TAMPA BAY 4, NYI 2: Interactive Plus/Minus
Plus: Details on refunds from the blizzard game
FanHouse Video: Roloson’s Acrobatic Pair of Saves
9:30 pm, NVMC: This is not how the Islanders drew up their December in New York. Interactive Plus/Minus begins. Join in the holiday fun!
Minus: Although the Islanders won only one of their first ten games this season, the Islanders are now actually a season-low four games below NHL .500.
Minus: John Tavares has gone a rookie-season-high five games without a point. This is going to happen when you’re 19 and not playing with vets like Lecavalier and St. Louis. Spit, it happened to Steven Stamkos last season and he played with Lecavalier and St. Louis.
Minus: The feeling Tavares is not playing at 100% health.
Minus: In their four-game home losing streak, the Islanders have been out-scored 19-5. They are 1-21 on the power play. They have given up 10 power play goals in their 17 times shorthanded.
Minus: The feeling the young Islanders are getting frustrated and losing focus. On a power play with three minutes left, Rob Schremp was three feet offsides.
Minus: On that power play and down 4-2, Scott Gordon opted not to pull his goaltender.
Minus: One of the smallest holiday week non-blizzard crowds…ever.
Plus: Dwayne Roloson’s stick and pad saves seven minutes into the game, and the NHL suite in Toronto for getting the no-goal call right. Roloson’s saves were the best back-to-back stops in the NHL this year.
Plus: Trent Hunter’s power play goal ends 0-19 slump.
Even: As Lightning beat writer @erlendssontrib tweeted during the first, “Seriously getting outworked to this point, Islanders are forechecking the %#!@# out of them right now, NY 13-6 shot advantage.” But Erik, we have seen this before.
Plus: Josh Bailey came out flying. While the natural finish may never be there – in junior, he scored 22 goals and then 29 in his draft year – there’s no reason why the Islanders cannot help him develop into a top-flight playmaker.
Plus: Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo were so good, they even got Nate Thompson his first goal of the season.
Plus: Nate was so excited, he stuck the landing. 9.80.
Minus: John Tortorella vented last week about Jon Sim’s goal against his Rangers being the kind of work ethic goal they never get. Tampa Bay’s first two goals were the kind of pure-skill goals the Islanders hardly ever get. On a power play mid-third, the Islanders could not take advantage of the Lightning failing to clear the puck for almost the entire two minutes.
Plus: Who says hockey isn’t a gentleman’s game? In second period, Steven Stamkos semi-boards Kyle Okposo. After he picks himself up, Okposo skates over to Stamkos at the whistle and the two peacefully talk it over.
Minus: The refs need to understand Jon Sim is an antagonist of opponents, not officials. If said opponents decapitate Sim, it should be a two-minute penalty – just like it is when Sidney Crosby is breathed on.
*
Plus: To the Philadelphia Flyers, whose attendance has been over 95% capacity for a decade, for offering rainchecks to fans who chose not to travel in blizzard conditions to their game on Saturday afternoon against the Rangers.
Minus: To the National Hockey League, which has a quiet but firm policy that if both teams are in town, games will be played despite the conditions for the fans trying to get to the game. (As I noted in Saturday’s morning report, the game was never going to be postponed). And, worse yet, for the NHL’s practice of discouraging franchises from giving refunds or exchanges for blizzard games.
Even: To the Islanders front office, which is not offering tickets as a matter of public policy to their fans who stayed off the roads on Saturday, BUT apparently are forking them over if you protest. As found on the Islanders official message board Islandermania, one Islanders staffer emailed to a fan, “It does not have to be announced. Our policy has always been fan-friendly and accomodating.”
Yeah, why tell all your fans the right way via your team website and Long Island’s newspaper when you can be accomodating only to people who squawk? For the record, elsewhere on Islandermania a team customer service staffer says there are no refunds. “Sorry you couldn’t make it on Saturday,” he posted today. “Hope to see you tonight”!
Send your emails to customerservice@newyorkislanders.com. Maybe it will help if you tell the Islanders you also – as they requested – gave up a day at work to support the Lighthouse Project.
Your Plus/Minus and comments on tonight’s game.
120 Responses to TAMPA BAY 4, NYI 2: Interactive Plus/Minus
Plus: Details on refunds from the blizzard game
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JT9187 says:
tavares really does look like he’s off.
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Islander says:
I think line changes may be due…hey maybe Oposo, Nielsen and Thompson. Three hard workers! Congrats to Thompson that smile was worth watching the game even if they lost!
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Willy P says:
puckhead i wish i could follow, but i already drop 300 on opening nite and over 1k for 3 games before the end of the year. This team is doing nothing but pissing me off right now and making my wallet smaller. If you want to make your powerplay look like its number one in the leauge play the islanders. ill tell ya right now islanders had 2 kills once i saw the 2 calls in the third i new it was bad news. we must have a kill of 50% or less this year. Yet i find my self getting excited every game night all for a big let down. Im not gonna give up on the team but WTF what happened to the games being fun, what happened to winning a few games. We must have the worst december record for the past 10 years cause i never remember the islanders being .500 or better in december… Why are we such an easy 2 points
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Islanders99 says:
This is a joke. Why should people spend money to watch this team? Put a minor league team on the ice and we should be charged a minor league gate. The tiered ticket pricing is a joke. Why should I pay more money to see Ovechkin play, or to watch the Rangers, when I am an Islander fan.
Why does the “rebuilding plan” seem to be a plan to accept losing. Fire Gordon. His system sucks and he hasn’t developed the young players as promised.
So frustrating. -
Jeff W. says:
Despair.
It’s happening again. Usually, by this time of the season, it has already happened, but we’re descending into the long, tortured death-march towards irrelevance. -
CJCB says:
I wont spend till they get an Enforcer. My last game was while Godard still wore the uniform.
Plus- Not sure about anyone else but i had no sound and not having to listen to Jaffe was Awesome!!!!
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Gordon’s system doesn’t bother me, just Gordon himself. This guy waits 10 games into a losing streak to make changes meanwhile any “hopes” of playing past the beginning of April is thoroughly trounced. Forget this guy. Gordon should go. Even the Flyers let go of Stevens when they were playing poorly.
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I wouldn’t have gone to the game tonight if the tickets were free. That’s how bad this team is. I know the players are trying hard. The team still sucks. I can’t wait for them to call or email me for the 100th time about buying tickets.
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AYUDOIN says:
Well-played until the third (shocking). We need to sign a vet before the Olympics to help motivate these young guys…they are frustrated because it’s hard to look up to a 19 or 21 year old. I will be at the Leafs game Wednesday…any word on the expected crowd? let’s get a big win before Xmas and build a little momentum going into 2010 with some more home games in hand…lots of hockey to be played, although this is frustrating.
As for the attendance, I attribute it mainly to the crappy economy. I wanna be at every game, but really can’t afford it. I see Isles shirts, hats, and jerseys all over around town…but people just can’t afford it.]
