ISLANDERS 3, RANGERS 1
Interactive Rivalry Game Plus/Minus
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10:05 pm - Asked Scott Gordon two questions post-game. First was about Park-Thompson-Jackman:
“You like to have a line that’s an energy line, but you want to make sure they’re making the right decisions,” said Gordon, who made it clear that’s what the fourth line did tonight against the Rangers. The coach said they competed for pucks and created opportunities in the offensive zone. He also cited his team’s faceoff work, praising assistant coach Scott Allen for his diligence with the centers. “That line has two guys who are good on draws.”
When I asked him about Josh Bailey, Gordon seemed particularly pleased with the second-year center. “Small gains in little areas,” he said. “Skating better, not standing around.” Gordon noted that Bailey hasn’t been on the scoresheet lately, but he’s seeing enough to think Bailey is coming around.
Dwayne Roloson on the team’s performance: “That was KISS hockey - keep it simple stupid. Block shots, penalty kill, clog the lanes.” Later, he said, “I don’t think anyone in this locker room was lacking any confidence.”
*
9:35 pm - Enjoy the victory and join in the Plus/Minus fun…
Plus: The Islanders have been impressive in their two high emotion games this season before loud crowds at the Coliseum - tonight and the home opener against Pittsburgh.
Plus: Except for a Sean Avery misfire in the final minute, the Islanders gave up next to nothing in holding the third period lead.
Plus: Matt Moulson starts off the second ten-game segment of the season looking like the best and most consistent player on his team. Anyone waiting for the clock to strike midnight on this fairytale is wasting their time.
Plus: Kyle Okposo and John Tavares score against the rivals, just the way you’d want to draw it up.
Plus: Jack Hillen. Head up, legs moving, brain thinking. Two assists.
Plus: As good as his goal, Kyle Okposo’s instincts on the penalty kill are phenomenal.
Plus: Andy Sutton bombing Ryan Callahan and Callahan taking it like a pro and bouncing right back up. That’s hockey.
Plus: Josh Bailey looked more confident in the offensive zone than in any game this season.
Plus: Go-Go rollin’ four lines. When the scoresheet arrived after the second period, the icetime balance was impressive.
Plus: Richard Park, Nate Thompson and Tim Jackman had such a strong game, it would not be right to call them a fourth line tonight.
Even: Since joining the NHL, the New York Islanders had never started a season with just one win in their first eleven games. Bad history averted.
Plus: Good timeout by Scott Gordon with 5:58 left in the game and no TV timeout with his team having iced the puck and gassed. Goal scored by Tavares less than a minute later.
Plus: The 18 skaters in front of him didn’t give up much and let him see just about everything, but Dwayne Roloson did his job.
Plus: New York hockey fans represented proudly. While the barn was not full - announced as 15,213 - more than 90% capacity during a Yankees-Phillies World Series is plenty fine.
Plus: Belated Happy 60th Birthday to Islanders dynasty final piece and broadcaster Robert T. “Butch” Goring.
Plus: The Point Blank charity blogathon has now raised over $12,000 for Pat LaFontaine’s Companions in Courage Foundation thanks to our readers, including one who donated $5,000 by himself. More details tomorrow as we enter the finale. Please donate tonight whatever you can as we reach for a goal of $15,000. Hey, do it in honor of the Islanders’ regulation win over the Rangers. Thank you.
Plus: Near-perfect execution of a game plan for 60 minutes.
Go for it.
144 Responses to “ISLANDERS 3, RANGERS 1
Interactive Rivalry Game Plus/Minus”
Please Wait
Great effort, now its time to build off of it
Wooo!
Tonight’s payrolls:
New York Rangers: $56,000,000
New York Islanders: $42,000,000
Gotta Say, Its about freakin time. lol Deb kauffman to Roloson “is this the first game youve ever played in where there are more fights in the stands than on the ice”
90% of the players played their best game of the season tonight. This is Scott Gordons system in full motion. Everyone played with a sense of urgency and purpose and these are the results that can be had. Still not sold on the Moulson train as saying hes our best/most consistent player. Other than his goal you didtn notice him all that much on the ice. Although he didnt find the scoresheet Tambellini had another great game doing little things and really does look like a different player (as howie and billy stated). REally refreshing to see a game like that.
Plus: Faceoffs, again. Incredible.
Plus: Doug Weight makes everyone around him better. No matter who he was playing with, including playing the point with Streit on the PP, they seem to have more ice to play with and better chances.
Now if the Yanks win tonight I can sleep a happy man
Forgot one thing:
Plus- Kyle Okposos gold toothed mouthpiece
Another plus: Tamby plays like he belongs.
I agree CB………
Not a single minus tonight.
Amazing we are only 2 pts out of 8th, if we can just win these OT games things would be much better right now.
Amazing what some goaltending and a few good bounces will do. Congrats to the isles, who did indeed play their butts off.
And what an amazing turnout so far for a worthy charity!
Plus: Sean Bergenheim making himself known even though hes not showing up in the scoring sheet just yet.
Chris, that pretty much summed it up… but would add nice efforts by Bergy, Sim and Witt tonight. It looked as though Gordon took his foot off the pedal enough to have some gas left in the third… and he finally used HIS TIME OUT.
Nothing to complain about in this one!
