 28) so, even with the goaltending rotation, Rollie will see a decent amount of work.
By end of Nov., we’ll have more certainty regarding DP’s timetable. Then, things will get interesting (and more complicated) and decisions will have to be considered.
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thepolishprince says:
Time for Buffalo to lose on the road. Islanders over Buffalo 3-2.
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3 games in 4 nights !!! Hope their energy level is high enough, going to need it against Buffalo.
hhope their energy level is high enough going to need against Buffalo
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isles316 says:
I’m glad biron is playing. people are forgetting that roloson gave up 2 softies last night or the isles may have won outright.
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for jim (13) and crackhead (15) i totally didnt realize it was just our conference. haha, but since we play the great majority in our conference then those stats are still really good.
but what does that say about the western pp? only 5 of top 17 are eastern, thats strange.
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KO21 says:
Roli is 41 yrs young and needs his rest…
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BobNystrom711OT says:
CB, thanks for the very nice pic above, keep up the fine work!
The last two games have been, well, somewhat heaven sent. Even Gordo looks energized behind the bench. Maybe the win over the Rags was our turn of the tide for the season. BUF comes in on fire, fast team and Miller has always played well against the Isles. The same effort and execution from the last 2 W’s will surprise the hell out of the Sabres tonight, let’s keep er going!
I really miss Meyer and Schremp..
1 since 40!
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german islesfan says:
Biron vs former club 6-2-1 go for 7-2-1!!
Lets go Islanders!! -
Joe in Massapequa says:
“They haven’t been good just after Rangers games, they’re struggled on Tuesdays after daylight savings time, Fridays on the road, against teams with S in their names and on your birthday.” Brilliant CB. I always hated those games on Tuesdays after daylight savings time.
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Islesin2010 says:
13, 15, 25– It also could mean the goaltending and penalty killing is much better in the East. Regardless, the team is looking good. I love the effort and the atmosphere changing with this team. Seems like they are getting more and more confidence shift by shift
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Isle4Ever says:
That game last night had some good intensity, the caps seemed to have played 10 times better than the last game the played, and we handled ourselves well against them. Tonight tough team but the last game we played aginst them we were anything but stellar. Lets root for marty’s 200th win! Go Isles!
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IslesinOside says:
Ice girl clan is much better looking this year! Nice Pic CB!
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19 ISLE in NJ 22 says:
Tonight’s going to be a serious challenge for the Isles … but … so was Wednesday’s and Friday’s games … Rolling out 4 lines has been a key to their success … so has timely goaltending, and opportunistic goals.
I hardley doubt the Sabres are going to take the Isles lightly tonight … Tonight would be a good time for Bailey to shut up the critics if for just one night.
We get to see Connolly once again … he’s been an Islander killer since the trade. Oh, and yes … The Isles did kill his development by playing him to soon. If ya noticed he finally developed under the Sabres watch. Bailey should of been returned to Juniors … I think he’d of been better off doing that and starting this year at the Bridge. Baby steps with this team.
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kevin fitz says:
Lalime in for Buffalo tonight
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Jim Clark says: I’ll be at Fort Neverlose tonight with the vcr set for the inevitable Yankees victory. You gotta support these kids!
A beautiful woman supporting a great cause.
There is an article in the recent issue of “Hockey News” talking about how the Class of 2005 is doing well because the lockout forced them to play in the minors for a year. Food for thought with Bailey and other young Islanders building for the future.
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… All that being said … Connolly never became the player he was projected to become … maybe it was the ole Milbury regime over valuing his potential that we all bought into? I just remember him having a real promising rookie year and then … a disapointing sophmore year and then the trade.
I’m not even sure if Connolly has played a full season since before the lockout … injuries have also had a toll on his career. So I guess in the end you can’t even blame Milbury for Connolly’s misfortune … who knows what his real potential truely was. I do know that he plays the Isles hard and has setup some timely goals against them. Great passer, not much of a scorer though … who does that remind us of?
