NYR at NYI, 7:05 pm: Comeau, Gaborik out, Plenty of tix available, 100 readers donate 5K to blogathon
CB for Fanhouse: Gaborik out against the NYI
The Pat Dapuzzo Story, as seen on FanHouse, AOL.com and SI.com
UPDATED at 1:40 pm - As reported by Katie Strang per a team source, Doug Weight had the swine flu. He was isolated from the team the last few days, was deemed not contagious and now has been cleared to play.
*
UPDATED at 12:25 pm - Rangers coach John Tortorella said Marian Gaborik is out tonight. P.A. Parenteau will be in the lineup. The Rangers said Gaborik has a lower-body injury not related to his injuries suffered last year with Minnesota. He will be listed as out day-to-day.
Asked about fellow Olympic assistant Scott Gordon, Tortorella said I “mean no disrespect to anybody, especially Scotty,” but he only wanted to talk about tonight’s game.
*
UPDATED at 11:40 am - I learned two things after the Islanders finished their morning skate:
1. Blake Comeau will take the 6:30 pm pre-game skate, just in case another forward is unable to play. Comeau is not under the weather this time.
2. I was informed that, contrary to what I theorized in a post yesterday, Mark Streit is 100% healthy and primed for a return to form.
Scott Gordon…on Jeff Tambellini: “He’s definitely brought a physical element of his game that wasn’t there when he started last season.”
On Streit: Gordon said he was encouraged in Montreal by the dman’s willingness to shoot the puck.
On fellow Olympic assistant coach John Tortorella: “His approach is pretty black and white. You know what he’s thinking.”
On Matt Gilroy and Michael Del Zotto: “They’re thoroughbreds. They’re going to get up and down the ice. They’re in the best situation as far as having a coach who’s going to give them the green light, and they’re only going to get better defensively.”
*
10:38 am - The Blake Comeau fan club may not be amused. Doug Weight is practicing in his spot at today’s morning skate. Comeau is on the fifth line with Rob Schremp and Trent Hunter. Oh, baby.
*
Tickets Very Available: While one newspaper report said a sellout tonight was a slam dunk, as this went to post there were still good seats available. (As you know, just about every seat in the Coliseum is a good one).
This morning, I could have purchased eight seats together in Section 104 for the Islanders’ tacked on “premium” price of $140 each. I could have bought eight seats together on the blue line in Section 324 near the top of the Coliseum for the premium price of $70 each.
I covered Rangers-Devils at the Rock two weeks ago and the crowd was not even close to capacity. Even without Game One of the World Series, tonight would not have been a certain sellout. These are the times. Springsteen played in front of many empty seats at a few of his shows at the Spectrum last week, unheard of in years past. It will be interesting to see if the place is packed tonight and which teams’ fans show up in the biggest numbers.
*
Rangers Short a Star: The biggest news to come out the morning skate is the likely absence of Marian Gaborik, the Rangers’ biggest offensive weapon. I should have known the all-star would get hurt the moment I started to pen my Gaborik-is-God piece for FanHouse on Monday night during the second period. The wing appeared to suffer a lower-body injury in the third period against Phoenix. AHL sniper P.A. Parenteau has been called up from Hartford as possible substitute.
The Rangers would not be the same team without Gaborik, who has 10 goals and 8 assists in 12 games this season and makes the offense tick. As Brandon Dubinsky told me for the FanHouse piece, “There’s only a handful of scary offensive players in the league. I’m glad we have one of them.”
There’s a good chance they won’t have Gaborik, at least for tonight.
*
Please Support the Point Blank Charity Blogathon: I’m extremely grateful to the 100 readers who have combined to donate more than $5,000 in our fund-raising drive to donate mobile XBox 360 kiosks at Winthrop Hosiptal and Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow. I’m also thankful for the work of Jim Johnson and Pat LaFontaine at Pat’s Companions in Courage foundation.
But we’re not about to stop now, not with the marathon still five days away. I’m well aware of all the circumstances that could make it a difficult time to donate, but the 100 readers who have contributed represent less than 1% of the hockey fans who hit Point Blank at least one a day.
In lieu of any funds you would ever consider giving for a pay website, please give to this cause - our only one over two hockey seasons. Thank you. Said Pat LaFontaine: “On behalf of the kids in the hospitals, I want to thank all of the Point Blank readers for your generosity and support.”
