DALLAS at ISLANDERS, 7:05 PM; DP is No. 1
Lineups…Scratches (Hillen)…Soundbites…Notes
Instant NYI updates on Twitter
Nino Niederreiter, P.A. Parenteau, James Wisniewski and John Tavares walk to the ice for today’s morning skate in preparation for the season opener. The fifth person is a Swiss reporter following Nino’s every move.
11:15 am, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum: Tonight’s scratches on defense will be Bruno Gervais and Jack Hillen. (And to think, all those emails and comments about Point Blank resuming drinking because I pointed out Jack’s B-squad assignments). Scott Gordon would not give the reasons why, saying he was meeting with Hillen later this morning. For Hillen, who suffered a major injury last season when he took an Ovechkin slap shot to the face, I would hope it’s more a numbers game than a serious reflection on his play.
As expected, Michael Grabner will sit out as he learns the systems and the Islanders look at what they have on the right side with 18-year-old Nino Niederreiter and unproven free agent signing P.A. Parenteau.
Islanders Lineup – Game 1
Comeau – Tavares – Parenteau
Moulson – Nielsen – Hunter
Bailey - Weight – Niederreiter
Gillies - Konopka – Sim
(Grabner)
Mottau – Wisniewski
Eaton – Martinek
Jurcina - MacDonald
(Hillen – Gervais)
DiPietro
Roloson
Soundbites
Blake Comeau on his placement on a line with John Tavares: “It feels good to be given the responsibility. John’s an elite player. You cannot ask for a better opportunity than to be on his line. My job is to create some space for my linemates, play the body and hopefully continue to contribute points like I did in the second half last season. With Kyle (Okposo) out for a while, it’s on me and a few of the guys to step up our production.”
Nino Niederreiter on his role: “No matter what level I’m at, I have to do the little things, but I’m a goal scorer. It’s my jobs to puck pucks in nets.”
Zenon Konopka on Game 1: “We have to play off the emotion and the intensity that comes with a home opener. There’s lot of potential here. It’s time to start the adventure.”
Notes
The players and coaching staff put in a full week of work in preparation for tonight’s opener. In a bit of a surprise, the Islanders practiced every day for five straight – including one double-session on Wednesday. No one can say Scott Gordon, Dean Chynoweth, Scott Allen and Sudarshan Maharaj don’t put the time in. Teams all over the league, with most like the Islanders not opening their seasons until today, took days off.
Rick DiPietro starts tonight, but opted to rest instead of take the morning skate. Kari Lehton starts again by Dallas after beating New Jersey last night.
By the way Coach Gordon was talking this morning, it certainly sounds like the organization views DiPietro as its No. 1 goaltender. Gordon disclosed that he met with Dwayne Roloson about his role mid-camp and yesterday, and said Maharaj met with Roloson recently. Gordon also talked about the Islanders having plenty of back-to-backs and how Roloson will get his starts. I was a bit surprised that the head coach didn’t simply play up the notion, “We have two No. 1s,” but always appreciate the candor.
The Islanders are 24-10-3 in their first 37 home openers. Tonight is just the sixth time in 38 years that the Islanders will open the season at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Islanders are 2-2-1 in season openers at home.
Calvin de Haan had two assists and was plus-2 in Oshawa’s 8-7 shootout loss to Kingston last night. Kirill Kabanov was held scoreless and was minus-2 in his season debut with Moncton, a 6-2 loss in Saint John.
Former Islanders defenseman Zdeno Chara has signed a seven-year contract extension worth $6.5 million per. As Nick Kypreos tweeted this morning, most of the big money in the NHL these days is being spent on stud blueliners.
The best news to come out of the Islanders’ deal with Radio Hofstra University is the assignment of Chris King as the play-by-play voice. King has been working in Islanders radio for a long time, and I know how much he dreamed of being the lead announcer. Son of a gun also enters the season in fighting shape, looking like he dropped at least 20 pounds. “I spent a lot of time this summer on the bike.” Congratulations to the good man we call Kinger.