CB, any word on Wang’s thoughts on this whole situation on and off ice?
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MT says:
When you say that about Tavares CB, do you mean is he sick or does he have an injury he’s trying to play through?
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BringBackNyles says:
Thank you CB for posting the ticket exchange update.
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Tom B says:
“Don’t worry…be happy.”
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JustinChi says:
I have no problems with the coach, I have problems with the GM/ownership for not putting a better product on the ice. What does this team have – 4 or 5 legitimate NHL players and they’re almost all young. Nobody should be surprised that the Isles will finish 29th or 30th in the league this season, that’s the kind of talent they have, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. I don’t care about another high pick right now.
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Marc says:
Plus: Gave up two free tickets to watch this debacle on low-res TV broadcast.
Minus: Carolina lost to the Ranger$, therefore Isles’ fail to gain two points in the lottery watch.
Minus: Point Blank has yet to name the lottery watch.
Minus: We’ve seen this script before!
Plus: Brodeur didn’t set the all-time shutout record against the Islanders.
Minus: Okposo still can’t score.
Plus: No game tomorrow.
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Brian in VA says:
REFUND! REFUND! This team blows… The reason why I will not attend any games at NMVC and get Center Ice until they do something… Center Ice used to be a mainstay for me here in NoVA and I used to be pumped for every Isles game that was to be played that night… But I lost that Lovin’ feelin that lovin’ feelin now its gone gone gone ooh ooh ohh..
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Smokey a.k.a. Botta is God says:
Garth has been overdue to bring in veteran D help. Sorry, but that’s on him. How many people does he have to pass up on waivers, even? Not to mention that they have this extra pick from Phoenix they can dangle out there. If he doesn’t do something by the trade deadline, that’s a bad sign, period.
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isles99 says:
you guys should have known the isles were a 29th-30th place team. they overachieved the first two mpnths and are now playing to their level. i don’t have a problem with the players. i have a problem with wang. i dont care what he does for the islanders’ development wise, he is just nopt spending them money to get decent guys here. think about it, besides okposo, tavares, maybe bailey, streit,moulson who’s tapering off now who else would you really want to go see
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steve says:
cb, you make a solid point. we are STILL talent short, and its was nice watching three very skilled tampa players score a pair of power play goals. our team plays hard everynight, was leading 2-1 half way through. young teams hit rough spots, this is one of them. i think our record keeps us from a few calls we are entitled. when 4 on 4, sutton got yanked behind our net, shoulda been a call, no whistle.
firing the coach is a fools move. you get the players you have to play at the best of their ability. you get them to play hard. we play hard, and we lack the ability/talent to finish. as for money, the team loses $20 million a year. spend more, why? adding another $20 million in payroll isn’t going to generate another $20 million in revenue. you early round picks are at the NHL, some of your mid round picks are on junior national teams.
the flyers are a $55 million dollar embarassment, like the rangers, leafs and ‘canes. thats why coaches get fired. -
Strummer's Army says:
MInus: Gordon keeping Okposo-Tavares-Moulson apart and only going to him at the end of each game when he gets desperate and it’s too late.
Minus: Apparently Isles players are told not to play physical unless they are Sutton and Joensuu
Minus: Snow’s continued stance on not improving the defense. How many years does it take you to figure out Geravis and Martinek suck and Meyer would be a really good AHL d-man?
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dominla says:
Funny cb just posted this. my friend with season tix just told me the isles are giving away tix to ticket holders to any game before january to make up for the snow game the other day. sounds nice and right to me but he’s upset because he had to ask and is convinced the team won’t announce anything to the public and that someone has to go and ask them about it to get the deal. i doubted it but looks like it’s true. shame on them if they don’t.
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The New Isles GM says:
Only year 2 of the rebuild boys….stay positive. I’m sure Garth is noticing everything we are…
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big dog says:
i cant help but feel here is our swoon.. losing 10 of 12 out of playoffs but hey rick dipi played his first game back (who cares)
funny when he started to come around the confidence of this team went into toilet.
sorry but id rather dump dipi then experiment and see what he has left (if anything)
this teams playing lackluster who cares hockey.
even our energy line looks winded
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Okposo will be a career second-liner unless he develops some accuracy with his shot- simply horrendous.
Two more power play giveaways by the hot dog too.
Nice assist however will cloud over the mistakes and poor decision making…
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Eastonhockey says:
Isles are the pirates / expos of NHL. Okiposo might get 16 goals this year n he’s 2nd best player. Wang hired bad gm’s n coaches since ge bought team now he ruined fan base..they can’t afford an avg NHL payroll… Isles should become a ahl team n sell the NHL team rights to Hamilton.
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volmeeezy says:
i am all for the rebuild and understand that there will be growing pains but i will not accept a team that just mails it in and gives up as they did tonight.
The same mistakes go uncorrected , for example trying to skate across the blue line into 4 defenders only to make a soft pass thats intercepted and cleared on the powerplay , and then taking 20 seconds to regroup and start another rush .. frustrating to say the least , and unacceptable .. also the in game experience sucks , the highlight of the game is the baby crawl in between periods -
hollywood says:
I like Gordon and the system but WHERE’S THE SPEED? Too many slow players, man I miss Bergenheim. You can’t play overspeed with Hunter, Joensu, Tavares, Moulson and Witt. Please, Please send Joensu back to Bridgeport and play Tambellini. Switch these lines, they’re horrible. Again the best skater and playmaker was Schremp. Maybe it’s time to move Okposo back with Tavares and drop Moulson to another line. Maybe
Tavares, Tambellini and Okposo.
Schremp, Moulson, and Comeau
Neilson, Hunter and BailySomething desperately needs to happen or December will be a waste!
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TM says:
This was how it’s supposed to go folks. Wang & Snow planned over the summer to fail and be near last or last again by not upgrading and not spending in a league of parity. At least Tampa gave a damn and TRIED. Wang didn’t even do that.
They can’t think for themselves so they try to copy Pitt. They can’t even think of a good uniform themselves so they copied Buffalo’s. They just don’t know what they’re doing all around.
There’s no rebuild, it’s just Wang spends no money and hopes to keep getting draft picks as no FA’s of worth want to be here here and did I mention Wang won’t spend to get them if they ever did. He doesn’t even spend on radio. Thus, the crappy attendance. What a joke.
Someone please save us and move NYI to Brooklyn/Queens with a new owner!!!
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Phil says:
Can our captain be someone that actually plays hockey?
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JPinVA says:
+ Thompson getting his forst goal. Now he has a nice memory to take with him to bridgeport. Tell me again why Colliton wasn’t kept instead of this guy.
+ I don’t care if he ever scores again. Kyle Okposo is the kind of hockey player I want to be when I grow up.
+ the Islanders outworked the team who finished with the second worst record in the NHL last year.
- the Islanders are outclassed by the team who finished with the second worst record in the NHL last year. -
#21 can I get an Amen!
