PITTSBURGH at ISLANDERS, 2:05 pm
Two Stats…Gordon’s Take…What to Expect Friday
Please read FanHouse: My FanHouse colleagues share what they’re thankful for. Two shout-outs to the Islanders, one to Islanders fans.
CB for FanHouse: Sherry Ross becomes first woman NHL play-by-play announcer.
12:05 pm, Iceworks - A pair of incredible, telling stats – courtesy of Eric H.:
The Islanders have led at some point of every game this month except for the shutout loss in Buffalo. The Islanders are 5-5-2 this month.
The Islanders have led at some point of every home game this season except the Columbus Day loss to Los Angeles. The Islanders are 4-3-3 at home.
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The Islanders’ brief practice today was not a punishment or bag skate in the wake of the loss last night. Although it was on the preliminary schedule as an optional, Scott Gordon decided two weeks ago to have everyone at the rink. Practice time has been limited this month and will be all season because of the condensed schedule.
The head coach, however, did give seven players the day off the ice because of increased game minutes: Mark Streit, Trent Hunter, Richard Park, Kyle Okposo, Andy Sutton, Jack Hillen and Frans Nielsen. Brendan Witt was given the option, but decided to practice.
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In the Islanders’ third period, one-shot breakdown last night which cost them a point or two, the team was its own worst enemy. They committed 17 turnovers with time and space – unforced errors, as they call them in tennis. The 17 doesn’t include the turnovers under Flyers pressure.
I spoke with Scott Gordon for a while, presenting all my crazy theories about the third period. How could a team on a night like Wednesday be so good in the first period and so lousy in the third? Most of our discussion was off-the-record, never antagonistic, very educational and I appreciate the coach giving me the time and courtesy.
In the end, I’ll share this quote from Gordon: “We’re gearing up for better days with a team that’s going to play a certain way.”
My interpretation: this is going to take time. We’re doing pretty well. If we played a different way we might not be in some games in the third period. Everyone would have signed up for .500 at this point in the schedule.
Again, just my interpretation. And here’s my addendum, one more time: this offseason, the Islanders only added two good goalies, the gift of John Tavares and the bonus surprise of Matt Moulson to a 30th-place roster. Personnel will be added over the next two seasons.
Oh yeah, and Gordon will still be the head coach.
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What to look for Friday when the Islanders host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 2:00 pm:
Dwayne Roloson in goal.
The same six defensemen.
The same 12 forwards.
The incomparable Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal and a beat-up Penguins defense the Islanders should be able to pounce on with their forecheck.
Another “Gold”-priced game, but a bigger crowd than last night’s 12,000. Don’t rule out a sellout, so get your tickets now if you plan on attending.
I’m going to sit in Section 118 with my three young sons Friday for Islanders-Penguins. The laptop will be off and the blog will be closed tomorrow afternoon so I can enjoy with the boys. About two hours after the game, we’ll open it up for some Interactive Plus/Minus. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the holiday weekend…CB
27 Responses to PITTSBURGH at ISLANDERS, 2:05 pm
Two Stats…Gordon’s Take…What to Expect Friday
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Trotts says:
Please get Okposo of of Neilsen’s line…
Moulson-JT-Okposo
Bergie-Bailey-Hunter
Tamby-Bailey-Park
Jack(jacked up)Man-Thompson-Sim -
MJS says:
Happy Thanksgiving to CB and all the readers here.
I am seriously thankful for this particular blog as it got passed the internet filters at work, kept me entertained at school, and helped give some perspective on what was the most brutal hockey team in recent memory. Keep it up CB.
Hopefully the team will see the type of rise we saw from the Blackhawks a few years ago. Perhaps that’ll happen after another good draft and free agency period. Either way, the Isles have been showing promise and I’m not sure that I’m ready to see more wins than losses and a player on the roster that can score more than 40 points.
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BD Hendo says:
Enjoy Today & Tomorrow with your family, they grow old too soon!!
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Spartiarti-RVC says:
happy thanksgiving everyone. Ill be at the game friday. if we beat pens we will once again had successful stretch.
Isles looked unbelievable in 1st and even my bro in law whom i brought to game that is casual fan was like wow, these kids fly, they only going to get better.
Lets not forget Flyers are on of the top teams in the East. Okposo crossbar pretty hard.
Lets see how the bounce back Friday.
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the1gwiz says:
Thanks for taking the time to get this out to us on Thanksgiving, CB. A safe and happy to you and yours. Enjoy the game tomorrow. The Country is of course quite thankful that PB is still around and flourishing
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dan from va beach says:
THE ISLANDERS ARE 5-3-2 AT HOME!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING:) -
whalersconvertedtoisles says:
Happy Thanksgiving CB! Thanks for providing an awesome place for Isles fans to come to during good times and the bad. I can’t wait to see the fans on this blog keep growing over the next couple years as the Isles work their way up towards first place! Enjoy the game tomorrow!
