NYI at MINNESOTA, 8:00 pm EST - Live Chat Tonight
Clutterbuck vs. Tavares…Wild Shorthanded
Live Chat: Join the mayhem starting at 8:00 pm EST tonight!
CB on FanHouse: Bogosian in Team USA Picture
Video: Fight erupts after Niedermayer gives away stick
Wild Injuries: The Islanders have another very winnable game on the road tonight in Minnesota. The Wild are not very good to begin with and tonight they’ll be without Martin Havlat, Benoit Pouliot, Petr Sykora, Chuck Kobasew and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. On the other hand, none of them - including 2-6-8 in 19 games Havlat - have played particularly well this season. Maybe Todd Richards is just having his Scott Gordon rookie season as he tries to install a system and an attitude.
The Islanders will have the same forward lineup from yesterday’s practice:
Bergenheim - Nielsen - Okposo
Moulson - Tavares - Park
Sim - Bailey - Hunter
Comeau - Thompson - Jackman
(Schremp, Tambellini)
Per Katie, Martin Biron is the starter tonight. Brendan Witt will sit this one one. He hasn’t skated much lately.
Clutterbuck/Tavares: Good friends and former junior teammates John Tavares and Cal Clutterbuck meet in the NHL for the first time. Clutterbuck, at 22 three years older than Tavares, says he owes his ex-Oshawa linemate a ton, but that won’t stop him from trash-talking all night. The great Wild beat reporter Michael Russo has the story.
While that may be the fun stuff, the Islanders will want to watch out for Clutterbuck. He hits hard, he hits a lot. Sometimes, he hits dangerously. The Islanders, like many teams, don’t have anyone like him.
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Must-Read Islanders Blog: I’ve added a link on the right to another Islanders blog. This was overdue, but Dominick of Lighthouse Hockey does superb work on your favorite team. He brings something different, he brings facts to back up his points. Of all the bloggers unable to follow the hockey team 24/7 - wait, that’s everyone - Dominik does the best work. Don’t let the title fool you. His blog is about the team, not as much about real estate development.
Screw ‘Em!: Five-year-old Josh Sacco, better known as Lil Herb Brooks from the wonderful “Miracle” video on You Tube (1.8 million views and counting), will be at tonight’s game to lead the Minnesota fans in the pre-game roar of ”Let’s Play Hockey.”
Simbellini: Forgive me for not getting all worked up over the scratching of Jeff Tambellini. The Islanders have very little sandpaper and hardly anyone who gets on the nerves of the opponent. If Scott Gordon feels Jeff hasn’t earned a regular spot in the lineup and wants to play PIA Jon Sim over him, no problem here. Something else to consider: there’s no reason to assume Sim is the player currently beating out Tambellini for the job. I actually feel bad wasting a paragraph on the subject, so we’re not going to waste this weekend doin’ the same!
(Wild don't have ice girls. Had to go Vikings)
This is a Sim/Tambellini-free zone. Other comments related to this post or tonight’s game are welcomed. Thank you. See you tonight in Chat at 8:00 pm.
While I love Park’s energy, I still don’t feel he should be playing with Tavares. I would like them to have Okposo back on that line.
great read CB!..figured you would give us a shirtless Favre considering the Chara Horror…not that there is anything wrong with that.
I hate these games we’re “supposed to win”. I hope this team will take advantage, but guys like Koivu and Brunette will still be in the lineup and this game will be anything but easy. After tonight, hopefully the Rangers will be looking up at us in the standings. Let’s Go Islanders
Man with all these back to back games. . and three in fours the Isles have played lately - not having a game since Monday night seemed like an eternity!
Tonight’s game can’t get here soon enough. . Go Isles!
just win.
I like Park and think he has value to the team, but I feel he is miscast on the first line. I don’t want to hear about his 3 assists in the game the other night. Even the blind squirrel eventually finds a nut. He can’t be expected to produce offense consistently on that line. That is not his game or his skill set.
….ok Cb I will refrain……..but….but…..drats. I agree I would like to see Okposo back on JT’s line. And what a name Clutterbuck!!! Hope he doesn’t run his friend.
Relax with the trade Park nonsense! With Weight out possibly Witt who do you want these kids to go to for advice if Park is gone… SIM?
They would be better off asking some from the bridge than that guy. Isles should win tonight hope they don’t come into this one expecting a win. Minny is desperate now so you know they will play all out and if we start slow it might not be such a cake walk. I expect two wins from these three games considering who we are playing. 3-1 tonight that’s my prediction… Hope to see Rolo in net against a former team.
LET’S GO ISLANDERS
Why all the Park dislike?? Remember when Asham was on the 1st line with Yashin a few years back. Nothing wrong with trying something out. Hasn’t been that bad so far lets hope it continues tonite!
I get the simbellini thing and agree more or less
Don’t understand the Park thing. GoGo is the Pro so could anyone explain his reasoning?
Park is team worst -8 (same as witt)
other fourth liners are nearly as bad +/-
he has the lowest shot % on the team
why is he on the Tavares line?
Good job giving props to the Lighthouse Hockey blog….long overdue. Been reading it for some time & is definitely one of the best Isles blogs out there….OK - second best.
Human nature; gotta find someone to complain about. Go Isles go!
Love the lines right now.
Okposo on line with Nielson and Bergie is great.
Park has deserved playing with tavares and moulson. Gordon gave comeau a chance there but he realized he was not doing anything there.
Dont jinx us CB saying its an easy win. no win is easy. But agree it should be game we can take.
