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EDMONTON at ISLANDERS, 7:05 pm
NYI look to keep mojo; NHL Home Ice at 6 pm

by admin on November 2nd, 2009 at 11:47 am

Chris Botta and Susan Slusser debate future Hockey Hall of Fame inductees on FanHouse (includes John Tavares mention!)

CB on Twitter

CB at NHL FanHouse

updates continue in this thread from the Islanders and Oilers’ workouts as news breaks

 

6:35 pm – Mike Comrie takes warmup, but wasn’t on a line. Maybe just feeling nostalgic.

 

12:40 pm – Edmonton coach Pat Quinn confirms that Mike Comrie is out tonight. Comrie’s  asthma exacerbates his recovery from the flu.

 

Shawn Horcoff is back from the flu tonight. Lubomir Visnovsky is a game-time decision, but count on his return.

 

Robert Nilsson told me, “I can’t wait” for tonight’s game and said he has nothing but positive feelings about the Islanders drafting him and bringing him into the league.

 

Coach Quinn was his usual entertaining self, saying things like “There’s cycling the puck and then there’s recycling the puck” – not a compliment towards his struggling team.

 

Asked about the Islanders and Oilers of the ’80s, Quinn said both “were great organizations and still are today.” Reminiscing about the Oilers dynasty taking over from the Islanders, Quinn said, “Edmonton lucked out and got the five best players in the world.”

 

*

11:50 am – Dwayne Roloson said facing his old team and his former teammates shooting on him “is not an advantage to anyone.”

 

Doug Weight to the Edmonton media (and one eavesdropper) on houseguest John Tavares: “Being here with the Islanders media, John has some anonymity. It’s allowed him to be one of the guys.”

 

Jeff Tambellini said on Saturday night he didn’t just get a hat trick, he “set a record for text messages and emails.” He said he even heard from some of his old teachers. On the Islanders’ recent influx of secondary scoring, Tambellini said, “You can’t win in this league relying on your top line every night.”

 

Scott Gordon said Trent Hunter is not quite ready for a return to the lineup. “He hasn’t practiced with us yet,” said Gordon.

 

*

 

10:45 am - The locker room coffee tastes better, smiles come more easily, mundane drills are packed with energy and laughs and there’s some extra pep in the steps of these Islanders, winners of three in a row and owners of points in five straight. There have even been some mischievous grins of “I told you so” and a few pesky late-night emails from app-filled iPhones saying…uh, “We think we’re all pretty good hockey players here. (Well, something like that).

 

The gritty-gutty Islanders host Robert Nilsson, Mike Comrie (maybe – has the flu) and the Edmonton Oilers tonight. Today we throw out all talk of attendance. It’s a Monday night and the Falcons are playing the Saints on ESPN.

 

*

 

Dwayne Roloson gets the start against his former team. Rob Schremp sits again tonight. Trent Hunter looks like he should be ready this week. If he’s taken off IR and no one else gets hurt, Islanders will have to make a roster move. As of today, placing Schremp on waivers would be the most logical one.

 

Based on this morning’s skate at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the Islanders’ lineup – as you would expect – remains the same:

 

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

 

*

 

Battling his way through a tough bout with tendonitis, Pat LaFontaine completed the New York City Marathon yesterday in a time of 4:27. According to Companions in Courage director Jim Johnson, “The support shown by Point Blank readers served as a huge inspiration for him to gut it out.”

 

A final tally and more on our blogathon later this week. Thank you so much to the nearly 200 readers who contributed.

 

*

 

I’ll be on Sirius/XM Home Ice with host/Islanders supporter Jim “Boomer” Gordon at 6:00 pm tonight previewing tonight’s big tilt. When I was last on about a week ago, Boomer said he sensed the Islanders getting closer to goodness. I replied that it was still mostly about Tavares and Okposo for me. Let’s see if Boomer gloats a bit. Even up in Toronto, he’s a proud Islanders fan.

 

Comments on this post and tonight’s tilt.

99 Responses to EDMONTON at ISLANDERS, 7:05 pm
NYI look to keep mojo; NHL Home Ice at 6 pm

  1. avatar Islesfan in Vancouver says:

    I listen to xm 204 religiously in the car, and while I know boomer is an isles fan, he’s been really down on them for the last couple years. If he didn’t say he was an Isles fan, you’d never guess it. Looking forward to the game tonight, but I won’t be home until midway through the second period at best. Would be nice to see them go above 500 and continue the momentum

    Go Isles!