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Some teams never seem to rebuild – Colorado and New Jersey being two prime examples. Even Phoenix is having an amazing season despite all their issues. I didn’t think the Coyotes had more talent than the Isles, but it’s amazing what a good coach and a few veterans can do.
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adam m says:
i was there tonight it was bad they play hard but can’t score they need help in that department and some D would help!
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Islesin2010 says:
I’m not going to bash the team. It was a disappointing game, but the boys are giving effort and unfortunately it’s the lack of skill that seems to be losing these games.
With that being said, Mark Streit continues to show me no signs of wanting to turn around his play. Perhaps he set the bar too high with last year, or maybe he’s playing through an injury, but his legs aren’t moving on the PP and his footwork at the blueline is awful. He seems to be flat footed every time the pucks comes off the boards to him. What gives? I am very interested to see if his performance for the Swiss team improves in the Olympics…
CB, you may very well be right about Tavares. His skating looks alright, but he just hasn’t been as involved the last few games. Something to keep an eye on.
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kabbage says:
Plus: The rebuild is on schedule.
Minus: The rebuild is not ahead of schedule as a lot of us had hoped when we strung together a few wins.
Plus: Some individuals have developed quicker or to a higher level than we had originally thought they would (i.e. – Jack Hillen, Andrew McDonald, Matt Moulsen, Nate Thompson)
Minus: We still need some high end talent to be competitive.
Plus: There are some very good prospects on the way – Hamonic, deHaan and Petrov
On another note, and CB correct me if I am wrong, but the Islanders (as are all NHL teams) limited to 50 contracts with players. Perhaps this is why we do not pick up all players that get put on waivers. Because once we claim them, their contracts come with them. I’m not sure how many players we have contracts with now, but perhaps this is a contributing factor as to why we can’t claim any more or all waived players.
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TM: you crack me up. you remind me of the passengers in the plane on “airplane” after they find out they’re out of coffee. i agree it’s a mess right now but things will get better. it was actually not that long ago fans here were thinking playoffs and we were not that far from 5th place i think.
i just want to know why does this team always sink in december? it’s pretty consistent.
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Let me guess another great game by the opposing goalie.!!! Has Schremp played more games then Weight?
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amerks44 says:
By the time the rebuild is complete they will be in KC and we will be the ones to have suffered thru it!!!
GO DEVILS and MB30!! #104… -
Section 320 rocks says:
+Was I the only one with my jaw on the floor when we scored a powerplay goal?
+Rolis first pd save
-The other powerplays and PK’s
-4-5 delay of game penalties called tonight
-KO getting boarded by Stamkos and nothing happening
+Sutton with another big hit
-The condition of the parking lot was awful tonight!! -
Eric Cup says:
I really wonder if Scott Gordon is in over his head. When the team was rolling, he stayed with the same line-up so as not to mess with something that was working. Now they’re struggling and and the only players he sits are Meyer and Tambellini? We all love the heart and energy Park and Thompson bring, but if they are considered Penalty Killers and we can’t kill a penalty to save our lives, then what’s their real value? Sit them! Change something! And as for gametime strategy, did anyone think he just gave up tonight? Down 2 goals with 3 minutes left and a power play and he never pulls the goalie? I watched Boudreau pull the goalie with 4 minutes left down 2 on a power play for Washington last year. Wake up Gordo! We may not expect the cup here this season, but we expect you to coach like a winner! And maybe, just maybe Matt Moulson helped mask some real deficiencies earlier in the season by over-producing. I think we’re also seeing that Tavares is,in fact, a rookie with much to learn (but I love him anyway).
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eastonhockey says:
I think Wang gave up on this team, the fans, the players..otherwise he would be getting a new coach in here who doesnt make league miniumum. Whats the worst that could happen with a new coach? isles finish last again? Thats going to happen anyway. Nothing to lose…maybe they get a qualified coach and get better. They sure as heck aint getting any good players..at least they should be able to afford a good coach.
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isles71 says:
yeah…not the most talented team but potential there…you’re within a few of playoff spot, why wait until you are totally out of it to do something…you said talent in BPort way off of NHL caliber, when everyone was screaming goon, said get talent. Was at thrashers-montreal tonight…between 1st-2nd interview with Kovys’ agent says talks are broken down…give them a 2011 1st, 2010 2nd & 4th and sign him longterm…dead line move for Smyth didn’t work…sign a guy with years left of ability and sign him BEFORE deadline…I know, I’m an idoit, unknowlegable hockey fan…but what Have we gotten out of the draft in a decade besides Tavares & Okposo? Moulson, Hunter, Sutton, Park…not our picks & don’t say Campoli in the 8th rd…How are any of the picks we have given away doing??? Not much…you have Cap Room!!!! Spend it for Goodness sake!!! and Happy Christmas
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Minus – Coach Gordon’s inability to make changes when something isn’t working at all.
Mark Streit has continually been moving the puck very slowly up ice on the PP. Their seems to always be three opposing players waiting for him when he gets to the blueline. It looks like a continual DVR replay, do something coach Gordon.
Minus – PK is not working with Park/Thompson, try some other player combinations.THe one thing I always loved about Al Arbor, if something wasn’t working he had NO hesitation about making changes.
Minus – JT looks overwhelmed
Minus – No offense, need to try some other player combinations. -
mike 8 says:
Plus:Okposo, Schremp, Sutton, SOG
Minus: Tavares, PK, PP -
rb says:
Patience, my friends. I’ve got a 15-game plan, so I’ve got money invested, but hey, we all knew it would take time. I wouldn’t mind a shot at Taylor Hall one bit. This team needs skill, it doesn’t need to be mediocre. We’ve got guys coming. On defense alone, we’ve got deHaan, Hamonic, Klementyev and Kessel, who all could be NHL defensemen, coming. That’s depth.
I still have problems with this dopey system, though. Very telling that Lundquist after the recent game at NVMC told Brooks that the Rags knew the Isles would come out hard but if Rags could weather the pressure Isles wouldn’t be able to keep it up. All teams who play us probably think that way. And the system doesn’t suit the roster, either.
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StevieL says:
I think it is fair to start to question Gordo’s leadership!I see no adjustment on a PP or PK that is not working!His game mgmt skills are very questionable! Even Howie was questioning not pulling Rollie with a couple of minutes left. Re-build, re-build, young players, year 2 of the re-build is all bull. Outside of Hillen what young player is better under Gordon this year than last?? I see none! Ok, Bailey, Nielsen etc. all going backward!No leadership, no development, no emotion, no changes, Maybe time for a new coach!!
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Spartiarti-RVC says:
isles are not playing with any confidence.
I said this team would miss what Bergie Brings to lineup. cant wait to get him back.
Comeau, Sutton, okposo, Bailey, Hillen, MacDonald and Moulson only guys playing well during this losing streak.
Anyone else done with the Schremp Experiment. He not doing anything with tons of ice time.
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Michael P. says:
They are still a long way away, probably 2 D and at least another top 6 winger before they legitimately compete for a playoff spot. We have pretty much kids playing on the top 2 lines and probably the worst defense core in hockey. I am done with Gervais, we need to face it he is at best a depth NHLer who we overrate because he is a nice kid.
