BOSTON at NYI, 7:05 pm - Sutton out, JB at LW
Defining DiPietro’s “Unrelated Tightness”
Big change from yesterday in the giddiness over Andy Sutton’s return. From what I saw this morning, consider him 90% likely out for tonight’s big match against the Bruins.
Scott Gordon said Sutton was in, but reserved the right to change his mind tonight. Sutton said he was “pretty close” and talked of “doing the right thing” and looking “long-term.” Andrew MacDonald and the other five defensemen all look like they’re playing tonight.
Maybe Monday, maybe the Rangers series for Sutton.
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Fact: The Islanders have not scored an even strength goal in their last three games.
Oh no, now Coach Gordon has really gone and done it. It’s a good thing it’s a Saturday, or the Comments space would really blow up.
Your tentative lines for tonight:
Moulson - Tavares - Okposo
Sim - Nielsen - Hunter
Joensuu - Schremp - Comeau
Bailey - Thompson - Park
(Tambellini)
Streit - Gervais
Witt - Hillen
MacDonald - Meyer
(Sutton)
Roloson
Biron
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Bailey’s “Demotion”: My NHL pro scout who expressed concern a few weeks ago that the Islanders were turning the talented playmaking center Josh Bailey into a third-line center was apparently off by a line and a position.
Seriously, it’s not a big deal…for now. After the morning skate today, Scott Gordon said the Islanders just want to work with Josh on his all-around game. He also praised Frans Nielsen’s ability as a defensive forward. Looks like he’s got Nielsen locked in at No. 2.
Joensuu’s Chance: Jesse Joensuu’s English is so strong now, you’d think he was from Westport, Connecticut. Impressive. He said this morning that the coaches told him the team has been short players “to win the one-on-one battles” and “have a presence in front of the net.”
Sounds like the 6-4 Finn has an opportunity to stick for a while, if he does his job.
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Courtesy of Bruins radio play-by-play ace Dave Goucher, here’s what Boston is bringing tonight:
Wheeler - Savard - Bitz (could sit out)
Sobotka - Krejci - Ryder
Sturm - Bergeron - Recchi
Paille - Begin - Thornton
Chara - Morris
Ference - Wideman
Stuart - Boychuk
Thomas
Rask
Sadly, Milan Lucic is out. If Bitz can’t go, Matt Hunwick will play.
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The NHL Medical Dictionary: I’m not saying Rick DiPietro and the Islanders are not telling the truth when they say his leg “tightness” last night is “unrelated” to his previous surgeries. (They have yet to identify the afflicted leg). What I am saying is, that’s what just about every team says. In fact, the Islanders have used that line a few times in the last season-plus and it has turned out to be a fib…or at least a twist in semantics.
After all, in the last three years Rick has had both hips and a knee (a few times) surgically repaired. He has now played just 80 minutes of hockey after being sidelined for eleven months. If he experienced leg “tightness” last night, even if it’s not technically the hips or the knee, honestly now - how can it not be related in some way to his previous surgeries?
Comments.
100 Responses to “BOSTON at NYI, 7:05 pm - Sutton out, JB at LW
Defining DiPietro’s “Unrelated Tightness””
Please Wait
Putting Sim on the 2nd line will surely cure the lack of recent scoring, lol, kidding CB, don’t want to start the Sim bashing. In fact, as the Isles are now bottom 3 in the league, keep him there. Just makes Hall or Fowler even more probable.
Bailey a fourth-liner??!!! Is there a chance they could send Bailey to Bridgeport? At least he’d be getting quality playing time
Swallow your pride Snow and send him down!!!!! Let the kid work things out in the AHL playing close to 20 minutes a night instead of playing 8 on the 4th line. There has got to be somebody down in the AHL who is under 6ft and wears a visor. That’s what snow is looking for…
CB- You LOVE Milan Lucic
Why Sim gets second line duty and young guys that this team should be developing like Tambellini and Bailey get less or no ice time amazes me.
