Monthly Archives: October 2011
Here’s something new we’re going to try here and see how it goes. Occasionally on non-gamedays, we’ll post some interesting links and debate the big questions of the day in ‘The Morning Skate’. Feel free to leave some constructive feedback in the comments. Let us know what you like, or don’t, and most importantly — why. You’re learning, we’re learning, soon we’ll be one big, happy, internet based family.
WHO’S THE GOALTENDER NOW, DOG?
Al Montoya has had two solid starts and the Islanders don’t have any back-to-backs this week with Tampa Bay on Thursday and the Rangers on Saturday. Given those facts and that Capuano said he would go with the hot hand during training camp, I’ve got to think Montoya will be the starter for the time being. DiPietro will get his shot eventually but it may not be until the team hits the road next week (assuming Montoya doesn’t stumble on Thursday). As for Nabby, well, hopefully the food in the press box is tasty. I wonder if he is on the roster simply as insurance policy in case the others get hurt or don’t perform.
The Islanders are in the middle of a four game homestand which they can use to try and get the fanbase excited and get some positive momentum rolling. It’s always important to have a good start but for a team that hasn’t won much of anything the last few years and bombed out before Thanksgiving last year, it’s especially important. If Capuano believes that Montoya is his best chance to win then Al has got to be the starter until he slips up.
Montoya would surely relish a start against the team that drafted him on Saturday and I’d say he’s earned the opportunity.
FOR THE HALEY-AHOLICS OUT THERE, HERE’S YOUR FIX
Micheal Haley rightfully earned a lot of supporters for his part in standing up against the Penguins last year. For all the Haley-aholics out there, here’s something you may have missed over the weekend while you were constantly refreshing the Isles home page to see if he got the call up from Bridgeport. Haley got in an awfully good fight against Ryan Hollweg — yes, the same Ryan Hollweg that Chris Simon took batting practice on — of the Portland Pirates on Saturday night.
via LHH via Isles Enforcers
CAPTION THIS PHOTO
After Monday’s game against the Wild, photographer Bruce Bennett captured this shot of The Rick kissing Al Montoya’s mask after the game. Let’s hear your best captions in the comments!
DiBENEDETTO NETS HAT TRICK, CALL THE OVERREACTION POLICE
Speaking of the Sound Tigers, they earned their first win of the year on Sunday afternoon to move to 1-1 on the young season. Congratulations to Justin DiBenedetto who recorded his first pro hat trick in the game with Casey Cizikas assisting on all three goals. The pair played on the second line with Sean Backman on the RW. Deep breaths, Country. Certainly a great start for DiBo but alas two games is a very small sample size.
Captions, feedback and thoughts on these stories in comments.
By Alan Avital
Languishing through two-a-half years in the New York Rangers’ top minor league affiliate The Hartford Wolf Pack, right winger P.A. Parenteau was hoping his goal-scoring talent would result in a permanent call-up to the National Hockey League. Unfortunately, a brief 22-game audition didn’t impress the organization enough to offer the then 26-year old a one-way contract with the major club.
Hoping to make the most of his 83 goals in a 184-game span with the Wolf Pack, Islanders general manager Garth Snow decided to take a flyer on the Hull, QC, Canada native prior to the 2010-11 campaign.
Parenteau opened some eyes during training camp, earning a spot on the team’s top line, playing alongside Matt Moulson and John Tavares. He notched a career-high 20 goals, while dishing out 33 assists, becoming one of the team’s feel good stories of the season.
But entering his second season on the Island after inking a one-year, 1.25-million at the end of last season, questions mounted on whether Parenteau would once again earn first-line minutes with Tavares.
Was his feel-good story just a one-year wonder?
2010 first round draft pick Nino Neiderreiter was battling Parenteau throughout training camp for that coveted slot next to the team’s newest $33 million dollar man, but a groin injury has sidelined the 19-year old Swiss for the time being. He is expected to miss a week’s time, enabling Parenteau to once again make his case.
However, is Neiderreiter’s injury a blessing in disguise for Parenteau or a crutch in Tavares’ development to taking that crucial next step to elite status?
Neiderreiter, who notched an impressive 77 goals in his two seasons in Portland for the Western Hockey League’s Winterhawks, possesses a physical presence that Parenteau lacks and a hulking 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame, which would enable Tavares to survey the ice with those magical hands. Parenteau, on the other hand, possesses a lightning quickness, which would allow for odd-man rushes with himself, Tavares and Moulson.
This question might take the 2011-12 season to answer, and should make second-year coach Jack Capuano’s job that much more difficult especially if Parenteau takes his game to the next level, a site quite familiar for the former Bridgeport Sound Tigers head coach.