Scott Gordon
John Tavares
Comments. Check back here and on Twitter during the day for updates.
133 Responses to DALLAS at ISLANDERS, 7:05 PM; DP is No. 1
Lineups…Scratches (Hillen)…Soundbites…Notes
-
DD says:
CAN’T WAIT to see what this year brings.
Congrats to Chris King on finally being brought back into the fold.
Go get ‘em boys.
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!!!!!
-
Bob Bassen says:
If you told me last December that Jack Hillen would be a *healthy scratch* on opening night 2010…wow! (Or that DP would be the starting goaltender for that matter.)
Great to hear about Kinger…psyched to check out the new station as well.
Go Isles! -
2Bit says:
It’s a crying shame Hillen has to be the odd one out here. Truly hope it’s nothing to be too concerned about though. This should be an interesting game. Let’s go Isles!
-
PotvinRocks says:
If Hillen is going to be your health scratch, why not trade him? There are plenty of Cap ceiling teams that would jump at the oppertunity of adding a cheap puck moving Defenseman. Jersey, Pittsburgh, & Chicago all need the depth back there (esspecially NJ) and would give up a 3rd & maybe a 2nd rounder for Hillen. It seems like a waste. The only reason why Chicago has kept Nick Leddy is because of his cap hit. Its not like he is a turnover machine like Bruno, who the Isles should have waiver to keep deHaan.
-
Steve M says: I would have liked to see Hillen play, but our D looks good for tonight. As for the Chara contract extension, there goes my hopes of us re-singing him.
-
Warren says:
Okay hockey fans here we go for another action packed season hopefully we will have more ups with this team than downs. Lets hope we can challenge for the “CUP” this year and go far. Also lets see our coach win the Jack Adams Trophy for Coach of the Year. Also he knows what he’s doing with the line up. So keep the faith.
“LETS GO ISLANDERS” For you CB good luck in reporting for the team this year. -
Blizzard says: ……just because I cant help myself.
Gillies – Konopka – Martin
There thats better….lol.
But srly I will be there GO ISLANDERS!!!!!
-
j.branny says:
Hillen sitting was a pre-ordained move from the beginning of camp, as he never played with the A squad or was on a top power play. Not the best way to help his confidence. How they can play the likes of Jurcina over him though is still beyond me! They must want to showcase their free agent signings.
-
Brian says:
I don’t get Hillen being a healthy scratch but have no doubt he’ll get his time once injuries kick in. Can’t say I’m too surprised though based on his “B” game demotions during the pre-season.
-
Shremp Co 13 says:
dallas beat jersey. guess anything is possible
-
JayK says:
Chris did a few play by play games last year, when the Isles were on Versus. He did just fine. This is very good news.
-
isles14 says:
can’t wait to get to the old barn tonight.
-
rb says:
I like Hillen’s skating ability, his compete-level and his hockey smarts. He also seems like a real good guy. But he has no shot from the point, and doesn’t have enough offense to make up for what he lacks in the defensive end in terms of size and strengh.
-
EJ1SINCE40 says:
Happy opening night to all of us here in Isles Country, IPB.
Hope DP can play a solid game as the new defense corps should help clear out and move some bodies.
El “Nino” is going to have a big year. The kid is the real deal..
CB, I am somewhat late on this, but congtrats on your merger with SNY!!
Let’s get TWO tonight and roll all over them hated Rags on Monday!!
Let’s go Islanders!!!!!!!
-
gordy lane says:
Maybe Hillen is still feeling the effects of the broken jaw and his play is suffering because of it. Like when a baseball player gets hit in the head with a pitch and he changes the way he swings because of a fear of getting hit again. It is only game one so lets see how this all plays out. Martinek will eventually get hurt so there is a spot there.
-
Mario says:
Have fun at the barn tonight everyone who is going. Cant go, got a job with the sound tigers but i’ll watch it taped. GO ISLES.
