ISLANDERS at RANGERS, 7:00 pm: Rolo starts
Puck Daddy NYC tonight…PB Holiday Party Dec. 23(?)
CB at FanHouse: On Rangers 6, Islanders 5
FanHouse Video: Boogaard vs. Gillies
Lighthouse Hockey Islanders blog
SNY’s Rangers blog (by Adam Rotter)
Jack Capuano, who came into the job saying he would not name his starting goaltenders in advance, has been doing it almost ever since. The head coach announced Rick DiPietro was starting at the NVMC more than 24 hours before gametime. In his postgame presser after the 6-5 loss last night, Capuano said Dwayne Roloson would get the start in Madision Square Garden.
That said, we’re not going to make any of these losses about the coach again…right?
Without question, the defense was weak in the 6-5 loss last night. But this is what happens when a No. 4 defenseman is asked to be a No. 1, when a sixth defenseman is asked to play first-pair minutes. Mike Mottau is out, and the Islanders did not even attempt to replace some of the offense and minutes of the great Mark Streit. As a result, there are going to be nights like last night at the Coliseum, like in Carolina, like in Philadelphia. Sometimes, it’s not always about the goaltending.
Give credit to youngster John Tavares for being appropriately mad as heck. “There are no excuses,” Tavares told reporters after last night’s game, the Islanders’ 15th loss in 16. “There are too many lapses and it’s costing us.”
The Islanders have just three wins in regulation through 23 games this season, five in total. With just 15 points on Dec. 3, they are 14 points behind eighth-place Atlanta for eighth place in the East (the Islanders have three games in hand). Now it’s on the veteran Roloson to settle things down tonight, when the Islanders have their pride on the line.
NYC Viewing Party Tonight: Yahoo! Puck Daddy blog is hosting a viewing party in Manhattan tonight at Irish Times, across the street from the Garden. The event starts at 6:30 and goes into the night. I’ll be there from about 6:45 through the end of the first period before returning to the MSG press room to cover for FanHouse. I’m told Dominik from LightHouse Hockey, the best Islanders blog out there, will be in attendance at Irish Times. I hope to see other representatives from the Country there as well.
Point Blank Night on Dec. 23: We are tentatively working on plans to host a Point Blank Holiday Party on Dec. 23 at SOCIAL when the Islanders play in New Jersey. I’ve heard over the last two years from several college students requesting we do one of these when they’re home from school. It would be wonderful to try and get everyone together one more time. All ages welcomed.
I’m well aware Dec. 23 may not be ideal, but it’s the only date available during that period. Hopefully, many of you can drop by at least for an hour. Please let me know in Comments if that works for you. If we host it, I guarantee we’ll make it special – the best one yet. At the last PB Night, the Islanders picked up a rare two points. Will finalize one way or the other next week, so stay tuned.
Comments on this post. Lots of good stuff planned for next week, so I hope you’ll continue to check in. Thanks.
68 Responses to ISLANDERS at RANGERS, 7:00 pm: Rolo starts
Puck Daddy NYC tonight…PB Holiday Party Dec. 23(?)
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I think I would credit Gillies with a win in that fight. If the Boo doesn’t destroy you he has lost. They do say that there is no such thing as evolution, just those Boogaard allowed to live.
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PotvinRocks says:
Looking forward to the Puck Daddy event. I wish I had made a “free Botta” shirt to wear to the event.
the Isles PP is horrible. but what is to be expected with Streit out of the line-up, maybe the should look into Souray with a non fighting ban. But that might put our on ice team to far above the Salary Cap floor -
Mike Olivo says:
The 23rd sounds fantastic…
Again to the DP haters, he’s here, he’s going to be on the roster for a long time, he’s better than Martin Biron. Let’s get off of him when we know it isn’t his fault. Other than the Christensen goal, the other 5 were going in with anyone in the net. The D is at fault, and ultimately Garth Snow is at fault for not going out and replacing some of these injured players.