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Mike from Philly says:
My Christmas wish
Charles please sell the team to someone who cares about hockey and winning. Then move the team to queens or Brooklyn were fans can actually get to games so we can actually draw crowds better then some echl teams. I hate everything this franchise now stands for which is failure and losing. Theycare an embarassment to the real islanders teams of the eighties. Sell Charles -
I’ve said it before that teams shouldn’t be allowed to get the top overall pick in two straight seasons. I may have to change my tune on that one.
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Minus – It appears that the PK is not doing well since Jackman got hurt.
Plus + Hopefully Weight and Bergenheim will be back soon. Minus – Then Schremp and Joensu back to AHL.
Plus + Line Changes needed
Minus – Tavares just does not appear to be himself??? -
Mad Pete says:
Plus- the lightning are out of the sun and freezing their bolts off
Minus- the islanders are really S&*tting the bed right now, seems like no end in sight
Minus- Lack of talent really starting to show, no help for Tavares and Okposo
Minus- Who the hell is nate thompson?,j/k he’s one of our top centers apparantly -
eric says:
Fire GORDON?? SYSTEM? Honestly im tired of people on here saying “oh he will fit the system, he will fit the system.” You know when you can say things like that? When the team wins for years and years. The Devils have a SYSTEM, they know what players to look for and the ones they can go without. Ok they are the staple not only in hockey but in professional sports. Okay LOU LAMireillo has a System. Enough with this system. Yes the islanders have no defense and you cannot blame gordon for that, but the pp is getting worse and worse and the pk well thats beyond bad. Its hurrendous. It was actually decent last season. We need a new 4th line all together. Thompson…give me an nhl player please. park? he can stay but hey get me another guy with speed and that can forecheck and that will be fine. Jackman-out, Sim, OUT…comeau..hard working player that can check…belong on the 3rd line not with tavares. Moulson a nice surpise 3rd liner with comeau and hungter. Get me a playmaker and another top 6 forward to play with tavares, okposo, and bailey. We can keep bergenheim. DEFENSE: hillen, gervais(questionable bc hes young),streit can stay and sutton unless you can get something good for him which I think you can. The only reason I somewhat like sutton is becaue hes big and well we have no size. Im tired of hearing about this system. Get real!
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Boobird says:
For Sale – My Islanders Fan Soul.
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Thomas says:
CB – I usually agree with most of what you write but not so much tonight.
I have season tickets, the crowd was no worse than any other mid week game. It’s very simple and if I didn’t have a flexible work environment I’d have the same problem. 7pm with no public transportation is too early to start a game during the work week.
Tavares – honestly it sounds like an excuse, he knows how to position himself but he has several areas he needs to improve 1) Skating 2) Being able to hold the puck and create (similar to Okposo) 3) He seems to get an awful lot of his shots blocked.
It was nice to see them start to pressure the pick a little bit on the PK however if you don’t rotate it doesn’t matter. Tampa pressed and rotated all night and for the most part we had few chances.
Also can you explain how that hit on Okposo wasn’t a penalty, how the trip on Sutton wasn’t called and how in the world they can say a puck was deflected out, than change their mind which led to the penalty on the game winning goal. The refereeing in this sport continues to be awful.
BTW are Park and Thompson on for every goal against? It’s amazing. I agree with the person above, get Thompson off this roster, I really couldn’t care less if he finally scored. Also please burn the #11 it’s like he’s become Andy Hilbert.
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Johnnyjet says:
Here is to a top 3 pick next year. Hall, Seguin or Fowler, let the debate begin folks…………..
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Shawn says:
Why is everyone mad at Schremp? to me hes the ONLY player I notice consistently.
This team is in shambles its more then a mess and its unacceptable.
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isles316 says:
minus- I don’t remember ever seeing a team score 2 easier power play goals as Tampa scored in the 3rd.
minus- no one came close to touching Lecavlier on his goal and Stamkos when he scored.
I’m no hockey strategist but I don’t like how easy we are to play against.
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Brian from Massapequa says:
This is a blizzard ticket post only.
I’m a season ticket holder of 2 seats, but I bought 4 extra tickets for friends and family for the Habs game. I made the game with my girlfriend and my cousin who flew in from Montreal on Friday. On Saturday afternoon, we booked a room at the Marriot off of Priceline and got there well before the major dumping of snow.
I fully expected there to be a “cash in your tickets” announcement well before I even left my house and was shocked when it did not occur.
When I contacted my ticket rep today, I was told to contact Kerry at Game Day Operations and that I would be ‘accomodated’.
The org should have done it right that night.
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Yippy Yappe Uwe says:
I know its only his first year, but Tavares has to learn to control the puck on the power play. At least once a power play he either loses the puck coming into the zone or gives it away once he’s pressured in the zone. Gordon needs to work hard with Tavares on the power play. Yes, its where he’s most effective, but he could be SO MUCH better than he is now.
This is the last year I want to see of the rebuild. We better finish with a top 5 draft pick, not trade it away, and then buy some pieces to be a contender.
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duff says:
the isles are right where they were expected to be….3rd worst team in the nhl and fading fast. This is what happens when you have a young team, a grueling schedule, and little depth. Unfortunately, it’s not going to get better soon. Tavares is really most effective on the PP, b/c at 5 on 5 he just can’t create his own space.
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O.Bender says:
Does NHL allow the team to be purchased by Non-resident owners? Can one of the Russian oligarchs step in and buy the Isles from CW? Someone like Abramovich would be perfect. Look how he transformed Chelsea of the BPL in six short years. Would Prokhorov be interested in owning both an NBA and NHL teams in Brooklyn?
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Hextall72 says:
I remember last year i had tickets to a game i couldn’t make because of a snow storm.. The islanders immediatly posted on their website to bring the tickets to the box office or mail them in to choose another game.. Why would they change it this year?
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IslesFanInFlorida says:
CAN Someone PLease tell me why the hell the highlights on the Islanders website is always the opponents feed. Everytime i go to watch some replays, i hear someones voice i dont know, or care to hear. WTF????
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The Ghost of GM's Past (mostly Milbury and Maloney) says:
# 36 – You are right about the limit of 50 players eligible to be under contract per season. Now I’m not sure if Yashin and Bates count (both have buyouts on the books that count against the cap). If they do, according to my count the Isles currently have 49. Obviously if they don’t count, 47.
Time is rapidly approaching on getting Hamonic signed. If I am not mistaken, he can go back in the draft if unsigned after this season.
Team will have a lot of roster flexibility July 1st. Weight, Sim, Park all UFA’s.
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Islebethere4u says:
First let me say that Rolosan’s back to back stops in the first period were just spectacular! Maybe even saves of the year. With that said, the Isles tonight had the worst breakout system I’ve seen in a long time. It was that noticeable. Their defensemen were lazy and slow and played catch with the puck like it was a hot potato. Very frustrating and hard to watch that tonight. The only thing worse than their play tonight was the condition of the ice. Poor ice broke up more plays than either team. another plus, was their work ethic on Thompson’s goal,which also soon disappeared.
