Monthly Archives: April 2010
FanHouse: Islanders Crash Canadiens’ Clinch Party
9:45 pm, NVMC: Refusing to let the Canadiens celebrate on their ice, the Islanders get a goal late by Frans Nielsen and then Matt Moulson, Nielsen and Martin Biron (2-for-2 in saves) get the extra point in the shootout. Scott Gordon’s Never Say-die-landers do it again. Bravo. Blake Comeau scored a first period goal off hard work and a beautiful pass by Sean Bergenheim. Later in the first, Comeau blocked a shot with his foot and was lost for the rest of the game. His foot injury will be evaluated on Wednesday. Bergenheim was dominant. Kyle Okposo is this season’s winner of the Bob Nystrom Award. Since tonight was their last Coliseum appearance, mercifully, say goodbye to these things:
Chris Botta on Twitter
11:55 am, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum: The Islanders were officially eliminated on Monday when Boston picked up a point in Washington. Major credit to Scott Gordon, Dean Chynoweth and Scott Allen for guiding the Islanders to victories until the end. The Islanders did not eliminate themselves with a piss-poor effort. They also don’t want to see a team celebrate on their home ice.
“Just because we are mathematically eliminated, I doubt that will change the way the guys play,” said Scott Gordon after his team’s morning skate at the Coliseum. Later on he said, “There have been very few nights this season when we have been out-worked.”
Martin Biron starts tonight against the Canadiens. Gordon credited the goalie for “keeping his focus” after the trade deadline and playing his best hockey of the season.
Said Biron: “It’s a season like this that makes you want to win and excel even more. I believe I can be a top-notch goalie in this league. The first half didn’t go the way I wanted, but I’ve made the best of the second half and it’s been great to see the team playing so well.”
Asked by a Canadiens reporter if he would like to return to the Islanders next season, Biron said, “There hasn’t been any discussion at all. There’s plenty of time in the summer for that.”
Mark Streit: “It has been a long journey this season. So many of the guys played well. I think this has been a good season for us. We have grown up together and had long stretches of very good results. I hope that we are on our way.”
John Tavares: “The guys have really come together these last few weeks. We’re playing with a lot of pride and not making it easy on our opponents. We may be officially out of the playoff race now, but I expect we’ll continue to play hard and play well.”
Notes: Since the Islanders are out of it, tonight’s game has been moved to MSG 2. Best of luck finding it.
Bruno Gervais (groin strain) will sit another one out. Dylan Reese and Mark Flood have played very admirably during the blueline injury crisis.
Tweet from my friend Pierre LeBrun of ESPN and Hockey Night: “Might be the last year people get to poke fun at the Leafs. They’re on the right track.” I don’t know if I agree with Pierre that this is the last season Toronto will be stinkola, but I thought it was interesting he went out of his way to take the stand.
Kevin Poulin – the best Islanders prospect that gets little to no respect – stopped 28 of 29 shots last night to lead his Victoriaville team to a 6-1 win over Quebec. Despite the blowout, Poulin was named the game’s First Star. Victoriaville leads the second round series, 3-0.
Reader comment of the week comes from Mike in Sarasota for an enlightening fact and stating his position with passion (and actual accurate information!):
Ten of the top thirteen scorers in the league were chosen at #1 #2 or #3 in the draft – Sedin, Ovechkin, Crosby, Stamkos, Thornton, Kane, Gaborik, Marleau, Kovalchuk and Heatley.
Yes, you can strike gold. Plenty of stars are drafted with later picks. But the best chance to land an impact player (which this franchise needs and will never be able to add via free agency) is at the top of the draft.
And so far Snow has not struck gold at the draft. Did the trading back in 2008 result in the drafting of Tyler Myers, Erik Karlsson, Michael Del Zotto or John Carlson (all of whom would result in a click if Snow called offering Bailey)? No.
Of course if we hadn’t picked up 4 points in our final 4 games that season (remember how much character we built!) perhaps we could have just drafted Bogosian (#3) or Pietrangelo (#4).