-
znatokhokkeya says:
Jurcina over Hillen??? Wow
-
jmont6 says:
I am surprised Hillen sits tonight over Jurcina. I was ok with the Jurcina signing at the time however in Saskatoon I saw how someone as big big as Jurcina can look almost invisible on the ice. I dont think he made one hit. Hillen will get his chance for sure though. Excited for tonight. Go Isles!!
-
cjcb says:
Grats to Chris King and Pat Flatley love em both, missing Jaffee evne less with this news!!!
-
Garth, Hillen + the first round pick of 2011 for the good scoring winger. how about that? i am sure you can find a partner for that kind of trade.
-
Silkshocker says:
Here’s why gordan has to make dipietro the starter…..Wang will likely fire gordan otherwise. Wang is a huge dipietro fan., and as we know the isles are run on the buddy system not like the Yankees n devils who run on the merit system
-
dose says:
unless there’s something beneath the surface we don’t know, sitting hillen means the coaches think this d-corps is more than just a little better than last years’s.
-
bch27ny says:
Hillen is young and has huge upside. These other retreads-well we know what they are capable of. Thats why they are on the islanders instead of a contender. This is another case of a hockey coach benching a guy who doesn’t fit his system. Players often leave and achieve somewhere else when given a chance more often than not. Hockey coaches micromanage more than any other sport. This stinks. Martinek (reached his apex) along with Jurcina ahead of Hillen????
-
daves says:
I think the lineup is solid and well-balanced. We’ll have to see what Jurcina brings to the ice. Overall the defense looks solid. I love the pairing of Wisniewski with mottau though clearly Streit would be a better partner. nonetheless it has been a while since we could look at our defense corps and actually see something this good. Very optimistic!!!! Love John Tavares’ attitude. The kid is the real deal!
-
Adam W says:
P.A. Parentau on the 1st line? Weight centering the 3rd line? One more question: who’s available in the lottery next June?
-
Justin says:
Gotta love JT..class…Let’s go Islanders!!!
-
Billybc says:
I’m saying a prayer to the hockey Gods! Here is hoping for a miracle season!!!! Let’s go Isles!!!
-
MAD FAN says:
Cant wait i just want to see my team play ..good or bad this is my team and it always will be. Lets go islanders….. lets go islanders…. lets go islanders… lets go islanders
-
Strummer's Army says:
I wonder if Hillen is getting traded? I am SHOCKED he’s scratched. It seems like he has lost favor with management for some reason. We all know that is not a good thing (ask Jaffe, Trots, Riechlecz, Jankowski etc).
Thankfully Bruno is too. Going to stink to not have Jaffe calling the game.
Very excited to watch some hockey again, especially the Isles growing prospects and DiPietro.
Chara deserves all he gets. He’s a great player and one the Isles should have been smart enough to never trade. What a horrendous deal that was and Isles are still paying for it and have never had a defensemen that even comes close to what Big Z provides in all areas of the game (yes Streit is good for points and fine in his own end but doesn’t bring the hitting, fighting, etc). How is anyone paying Mike Milbury as a hockey expert? I think what we all know is he knows nothing about hockey.
CB, great job on the game day preview, very nice.
-
Perry Card says:
We are bad enough and SG doesn’t play his best players
Hillen sitting DP in net. Martin and JJ in Bridgeport. We are bad enough Hunter top 6? -
Reese in Chelsea says:
Let’s go Islanders!
-
Jim Clark says: Five hours until a new season begins and another group of Islanders gets their name written in history.
No Bruno Gervais? What will we do?
-
UIF says:
Jurcina over Hillen…I don’t get that one at all. Maybe I was hallucinating all last season, but Hillen played better more often than probably three or four of the d-men in the lineup tonight. Hillen’s speed and Martin’s size…two things sorely lacking in the lineup, yet inexplicably held out. Oh well, drop the puck and let’s see what happens.