Donations of every amount will be accepted and greatly appreciated. As an alternative to the online donation link, readers can send a check to CiC Foundation, P.O. Box 768, Huntington, NY 11743 (ATT: PB). If you have any other questions or would like to make a donation different than what is requested, please send an email to Jim Johnson at jjohnson@CiC16.org
Thank you for considering a contribution today…CB
*
Based on this morning’s skate at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, here’s the Islanders’ lineup tonight:
Moulson - Tavares - Okposo
Bergenheim - Nielsen - Sim
Tambellini - Bailey - Weight
Thompson - Park - Jackman
(Schremp, Comeau, Hunter - injured)
Streit - Gervais
Sutton - Martinek
Witt - Hillen
Meyer
Roloson
Biron
*
Rangers forward Vinny Prospal on John Tavares and tonight’s game, as reported by Jim Cerny: “You see highlights of him all the time because he was the No. 1 overall pick. But we don’t care about that. We just care about us. Hopefully (the Islanders) are more worried about us coming into their building.”
NYR defenseman Marc Staal: “We know they’re desperate, especially playing on home ice. There will be a lot of hitting. I’m excited. I’m always excited to go into the Island.”
Talk about tonight’s game and please contribute to the Point Blank blogathon for Companions in Courage.
161 Responses to “NYR at NYI, 7:05 pm: Comeau, Gaborik out, Plenty of tix available, 100 readers donate 5K to blogathon”
Please Wait
Surprise surprise gaborik got hurt… The rags will see this situation more often than not over the next five years. Why Sim is even in this league let alone on the second line just blows my line(how does sim fit into our youth movement?). I have a good feeling tonight I believe the final will be 3-2 islanders in 60 no need for the extra period tonight!
Let’s go islanders!!
Sincerly,
Jon “The Sniper” Sim
While I believe calling for gordons head makes no sense as doesn’t have a quality roster- his Freddy meyer decision is indefensible.
Freddy has beeen consistent on both ends,not great but consistent, and that’s more that can be said for every other dman we have.
It’s baffling, sends a wrong message, and must be corrected soon.
It’s a shame the Coliseum won’t be sold out. With Gaborik out, The Isles will have a fighting chance to win in regulation.
Makes NO sense only NONSENSE…
Sim = 2nd line
Witt = Still playing
Comeau = scratched???
Meyer = scratched again???
Baffling to say the least.
Based on the season to date, The Isles must score early and often to compensate for 3rd period slumps. This is a game to be played by the NYI of work, desire, hitting, strong net play, skating, over a superior team in every way. The answer in the end is pride. Lets go ISLES!
I friggin hate the rangers, i hate them… HATE HATE HATE! I don’t care if we only win 9 games this season as long as beat the rags everytime. LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!
Comeau skaignt with Hunter isnt a bad thing- maybe when Trent returns he and Comeau will have some chemistry? Its not like Blake has been, you know, scoring or anything.
game 1 of the ws will def hurt attendance a lot. not much you can about that though. rags are a much much weaker team w/o gaborik. gaborik is like dp, very good but often injured. not surprised that comeau was benched, he hasn’t done much this season. let’s get a regulation win tonight!
Clearly Comeau needs to sit so Jon Sim can have a spot on the SECOND LINE. I just don’t get it…Sim is like this year’s Andy Hilbert…marginal contributions but top line minutes.
I agree with “Eye” about Meyer. He has been the most reliable D out there since the beginning of the season and the best financial deal on the team. Hopefully he plays again soon!
lets get a regulation win tonite boys
John sim spenda most of the time in every game either somehow fallen down on the ice or completely missing every hit he attempts to make. The energy put forth by a line consisting of bergenheim nielson and comeau is exactly what gordons system is about….john sim being on this team let alone in the lineup is (oxy)moronic…CB I don’t think there’s a question we will once again be out numbered by rags fans…these games are always devastating
Comeau not playing against the Rangers is a mistake. He makes a lot of mistakes with the puck and holds onto it for too long but, he always seems to play his best games against the Rags and he always plays super physical against them. He’s got size, talent with the puck and can play physical when he wants. I don’t see how sitting him out will help him put it all together..
Yea I have been baffled by some of the decisions made by our coach this season
Meyer needs to be playing, he has been more consistent than most. I just dont get why we are sitting him, when the D has clearly been an issue early on. How do you not fix what is broken?
I am not sure why Sim is on the 2nd line either. I will say this though; at least Gordon was smart enough to keep his 4th line together.
Seeing that someone has something negative to say about every1 on the team I find it hard 2 believe that there would be a huge Blake comeau following, but you just opened the door for more complaints. Let’s go isles!
Doesn’t make alot of sense scratching Comeau/Meyer and playing Sim/Witt, but then again many decisions made by this team don’t make any sense.
Going to be playing on Coliseum ice after the game tonight! Woo hoo! Hopefully the Isles can pull of a regulation win so we can get on before 10 and get home at a decent time to watch the World Series on DVR. Who schedules these games? Honestly!?!?
chris fanhouse is the only thing that gets me through my 8am stats class..thank you so much
Comeau has done nothing to earn a spot this season. He plays smaller than he is. He does nothing with the puck except weakly turn it over. I hope he is out tonight and does not return. As far as I am concerned, the jury has rendered a verdict on him, and it’s not in favor of him being a legitimate NHL player. Time for someone else to get their shot.