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Alfred says:
Once again the Islanders amazingly were able to get over 8,000 people to come and spend their hard-earned entertainment dollars at the Coliseum to watch this team play hockey.
That is an incredible feat, and I’m shocked once again that the building was not empty. Great job, Islanders sales staff!
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Jeff says:
Mail your unused tickets to the islanders executive office c/o Charles Wang and I am sure they would be willing to offer something in return
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ny711ot says:
If there is any truth that tavares is hurt and playing then Snow and co should be shot. The Islanders karma should be enough to sit jt everytime he has the sniffles. I have reached the point where (and yes this seems to be an annual thing) they should tank and make a run at carolina.
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IslesAl says:
We lead the league in gritty defensive fourth liners, but are near the bottom of the NHL in PK? How does this make any sense, unless realistically, even our 4th line does not compare to the rest of the league. It has come to the point where I FF thru the PK, they are lost out there. Somebody please help…
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Bjorn Holland says:
I don’t mind finishing 28/29/30 one more year, like the Pens after they drafted Crosby. But then Snow really needs to get 1 ore 2 good defenders.
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MIkey Pants says:
PLUS: I decided to venture out in the weather to go see these “Hapless Islanders Play”
PLUS: The Choir that sang the National Anthem
Minus: Everything Else. I could care less if Charles Wang loses another dollar! This team is really pathetic. Now I know how Mets Fans feel!
From the messy bathrooms (especially when you’re with your 8 year old daughter), to over-priced everything, to a sorry bunch of players and coaches who looked anything but professional.
How could a bunch of players playing a Road Game steal away the game from us like that?
Management has to find a way to get some goals into the nets. Coach Gordon has to dig deeper and decide whether or not this style is EVER going to work with this group of whatchyamacallits.
Tavares’ puck pursuit in the Offensive Zone is really uninspiring and the guy just won’t ever take it to the net. Josh Bailey is afraid to take a hit. When is he ever going to learn that this is the NHL, “The Show”…..Wake up and smell the coffee Boy!!
I have to admit, other than Jack Hillen’s Delay of Game penalty, he looked really good out there as did Andy Too-Tall Sutton.
How many more times is Okposo gonna streak down left wing with his toe-drag and not even going to get a shot on goal.
I really don’t think there’s anybody worse in Net than Roloson on Breakaways. Other than that, he’s a very steady, positionally sound Netminder.
BTW, You guys on here might not mind it much but I won’t be going to any other games this season. It’s just not worth it in this economy to waste my time or money on this product. You fools can waste your own. I’ll wait until they move away and I’ll then watch them from a better perspective. On the News, when they show the lowlights!
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JimfromStjames says:
doe this mean everybody is officially off the bandwagon?
The december swoon is becoming a tradition in these parts… -
Bob Bassen says:
Tough to watch this team at times! Wow! And, yes! The marketing and PR is truly inept and embarrassing! Also…the new goal song on TV sounds like the Rags in the beginning! Can’t say I blame Snow for much of *it* though (except Witt’s contract!). Who knows what is really going on behind the scenes; Re: Purse strings?! Besides…just who are the free-agents who are dying to come here and leave-it-out-on-the-ice nightly win or lose?!? The most glaring thing I notice is how *small* the Isles seem. Was it me or does Tampa (and others) seem to play *bigger*?!? I agree with CB’s take on *gentleman sportsman* but do we have the type of players that feel passionate and proud enough to *DEFEND* themselves and their *house* and *drop-em*?!? Obviously when/if you are offensively GIFTED and NASTY and can take-it-to-em with your PP, etc. it is a different story..Isles are a LOOONG way from that, though! Love KO’s effort but seeing him often *airborne*, how long before this guy gets injured?!?
Sorry for the caffeine inspired rant…UGH!
Peace~ -
jnew66 says:
Missing: 65 year old Chinese American owner of local hockey team. Last scene grimacing while shaking hands with a woman who resembles Roseanne Barr at of local town board meeting. If found, please return to Mr. G. Snow at Nassau Veteran’s Memorial Colesium Uniondale, NY. A reward of a NYI Supercuts t-shirt and a free box of popcorn is being offered for information with regards to his whereabouts. Merry Christmas Chris !!!
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Minus – Special teams downright awful (Can we please go to the net and while we’re at it shoot closer to the net and from better angles)
Minus – Gordon’s coaching lately (shake up some lines, pull your goalie late, call a timeout, DO SOMETHING besides mumbling to yourself)
Minus – We have half a season to go
Minus – The small crowds is a shame
Plus – To the players who still care
Plus – Some good high-end talent at the top of the 2010 draft
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Oh, some more….
Minus – NHL refs are brutal.
Minus – I wouldn’t want to score either if I had to hear that awful goal song every time.
Minus – All the talk about the D being weak has overshadowed the fact that this team still lacks considerable skill on the front end. We basically have a NHL/AHL hybrid roster.
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Islesfan99 says:
Plus – High Draft Pick
Plus – Trade Vets at Deadline
Plus – Sign Size and Skill this summerMinus – Snow and Gordon do not seem to think size wins.
Minus – No enforcer
Minus – Defense sucks -
AK says:
What kills me is Islander fans who are content with sucking just because other more talented teams are sucking this year also. Have you people been slapped around so much that you look for excuses to help you sleep better at night? Come on give me a break. Who cares that Philly, Carolina, Columbus all suck. Bottom line is the Islanders suck and they are not improving.
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Frustrating maybe! give em time, Theres some nice pieces to the puzzle getting ready. The Isles will be reckoned with, and exciting times right around the corner.
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Matthew Dillner says:
Only game I watched this year that I can actually say Tav didn’t play well. I know he is not a lightning (no-pun intended) fast skater, but he was lathargic. Besides a nifty attempt or two early in the game, it looked as if this usually intellegent-beyond-his-years player did not have his head in the game. We all need patience though.
How about Kyle Okposo. Is this kid the real deal or what? WOW! He and Moulson will get rewarded soon.
Plus… Neilsen played his butt off tonight. Played every shift like he wanted it.
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Dan says:
I have gone to 17 games this year and I am amazed that any people show up at all during the week. There were a few schools there last nite so I guess they got discounted tickets. The Panthers game last monday was the worst game of the year attendance wise.
Just think think there would be more effort at home during this homestand. I am sure its hard to play in an empty house but if you win people will come. Its a simple formula. -
TimQ says:
Plus – Trent Hunter plays hard every shift
Minus – They look completely lost on special teams
Minus – Not enough energy to sustain the lack of talent. They need Bergie back
Minus – Tavares’ body language hasn’t been the same since he got slammed into the boards from behind a couple weeks back. My guess is a shoulder. -
Blizzard says: ….patience, patience, patience……whatever. KO is just the best player on this team IMO. I love him playing with Baily.