Per Katie, looks like Martin Biron in goal tonight…CB
(13) Jinxes aren’t my problem. Did not say it’s an easy win. Said it was a verywinnable game. If playing this team and with all their injuries does not classify as winnable for the NYI, I don’t know what does. The Islanders have had a few of these lately, and they won them all…CB
I think what some are failing to realize is that Moulson and JT have such great chemistry it really does not matter who the 3rd player on that line is.
I do not like the idea of putting Okposo back on that line, because I feel Okposo can make another line better. Gordon has effectively spread out the offensive talent by moving Okposo to the 2nd line and I love the line of Bergy, Nielsen and Okposo. Putting Okposo back on the 1st line basically gives us only 1 really good line again. When you put Okposo on the 2nd line, it gives us 2 really good lines.
I’m sick and tired hearing about the Wild being a great hockey team…SCREW EM!!!
“Per Katie, looks like Martin Biron in goal tonight…CB” So expect Roloson tonight…I keed.
Russo is one of best.
Backstrom very capable of stealing games…key for me is to get the first goal and prey on the Wilds’ fragile confidence.
Park had 2 assists the other night so lets cut him some slack
Go Vikings!
Games like this scare me, i don’t think they can take anybody lightly. “Should wins” can easily turn into “Should have won”s. Good that KO gets to play in front of his home folks.
I love the tandem of KO and JT, however I’m all for Park being on the second line with Tavares and Moulson. Why? I don’t think there’s a harder worker or a grittier character on the team than Richard Park. He may have a big minus by his name at this point, but in the couple of years I’ve spent watching him, I’ve seen him embody the phrase go-go. He doesn’t have the hands or nose of a Jason Blake but he plays with the same tenacity. I realize that we’re not talking special teams but he’s also been responsible for a couple of memorable shorties over the few seasons. His first goal this year broke the game open. As for toughness, I remember him getting hit in the face with a huge shot, losing a fair number of his teeth and being back the next game with the same jump. He’s allright by me. Go Parky, Let’s Go Islanders!
Richard Park and Trent Hunter are both players that all other 29 teams would love to have; they are the heart and soul that this team has.
I have no issues at all of having Park with JT and Moulson.
kyle gets 3 presents and gets the bigger side of the wih bone and has a kyle x-mas and thanks giving.
The isles need to get someone from someplace to play with Tavares. Sticking Tavares with 2 players who never sniffed 20 goals… What do you think his agent tells him? Probably “your playing for the only team in hockey that sticks 2 4th n 5th liners on the first line”. I like both moulsen n park as hockey players but let’s face the truth here. Wangs broke bank may work this year but Tavares agent won’t allow this once his contract is up.
Eastonhockey… wow… according to you it sounds like jt after 2 months will become yashin, huge ego, agent problems and sitting out or demanding a trade
The recipe seems to be working so far…Glad its a hockey night once again…Big three games coming up, they need to take advantage now. Let’s Go Islanders!
Park is a prototypical fourth line energy guy. He should not be on a line with JT and Moulson. You need some skill on your second line and as Park has lots of heart, his skills are lacking. Take Blake off the fourth line or put Tambo or Schremp on the line so we can get some skill guys playing with JT and Moulson. You need time to gel, putting Blake on their line for one or two games is not going to cut it. Please take Park off of line 2.
I don’t understand why there are so many who are so upset with Park on JT’s line. Is JT producing? YES, exceptionally well.
Is the line producing? YES, ditto.
Are the Isles winning games because of it? YES
What is the problem?
Why don’t we try to bring in Clutterbuck next year to rekindle that Oshawa chemistry he and JT had. He will be a RFA after this season and is currently only making 778K per season
The team is winning and Gordon will not be changing these lines anytime soon, because they are playing well and winning.
So we could argue who should be on whose line or who should or should not be in the lineup until we are as blue in the face; Gordon knows what he is doing and it is working; so why not enjoy it
We’re on a One Game winning streak…better not change it up now!
Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who has been suspended for having too many first names.
- still cracking me up.
Any, I mean Any news on DiPi?
I would not want 3 Richard Parks for my 1st line but he has been able to complement the ‘go to the net’ Moulson and the scoring touch of Tavares by adding speed and smart positional play to the line as well as his knowledge of defensive responsibility. His plus/minus reflects the amount of time he spends on the penalty kill. He has also shown creativity in the past on the shootout. When he’s been able to get it away, he has a pretty deceptive shot. He is an all ’round player that Gordon feels comfortable putting just about anywhere. He’s not a long term solution for the first line, but not a bad experiment.
Dominic is kidding with the blue letters on the blue background, isn’t he?
Hey hockey guy, a player does not get a minus if scored on when killing a penalty. Park’s a -8 because he is terrible..JK; just want them to keep up the good work, I love watching this team.. Let’s go Islanders!!!
Park is minus 8 because most of the time he played on the forth line and was often matched up against the other team’s top line. That’s why the other 4th liners are in the minus column as well.
Final score Wild 2 Isles 3 in regulation.
Lets Go Islanders!
I for one would like to see Okposo back with Tavares but why fix something that is not broke. The team is winning..
P.S - Very Sexy Viking Chick!
Hillen and McDonald will give Isles much nedded mobility coming out of the D zone, sorry Witter. Does anyone have an online feed I can log on to for tonight’s game. Have to work..Thanks..
I like KO playing on his own line without JT because he can focus on scoring goals…When hes with JT he’s more inclined to make the pass instead..