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Danielle (10): Id think Roloson really want to play the Oilers on Monday! I know Im really looking forward to that myself.
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Tim F. says:
The Buffalo News reports that the Sabres canceled their morning skate today because several players are “ill.” Lindy Ruff said he expects that his team’s “energy level will be low” tonight. Isles need to try to jump on them early. Three straight wins would be a nice Halloween treat!
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stephen says:
Can’t see this team coming for strong in the 3rd game in 4 nights. Hope I’m wrong.
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jim says:
#36: it wasn’t just Conneolly from the 1999 draft. None of the 4 first round picks we had that year really succeeded. him, Pyatt, Mezei and Kudroc all were busts to a certain extent. talk about the chance to set the team up well for years to come. 4 first rounders, 3 in the top 10, and we ended up with nothing. but in fairness, that draft went from being considered really deep, to producing nearly nothing. other than the sedins and havlat, the first round was garbage. of course Detroit somehow found Zetterberg in all that junk.
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mrlbem says:
The Bailey situation is not the same as Connolly’s. Wasn’t Connolly expected to step right in and be a first line center? That was a lot of pressure. Bailey isn’t expected to be the savior, especially now that Tavares is here. And the way Nielsen is playing, there’s is absolutely no pressure on Bailey. He can develop at his own pace.
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I don’t see any problems with Bailey. He is not putting up points but he is doing very well other then that. He is playing solid D, IMO and I think he will only improve. Remember, he unlike Okposo never went to the AHL. I think if we sent him down now it would do no good. Like what mrlbem said, no rush because two centers are already ahead of him. Let him develop at the best level at his own pace. I believe in Gordon because of what he has done with Okposo.
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art says:
One of the main reasons for the Isles recent succses is hitting early and often. This is where the forth line and the bigger deffencemen are important.
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Islebethere4u says:
If they are a little physical and don’t give the Sabres enough room to skate like the last time they played, they might have a chance. But that’s up to the coaching staff too. Clog the passing lanes and adjust when they do.
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battfist says:
Deb P. looks orange.
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James says:
I thought Miller was not supposed to be playing tonight???
I have him in FH and would have played him in a heartbeat against the Isles, but you guys said Lalime was in so I sat him
Hope the Isles beat him bad now
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gino says:
Alot of empty seats. Where’s the fan support?
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JJT91 says:
It’s a “holiday” and the Yankees are in the world series. And it’s Buffalo.
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nice one by park!
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Birons looking better than he has all season, thus far and the isles D looks good as well…The Sabres PP is stationary right now
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Good to see Parky get a goal, now for Bergy..
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justin says:
I’m at the game and my daughter just won the baby crawl! Woo!
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Jeff says:
sick goal by tabmbs!
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congrats justing, and congrats tamby
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shinkdew says:
Tambellini is so confident he’s hot dogging it through his legs.
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JayK says:
Congratulations, Justin! My daughter — who is up in the press box tonight as part of the Islanders media relations staff — entered one of those when she was about 9 months. She never moved!
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Tim Wallace says:
a year ago this game may have been 3-1 sabres already…nothing again yann denis and joey mac but they werent number 1s
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Jerry says:
marty playing excellent. let’s hope we can hold this lead boys!
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tambs again! nice!
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question, is this THAT jeff tambellini?
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Paul in the 'Cuse says:
great persistent effort=goal #2 for Tambs.
GO! GO! Go! -
good for tambs. showing confidence and working that sick shot of his!
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DaveyD says:
It’s Tambellini becoming the goal scorer we thought we had??
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HOLY CR@P BAILY NOW!
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Quagmire says:
Buffalo’s got nothing tonight. This is fun.
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Mike says:
Great game so far…only problem is that the third periods coming next n we all kno wat can happen in the 3rd
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Mark says:
need a 5+ lead to truly seal it though
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DP says:
Deb Placey always looks orange.