I will be there!!!!! FIrst game of the season for me!!!! GO ISLANDERS!!!!!
People rag on Hunter for being slow, but this guy is vital to our team success. The thing he does best is he grinds it out and wins battles along the boards; which is something pretty much no other player on our team does. We have been getting creamed in the 3rd because we lose all the battles along the boards in our own end. When Hunter gets back, that will help the team big time
Here is to me what the lines should look like.
Moulson - Tavares - Okposo (LOCKED)
Bergenheim - Nielsen - Comeau
Tambellini - Bailey - Weight
Thompson - Park - Jackman (LOCKED)
OUT: (Schremp, Sim, Hunter - injured)
Streit - Gervais
Sutton - Martinek
Meyer - Hillen
OUT: Witt
Roloson
Biron
I think our 1st and 4th lines are locked and should be kept the way they are. The tinkering should be done on the 2nd and 3rd lines to see what gives us the best combination.
I am not a big Sim fan…but you do need some experience at foward and certainly some sandpaper for a Ranger Game.
We don’t have many physical fowards, ones that can creat a little space for the skilled players.
I would play him tonight….but save the PP time for the skilled players.
All I can say its a big game tonite…isles NEED to put together 60 minutes not only for the sake of the team, but also the fans…if they can pull out a win tonite and be a huge boost against a bigg rival
I just don’t get these moves. So, we can’t sign FAs because we don’t want to throw a wrench in the rebuild, but giving Sim quality minutes, and forcing Comeau and Meyer to the bench…that does what exactly? You ever get the sense that the Isles plan is dreamed up at 7am on the day-of, and changes often?
Comeau and Meyer may end up sucking. It’s not like they’ve been very impressive thus far, CB’s comments regarding Comeau notwithstanding. However…if this isn’t a “let’s see what we’ve got” time in Isles history, well…when will that be?
I’ll be watching the World Series tonight, but I hope all my fellow Isles fans who aren’t Yankee fans like me will get out to the Coliseum and drown out those morons.
The biggest plus for the NYR is Lundquist. The answer is lots of shots-then the law of averages kicks in.
“We know they’re desperate” - it would be nice if an opposing player stated that in a 2nd round or later playoff game, not before completing the first ten of the season.
Sim = AHL (should have been bought out over the summer, Wang would have saved 333,000 - since he is losing money)
I thought Comeau played a decent game in montreal - he is one of the only players that plays physical…Comeau & Schremp should be in the Lineup over Sim. I don’t want to see Sim on th PP Unit.
CB - Last Season Witt & Martinek played very well together, very consistant..why take them apart?….also in the few games he has played Hillen looked good with Sutton…maybe reuniting Witt & Martinek will get them on track.
PS: Good thing the islanders have Gold and Silver tiered games this season
Please come back soon DP, please trade Witt soon Snow.
Can somebody trade Gordon & Snow ? What a nice AHL package…
Gervais needs to pick his game up and stand out if they’re going to keep benching Meyer. We all know Witt’s struggles, but Gervais is supposed to be part of “the future”. Loses every board battle, gets beat to the outside, inside, etc. Last game he got to the boards and then vacated the area when he saw he was going to get hit. Meyer, for all his faults, at least is not afraid of contact. Gervais had a good stretch late last year…where did that player go? Hope he turns it around soon.
Really when Hunter comes back, who sits?
To me the 1st and 4th lines are locked, do not touch any of them. We all know Neilsen, Weight and Tambs with the way he is playing are safe. So that leaves Bailey, Comeau and Bergy. In all honesty, Bailey and Comeau have improved somewhat as the season has gone on. Bergy has basically been invisible, maybe it is time he sits for awhile once Hunter comes back
That leaves you with Neilsen, Bailey, Comeau, Tambs, Weight and Hunter to fill out our 2nd and 3rd lines. Find out where the best combination is; we did it for the 4th line, we can do it for these lines as well. Once we get the chemistry down, it will help our team immensely.
If it were me, Neilsen absolutely centers the 2nd line, with Bailey centering the 3rd.
I may be in the minority here but I think Schremp needs to play and should replace Bergenheim on the 2nd line. I dont think Bergenheim will ever be a top 6 guy he belongs on the 3rd or 4th line crashing and banging and adding a spark to the game. Schremp may not be a top 6 guy either but I think he needs to be given a proper chance and he hasn’t been given one as of yet.