I might even head up 95 to catch the game on friday.
That’s what’s up!!!!
This team looks awesome tonight. I was worried when they went into the third with that lead, but they kept the intensity up. They have to learn to do that on night of 11,000 in the stands where fans aren’t helping to ensure there will be fights in the game somewhere.
60 min effort. Everyone showed up to play hard. Isles have had some bad luck so far this season, but tonight the bounces went their way.
great win tonite we outplyed them and now its time to win a couple in a row.
This is the type of win to build off. While it’s been a tough start, you can see in their celebration they are hungry to win. Caps will be tough again but we showed a lot of good signs tonight. Keep it up boys
Only minus: Not a sellout. Had this game been in Queens, I’d have been there.
I know a lot of you don’t care for Thompson but that fourth line is really developing some chemestry and I wouldn’t break them up. If Sim would play each game with the level of energy he displayed tonight I wouldn’t mind seeing him out there. Overall good game, no cheapees by Rolloson. It’ll be interesting to see who sits when Hunter comes back. I also applaud Gordon for sitting Comeau, that kid still doesn’t get it. Great game!!!
Rags are nothing without Gaborik
#8 i was just thinking that! gangsta gangsta
Moulson Golden!!!!
Plus, beating the Rags
Minus, after the 1st period, I could only peek in because I switched to the Yankees
Plus - Andy Sutton’s solid all-around game. He is in a contract year.
Plus - Hillen and Tambellini have earned their places in the lineup for the forseeable future. No need to scratch them anymore. Let them develop.
Yes, keep the lines like they are…no more testing. Fourth line really performed; chemistry is there. Expect more in the future.
Plus: Sutton finally using his size, and putting the body on some rags
Plus: Okposo and Tavares find the net after a drought.
Plus: Tamby finally showing some skill and persistence. FINALLY!
Plus: Jack Hillen
Plus: Ever since checking out some games from the box Gervais has been solid and nearly back to the Dman the Isles need him to be
Plus: Jack Hillen
Plus: Jack Hillen, front runner for this years Unsung Hero award, and no its not too early to get excited about his play
Plus - Islanders first regulation win
Minus - a Yankees vs. Phillies world series
Minus - holding my breath after the awkward hit that JT took
Plus - seeing him come back a few shifts later and played to his norm
Plus - KO, JT and Moulson score!
Minus - We NEED secondary scoring.
Plus - Solid game by Hillen
Even - Weight makes a huge difference when he’s healthy enough to play.
Great game all around!!
really happy about tonights game
isles got some breaks on defensive zone clearing
the young guys are playing with hustle and determination
best game this season
Great overall effort tonight. The Isles should be able to build off this game. Tambi is starting to do the little things and this will only help. Hillen looked very good. I look forward to seeing Hillen and De Haan on the team together. I also thought the Rangers looked very average without Gaborik. Gaborik is a fine player but tough to count on with the injuries.
How about Tambellini “eating” that puck along the boards in the Ranger’s end with a minute and a half left. Stall was trying to dig the puck, but Tamby worked the wall for a good, solid 30 seconds. Tambillini has been playing larger than his size these past few games and he’s more involved and initiating contact. A big thumbs up for someone we all thought was toast.
Weight makes Bailey look good. Josh was visible for the first time and that’s because of his chemistry with Weight.
i’ll b at the game in dc on fri, with a couple of hockey buddies of mine,
we’ll be on the club level 202 row F,
i’ll be wearing tons of isles stuff and the others will be wearing some pathetic caps or no stuff at all…
i’ll have a long sleeve isles with a short sleeve isles shirt with the new jersey around my neck and the old original bossy jersey around my waste yo!!!!!!!!!
think the team can play tough, looked like it tonight…great effort all around and nice to see a thread with positive commentary. lets build on it. hey rags not in our building….beat it!
Plus - Beat the Rangers.
That’s enough for me tonight.
and i think we won the fights in the stands too
Much respect for the man who donated $5,000. In times like these it’s nice to see ppl doing good things for a great cause.
Great win for the kids, hard fought 2 pts. Only minus for me would be bergy. Although he’s skating smoothly, prior to the season I really believed he was capable of 20-25 goals. The clock is ticking sean…make it happen.
Plus: Roloson giving a post-game interview with his helmet on.
Minus: Too much talking about the fights that were going on. Things like that make the team look bad.
Was at the Barn tonight. Moulsom’s quick goal kept the Ranger fans, and players, at bay. Although it was probably 40% Ranger fans, the Isles play kept us fans in it! Was a great game and an indicator of what our boys can do when they play and execute Gordon’s system. Imagine if the Isles had a bona fide scorer on the second line!
#40 - I don’t see the harm in Howie mentioing it, it was clear on TV that something was happening at both ends of the arena. Besides the NYI already do plenty of things that are far worse to make themselves look bad.
Was at the game in 305. Rangs fans outnumbered but Isles fans stood loud and proud. Isles fans that did battle came out of the scrums on top!
Props to Gordo for finally using his timeout and rolling four lines!
This team won tonight because they played physical and finished their checks. They were gassed in the third but I think Gordo did a good job in settling them down.
Good work boys….it negates the rough start to the season.
+ Moulson Golden! And yes Jack Hillen is my 2nd fave defensemen. Sutton’s play is close too.