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I have to agree with Mike. I somehow still don’t feel comfortable with a 4-0 lead.
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Loudville330 says:
Why did Gordo break up the Tavares-Moulson-OK line?
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yeah i hear ya jerry..maybe one more goal and i’ll feel a little better..our D does look good thou tonight n marty’s a beast in net rihgt now
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Frank nyc says:
wow the isles are starting to look like a good team. Although with this team i cant truly feel happy until they actually close it out.
Jeez tambellini has been looking great. Can he really be starting to pay off? He is looking like the skilled wing he was supposed to be. Also bailey has a pretty nasty shot, wish he would shoot more. -
Who is this team?!?!?! Two of the guys we wanted to get going the most … great going guys!!!
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I wont feel comfortable until I read about it tomorow in Newsday.
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very very happy isles fan says:
“crosses fingers for tambellini hat trick”
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Empty seat costume very big at coliseum tonight.
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I hope Jaffe puts Howie into a sleeper hold.
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Hey no complaints about Jaffe & Howie. Up here in central NY they have the buffalo announcers on the feed. With this Rick Jeneret guy they have announcing you have to keep a barf bag handy. At least for some reason they had the Isles pre game and between periods coverage & switched to the buffaloonians for the game call.
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TAMBI HAT TRICK!
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atta boy TAMBY!
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BrianAlbany says:
OOOhhhh Baby! A tambellini hat trick? TRICK AND TREAT…get it? haha..okay, I’m done…Go Isles!
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Wow! Congrats tambs. Hard work pays off!!!
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mLem says:
JEFF FA FA!!!
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Wow, what the hell? With 2 minutes left in the game they finally switch my Albany broadcast to the HD feed with howie and jaffe…which is extremely more pleasant to the ears than these buffalo clowns…
Wow, what a great night for us..too early to say tied for 7th? lol
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SOGFOi says:
hat trick or treat!!
Tambellini! woo!
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Austin says:
5-0 (w/a few mins left)…um, WOW! Expected a let down on back-to-back games. Let’s get rolling!
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Madchef says:
love it go tambs…….about time you showed up to the dance. keep it up boys
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A SO for win 200 for Marty, Tamby x 3 nice effort all around
Now lets strike some oil on Mon -
Who would’ve thought that Biron plays lights out, gets his 200th win, a shuyout, and probably the reason we won…but still not even #1 star (i’m guessing)
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A shutout, a Tamby hat trick, all in all, a very solid win
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he did get #1 star Brian, Tamby #2, Park #3
Great game, great effort, GO ISLES
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Reese in Queens says:
I’m working in Tucson, AZ at the moment and only get the games via radio. For some reason NHL.com’s Islander radio feed is the Buffalo announcers. Hey, I’ll take 5-donut any day, but I would love to hear Howie and Billy describe this one. A great couple of days to be a die-hard Islander fan. PB, an amazing blog, by the way. I’ve been reading it for about eight months now and I’m really grateful that you’re keeping it up in addition to your Fanhouse assignments. What a great Halloween treat tonight was. Let’s Go Islanders!
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Matt says:
nice to see them win but to have under 10,000 people on a Sat. night is pathetic. obviously the interest on the island isn’t what it used to be and a move might be best for the franchise.
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Matt, I would actually use the opposite of that argument…The “moving” uncertainty I feel is a major reason the fans have had a tough time coming out (or the team selling tickets)…you can also use reasons like the economy, awful start, mediocre record, etc…but in my opinion the Lighthouse drama and uncertainty is the biggest reasons the fans and ownership has had such a tough time fully committing…
On a lighter note, any chance we can get some Halloween Ice Girls pics…please? =)
Winning streak anybody? Buffalo is playing well, hopefully we can stop that.
Also CB, the Isles are undefeated on the games attend to celebrate my birthday. My next birthday game…. this Monday vs. EDM