Monthly Archives: October 2011
In an interview recorded last week with Chris, HNIC’s Kevin Weekes reviews the play of Montoya and Nabokov, explains what should be expected of DiPietro and lends advice to the Islanders’ goaltending prospects based on his time sharing the net with Brodeur and Lundqvist.
* – the Islanders have yet to confirm the Gillies move is to make room for Nino Niederreiter to come off IR, but I’m hedging my bets.
At the end of today’s hour long practice at Iceworks, the team broke off into different groups. A few players were on one end with Coach Capuano, practicing shooting. Another group of defensemen were at center ice doing skating drills. Off in the corner was a curious sight, the newly healthy Nino Niederreiter taking part in his first team practice was taking notes in Trevor Gillies’ fighting class. The two were sparring and tussling in a very serious educational manner. It was a moment of the old veteran teaching his craft to the fresh faced 19-year old. They traded fake punches and Gillies showed Niederreiter how to hold and not hold an opponent in a scrum. Say what you want about Gillies but his actions of helping a rookie learn the ropes — one that likely caused Gillies’ own demotion — is honorable and is a clear ‘team first’ attitude.
Possibly unbeknownst to Gillies during practice — although I’m sure in the back of his mind he knew the scenario — he was optioned to Bridgeport to make room for El Nino, now having to pass through waivers before punching his ticket to the Sound Tigers. Gillies is now eligible to be picked up by any team but I believe he will pass through and be in Bridgeport in a few days.
The healthy Islanders (knock on wood) have faced for the first time a serious roster question. With the imminent return of El Nino — despite Capuano’s non-answers on the player’s status — they now have a fully healthy forward corps and had to make a choice that would have otherwise been reserved for training camp. The groin injury to Niederreiter allowed them to wait a few weeks to figure out who the odd-man out was. Today, we found out it was Trevor Gillies, a move not made unless Niederreiter is ready or days away. Expect to see Niederreiter in the line up by Saturday, if not earlier. In my mind, this is the only way the scenario can play out. The Islanders would not risk Gillies through waivers if it was simply to call up another player such as Michael Haley, who has a similar skill set.
The joy of a fifth overall pick who should make his living scoring, working the corners and throwing a few checks, finally stepping into the lineup will be a huge help for a team lacking in those areas and a cause for obvious fan excitement. The Islanders have had trouble scoring and Niederrieter should help put pucks in the net. However, to think that any 19-year old will have an immediate impact that solves this team’s 5-on-5 offensive woes is misplaced.
Niederreiter could be another power play weapon for Capuano to tinker with. The Islanders are the league’s 11th best powerplay — not bad — but have the fewest goals overall in the league and only two 5-on-5 goals in their last four games. No matter what line he is placed on, Niederreiter will have a positive impact 5-on-5. He should create chances and score goals. But when it comes to how many he will score, expectations need to be limited. John Tavares stepped in and scored 24 as a 19-year old two seasons ago. Josh Bailey had seven at 19 in 2008-09. Niederreiter, to be sure, is no Tavares and he is no Bailey. His goal total when 2011-12 is said and done will likely be between their seven and 24 assuming he stays healthy. But to expect him, at 19, to drastically alter the direction of this team in the standings or it’s scoring woes would be foolish. Maybe the best part of a healthy Nino is that now the Islanders will be able to consistently roll four lines instead of having to shift and maneuver around Gillies.
There’s also another issue that today’s move has created — this Islanders team’s toughness. With Gillies’ departure, there isn’t an established fighter on the roster. While he may be tough in a Travis Hamonic kind of way and took a 101 class at practice today, Niederreiter isn’t a fighter. As someone whose goal-scoring ability will be welcomed, Nino also isn’t someone a team would want to lose for five minutes or more each game. So with Matt Martin, Travis Hamonic and, I guess, Nino Niederreiter on the roster to bodycheck and occasionally fight, the Islanders as a whole will have to get tough. They won’t need to every night. As we’ve seen so far, some teams will have tough guys that this team will have to figure out how to deal with (Matt Cooke and Arron Asham in Pittsburgh come to mind) while other teams will not (a Clutterbuck-less Minnesota and the Rangers). Whether it’s Matt Martin stepping into a role as an enforcer and a capable offensive player, the team as a whole showing toughness, or bringing someone else into the mix — side note; the Sean Avery Circus is certainly not the answer — the Islanders will have to figure out where the toughness comes from now that Trevor Gillies is off the NHL roster.