After speaking to Montreal reporters in French for 20 minutes, Biron opened his round of talks with the English media by saying, “Okay, time to do it all over again. But this time I’m going to tell the truth.”
Comments on this post and tonight’s game. Working the other team tonight, but I’ll contribute what I can.
Chris Botta on Twitter
7:30 pm: Please allow me to spell this out one last time, so there can be no misunderstanding. Hopefully, no one gets hurt.
It is Scott Gordon’s responsibility to coach his team to as many wins as he can, to see that they fight to the end. Very good on the head coach, Dean Chynoweth, Scott Allen and their gritty-gutties for playing hard, fast and loose, and executing to the tune of 7-3-1 in their last 11 games.
You never know – these hot and happy runs have been more the norm than the exception for teams four lanes deep on the perimeter of the playoff race since the league went to 21 franchises. But maybe the Islanders shouldn’t have been sellers only before the trade deadline. They were 0-3-1 after March 3. When Garth Snow sold Andy Sutton and didn’t buy anything, he wasn’t strategizing for his team to make a strong push for the playoffs. And yet, followers okay with a Fall for Seguin, Fowler and Hall are the negative ones?
I just can’t imagine anyone having the stones to lecture fellow followers on the quality of their worship because they were disappointed in pyrric late-season victories against Columbus, Calgary and Ottawa. Those are the same folks who will go ga-ga if the Islanders lose this week to Pittsburgh and New Jersey while the Lightning and Panthers play to overtime twice over the weekend.
As long as I’ve been studying NHL coverage, I can never recall a coach crediting April out-of-it wins for his team’s maturation into a contender a year or two later. It’s all window dressing. Those games when the Islanders were in the thick of the playoff race from mid-January until early March – you know, the ones when they went 3-12 – they mattered a whole lot more.
Although Gordon has admirably instilled a style of play and a work ethic in his rebuilding team, this also isn’t the first time in the last decade that some Islanders players finished strong after going missing for 20-game spurts earlier in the year.
Crosby and Malkin aren’t leaving the conference anytime soon. Ovechkin’s loaded Capitals are only going to get better as John Carlsson and his fellow prospects mature. The Devils and Lou Lamoriello are not leaving New Jersey. Boston lost Phil Kessel and took a step back this season, but they have a strong chance of adding a franchise player with Toronto’s pick.
Led by Calvin de Haan and Travis Hamonic, the Islanders have a solid group of prospects. A few made big steps in their development over the last year. But heading into the 2010 draft, the Islanders’ prospects not currently with the NHL club are hardly any more special than most teams’. To use a local example, they are certainly no more special than the crew Gordie Clark has assembled with the Rangers.
The players and coaches should be inspired to win. There’s no shame in anyone else being inspired to hope for the best possible Draft Party. Remember, the Islanders’ stated goal is to eventually become a consistent contender – not just make the playoffs like they should next year.
The Draft Lottery is next Tuesday, April 13 at 8:00 pm. Comments.
12:35 pm, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum: If an invitation is extended as expected, John Tavares would embrace the chance to represent Team Canada at the World Championships in Germany bext month.
“It’s not something I’m totally comfortable talking about, since we are still alive in the playoff race,” Tavares told Point Blank after practice at the Coliseum today, “but if the opportunity presents itself, I would definitely love to go.”
Team Canada is managed by Mark Messier and coached by Craig MacTavish, a pair of champions the 19-year-old Tavares could learn from.
“There’s no question it would be a privilege to be a part of their team,” said Tavares. “I’ve always enjoyed playing for my country. Everything Hockey Canada does is first-class, so I would expect that if I’m fortunate enough to get the chance to play for them at the Worlds, the experience would be memorable and a positive influence on my NHL career.”
Islanders head coach Scott Gordon believes Tavares can’t lose. “It will be valuable either way,” said Gordon. “If he doesn’t go, it will jump-start his summer training. If he does go, it’s an opportunity for him to play with a different supporting cast, some very good players and some guys who may be further along in their careers.”
