ISLANDERS at PITTSBURGH, 7:00 pm – DP Returns
Comment-ary tonight; Questions for Ray Ferraro?
(Eaton leads the stretch at Consol)
12:15 pm: The Penguins are winless in their first three games at Conol Energy Center, but have won their last eight at home (at the Igloo) over the Islanders. They will be without defensemen Brooks Orpik and Z Michalek, but that’s nothing compared to the Islanders and they’re still icing a solid lineup:
Kunitz – Crosby – Dupuis
Tangradi – Comrie – Malkin
Cooke – Talbot – Kennedy
Rupp – Letestu/Adams – Godard
Martin – Letang
Goligoski – Lovejoy
Hutchinson – Engelland
Brent Johnson starts in goal
The Islanders will play the same lineup from Wednesday’s 2-1 loss in Washington, except for one change: Rick DiPietro starts in goal for the visitors.
Notes: You’ll know the Islanders have truly turned a corner when the visiting coach – Marc Crawford on Saturday, Bruce Boudreau and Dan Bylsma this week – stop talking about the team’s “hard-working” identity at the morning skate and instead talk about the skill level. Every coach in the league, when his team is considered the favorite, praises the other team’s work ethic to prepare his own team. The Islanders do work extremely hard, but there’s a lot more to the game.
In his first six games since being traded from Kazan to Yugra, Islanders prospect Kirill Petrov has one goal and five assists. More importantly, he is averaging over 17 minutes of icetime per game since the move to Yugra. The Islanders will most likely see him full-time in North America for the start of the 2012-13 season, if Petrov and the team agree to an Entry Level contract.
After scoring three goals in 62 games last season in Bridgeport, Robin Figren scored in each of the Sound Tigers’ first two games of the AHL season. Jack Capuano’s team plays three games in three days this weekend – in Portland tonight, hosting Hartford on Saturday and Portland on Sunday.
Continuing to struggle mightily at the box office, the Islanders are selling tickets for just $19.72 for Saturday’s game against Colorado and calling it a nostalgia weekend. Check the team site for details. Al Arbour happens to be in town for an autograph show appearance at Hofstra, so expect the Islanders to host the legendary coach at the game.
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Email your Qs for Ferraro: Next week, we are recording the first of our mini-shows for “SNY/Point Blank TV” in the studio. The guest (via phone) will be former Islanders center Ray Ferraro. If you have a question you’d like me to ask Ray, please submit it in Comments.
Besides some of the obvious questions I already have planned, I will try to include some from the readers. Please list your name and hometown and submit just one question per reader. Thank you.
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Comment-ary Tonight: Stop by Point Blank throughout the night and share your thoughts on the game. I’ll join you in the Comments thread for the entire game. Enjoy.
Comments on tonight’s game, this post and your question for Ray Ferraro are welcomed.
61 Responses to ISLANDERS at PITTSBURGH, 7:00 pm – DP Returns
Comment-ary tonight; Questions for Ray Ferraro?
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SCLI says:
I think Rollie gives us a better chance to win at this point.
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pdebenedetto says:
Is that Yan Kaminsky in the photo with Ferraro?
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IslesYanks says:
Hoping for a strong start so we don’t have to claw back from behind again. I really will believe this is a “different team” when I watch them hold onto a 3rd period lead (or two). In my dream world, I’m seeing an early 2-0 isles lead and a final score of 5-3 for the blue and orange. Let’s go Isles! Can’t wait to see what kinda damage we will do when we finally ice a more complete lineup. This team is already looking scary!
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Numbers65 in Ohio says:
How can the Pens expect to win with Comrie as a top 2 center. They benched him last game, but since pre season said he would get to play with Crosby/ Malkin. No wonder their season is bginning with a hicup. Glad to hear Petrov is showing his value and hope we eventually see him as an Islander. It would be nice to see Al Arbour behind the bench again like he was with Nolan. Maybe that would put some booties in the seaties! LOL!
LET’S GO ISLANDERS!
Make the Pens 0-4 and watch Crysby go wee wee wee all the way home. -
The Mick says:
Would have liked to have seen Roloson get the start again. He played a very solid game.
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Stumpy32 says:
Just for clarification, are all tickets to Saturday’s game $19.72, or are they just the last three rows? Because if its every seat, and we don’t sell out…whoa.
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Billy the Kid says:
Great to see future NYI first line LW Petrov finally getting some TOI and putting up numbers. He’s still only 20 and a big, fast kid.