This coach shows me no talent for developing these kids. Sure Tavares is doing great…I really do not see the coaching as the reason do you? But the record with the likes of Nielsen, Blake, Comeau, Tambellini and even Okposo show me he cannot develop goalscorers. He wants a team full of Richard Park’s out there in the final moments when we need GOALS. Hell he wants a team of Parks out there all game. Let the goalscorers with some upside rot. I suppose that’s what ownership wants…after all goal scorers demand salary increases.
RE: Josh ~ If a player of his talent and skill “potential” is playing 4th line … he’s being missused and losing development time… 4th line is no place for Bailey … send him to the Bridge so he can get mucho minutes.
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RE: Rick ~ I’m with you CB … that “tightness” remark after 80 minutes… Not buying it. Not saying there is a setback … but I think if a lil tightness is “abnormal” then there is something to worry about … if it’s something they expected, and were just being cautious. Fine. Just say it.
“tightness”?? Great, here we go again. More watered down reality from the Islanders. I love how the fans, who pay to watch this team, are consistently left in the dark. The only saving grace for this team’s treatment of PR issues is this website and its not even officially associated with them anymore. Just sad…
#2 - What’s not to love?
I’m not one of those guys that questions every move that management makes. And I appreciate that they want to improve Josh’s overall play. But really isn’t that best done in the A? Its not like he needs to go thru waivers or anything.
As far as the Rick I guess we just hope the tightness isn’t in the area of recent surgeries.
If Bailey is going to play on the 4th line then I agree, send him down. They are ruining him.
Lets hope the “unrelated tightness”
diagnosis didn’t come from a New York Met
team doctor.
Our second, third and fourth lines are really fourth lines. It doesn’t matter which Bailey plays. Where does.
CB ~ What a difference a week makes … after a few losses, and other teams winning their games in hand … the Isles have dropped to the bottom 3 in the league … after holding a 6th & 7th spot in the conference not to long ago.
I believe you called that last week CB when you noted the Isles were 4 points from pushing into the top 5 of the conference and only 4 points from Toronto who had been hot of late.
That said … after 3 loses … the Isles are still only 5 points from punching through to the top 6 again.
If the 4th line thing is real for jb it could just be a way to take some pressure off him and allow him to just play his game. Plus playing w Park will only help him. The 4th line does get minutes and its not used as your typical NHL 4th line I like the FranzY line
id send bailey down too. its not that much of a problem. i know i wont look down upon snow. turris did it and he was drafted 3rd overall no? boedker i think too. not happy where sim is.
also, if im wrong im wrong but doesnt hunwick play defense? so why would he take bitz’s spot?
Send the kid down. This is ridiculous. What benefit is it to play him on the 4th line, and whats all this love for Sim
Honestly putting Bailey on the 4th line is a joke. Gordo should be putting Bailey in the best situation to succeed. That would be to have him cenetr the second line with forwards who can actually do something, like trent hunter. Also whats with the the Frans Nielsen love? He has done next to nothing after those first 5 games back. Bails second line. Frans 3rd line. Looking forward to seeing JJ tonight. Finally a forward with some size.
Jon Sim on the 2nd line? Let’s just say we didn’t OK?
beside from the first line this is the worst line up so far…Sim on the second line is a joke. could be a ugly night against the red hot bruins my predict result is a 2:5 loss hope i’am wrong.
Ok if they are going to play Bailey on line 4 I agree with people above that he may as well be sent down. But someone please answer me this why is he on line 4 and Sim on line 2???? Does that make any sense to anybody? It doesn’t to me!! IMO the only reason Sim is here is for comic relief becuase it is a rareity that he does something worthwhile on the ice. But lets let him play with our better players and put a 20 yr old developing center on a 4th line left wing with journeymen. Makes a lot of sense!!