News and notes from today’s practice at Iceworks. Follow me on Twitter for up to the minute updates.
Quotes from Nino Niederreiter on today’s practice, his first returning from injury:
On how he’s doing:
“I feel great… Today was pretty much back to normal.”
On having to watch the team for nine games:
“It was definitely frustrating, but I had to think positive and the season is long. I just took it day by day and now we are here.”
How close he thinks he is to being able to play:
“I don’t know. Had the first practice today with the team… We have to take it day by day. Whenever coach thinks I’m ready, I’ll be ready.”
1:14pm: Coach Cap also mentioned that the day off for MacDonald and Tavares were normal maintenance days. Evgeni Nabokov is still day-to-day. For MacDonald, it is another day off probably to keep the hip he injured last season as fresh as possible. Capuano said there was no injury to Tavares, simply a day off.
1:00pm: As reported by everyone on Twitter, the Islanders have placed Trevor Gillies on waivers. If Gillies clears — and he should — his next stop is Bridgeport. This move is likely to make room for Nino Neiderreiter’s return to the lineup later this week. Nino skated in his first full practice today… Coach Capuano would not comment as to when or where Nino will play when he returns.
11:11am: Tavares not on the ice today along with Andy MacDonald. Will have to ask coach about Tavares later. Nino is on the ice and skating with Moulson and Parenteau on the first line. DiPietro and Montoya are in opposite nets with Nabokov not on the ice today.
NEW SITE DESIGN
As you can see, we have a new site design today. The design is to make the site, part of the SNY blog network, mesh with the rest of the network. Constructive feedback is always appreciated. If you notice any bugs or glitches, please let us know.
THREADED COMMENTING!
With the new design brings improvements! We now have threaded commenting. What this means is that you can now reply to specific comments. So, if you want to respond to the post, simply scroll to the bottom of a post and comment as usual. However, if you want to reply to someone’s comment on a post specifically you can now do that easily. On the old site, you might be comment #50 and you would have to shout up from the bottom of the comment thread to #6 if you wanted to respond to the sixth comment. Now, simply click the “reply” link under comment #6, and your comment will show up directly under theirs and you can have a conversation with them.
SOCIAL MEDIA
We are, like, soooo 2011 now. You’ll notice that at the bottom of each post there are links to like to the post on Facebook, Tweet it and if you click “share” there are a ton of other social media sites to share us with.
By Alan Avital
As Kyle Okposo stepped up to the podium this past June at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft to announce the Islanders’ fifth overall selection of Niagara (OHL) center Ryan Strome, some Islander fans cheered the pick. There were also some who were skeptical of Strome’s diminutive stature and believed his six-foot-five, 193-pound OHL teammate Dougie Hamilton would’ve been a more appropriate fit for a defense lacking that imposing presence.
Luckily, the Islanders’ patience to acquire that much-needed physical defender paid off 29 picks later, as 6-foot-4, 203-pound defenseman Scott Mayfield fell right into their laps in the beginning of the second round (34th overall).
Mayfield, who himself waited patiently with his family in the Xcel Energy stands, was excited about being selected by the Islanders.
“Once I got out of the first round, the pressure was off,” said Mayfield, who was projected by several scouting services to be drafted in the middle-to-late first round. “But when I met with the Islanders at the scouting combine, we had a great meeting. I couldn’t be happier than to be picked by them (Islanders).”
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, the 19-year old Mayfield quickly made his name known throughout amateur hockey by leaving the show-me state and Webster Groves High School to playing his final two high school seasons for the Youngstown (OH) Phantoms of the USHL.
He was named to the 2011 USHL All Star Team, after being named the Most Valuable Player at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge, where he anchored a defensive unit that surrendered a total of seven goals throughout the tournament. Those performances, along with his obvious physical stature, drew the attention of several collegiate programs, but Mayfield quickly narrowed his search down to two – Miami (OH) and the University of Denver.