-
Pete M says:
Love all the arm chair GMing around here. Of course all of them watched every second of training camp and saw Hillen outperform everyone there, hence the shock that he’s sitting tonight. Its ONE Game for crying out loud.
-
Staten Islander says:
Good news/bad news. Chef Bruno isn’t playing, neither is Hillen. The descision to put Comeau on the 1st line looks like Gordon telling him he has his shot, now earn it. I’m not happy with Bailey on the 3rd line either.
-
Rick only played 13 games in the past two seasons and still had much better stats then Rolo in preseason, that is why he is starting.
RK NO GOALTENDER GPI MINS AVG W L OT EN SO GA SA SV% G A PIM
39 DiPietro, Rick 2 100 2.40 1 1 0 0 0 4 41 90.2 0 0 0
30 Roloson, Dwayne 2 119 3.53 0 2 0 0 0 7 64 89.1 0 0 0 -
purify says:
relax hillen sat out the first few games last year also. he is still young. let him earn his spot.if bruno got his spot instead then I would be pissed. we are not at practice nor do we have real insite to what our d really looks like until tonight. keep it positive.
-
Andre says:
To be perfectly honest, I am not a fan of Hillen. Islanders have too many defenseman like him. His upside is quite limited. To me, Blake Kessel and Matt Donovan have more upside than Hillen or even MacDonald. I would not be surprised if Hillen was traded this season and Hamonic called up. Gervais should not even be on the team. Looking forward to the season starting tonight.
-
Ricky T says:
Excited but not at all optomistic about the season. This roster does not have high opside. If DP can stay in the net we could have a chance with some close low scoring games. Here’s looking for one more top 2-3 pick where this year’s draft has some very high end prospects.
-
isles6 says:
Hillen will get his shot. Martinek as good as he is, is peanut brittle.
-
Anyone who’s played and watched hockey long enough knows the value of a puck moving defensemen with speed. No Streit and no Hillen. Who gets the puck out of the def zone and creates any offense? We don’t have the speed upfront to create enough offense so you need puck-moving d with speed. We have 5 pillars and a 30+ Martinek who can skate at times. DP needs to play lights out and steal some this year. Hopefully Dallas has tired legs from last night.
-
kallur says:
Re: Hillen: does the name Tony Conigliaro mean anything to you?
-
Greg65 says:
If Isles lose tonight they will likely not see above %500 all season.
-
Joseph says:
Go Islanders!!!!!!!!!
-
isles71 says:
Still think it is a mistake to have DP as team No. 1 goalie. The doctors must really be sure, or the team must really not be too concerned about wether or not he can go 60+ games. If he can’t, I guess then it proves he is not physically able at which point expect another contract buyout because this is Yashins’ last yr if not mistaken. Enough negativity…Islanders are getting 91 pts, finish in 7th and proves the naysayers all wrong!!! Go Isles!!!
-
Coach says:
Does anyone else found it interesting that when the team practices for 5 days that the “goalie coach” wasn’t around instead the “goalie consultant” was working with the goalies getting them ready to start the season. I guess Dunham was busy doing his real job of keeping the GM company playing golf. This organization is a joke, they let good people go every year to cut their overhead and keep the GM’s good friend Dunham around to do nothing!How many scouts do they have left? What about the front office? These things don’t go against the cap and if your always drafting high shouldn’t you go after the best scouts to make it work and then keep them!!!
-
Paul says:
I think Hillen not starting is as simple as the Isles wanting three lefty shots (Mottau, Eaton, A-Mac) and three righty shots (Wisniewski, Martinek, Jurcina) on the blue line. Since MacDonald seems to be ahead of Hillen in the organization’s mind, Jack sits.
If Streit comes back healthy though, I could totally see one of the two being moved. Both de Haan and Harmonic will be here in a year, so you know some of thise “depth” is going to get traded or waived.
-
Vealchop says:
Cant wait for tonights game.
Excited to see Nino. I hope for his and Bailey’s sake they get a lot of ice time. If Weight is healthy it could be a nice line.