Snow needs to step up and make some moves - he has done nothing besides the Ryan Smyth Trade & the lucky signing of Mark Streit
did people really forget how many turnovers and failures to clear the puck comeau had last game?
to be fair so did KO, but we know he’s not getting benched…
while i agree sim on the 2nd line is laughable — we DID send him to BPort last year didn’t we? Maybe, just maybe, the coach is trying to send the guy a message with actions (or rather, non-actions) instead of words…
witt needs to be in a game this feisty, someone has to grab onto brashear for dear life and hope the linesmen can break it up before any damage is done
I’d take Comeau of Sim any day. I hate how Sim always runs the other teams goalies. He’s going to get one of our goalies hurt one of these days.
comeau hasn’t done anything this year…i like his upside but he doesn’t take the body, he doesn’t drive the net and he passes up too many shots
Mr Botta, how about reporting about all the empty seats/sections at Msg Monday night and tickets available if you are going to make this a theme of every Islander report.
Seems you have a reluctance to write about the Rangers available seats at Msg and padded sellouts but not the Devils or Islanders.
#32 well let’s remember; Bergenheim is not part of this youth movement either. He has been with the team for 5 seasons now and has had longer to prove himself than the others have.
#33 I think people need to quit bashing on Snow, this is exactly what the plan is up to this point. This team has talent, we just need to see how it all fits together. Remember all the money we will have next season? According to the plan, that is when we will spend on FA’s
The comment yesterday on Bailey turning into a 3rd liner I defenitely see happening. I don’t see him becoming a star…. Hopefully the picks we got turn out to something good b/c Luke Schenn would have looked nice on the blue line!
You got the location wrong. It’s not at Nassau Coliseum but at MSG East with NYR fans taking over thanks to Wang, Snow, Gordon and Dey. Sarcasm off.
There was a time when I always looked forward to NYI-NYR games with great anticipation. Nothing was more important. I won’t even be watching tonight and have no desire to check on the score during the game. Thanks to Wang, Snow, Gordon and Dey.
When Nolan left (fired, whatever) he said that he would come to the rink on game days to find out what his lineup looked like that night. AHL players (I assume tambellini) would be sitting there, called up by Snow.
At least there is harmony between coach and GM. The Islanders have become a CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES.
vs Rags
Comeau(R): 8GP 6PTS
Bailey(L): 4GP 0PTS
Sim(L): 14GP 4PTS
Weight(L): 25GP 25PTS
Bergenhiem(L): 13GP 4PTS
Nielsen(L): 8GP 1PT
Biron: 11-8-2-3 2.52
Roloson: 1-3-2-0 2.25
Based on those stats and what I’ve seen through 10 games.
Moulson-tavares-Okposo
Bergenhiem-Weight-comeau
Tambellini-Nielsen-Park
Sim-Thompson-Jackman (Sim could easily be replaced by Schremp to give them 2 centers on teh 4th line again)
(Instead of “showcasing” Weight as an off wing RW, why not give JB 10 games with Martin and Joensuu/Dibo)
Streit-Gervais
Sutton-Meyer
Witt-Martinek (only because there is no way Snow is sitting $3M, and we’re going to need Witter in front of the net. It might be time in the future though, to experiment with Hillen-Marty)
Biron
NYIFC: I was there on Monday. I have eyes. MSG was at 95% capacity for Phoenix on a Monday night. This is an Islanders blog. Do you really want to get into comparing the Islanders and Rangers attendance, Bill? CB
Tavares should use the 1-2-3 triple deke tonight!
Guys and Girls…$26 is not a lot of money. Would you pay $26 to read this site for the last year or the next year? If you say yes then donate to this great cause….Botta NEVER asks for money!
Why Sim over Comeau? That just hurts.
If Gaborik plays 55-60 games this year i will be shocked!
Lets Go Islanders!
Im sorry but I still think this is on the fans. There was so much excitement last season when we drafted JT; where did all that excitement go?
The fans knew full well the range of ticket prices this season. The fans knew full well we were still a few years away from being a contender. The fans I hope knew full well that the team would not be a contender this season. The fans knew full well what to expect for this season. The fans also knew full well that the LH project would hang in the balance this season. The empty seats only gives TOH more ammo against approving the project.
I know its tough to see the team struggle, but this is more than just winning; this is about keeping this team on Long Island. If so many fans want them to stay so bad, then find a way to go to the games. The more empty seats that are seen during games, the less likely the LH project will be approved. You can count on that.
PS before anyone says anything, I live in Florida; or else I would find a way to go to games.
I hope Gilroy and Del Zotto do not embarass us tonight. They could be skating on a line in blue and orange. But instead we have to watch, wait, and hope Sutton and Witt make it to the our blue line on an offensive attack. Are Gilroy and Del Zotto that old or does Snow not have a personal file on them with their date of birth on it.
Why is Witt not a scratch?
Just speculating, but maybe the reason Sim is playing is because Wang is forcing the issue? Wang did waste a million dollars last year for that scrub to play in Bridgeport where he belongs. Fair enough… but it doesn’t explain his PP/second line role.
