RANGERS at ISLANDERS, 7:05 pm
No skate for NYI; Redden, Kotalik scratched
6:30 pm, NVMC - Dwayne Roloson confirmed as the starter for the NYI.
Good afternoon. As you’d figure after last night’s stunning no-show by the Rangers, most of the news regarding tonight’s game will be made by their camp. The Islanders had only a team meeting this morning at Nassau Coliseum, while injured players and Jeff Tambellini used the 10:30 icetime.
Without the skate, you can’t tell who’s starting in goal and if there will be any line changes. There shouldn’t be, but there has been some thought in the media that Martin Biron will get the nod tonight. If Dwayne Roloson is feeling fine, he should be starting. Henrik Lundqvist starts for the Rangers.
The Rangers had an optional skate at the Coliseum. John Bleepin’ Tortorella’s first shakeup is the scratching of forward Ales Kotalik and defenseman Wade Redden. Bonb Sanguinetti and Erik Christensen are in.
That’s really not much of a shakeup – just two players playing badly who deserve to be scratched. What has happened to Wade the last three seasons is a major mystery. Too bad for Glen Sather, who didn’t know about it before giving Wade $6 mill a year.
Redden, Scott Gomez, Chris Drury…that’s one brutal run of unwisely spending Cablevision cash.
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Let me run through what I spoke with Scott Gordon about after the game:
Shot-blocking: The Islanders were credited with 28 last night by the Garden scorers – quite the compliment from the home team guys. The team was outstanding last night. A blocked shot is not always throwing your body in front of a big slapper; getting to the shot on time with your stick is just as effective. Gordon has had the Islanders working on that the last few weeks. “You really saw the results tonight,” said the coach. “The guys have worked hard on deflecting shots.”
Jack Hillen: This is getting a little crazy. Hillen was not even in the opening night lineup. Now he’s at the point where I don’t think it’s unfair to compare his recent play to someone like the Devils’ rising defenseman Andy Greene – who has improved so much, he’s getting Olympic consideration. “Jack is a very smart player and he continues to get better and better,” said Gordon. “His development says a lot about the work Garth and the scouts have put in the last few years.”
Andrew MacDonald: Look for the young defenseman to play again tonight after 20 solid minutes in the Garden. “That was a big effort from Andrew last night,” said Gordon. “He’s really starting to come into his own and that’s a big plus for our organization.”
Getting to the net: I thought the Islanders had more players in front of Henrik Lundqvist last night than in any game this season. After the game, Gordon sounded like someone not wanting to tip his hand – “Yeah, the guys went hard,” was all he said – but the strategy was obvious. Of course, Lundqvist still stopped many shots in traffic. The Islanders will want to continue the practice tonight.
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Reading Material: Sean Leahy on Puck Daddy re-visits talk of a Winter Classic at Yankee Stadium.
Predict-the-score and your comments on this post and tonight’s game.
113 Responses to RANGERS at ISLANDERS, 7:05 pm
No skate for NYI; Redden, Kotalik scratched
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Brian from Bay Shore says:
I think the rangers come out hard tonight. I also think that something needs to be done to sean avery, im not saying maim the guy but someone has to drop the gloves with him. Isles win if they block shots and hit the net, and if mark streit starts to move his feet and remembers that he is a great skater with moves. You are supposed to be the smooth skating defensemen, not jack hillen.
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Top 2 Ranger lines should be tired tonight after all those minutes last night. Isles 4 Rangers 2. KO SCORES !!!
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Iron Islander77 says:
Sim vs Avery would be entertaining.
“Tonight on MSG: Two yapping poodles, one sheet of ice – tow men enter, one man leaves…”Hats off to Jack Hillen!
Roloson in goal plz!
JT – KO – MM -
Joe in Massapequa says:
No Chad Johnson tonight? Obviously both teams are in the same boat from playing last night, but we need to roll a solid 4 line rotation again. I definitely think there will be some more physical play so the Isles better keep their heads up.
And thank you Mr. Dolan for raising my cable bill. As an Islander fan I am glad that money goes towards the Reddens, Gaboriks, Drurys, Gomezes, Brashears, and the rest of the ridiculous contracts that you have handed out in recent years.