Petrov/JT/Neids -
Pritchett54 says:
Question:
Why does chicken parm seem to hate the Islander organization? Arguably the best years of his career were with the Isles and he is most remembered league-wide by his goals in the 93 playoff run. -
PotvinRocks says:
Do him and the other folk heroes from the ’93 team feel neglected by the Franchise? And what does he think of the direction of the Franchise?
James
Mamaroneck, NY -
JT says:
Q for Ray – The ’93 team made one of the most exciting runs in NYI history. Do you feel that the team would have made a few more runs at the Cup had it not been broken up so soon? Do you see any similarities between that team and the NYI of today?
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David Lee Roth says:
If Wang wont spend, why should we?
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streit02 says:
Im sorry, but if you take out Crosby and Malkin (obviously two of the top 5 guys in the league) out of Pittsburgh’s lineup they would be cellar dwellers in the league. Pascal Dupuis is on the 1st line. This team should come out hungry, but they can definitely be had. Im going to go on a limb and say pitt will be fighting for a playoff birth this year. Here’s to the Isles making it that much tougher for them.
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CG says:
I don’t get this team. Great promotion. Why not advertise it so it actually gets people to the game. Isn’t that the whole point of the promotion. These prices may actually get casual fans or even non fans who just want a night out to go to the game. These people are not checking out the Islander website or this blog. Most people will not know about this. Even when they have the right idea, they screw it up.
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isles316 says:
Isles can win tonight. Malkin and Crosby are all world but that lineup isn’t anything incredible after those two.
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MorDraftPicks says:
The first of what I am sure is many promotions as Islanders fans (me included) have voiced our displeasure and have not renewed. No sellout for Opening Night or Rangers? Bad sign….soon they will be offering 3 for 1
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beatlebailey says:
nice to see those tix on sale for 19.72..makes me look at the face value of my season tix at $90-$110 depending on opponent and the actual price I paid at $50ish and wonder why I did that..also anyone notice how the islanders have changed the breakaway parking locating for prepaid parking pass holders…they now direct us to a different lot so they can sell parking in the original location for $10…why do the isles constantly crap on their dwindling season tix holders????
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Staten Islander says:
Hope to see another W tonight
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Moves like that parking and these ticket sales (how it affects season tkt holders) seem like the way a business would act with not regard for its future, or business that know it will not be there in the future. Gives me the liquidation feeling. Suck everything out of it before you dump it. I really hope Wang is not like that. On a business end things bite. Thankfully the on ice product seems well improved.
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isles71 says:
Great, big test for DP tonight, hope he WOWs’ us all!! Interested to see his cross-crease lateral movement tonight. In the 1st two games, that was the most obvious area Ricky needed to work on. He was either slow across or over played the angle. The other thing is I hope he limits the amount of times he plays the puck. Just always seems that when he plays the better teams, he does too much with the puck and it costs us a goal. Go Islanders…play strong!!!
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Ethan K says:
Crosby and Malkin are a top 6 in themselves, and their bottom 6 finish their checks all the time. The defense moves the puck well to the two golden boys who will not be stopped entirely by our defense. Let’s hope for something like a 4-3 victory.
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Numbers65 – the whole organization seems to be in liquidation mode. I saw it last summer when they closed their offices in Plainview and just moved into the Coliseum, while firing a ton of their employees (numerous friends of mine included). Then, they release all scouting personnel of any note, and consolidate several positions with Garth. What else could it possibly be?
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Brian @ Work in DC says:
not to be mean, but this game seems like a Pittsburgh blow-out. They are winless at home and we have played pretty well. Hate to say it buy Gordon extends that losing streak to nine. I will listen to a 5-0 loss while driving up to Carmel. We should win tomorrow.
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Dsalaz says:
ugh. dp should not be starting. bad idea. He should start tomorrow and give roli the start tonight. He looked solid against WSH. Well, the Penguins don’t seem to intimidate anyone these days. Hopefully we see more of the strong and consistent play from the isles as shown in the first 3 games!!!!
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I think I gotta take advantage of this $19.72 deal…
Godard-Gilles tonight??I hope we see an effort like our last game last season.
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JJ says:
DP definitely should not be starting tonight. Rollie played like true number one the other night.
They should have put Rollie in again tonight, and save DP for tomorrow – at home – against CO.