  2. avatar Mike L says:

    Goin to the game tonight and it’s my bday so I’m hoping for a win tonight.

    I like what this lineup has done the past few games, but I wonder if inserting Schremp against his former team would give him a bit of a boost.

  3. avatar Wald says:

    Sensing Bergy gets his first of the year tonight. Keep up the blocked shots, sticks in the passing zones and keeping the front of the net clear for Rolo and we should be good.

  4. avatar stevedepot says:

    Comrie, Horcoff and Visnovsky are all questionable for tonight’s game for the Oilers thanks to the flu bug that’s going around the league. They’re coming off that 2-0 blanking from the Bruins and should be amped. Also, don’t be surprised if you see a bunch of their guys with moustaches. They’re growing them to raise money for cancer. Should be a good game especially with the underlying goalie topic of Khabibulin and Roloson playing against each other.

  5. avatar Chris TMC says:

    I feel bad for Shremp… not bad enough to disagree with your logical choice, but still- I feel bad for a guy who showed such optimism when he came here. Who knows, maybe he passes through waivers and stays with the organization? I would be happy if it worked out like that.

    Im going to go tonight. I figured practically nobody would be there for a Mon night west conference matchup- and since I dont care about the WS or Mon night football or for that matter basketball, I should at least be a cheering body at the game.

  6. avatar Hock says:

    The left wing situation is not too bad with Moulson, Bergenheim, Tambellini and Thompson. Now the right side of Okposo, Sim, Weight and Jackman could improve and Hunter is hopefully the answer. Weight is terrific for now, but not part of the long-term solution.

    And lastly, I hope our Centers can continue to dominate the face-off circles.

  7. avatar Adam M says:

    Thompson may be playing pretty well lately. But doesn’t it seem like a waste to just throw one of our depth players (Schremp,Sim)to the waiver wire?
    You just know that more injuries are going to occur later in the season – why throw away more depth? Just send Thompson back to Bridgeport for a game or two and see how things work out. I’m not so sure a game or two without Nate Thompson will drag down the team.

  8. avatar Islesin2010 says:

    I like Robbie Schremp, but I feel starting him against his old club to give him a boost is unnecessary and unfair to the players who have been in the lineup the last 5 games. Schremp’s a good player, but his skills and confidence to execute just isn’t where they need to be. I don’t want to quit on this guy, look at how fast Tamby got confidence and the scoring touch. I just don’t feel this is the right spot to put Schremp in there, chemistry is too good right now.

    Looking forward to seeing another consistent effort tonight. Rolo should be pumped up.

  9. avatar Brian G says:

    CB – Could Schremp be sent to Bridgeport for a conditioning stint? If so how long could he stay there for before bringing him back up?

    only 8800 showed up for Saturday’s game, what does everyone think tonight’s attendence will be?…..I will guess 6200
    (I will be one of those 6200)

  10. avatar JayK says:

    I wonder what the absolute rock bottom is for posted attendance. I went to a weekday game last year against the Lightning where the weather outside was terrible. Only diehard nuts would have gone out in it. And still, the attendance was listed as more than 7,000. So I think with the season ticket base and other sales made in advance, it might be tough to be below that level.

  11. avatar JTorBUST says:

    I am going to the game tonight and so should anyone who calls themself a die hard fan. The World Series will still be on when the game is over and you can venture to one of the nearby watering holes instead of sitting on your couch flipping between everything. 4 in a row tonight …

  12. avatar JayK says:

    Actually, I found the specific count: 9,809. Two good things: they let us move down, and we won!

  13. avatar vukota says:

    5,000 people tonight if they are lucky.

  14. avatar Jake says:

    Saturdays game and today’s game attendance is a non issue. You have the Yankees in the World series. Tonight is a potential WS victory. Bottom ISLANDERS can’t compete with a Yankees WS.

    My wishes for tonight no catches for jermey shockey a good night for colston

    Islanders win

    Yankees get #27

  15. avatar streit02 says:

    The obvious choice would be to replace Sim with hunter. I duno y ppl r upset about schremp. We have 2 many playmakers like him (weight, Bailey, Nielsen) and he isn’t good enough to bump any of those players. If like to c bergenheim bill his way to the net more. He’s very effective when he’s taking the puck off the wall. I’d like 2 c him barrell that 2 the net more often. Improved play from him as well lately tho

  16. avatar Matt says:

    3-2 Oilers who are coming off a tough 2-0 loss at Boston.