+ while all these faceoff wins are great, even better is how anytime I see or think of Scott Allen I think of that outrageous intro-post on him over the summer!
+ gilroy didn’t look so good which would have angered me.
+ the energy line (not 4th) excellent. They had been winning me over but its official.
+ like I said in the other post I believe CB eluded to KO and JT showing up big and they did.
- I should have been at the game, but felt I had been in sports hell (giants, mets fan) and stayed home thinking it’d be more of the same.
Matt Moulson ‘09 signing = Mark Streit ‘08 signing
Plus: Tavares and Moulson scoring in there first ever rivalry game.
Plus: Islander fans dominating the noise, at least while listening on the radio, in Tavareses’s first home rivalry game.
Minus: Isles radio broadcast is horrible. Howie needs to take pages out of Emrick’s, Hughson’s and McDonald’s books and start calling a better game. For a TV guy his pbp is lazy, for a radio guy it is atrocious. Help the fans out here Howie.
Oh ya…whoever donated the 5 large. What a wonderful gesture. I think I can likely speak for everyone on the Blog, we commend you!
Baily still no shots on net. I’m thinking ovechkin winds up with more goals this year then baily has shots on net. The guy doesn’t belong in the NHL. Period.
Plus…Pts in 63% of our games
Plus…Detroit pts in 60% of their games
Plus: The whole damn game! Had to work late and still made it in time for the 2nd period. Thank you boys that was a great effort! It was nice to stick it to those knuckle dragging neanderthal ranger fans…and that describes the females.. zoink!
Isles get their first regulation win of the season and take that “winless in regulation for 10 games” out of the picture.
Too bad the game was blacked out on center ice in CT and comcast doesn’t have MSG 2
At least they won. WOOOOOOOOOO
Patrick(46).. I know what you mean, but I don’t think it is fair to criticize him for that. It is the Islanders cheapness that should be getting the criticism. I’ve never done it (announcing), but I don’t think it is easy to switch from TV to radio, let alone try to do both at once.
Plus…Gordon’s 3rd period Timeout
Plus…All the players
Minus..NONE
Plus: Gordon’s coaching—aside from the well-timed timeout, the team executed the game plan. Have to give credit where credit is due, especially since Gordon get’s crucified when things go wrong.
Plus: Amazing faceoff percentage, something this fan was really worried about in the preseason, especially with the loss of Sillinger.
Plus: the fan that donated 5K, along with everyone else who donated to this very worthy cause (it’s not too late to chip in).
Plus: CB correctly predicting during the Fanhouse Wednesday chat that Tavares would get a goal tonight.
Plus: CB incorrectly predicting during the Fanhouse Wednesday chat that Del Zotto would get an assist tonight.
AT the barn tonight too:
Plus: Me yelling when he had a time out in the 4rd….Finally
Plus: JT, Moulson, KO combining for us
Plus: Doug Weight Back
Plus: Shutting up all the Rags fans, good day to go into work tomorrow.
WHAT A GAME.
I love this rivalry and I love beating the stupid RAG$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Plus,Plus,Plus,Plus,Plus,Plus,Plus Rags and fans go home unhappy!
Thoroughly enjoyed this one!
Great victory tonight, my friends and I poked fun by imitating the Ranger’s goal song. They HATE when you do it. I encourage EVERYONE to participate in this playful jesting.
Great game. Strong goaltending goes a long way. Great to see Tavares, Okposo, and Moulson all score.
I was at the game tonight….it was great! Anyone see the fight in 329 where the guys fell down about 10 steps?!? Those guys are lucky they weren’t killed or have had their necks broke!
All is good today in Islander Country!
Streit02 (5),
According to the ESPN boxscore, and it certainly appeared this way seeing the replay, Tambellini assisted on Tavares’s 3rd period goal.
PLUS: The crowd was no worse than 60-40 Islanders fans.
PLUS: Watching the Rags fans depart en mass with two minutes remaining.
PLUS: While the numbers of fans are not the same, the Rags-Isles rivalry is among the best in sports. The Yanks and Red Sox don’t bring this intensity when one team is way down.
PLUS/MINUS: There were as many fights as I’ve ever seen at Ranger-Islander game–all within about fie minutes of each other and despite a heavy presence of security.
PLUS: Not spending hundreds of dollars to watch Cliff Lee shut down the Yankees.
PLUS: The Gordon timeout.
This game was OUTSTANDING!
Matt Scordato (37): Once Tavares scored late in the 3rd and the Rags fans realized they were gonna go home with nothin, thats when the fights broke out lol. I coulnted at least 8 that had to be broken up, we were all laughing at them. Fortunately for me & my friends, I was sitting by lots of Isles fans and a few Rangers fans who were not being jerks at all
Great game tonight! This is what happens when everyone is on the same page and we execute! Ps love the roloson comment: KISS hockey…keep it simple stupid! THE RANGERS SUCK!
plus: this isles victory is preventing me from going into a depression watching the yanks bomb out against cliff lee
plus: the isles played a complete 60 minutes of scott gordon hockey. when they stick to this it works.
minus: the stands were apparently full of fights tonight. come on guys, it’s just a game.
plus: i agree with chris that moulson will never see the ahl again. tavares, hillen, streit, bailey, park, thompson, jackman, okposo were all fabulous. roloson looked shaky but got the job done.
plus: the rags look like a very different team w/o gaborik. they put too many eggs into the basket of a guy that’s always injured. kinda like we did here with dp.