Should have brought up Rechlicz to at least make it interesting tonight. Stir the pot and maybe sell some tix to the next few Isles/Rags games.
Two updates at top of post at 11:30 and noon. Also, I will be part of a live chat at 2:00 pm today at FanHouse if you can join us for NHL talk. Will post link as soon as I get it. Thanks…CB
I had hoped to log onto this site and see that Riechelcz was at least recalled for tonight (hopefully Martin or Haley too) but NOPE! I get my daily kick in the nuts from the Isles in that Comeau (who has picked up his hitting recently) is sitting in favor of Sim?????????????
Maybe this is some brilliant Gordon motivational tactic to get Comeau going on the scoring front but C’mon???????
#38, so are saying that Bergenheim has earned a top 6 spot based on his play?? I don’t see it and I don’t see him ever developing into that he is definitely a serviceable player but belongs on the 3rd or 4th line. Just my opinion, I haven’t seen enough from him to warrant a top 6 role
6-2 Rangers
even without the great gaborik, the rangers are still a far better team.
#50 No I don’t, that was my point; I think Bergenheim should sit when Hunter gets back
#40, I am with you. I used to get so pumped up for these games, and I honestly have very little excitement about tonight(and I am a Mets fan so it is not b/c of the World Series). After 20 years of mostly a garbage product, I guess it has finally gotten to me. Really sad.
No disrespect to Scotty, but Torts probably dreams of a life where he took the Islander job last year. In the dream he has a big red nose and size 37 shoes.
I think Dean Lombardi has the same dream. Both dream in “black and white” and if you hit the SAP button on their nightstands you can hear them scream in Mandarin Chinese.
Is it safe to say Craig Anderson is this years Mark Streit. Great signing so far, he is on fire. Wonder how close the Isles came to signing him or if they ever spoke to Mr. Anderson.
#52 I understand the frustration, but we can’t blame Snow for anything that happened before he became GM. We are in the 2nd year of a true rebuild; a rebuild that should have happened a long time ago. This time it is being done the right way. Do not make the mistake of associating these last 2 years with the previous 15, as hard as it is not to do that
James #38 — dead on. In the same way the Knicks are prepping for the big free agent class of next year, I think the Islanders are thinking that there is going to be a lot of salary dumping at the end of this season because of a cut in the size of the cap. Yes, Toronto, Rangers, Montreal etc. will sell out. But I was watching a game from Dallas a few weeks ago — once a hot ticket — and couldn’t believe how many empty seats I saw. The cap could be a lot smaller next season, and if it is, teams like the Isles with room under the cap are going to be sitting pretty.
Comeau always seems to step it up against the Rags. Why he isnt playing over Jon Sim is inexplicable.
any word on whos starting in goal for the rangers?
would absolutely love to see tavares undress lundqvist tonite!
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!
(60) Lundqvist…CB
3-0 Rags! I hate writing this!
Okposo on first line with Moulson and Taveras = points…Kyle was going a point per game until he was moved to the third line, then zip. Last game was moved back to the top line and 1 assist. I’ll take 82 points from him, at least build the chemestry with that group.
This is the time when i miss Nolan..for some reason..no matter how bad we were playing..when Nolan was the coach..we owned the rags!
#38, you have to be kidding. This franchise won’t even spend pennies for radio coverage so what makes you think they’ll spend millions for FA’s for next season?
It’s about time we get a regulation win. Let’s beat the Rags tonight
TM — #66 — they will spend for free agents next season…if the Lighthouse situation is resolved in their favor. If not, they won’t. And since it’s not resolved now, why spend a ton of money this year on such an uncertain future? Cut the losses, get a higher draft position and hold your fire for a big cap-related dump by others after the season’s over. Sounds reasonable (albeit frustrating for now) to me.
I will not be using one of my Flex 20 tickets to go to tonight’s game. Part of it is my Yankees start the World Serious tonight. But even a greater part is I do not want to spend 3 hours is a place of mostly Rangers fans cheering the repulsive Sean Avery. Also has Glen Sather thoroughly out-slick Garth Snow in getting del Zotto and Gilroy..two good young players?
4-1 RANGERS. For some reason, over the last 10 years or so, the rangers have dominated at our place and we have played very well at MSG.
68, you don’t know for sure they’ll spend for FA’s if the LH is approved. You’re just hoping for the best as there’s no guarantee. As Botta wrote yesterday, nobody has promised anything regarding increasing payroll if an arena deal is reached. Wang might choose to not spend on FA’s to recoup his “losses”. Plus LH revenue won’t kick in for many years even if approved.
My point is if they can’t even spend pennies for small things like radio coverage or this blog and $ for lowest paid GM and coach don’t hold your breath for spending MILLIONS on FA’s. They haven’t earned my trust or blind faith on that. Just wishful thinking on your part.