Can this organization, who have high hopes of securing an Eastern Conference playoff spot, stunt the growth of its franchise player by waiting to see if Parenteau has first-line staying power or is it time for the talented teenager to bump the career minor leaguer into uncertainty?
written by Kevin Schultz
The Islanders scored twice in the opening period today against the Wild and held on to win 2-1 for their first ‘W’ of the season. Let’s break down the game with a good ol’ plus/minus session. Be sure to add your own observations in the comments.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME:
MINUS: The Coliseum parking lot was still filled with garbage from Saturday’s pre-game tailgates. Opposing fans love to joke about the Coliseum being a dump, today they have some actual evidence to back themselves up.
PLUS: The Wild came out looking like they never got off the plane and the home team jumped all over them for it.
PLUS: John Tavares draws a penalty working hard behind his opponent’s net, leading to Andy MacDonald scoring on the ensuing power play. Tavares didn’t score today but had a very solid game. He’s not just a goal scorer anymore, folks.
PLUS: I had completely forgotten what a healthy Mark Streit looks like in this lineup. The captain looked great today. That being said, Hamonic and MacDonald were the best defensive pairing.
MINUS: The announced attendance was 11,278. You can knock about 2,000 off for the more realistic number (by my eye). To be fair, a lot of people probably had to work today.
PLUS: Islanders special teams. The power play was 1-for-3 and the penalty kill was 7-for-7 including killing a couple 5-on-3s. The PK was absolutely lights out today.
PLUS: Speaking of lights out, the Wild’s top line of Setoguchi-Heatley-Koivu was completely shut down. Partly because the Islanders defense, partly because those three were non-existent most of the game and fanned miserably on the few chances they did have. The Wild’s 5-on-3 power play at the end of the second was absolutely atrocious. It ended with Setoguchi fanning on a cross-ice pass from below the circles.
PLUS: Speaking of the defense and special teams, it says a lot about who the coach trusts by who he puts out when his team has two men in the box. MacDonald, Hamonic and Pandolfo did a lot of the 5-on-3 duties and did them very well.
MINUS: Someone let me know when Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau are released from witness protection. I didn’t see them out there today.
PLUS: Blocked shots and clogged passing lanes. The Islanders had an unenthusiastic second period and didn’t totally find their legs in the third. 17 blocked shots and 14 takeaways were a big reason they never surrendered the lead.
PLUS: Al Montoya. I expect to see him starting on Thursday figuring Capuano will stay with the hot hand.
PLUS: A win is a win is a win is a win.
Visit SNY.tv for a box score and complete wrap up.
By Alan Avital
Selected ninth overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Islanders forward Josh Bailey has heard the rumblings throughout Islander Nation that his services are no longer needed.
Bailey, 22, has scored 34 goals in 211 career games on the Island, but it is his inconsistent play that has led to him not only being shuttled to and from AHL Bridgeport over the past three seasons, but also being bypassed by the team’s “defensive center” Frans Nielsen to center the team’s high-powered wingers Kyle Okposo and Michael Grabner on the squad’s second line.
Yet, is Josh Bailey truly at fault? Was he rushed up from Windsor (OHL) instead of being properly developed?
Maybe.
Still, Bailey has taken it upon himself to hopefully right some wrongs by signing a modest 2-year, $2.1 million deal to remain on Long Island.
Can the same humility be said for Phoenix’s Kyle Turris?
Turris, 22, was selected third overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft has as well struggled to reach his lofty potential. He has netted a paltry 19 goals in 131 career games for the Coyotes.
Still, Turris, coming off a career-high 11 goals and 14 assists in 2010-11, remains the lone restricted free agent to hold out to start the 2011-12 campaign. The fourth-year center is seeking a multi-year contract upwards of three-to-four million dollars per, a request which made Coyotes general manager Don Maloney chuckle in amazement.
Yes Islander fans, the same Don Maloney who served the same post here on Long Island from 1992-95
Nevertheless, Islander fans continue to ask why not trade Bailey for Turris?
My simple answer is: Why trade one 22-year old, who has expressed his desire to play on Long Island – a fact that should never be overlooked nowadays (ask Buffalo’s Christian Ehrhoff) – for another 22-year old, who truly believes that he has played worthy of a third overall draft selection and obviously hasn’t.
Bailey may never reach the potential of a top-10 selection or what Garth Snow assumed was the ninth best prospect in the entire draft, but he is an Islander and wants to be an Islander.
The potential of playing a second straight season alongside Blake Comeau, and learning all facets of the game from Brian Rolston, a 38-year old winger entering his 18th NHL season, might jumpstart the Bowmanville, Ontario native or it might just be the right time when Bailey’s potential can be reached.
Thankfully, Bailey is hungry to excel and Kyle Turris is still holding out far, far away.