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Brian @ Work in DC says:
P.S. I looked at the Isles schedule not seeing a win for a while… Could be another streak, just sayin’
NYR 3
NYI 1
Oh well! -
mm says:
this team sucks, id like to think that if they payed 10 million more on players we could won by a goal.
grabner has been the best player on the team thus far. freddie meyer would be welcomed back to this team any day. thanks snow! -
Brian G says:
Chris – again last night I spoke to Bettman on XM 204 THE NHL HOUR SHOW and he said he will have Wang in studio in 2 weeks to address the fans and even take questions from fans while he is there…I will believe it when I see it, Bill Clement was in studio with Bettman & said that is the least Wang could do for the fans, so they know the direction of the franchise..someone needs to attach that podcast – they took a few Islanders related calls & Bettman said he was happy to hear passion from Islander fans. Bettman needs to have a little talk with Wang on how he is handling this team in every aspect, including blacking out you -Snow should do what Milbury did with Tortarella a few years back when they had a little problem, meet face to face have a professional talk, shake hands and put it behind them – its not that hard…Bob Mckenzie echoed the same thing in his story.
Fans are not going to games the rest of the year they are fed up with everything, its a disgrace to the fans! Everyone is realizing how much of a fraud Wang is.
Thanks again Chris for all of the work you do with this blog…its the only place for REAL Islanders news…since the Islanders Organization doesn’t like to ever give the fans any info…even common info about their team.
PS: I’m in on 12/23
*Could you please put up that Story again about Hamonic and how he was discovered by Jankowski..thanks
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Dean says:
CB don’t waste the energy in your fingers typing how far we are behind Atlanta. Islanders and playoffs should not be mentioned for years to come. This is rock bottom. I’d rather watch Everybody Loves Raymond repeats that this pathetic excuse for a hockey team.
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LIT says:
CB… Why would any islanders fan want to go to a NYC bar to watch this game!? I get you are promoting something but really?
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Isles66 says:
Chris- w/ all due respect, there is no way DP should start tonight. He’s given up 6 or more goals 3x this season in a mere 11 games. Roli has given up 5 just 1x in 12 games. We all agree the defense has underperformed, but the goals against does not lie. The goaltenders should be platooned to keep both fresh. Giving one multiple starts hurts the other. Looking forward to the 23rd.
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admin says:
David: I’m told all the time by Islanders fans that there are many who live in NYC, so much so that they want me to have a Point Blank night there someday. And yes, I was also throwing a plug for friends. Greg, Sean, Justin, DC and the gang at Puck Daddy have always been good to me (okay, most of the time). LOL.
I know the Islanders are struggling, but I’m sure there will be some Country-city fans there tonight…CB
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Johnnyjet says:
Everyone step away from the edge of the cliff. Teams that went through a rebuild like Pitt, Chi, LA, and Wash had not been in the playoffs for a long time, some seven years. It’s going to take time. It’s only year three in the process. We still need another stud forward with JT(hello 2011draft). That being said Snow’s arrogance is starting to get old with me. Can’t wait unit the Kevin Poulin era starts next year hopefully( thanks Janks )!
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jimmy says:
bring back bailey!!!!!! being at the bottom for so long who do we have in our lineup right now who will be a star?? maybe tavares??? what a joke.. snow and wang r the biggest morons!! WE R THE MICKEY MOUSE ORG. OF ALL SPORTS
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CG says:
I wonder if Wang has been been reading the book “How to Destroy a Hockey Franchise” by Howard Milstein. Starting to feel alot like those days again here.
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beatlebailey says:
Wang does not care anymore..it is as simple as that….we are on Deathwatch..4 years and counting down…C’mon Russian Nets owner buy this team and save us from the SnoWang monster!!
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Last time I was there at a PB night–I won a pair of tix. I will definitely be there on 12-23!
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StevieL says:
Hey CB! I know with your situation it’s tough but any updates on Okposo? Wasn’t he targeted for a Dec. comeback?
From what I can see the NY rebuild is going nicely! Except it’s the Ranger rebuild!!Anisimov, Dubinsky, Stepan, Del Zotto, Sauer and Staal all 24 and under!Oh well!!
DP was not the problem last night! You can’t have players like Gaborik basically pulling the puck out of his glove!He needs some help!! I’ll say it again. We have the least physical D in the history of the league! Looking forward to tonights game though! -
Styles15 says:
Unlike other fans,I am fairly optimistic about this team. Yes, this season is and will continue to be a disaster. However, there are bright lights at the end of the tunnel. There are several players we can be excited about. Moulson (hope he will stay), Tavares, Macdonald, Hamonic, Nielsen and Martin are all hardworking and talented players we should build around. I can handle loosing for awhile, as long as we have players which have talent and continue to show signs of brillance.