If the Islanders do not resign any of their UFA’s - they will have to spend about 10 mil. to get over the salary cap floor…they need to spend money on a few quality players not over the hill veterans or paying someone on their potential.
It’s good to see a nice playmaker like Nielsen with a good finisher on his line. And that isn’t a knock on Bergie or Sim. They just aren’t 2nd line forwards. Maybe keep one on the line as a gritty player with some skill but to have both there is odd. Shouldn’t Tamby be on the 2nd line with Neilsen? And why isn’t Schremp playing? This team needs offense! Give him more of a chance! And if Gordon plays people based on merit, why hasn’t Witt sat for one game yet? My apologies to all of the Gordon supporters but I just don’t like him as the coach of this team. I think these young kids need more of a veteran presence at coach. It’s almost like Gordon needs more seasoning in the minors as well. If things don’t change between the owner, GM, and coach soon, no player will want to stay here and many will jump ship when FA hits. We’ll become the feeder system for the rest of the league.
So Weight had swine flu? I’m surprised Garth didn’t describe it as a “lower pork injury.”
Oh by the way CB, I sent my donation today. Maybe Patty can run with a torch made from his old Rangers’ jersey.
It will be interesting to see if that piece of garbage Avery “agitates” Tavares at all tonight.
Tim F. post 74:
Very funny. I needed a good laugh today. Good stuff!!
James #45…. I moved to NJ about 6 years ago so I only make it to about 2-3 games per year now. However I disagree with your statement for everyone that can make it the Coliseum more often. Wang, Milbury and Snow destroyed this team through poor decisions. If fans decide to stay away until they rebuild it either through the draft or Wang’s wallet I can’t blame them. The team isn’t performing poorly because of the fans. Blame the ownership and management.
How sad is this franchise when we have to consider and debate the evils/merits of Sim vs. Comeau and Witt vs. Meyer? These are all fringe players rather than the difference makers this team so sorely lacks - both at the NHL and AHL levels.
The problem with the Isles “rebuild” is that we have no impact players outside of Okposo and Tavares and a prospect list that is not brimming with blue chippers. The other problem is that, while the Isles are trying to “catch up” to the rest of the league, the rest of the league has a better team and most have a prospect list as good or better than ours.
Without some attempt to import more talent, through free agency or trades, this “rebuild” is going to take an eternity.
We didnt want Giroy
go isles!!!! i def think okposo and tavs will have multiple points tonight.
furthering the proof that luongo took over DP’s curse is not only was he playing bad, now hes out indefinitely with an injury. sucks to be luongo, but hopefully this means ricky d will come back 100%
Ugh, after the last few games, I dunno if I want to watch the Islanders game tonight. I think I might watch the Rangers game tonight instead. Oh wait . . .
What is more predictable? TO destroying a team’s chemistry by running his mouth or Gaboric getting hurt?
lets hope Swine Flu is not the 2010 verious of last years “groin injury” for the islanders.
It’s 3:04pm do you know where Joel Reichlecz is?
Are they really considering playing the Rangers and Brashear, Voros, Avery with the usual little group of sissies they ice?
Get ready for a long list on the injury report tomorrow, lots of opinions on possible suspensions that will never happen etc.
If the Isles didn’t call up toughness to face the Rangers then what does that say about the quality of the coaching and management?
Botta - could you PLEASE try to find at least one positive story/week?
There has to be something good to report on, right?
I just can’t take all the negativity anymore!
#74 - LOL
bottom line, i dont care how much more talented the rangers are, if they can’t get up for this game and make it interesting than i dunno what to do anymore.
Islanders will surprise by winning 4-2 in a nailbiter tonight. Empy net goal in the final :30 seals it. Isles will be fired up and Tavares will have a 3 point night.
LETS GO ISLANDERS!
#45 - James
Blaming the fans for the poor attendance is just wrong. The fans are spending their entertainment dollars for full ticket prices to see three periods of professional hockey.
If the “entertainment” isn’t ready for prime time, as a rebuilding suggests, then charge preview prices. That is what Broadway entertainment does.
The NHL created a level playing field with the salary cap: No team can spend more than $56 million. So what do the Isles do?
They spend a third less than almost every other team they compete against. Blame Wang, not the fans.
When was the last time the Isles played the Rangers at home on a weekend? Hockey is dying in the NY/NJ area. Hard to get excited about this game.
This is one night when ALL of us need to come together and just root on our Isles! For god sakes, it’s the RAGS!!!!!!
The wife has the bail $$$ ready, I am ready, let’s all be ready and for tonight, NO LHP, NO Kate Murray, just root, be loud and boooooooo the hell out of the hated Rags and that stinkin Avery..
CB, if we win tonight, I’m buying..