His decision became simple from the get-go.
“I briefly talked to the Miami of Ohio, but I loved the winning tradition at Denver,” said Mayfield. “Also, my dad went to law school there and I felt very comfortable immediately.”
Denver head coach George Gwozdecky didn’t need convincing when he first laid his eyes on his new, prototypical shut-down defender.
“Scott is a physical body with a long reach,” said Gwozdecky, who has won seven NCAA championships as he enters his 18th season behind the Pioneer bench. “He is a tough, tough guy to play against. And most importantly, he has a little nasty in him.”
While Gwozdecky wouldn’t comment on an NHL comparison to Mayfield, the personable freshman wasn’t shy to say which two former St. Louis Blues players he had patterned his game after.
“I have always looked up to (current Philadelphia Flyer 6-foot-6 defenseman) Chris Pronger, but I really love watching (current Colorado Avalanche 6-foot-4 defenseman) Erik Johnson play” said Mayfield. “They are both big, and love to play the body.”
Mayfield’s off-season conditioning and play has already earned the trust of Gwozdecky, who has confidently played his freshman in all units on the ice.
“Scott is learning the game on this level, on the go,” said Gwozdecky, who holds the distinction of being the only coach in NCAA hockey to win a championship as a player (Wisconsin), an assistant coach (Michigan State) and a head coach. “He is very coachable. He’s like a sponge. There is no question that he will become one of those guys that no one will want to play against.”
Mayfield earned an assist in the team’s opening game upset at top-ranked Boston College.
“What a great experience it was to win at B.C.,” said Mayfield. “Going in as the underdog, the team really showed what we were made of.”
Mayfield would score his first collegiate goal on October 22 in the Pioneers’ 10-2 rout of Minnesota State. Coupled with his two points in the team’s first six games, Mayfield is tied for second on the team with a plus-4.
With an eye towards a professional future, Mayfield realizes that there is no timeline necessary to make that significant jump to Long Island.
“I realize that I must mature both on and off the ice,” said Mayfield, who hasn’t declared a major at Denver, but has his eye on majoring in hotel and restaurant management. “I know that I have to work on my footwork, and learn where to make the right play.”
Islander nation got their first glimpse of Mayfield at July’s Blue-White Scrimmage on Long Island, and the shut-down defender didn’t disappoint.
“I really enjoyed playing in front of the Islander fans,” said Mayfield, who is looking to join former Pioneer defenseman Matt Donovan and forward Rhett Rakhshani on the Island in the near future. “I tried to show them that I am a gritty defender, who loves playing the corners. I am physical, and I am not afraid to block shots.”
Mayfield, who currently plays at 205 pounds, believes that he could play comfortably at 225. That sight is surely unfamiliar territory for the present-day Islander fans continuously craving muscle on the back line.
On a night when the Islander organization honored its 1992-93 Eastern Conference finalists, the 2011-12 Islanders were hoping to provide the 11,742 fans, who weathered through this fall’s first storm a moment to cherish. Unfortunately, the fan-base was dealt a blow eerily familiar to that which has frustrated the organization for nearly two decades.
Ironically, this jab came from the three blind stripes, who skated up and down the Coliseum ice on Saturday night. Referee Eric Furlatt mistakenly summoned Islander defenseman Travis Hamonic to the penalty box 29 seconds into overtime for delay of game, when the second-year defenseman clearly caromed a clearing attempt off the near glass. Subsequently, San Jose capitalized on the blunder 38 seconds later, as defenseman Brent Burns’ wrister from the beyond the right circle beat Islander goaltender Rick Dipietro to the high-glove side, leading the Sharks (6-3, 12 points) to their fifth consecutive road victory, 3-2 over the Islanders.
The loss extended the Islanders’ current winless streak to five.
The blunder was clearly shown on the video board at the Coliseum, yet an adamant head coach Jack Capuano and an even more adamant assistant coach Doug Weight could not sway the referee’s initial call.
The loss, while costly in the standings for the Islanders (3-4-2, 8 points), was by far the team’s best overall effort since defeating their cross-town rival Rangers, 4-2 on October 15.