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kevin27nyi says:
i just want to add that the crowd yesterday was loud and awake. i hope this carries through the whole season
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Anthony says:
Thanks for all you do. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
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Davie says:
Happy Thanksgiving CB! Thanks for the best blog on the Web.
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Glen S says:
Happy Thanksgivimg to CB and all the rest out there. CB enjoy enjoy the game with the kid’s tomorrow, and LETS GO ISLANDERS.
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Yitz says:
I’ll be at the game Friday! Hoping for a big win!
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Shelly says:
I am thankfull for botta the hottie
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eastonhockey says:
Isles could of finished dead last this season and Gordan would of been safe job wise. Thats the only thing that bothers me..competing for a playoff spot or dead last..doesnt matter he is the guy no matter what. I don’t like that philosophy. A coach should have to win to keep his job, the Wild won 2 rounds of hockey in one year as a expansion team. Nothing wrong with requiring a coach to be good at winning. SOrt of the whole point of sports.
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
Happy Thanksgiving to my extended family of Isles fans out there in Isles Country!!
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CB – Thankful for this blog that you created for all us fans spread out over North America and all 4 corners of the world.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
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Staten Islander says:
Happy Thanksgiving CB and Happy Thanksgiving Islanders nation
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dave chyzowski says:
just my two cents… Wouldnt it make sense to put someone with speed on Tavares line? Moulson,Tavares and Hunter make a very slow line together and i think it makes it harder for JT to sneak around to find soft spots. i think tambelini might fit with him, any thoughts?
Also, is it just me or does it seem that the islanders bang it off the boards waaay too often?? -
hextall72 says:
Happy thanksgiving CB.. Take a well deserved day off tomorrow and hopefully it will end in a nice W..
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Jeff in Oyster Bay says:
Hey Chris, enjoy the game tomorrow, I’ll be there as well, haven’t missed a game yet this year, though that will change when tax season begins. By the way, did you ever find out anything on Gordon’s tie?
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“They committed 17 turnovers with time and space – unforced errors, as they call them in tennis.”
This is a very important note. Many of these unnecessary turnovers took place right at the Flyers’ blueline.
I was truly disappointed with how often the team failed to get the puck in the zone in a positive manner. The inability to either get the puck deep or cross the blueline with safe possession and then at least send the puck to the net was startling. Brutally startling. Might as well have just taken slapshots from mid-ice – they would have had a much better chance to score by doing that.
It also really perturbs me that the basic attack of 1) puckcarrier enters the zone, 2) 2nd man heads straight for the net, 3) 3rd man hangs high and 4) pass or shot from puckcarrier – doesn’t seem to be conducted with regularity by this team. In close games, it’s the ONLY way to go. That’s basics. When things are tough, it has to be done – repeatedly. It doesn’t seem to be done at all by our boys.
In addition, guys like Sim, Moulson, maybe Bergenheim need the other players to get the puck to the net. How hard or if that initial shot is a real attempt to score it absolutely secondary, the point should be to get it there so that a deflection or rebound can take place. This dipsy-doodle stuff that yes, is often unsuccessfully attempted by the likes of Tavares and Okposo, is leading us nowhere.
Just get pucks on net! There’s always that possibility that the goalie misreads the shot, is not concentrated, fumbles out a rebound or heck, the shot hits a leg/skate/arm whatever and goes in. Our better offensive players need to stop thinking the goals need to be pretty and just get more pressure on net and in the slot.
And admittedly, all three periods long.
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GParks says:
I think they should put Park back on first line. He brings speed and experience working with scorers. For those who don’t agree just remember the line he played w when he was on Pitts also put bails on the second line w okposo and hunter each line should have an experience player with the young ones
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Bri on Li says:
Have fun at the game, CB. Hope it’s a good one! LETS GO ISLANDERS!
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Matt says:
going to the game today. can’t wait to watch them not play in the 3rd again.
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IslesPassion21 says:
Has anyone else noticed that Mark Striet hasn’t been moving his feet while carrying the puck out of our zone into the offensive zone? He’s always gliding so he doesn’t have any speed to enter the offensive zone, especially on the PP. We need Wright back who skates hard ahead of the play pushing the dmen back allowing the wings to catch up so he can actually make a play. Hopefully Mark gets it together and starts skating hard with a purpose because as of now he doesn’t seem to be doing it. Last year I was boldly saying, “Mark Striet is an elite hockey player” and people scoffed at that. I still think he has it but maybe he’s just over thinking things as apposed to just playing instinctual.
Liket CB said before, I also wish Gordo would put KO down low, on the wing, during the PP instead of using him on the point where he can’t use his power foward prowess to get those dirty nose goals, down low. I think KO would have at least 5 or more tallys if he were down low. That’s where the 90% of goals are scored in todays NHL.
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2277 says:
Park is like Randy Wood… except instead of dropping the shoulder, he goes around the net only to lose the puck
Happy Thanksgiving CB and Islander Country