WOW, that was sweet
PLUS: great all around game
HUGE MINUS: THUG RANGER FANS, they make it their business to show up and start trouble. I was actually shocked when 2/3 through the third there were no fights in the stands. Then all of a sudden we go up two, they figure it’s over and they start fights. A good portion of them are pure trash.
Plus - Roloson taking his post-game interview with his helmet on
Plus - Tavares wearing a white construction hard-hat with an Islanders logo in the lockerroom for his post game interviews. All he needs to do is hook up two beers with straws on the sides of that thing and he will be ready for the Jets game Sunday.
What a awesome game to watch, awesome game to be at im sure, been to plenty of them in the past
PLUS: TOM like scores them all again. Tavares, OKPOSO and MOULSON
Minus; WOuld be nice for others on team to
Overall great game.
Right on CB…just the way you want it with Tavares and KO scoring!
Plus:Starting to like Tamby, wish he would have played like this all along, but I’ll take it!
Plus: I want Sutton to play like that every game!
Plus: Tavares
Plus: Moulson
Minus: Witt
Plus: Hillen
Plus: Hillen, wait did I say HILLEN! Like Hillen’s speed and smarts, good young hockey player.
62 yes i realized that after watching highlights and Tambo made that play happen by being aggressive on the puck. Good for him to get credit on the scoresheet as well.
I was there and enjoyed ever minute of it.
Plus: Gordon calling a timeout in the third when the Rags where surging.
Plus: Matt Moulson
Plus: KO
Plus: JT
Plus: the fourth line
Plus: Rolosson, I say he gets next start. Lets try and build something there
Plus: Hillen
Plus: No collapse!!!
Minus: Streit
Minus: Brawling in the stands. My daughter wants me to take her to her first Islander game. Certainly not gonna take her to an Islander Rangers game. It carried over into the parking lot and was ugly. Freakin drunk Ranger hooligans upset that the Rags lost. There was none of that nonsense until the Islanders scored their third goal. Then it started. I know its a two way street but tonight it was the Rags classless fans who brought the ugly.
Plus: Islander fans beeping “Lets go Islanders” with their horns leaving the dump that is the NVMC.
Much respect for the man who donated $5,000. In times like these it’s nice to see ppl doing good things for a great cause.
Great win for the kids, hard fought 2 pts. Only minus for me would be bergy. Although he’s skating smoothly, prior to the season I really believed he was capable of 20-25 goals. The clock is ticking sean…make it happen.
Final Plus - Weight not passing on the swine flu to his roommate Tavares.
Plus: No minuses
Plus: Islanders played a full 60 minutes tonight.
Minus: Sore loser Ranger fans who picked fights with Islander fans after their team was down 2 goals.
PLUS: for some reason I was more interested in this game than Yanks vs Phils (and I’m a big Yanks fan)
Plus: Tambellini hustling
Plus: Andy Sutton hitting
Minus: bad net coverage by Isles on the Rangers goal
Minus: Yanks Final Score!
Plus: I have been killing Snow on the off season roster moves, or lack there of, but we must give him credit for Matt Moulson.
Plus: Tamby getting his nose dirty.
Plus: The play of “Andy”Sutton, not “Nancy” Sutton.
Plus; Glad the three shots off the posts did not go in.
Minus: Isles still have too many problems clearing their zone under pressure.
Way to play the Rags, boys!!!! No minuses!
GIGGETY GIGGETY GIGGAAAAATEEEE!!!!
1940! 1940! 1940!!!!
Plus: Andy Sutton using the body. Keep it up big guy you can really do wonders.
Plus: Okposo and JT coming up big in a rivalry game.
Plus: The fans getting into, and not taking S**t from the ranger fans like we have the past few years.
only Minus: Isles needed to get better when teams put pressure on, they get way too frazzled (i.e. run around too much and taker penalties)
A regulation win! Great job all around. Coaching, players all executed. Bice too see JT and KO score against the Rags!
I think I know why the Isles give up 3rd period leads so much, they are a small team and after having bigger heavier guys leaning on them they would naturally fatigue faster then the other team.
I had no idea Butch Goring was 60! Happy Birthday!
Plus: other then Martinek and Geravis everyone played well, even Sim had his best game.
Minus: 2nd round pick, forward with size and skill (granted he needs to do more) Blake Comeau being scratched.
This is his pivitol year and Bergy too but I thought the timing was strange since Comeau was the most physical I’d seen him this year against Montreal. It would help Bailey, Nielsen, Bergy, and Comeau if they had two steady vet leaders on the wings to play with and guide them. That would provide a fair assesment of the players before deciding what to do with them (keep or trade). Perhaps Weight and Hunter can be that but I expect both to be traded before the end of the year.
Minus: Did Montreal have ICE DUDES?
Plus: Sutton throwing monster hits.
Minus: That gigantic pimple on Roloson’s face that prevented him from taking off his mask during the interview. Think his new nickname will be Ricky Williams.
Minus: Freddy Meyer still being scratched. I know they are not going to damage Witt, Martinek, and Geravis’ value by scratching them (or in Bruno’s case often). It’s wise for trades but not for icing the best D.