  17. avatar MattyB says:

    Hoping for another win tonight. The team has really showed up lately, win or lose…and maybe they are learning how to hold a lead when given one.

    LETS GO ISLANDERS!

    And LETS GO YANKEES! Hopefully drinking Champagne Tonight!

  18. avatar 2277 says:

    As much as you dont want to disturb chemistry while they are winning, they need to put Schremp in the lineup and sit Sim. I dont understand why they’d claim Schremp just to have him a healthy scratch. Give the kid a chance!

  19. avatar admin says:

    post updated at 11:50 and 12:40 with news and notes…CB

  20. avatar Nawrockstar says:

    I will be in attendance tonight and I anticipate a good game out of both teams. The Oilers who have been blanked in 3 of their last 4, will certainly be hungry. I’m hoping that Horcoff is held out of the game with the flu he’s been battling. I’m going to predict that the Islanders take tonight’s game or lose in their typical 3rd period collapse/OT fashion. It’s interesting to note that 9 out of the Islanders next 10 games will be on the road. Only 4 home games in November = all the more reason for everyone to come out tonight and support the boys!! Lets Go Islanders!!!

  21. avatar JJ says:

    Let’s go Islanders. I have a feeling we’re going to win 4-1 or 4-2 tonight. This team feels too good about itself right now to lose to a team like the Oilers!

    Let’s go Islanders!! I love winning :)

  22. avatar Brian B says:

    CB…do you really think the Isles claimed Schremp off waivers and hoped that he immediately produced? My impression was they wanted to bring in a young skillful player and give them a year to show them what he can do.

    I’m hoping they will give him more time than that and I have a feeling they will. But you obviously know a lot more than I do…I just think when the Isles claimed him, that they had more of a plan for him. But who knows.

    I can totally see them releasing Sim.

  23. avatar Sumo Goalie says:

    As much as I don’t like tinkering with the line-up during a 3-game winning streak, I agree with the notion of sitting Sim for Schremp. What happened to Garth’s mantra of not taking ice away from the young guys? I guess not bringing in free agents was just a money reason after all. Shocker.

  24. avatar bob l says:

    schremp has been with the team less than a month, there are probably nuances to the system that he needs to show he has grasped in order for him to crack back into the lineup… i dont think we’ve seen the last of him though

  25. avatar doc says:

    Islander 5 Oilers 2.
    I know… very optimistic… but hey… how often can we actually say that?

    Bergenheim, Okposo, Tavares, Nielsen, Moulson.

    DOC

  26. avatar msolo says:

    atleast sit SIM and Thompson tonite and let schremp and comeau play
    i thought this was a youth rebuild
    and patience is a key with all our young guys
    sit sim and nate and let the youngsters play
    lets have good game tonite

  27. avatar jim says:

    I have to sit this one out tonight. I have a tax test tomorrow and I want to do well so I can one day buy season tickets.

    LETS GO ISLANDERS!

  28. avatar cgs878 says:

    Darn, no Comrie tonight.

    Sit Sim? How about sit Weight? His brains got scrambled after the nosedive into the boards.

  29. avatar Sumo Goalie says:

    And Comeau needs to develop into a 3rd or 4th line player so he should be in the lineup as well.

  30. avatar Jim M says:

    Dont want to make any predictions for the game but should be a very solid team effort tonight and if they came away with an L its going to be a hard fought one. I love how the team is coming together on the ice and in the locker room. Who gets the hard hat tonight?? Im going to go with Bergy. (So far Tavares got it against NYR and Biron vs buffalo does anyone know who got the hardhat the other two wins?)

  31. avatar Eastonhockey says:

    Amazing that so many people care what happens to shremp. The guy maces out as a 15 goal scorer 40 point player in perfect world. If the isles ever become important someday he wouldn’t make the team anyway his slot needs to go to a 35 goal scorer

  32. avatar Brendan says:

    I say 10,000 tonight. We are averaging a little over 12,000, so with the Yankees playing tonight, I will give us 2,000 less(just rough estimates). The reason why we had really bad attendance was Halloween, and the Yankee game. Since tonight is just a Yankee game, we will have bad attendance(10,000), not really bad(>10,000).