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Lorne Myers says:
Everyone who had tickets to Saturdays game should be entitled to an extra game whether they came or not. The team needs to get it right and post information on the website regarding this. People who drove home only had a 1/4 mile visibility in front of them. Never mind the fact the game was terrible from an Isles fan point of view.
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Hockey1919 says:
+ Roloson’s save(s) of the year, when it still mattered.
- A defense core that cannot cover a man in the slot. Stamkos behind the D on a poor read by Hillen. Too much space to leave LeCavalier by Streit, Malone (1) with Gervais and Sutton getting confused and not picking up the high man while both cover St Louis and Malone (2) on a replay of his first goal.
+ Sutton continuing to hit and mean it when the occasion presents itself.
+ Hunter on the PP.
- Tavares playing against men is starting to take its toll down low. This is expected from a rookie, but still disappointing. The NHL is a grind not a tournament.
- Okposo working as hard as ever, but now firing it wide as well just trying to break the drought. Less Comrie more shooting.
- Moulson starting to fire it into the crest as well. No one beyond the first line to pick up any of the goal scoring slack.
- No veteran presence in the lineup to right the ship and instill confidence. Could this team use a Captain that is actually in the lineup that the refs respect?
+ A team with LeCavalier, St. Louis, Stamkos, Malone, Ohlund, Tanguay and Hedman have only 2 more points than the Islanders? Top end quick fixes in Philly that the Isle fans wanted seem to last one season.
- The Islanders just don’t have the talent to compete for an 82 game schedule. It’s obvious this team needs another top 5 pick. If both teams work equally hard then the talented team will win. The December swoon starts as soon as the talented teams start competing.
- Fans getting so easily frustrated after a better than expected start. This team was predicted to be 30th again. Again it’s obvious that this team needs more top end talent and a high pick will be well deserved.
- Paying NHL prices to watch AHL caliber players develop. A justifiable reason why the fans are frustrated. No relief in sight to at least make the games in March compelling.
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JTorBUST says:
support your team you deadbeats , soon as we lose a few games everyone renounces their fanhood and vows to not attend another game. We have a front office that won t spend it has always been like that , it is what it is. We only have a few more years left of this misery and we will miss it when it is gone. I m taking the old man to watch Toronto abuse us , why because he took me growing up , even though they used to win in those days but win lose nothing better than a trip to the old barn during the hoilidays. The only thing we can do is fans is show up and root the boys on instead of second guessing gordos reinventing of the wheel system or Wang using the team as a pawn in his real estate game or Garth asking the caddies at Tam who we should draft next.
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Bob Beers says:
Minus: The NYI have been without a captain for 26 of 37 games.
Minus: Not even our beloved CB has a clue as to the extent of Doug Weight’s injury.
Minus: If Doug Weight is out for the season, why not just name, err, vote on a new captain?
Minus: The NYI have been without an enforcer for 32 of 37 games.
Minus: The NYI are becoming too predictable to play against. The opposition is beginning to notice that if they can weather the storm in the 1st period they will have an excellent shot at picking up 2 points. How often have we seen it?
Minus: Kyle Okposo needs to start hitting the net more. It’s ridiculous how often he misses. At least force the opposing goalie to make a save.
Minus: The month of December.
Minus: The manner in which the organization is handling the mess left over from the blizzard.
Even: Rob Schremp. He really hasn’t done anything to warrant a trip back to the press box.
Plus: Scott Gordon NOT pulling Roloson with the NYI on a PP and 3 minutes to go in the 3rd. Why surrender an empty netter when the team obviously packed it in after Malone’s 2nd of the period? At least that’s the way I see it. I honestly did not have a problem with the coach’s decision.
Plus: Trent Hunter.
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This December has been miserable. We need a shake up. Didn’t think last night would be such a let down.
Sutton’s hesitation on that slapper that lead to his interference call was completely awful. I hope he makes up for it and uses his body more.
I hear you about Okposo’s convo with Stamkos, but I think lately what’s missing from this team is heart and grit…I don’t think it’d be so bad to stir things up a little more than just Sim yapping his mouth.
Someone can surely play nasty back, and I’m not talking resorting to goonery.I’m next to positive fans will actually respond to that emotion.
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Yo….#89, I pity you for being the fool. Tell me you feel the same way on your ride home after another pathetic loss!
I get paid by the hour and I work hard for that pay.
No way am I going to fork over my hard earned pay for the product on the ice that a Billionaire has provided. There’s no way a veteran or two would’ve taken up valuable ice time from development from anyone worthy on this this team.
Are you foolish enough to believe that we couldn’t have signed a player with More talent or upside than Meyer, Bergenheim, Tambellini or Bruno or Park or Thompson or Sim? There’s nothing out there possible that could further retard the Development of any of those guys mentioned. Believe me, you wont ever have to worry about any of those guys coming back to haunt you because they developed under someone else’s tutelage. I’ve played hockey but I’m no scout and even I know that! You cannot draw blood from a stone.
I promise you that I would return to the Coliseum or the LIGHTHOUSE or whatever it’s known as 5, 10 or even 20 years from now when the New Owner or G.M. decide to build the right Hockey Team. For now….You can’t have my money!
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Eric Nystrom says:
Just sit back and enjoy the World Juniors. Snow said it himself. This is year number two of the rebuild. A few more picks next year..(maybe Hall), Hamonic and Dehaan join the team, Matt Martin comes up. Looking forward to the future (hopefully in Brooklyn)
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I pose this question to Mr. Wang!
Would he rather have an empty Nassau Coliseum with an inferior team on the ice and no one showing up at the games (so that he can blame the poor attendance on the Aging Facilities) ?
OR
Spend a COUPLE of more Million dollars on 2-3 veterans with desire and be able to compete for a Playoff Spot and have the place fill up in a Hurry (to show Kate Murray and the rest of Nassau County that it’s worthy of the “Lighthouse”)?
2002 is Living Proof that if you put a worthy product on the Ice the fans will come. The place was drawing 12000 fans a game. The Islanders were getting airplay. 94.3 and 102.3 couldn’t speak more pleasantly about our ISLANDERS.
Now,they’re the forgotten ones that nobody cares about.
We understand we’re only in year 2 of the rebuild as Mr. Snowjob has stated. There’s no doubt in my mind that development and winning shouldn’t go hand in hand.
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#92 Of course we could have went out and gotten some players instead of having a half a team that belongs in Bridgeport but we are the Islanders, we have the worst front office in professional sports, its sad but true. We don t sign players becasue no one wants to come play in front of a half empty arena and I don t blame them. The only thing a fan can do is showup and root their team on instead of bashing them on blogs , that was my point -
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Stumpy32 says:
The attendance is based on two factors:
(1) You cannot, CANNOT start a game in the suburbs at 7pm on a weekday. I’d be willing to go to a bunch more games if it didn’t require me, each time, to leave work early (I work in lower Manhattan), run to the LIRR, and make sure someone was around to pick me up at a station near the Coliseum, or take the long, slow haul to Hempstead for that exciting bus ride down Hempstead Turnpike. Even if they started at 7:30, like they used to, I’d have a snowballs chance to actually make the start of the game, and not get stared down in my office for leaving early.Which bring me to (2)…
(2) The reason why every other city doesn’t have crowds smaller than the one at my bar mitzvah is because they have non-car access to the arena. The plain fact is that, even with the Lighthouse being approved in its entire current form, that still forces commuters to take some high-speed bus from Mineola. We need a train! Or we need to move to Brooklyn! It is impossible to expect people to jump in the car for a hockey game, no matter how good or bad the team is. At the end of the day, its hockey. Not medicine. Not food.