2 things CB:
1) Bailey on the 4th line is a HUGE issue;send bailey down to bridgeport and let him play as an offensive player, you can already see that he’s becoming very capable defensively but he has no confidence in offensive zone, but thats also because tambs shows no desire to fight for pucks and sim has lost any offensive talent he had before he blew out his knee. But Bailey needs to develop more, and the 4th line gig is the absolute worse thing for him.
2) DP’s tightness is 100% due to the 80 minutes played in 11 months that you mentioned. Who wouldnt be rusty, especially a goalie, he has to get his body back into game shape, this “tightness” is probably from his hips, groin, and hamstring needing to get limber again.
This home stretch came at the right time for our guys to get their game back.
The more I hear about DiPietro the more I appreciate Dwayne Roloson.
after 31 games why is jon sims still here
he does nothingfor this rebuild
what has he contributed so far as veteran hockey player , gordo benches evryone who messes up during the game , comeau , tambellini , bailey , schemp
sims has played all 31 and he wasnt perfect in all 31 , if this is a rebuild
let tambs play , or bring up trevor smith or even greg moore
sims is waste of a spot on this team
and gordo benching your young players is not teaching and that what your supposed to be doing
good luck to my isles tonite
Sim should be on the fourth line not Bailey. I agree that if they want to play him on the fourth line send him to Bridgeport. What I want to see is him play on the second line at either center or wing with any two guys with some talent and let the kid play and develop. There ruining this kid and destroying any confidence he may have.
If you want Bailey at LW, why not the second line with Nielsen & Hunter. These three will most likely be with Isles two years from now…….Sim, probably not. Also, you usually get better playing with and against the best. Thompson is not one of the best centers on the team. If I was Bailey, I wouldn’t be happy playing on this line. IMHO
JoeRiverside
So Jon *** could get 2nd line minutes but Bailey can’t? Playing with guys who can’t score and given 4th line minutes is a really good way to develop our top prospects
Gordon… your really starting to test my patience. I really hope this is Sim’s last year cause i can not stand him any more.
JJ-Schremp-Comeau: 3 players with no confidence and experience on the same line.
Genius!
I think its funny that the other day everyone was complaining that Gordon needed to shake the lines up, and now that he has, they’re still complaining.
#16 no one was complaining about the lines that were up yesterday. Sim was where he should be on the 4th line. I loved the idea of the Bailey Nielsen Okposo line. Who knows thought, I’m sure these lines will be changed during the game.
we want the team to win-an arguably sim makes more out of his minutes then bailey
we want to team to develop players which means more minutes for bailey and more losses
then after a loss we can bash the team for being horrible
we are team with young guys and vets no one wants-choose a priority winning or development and stick with it
complaining about trying to accomplish both is nonsense
The whole idea of “second”, “third” and “fourth” lines is a concept whose time is past in the post-expansion era.
Nowadays, most teams, even good ones, have only one or two elite forwards. Those players, paired with a guy who basically fits anywhere, makes up the “first” line.
“Second”, “third” and “fourth” lines are now essentially indistinguishable. They all have to chip in offensively, they all have to be able to defend. Replace a “knuckledragger” playing with two depth forwards on a “fourth” line with a better offensive player and you suddenly turn a “fourth” line into a “second” line.
Thank you, Mr. Bettman, for 30 teams.
Dp situation reminds me so much of Jose Reyes when he had all of those leg issues early in his career. It just shows how long this type of rehab takes for an athlete that relys so much on leg movement. Lets just let this play out before we get all worried about this status.
1st off gordo isnt the one who is developing the kids the wrong way. His 1st talent he deveopled really on his own is okopso, yes he is in a slump but the kid is 21 and can be compared to almost any 1st line forward. He gives it everything he uses his 6′1 body to out muscle much bigger players, let bailey develop his aggression on the 4th line, and hopefully in the off season he throw on some muscle and use his talents to complete his attributes
It would be awesome if Doug Weight could hurry up and get fixed. Honestly, Tavarez doesn’t need the special attention, but apparently Bailey does. Weight could show Bailey some things on the ice even if he was playing every other game.