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John says:
Bruno Gervais should bring an E-Z chair up to the pressbox, because the way that Andy Mac played last night, he’ll be up there for a while.
Streit
Sutton
Hillen
Andy Mac
Dehaan
Hamonic2010-11 D
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Brian G says:
I would start Roloson again, then use Biron on Saturday vs. Montreal
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Something that has really impressed me about this team, considering it is a young team, is how they bounce back from bad games. The Florida game was horrible, but they bounced back last night with one of their best efforts. They did the same thing last month after getting killed by the Devils and coming back the next game and beating Atlanta in another one of their best efforts of the season to date.
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Geli says:
Hey CB, if we’re going to talk about unwise cablevision spending, let’s not leave out Roszival at 5 mil a year!
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orngfan says:
gotta start rolly tonight!!! as far as the rangers coming out strong tonight, as long as we weather the storm early and get a goal sometime between the 10minute mark and the end of the 1st period i think the rangers will collapse back into their shell. that is until avery runs tavares or the goalie and cowards away to the bench!
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BJ says:
Forget about Avery, he wants us to retaliate and take dumb penalties, he built a career on that, im sure Rollie would be the first to tell itd be a waste of time…Have to start Roloson tonite, no question, good to see Gordon giving credit to McDonald, he deserves it, does a great job breaking out the puck….Lets put Torts on the unemployment line and get a win tonite, Go Isles…
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mrlbem says:
I’m going to repeat here what I posted on Puck Daddy in response to the Winter Classic article. If the NHL is going to screw the Islanders out of their rightful place in a New york area Winter Classic game, then the least the league could do is schedule a Winter Classic game in Edmonton between the Islanders and the Oilers. It would be a celebration of the last two great dynasties and you could perhaps also include an Old Timers game between the alumni. That would work, wouldn’t it?
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Le Dude says:
Why doesn’t Streit shoot anymore on the power play?
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Dan from Westchester says:
at #10 – i agree 100%! Streit has a laser beam from the point. . wasn’t he even in the hardest shot competition All Star wknd last season?? Seems like it’s been a long long time since he’s unloaded one of his patented bombs.
Credit to Kyle Okposo for not letting his goalscoring drought affect any other aspect of his play. Even though he isn’t lighting the lamp – and he will! – he has been huge for us all over the ice.
As for Hillen – the guy can skate with the puck, pass the puck and is very reliable in his own end – what a GREAT signing right out of college by Garth Snow.
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bcarey says:
A Winter Classic at Yankee Stadium not featuring the Isles would be a slap in the face. Understandable from a marketing perspective, but jeez. Wait another year for us to improve, then let us play in the game.
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Lenny says:
#12 & 13, I wonder if JT on the PP has changed this… Last year all they had on the PP was Streit’s shot, now there are some options, but I agree I’d like to see that shot from him more…
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ken says:
If they play hank tonight and Saturday (1pm game), he will have played 3 games in 66 hours
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jt says:
12,13,15…I think he has been shooting, he just misses the net. If he can hit the net a little more the points will come.
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Bob Beers says:
Should be interesting tonight one way or another. The one thing I do not want to see is another letdown after a huge win. Let’s Go Islanders!
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doc says:
Never I would say this but I hope Nate Thompson is “ok” and is able to play full throttle tonight. He’s been real good.
And I am now convinced that Streit is playing on 1 1/4 legs. There’s no way he’s 100 percent.
DOC
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Islander86 says:
Jack Hillen is a very pleasant surprise.
Thank You, Garth Snow. -
tommyG says:
Marketing Genius would be logical to have Islanders vs Rangers Outdoors
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Rich says:
Gordon was on 94.3 this morning and said Rollie would get the start tonight.
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Chris Mc says:
Ok Ive been seriously anti-all the tough guy talk since the preseason. But with Tortarella’s F-Bomb Attack and chair throwing, I have a feeling hes going to have the Rangers start a couple scraps tonight. Without Jackman in the lineup that means Witter and Sutton are going to need to be on alert.