These are the issues. Attendance for the Montreal game is based on (2). Attendance for last night is based on (1).
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Ugly Roe From Massapequa says:
So, Number 71, you think the team should “tank,” eh? Wow!
Ok, so do me a favor and play coach for a minute. You have a locker room filled with young, developing players, competitors who are STILL trying to learn how to win. You’re going to gather those players together to give them a speech telling them that you’ve decided to “tank” the season.
I’m curious to hear the speech. Can’t imagine an Al Arbour, a Scotty Bowman or a Vince Lombardi giving a speech like that, but I’d sure LOVE to hear yours.
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Tom says:
I have to say, putting aside “customer service skills” just looking at things in a common sense/common decency way, the Isles really needed to have a 2-3 sentence blurb on their website about tix refunds/exchanges. Maybe I’m over analyzing, but the Isles have carried themselves for at least the last 18 months as team who is going to be sold. The business & hockey side of things seems to winding down.
Even Garth Snow has morphed from GM to Stand-up comic. About 2 weeks, true story– Garth was quoted as saying he “has the authority to add payroll”. He said this w/a straight face no less. They can’t give Mrs. Smith a comp ticket but they are going to sign an NHL Defensman? Riight. Ok. I’m holding my breath for that NHL Dman starting…..now!
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Terrance says:
People can blame the lack of mass transit to the Coliseum all they want for the low attendance, but that has nothing to do with it. The place was packed during the 80′s and all of the same highways and train lines are in place now as they were then.
If you can’t make it from Manhattan to Hempstead in two hours, maybe you need to leave at 4:30pm instead of 5pm on the day you’re going to a game.
The reason attendance is down is because of the lack of talent on the ice. When the team was contending in 2002, fans found it exciting and showed up. But today, it’s this old story about a “rebuilding” that they keep pushing. No one can get excited about that.
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mrlbem says:
When Wang actually shelled out some Wang Bucks in 01-02 and we added Yashin, Peca, Osgood and Aucoin, the place came alive again. There’s always a time lag between winning and attendance, and so after the exciting Toronto series, in 02-03, you had a whole bunch of “non-diehard” types buying full season plans or partials because of the buzz from the season before. Then the team regressed and so did attendance. I don’t think it’s the building and I don’t think it’s a lack of mass transit. You need to put a decent product on the ice and give the fans some hope!!!!
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Scott W says:
Terrance,some of us can’t leave work early for a hockey game. Why should we the customer change our schedule to pay money to the isles. How about the Isles LISTEN to the customer and make the SIMPLE change to 7:30. I work in Manhattan and have season tickets. It is almost impossible to get to the game ontime coming from Manhattan. Plus, I would like to be able to grab a bite to eat beforehand. A gourmet pretzel is my dinner on weekdays.
The attendance is bad because the team has been bad for a number of years and the coliseum is a dump.
There is no real secret here. The tickets are overpriced for what you are getting. Yet the isles fail in getting anyone to games. The ice level seats are too expensive. They do ZERO interms of promotion. Bobbleheads on weekends when the game when the attendance is usually good. There is nothing this year interms of promotions. They continue to be run poorly. They get what they deserve. Too bad the fans don’t.
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CB I think the bottom line for Isle fans is to see or hear that somebody cares! We don’t see any emotion from the coach , the GM and most of all the owner!It’s the smae old , same old year after year.Somebody in management has to declare that losing is unacceptable and declare that this franchise has been a great winning franchise in the past and that we will return to winning! Dedication to putting a winning product on the ice is all we ask for! Somebody in the fornt office “Please” get upset about the state of this franchise!! Does Snow only work in June at the draft? Can Gordo throw something? Does Wang sleep with the fishes? Somebody, anybody show us that losing is unacceptable!
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JJ says:
It’s funny to read this good ‘ol Islanders bitch fest!
My two cents:
Please, please, please put KO back on a line with Tavares and Moulson. A few weeks ago, the three were tearing it up. Why aren’t they playing together?
The special teams blows! There’s such little skill on the PP, and they can’t get anything going.
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the bomber says:
my son is 8. hes playing before the isles on 1/2. he plays defense and i really think theres a fair shot that the Isles will try to sign him. he is better than 5 of the 6 defenseman on the team, and I dont care if God came down from heaven and presented Gordon with an infallible “system” the Isles will never win when they put those six stiffs on the ice every night. I think we have 1.5 nhl defensemen on our roster right now, surely not a recipe for success….
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I do not think that the start time or the travel time to the Colesium is the reason for the lack of attendance. I do not understand all the intricacies of getting to NMVC as I live in Alberta where if we want to go to a hockey game we get in our truck and drive to the game. If it starts early, we leave early. If the team was winning, I am willing to bet that the game could start at 3:00 am or pm and the Colesium would be full. When people want to get to the game, they find a way!
That being said, I am excited about the Islanders because I get to watch Hamonic, deHaan, Niemi, Petrov, and possibly Neillson and Donovan all play in the same WJC when is the last time that an Islander fan could say they had so many of their prospects playing in that tournament. The future looks very positive. Hopefully they will give people a reason to get to the game no matter what in the future.
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Jeff M. says:
“We don’t see any emotion from the coach”. Yeah he reminds me a lot of Bill Belichick, what a loser that guy is. Every coach should yell and scream when things don’t go his way. That’s exactly how you get a team to buy into what your doing. Sorry for the sarcasm but since people are calling the positive fans foolish I feel I have every right to counter. What’s foolish is giving up on your team after a losing streak, praising the players for the wins and lambasting the coaches for the losses, EXPECTING YOUR team full of kids the second year into a rebuild to make the playoffs, and talking about dismantling the entire team and starting over as if we have the patience for another rebuild before we even get to see this one play out. Those are all foolish expectations and reactions are they not?
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jim says:
since #101 brought it up, anyone know why there are no promotional giveaways this season? last season i got the 2 bobbleheads and i remember a couple of other giveaways at games too, one being a shirt. this season, nothing. at least nothing so far (the magnet schedule on opening day doesnt count) and nothing listed on the website/calenders. sure it doesn’t matter in the end but it’s always a nice little touch, especially things like the bobbleheads since everyone is always really into those. they’re a nice bonus to the fans spending money to go to the games.