  33. avatar James says:

    I don’t see changing any of the lines just to see if Comeau is going to “get it” on any given night

    The lines are working well right now, until Hunter comes back, why mess with them?

  34. avatar SM says:

    people need to start showing up! WE are actually winning games, Now why dont we start showing up and giving the owners and politicians something to think about. Showing there are still fans out there can only help the Lighthouse cause. And where else are you going to get a night out at a live sporting event with a team that is winning for under 20$. Call yourself “DIE HARD FANS” all you want, here’s your chance to prove it!

  35. avatar Sumo Goalie says:

    I understand not messing with the lines, but I just laugh when I think back at Snow talking about not bringing in any players that will take away from the young guys’ development. And what do we see? The young guys scratched for our veterans who aren’t exactly lighting it up or developing (except arthritis) anymore. I don’t blame the older guys though, I just hate to see management making excuses for not being willing or able to spend any of our owner’s money. Talk is cheap and apparently so are Snow and Wang these days.

  36. avatar Staten Islander says:

    I say we get another W tonight. And if I were working and my money situation were better, I’d have been to a game too

  37. avatar Islesin2010 says:

    I personally am upset that Comrie is out tonight. This guy dogged it on the Island after the first month or so, and just seemed to be a spoiled kid collecting his paycheck during his time here. Would have loved to see Sutts line him up for a big close line during one of his patented “toe-drags that never work” move.

  38. avatar UIF says:

    For as much grief as I’ve given some players – Thompson and Sim specifically – I don’t think you mess with the lineup until it stops working. This streak won’t last forever…sooner or later some guys will struggle, and then guys on the sidelines will have another opportunity to get in and prove themselves. why sit players who are working well together and playing their respective roles effectively?

    I stand by my feeling that Meyer should be in instead of Gervais though!

  39. avatar Jerky says:

    Does anyone understand why Freddy Meyer continues to sit out of the lineup? It’s not like our defensive corp is lights out by any means without him. Gervais has been a little better lately but is nothing more than average at best. Martinek continues to make more mistakes per game than he made in a month in years past. Witt’s speed is brutal. So why exactly is Meyer out of the lineup? The guy is not physically big but checks without fear, skates ok, handles the puck decently and hasn’t had many awful turnovers. More than I can say for most of the defenseman in the lineup regularly.

  40. avatar James says:

    Sumo, go look back at the free agent crop from this summer.

    Who would you have like to overpay to bring here? Gaborik has already been hurt once and it won’t be long until he out for months. I think many teams overpaid to get players this summer and I like that the Isles stood pat and didn’t just spend money for the sake of appeasing some of the fans. That is not manangement.

    The reason comeau isn’t playing is because in the games he did play, he played like crap. You want him and he still doesn’t get what it’s all about. Say what you want about Sim, but he is in there busting his tail every single night; Comeau should take notes on how Sim plays.

    As for Schremp not being in there, it’s not like he is, was or ever will be a Jari Kurri like player. You go with what works, and right now this is working. We have 2 veterans in the lineup in Park and Weight and a 3rd when Hunter gets back. All the other forwards are youngsters; so how are they not playing their youth?

  41. avatar James says:

    That should say “That is not GOOD management”

  42. avatar Brian G says:

    The attendence has been pitiful so far this season – I was the first to complain about the rise in ticket prices but this is terrible – no excuses, the world series will only be in the 2nd inning by the end of the hockey game:

    Wed 10/21 CAROLINA
    Only 9,000 is weak

    Sat 10/24 CAPS
    only 11,000 to see the best player in the NHL is weak – over 5,000 short

    Wed. 10/28 NYR
    over 1,000 empty seats for a Ranger game – that is usually unheard of

    Sat. 10/31 Buffalo
    8,800….it looked like 6,000

    Tonight will be between 5,000 & 6,000 tops

    When I went to the game vs. San Jose, there were plenty of people outside the box office selling tickets for less than face value…So any fans can walk up and get a cheap ticket

  43. avatar TM says:

    I say announced attendance will be 8K tonight with really only 5K actually there. Way to go LI and NYI marketing!!

    (If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it does it make a sound?)

  44. avatar steve says:

    the attendance thing will work itself out. to paraphrase CB- like the coffee tasting better at practice, the smiles coming easier, the drills being crisp. the people will show as the team wins.
    why change the lineup? if it aint broke, don’t fix it. in addition, we see the games, not the practice. i don’t think coach Gordon is sitting the players that give him the best chance to win, unless its to motivate or issue a wake up call. the team has won three in a row, is playing well, and folks want to change it.
    while at a local bar last nite, after the world series ended, i actually heard guys speaking of the isles and the winning streak. winning cures a lot of what ails you.