1940 4 ever
I like the idea of Weight playing with Bailey.
i agree this team has a lack of thump. sim/witt will provide “bang”, and its the rangers at home tonite. please name a few players available tonite, that provide more punch then sim/witt. as per CB, the martin talk as quieted down, because he, and a most of the guys at B-Port, are not ready to play at this level. they’d be cannon fodder. blast away at the decision to keep JB up here, yet demand the team bring up some more young guys even less ready than JB.
in a salary cap league, you have to build through the draft, and bring in some free agents. aside from overpaying, what else does this team have to offer to a UFA? wishes it wasn’t so, doesn’t make it so.
if tavares catches doug weight’s swine flu and dies i’m finished with this team!!
..for at least a month or 2.
Shoot high on Queen Henry!! All he does is flop flop flop!!
#4,#6, #28,#47, Right on!
Hopefully Witt does something useful tonight and “takes care” of Avery, and with a little luck gets suspended for a few games.
1940! 1940! 1940!
I wish that Wang could run his team properly.. Make more fans n afford gaborik. Gaborik at 50 games a year the next 4 years is worth the money. Gaborik is already better then okiposo or Tavares will ever be n significantly more fun to watch. Probably will have more points in 50 games then the whole isles 2nd line
I’m confused about the rebuilding, did the Islanders mean rebuilding the team or rebuilding Hempstead real estate. I think Wang has only 1 rebuild on his mind. Build a new arena if you care so much for the team, I’m sure there wouldn’t be a problem getting that approved
Praying the yankees-phils game gets rained out so I can give this game my full attention.
p.s. STOP putting SIM on the ice!!!!!!!
LETS GO ISLANDERS
JUST BEAT THE RAG$
This game has all the makings of a weak boring style Islanders game. Im already falling asleep thinking about what the old rivalry was like and this new NHL garbage they are trying to pass off. Bring back some fighting to this rivaly already? No bad blood= BORING hockey!!! Bring up Gilles(sign him NOW, Rechlitz blows as a fighter right now) and Martin!!!
here here dan! lets put up a good one and start the season anew tonight!
Poor ownership/management/players/coaching are all legit reasons to not go to a game. But to be afraid to attend because there will be fans from the opposing team there….WEAK!!!
Anyone else think Schremp is getting the schort end of the schtick? I don’t think 6 games is enough compared to the Tambellini experiment. Maybe Bailey should sit a couple along side Witt. But that’s just me. Go Isles!! Would have liked to have seen Gaborik.
You all underestimate Gordon’s plan… To infect the Rangers with swine flu….
ONE SINCE FORTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We can all go on about Wang, Snow, Gordon, our low payroll, LH, Kate, Our 7 goalies, Our small size, the rebuild, lack of ufa signings, Slow recovery of DP, poor attendance, the old barn, Millbury, Lack of scoring, poor defense, no enforcer, [have I left any negative out?] or we can concentrate on beating our bitter rivals and taking away points that will count alot for them in April. GO ISLES!!!
#98 Bob on, in all due respect, I think you are “confused” about the world of sports finance and management. He could build a new arena, but he would still loose $20 million a year. This is the NHL, not MLB or the NFL. I also think your friend, Kate Murray, is ” rebuilding Hempstead real estate” too with her Kate signs littering the TOH. Another reason not to vote for her!!
Regarding hockey, Comeau needed a wake-up call. He has been a spectator all year. It’s early, but maybe benching Tamby worked. Regarding Meyer, he has been our best D man all year. Go figure.
ONE IN SEVENTY!
20 years ago, Saturday October 28, 1989 the Rangers beat the Isles 4-1 at the Coliseum. Let’s hope tonight is not a repeat!
Well … one thing we’ll learn about the Islanders tonight … how much passion this team has against their bitter rival. If they fold like a cheap tent in the third period we’ll know which players have the stomach to “fight” for their spot to make a mark in the NHL.
MM! Nice way to start!
I’m not a pro scout but Jon Sim is, at best, a 4th liner…He is not a skill guy, he is a grinder…WTF is Simmer doing on a scoring line!?!?!?!
not a cheap one by MM there. Good play!!
Someone tell Sim he’s gotta put the puck in the net not your body.
Nice pass - noce finish
that was best breakout pass of the season
Like how MM froze Lindquist. Moulson might be best surpise of the season. We might have got lucky for once. Thus far he is clear MVP of this team
the islanders actually look like an nhl team tonight?????????
we have some skating legs tonight! This is what we’ve been waiting to see, but the true test is if they can keep it up
There were a number of games the Isles started out high octane … I’ll be interested to see how they play in the 3rd period.
Nice effort by Bailey to try to create some room for himself in tight.
excellent start. love the energy! finishing checks, getting to the puck first, let’s keep this play up.
that attempted shot by bailey from between his legs was the first really confident thing I’ve seen from him this season. Great save by Rolo!
