Monthly Archives: October 2010
CB at FanHouse: Devils botch Kovalchuk Benching
NHL FanHouse’s Best of the Week
My conversation with Ed Westfall, the first captain in Islanders history and popular former broadcaster, on the early years of the franchise, life with Jiggs and thoughts on the current squad.
For all of their work on the first four segments of SNY PB TV, and everything I’ll bother them about in the future, I would like to gratefully acknowledge the following:
Fred Harner – General Manager, SNY Digital Media
Jeff Goldman – Supervising Producer
Jason Potere – Associate Producer, Multimedia Editor
Jake Gidich – Studio Operations
Josh Ohayon – Asst. Studio Operations
Comments relevant to this video only, please. I’ll report from Islanders practice on Monday. Thank you.
The heart and drive we’ve seen from the Islanders since Game 1 was there. The execution, not so much. Despite a magnificent performance by John Tavares, the Islanders fell again in Sunrise to the Panthers 4-3.
Radek Dvorak’s goal at 13:28 of the third period broke a 3-3 tie and was the game-winner on Bill Torrey Night. Tavares had his first career NHL hat trick, including two goals on the power play. PA Parenteau had another pair of assists, giving him nine points in eight games this season after getting eight in 22 games with the Rangers last season.
Rick DiPietro did not make the big saves to win this game for the Islanders and turned over the puck and allowed a few big rebounds along with four goals on 30 shots. The Islanders continue to go with a short bench, with Scott Gordon giving Trevor Gillies just 1:03 of icetime. Trent Hunter, still struggling with injuries, played just over nine minutes.
With all that said, the Islanders came back to tie the game three times. Despite a penalty on Parenteau with a minute left in regulation, the Islanders – with DiPietro pulled – mounted a ferocious battle and forced the Panthers and Tomas Vokoun (27 saves) to scramble to the final buzzer.
When the Islanders play next in Montreal on Wednesday, Josh Bailey will be back and the Islanders will be 4-2-2. The team and its passionate fanbase would have signed up for that after Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo suffered busted shoulders. Heck, everyone might have signed up for that before training camp started.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Q & A and commentary tonight. Like Billy Joel sang, “It’s a pretty good crowd for a Saturday.” Enjoy your Sunday, Country.
12:25 pm: The 4-1-2 Islanders try to keep the good vibrations humming tonight when they face the Florida Panthers at whatever they call their arena. The Islanders have won three straight, including their last two on the road.
PA Parenteau (2-5-7) leads the Islanders in scoring through seven games, while five players are tied for second place with six points: Josh Bailey, Doug Weight, James Wisniewski, Matt Moulson and Blake Comeau.
Jack Hillen will take Andrew MacDonald’s place on defense (credit: Katie Strang). Once Hillen gets his legs under him with a little icetime, he’ll no doubt do just fine. He is one of the most intelligent players the Islanders have had over the last decade.
Bailey sits for the second and likely last game with his injured hip. Sounds like the training staff wants to be cautious with Bailey, which makes a lot of sense. They don’t play again until Wednesday in Montreal. If they’re winning most nights no matter who Scott Gordon writes on the lineup card, what’s the rush?
No surprise: No. 1 goaltender Rick DiPietro gets another start. Dwayne Roloson isn’t just the best No. 2 in the league, he’s better than half of the No. 1s.
Notes: The Panthers are honoring Bill Torrey before the game for his role as team President since the franchise’s first season. Hard to believe anyone is questioning the integrity of the ceremony. Mr. Torrey has been a mentor of mine since 1987, so I can understand the impact he’s had in Florida on and off the ice the last 17 years. He’s still a Governor and consultant for the Panthers – or as Torrey likes to say, an “insultant.” Through a Stanley Cup Final appearance, seasons with little funding, changes in ownership and the successful deal to land a new arena, Torrey has held that place together. Jiggs McDonald will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
He may have just one assist in five games as a freshmen, but the buzz of Islanders 2010 30th overall pick Brock Nelson in North Dakota has been good. For a freshman playing at a high level, he has looked like he belongs. UND suffered its first loss of the season last night to Maine, Garth Snow’s alma mater.