Optimistically speaking, the “tightness” could just be from being out of game shape. Maybe he pulled something the one time he flopped around. Otherwise he’ll be back in another 1-52 weeks looking to shake off the rust.
I honestly think KO has a good shot at bein captain next year, hes has the heart and the tools and already is a leader, i can see him greatly influenceing players like bailey who needs to gain that killer instinct knowledge. Keep them feets moving and throw your body around, create the best chance to score
Similar to a pitcher returning from Tommy John surgery or rotator cuff surgery there is bound to be periods of pain and tightness. Thinking anything otherwise is simply unrealistic. Game action is much different than practice… More stress and strain. I wish DePietro the best in his ongoing rehab.
DOC
….well at least Baily wont be playing with Sim.
I can’t help find it humorous that some people are getting so angry Bailey is playing LW on the 4th line. Wasn’t this the same kid that was drafted last year that had people calling for Snow’s head? Now he’s so good? Do I want him on the 4th line? No, but lets all calm down. Plus, the Isles - as CB mentioned - haven’t scored an even strength goal in 3 games - doesn’t that warrant line shuffling?
Glad to see that Snow is ok with having a soft team that will get pushed around again….I wont be tuning in.
Islanders pretty much have 2 4th lines so it really doesnt matter
Send Bailey to the AHL and give him 18-20 minutes a game. Playing him on the 4th line will never help him.
Honestly…I’m going tonight and am really psyched, but I’m shaking my head at this Bailey-nonsense. Can he not work on this board work or whatever in practice or somewhere else.
Jon Sim still in place…funny. What a valuable agitator he’s been.
CB- I play goal, and if I haven’t played for a few weeks I will get tightness during a game, could be the most normal goaltending issues, hammy’s and groin’s. Let’s not sound the alarm bell until its needed.
Last I checked you need some offense from the 2nd line center. Nielsen’s defense isn’t good enough.
Even I think Jon should be on the 4th line. He works hard but has no cohesiveness with top 3 line players.
It does not make any sense to see Bailey on the fourth line and Sim on the second line. From a confidence perspective, demoting Bailey to the fourth line is worse than sending him to the AHL right now. It’s all about how Bailey perceives this move … he may take it that Gordon doesn’t think he’s good enough to be a second liner in the NHL and if he fails to improve as a fourth liner then Bailey will have been beaten/broken down so badly that he may not recover from a psychological perspective. It’s done wonders for the careers of players like Tamby and Schremp, right!?
Speaking of Tamby, it looks like you were right CB … another visit to the box in a suit and tie to watch the game awaits him after a poor play the other night. Ah the confidence Gordon is building in his players each time they make a mistake.
Re: DP … too early to know what exactly the problem is but even if he can come back to the NHL this month and resume his career, he gets a free pass for the remainder of the season as it’ll take the rest of the year to shake off the rust and get back in game shape. His return to the team does not signify improvement in the short term as everyone knows it takes a full season to get back to where you were before being injured. So I will reserve negativity toward DP’s rehab and game play until he’s had enough time to truly recover and am rooting for him to prove me wrong by becoming the goaltender everyone expected all along. Good luck Rick! Its safe to say that everyone on here is rooting for you to get healthy, stay healthy and just be able to do your job without further incident.
First of all, why did suddenly Schremp seem to jump over Bailey and is now centering Joensuu and Comeau, considering Schremp has played about once in the past 20 games? And in regards to Sim, I’m all for rewarding players for working hard, but there’s a problem when his reward pushes a guy like Bailey to the fourth line.
CB, obviously anything that happens to DP’s legs at this point has something to do with the surgeries, but in your opinion what do you think this means with his rehab? Is it something he’ll just have to stretch out in the next couple of days, or something that will push his next start in Bridgeport back a week or more?