As for the rest of the team, keep throwing those body checks and crashing the net. I know thats what Gordo’s been preaching all year and when they do it, thats when they play their best games.
I also believe that it would be blasphemous to not have Isles vs. Rangers in a NY winter classic. And thats not bc Im an Islander fan. You look at the great rivalries out there, Isles/Rangers, Boston/Montreal, Chicago/Detroit. Those are the ones that should be featured in the Winter Classic. But they already screwed up the Boston one, so Im sure they’ll not include the Isles and screw that one up as well.
But like someone said previously, Isles vs. Oilers would be pretty entertaining as well if we get screwed out of this one.
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Brother Rat says:
As someone who really wanted the Isles to sign Gilroy mostly because I felt that his pedigree topped Jack Hillen’s and that even though it was his (Gilroy’s) first year all, I expected the performance of both of them to be about a wash this year…all I can say is I was totally off. I was never really down on Hillen, but he has improved so much that it’s a pleasure to be wrong. Especially since Gilroy was sent back and had apparently looked a bit lost since game 2. Hillen’s really come around and is making the plays both defensively and in the offensive zone. What a pleasure to see. I’m so glad we didn’t sign some scrub D for a bloated contract to underperform and take Hillen’s spot and ice time away.
And absolutely the Isles/Rags have to be the next winter classic. Although, since we’ll have two in a row in the Northeast, I wouldn’t be surprised to have a game out west next year (Denver? Vancouver?), but maybe here on New Year’s 2012.
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TM says:
Do you think Isles fans will show up tonight and not be too afraid to attend?
Any chance of a sellout?
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neologizer says:
Where your cablevision fees are going:
Sean Avery ……$4mil/yr
Donald Brashear…1.5/yr
Chris Drury 8.1/yr
Wade Redden 8.0/yr
Alex Kotak 3.0/yrTonight that $25 mil will put 3 players on the ice with a grand total of 6 goals -LOL
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Hextall72 says:
#23.. Afraid of what? Beating our overrated, overpaid and bunch of underacheiving crosstown rivals?
7pm can’t come soon enough for us islander fans
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Eric Nystrom says:
Great game last night.. my highlight was sticking my middle finger up at Sean Avery as he starred at me for about ten seconds. The other highlight was sitting next to Doug Weight. I asked Doug when he was coming back and he said “After the New Year” duh, really? He also said “We are going to sweep them”
Let’s Go Isles!!! 4-1 Isles.. Big Game by JT..
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Hextall 27 – Afraid of NYR fans taking over NVMC. The past many NYR-NYI games I’ve attended at NVMC have had less and less NYI fans show up and more NYR fans.
It seems NYI “fans” don’t want to deal with NYR fans at NVMC and stay home.Does that change tonight?
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SM says:
word has it there are about 2,000 seats left, we need more Isle fans there, there is no reason this shouldn’t be a sold out, obnoxiously loud crowd, we really need to get the old barn back to a difficult place to play in. I get that times are tough, but I can think of many worse ways to spend 30 bucks. Lets show some support.
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SM.. I agree.. I was not going to go but now I will.. I might be divorced after, but I don’t care! I am GOING!! Who’s with me??
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JT9187 says:
headed to the game tonight. still tickets available… lets make sure we take back OUR house
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Spartiarti-RVC says:
CB, Mystery called Redden. How about he was never Go To DMAN ever. He benefited from playing on PP with Alfredson, Heatley (or Hossa) and Spezza. So essentially the Guy standing all alone on other point taken open slappers.
You would think a GM like Sather would of known that.
LETS GO ISLANDERS
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Now thats what I am talking about!!!!! WHO ELSE!? 1999 seats still left….
Cant wait for the “Chicken Dance” tonight….I remember when it was tough to get tix to a wed night game in the early 90′s, the product is starting to appear on the ice, the fans need to start appearing in the stands… I for one am excited about the future of this team…. -
Vinny says:
I am down to go. Lets go Islanders!!