Bridgeport fell behind 3-0 to Manchester before losing 6-3 last night. The Sound Tigers are now 2-4-0-0 on the season. Rob Hisey, Justin DiBenedetto and David Ullstrom scored for the visitors. Nathan Lawson was the goaltender. Ullstrom (2-2-4) and Jesse Joensuu (1-3-4) lead the team in scoring through six games. Travis Hamonic has one goal, 18 penalty minutes and is -1 through six. For the development of their goalies, one – Lawson, Kevin Poulin and the least likely candidate, Mikko Koskinen – will eventually have to be sent to the ECHL for regular play.
Commentary Tonight: Saturday nights are often slow in the blog business, but if you’d like to talk about the game in Comments tonight and ask a few questions, I’ll be there from start to finish of the game.
Heck, the game should be over around 9:30, so there will be plenty of time for all of us to go out after.
Comments and your predictions for tonight’s game are welcomed.
The Islanders’ acquisition of Michael Grabner on waivers may turn out to be another crafty move by Garth Snow, coupled with a little good fortune.
You see, there’s a reason why a recent first round pick – 14th overall in 2006 – who scored a hat trick for the Vancouver Canucks in a real NHL game in April was available on the waiver wire.
Grabner is a notorious slow-starter, a borderline disaster annually at training camps from his native Austria to Spokane to Vancouver and – most recently and spectacularly – in South Florida last month.
Just ask him.
“I don’t know what it is,” said Grabner, as candid in person as he is on his Twitter page (Oct: 15 – “Overtime loss to Penguins. Didn’t have a good game.”)
“I never play good in preseason,” said the native of Austria. “Maybe I put too much pressure on myself. I always seem to get away from my game.”
After the Florida Panthers, Saturday’s opponent for the Islanders, acquired Grabner in an offseason trade for Keith Ballard, new general manager Dale Tallon hoped the wing could compete for a spot on the second line. Instead, Tallon spent most of camp shaking his head before Milburying Grabner out the door and venting his frustration to Panthers reporters.
To the 23-year-old’s credit, he doesn’t blame Tallon or anyone in the Florida organization. He is motivated for Saturday, but is not vindictive enough to want to shove their decision up their hockey pants with a big “Ha”! performance on Saturday. Grabner is rational.
“No, it’s not the Panthers’ fault,” he said. “They thought they were getting offense and they got nothing, It’s not good, and I’m not blaming anyone but myself. I have to figure out why I’m never good in training camp. I was in Vancouver’s camp for four years. Ask them: no good. I’m always a slow starter.”
Perhaps this is what the Islanders learned when, as revealed by Scott Gordon, Snow and his staff did their homework on Grabner. If this team can add a top-9 wing with world-class speed in the final year of a very affordable Entry Level contract, even Coach Gordon can put up with a sucky September.
In six games with the Islanders, Grabner has two goals and one assist. He knows he still has a lot to prove – his critics say he’s not a fan of traffic – but he’s loving life as an Islander. To honor his billets of three years while playing for the Chiefs in the Western Hockey League, Grabner asked the man of the house, Rob McCann, to be his guest on the Dads and Mentors trip to Florida.
Then he promptly scored a goal two minutes into the game in Tampa Bay.
“This has been an amazing time,” Grabner said. “My teammates accepted me right away, when the whole change from the Panthers to the Islanders was so quick and could have been tough. Scott and the coaches have taken the time to explain everything to me. We’re winning, and now we have this special road trip. Everything has worked out so well…I mean, like, so far.”
There’s little need for Grabner to be so cautious. The worst of the hockey calendar is behind him.
Notes: Andrew MacDonald is out for 4-6 weeks after suffering a hand injury last night in Tampa Bay. He underwent surgery today in New York.