  45. avatar UIF says:

    Guys…when the team hadn’t won a game through the whole first part of the season, the line was, “Well, what did you expect this season? We’re supposed to be bad so we can rebuild properly!”

    So, the expectations…from even the most optimistic fans…were that the team was supposed to be horrible – on purpose, of course – and now we’re scratching our heads wondering why no one is showing up to home games? Again…give it time. If the team proves that it’s competitive, more people will show up.

  46. avatar JTorBUST says:

    New rule on here should be you need a ticket stub to critique any player , coach , owner , or local politician. If you live out of area , you get a pass. We want to keep the team here and are quick to complain when management doesn’t spend money but we can’t even fill the arena. I paid 50 bucks to sit on the glass tonight , that is pathetic. It cost more than that in 1985…

  47. avatar Brian G says:

    If you build it he will come

  48. avatar Joe in Massapequa says:

    CB, do you think part of the ticket problem is that the fans wait for promotions rather than so a season or partial plan? I usually get to about 10 or so games a year (opening night and then a lot of other promotional games). If I were a season ticket holder and saw all these promos that would make the value of my tickets go down, I wouldn’t be too happy.

  49. avatar JTorBUST says:

    I gave up my season tickets for that exact reason. You can go on any website and pay 30-40% of face value, kills ticket sales and when ownership does not give any real incentives to season ticket holder besides a locker room tour , why bother?

  50. avatar Brian G says:

    no promotions this year at all – except the magnetic calenders on opening night – Wang is cheaping it out this year in every aspect just in case no one has noticed….

    this is the question I have:
    Why raise ticket prices, when you basically have the same team as last year – its not like they went out and signed a few top free agents?

  51. avatar Spinner9 says:

    Never mess with the mojo during a streak. Stick with this line-up until it falters and don’t make a change just for change sake.

  52. avatar art says:

    Lets get a win tonight

  53. avatar CG says:

    Why are people concerned about tonights attendance. It will be a typical Monday night crowd. There a small crowds because an entire generation of fans have been lost. Attendance has been bad for over 20 years, which is how long this team has been bad. It is a miracle that this team is still here. We had two seasons in the early 2000′s where we hit a 14k avg (great for the Isles, horrible for any other team). I go to my kids ice skating lessons in Bellmore and it is so sad to see more Ranger Jerseys worn by the boys than Isles jerseys. The only thing that will rectify the situation is winning (not promotions, not goals songs, not ice girls).

  54. avatar CHAD says:

    i bet not even 5000 tonight, with the steriod junkee yankess and the saints on mnf

  55. avatar Joe in Massapequa says:

    CB, I am sorry to post again on this and it doesn’t have 100% to do with the game, but can you do a piece on how you could right this franchise? I know the LHP is a big proponent to that, but let’s say the team has a successful year and finishes in the bottom half of the playoff bracket and surprises many. Then next year we have money to spend to get to the salary floor (at the very least). Yet the fans don’t come… What would be your way of going about this problem (again taking the LHP part of the equation out of it)?

  56. avatar Dan says:

    Last playoff series victory was in 1993. This is why the attendance is horrible. Go Isles & Lighthouse- Vote out Murray tomorrow.

  57. avatar TM says:

    Low payroll, no radio coverage, nobody ever goes on weeknights on LI, years of fan abuse, no good TV coverage, bad paper coverage, Wang cheaping out, NYI marketing ONLY to LI and it goes on and on. NYI did it to themselves regarding bad attendance plus LI people are pretty infamous for lousy attendance on their own even right after the dynasty. Proof that the NHL doesn’t work in the suburbs.
    HAVE TO GO TO QUEENS OR BROOKLYN TO BE SIGNIFICANT!!

  58. avatar JPinVA says:

    Why don’t they expose Schremp now? god knows they can use him in BP more than in the press box… unless he’s been practicing by shooting bagel halves into the toaster that Wang picked up at a garage sale.
    If it’s so important to keep Bailey in the NHL, then the most logical step is to send down Thompson.
    MM-JT-KO, SB-FN-TH, JT-JB-DW, JS-RP-TJ.
    I’d still rather have JB in BP, and NT in the press box rotation with Comeau and Meyer.