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Zeike says:
Wow – what a big story. Benching a guy in Kotalik who played a whopping 7 mins last night, 4 of which came on the power play. That’s like the Isles benching Rechleitz.
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RichM says:
Larry Brooks is right in his article today that this rivalry has lost all its juice. Last night’s game was pretty boring. I am hoping for an intense game tonight.
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the bomber says:
torts was acting like a big shakeup was coming. he benched 2 dudes who played 10 mins combined last night. we are gonna abuse sanguinetti tonight.
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WM says:
Right on Rich M. Been a diehard Isles fan since ’72 and, despite the great win, almost fell asleep. Boring as hell.
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Metalcoconut says:
#39 Rich
The rivalry has lost it’s juice because both teams have been buying their players. However, now that the Isles are building a team, they will have some people who can experience the rivalry for more than a season. Once the Isles get some more skilled players in the lineup and the Rangers fire Sather I’m sure the rivalry will start to pickup once again. -
Chris says:
Rangers are going to be out for blood tonight! Lets jump on them early!
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4theisles says:
Before the season began, a Ranger/Islander game was on one hand a chance for the Rags to topple the Isles on the way to finishing top 3 or 4 in the East, and on the other hand for the Isles to upset their rivals inspite of being #15 in the East. Now the game is a fight for a playoff spot+ the rivalry. The winner is the fans.
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Lord Al says:
This may go with why Gretz was in MSG for the last 3 games and as the post reported on page six early this week Gretz Mike Kennan and Mess were seen eating lunch together in NYC
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Kenny in NJ says:
Two teams obviously going in different directions, but the Rags are still very dangerous, and did they ever come oh, so close last night a couple of times, especially that Gaborik ‘tweener thru Roli’s legs. No more classic 3rd period lapses running arond with 6-7 min. left please. KO needs to give and go, and head to the net for some garbage. That will jumpstart his scoring. Isles 3-2 in OT.
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The DU says:
Gotta start Roloson. Saturday too.
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Mike from Sarasota says:
So Torts huffs and puffs and scratches a bottom pairing D and 4th line wing. Wow, some shake-up.
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Deadhead654 says:
#44 – I think the Isles will wrap it up before Overtime and I cant wait to watch it on my 47″ Television!
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Eric Cup says:
Does anyone here feel that Roloson is not our #1 goalie? The best teams in this league have always had a #1 with a back-up. Rolo is our guy. I don’t see the need to find Biron starts. He’ll get in at some point, but if Rolo stays hot and consistent then let him keep playing. Biron does not need to be on there Saturday. Rolo said it himself that he plays sharper with more work. Let’s ride him – he’s a pro!
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JPinVA says:
Early Christmas Present… Avery gets into it with Jesse Joensuu and the kid cuts his teeth on the guy who put the SLOPPY in SLOPPY SECONDS. I think Bergy has taught us that you shouldn’t mistake Finnish players for Swedish players… But that’s not gonna happen, but it would be a nice way for the kid to start an Isle fan love-fest.
I can’t imagine a Ranger team any more passive than the one we saw last night, so I hope the Isles are prepared. It’s not going to be fun watching the teacher’s pet get killed by Brashear, but I have a feeling that’s going to happen… let’s hope he gets a hero’s welcome if it does.
I get the idea with the search for balance, but it’s time to search for PRODUCTION. They had it with MM-JT-KO. I think there is an adequate pool below that now to create a spark if they shuffle the middle six. Leave those guys alone and you might get two goals out of them again.
Then if you get one or two from the shuffle you’re good to go.
Let’s hope that JT, MM, JJ, Roloson and Biron get to see what a REAL Islander/ Ranger game is like. -
leaving soon for the coli, cant wait for tonights game.
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K-Rob says:
The “Sim”tuation will strike again!
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CrackheadTheo says:
K-Rob, lets be honest here buddy….no it wont.
Rolo in net please, no ned to see Biron in net after Rolos performance last night. Loved that helmet save he had! -
lakewood islander says:
I dont care that birons stats are similar to rollo,even if rollo is luckier he has got to be in net tonight! Dont worry about Birons feelings-we are trading him anyways
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Jim from East Islip says:
yeah I have a feeling the rags are gonna come out swinging. Let’s hope we stick up for each other and come away with the 2 points.