What forwards are going to play the PK?
Neilson for sure. Hunter? Bailey? JT, BC? -
Swan says:
Hillen is scratched because he is currently not is good as the six that are starting ahead of him. You play your best players for the opener. Period.
I like Hillen and I expect he will continue to develop. But Gordon has the correct lineup tonight.
-
19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!
I’m at work… but will try and keep track of tonight’s game.
-
AJAX says:
Hofstra Radio is ACES, nothing like some polka to lead you into the homeopener!
YEAH!!!! -
Andy says:
Anyone else depressed to see Jon sims name as a player on the ice for the start of the season? Me too
-
T-1 Sella says:
forget Sim…anyone else got this whole Blue smurf thing going on with Direct TV 773-1 is all hosed up
-
Brian G says:
Howie Rose opens up the year mentioning the islanders and stanley cup…cmon…did the Organization tell him to say that
-
74 says:
I knew I’d get the answer here. My broadcast is showing smurfs too on Direct TV in Charlotte
-
DanNOLA says:
I got the whole Blue-Man-Group look going on my direct tv 773-1 also. WTF?
-
Eaton gets to wear an A?
-
Welcome to a New season!!! Maybe its supposed to be in 3-d…
-
bayduvinislander says:
blue on nhl center ice online too? wtf?
-
Really? did I just hear boo’s for DP?
-
tonyD says:
What the hell. This is how we gotta watch the 1st damn game of the season. Damn screen is blue
-
did DP get booed?
-
Bill says:
I’m getting the same blue screen issue on Direct TV… It looks like the Standard Def is coming in ok
-
Vinny says:
Hd feed is all messed up. Colors on sd are ok.
-
Have Time Warner, looks ok here
-
andy says:
any live feeds?
-
looks like its fixed.. fingers crossed
-
FIRST GOAL AGAINST: Martinek outmuscled along the wall (because he never even tried using his body just his stick) and Eaton outmuscled and out positioned in front of the net, all off a bad penalty by Blake Comeau who was annointed (along with Paraenteau) a first line forward.
-
hasnizzle~ says:
dp had no chance…
my a@@ butch…
try controlling a freakin rebound yo! -
Ethan K says:
Dipietro needs to retire…. he’s just no longer an NHL goaltender.
-
It is nice to give DP the start…But Roloson is the better goaltender…I just hope that if a switch is made…DP will deal with it and not complain about it?
-
JJ says:
Well, that was a pretty awful first period to the season:
2 goals against, including one horrible goal let up by DP
0-2 on the PP
1-2 PK
Generally boring, listless hockey. Why doesn’t this team ever have a jump???
Maybe it is time for them to move and get a new start.
-
the only difference w that period was the goaltenders PERIOD!
-
Jon in Chicago says:
You can already see how this team will struggle to get offense from its defensemen. Not a very skilled group with Streit missing.
-
JD says:
the defense looks really slow and gets knocked off the puck way too easily.
-
Jim Clark says:
DP with the 60% save percentage after one period. He stills comes out of the crease too often. Few people at Nassau Vett giving the DP cheer nowadays
-
Well same old Isles, except for Nino and Wiz no one is checking. Still allowing Tavares to get creamed. Defense bigger on paper but just as soft. Sim still suck. PA Parenteau is showing that I am a way better skater then he is and that perhaps he isn’t worthy of being handed a first line role. Comeau also not validating Gordos’s choice to give him the first line job. I am telling you the two best wingers for JT at this time is Nino and Bailey.
-
I just hope JT is ok after going to the room
-
Mike from Sarasota says:
Pretty lackluster 1st period. Surprising for a home/season-opener. Something tells me that won’t be the last time we hear the phrase “Eaton outmuscled”.
Sounds like Goring understands his role as color-man/propagandist.
Hopefully they have some jump to start the 2nd period.
-
ant says:
Enough of DP,he is not a number one goalie anymore,and we are stuck with him.That second goal was as soft as they come a shot from the blue line with no one in front.