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Hockey1919 says:
A shame that the pre-season split games failed to generate any interest in the season except for the die-hards. Its really going to be up to the product on the ice to bring the fans back.
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Hock says:
We need another strong effort and to be better on the penalty kill, especially when facing Crosby and/or Malkin.
And if Hillary is in the crowd, look out for Mr. Duff.
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Jcchamu says:
I got the e-mail from isles and clicked on link to ticketmaster and got seats in sec 209 . $19.72 for seat and almost $10 bucks for ticketmaster fees. Holy crap. Ticket came out to $27.70. Still better than paying $100 and change face value.
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JD says:
#26 Will77, go to the Isles website and it says they will email you a voucher to bring to the ticket offices to purchase tickets.
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Timp says:
I can already see what’s going to happen with this team… Okposo, Bailey, Comeau, Schremp and Moulson will be gone after their deals b/c Wang won’t spend money past their rookie contracts… We’ll be stuck with a Tavares+Potentials for awhile… I’d love to see this team grow but its slowly going to die b.c these guys are going to want money
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If Moulson is making 2.45 a year… u gotta figure these guys are going to add 10-15 million a year to the payroll which won’t happen
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The problem for the Islanders has not been offering money, it’s been getting players to accept their money. If they can hang around until they get healthy, this could be a decent year.
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ken says:
wonder if they are rethinking their decision to take away parking and increase Seasons tix by 15-20%.
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Nyslefan says:
Ray Ferraro: Can you comment on your time on the 92-93 season and your perspective on how that team was subsequently dissolved?
Also, do you know where Dale Hunter is today and should he have been allowed to ever return to hockey? -
kevo says:
Why wouldnt you start roloson after such a great perfromance against the caps????? This is a terrible decision. DiPietro has let up 4 goals a game, why would you play him against the pens??? The whole isles management is a joke…wang, snow, gordon all need to go
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IslanderFAN says:
Its the right decision to Play DP tonight.
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kurvers28 says:
DP doesn’t deserve anything. He should earn his starts. Unfortunately, the only qualification for him to play is being healthy and that is sad. It should be based on the on ice performance. 90% of the fans know they have a better chance to win tonight with Rollie in net.
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2Bit says:
We’re playing back to back games people. Do you really think D.P & Rollie wouldn’t be splitting the next two games? Be happy that they’re putting Rollie in net for the home game tomorrow, so you some of you disgraceful Isles fan don’t have to boo one of our franchise players. The way I see it they did the right thing for the goalie match ups. D.P. needs to play these kind of games so he can build his worth.
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Jerky says:
So far DP has played against weaker teams in the league (Dallas, NYR) and Roloson against the best (Washington). I’m not convinced Pittsburgh is among the best at the moment, but I want to see how DP handles himself against a tougher offensive opponent like Pitt to see how he performs. If he gives up 6 or more goals tonight, then you know Roloson will be in net against the better teams in the league thereby giving DP a chance to have halfway decent stats this season and build his confidence level.
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Oye Comeau Va says:
It’s the right decision to play DP tonight because I just bought my 19.72 tickets for Saturday night and I want to see Roloson. 2 tickets in 109X for a total of $56 is amazing. Feel bad for folks shelling out $150 or more for their tix in that section.
Hope to see some fans on my LIRR train from Penn to Westbury station! Let’s go Isles!
For Ray Ferraro: What were your immediate thoughts upon being traded from the Hartford Whalers to a rebuilding New York Islanders team?
Lee, NYC
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anthony c says:
good to see petrov is getting some serious ice time with his new KHL team, and putting up good numbers as well. Hopefully he is with us for 2011-2012 instead of 2012-2013. The thought of him on the top line with Tavares makes me want to see him in an islander jersey even more.
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Matt Scordato says:
WOW, $20 for a seat downstairs? if I’m a season or partial plan subscriber, I’m really annoyed.
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Billybc says:
Question:
I would also like to know why ray constantly comes on the radio in Vancouver and bashes the team that treated him so well whenever the subject of the islanders comes up. Is it a Canadian inferiority complex, or just specific to the Canucks? -
Is there somehting im missing with all this dipietro hating? Besides the man getting injured (which is just unfortunate), what has he done to deserve treatment like this? When the Islanders were relevant a few years back it was Dipietro who was carrying a mediocre team on his back and into the playoffs. He is still our goaltender of the near future. Roloson is not. If this team is to have any success in the next 2-3 years DP will have to be a major part of it. What has Roloson done to deserve starting every game? He played under 50 games in an isles uniform. DP has dedicated his prof. career to winning on LI. Something that cant be said for about 90% of the league. If anyone cares about this team they should be rooting hard for Dipietro.