In addition, I think we finally have answers to our DP questions. He will not be the same goaltender that he was. I think coming to terms with that fact is something Islanders Country needed to move on from hoping DP will be our savior. He will not. Instead, we now need to regroup and figure out our situation in net. Maybe take a stab at Poulin?
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smith31 says:
The forward lineup last night (and tonight) has to be the worst I have seen in 25 years (that is saying a lot). I am so disgusted. How is anybody who has been a fan for 5 years or less still staying on board??? Please move so I can take the Billy Smith poster out of my son’s room and move on!
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Cary says:
Everybody Loves Raymond repeats? No thanks!
It comes down to asking otherwise decent players to be better than they are (see Comeau, Parenteau, Bailey, Wiz, AMac, etc.).
It’s an AHL team and I wish them the best.
Also, never been a big fan of JT – he’s a piece but not franchise material.
Hamonic is good and will be very good.
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Bob Bassen says:
Enjoying and admire the job you’re doing with IPB lately, Chris! Great content and direction. I think having the *totalitarian regime* attempt to silence you (us) is actually going to end up being very liberating for a person with your talents!
Well done! -
jim in 226 says:
loved seeing the guy in a rags jersey, first row in 300′s behind the net, proudly standing and displaying a “Chris Botta Fan Club” sign all game!!
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Smith 31- Actually I really started to follow the team in high school right in 2001-02. Unfortunately, it has been all downhill from there! Nevertheless, I am a season ticket holder and will continue to be one as long as they are on LI. I have faith that despite Wang, the NHL will never allow this team to leave the island. It is too big of a market to fail. If the islanders fail, the NHL has failed. The NHL, Wang or not, will somehow make this team work here.
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CM says:
I frankly do not care about wins or losses. It’s the management. Could care less if we had the #1 pick this year. What differnce is it going to make? On Edmonton radio today, they said Isles have had top picks for nearly 20 years. Nothing happens beacuse this franchice has not committed to winning. Were a loser franchice, hard to hear but true. Owner should be committed to winning first, then profits will follow. If not get the hell out!!!
Can say it enough times. We need an NHL coach. I at least wish there were rumours!! -
sean says:
Tavares needs Kyle back to feed him the Puck, besides moulson There is nobody else That can do it.
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MissionHockey96 says:
Duchene really woulda been the better pick now that i think about it
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James D. says:
Unfortunatly the 23rd doesn’t work for me & a couple of my friends. Count me in 100% for another date though.
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Thomas says:
CB I respect your opinion, but it seems to me everytime DP gives up a lot of goals you come up with an excuse for him. His numbers are pitiful he has to be responsible for much of it. The 4th goal was a bad break but he should have kept that puck in front of him.
As for defense, it’s not about talent, it’s about positioning and a system that works, and it’s clear to me the Islanders defensive system is terrible. Watching the 1st period last night was terribly frustrating. Every other team in hockey just double teams someone and/or presses the puck a lot more, you don’t see teams skating 5-5 dominate play for 10 minutes at a time like most teams do against the Islanders. I have been watching a lot more non-Islander games this year for my sanity and the top defensive teams do not play this zone system the Islanders use and watch a team hold the puck for long periods of time.
Roloson should play tonight it’s the right call.
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Hock says:
#24 – Duchene, without quality support, would probably be just as ineffective. But having his speed would have been interesting.
Lookin’ pretty bad now, but I can see things coming together in the 2nd half of the year, probably after we are too far out of the playoff race.
I hope to see a good effort again tonight!
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Mikamakela says:
I will be at msg game. Happy to give dolan my $ ..will never give wang a penny. EVER. I hope sime day dipietros stats look better then his back ups…(osgood,snow,dubie,roleson).
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This season has been brutal but seeing Hamonic play up here like he belongs gives me some home that some of their other prospects might be able to do the same. Dehann, the Kirills, Kevin Poulin. Another top 3 pick might be exactly what the Islanders need. I think we might all handle this better if management handled this better and actually came out and spoke to the fans, didn’t raise ticket prices, etc.