-
Quagmire says:
I love butchie, but man, what a drop-off from Billy Jaffe to him. I’m really going to miss Jaffe, he was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and prepared. Still can’t understand what they were thinking.
-
WOW, Wisnewski has a cannon
-
ok…
streit
okposo
shremp
tavares???
wtf….
no matter how soft the hit…why again, did NO=ONE DO ANYTHING???
he’s gone the second he gets the chance! -
Third goals against was all PA Parenteau “The Annointed One” fault. He had two turnovers back to back.
I agree with #83, I didn’t think the hit was that clean. He put his shoulder into him from behind when he didn’t have to and no one did a thing.
-
Is there any update on JT
-
hit from behind no doubt…but why no smack down??? Coach needed to send a message wether clean or not…which it wasn’t…switched from Tavares jersey to Cairns jersey….pulling out the Baumgartener jersey to start the 3rd…go isles
-
henry says:
Love Mangano in his Isles jersey.
C’mon guys, solutionize it!!
-
JT has a “mild” concussion, geez
-
“mild” my tuchus. a concussion is a concussion, period.
my wife was almost pregnant.
accident or not, incidental or not, someone needed to deck that guy right away. a statement needed to made and wasn’t. now it’s too late. it would just be stupid. -
stevedepot says:
This team does not finish checks. They stickcheck and chase. Is that the system? I’m sorry, I cannot take another year of this coach. Tavares gets nailed by a blindside check as payback for the Comeau hit with no Islander again coming to his aid for payback and then when Konopka comes on the ice for the following faceoff, Gordon calls him off. No message sent, not enough Isles finishing checks. I also agree about Goring. Love him, but sorely miss Jaffe. On the plus side. DP looked rusty in the 1st but has looked alot better since. That 3rd goal wasn’t his fault. Bad turnover by Parenteau that caught both our defensemen (Wisnewski and Mottau) flat footed. They have to change some habits.
-
I KNEW they should have dressed Gervais!
-
Jurcina or Gervais is really pick your poison. Here’s hoping we see Hamonic up with the team in a few months or sooner.
-
Ian says:
Hopefully they dress Hillen Monday instead of Jurcina.
-
Hud says:
goring, great player. jaffe, great play by play man. Already miss the jaffe. Isles working hard without their three best players. wiz is good, great trade garth.
-
i meant great color commentary from jaffe, not play by play, duh
-
One thing I noticed tonight, they seem to be keeping the puck in the offensive zone better, oh yeah…MATTY ICE!
-
tie game baby.
-
MattyB says:
A third period comeback?….Those Exist?
-
Wow, so THIS is what its like when the OTHER team blows a two goal lead.
-
This is why we’re fans. Brutal first period and then a totally different team in the second half of the game. Love the “shoot from anywhere” mentality. Keep it up.
-
DAMN!
-
LES says:
ttavares will be ok i am sure it is just procautionary , it was a very light hit
-
James says:
I love what the Islanders showed tonight, and that without Okposo, Streit and Tavares
I see a light at the end of the tunnel for this franchise. I hope JT is ok
-
Frank nyc says:
I have to say, regardless what happened in the skills competition, the Isles impressed tonight. The showed a ton of fight, they played physical and just overall were the better team.
Also considering maybe their 3 best players were out.
I was also liking the new guys. Wiz, P.A., Kenopka.
Also Bailey looked very good. Probably about 15 lbs heavier too.
Props to weight, comeau and Moulson -
Bailey played like a 1st rounder…he was awesome!!! Burish needed his butt kicked…that was all GORDAN…should have sent Gillies regardless…1 pt well earned!! (DP looked like crap)
-
Nice comeback..good to see Gillies in the lineup…oh wait did he even get a shift
-
Lenny says:
Gillies was not on because they were behind by 2 goals a lot of the game and there was a lot of PP/PK time
-
Good game. Can’t wait for CB’s plus/minus thread
-
Bailey looked like a man out there. Think the D needs some more time to play together, just didn’t look comfortable.