The Islanders outshot the Sharks, 37-30, and controlled the flow of the game throughout. Yet, back to the drawing board for the team sitting in the Atlantic Division cellar, 10 points behind league-leading Pittsburgh.
Ten of the team’s 1992-93 heroes braved through the brutal Long Island weather, receiving a resounding ovation from the Islander faithful. Unfortunately, seconds after high-scoring center Pierre Turgeon dropped the ceremonial opening face-off, with San Jose captain Joe Thornton and Islander captain Mark Streit flanked beside him, reality set in.
Seven seconds after Islander defenseman Steve Staios cross-checked Logan Couture from behind the Islander goal and was sent to the sin bin, Shark leading scorer Joe Pavelski pounced on a loose puck to the left of a sprawling Dipietro and deposited the game’s first goal just 17 seconds into the contest.
The crowd grew restless, and at times were freakishly silent – through the game’s first 20 minutes – despite the fact that the Islanders outplayed the listless Sharks, outshooting them 10-to-8.
The Islanders would break through, 3:15 into the second, and in the process snap an 0-for-9 power play drought, as John Tavares capitalized on a tremendous individual effort by his winger Matt Moulson, who while draped by Burns, slid the puck under Sharks goalie Thomas Greiss into the waiting stick of Tavares. He scored his seventh of the season.
Eight minutes later, once again on the power play, Islanders winger Frans Nielsen skated down the center of the rink, and found a streaking Kyle Okposo to his right. Okposo, still goal-less through the season, tapered a pass onto the waiting stick of fellow winger Michael Grabner, who deflected it past Greiss, giving the Isles the 2-1 lead.
But what has become a common trend thus far in 2011, the lead was short-lived, as Couture blasted a slapper past Dipietro off a rebound of a Marc-Edouard Vlasic shot. That goal came 111 seconds after Grabner’s.
Both goalies – Greiss and Dipietro – stood on their heads through the rest of the regulation, with Dipietro stoning Pavelski late.
Greiss, who recorded 35 saves, improved to 2-2 on the season. Dipietro, who heard a smattering of boos in the game’s early going, represented himself quite well in his first full game action in over a year’s time. He made 28 saves.
The Sharks conclude their six-game, 11-day East Coast trip on Monday evening at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers, who themselves squandered a 4-1, third period deficit Saturday afternoon at home against Ottawa, losing 5-4 in a shootout.
The Islanders return to Coliseum ice Thursday night, as they play host to the Winnipeg Jets.
On to some of the positives and negatives in the +/-
- Officiating – Furlatt, linesemen Jonny Murray and Matt McPherson simply blew the call that cost the Islanders a chance to win the game in overtime or in a shootout. Inexcusable!!!
+ Frans Nielsen – His two-way game was flawless. Joe Thornton was invisible for most of the contest. Offensively, Nielsen led some important rushes for the team’s second line, keying the team’s second goal by Grabner. Remarkably, he still only makes 550K per year. Can you say, HEFTY RAISE!!
- Steve Staios – To say that his play was putrid would be saying it kindly. He committed two costly penalties, the first led to Pavelski’s goal. On Couture’s tally, Staios’ back was to the shot, and he was out of position. He was slow all night. The question has to be said – How can a 38 year-old sitting on his couch, just weeks before training camp get top-four minutes? Any answers, Garth.
+ Rick Dipietro and Thomas Greiss – Both goaltenders were stellar. Greiss, who serves as Anti Niemi’s back-up was cool and calm throughout, while his team fresh off a win in Detroit was lethargic for the most part.
- Bailey in the offensive zone – He has absolutely no confidence nowadays. On one shift in the first period, he not only went one-on-three against the Shark defenders, he subsequently handed them the puck. He may not be able to get that MOJO back, yet Islander fans might have to remain patient.
+ Blake Comeau – The most enigmatic player on the team was clearly on tonight. He skated hard. He hit people and set up Rolston on a couple of chances. I’m still waiting for Rolston’s wicked shot to hit the net once.
- Coliseum Ice – Having a public skate just hours before the game isn’t the smartest thing to do. World Class skaters were falling left and right. Tavares and Comeau even had to go back to the locker room in the third period to get work done. 2015 is rapidly approaching. Sorry Islander fans.
+ Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Travis Hamonic – Not household names throughout the league, yet both defensemen were tremendous tonight. Vlasic bodied up both Grabner and Tavares on partial break aways, while Hamonic played 24:04, second to his defense partner Andrew McDonald (24:41). Not surprised in the least. He is a stud!!!
+ – Goaltender Carousel – Three goalies in nine games, Are you kidding me? Capuano has got to pick one and stick with it. Playing three net-minders means you have none.
+ & – Coliseum Crowd – The crowd was loud when the 1992-93 Islanders hit the ice, but after Pavelski’s goal, you could hear a pin drop throughout the building. Furthermore, Dipietro’s presence draws moans and groans throughout the building, but on a sequence of three saves in the early going. Come on!!
Members of the 1992-93 New York Islanders will be honored prior to tonight’s home game against the San Jose Sharks. The present-day Islanders will hope to build on the crowd’s emotional lift, and in turn snap their current four-game winless streak (0-3-1).
Pierre Turgeon, Steve Thomas and Darius Kasparaitis will be amongst a bevy of former Islanders to be honored.
The 1992-93 Islanders provided memorable moments to the thousands of Islander fans, who packed the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike.
After upending the Washington Capitals and crowd-favorite Dale Hunter in six games in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, behind two overtime-winners by Ray Ferraro, the Islanders stunned the hockey world and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins on a game seven overtime-winner by David Volek.
Ultimately, the Islanders fell to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens in five games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Yet, those 36 days in the spring of 1993 still live in the minds of many die-hard Islander fans. Unfortunately, those same fans currently feel slighted, as that overtime victory in Pittsburgh would mark the last playoff series won by the Islanders.
Onto the current crop of Islanders (3-4-1, 7 points), the necessity to garner two points tonight is paramount, not only for their standing in the ever-so-competitive Atlantic Division, but most importantly, their psyche.
They squandered a two-goal lead with 19 minutes to go on Thursday night in Pittsburgh, and giveaways, costly penalties and missed opportunities were the primary reasons they did so.
Their inability to put the puck into the opposing net has become the team’s most glaring weakness. They have only scored 16 regulation goals – tied with the Rangers for an NHL league-low – in their first eight contests, second fewest in Islanders history. The Islanders only scored 15 times in their first eight games in 1973-74.
Former first rounders Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey have still yet to register their first goals of the young season. Blake Comeau, who netted 24 goals last season, is goal-less as well.
On the flip side, defenseman Milan Jurcina, who logged 11:41 in the shootout loss provided that physical presence which was desperately needed on the Island. Fellow defenseman Travis Hamonic played 25:22 and blocked a season-best five shots. He plays with the poise of a 10-year veteran, yet is only 21.
San Jose (5-3, 10 points) remained unbeaten on its six-game, 11-day east-coast swing, defeating the Red Wings, 4-2 in Detroit on Friday night.
Joe Pavelski leads the Sharks with six goals and nine points.
Following tonight’s tilt on Long Island, the Sharks finish off their trip with a Monday night match-up against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
NOTES:
On Friday, Newsday beat writer Arthur Staple reported that goaltender Evgeni Nabokov would be sidelined for a few days with a lower body injury. Rick Dipietro is scheduled to make his first start of the season.
Since the lockout, the Islanders are 1-3-1 against the Sharks, dropping a 2-1 shootout decision last November in San Jose. Logan Couture beat former Islander goaltender Dwayne Roloson for the shootout winner. P.A. Parenteau scored the lone Islander goal.
The Islanders last defeated the Sharks on February 18, 2008, 3-2 at Nassau Coliseum. Former Islanders Mike Comrie, Andy Hilbert and Freddy Meyer all scored in the win.
The Islanders have allowed only three power play goals in 32 opportunities, fifth best percentage (90.6%) in the NHL.
Bailey and Jay Pandolfo are the only Islander forwards to play in all eight games, having yet to record a single point.
READ: Chris at The New York Times solves the mystery of the Islanders’ 1993 Patrick Division playoff title banner.
WATCH: His one-on-one interview with TSN’s Ray Ferraro on the spring of ’93 and the current edition of the Islanders.