I’m no expert but I would think, LW on the second line would help him better than 4th line. I agree with the move to the wing but why not use that wing spot call up the Wrecker. We need some grit in our lineup and is he even getting minutes on Bridgeport? Sit Sim and put jj-schremp and comeau at the third line. Looks like our schedule is really taking a toll on this team. We’re all banged up and who knows if having all these home games coming up will actually be an advantage if were starting to lose guys to injuries. Our D is stil thin- we need more depth.
I really dont understand Gordon and probably never will…besides the fact that Tambys scratched yet again..thats not really suprising to me…the guy Sneezes the wrong way and Gordon will bench him..but HOW do you put Sim on the second line!? what has he done!? the only reason why Sim plays is because hes a “pain in the ass” to other players…which i still have yet to see..and send Bailey down to a line that does nothing..yeah really good at developing kids…The minute they screw up..he punishes them instead of helping them…I’m also intrested to see the Comeau-Shremp-Joensuu line tonight..really? take 2 guys that have been scratced constintly and 1 guy just up from BP and put them on a line together?
I’ll be going tonight but im really not expecting much.
Lol…funny stuff.
-We all admitted early in the year this is not a playoff team. (Healthy they can compete for an 8th seed.)
-In order to rebuild this franchise we still need some talent. Maybe-Snow/Gordon are trying to create some trade value for a guy like Sim by giving him some minutes.
-Bailey needs to play with better players. I wouldnt get caught up in whose playing on 2nd line, 3rd line, 4th line…as others said-they are all the same.
In my opinion-major weakness has been the play of our blueline recently.
Go Isles.
#25-Joe Riverside
Every player has their pluses and minuses. Starting from Tavares, he cannot take the puck to the offensive zone, however, he is awesome infront of the net and will score. He needs someone on his line to hold on to the puck and get it to the net. Now look at Bailey, he lacks confidence and having a gritty player like Thompson take the puck down to the offensive zone will probably help that line to score. Gordon knows what he is doing! Look at Bailey on the ice, he is terrified most of the time. If this does not work, then the AHL, but trying is always an option. Thompson will protect Bailey, no doubt about that. Stop complaining about individual players; they all have a job to do this is a team sport. Go Isles…you can do this!
I think its time for a new coach! Someone with EXP!!!
#50-Battfist:
Sim has no trade value and never will. passed through waivers last season unclaimed. sure he had a year left so that might have kept teams away, but at $1million this season, no one else would want him. if he was cheaper you could thrown him into a deal involving Biron to try and increase a draft pick by a round, but not at his salary.
I foresee a #2 draft pick for the Islanders…
Why on earth Jon Sim plays anywhere but the 4th line is beyond me. He makes bad mistakes, takes bad penalties, and just looks lost. Good guy I’m sure, and he gives effort, fine, but you are doing a disservice to Bailey, to Neilsen and Hunter, and most especially, to the fans.
Moulsen-Tavares-Okposo
Bailey-Neilsen-Hunter
I could also argue that the 2nd line should be…
Joensuu-Bailey-Hunter
Bring up Haley to protect Bailey. Thompson is not that talented to begin with and he can’t fight.
So…Bailey - 7 goals, tied for third on the team - demoted to fourth line. Tambs 7 seven goals, tied for third on the team - scratched. Sim - 2 goals, tied with Brendan Witt and Tim Jackman (while getting power play time!) - congrats on the promotion!
I know we’re not allowed to bash Sim on goals b/c “that’s not his game,” but if they’re going to trot him out there on a SCORING line, then it is fair to bring up his amazing goal scoring prowess, imo.
With this fantastic second line Gordon is throwing out there, 2/3 of it have a combined 5 goals…the same number of goals as “struggling” Kyle Okposo.
With Bailey…send him down simply for the sake of getting the poor kid away from Gordon, who is ruining him.
What on Earth is Gordon thinking? Can anyone make any sense of this?
#15, Hunwick is a great skater and he has played forward in the past.
Gorton is out of whack. He sometimes makes moves that are not what he is here for……to develop the talent we have.