For the third time in four games, it appears Blake Comeau has escaped serious injury. Katie Strang reported a charley horse for Comeau, and he’s good to go against the Panthers.
2010 third round pick Kirill Kabanov is expected to re-join the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday after two weeks in Russia on a personal matter. Rumors persist about Moncton trying to trade him within the Quebec League.
As grand as it was to hear the roar at SOCIAL around 10:15 last night, it was mildly surprising to see the Islanders pick up both points in Tampa Bay. Especially, you know, after reading and hearing for the last six months about how Guy Boucher had re-invented the game of hockey.
Comments? Go.
CB’s FH column: top 7 D, 2011 NHL Draft
In the second and final segment with Ray Ferraro of TSN, I ask the question submitted by several readers: what’s up with all the criticism of your former team?
Next up today: an actual written feature story! Comments on this video in this thread, please. Discussion continues below about the win in Tampa Bay and on Point Blank Night. Thank you.
CB’s FH column: top 7 D, 2011 NHL Draft
Puck Daddy: Through Twitter, Moulson makes fans’ day
If you thought they were Gordo’s gritty-gutties last season, what do we call this installment of the New York Islanders?
An overtime 3-2 victory gives the club a 4-1-2 record and a share of first place in the Eastern Conference with the Pittsburgh Penguins (and the Islanders have a game in hand!)
This was another remarkable win for the shorthanded Islanders, this time playing without center Josh Bailey (hip pointer). They hung tough with Steven Stamkos, Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis through two periods. When the Islanders faltered for stretches in the third (out-shot 12-4), Rick DiPietro made some key stops. In the final seconds of regulation, Blake Comeau was tripped up by Pavel Kubina. Comeau appeared to suffered a leg injury when he crashed into the Tampa goalpost – he returned for overtime – while Kubina was penalized. For the second straight game, the Islanders had a power play in overtime.
After an endless video review, Matt Moulson was credited with the game-winner at 1:56 of overtime. It might have taken forever, but give NHL Hockey Operations a stick tap for getting a difficult play right. Play had continued for a minute in a half after Moulson knocked the puck just over the goal line, before Dan Ellis swiped it.
Michael Grabner scored first for the Islanders just over two minutes into the game. Sean Bergenheim scored on a breakaway – really, Sean…a breakaway?! – with two minutes left in the first. St. Louis and PA Parenteau traded goals in the second period.
We repeat: the 4-1-2 New York Islanders are in first place in the Eastern Conference.
Notes: Andrew MacDonald suffered a hand injury and did not play in the third period.
Islanders fans turned out in amazing numbers for Point Blank Night at SOCIAL tonight. Many had to deal with a crowded parking situation, since there was a marching band festival next door at Hofstra Stadium. Nevertheless, the establishment was packed and most even stayed through the overtime. When Moulson’s goal was official, the place went nuts.
Thanks to the staff at SOCIAL. Thanks to our pair of surprise special guests. It was so nice meeting so many great hockey fans. I hope everyone enjoyed the food and had a good time.
Back on Friday. Comments?
CB’s weekly FanHouse column: 2011 draft and more
Talk about tonight’s game, and all games, at Islandermania
RSVP (YES only) for Point Blank Night Tonight Here!
12:35 pm: Tonight’s the night. Thanks to the impressive start of your New York Islanders, it appears we may have the biggest crowd yet for the fifth and latest one of these events. That said, SOCIAL is a large establishment with two dozen large screens that will present the Islanders’ big tilt tonight. Plenty of room for all. There will also be valet parking.
To recap: Islanders at Tampa Bay tonight from 7:30 – 10:30 pm at SOCIAL.
Free admission, free buffet from Danny Gagnon of “Top Chef” and beer and drink specials from 7:30-8:30 pm. If you’ve never enjoyed Danny’s cuisine, you are in for a treat.
Complimentary shots – “SOCIAL Slap Shots” – after each Islanders goal.
A complimentary-for-all raffle, for items including an Islanders jersey, pairs of Islanders tickets, SNY paraphrenalia and more.