  59. avatar bob l says:

    good points tm, how many luxury boxes do the isles have? (and no i’m not joking)
    nyy/nym/nyg(and jets)-new stadiums with lots of premium priced seating, even the devs moved because they needed more of an urban area with corporate ties and more lux seats…

  60. avatar bergie20 says:

    when the team starts winning on a consistent basis the attendance issue will go away. see 2001 to 2003. nobody will be in the building tonight but that’s b/c of the yanks. we should really win this game. hopefully tambs keeps up the great work in front of his dad.

  61. avatar joey says:

    this always happens with attendance every year. the islanders never draw well in the first month or two. the attendance doesnt start going up until early december. it happens every year.

  62. avatar hollywood says:

    Tonight has let down written all over it. Hopefully Gordon keeps them on the go. These games can go bad fast, maybe a third period comeback and win in the shootout.

  63. avatar KO21 says:

    and the fact of the matter is the Yankees could be playing their last game of ths season, God willing, really Yanks fans aren’t gonna miss a minute of it…Thats what DVR’s are for…

  64. avatar beatlebailey says:

    i will be there – maybe not for the whole game (go yankees!) but will be there to support nonetheless…C’mon boys lets make it 4 in a row!!

  65. avatar Strummer's Army says:

    Hope Edm is not playing McIntrye or Peckham. Stortni is pretty tough but I’d hope Jackman or Sutton could handle him.

    I have to call Snow and Gordon out on some BS. They told us they needed to send Riechelcz down so he could play significant minutes, develop, and gain the experience he needs in all facets of this game. On the past two weekends he hasn’t played in all their games. 2 weeks ago he played in 2 of the 3 and this past weekend he played in only 1 of 3. Please explain how this is properly developing a prospect (something the Isles have been below average at for a long time)? Sitting him in favor of guys who are in no way part of the future? While we’d all enjoy seeing Bridge win their main focus has to be prospect development.

  66. avatar Phil says:

    will be rooting from the couch tonight, Live in Ridge, work in NYC, no chance of getting into Uniondale :(

    #57 I disagree, as the wins come in the coverage comes back and the turnstiles will crank.

  67. avatar Jim Clark says:

    I will be at Fort Neverlose tonight and my cell phone will be turned off. Bring back Gary GLITTER!!!

  68. avatar Crackhead Theo says:

    If they start winning, fannies will be back with a vengeance. We all know it.

  69. avatar Drew says:

    These are the types of games that show me what Gordon and the team are made of and whether or not we really ARE improving. Good teams find ways to win games against run down, injured and mediocre teams, especially at home.

    Want a REAL bellweather on the state of the Isles? Tonight contest will be a measuring tool.

  70. avatar Daniel says:

    Going to hockey games are not cheap. Even discounted seats are not that cheap for anybody especially a family trying to make ends meet in this economy. That being said, it is also true that there are many questions surrounding this team and their future. On top of that they are not at the top of the standings although they are playing better. Once the Lighthouse project gets approved, and this team starts winning attendance will not be an issue. Every team has attendance issues when they are not winning. It all comes down to the product on the ice. The organization must invest in this team before the fans do.

  71. avatar joe fred says:

    Lets Go Isles!! Jump on them Early forecheck, play with heart! Okposo and Taveras will have big nights tonite!

  72. avatar Leviticus says:

    The attendance comments are troubling. Yes, the economy is bad, but with rediculously discounted tix, the attendance still sux… For everyone who can’t afford there is someone who can. Not winning? Just another lame excuse… Just like the lame threats/promises about if we do/don’t draft jt. Franchise history? Please. Every franchise has long down times. Enough. Not spending $$? Again, an excuse, attendance still sucked when MM was spending $$ and ruining the franchise. Maybe, just maybe LI can’t support a team unless it wins 4-straight cups. Too much negative you-owe-me attitude from island residents.

  73. avatar Priest says:

    Tough to disagree about Scremp being the logical one out, but I still don’t think he has gotten a fair chance to make the lineup. I’m not advocating changing anything right now with the team playing so well, just stating what I think is a fact. Hopefully he sticks around and gets a good chance at some point because I beleive he’d be an asset, but it is tough to get too upset about losing a guy who has only been around for a month.