Plus: The Rangers still suck!
Plus: Josh Bailey’s much improved play (hmmm get some better wingers and wow).
Minus: Bailey and Weight were not credited with any shots.
Plus: Josh Bailey and Taylor Hall were teammates.
Plus: Isles played their best game of the season.
Plus: Outstanding coverage on this website.
N.Y. Islanders Beat Their biggest rival!
N.Y. Islanders Competed Physically!
N.Y. Islanders Young Fowards Lead the way!
N.Y. Islanders refused to wilt 3rd period!
N.Y. Islanders showed Pride-n-passion!
It only takes a solid Win against the rags to bring most of us back in the fold.
Now Beat The Caps & Saturday my Pilgrimage to the old Barn resumes
(gotta show love for my people & the team)
Plus Taveras scoring a big goal in his first game against our arch rivals!
Plus Tambellini. maybe? just Maybe??
Plus Andy Sutton Hit for the second straight game!
(huge difference maker if it continues)
Minus Rag fans Picking fights in our building (jackoffs)
I’m contemplating coming out of retirement if this continues
stayed away from these games for 7 years because of this… yet willing to protect the innocent if this rivalry ever gets back to where it was.
Not advocating goonery in the stands, thats classless.
just saying if its a drunken fueled unprovoked attack on a fellow Islander fan & you help that person,
theres nothing wrong with that in my book!
Trust me, you would be surprised how cool some of the security guards treat ya.
I remember well
Minus If Witt is slowing down
(which he is)… why is he paired with Streit at the end of the game , with Gervais stapled to the bench?
I’ll tell ya why Because Gordon knowes deep down that Gervais is not stopping anybody down low when the games on the line!(how many first pair defencemen are sitting on the bench at the end of a close game????) enough said.
regardless….
On this Night I’m Proud to be an Islander fan & Proud of the Crest on the front of the Jersey , Hopefully the names on the back will continue to work hard & realize it is an Honor to play in the NhL & represent our community!
Islander Country !!
Lets Go Isles Lets Go Islanders!!
Lets Go Yankees!! Bleacher creature Tomorrow!!
Plus: Everything. Deb Placey looked especially beautiful tonight
Minus. I decided to stay home to watch the Yankees game instead of going to Fort Neverlose.
Plus: First and Fourth Lines
Minus: Being a Mets fan in October…especially this year
Plus- total 360 turnaround on every aspect of game, from faceoffs to skating. Looked like they were on steroids tonight. How did this happen overnight? Did Gordon explode or Snowie start to twitch. What a way to shut us up for once. Keep this up boys!
Watching the game now on DVR. The boys look good, but Bergy can’t create any offense. He tried to feather a pass through two Rags, when he should have blasted one off Lundqvist and create a chance on the rebound.
Is it me, or does Mark Staal look like a drag queen? Not that there is anything wrong with that.
Minus: KO getting jacked by Del Zotto midway through the second. KO has the size to be a power forward, but I’m not sure he yet knows how to properly utilize his size/strength.
GO ISLES! (but not enough to lose the Taylor Hall sweepstakes - beating the Rags is always nice, but let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture)
I dident realize how nice Tavares’s goal was until i watched the replay he facked the pass to Dougy Weight and that got lundquist to move and he sliped it in the other way. Very nice move. Im loving him Okposo and Moulson
Awesome game. Beat Those overpaid idiots!!!
WOW!! Patience really is a virtue. Now, before we all drink the Kool-aid, let’s take this for what it’s worth. The Isles finally put out a complete game effort, although it wasn’t totally 60 minutes (I thought there was a 5 minute span in the 2nd where they were thoroughly outplayed), the boys came together out there, and there was an atmosphere that I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Simmer came out and played a physical, hard game. I thought he was one of the better Islanders, setting the tone with the body.
I thought although they didnt make the scoresheet, Tamby, Bergy, Nielsen and yes Bailey all had good games and I could see the confidence growing in each one of their games. I’m not sure if things have completely turned around for us, and now we are going to rally off 8 straight W’s, but I still believe as I predicted 2 weeks ago this team will have a streak of 7/10 wins, something along those lines.
Good game from Roloson, although the posts saved him at times, as well as the Rangers inability to slam in open nets, he did what he had to do to keep the puck out, and deserved a 3 star mention. Hopefully the building will continue, and the quality of hockey will continue to go up. This team is starting to get real exciting, and I am loving every minute of it!
PLUS: Jack Hillen. Smmmmoooooth
PLUS: Okposo. Everywhere
PLUS: Bailey. Pro-active
PLUS: JT. Clutch
PLUS: Sutton. Big Hits
PLUS: Witt. effective at 11 minutes vs 19
PLUS: Tambellini. Awesome last shift. Killed the puck for 30 seconds
PLUS: Bergenheim. Determined
PLUS: Moulson. Skilled
PLUS: Martinek. Lifting Avery’s stick in the final minutes to save a goal.
DOC
i think tambellini and bergenheim realize its now or never. Both of them played really hard out there.
How about:
Minus: the continuing need for a small group of stupid fans — most of them Ranger fans — to come to Ranger-Islander games, get drunk out of their minds and get into fights in the upper rows of the Coliseum.