Also love the way Hillen and Joensuu are playing. -
therain93 -- terriers fan says:
Hope Tavares is prepared for the possibility of losing more teeth. I can’t imagine that the Rags won’t be making runs at him, if nothing more than to draw stupid penalties. Hopefully someone on the isles will stand up, and do it early.
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OJK says:
Redden is scratched ?! HA ! That is one expensive itch !
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BobNy711OT says:
One-since-40, clap-clap – clap-clap-clap!!
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hahahhaha OJK, one VERY expensive itch!
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joe fred says:
I think they will scrap early and possibly often tonite, it will be a physical game, wqould love to attend this one if I lived in New York. Isles win this one 4-3, Taveras has two and Moulson has two tonite.
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BD Hendo says:
#5 post: switch to Fios, their low def isles games are clearer than cablevisions NO-DEF!!. Those ch.414 games are like watching tv with rabbit ears!! Screw the Dolans, get yourself Fios or DTV & SEE the difference on your tv & your monthly bills.Cablevision constantly puts the Isles on LO-DEF (414)anyway, with the least amount of HI-DEF exposure of all NY teams, why pay them the Moola-Shmoola!! OH yeah, Lets Go Islanders!!!
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admin says:
Dwayne Roloson starts…CB
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misterpink says:
hahaha, jaffe just told howie to basically STFU when he tried to talk about broken sticks again.
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Very different feel tonight.
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Joe says:
Streit has looked just awful the past few games.
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Staten Islander says:
Damn, they outplayed them and are down 2-0
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HilbertSnipe says:
rough period. hockey is a game of breaks and bounces. all my rangers fans were talking about our garbage goals last night. garbage goals are normally payoffs of HARD WORK.
looks like the hockey gods are letting the Rags get the garbage goals tonight, however, they aren’t working hard. yuck.
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islesfan16 says:
streit is responsible for that 2nd goal. he threw in a weak dump in and didn’t get back, which led to the 3 on 2.
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the1gwiz says:
Ladies and gentlemen, for tonight’s performance, the part of Bruno Gervais will be played by Mark Streit.
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IslanderFAN says:
Hey enough! give Bruno a break!.
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As a hockey player, if you are given the chance Rob Shremp had, you should put it in the net, wow.
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King says:
Roloson is all over the place he has no idea where the puck is
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JKP on LI says:
Prediction: all the Jon Sim hate will be directed at Thompson for the next month or two.
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How did….What…..Wow.
Did Nate Thompson seriously miss that?
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NATE YOU BLOCKHEAD!! poor guy.
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Ethan K says:
Game is long gone now.
Schremp winds more than a hurricane…
Thompson misses a completely open net from 20 feet. I can’t watch any more. Disgusting.
Game’s long gone because the Islanders have no finishing touch, with exception of about 3 people.
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JJ says:
Jeez… this is one of those games. Bottom line, though, is special teams. Can’t score on first few PP chances, and rangers capitalize on 2/4…
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FINALLY!
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Great goal Andy… now Bruno and Nate can split the gas money to BRIDGEPORT!
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Andy Mac with the goal, this guy is earning every penny of his NHL salary.
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Jim Clark says: I wonder what kind of team Garth Snow could assemble if he had a decade of the Cablevision fortune to spend…
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german islesfan says:
powerplay and lundquist makes the difference…with the first 5 shots Rolo alowed 3 goals,but it’s not over one period to go…
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Islander says:
You must have missed the fact that Lundquist caught just enough of Thompson to prevent him from scoring that goal. Totally threw his shot off. Better luck next time!
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Poor Nate, not his best night. I’ll have to see it again, but it looked like his blown coverage on the third goal led to Hillen having to step up and leave the eventual goal scorer all alone. Oops.
Will say this, though: I never thought I’d feel as good about trailing the rags by 2 after two as I do tonight. Despite the score, they’re really controlling the play.
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ny711ot says:
Take a run at princess henry…shake him up.