One reason Tavares was positive about the potential of playing for Team Canada is that he doesn’t believe he’s going to be available for future World Championships.
“My hope is the Islanders are going to be in the playoffs for years to come,” said Tavares, “and the tournament is not even an option.”
Notes: Despite posting two points in each of his three games, Blake Comeau was not named one of the NHL’s Three Stars of the Week. The honors went, in order, to Jaroslav Halak, Saku Koivu and Tuukka Rask.
Gordon said he hasn’t decided on a starter for Tuesday’s game against the Canadiens. The Quebec born-and-raised Martin Biron is 6-0-2 in his last eight.
Kevin Poulin has carried Victoriaville to a 2-0 lead over Quebec in the second round of the Quebec Major Junior League playoffs. Game 3 is tonight. Poulin stopped a combined 53 of 56 shots to lead his team to 4-1 and 4-2 victories over the weekend.
Practice combinations:
Bergenheim - Tavares – Comeau
Moulson – Bailey – Okposo
Sim – Nielsen – Hunter
Tambellini – Gillies – Park – Jackman
Streit – MacDonald
Meyer – Hillen
Flood – Reese
Gervais
Roloson
Biron
More to come later in the day.
4:40 pm: Random musings after the Islanders’ 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators today at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum…
John Tavares may not be a Calder Trophy finalist this year, but he will score 32 goals in the 2010-11 season. And that’s just dandy.
Face it, Blake Comeau can do no wrong. With two assists today, Comeau is a contender for one of the NHL’s Three Stars of the Week.
More than at any time this season – and the stink-bomb at the Garden aside – the Islanders over the last two weeks have looked like a team that plays for and stands up for each other.
The Islanders are 5-2-1 in their last seven games with big-time deterrent Trevor Gillies in the lineup. We’ll know by the opening night lineup in October if Islanders management believes this was a coincidence. (Meaning, whether they sign any heavyweight for next year). Still, it was fun watching Gillies scream and glare at Senators all day.
The Energizer Bergie might need to hit the speed bag a bit in the offseason, but you have to admire him stepping up in class from Petr Prucha to Nick Foligno. Good stuff.
Martin Biron is not just a deserving choice for the media’s Good Guy Award, he’s a good goalie. Although, selfishly, he would be missed, I really hope his agent finds him a good place for Biron to play next season.
Terrible call by Ian Walsh, not allowing Tavares to battle with Chris Campoli for the puck and hitting him with an interference penalty. It’s plays like those that drive the old schoolers nuts. Tavares should not let a weak call stop him from competing for pucks in the future.
Not the best of returns for Andy Sutton (third period, Sim-influenced meltdown) and Campoli (minus-4). They do have the playoffs, though.
Campoli on the playoffs: “I’m a believer that we have an opportunity to do some damage in the playoffs. I’m really excited about it. I’ve only played five career playoff games, back with the Islanders. That’s what we play this game for – to win and the dream of hoisting the Stanley Cup. We’ve got a chance to do it here. We’re probably not the favorites, and that’s fine with us. We believe in each other in the dressing room and we’re going to go out and compete for it.”
Plenty of college free agents have signed with NHL teams over the last two weeks, including New Hampshire forward Bobby Butler, who played today for Ottawa. Although the Islanders have come up empty so far, I’m told they were in the hunt for some and are still bidding. They should hear one way or the other this week.
I continue to have faith that the Florida Panthers will somehow find a way to screw up their position to draft one of the top 3-4 studs in the upcoming draft.
Give proper doses of respect to kids like Brandon Gormley and cult hero Nino Niederreiter – a favorite of a lot of people who haven’t seem him play much, probably for his fun name and Swissness. But understand this: for a rebuilding team that thinks its arena prevents them from adding marquee talent, if you want to be a consistent contender there is a difference between the very top of this draft and the rest.
Happy Easter! Unless major news breaks, I’ll see you Monday.