Minus: The fact that some of those fans actually think they are going to successfully take on five or six security guards trying to “escort” them out of the building.
Been going on for years. I guess it’s never going to change.
+ Tavares
- More fights in the stands than the ice!!!
- Rivalry is still way to friendly no matter how many times the announcers try and say its a “physicl” game!!!
- Some of the hits they call hits were shoves not hits????
- Jaffee worst announcer ever!!!
+ 4th line trying to play physical only against teams that are icing smaller players, show up when the big boys are out there!!
+ Okposo!!!!
It is very tough to teach you 11 year old to not gravitate away from a perenial losing team. He saw his first Isles-Ranger game live and will have this in his memory bank forever. The kid is now a lock for being hooked for life as an Isles fan.
We sat next to a 4 kids his age that took part in all the chatter “Isles Suck”, “Last Place Isles”, etc. These boys didn’t let up all night. My son rooted for his team but stayed quite, probably a little intimdated. BUT WHEN THEY MADE IT 3-1….MAN YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HIS FACE!!!
He knew the team blows leads so we just looked at each other silently and knew what the other was thinking.
With a minute to go the Ranger fans next to us got up quitely and started to leave. All of a sudden my son turns there way arms wide, palms up and YELLS “WHERE ARE YOU GOING”, “OH I SEE… NO FAITH IN YOU TEAM!!! GO HOME AND STAY THERE.. THE RAGS SUCK!!!”.
Well, it wasn’t the best rank out ever, but I was proud. All of a sudden the Isles fans around us started to hoop it up and cheer and high five my son.
GREAT NIGHT!!!!!
Gary — #94 — congratulations on the best Point Blank post….ever!
Fabulous story.
Great Game would be nice if we could get more Islander fans there.
Minus: i have the flu
Plus: now i feel much better.
great effort and the 3-1 a absolutly nice move from JT
+ all the kids
+ Hillen…wow
+ Sutton
- everyone who went on and on about Hillen and are now talking him up
+ clearly the need for an ‘enforcer’ was/is overated
- people who want to see fights (on or off the ice) and not hockey
Plus: Nice Win!
Plus: I actually watched the 3rd Period.
Plus: Let’s Go Phillies! (I am a Marlins fan I hate the Yanks/Mets)
Plus: Will be at Verizon tommorow.
Last night was the example that if executed, the system works. If we can find a way to play like that for more than 1 game in a row, I’d be impressed. Side note agreeing with Priest at #6, I thought Doug Weight back in the lineup makes the team better in all areas. Hillen and Tamby were excellent also. Can’t get over how good we are on draws…
hillen made some really nice plays, beyond the first minute. hes fluid and smart, but there will times when the wing hes covering is fluid, smart and just bigger.
i know KO only has 2 goals, but the guy is getting good chances from the slot, drives the net, never quits, and is a fine player. he will get his share, and it will be a lot.
please get of JB’s back. the kid( yes teenager) bulked up in the offseason and is much stronger along the boards. hes winning faceoffs, isn’t noticable in his own zone(so hes doing his job) and doesnt have goal scorers like moulson or KO on his wings. it will come with time, and some more talent AROUND him.
sutton is starting to get his game on. the last few games, more aggression with the body and his pinching. lets hope for more of the same going foward.
this game is the reward for the first habs game. its a young team, that will have ups and downs. i think the lack of a guy who can pot 20-30 goals on the second line with JB will sadly have an impact on both the JB and the teams scoring output. between a high first round pick, and some cap cash, i think the team can address both the wing issue, and a solid two way defender on the blue line.
what yankee game? the team was on til 9:30, then, AND ONLY THEN, was it was baseball time.
+ the right players came thru in the right game
+ when it looked like the tent was folding, somehow it didn’t, and they re-stabilized
EVEN we still had a little trouble clearing the zone at times, but were effective enough
+ having Butchy be the sideline reporter instead of Rob Carlin
+ forwards driving to the net, how refreshing…
Gary #94: Great story. My 1 year old said “daddy” yesterday for the first time and I was so proud, but then I read your post and now realize I have so much more to look forward to. I cannot wait until he says “Rangers suck” for the first time, and I am even more eager to get to watch him rank out some Ranger pansy kid some time in the future. I just hope I do not have to wait until he is 11 years old for the rank out.
Plus - First line.
Plus - Faceoffs.
Plus - Jack Hillen…he’s looked decent up to last night. He looked GOOD last night.
Minus - Whenever other teams make a cross-ice pass in the Isles’ zone, it causes a lot more confusion among the defenders than it should.
Plus - Bailey…in the words of Kurt Russel channeling Herb Brooks - “Better…not good, but better.”
Plus - Sutton and Marty played with confidence defensively.
Minus - For this one game…Nielsen. Where was he?
Even - Bergy…good energy, but you’d like to see him bury one soon.
Plus - For all the criticism they take, credit where it’s due to Witt and Sim. They didn’t light the world on fire, but both played their roles well.
Minus - I know I always pick on him, but Gervais. Sorry, but the ONE nice defensive play that Jaffe harped on all night doesn’t make up for the soft and off-target outlet passes, blown coverage, etc.
Plus - Roloson…but dude, lose the mask in the interview!