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Styles 15 (post 23) – You shouldn’t give a single dime to the current regime. Wang is not interested in putting money into the team so you shouln’t be interested in putting money into Wang’s pocket. You are too young to have overwhelming hatred for Messier, Graves and Beukeboom as an impediment to becoming a Rangers fan. I am going tonight to MSG….I actually don’t even want to go. Not sure whether I am more sad or more angry.
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Albuquerque Mike says:
Oh that first period. First time I’ve ever seen a 15 minute power play. What has to be done to get these guys to play in the first period? Someone sold Snow a bill of goods on Wisniewski. He sure has been over hyped as top 4 defenseman. We score 5 goals (a miracle for this team) and still lose. It’s time to try Poulin or Koskinen in goal. Although DP looked good in our win against NJ, he was poor last night. As good as Roloson has played, he is not the answer either. Snow needs to trade for a scorer, and soon. Tavares is not the scoring machine he was in the juniors and in hindsight might have been the wrong choice. He ran hot and cold last season as well. Moulson, however, is the read deal. Please do something Garth.
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Tavares has 14 points in 20 games playing with a career AHL’er on one side of him. He is also just 20 years old. Can we please relax on throwing him down the river and declaring Duchene the better player? JT has more goals than Duchene and maybe check out who Duchene has around him to dish the puck to.
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Jim says:
Tonight is game 2 of a tough 3 game road trip:
1. vs. Rangers @ NVMC
2. vs. Rangers @MSG
3. vs. Flyers @ NVMC (there will be plenty of Flyer fans on hand for this Sunday matinee while the Eagles are off).SELL WANG SELL!!!
SELL WANG SELL!!!
SELL WANG SELL!!!
SELL WANG SELL!!!
SELL WANG SELL!!! -
Candyman says:
A summer filled with hope for the future is now just a cloudy memory. JT reminds me of Alex Yashin with his ability to use his size to make plays and finish around the net. However, like Yashin, JT is very slow and would have succeeded better pre-lockout.
DP has been inconsistent, but last night was hardly his fault. Martinek was awful and basically set up 2 rags goals.
The problem with this team is the same problem that we have had for years — an over abundance of 4th line players playing big minutes. Comeau, Parentau, Nielsen, Martin, Jossensu, etc. have been given big minutes and are incapable.
Wang isn’t selling anytime soon, but a Q&A with the fans is overdue. I hope it happens soon.
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couldnt agree any more with 31, tavares is a good hockey player but not sure about a franchise player. I have been watching and following the isle for over 3o years. it bothers me that very few of our players can skate. How can you draft players that cant skate, talent aside if you cant skate then hockey is no the sport for you. Look at our roster and on any given night our opposition skates rings around us. Speed and skating ability is a must, and we have very little of either.
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Sumo Goalie says:
Sounds great – I’ll be at Irish Times tonight wearing the Bossy jersey!
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The people That knock John tavares, his skating is not a strength but he is skating is a lot better this year and he is a little quicker. The worst skater I have seen is Trent hunter, He looks like he is playing pick up hockey or in a scrimmage game. Sorry Trent we have no use for you anymore. Bruno should just sit in the Booth the rest of the season with Garth. Stick with cooking Bruno you are Good at it, your not a hockey player.
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bayduvinislander says:
Tavares was mad as heck? With the lack of emotion he’s shown on the ice this year I was beginning to think he was from planet Vulcan. Live long and put the damn puck in the net!
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Rich 55 says:
CB – You backing off a bit on Wisnewski being this years “Striet” like signing? Beginning to think his prior employers were right. Wiz is horrible defensively and not done much on PP since October.
Would Isles been better off signing 3-6 of the available UFA forwards with some NHL experience to one year deals and letting this current group develope in B’Port. No playoffs either way but…..
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Benvi says:
As one of those college students all I have to say is finally!!!!!!!!
Can’t wait to see you there
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Jim Clark says: Include me in for a night at Social. Thank you for staging this. Perhaps playing the almost as pitiful Devils (nee Kansas City Scouts).
Last night ESPN had a chat with various writers during the Heatley returns to Ottawa game. Scott Burnside asked rhetorically if anyone could see any of the ninth-fifteenth teams in the East making the playoffs. Maybe Carolina? Certainly no one mentioned Wang’s warriors as a possible playoff team.
Playing Roloson tonite is the right move. No two games in 24 hours for someone recovering from five operations.