Bailey is lost, he is overwhelmed so what to do? 4th line with Thompson will accomplish nothing for him.
As much as his play does not deserve a promotion to play with better players, that is what he needs…….or else Bridgeport. Those are the options that will maybe help get out of him what he has. If he has nothing, well then its off to Conn. until he can get it, which could be never.
Move Bailey to the LW of JT with Kyle on the right wing.
Move Moulson to LW on Nielsens line with Hunts on the RW.
This season is about developing Nielsen, JT, Tambellini, Okposo, and Bailey. Moulson was a surprise so we keep developing him also, but that move wont hurt his game.
As long as Gorton thinks his job is making the playoffs, he will continue to make bad lineup decisions that set these young players back.
Agreed on Bailey. If this is just one game, no biggey, but if this is going to continue, it is a concern. I think he should be up with Tavares and Okposo. These kids need to be the foundation. I have never understood all of the line juggling, players need some consistent coaching and roles.
I like Gordon, so I will take a wait and see whether this approach has a meaningful point or context.
If Bailey has never played LW before, wouldn’t it make more sense to ease him into it playing 4th line minutes? And if he plays well, give him more time? If you’re really worried about his confidence level, why would you just throw him on the 2nd line right away? You’re basically setting him up to fail that way.
I gotta say, I’m quite disappointed in the overall handling of Josh Bailey. The first mistake was not sending him back to junior last year and giving him a chance to be a big part, if not the captain, of the Canadian World Junior team. Now he’s 20 years old, in the NHL, and wondering where the hell he stands. He had good chemistry with Kyle Okposo last year, but the staff broke that up because along came Tavares. I can’t imagine why they don’t just leave Moulson and Tavares as the constant while having Okposo play with Bailey.
As a player, I like Bailey a lot. I just hope that they don’t screw him up by bouncing him around too much.
Hey…maybe Sim is always busting his butt in practice.
Maybe he listens and respects the coach.
Maybe he doesn’t act like he’s entitled.
Maybe the Isles think they can move him at some point and want to keep him active.
Obviously, if the Isles had 2 or 3 superstars sitting around then yeah, I would question the moves but that aint the case.
If Bailey wasn’t a high draft pick we would be even talking abut this?
Whether the Islanders continue to progress or not, do we really believe that ALL of our *Kids*/Draft picks are going to be on this team for the duration?!? I doubt it.
Go Isles!
PLEASE,PLEASE…..PLEASE just win against Boston…..
why does gordon love sim so much, i just don’t get it.
maybe sim will get a few points in the next few games. SO WE CAN TRADE HIM for something.
And really. Forget the line combos, WE NEED DEFENSE.
Bailey and Tambellini don’t do anything when they get the ice time so why give it to them? They’ve had ample opportunity to prove themselves. Sim works his ass off and draws penalties just about every game. Okposo works hard but Tavares will be named Captain next year, he’s their best player by far.
If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all, soooooooo I’ll keep quiet about Gordo’s line combinations.
Regarding Bailey, for now,it’s for one game. Not a big Sim fan and is a fourth liner, but he gets his nose dirty. Bailey, Tamby do not.
#67 - Sumo Goalie - Best Blog for the day!
No sutton tonight.. Not in warmups
Sim & Tamby generate 0 scorin oppertunities. They never cycle the puck or any sort of offensive pressure. Is it any wonder that Bailey generated his best offense when he was playing with Weight? Bailey 7-3-10 Nielson 3-7-10. Nielson has linemates and Bailey does not. If the Islanders are serious about Odevelopment” starting playing Josh with useful players, enough of Jon Sim. Gordon is starting to act like Ted Nolan. Comeau-Bailey-Hunter (or Weight).
OHHH SCREMPP plus a proper goal song
As I have said many times on this board. Schremp is a very good player. Look what happens, you put him in a situation to do well and he will…
ut oh , hillen’s hurt
good to see Schremp score. Believe it or not, in the now 10 games he’s played he has scored at the same pace as Bailey and Nielsen.