Plus - The penalty kill was…well, amazing.
We beat the stinkin Rags, gordo calls a time out, and did I mention a 3-1 WIN over the still very much hated Rags and their hooligan fans!!!!
I sat in my usual perch in 313, and did behave (brought the wife along for those calming words “it’s not worth it, hmmm), but I have to put all the blame on the Rag fans for their usual drunken conduct in starting the brawls. They have no class or consideration for older folks or kids in attendance, gutless pukes.
Let’s savor and enjoy this one. I hope this is perhaps a turning point? Maybe? Possibly? Hopefully?
1940 4 ever
And the new one sounds real good:
ONE SINCE 40!
Plus - 60 minutes of effort
Minus- comeau sitting as a healthy scratch for the unproductive sim
My Suggestion - gordon brainwashing entire team that evry game is a ranger / isles game to this effort evry nite
lets go isles - good game boys
PLUS: good consistent effort from entire team
MINUS: Blake Comeau sitting as a healthy scratch for the unproductive Jon Sim
SUGGESTION : Gordon brainwashing entire team to believe evry game is a isles / ranger game so we can get this effort evry gameday
LETS GO ISLES
good game boys , good game
I was all against sitting Comeau last night but Sim played gritty and hard somethhing Blake hasn’t done enough of lately. maybe if he gets back to playing every game like it’s make it or break it, we’ll see the old Blake back. He could be a really good winger for us when he puts it all together. He should take a lesson from Tamby- he looks REALLY nice these days. And Bergy just needs one to go in then the rest will follow. He was all over the ice!! Hillen could be our best D man the past 3 or 4 games.
Nice game Hillen………Gervais needs a rest
The islanders are maybe not that bad anyone else notice over the first 10 - 11 games the islanders faced teams with a combined 60-33 record.They faced 4 first place teams and 3 second place teams and the canadiens twice in their building which is tough place to play regardless of their 6-6 record.They beat the hurricanes which they should and should have beat boston even if they were at home they at least got a point.Maybe when the schedule is a bit easier they can then go on a run.
How many times this season will Howie Rose say, “Witt picks it up and fails clear”?
Suttons hit on Callahan was great. Usually the Rangers always push the Isles around, it was good to see them be the more physical team for once. Okposo is the man. Love the mouthpiece.
I am STILL walking around with a smile on my face from last night’s game. Enjoying the moment for as long as I can.
I hope the team is feeling satisfied and a little more confident in themselves for the work they did in sticking with the plan and trying not to get too overly skittish. Look what can happen when they do that!
Plus: JT, KO, Moulson
Plus: Beating the Rags of course!
Plus: Sutton’s hits
Plus: Gordon timeout
Plus: Roloson
Minus: Roloson interview with helmet on?
Minus: Comeau sitting
Minus: Drunken Rag$ fans in attendance last night, starting fights after the 3rd goal. A truly classless bunch
Great win, Let’s go Islanders!
Ranger fans can’t fight, they might break a nail! Fighting in the stands is stupid. I bring my kids to games, they love it. Good thing all Ranger fans are smart enough not to mess with a Dad with kids.
I’ll be at the Caps game Friday night - in Islanders colors - with my kids - the only insults you get there are them screaming I need rogain - I get a kick out of that.
Sutton looks good this year. Witt, not so much.
To the guys above who are so proud of their KIDS using the word suck. Congrats, excellent parenting.
Everything that happened in the stands last night is exactly why I won’t bring my 5 yr. old to a RAGS game. I was there and it was ridiculous. GROW up idiots. Yuor ruining someone having a good time around you.
I don’t know why everyone is so suprised by Sutton playing well. He was great last year…when healty. He only played in 23 games but had 10 points and was a +3.
To Brian# 119 - I don’t know what world you live in, but if that’s the kind of language your 11 year uses, consider yourself lucky…it could be a lot worse.
You can see it coming together, look at all the positives from this game.
The 1st line is back to being our 1st line, they were fantastic tonight. Weight coming back made the 3rd line more solid as well; Bailey played his best game of the season and Tambs play another solid game. The 4th line was great again, Gordon keep them boys together. Hillen and Sutton have been awesome the last few games.
If any line had the toughest time it was the 2nd line, but even they played solid as well. We should rate the 4 lines in terms of effectiveness for each game. If I were to rate this game I would put it in the order of 1, 4, 3, 2.
Once Hunter comes back, that is another key addition, a guy who fights hard along the boards and will help us keep more 3rd period leads with the type of game he plays.
To the post saying that Jaffe was a terrible announcer, sadly I have to agree with you. I think he’s gotten a little too cheerleader for my liking. And how many times does he have to raise his voice at the end of his sentences when he describes a play. “That what we’re used to seeing…FROM THE BIG MAN”. Very repetitive and annoying! When he discusses the game and gives his insight he is good, I just wish he wouldn’t keep trying to call hockey games like Bill Raftery. Howie’s been good, except he confuses jersey numbers way too often.
Also we were all discussing what happens when Hunter comes back. I think Sim sits; or at least he should. Comeau is a deep trouble IMO and may not make it back on the ice for some time
This is how the lines look when Hunter comes back I hope.