I cant believe our all star 4th line was out there for a goal without an Enforcer? Who do we blame the 4th line woes on now?? if an Enforcer was out there it would have been their fault no doubt????
Bailey looks WAY more confident playing with Weight.
The Ranger fans next to me just said “Who needs Gaborik? We have Parenteau.” Really, that guy scores the goal? C’mon now.
Baileys looking good, awesome!
Maybe the Rags are just what the Dr. ordered to bring the best out of these kids and get their confidence going…
Howie Rose just said that this is the smallest crowd for the Rangers/Islanders game in the last 15 years.
love the jackman thompson park line
No finish
Another night where TAmby is invisible…
Bergys looking like hes getting there as well
Sutton crushing people… Nice!
Taveras needs to make quicker decisions and Okposo needs to start shooting more..
Tamby, Okposo, and Bergie showin some confidence with the puck…and Sutton laying down some body…hopefully we can keep this up for 2 more periods.
On the offsetting minors there, even ignoring the fact that it was possibly the weakest call all season… shouldn’t the play have been dead as soon as Redden(?) touched the puck?
I cant stand when Jaffe praises the worst officiating in sports
as the ref called it…you still get a penalty for chucking a guy 10 feet into his own net even if it’s after the whistle…Obviously thats not quite what happened, but I am assuming thats what the ref “saw”.
The lines when everyone is healthy.
Hunter-Tavares-KO
Bergie-Frans-Moulson/Tamby
Schremp-Bailey-Weight
Comeau-Park-Jackman
Hunter (bigger stronger better fit than Moulson) and KO are two Forwards that can really work along the boards which will allow for more play in the offensive zone and the puck to be on JT’s stick more which is where we want it. You need two guys to go in and dig out the puck for JT b/c he stinks are retreaving it.
The 2nd and 3rd lines are all interchangable except for Frans who is our 2nd line center period end of story.
Comeau can earn his minutes playing 4th line. On nights when Comeau is going well move him up and move one of the guys from the top 3 having a bad night down to the 4th. Banish Sim and Thompson to the Bridge.
Howie Rose is awful for the radio.
Count how many times the puck changes possession compared to how often he mentions how it is being passed or bouncing around, or where, geographically speaking, on the rink the play is being carried. Sucks. Have to listen to the rag$ broadcast just for a decent radio call of the game.
Wake up Howie.
Just because this team is awful is no excuse for laziness as a broadcaster. Please call the game up to your former standards. You are a world class broadcaster. Please help out those of us stuck listening on the radio.
You know, sometims greed backfires. Poor start + World Series + ridiculous mark up of Islanders-rangers prices by the isles = The smallest crowd for this game ever. Howie’s comment, not mine
137-blame Wang. Howie is doing a TV broadcast and we should have a radio team
Tim Jackman…..Sign him to a contract extension…..A perfect player for this team….
The chicken dance made it’s loud return tonight
Jack Hillen….Sign him to an extension now please…
A third-period lead? Oh no.
Isles playing better than they have at any point this season. I know it’s the Rangers but c’mon, I expect more games like this out of them on a regular basis.
Anyone know where to catch the Ranger radio broadcast? I’m in Manhattan so I can’t get Howie and Billy, and the Nets are on 1050…
I’m not trying to get anyone excited but jeff tambellini is playing alittle like jason blake when he first came to the islanders playing very phyiscal then getting the playing time to score some goals i know its early but he has looked really good these last few games
Hey Gordon took a 3rd period time out!
WOW - Gordo called a Time Out!!!
Alert the media!
Hey a timeout…hope everyone is happy…
we are in trouble now…a 2 goal lead in the 3rd period!!
Yay… The Isles do something right! Gordo calls a TO, and Tavares scores with five mins left!
Now we need to hold the lead… eek!
noooo why score now we’re definitely going to lose
CB is psychic! JT and KO deliver!
Doug Weight makes a huge difference to this team. I’m kind of glad to hear that he was out with H1N1, rather than the groin. I was kinda worried the Isles were saying he was sick as misdirection.
Faceoffs 36:18 in favor of the Islanders…
Do you believe in miracles?
A regulation win? Is this the year the Cup returns to Uniondale?
Perfect way to get a regulation win, over the Rags
lol @ okposo and roloson’s celebration when time ran out
Only 2 under .500!!!
Anyone remember CB’s 5 reasons for .500 posting last season??? It was RIGHT after that that the team began to implode and didn’t win another game for a month. CB, if they get to .500, stay away from all similar posts…
I didn’t know Ricky Williams played on our team.. Take off your helmet
Happy to see Rollie win a game, but i think he owes the post a little for his first star of the game nod.
And a big exhale…