And you never know what (or who) else. Maybe nothing, but we’ll always hold out hope for a nice little surprise.
All ages welcome. 21 and over to drink. SOCIAL is at 1002 Hempstead Turnpike across the street from the Coliseum and is a first-class establishment that even has a giant Mike Bossy mural. Before and after every home game, SOCIAL gives 10% off the bill to Islanders fans.
Tonight’s event is nothing more than a very small way of saying thanks for the continued incredible support of readers and to SOCIAL, the official Nassau County establishment of Point Blank. I really hope you’ll stop by, and please make sure to say hello.
Join the YESes on the RSVP list here.
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Notes: As per Katie Strang of Newsday on the road, Josh Bailey (hip pointer) is out tonight, but likely to return Saturday against the Panthers. The Islanders’ starting goaltender will be Rick DiPietro against Dan Ellis of Tampa Bay. Once again, the healthy scratches on defense are Jack Hillen and Bruno Gervais. Vincent Lecavalier (finger injury) is questionable for the Lightning, while Mattias Ohlund is out.
It will be fun to watch bottom-sixers Sean Bergenheim and Nate Thompson, who are doing well for 4-1-0 Tampa Bay.
Scott Gordon on the Lightning’s style: “It’s a variation of what Washington does. They’re a good transition team.”
More than two weeks after leaving Moncton of the Quebec League to return to Russia to handle a “personal matter,” Islanders 2010 third round pick Kirill Kabanov has yet to re-join the team. There are rumors of a possible trade involving Kabanov to another QMJHL team, but nothing is imminent.
The Sound Tigers have signed former Islanders prospect Jeremy Colliton to a professional tryout agreement. Colliton played in Sweden last season.
As Pat Hickey reports in today’s Montreal Gazette, Canadiens fans are coming in droves to their team’s road games on Long Island for the third consecutive year. Next Friday’s meeting at the Coliseum will once again have a Montreal flavor. With so many tickets available for Islanders games on StubHub, I’ve heard from dozens of Habs fans looking for restaurant, bar and hotel suggestions. One claimed in an email that he purchased 20 lower-bowl seats for $35 each and it will be cheaper for his group to attend the game at the Coliseum – including transportation and whatever creative “lodging” they have planned – than go to the game in Montreal.
Since the Islanders have already offered deep discounts for two of their first three home games, perhaps they will be creative again to get more orange and blue into the arena next Friday. They can offer a great deal to any fan who can prove they’re dedicated to the Islanders.
Since Point Blank Night is tonight, I’m unable to host a live chat tonight. For game discussion – make that all game discussion – join the large and passionate crowd at the message board Islandermania.
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Meet Me at Old Plainview: I’m pretty sure someone with the Lighthouse Project is illustrating a terrific sense of humor with today’s Newsday story of placing the Shinnecock casino on the site formerly known as Old Plainview.
I’ll never forget Charles Wang, three years ago, suggesting I arrive extra early at a “town hall” meeting for Old Plainview after a long afternoon of contentious hearings on the project at the Town of Oyster Bay. The public forum, which drew an overflow crowd at Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School, was expected to last past midnight but instead was over by 7:30 pm. To the stunned crowd, Wang withdrew his proposal for a first-class village and announced he would build whatever the site was already zoned for (for example, a few ugly towers for business offices).
A casino in Plainview? Not happening. But all that wasted ink in the paper today was pretty funny.
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Talking NYI, blogdom, Spano: Finally, if you have a spare 40 minutes, here’s the page to listen to an interview I gave Tuesday night with Chris Muldoon on Long Island’s 90.3 FM at Nassau Community College (one of my alma maters). It was a fun, rambling discussion about the Islanders and I lost my voice on a few occasions. I also decided to tell Chris something about John Spano that I had yet to write about in this space.
Your comments on this post and tonight’s game are encouraged. For those of you who live in the area, I look forward to seeing you tonight.