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the refs are HORRIBLE! Rags start the nonsense and we get 3 guys in the box
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timmyb says:
this is atrocious. this is beyond stupid now
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Good job by the refs making the game out of reach for the Isles. The early PP chances that weren’t converted didn’t help but that was ridiculous….
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Mike from VA says:
Haha, you really have to be kidding me with those ridiculous calls. Prospal gets nothing? Hahaha, wouldn’t expect anything less than some BS loss. We find new ways to lose all the time, and this time it comes at the expense of the referees.
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Lemme retract that last sentence of mine. The referee’s aren’t the reason why we’re going to lose this game. It may have something to do with Thompson missing the goal and rangers converting PP chances.
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This game is ridiculous. The Islanders should have ten goals. Gotta give Lundy credit, hes great. Meyer is terrible, he needs to be benched.
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Well good news for Bruno..he will be back in the lineup for Saturday…Meyer or Witt out.
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Alfred says:
Tonights payrolls:
NY Rangers: $56,000,000
NY Islanders: $44,000,000Mr. Wang, who are you saving all this room under the cap for?
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WTF1969 says:
Damn! When Roloson is off, he is really off.
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Since72 says:
The goal scorers have to be goal scorers. Where are they?
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No excuses tonight except the Rangers were hungrier. I even mentioned the refs on that phantom 5-3 but that didn’t change the game. Let’s get everyone out of here healthy and get back on track Saturday night.
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Mike for Philly says:
Our PP is a joke while the Rags scored on theirs. Thats the difference.
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Three goals go to Freddy Meyer ladies and gentlemen
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Smokey a.k.a. Botta is God says:
If by “The Rangers were hungrier,” you mean, “Henrik Lundqvist was hungrier,” then you’d be correct. Tip your cap to the guy, he was a brick wall. The rest of the Blueskirts looked awful. Unfortunately, so did Witt and Meyer. Hamonic, de Haan, Klementyev, Ness, anyone… fresh blood can’t arrive soon enough for that back line.
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tavaresrocks says:
roloson sux
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Czerkawski says:
wait i thought the rangers were supposed to be tired. anyways, i must say great officiating tonight
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hollywood says:
Our PP is horrible, just horrible! Baily is invisable! Schremp has been good very shifty and creative. Baily must sit for Tambellini. What else can u say. If Thompson hits the empty net things could’ve been different.I don’t like Comeau with Moulson and Tavares, they have done zero!Big Jesse also hasn’t done much, not a good sign.
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I would love to see Gervais play instead of Witt. Witt is way too slow.
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It doesn’t matter if Witt or Gervais play… they’re both weak dmen this year.
I’d probably prefer Witt for the time being, because though he might not be physically able to work in this system, at least his head is in the game. Gervais has not been focused. He needs to watch some more games.
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They got beat, they had their chances in the 1st half of the game and the lousy refs didn’t help, just move on. That said, I’d still take the Isles future of the Stranger’s present.
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IslesPassion21 says:
Taveras is allot better when hes got KO to set him up…
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Witter looks like a quitter. I don’t hink his heart is in the game. Andy Mac has been great, no need for him to go anywhere.
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No one person to blame; lots of fault to throw around. Power play certainly lacking 1 shot on goal in 4 minutes.
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Walt says:
You have to finish your chances especially on the power play. Game Over.
Nate Thompson = AHL.
Andy McDonald = NHL. -
TimQ says:
Was at the game tonight and had a few observations:
- The difference in the game was goaltending. The queen played well. Rollie didn’t. When you give up 3 goals on 5 shots you will lose
- Nate will be dealing with trash talk about his shooting skill for quite a while
- Even though the Isles had a big shot advantage, their legitimate scoring chances were minimal
- We need a big body to park in front of the net on the power play. I respect Moulson’s efforts but we need someone that is going to wreak havoc with the other teams’ dmen and goalie
- Loudmouth Rag$ fans really don’t understand that their team actually sucks pretty badly. I made plenty of comments to know-it-alls with Gomez jerseys tonight
Hope the Isles are rested and ready to play!