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Isles74 says:
I find it hard to read this site these days, CB…Not your fault that this org is in shambles and you have nothing positive to post…it is what it is
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Stevengoo says:
In my calendar… cant wait
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JT has a specific skill set and if utilized properly can be a consistent 40 goal scorer but hes no crosby or ovy or stamkos but there arent that many guys in their league…You dont need them anyway, just need a complete team
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I hate reading these posts about Duchene being better and that we shouldve picked him…It was the same Isles fans who would’ve called for garths head if we didnt take JT….If DUCH was here he wouldnt be as good without players to help him as well
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Joe says:
Awesome to have PB night when us college kids are home, haven’t been to social yet either.
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Eric says:
Tavares has 14 points. Put him on ANY, I repeat ANY team in the league right now and he has atleast 10 more points. I could see Tavares having 13-14 goals and about the same amount of assists right now on a differen team. He has 6 assists right, now he would at the very least have twice that on the Florida panthers right now. Put him On colorado right now I think he has 15 goals 14 assists and would lead that team in points today. Tavares scores his goals 5 feet or less from the net. Thats his game. He is also a good passer and will only improve his play making abilities. He will also get bigger and be able to stay on the puck better. He is TWENTY YEARS OLD! Imagine how much better he is going to be at 23. Crosby is 23 and only hit his prime last season and now he is on an absolute tear. Tavares is no Crosby and I never thought he would be and if anyone expected him to be that good they were kidding them selves. Crosby is a generational player, he might be one of the all time greats before his career is over. He’s a better player than Joe Sakic. Tavares will be like a Rick Nash Zac Parise as for as importance to a team but I think he will put up more points than Nash although Nash’s point total would be higher in his career but he has only played on one playoff team and no other team was close to making it. John Tavares will be a point per game player in this league. He would get atleast 70 points ON ANY OTHER TEAM IN THE NHL THIS SEASON! Kane another first overall pick had 70 pts his sophmore year and he played on a much better team. Stamkos wouldnt even get 80 points on this team. He’s ganna get over 100; might even get 120. This team is just that bad and you cant expect a 20 year old to just light it up or anybody for that matter. Tavares looked good last night fellas.
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doggyondown says:
someone ask JC why Gillies was on ice with 5 min left.
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kevo says:
This team is a joke…bailey is sitting in minors??? I hate charles wang & garth snow. I will never buy another ticket while they are part of the NYI. i feel bad for gordon. He should try and land another coaching job with another organization that acually wants to win.
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Terry says:
It is getting harder and harder to watch this team play.Parise is a restricted free agent this year i think give him a big offer and move away from the picks because you know what you get ZP.
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brian says:
Oh this Isles team is frightful/ the fans are feeling spiteful/where should all the blame go?/Wang & Snow, Wang & Snow…
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Blizzard says: …I am a firm believer that John Tavares was and will prove to be the best player of his draft class. Certainly not Hedman. Duchene is a fine player but JT will be better. Its him and Moulson out there with any offensive upside. And lets face it Moulson was a diamond in the rough. I feel JT is underated as a passer. That was a sweet dish to Moulson last night for that goal. JT has very little help. Its real easy to marginalize him when he plays with squat.
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iselsfan39 says:
I like starting roli tonight last night was not dp’s fault but msg is the last place to be for him with all the dp sucks chants and etc. We need to come out strong and hopefully we get the w.
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Jon in Chicago says:
Big money offer to Parise? C’mon, what big-money free agent would sign here now? I would think every other team would offer Parise more than the Isles and those teams won’t be the worst in the league either.
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1983Islander says:
Anyone actually going to the Puck Daddy event tonight ?
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Bobby C. says:
JT would score 40 in Phily. We’d be happy to take him off your hands. There probably would not be any arguments from JT either, considering all the hate wafting around here. Garth/Wanger wadda say?
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znatokhokkeya says:
to anyone who wants Parise – once he was at the NHL store and he was asked about the Islanders. His response was “Are they still in the NHL (or “Are they still exist?”). Something like that (don’t remember exact words)
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George says:
Wait till Snowie and Wang trade out of the top spot for a player that ” They really love and knew they could get at a lower spot plus a couple of picks” And then trade those picks for crap, can’t wait for draft day !