-
Great fight from the boys! Glad we were able to come back and get a point out of this game. P.A. was not impressive. Couldn’t even fulfill the promise of being a shootout specialist. Although I will credit him for coming the closest to scoring out of the three. He’s not a very good skater. Bailey played great! as did Weight! Comeau looked good as well, but took some bad penalties. We need Andy Mac to hit the net more often than not.
-
Still a work in progress. I think the aborted China trip may have hurt them a little. Loved what I saw from Bailey, Weight and for the most part, Wis and Comeau. I still can’t help but wonder what it would have been like had the wounded been here.
-
ny711ot says:
Bailey and nielsen played with great passion..nielsen especially looke like he brought it to another level..parenteau equals papineau..why not give neidereitter a shot ??..in the parking lot..needless to say a poor turnout…entire sections (loudville) completely barren…jt?? Bridgeport??
-
Per TSN: Sniper John Tavares is the latest victim of the injury bug as he suffered a concussion in the first period of Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars after he was ELBOWED in the head by Adam Burish.
Bailey, Konopka, Moulson, Wiz,Nino, Weight, Nielsen etc. all played well.
I am so happy that I don’t live next door to Garth Snow, sure, I’d live in a much more high scale neighborhood but the guy would constantly be picking through my garbage looking for his next gem. I’d have to turn the dogs lose on him.
Franz learn another move. Why was PA Parenteau out there in the shootout and top PP? It’s a bad joke. Why do the Isles love to reward career AHL guys? Nino, Bailey, (Isles first rounders)so many others should have been out there before him.
I did admire the hustle from the team.
Blake Comeau, you laid down and took it once again? Buddy c’mon how can you allow guys to rough you up like that and you just lay down and take it? You took at least 2 bad penalties tonight, that you didn’t have to.
Defense as I suspected all summer was not fixed at all except for the addition of Wiz. Sooner Hamonic is here the better.
JT should not play Monday. Call up Martin.
-
Despite my early pessimism, Isles showed a lot to be hopeful about. I’m sure not having actually played a game together accounted for the slow start…
DP kind of blew the game, though, by letting in that awful second goal. He did play better as game went, but I just don’t like him.
-
Jim Clark says:
The Isles came backbut could not overcome the shoddy goaltending of
Rick DIPietro. Still got a loser’s point. Taveras has a “mild concussion”.The game lasted almost as long as the overwrought national anthem the 12 yearold kid sang.
-
MilburyRuinedMyLife says:
Parentau is not long for this team.
-
CG says:
Decent performance tonight, but it is still going to be a long season. Very disappointing attendance figure (13,351). Is that the lowest for a home opener ever. Ouch.
-
Lance79 says:
Great comeback by the team, I guess you could say they earned a point. Highlights for me:
-Moulson picking right up where he left off
-Wisniewski CRUSHED Jamie Benn with that hit, literally brought me flying out of my seat
-Nino played sparingly but reasonably well
-Sim played his usual pesky game; think he and Konopka will make a very interesting duo
-Bailey and Comeau played great tonightCan they bring what we saw in the 2nd/3rd period all/most games this season? If so at least we’ll be entertaining
-
spencer says:
Why is noone giving Hunter credit! Hw played like a man posessed hitting everything in sight! After the first i was supprised to turn on a very entertaining game and this year can we really ask anymore from the boys!!!
-
Hofstra radio kicks out to static at exit 28 on the northern
-
Jeff says:
this team just isn’t that good to begin with and then they lose Okposo, Streit, Schremp and now Tavares. just over 13,000 people at the game tonight screams “move the team to Quebec City.” hockey has simply dried out on Long Island.
-
MT says:
I’m not one to complain about attendance cause sometimes it is what it is but its a shame it wasn’t a sellout
-
NYIChooch says:
Clean hit..Burish barely hit him…it was from behind, but he didn’t hit him that hard. Weird that it caused a concussion.