1st line: Moulson - Tavares - Okposo
2nd line: Bergenheim - Neilsen - Hunter
3rd line: Tambellini - Bailey - Weight
4th line: Thompson - Park - Jackman
1st D set: Streit - Gervais
2nd D set: Sutton - Martinek
3rd D set: Witt - Hillen
Roloson
Biron
OUT: Schremp, Sim, Comeau, Meyer
I really think they need to fit Meyer into the lineup somehow, but after the way everyone played last night, who do you sit?
I agree on the parenting point that encouraging your kids to use language like “sucks” is exactly the start to what ultiamtely leads to ranger fans acting they way they do. to the point that it could be worse, that’s fine but no need to encourgae it, especially as a parent. go to msg and watch hockey if that is your world.
What does “IMO” mean? I see a lot of people use it, and have no idea what it means!
in my opinion (IMO)
in my opinion
i don’ think Shremp got a fair shake. we gave Tambellini like 3 years to show he belonged and we gave Shremp 3 games. if you look at the youtube clips that guy has a ton of talent.
plus - Gordon finally looking like an NHL coach and using his t.o.
plus - Hillen
plus - looks like the “light” went on for Tambs. let’s see if he can keep it up.
plus - someone must have told the Isles they can actually hit the other team in their own end, something there was precious little of in the fist ten games.
plus - faceoffs
plus - sorry Witter but less ice time is a plus
only minus - fights in the stands
to #25, meyer in, witt out
sorry 125
toorude @ #126 - Wasn’t it us that do the “Rangers Suck” crap with every song we can pidgeonhole into it? Listen…the Ranger fans are often animals, but we need to look in the mirror sometimes. Nothing was more amateur than when we used to do the chicken dance song. At least the organization realized after a while that doing “rangers suck” when we’re not even playing them was minor league and embarrassing. But I believe they still do it during the games we play against them. Can anyone at the game last night clarify?
Your 110% right #122. I remember when I was in 5th-6th grade people were dropping f bombs and stuff like that so if the worst thing your kid says is sucks consider yourself lucky!!
Plus: 60 minute effort
Plus: JT KO & Moulson
Even: Although I can do without them, the fan fights. They usually are entertaining and as long as no one gets seriously injured no harm or foul. Also to some Ranger Islander games are hostile environments and they have been for years. IMO I would never bring a young child to this game especially if you don’t want them to hear bad language or see fighting.
Minus: Drunken Rags dolls starting crap
Plus: The horn chant exiting the coli
yeah we still do the chicken dance when we play them
I have no problem with it!
we’re a few bounces away from being 6-3-2 in my estimation…Witt playing 9 mins/game…why bother, play a kid who could learn from 9 minutes, not be embarassed like Witt(whom I have tremendous respect for), but time to move on…same for Sim…couldn’t Martin or Joenseuu do the same and be a player who is actually a “youth” and be part of this team for a while…Roloson must have heard about last goalie interviewed by Deb who knocked her tooth out…glad someone else noticed Okposos’ gold tooth…and it was ABOUT TIME Gordon called a stinkin’ timeout in 3rd period…been screaming at my TV in the ATL for 1+ seasons for Gordon to do so, I figured he should have been able to hear me…Go ISLANDERS!!!! 1940…1994!!!
tell you know, yes Rolo was great and our #1 line as well, but Sutton was MEAN in that 10 seconds leveling callahan and prospal. prospal is only good when he has a top talent around him, no gabby = prospal’s inflated #’s go doooowwwwwwwwwnnnnnnn. great win isles
2-1-2 in last 5, maybe a trend coming? get hunter back and then i want to see these lines.
moulson- tavares - KO
weight - bailey - tamby
comeau - neilson - bergie
hunter - park - sim
then fill in thompson, jackman on an as needed basis for tough teams. we need more than 2 goals a game and must play all offensive players we got.
if they stay healthy, they arent bad enough for a top pick again so lets just stay close to the 8th spot then if DP is back by after turkey day as is being reported trade biron to the wings with a 3rd round pick as has been reported for holmstrom. wings are in cap trouble, and the cap is going down next yr. ranjerks in worse trouble.
between the opening night game against pitt, then against the bruins, and caps those are 3rd per. leads that should not have been blown, that would be 3 more wins and 12 points compared to the 9 we got. 12 points puts the NYI in 7th place in conf
chicken dance, all in good fun…it doesn’t hurt anyone. Unlike stupid fights by idiots from both fans on either side acting childish.
i see your point. i am torn. the “you suck” during the old goal song seemed lamed to me - our team scores and instead of celebrating our skill,we tell the other team they suck - seems counterintuitive, so if they suck, then we are not good for scoring? the “rangers suck” in the chicken dance or if you’re happy and you know it song feels different for some reason, or taunting the goalie, “henry, henry, henry, you suck” randomly during some down time seems creative. but for a dad to take pride in his 11 year-old saying rangers suck publically seem wrong to me. not fair, double standard maybe but its how i feel.
Try………Hillen/Meyer
Okposo doesn’t have a gold tooth or cap… it’s his mouth guard. Several players wear them or were wearing them last year.
It’s not just Islanders vs. Rangers games where there is foul language… it’s ALL games. It’s embarrasing for those who spew that garbage out of their mouths - young and old alike. And unfortunate for those that bring their kids to a game and have to subject them to it.
Grow up and have some class!
DOC