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mmm22 says:
we should all look at the loss as one step closer to Taylor Hall or Fowler hahaha. Team still needs 1 more good draft to build the minors and a couple more years for the players to work their way up to the NHL. Until then there are going to be many brutal nights like yesterday.
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“Of course we could have went out and gotten some players instead of having a half a team that belongs in Bridgeport but we are the Islanders”.#95 Yes they could’ve. But then again they told us they weren’t going to do that because they wanted to build through the draft so I don’t understand the shock and suprise displayed in your post.
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Jason says:
Unless you want to see the same team in 15 years that you see now, we gotta kind of roll with the punches here. Making the playoffs this year has always been a far-fetched hope. It’s tough to watch the team lose, but nothing will be worse for this team than NOT making the playoffs AND NOT getting a top 10 pick. If we get neither, this will have been a rough season.
With the direction that we’re headed, please, bring on Taylor Hall. He’s a left winger. He idolizes John Tavares, and he’s fast. It would be a great compliment.
As fans, we need to stay patient. With what we have in the system, and what’s coming to this team, we could rival the Penguins, Blackhawks, and Sharks in two or three years. All I wanted for this season was a 20 point improvement over last year. Don’t know if they’ll make it, but there is more than half a season and 50 points to go.
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I love when people say that, to get to the game, just leave early. Nice theory. Well, for most people (I assume the writer either works part-time or is self-employed) leaving early, especially in this economy, puts your job in jeopardy. So, no thanks to the leaving early thing. And terrence, you say leave at 4:30 instead of 5. How about the fact that most people who can actually afford tickets work past 5pm? I’m just amazed about this black/white logic. I usually work until 6:30, at least. If I was going to a Ranger game, I could be there in 20 minutes. However, I get that they’re in Manhattan. Fine. But even so, the Isles could adjust for the fact that a lot of their fans, being that LI jobs lack in both quality and quantity, and move it back for the majority who need more time.
Btw, using the 01-02 example is a hard one. The fact is, the Isles could draw from a much larger swath of fans if they lowered ticket prices. After the 02-03 season, the prices exploded. It went from like $40-45 in the center 300s to $70. Insanity. So, you ever think that in 01-02 and 02-03, the attendance was also based on the fact that more people could afford to go, meaning LI families, and not only high-salaried professionals? If you notice, 03-04 had a significant drop (partially due to the product, of course), and we haven’t gotten back to the 14,500-ish level again.
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the only way we get to elite status in this league is to tank one more season. it sucks to say, but while everyone else complains about garth i actually am impressed he is standing pat with the scrubs we have. do not sign anyone, dont trade unless its to dump one of our guys (who would really want anyone) for a pick, and land one of the top 3 and two of the top 30 players again this year to add to our growing young talent pool. then you sign one wing and one good defenseman, even if you must overpay them and we are on our way.
it wasnt supposed to happen this year, and it will not. thats why garth put this defensive corps together, so we can’t win. he had to fix the goalie problem to shut everyone up after last year, but he was smart enough to leave another key area in the worst shape of any team in the league.
get your free tickets to the draft lottery now…. but dont worry, itll be our last one for a long while…
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Rebuild or no rebuild they need to make up their mind. If you are rebuilding then u play the kids. No reason that Park. Weight, Witt, and Sim should play over Tambellini or Schremp. Let the kids play, all of them.
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the reason they can not make it totally obvious
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Stumpy is right, lack of mass transit and start times hurt attendance big time as well as bad marketing. Terrance and kabbage are wrong, this isn’t the 80s anymore, people work well past 5:00 in a demanding economy. Weeknight atendance has never been good even when winning. 01-02′s increased attendance had as much to do with lower ticket prices as it did with winning.
Also, NYI management just doesn’t seem to care about attendance. Come on, nobody would do the things they do (or don’t do) if they cared. They’re too LI centric and ignore everyone west of Nassau, no promotion, no radio,11th highest tix prices for 1 of the worst teams in the league, lowest payroll, lowest paid GM and coach. They seem to want to fail or are setting themselves up to be sold. Nobody could be THIS bad without trying to be.
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Eric says:
Ironically, back in the 70′s/80′s when the games started at 8:00, they would often last 2:45 and end around 10:45.
Now they start at 7 and are about 15 minutes shorter so they are done before 9:30 just about every night.
The later start would likely help TV ratings, which increase in prime time (hence the name) and would get the pre-game show out of the 6:30 half-hour.
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TM – Absolutely on the marketing issue. I live in Brooklyn, and there have been so many frustrating nights where the Rangers are on 1050, Devils are on 660, and that means two things: 1) The Rangers and Devils are on both sports stations, and 2) because they’re doing live games and not talk shows, I can’t get an Isles score. How in the hell do you allow your radio signal not to be heard by the 8 million people who live in the 5 boros? They say that they have a Brooklyn sister station, but if you look at their broadcast signal, it barely goes 2 miles from the station. It’s a joke. And even if, by some miracle, you get the radio feed, its beyond pitiful being that its the TV simulcast. No offense to Howie and Billy – its not their fault, they shouldn’t have to tailor the game to the radio audience. However, it’s so bad that when I was trying to get the game online Sat night, I actually had to turn on the Montreal feed because I had no idea what was happening in the game by listening to ours.
And other marketing…would it kill the Islanders to offer some deal for city fans that if you get a decent seat, they’ll spring for your LIRR ticket? Or how about just an ad? I get so damned frustrated trying to follow the team like they’re some out-of-town franchise, and I live 30 miles from the Coliseum.
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Wang just may be trying to ruin isles like owner of Indians in the movie major league.
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Todd Okerlund says:
I’m sorry, but I have to agree with that Mikey Pants freak!
I cannot understand how these guys can claim to not have wanted to sign a couple of Veterans because they were afraid that it would take valuable time from the development of the younger ones.
Tell me who exactly might these YOUNG ONES be who he was referring to?
Ok, I’ll give you the following but that’s it: Bailey, Tavares, Nielsen, Comeau, Hillen, and MacDonald.
Please don’t be blind enough to think that these other guys are going to have some dramatic turnaround either here with US or on some other team: Thompson, Bergenheim, Gervais, Meyer and Tambellini.
I’d bet my house against any of those guys ever making it big in the NHL, ever!
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George Steinbrenner proved to everyone that it’s not the location of the team or it’s surroundings. Don’t you remember when the Yankees were horrible in the 80′s and no one wanted to come to the games because of the scarry Bronx?
All that little Georgey did was invest a gazillion dollars on Player Development and another gazillion on Free Agents and Poof, suddenly 4 Million Plus people came to that same Bronx Stadium….referred to before it’s timely death as…THE STADIUM.
Put the right product on the ice and you’ll have a full house again!
Wang is a cheap bastid, I don’t care how many millions he’s losing! All that he cares about is his stupid development aspirations!
Sell the team if you don’t like it!
this team is such a joke. i aint spending a penny on this team until charlie decides to put a good team on the ice. i hope they continue to draw poorly because that is what they deserve. anyone that spends money on these losers deserves to watch the same crap since 1993.