  74. avatar mmm22 says:

    72– LI has a larger population than most NHL cities, it can easily support this team, provided the team is worth watching. Doesn’t mean you have to win 4 cups but when your greatest star over the past decade was Ziggy Palffy (no offense he was a good scorer but no HOFer) fans have a right to lose interest. Fans will go to games once the Islanders prove it’s worth it.

  75. avatar Sumo Goalie says:

    James, I’m not saying the team should have signed anyone. I personally think next summer is the time to strike. I’m just saying that management should practice what they preach and not make lame excuses as to why they didn’t sign anybody. It’s insulting fans’ intelligence.

  76. avatar Candor says:

    Within the tri state, the Islanders are the saddest of the franchises. Frankly, why would someone go to a game? I watch every game , but Im not spending if Charles wont–the Islanders are far from an entertaining team. Now, if they were a legit playoff team, or had any rivalries of note, Id attend. Hockey, and particularly the Isles, is soft. I dont see that changing, with or without a preetty stadium. I want to see line brawls of anger when the Rags and Flyers come to town. Those days are gone.

  77. avatar Blizzard says:

    ….Tavares. A star in the making. Worth the price of admission IMO. The kid has scored at every level. Now the NHL.

  78. avatar lenny says:

    It’s great to see so many faceoff wins. Kudos to the coaching staff and the developing centers…

  79. avatar IslesinOside says:

    Over the Mountain playin comin out into the 2nd! A step BACK into the right direction!

  80. avatar Patrick says:

    Witt and ARod delivering at the same time. Hard to believe.

  81. avatar Staten Islander says:

    2 for Witt tonight!, Hat trick coming? lol

  82. avatar teddyfusi says:

    i predict witt to be a 30g scorer this season.

  83. avatar streit02 says:

    Hey CB. Pretty early in the season, but would you say so far this is the tightest knit group the Isles have had in a long time in terms of believing and wanting to play for eachother?

  84. avatar Jimmy Sparx says:

    I just saw this…… Witt with a pair… Trade him now while he has value…..lol.

  85. avatar streit02 says:

    if Tavares can muster up a little more speed hed be unstoppable comin down the wing

  86. avatar Staten Islander says:

    Trade Witt now for Sid the Kid…….lol

  87. avatar teddyfusi says:

    dont be ridiculous #84 malkin is a bit more reasonable

  88. avatar 19 ISLE in NJ 22 says:

    Witter has like 4 goals in 5 or 6 years … Geeeeze!!! If Tamby is secondary scoring … What does that make Witt? Witt on the Go-Go system … LOL!

    That has to be his first ever 2 goal game.

    Hard Hat for Witt tonight!!

  89. avatar WEHM Anthony says:

    Did anyone see the intermission interview with Brendan Witt? He seemed really annoyed and had a bit of a bad attitude?

    I’m just a lil surprised as I know he is one of the great guys in that locker room?

  90. avatar teddyfusi says:

    didnt see it but i always figured if i was sweatin face for 40mins straight i’d be a little annoyed at the idea of having to do an interview

  91. avatar Barry Poles says:

    What a difference a week makes. Watching the top 3 lines in the offensive zone is amzazing. You can see the confidence as they set up. Loving this

  92. avatar Staten Islander says:

    This is amazing, I’m thinking next game is multi goal for Nate Thompson

  93. avatar Jim M says:

    Anybody notice bailey ignore okposo when he was last to come out of the locker room after giving fist bumps to everyone else?

  94. avatar Blizzard says:

    ….all you Tanbellini doubters how do you like the kid now?

  95. avatar Numbers65 in Ohio says:

    I think Witt was getting annoyed at questions about when the last time he scored is and if he ever had a hat trick, because I don’t think he considers that a big part of what he expects to contribute. Goal scoring is not that high on the priority list of his responsibilities, not to mitigate the importance of scoring.

  96. avatar teddyfusi says:

    does anyone sense that with a 3-1 lead going into the 3rd we were fine? before i woulda been worried a ton but not anymore

  97. avatar Frustrated Voter says:

    I believe!

  98. avatar 19 ISLE in NJ 22 says:

    Perspective:

    It took Brendan Witt his entire career since 1995 to score two goals in a game … Congrats Witter (AKA Braveheart) … However … in that entire time … Isles haven’t won a playoff round … that’s a lot of history.

  99. avatar Randy Boyd says:

    Anyone notice that without comeau and with tambellini the team has won 4 straight? One needed quality minutes and the other simply never deserved them when he had them.

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