-
sheppy says:
Brian G, are you Brian from VA and Brian from DC…two guys who are anti-Gillies? Why focus on Trevor Gillies as if some fourth line tough-guy is what is wrong with this team. If that is your thought, you don’t know much about hockey. What about talent and size…and the fact that JT was out for half the game (never mind the fact that Streit, Okposo, and Schremp were out)? Go ahead and focus on Gillies. You’re right…
-
vigs says:
With the exception of Ricky’s miserable first period (he did shake the rust off after that and looked good), and Poopoo Parenteau, I thought the team played awesome.
I was pissed at the lack of retribution for the Tavares hit, but then the Wiz plowed Benn and it was even in my book.
Comeau got 2 penalties that I don’t think he desrved.
Bring on the Rags! Bring in Hillen and Grabner and leave Poopoo and Jurcina in the Press Box.
-
not a dirty hit on JT
either I doubt he plays for at least a week
Matt Martin should be recalled & Gillies on waivers…..they cannot waste spot on the roster for a guy who cannot take a regular shift…The Isles already have a thin lineup…and thay handcuffs the coaching staff
Martin had a Goal & assit at the bridge tonight….bring him up
-
beatlebailey says:
the hit by Wiz is the 3rd period was sweet…also nice to see konopoka ready to defend our resident pest sim at every scrum….hunter played a great game knocking the s*it out of every star he saw…great effort and fun game to attend..too bad long islanders dont come out to support the only pro team they will ever have…
-
great to see how they fought back but a few problems i dont like is j.t. will be used as a punching bag all year. d.p. should not have started. he is still very rusty and not ready to play at this point and at the very least he should earn the right to start, not given it. why does gordon always let the isles shoot first at the shootout? good to see though the hit the wiz gave. at least he stood out in the game and showed that someone on the isles will stand up to another team.
-
mrlbem says:
I hope either Chris or Katie asks Coach Gordon why we had only 4 skaters on the ice for the 2nd Dallas goal.
-
Cary says:
Plus: Bailey, Weight, Hunter, Nielsen, Moulson, Comeau, Sim, Wiz, Martinek
Minus: Jurcina, Parenteau
Other: DP wasn’t good, but it was his first game in a while; Tavares gets a concussion from that??
Other Other: Nino didn’t look out of place; we seem to have some fire that says “we will not suck this year”!
Finally: DP should not be proclaimed number 1: a) what has he done to deserve it?; b) Rolo is equal to or better than him; c) healthy competition.
No, really – last comment: We were fun to watch!
-
csk says:
someone tell me why Roloson shouldn’t start 50 games
let Ricky earn his time
-
Blizzard says:
….just got back form the game. My observations.
Isles started slow looked terrible. Brought it in the third. Was nice to see.
DP should be backup.
Baily played a great game.
Hunter was a physical presence out there.
The Wiz would be sweet paired with Streit. Nice pickup by Garth. Gotta give him credit.
Parentau has no business being on our top line.
Sim still sucks, why the hell he is in the lineup is beyond me. I dont care how much he hustles up and down the ice. Crock of BS IMO.
Again if we started Roloson I believe we win this game in regulation. DP just didnt get it done.
What was that garbage I read about Sim getting no love with the same point total of Baily blah, blah, blah. Yeah umm Im gonna say no @#$% way.
Next!
I cant believe opening day is finally here. These last 8 hours are going to be torture. I feel like 2010-11 will be the year most of you finally stop thinking of Blake Comeau as an afterthought and start thinking of him as an important piece to our rebuild. He seems to have matured and when I met him over the summer and talked to him about his game, he seemed to have a good grasp on what he needs to do to continue to be successful. Playing with JT, who has become a good friend of his, will only help that.
Stars played OT last night, should be a factor working in our favor. By the end of the night, the Isles will be 1-0-0. Lets Go Islanders!