And I LAUGH at those who even think let along type about getting Parise or any other free agent to play for this mess of a team, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
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jbassman says:
Not sure if dp dropped his keys on the first goal but it was truly ugly. Can’t fault him for the rest, bad bounces and he was hung out to dry. JC should sit the Wiz down for a serious talk. His positioning on the final goal should not happen at ANY point in the game let alone in last five minutes of a tied contest. Inexcusable for a supposed top minutes guy…and was the last hit he threw in the season opener against dallas? Do all our coaches get their junk snipped as they’re given the reins to this team? Its obvious they have no control but are they unable to process anger according to wangdoodle? I actually miss tomato faced bowness screaming at everything in site…how F’in sad is that. Tonight’s your night Sim…make us proud. Baaahhhhhhhhh
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UIF says:
Tavares was never supposed to be a puck carrier, which he’s been forced to do this year with linemates that are no faster than he is. Wasn’t “from the circles down” beat into our heads enough? The guy has better instincts–not only around the net, but knowing where a puck is going to pop out along the boards–than anyone on the ice last night besides Gaborik, who has many years of experience in the league. If there’s one player on this team I have no doubts about it’s Tavares. With experience and proper support, he’ll be a goal scoring machine.
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T Smith says:
smith31 (#19) – good question! I have been an isles fan for less than two years and it IS tough. I had no idea what a cluster this franchise truly has been the past 10-15 years.. I would hang on if the ownership and management would step up but doesn’t look good. How does this happen to such a stories team? Arguably one of the greatest dynasties in all if pro sports is seemingly a bush league operation. I dunno . . .
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EJ says:
Cg #14, Milstein looks like a rocket engineer compared to Charley the tuna…
I used to remember the days (not too long ago) when I would be so amped up for a Rag$ game. Like someone posted earlier, it felt like I was on the ice, stands, press box, everywhere doing my part in rooting on the Isles. Blood pressure thru the roof and all..
But NOW, just another friggin game as I find myslef drinking more and more during the games just to make it palatable…not good.
May as well start it off right now with a LONG ISLAND iced tea..
YOU SUCK WANG! NOT ONE MORE 0.01
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Orange&Blue says:
Everyone on PB is bitching and moaning about this and that and nobody mentions the solid game played by Travis Hamonic. As far as Im concerned, last night was his coming out party and he is here to stay for good! He was all over the place and the most noticeable player on the Islanders.
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Damian says:
I have to agree with a couple other people on here, there are alot of excuses when it comes to DP, the defense was terrible but DP was worse. He was slow and coming out of the net too much again. It seemed he had two decent games then its back to the usual, there is no suprise his stats are the worst among goaltenders this year. Can the DP experiment end already, put him in the minors or just buy him out like yashin and witt and then we can use his contract for ten years to make the minimum salary cap. I would rather see a youngest in net who can learn from coach rollie
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Stumpy32 says:
Why is it that we’re all so much more frustrated over this season than in seasons past? All issues that we’ve had – both on and off the ice – aren’t new to this franchise. We’ve lost nearly consistently for over two decades, and management since the Cup years has been a near total embarrassment.
My thinking is this…we were trained to deal with a lower than average payroll. We were trained to deal with the arena situation being a mess. But once the rebuild went south – we have gone entirely backward this season – we’ve seen that the management has been lying to our faces. It’s a cylical suck more, suck less thing whose endgame is low spending. It was all roses last season because we improved marketly from 08-09. Going backward this season, without any attempt to improve from outside, is just disgusting. We should have known all along, but the fact that we keep sitting around, not getting anyone to help in the rebuild…it makes you want to pack up and go home.
Sorry for the rant. It infuriates me that I’m sitting at the Coliseum last night clearly less interested than usual, and questioning whether I should cheer or not. That shouldn’t happen, and its been pissing me off all day.
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Onesinceforty says:
With all the talk of poor decision making, how are we going to feel if Matt Moulson “Heads for Zee Hills” when he becomes Unrestricted this summer? He and Tavares can text each other and rent a cottage in the summer. I thought it was a joke that they did not wrap him up this summer and give him a Frans or AMac type deal. We will regret it if he walks due to all the BS. I don’t hear anyone talking about this yet. It is not like the games actually matter. Ask Howie. Oh, I’m sorry. That last comment was only referring to technical difficulties.
The 23rd sounds good to me. See you there.