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nassaubaby says:
I too believe Roli should be the No.1 and DP should earn his ice time, however, maybe they are trying to win some fans over by playing him tomorrow night in front of a home crowd? Wishful thinking….
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mattyboy says:
Dear Ray, Please offer your analysis of how you believe the ’93 Islanders would have faired against the ’94 Rangers. If the Rangers’ best shot at winning had come a year earlier would Islander fans still be chanting “1940!” -Matty Kammerer East Meadow
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GMC says:
Would be nice to see the $19.72 tickets sell well. Perhaps isles management will then get the hint that it is ticket prices that keep folks away.
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streit02, #45, you really hit the nail on the head. DP has been working really hard to be healthy all this time but to regain his all-star level goaltending skills, that’s really only something that will happen if he’s playing in NHL games against the best players in the world. As much as we want to think otherwise, us fans as well as coaches and management know this is not a team that will win a stanley cup this year. Let DP play with the aim of improving this year, hope he stays healthy, and next year, who knows? Maybe he’ll be back to the form that allows us to protect leads and win games. It is truly sad to see so many “fans” bashing a guy that has suffered some bad luck but bleeds blue and orange more than any isles player that has played in the last 10 years or so. Rollie is great but at 41 not someone that will help us become Stanely Cup Champions of 2012….
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Dan says:
Tickets for $19.72 – The Isles can thank the Yankees for this. Mr. Wang should ask the Steinbrenner’s for some revenue sharing for going head to head the first two Saturday home games of the season.
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Hollywood says:
#49, Bravo! DP could easily have quit but instead continued to push himself for this organization.
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Steven says:
Love the picture of Chicken Parm; is Yan Kaminsky available for questions as well?!
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dedshark says:
ok im tired of all these fans on here crying we dont spend money and we wont spend money to renew our younger stars money after their entry level. Its not that the isles arent offering money, players are not ACCEPTING. And if no one signs here, dont you think they isles have the money to spend on their young talent now?
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bayduvinislander says:
I sense a shellacking is afoot.
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Adam says:
Hey CB – any reason why the they didn’t announce KO or Streit at the opener? Remember last year they announced the injured players but forgot DP.
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JB says:
Glad I paid $40 a pop from a season ticket holder to sit in the 300′s tomorrow when it looks like I could’ve spent half as much and sat in the 100′s or 200′s. Irritating!
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JoeRiverside says:
Let me see:
1. not many people expect Isles to make playoffs (or past 1st round)
2. I have 41 year old goalie
3. I have younger goalie which I am invested in for many years (that I need to find out if he can recover from serious injuries).
What do I do?
Play 41 yr old goalie so we can squeeze into 1st round? or,
try to find our what my long term asset is worth?
no brainer…we need to see if DP can come back to form.
just my 2 cents -
Potvin's Cups says:
Like # 9 said…why does Chicken Parm badmouth the Isles every chance he gets?
Also, did he enjoy playing for the Rag$ more than he enjoyed playing for the Isles? -
sean says:
Negative fans come on people talk about Wang doesn’t spend money. We need a new building before attracting good free agents until That happens this what you get. I can’t imagine what Players say about the coliseum It’s a dump dump dump and the area around it doesn’t help. I am a. Die hard fan and like the development process.
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David Volek says:
Im a season ticket holder, and will continue to be for my lifetime. HOWEVER, how do they have the nerve to charge more money for tickets when they failed to make the playoffs last year. I dont feel that the fans should be punished for the lighthouse situation. Instead, the people who have had season tickets should get “grandfathered” in, so to speak. The face value of my tickets are 180 bucks…………REALLY?????? No wonder they couldnt even sell out a holiday day game against the rangers.
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couldashouldawoulda says:
question for Ferraro:
Why does it seem Ferraro and Healy are so critical about the Isles franchise on TSN to the point it affects us fans who rooted so hard for you guys to succeed and stood up for you guys against Ranger and Pens fans back in the 90′s
Also, whats his position as to Y isles are unable to sign a big time free agent….Is it the Coliseum, Fans, Management, Rebuild etc!
1st….hope DP keeps the goals under 3.