I’ve been hoping that Snow would grab one of the D-men that have gone through waivers recently just so they would have some extra depth. Now that Hillen got wanged in the foot Snowy will think about it a little harder. Hoping Jack’s not hurt, but depth is depth.
he’s back WHEW!
Just a terrible goal….Roloson HAS to save that.
They need to start the second with a better forecheck. Boston is playing keepaway and then getting oddman rushes.
911 call transcript: There is a dead horse in my back yard. At first there was one guy beating him… now there are dozens of people beating it… please… somebody send Bailey to Bridgeport so that horse can rest in peace!
Jesse… please please please… score two in the next four games so we never have to see Jeff Tambellini in an Islander uniform again. I don’t hate the guy, but this team needs size and a physical presence from its SUPPORT players.
Mr. Schremp… you need a few as well (see 911 transcript)
As far as Lucic goes… Milan can play on my team any day… but please CB… that doesn’t mean we need to see him in a torn sweaty tee shirt lying on the beach. (PLEASE… no more of those).
At times during the first period the team looked pretty sloppy. They look a little better this period.
On an unrelated note, I’m a big fan of the Coliseum’s TV sight-lines, but these days it looks like one of the old rinks that I played travel hockey in rather than an NHL arena. Too bad everyone with the power to change that has their head in the respective behinds…
Hey look, Brandon witt doing nothing to stop a goal. AGAIN.
Witt a - 2 this game. enough said
is it me or does it look like sim is getting under chara’s skin tonight?
You know, it’d be nice if we could clone our first line…..
witts minuses is getting higher n higher n …..
Tavares’s hockey sense is ridiculous!
watching the bruins feed on gamecenter. Brinkley, the bruins color guy, called JT’s assist, “Savard-like”. Hey Brinks, in ten years from now, you wont be able to say savard in teh same sentence as John Tavares.!!! Unbeleiveable.!
The whole play was nice. Great passing and finish at the end.
Speaking of the Bruin’s feed, I have heard the NESN guys giving Sim some serious props for being chippy and taking on Chara among others. And to think they could’ve had him on waivers last season.
I don’t blame Witt for either goal. First one was a good wrist shot and the second one he was left alone to try and check two bruins after someone blew an assignment. I’m one who bashes Witt but he’s done nothing wrong for a while. He keeps getting left in bad situations by his teams lack of defensive positioning. What is with all the failed clearing attempts tonight? Time to man up and clear the zone inside of throwing it weakly up the boards
The second goal helped me understand why Gordon benches comeau. Soft plays by a grinder. not good.
To bad the bruins players aren’t all SUVs then WITT would have no problem. Unfortunately they are hockey players.
Until Gordon finally figures out who is top six offensive fwds are this team will be fighting to score 3 goals per game. Why does Comeau play with Tavares and Tambellini got stuck with Sim. I don’t get it! As much as I like Frans, he’s a 3rd line center. I’m glad Schremp is playing.
UGH another dumb penalty. Our D men cannot afford to take such penalties!
I will say this, I don’t think Zdeno Chara and Jon Sim will ever be friends. Maybe that’s why Sim has been getting so much second line time.
FRANS @#%^#^%@%# NEILSON! what a game!
big goal - huge win - love this team
reminds me of the 1975 Islanders
Great Win…..
Sweet,Home sweet home!
Heck yeah Fransy!
I know I might get ripped on for this but I am sorry in advance.
We pass on a talented, fast scoring winger in nikita filatov at the 2008 draft and move down 4 spots to pick josh bailey a play making center who barely averages a shot per game 9th overall who we are now using as a winger on the 4th line. And on top of that jon sim who has been a 4th line journeyman the majority of his career and every once in a blue moon played 3rd line is playing wing on the 2nd line for the islanders. If that makes sense to anyone please explain to me because trying to make sense of that on my own is going to make me have a stroke.