Freddy Meyer is well aware the Islanders have decisions to make in the offseason – many larger than a determination on his status – but he hopes he has made a case to be one of the team’s seven defensemen at the start of the 2010-11 season.
“There is very little that I can control about my future,” said the potential unrestricted free agent, “but the one thing I can control is my play. I’m giving my best every night. I understand the Islanders have a lot of options at the position, but my first choice would be to stay here.
“This is the franchise that gave me my first real opportunity in the NHL. My wife (Lindsey) and I enjoy it on Long Island and have started a family. No matter what happens, I’m just going to give the Islanders everything I have for as long as I’m here.”
The Fantastic IVth has been at his best in the final quarter of this season. After Andy Sutton was traded (returning Saturday as a Senator) and an injury plague hit the blueline, Meyer was given extra shifts by assistant coach Dean Chynoweth. He has made the most of the icetime.
Best of all, the 5-10, 195-pound blueliner has stepped up his physical play – landing big hits nightly, reminiscent of his pal Sutton. Meyer credits his days as a youth football league player in Rochester, Minnesota for his education on “leverage.”
“I think I’ve always been a physcial player,” countered Meyer, who has averaged more than 21 minutes over the last 13 games. “Probably the reason it’s been noticed more is, I’m getting a lot of icetime.”
As if on cue, Frans Nielsen and Matt Moulson walked by Meyer and yelled, “Crusher”!
Notes: Martin Biron was the deserving winner of the Good Guy Award for cooperation with the media. The award is voted on by the Long Island chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association of America.
Rhett Rakhshani had an assist in his AHL debut on Friday as Bridgeport lost to Manchester, 4-1.
Bruno Gervais has begun skating and will return to the lineup soon.
Welcome back, Andy Sutton.
This is a reminder that although your tickets may say 7:00, Saturday’s game against the Senators begins at 2:00 pm.
With four goals in two games so far this week, Blake Comeau could be of the the NHL’s Three Stars with a strong effort against the Sens.
Happy holidays to everyone in Islanders Country.
Comments on this post and Saturday’s game.
Chris Botta on Twitter
11:00 am: Next Thursday, April 8, the Islanders will be the opponent for the 1,667th and final regular season game in the history of the Igloo in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are making a big deal of the event, with good reason; Pittsburgh’s hockey team has won three Stanley Cups while playing in the building. Everyone from Mario Lemieux and Bryan Trottier to Andy Bathgate and Syl Apps will be there.
The Igloo game will be the only one of the Islanders’ stretch drive that play-by-play announcer Howie Rose is expected to miss. Howie will be on Mets duty that night.
On the positive side, Rose’s absence creates a wonderful opportunity. His lead relief pitcher, Jiggs McDonald, called several memorable games at the Igloo. There was the Islanders-Penguins best-of-five series in 1982, when the Islanders were pushed to the limit before keeping the dynasty alive at home. There was, of course, David Volek’s Game 7 overtime goal for the Islanders to defeat Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.
As the Penguins celebrated their history next Thursday, McDonald – the Hall of Fame broadcaster – could discuss the great battles the Islanders had in the Igloo. (After all, the MSG broadcast will show Jiggs’ call of the Volek goal, right?) Since it would be the Islanders’ 80th game of this season, Jiggs could also discuss the state of the team’s rebuild with ace color commentator Billy Jaffe. A nice combination of the past and present.
What an ideal scenario. Even with the Islanders out of it, that’s a broadcast many die-hards would not want to miss.
Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen. For the Islanders’ appearance in the final regular season game at the Igloo, Rangers radio play-by-play man Kenny Albert has been given the assignment by MSG Network.
Two of the biggest games in Islanders history were played at the Igloo: there was Kasparaitis and Healy and Ferraro-to-Volek. There was the 1-0 Game 7 in 1975 in which the Islanders became the second team in NHL history to come from down three games to none in a playoff series. No team has done it since.
And yet, an Islanders broadcaster will not do the play-by-play for the finale at the Igloo.
You wonder if anyone even took a moment to think this through.
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