Steven S, Massapequa Park
If you’d like to see your picture on a gameday post, send it to kschultz08@gmail.com or tweet @schultz88.
Update, 11:00a: Arthur Staple tweets Montoya to start today
It’s only one game… It’s only one game…
It is certainly irrational to freak out after losing just one of 82 games. If Saturday night had been the 8th, 28th or 68th game of the season no one would have batted an eye. A loss, sure, but in the middle of the season it would be a normal occurrence devoid of any real statement to make about the team, it’s destiny or ability.
Taken in context as the first game of the season in front of a raucous home crowd, it’s a little different. In the standings, it means the same. One of 82. In the context of opening night, which cannot be ignored, it does raise some questions. Why did they come out so flat? Can they not handle pressure situations? What of the top 3 lines, with Coach Capuano stating that he thought the 4th line was the best?
The answers are probably a combination of a young team with nervous stomachs in the first of hopefully many high pressure situations they will face. You can’t fault them for that, the only other night for them that compares to Saturday is the debut of John Tavares on opening night against Pittsburgh two years ago. And now that this one is out of the way, things will get easier. Patience is the name of the game in the six-and-a-half month grind that is the NHL’s regular season but the Islanders did get a great opportunity from the scheduling overlords by opening the year with four in a row at home.
The Islanders face the Minnesota Wild at the Coliseum today in a Columbus Day matinee. It’s another winnable game at home against a team that missed the playoffs in 2011. With the dynamic Lightning and hated Rangers coming in later this week to complete the four game homestand, the Islanders need to avoid going 0-for-2 with the two toughest games of the homestand ahead. The Wild will be better than the Panthers after adding Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley this off-season and the road ahead only gets tougher.
NEWS AND NOTES
+ Al Montoya got the surprise start on Saturday night and played well. Regardless of how the rest of the team played, going 27 for 29 with one goal coming on a 5-on-3 where he was completely screened is a good outing for Montoya. That said, give the situation in net I’m sure we’ll see someone else in net if not today then certainly by Thursday.
+ On the Isles telecast Saturday night Howie Rose called the crowd the loudest he’s heard save for a banner raising. I wouldn’t agree with quite that much hyperbole but it was certainly the loudest since a certain playoff series.
+ Check out the 40th anniversary video played on Saturday night.
+ Crowd chant by Long Island’s own Joe Satriani is your new goal song. I guess we have to take their word for it because… Uh… With the shutout and all.
+ Reader Eric B. sent in this video of the festivities.
THE OPPOSING VIEW
with Ryan Henning from Minnesota Sports blog the Victoria Times and Barry Melrose Rocks
KS: Ryan, can you give us a general outlook for the Wild this season? We’re not familar with them here in the east and they’ve made some serious offensive additions.
RH:After many years of mediocrity, and a lack of a scoring touch, Wild fans are pretty excited to have a scorer and a young offensive prospect in Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi. It’s amazing how much that has changed the outlook for Minnesota, if only in public perception. Having Pierre-Marc Bouchard back is also a welcome addition to the team as he gives a little bit of dynamic depth.
Last season, the forwards were pass first, and having three players that are a little more willing to shoot the puck are going to help (in Bouchard’s case admittedly very little more willing to shoot). I mean, they scored 4 times last night. A veritable offensive explosion. The defense is fairly young, but Minnesota has always been able to get the most out of defensmen through development, but also because the forwards are generally adept at the back check. I think this season, barring injury, Minnesota should be a little bit more interesting to the casual viewer, and may even claim one of the last spots in the playoffs. Given what a horrible year it’s been for Minnesota sports, this would be a welcome change.
KS: A lot of fans on Long Island naturally wanted to grab Eric Nystrom off the waiver wire when he was cut by the Wild. Can you talk a little about Eric and why he didn’t make their opening night roster?
RH:If the team is going to move forward and they have the option of bringing a player who is slightly less skilled but significantly younger, they will do so. Guys like 19 year old Brett Bulmer or 22 year old Colton Gillies have a chance to develop into something great. Nystrom’s probably near what we could ever expect from him. And it kills me to say that, because he is the same age as I am. We’ve both peaked.
KS:What are your thoughts on the Islanders this year?
RH:I wish nothing but the best for the Isles this year. Any team that can get under the skin of the Penguins is A-OK in my book. It seems that lately, they have been building the team the right way, investing in youth and building from within, rather than dumping a lot of money into high priced free agents that might block youngsters. A personal favorite for the Islanders is University of Minnesota product Kyle Okposo. I think they might be a year out, but it’s probably not much more than that before they become a threat in the Eastern Conference again.
Written by Jason Potere
As a huge Islanders fan and an avid reader to the site, I always enjoyed Botta’s “plus/minus” posts to recap the team’s games. Here’s my take on Opening Night. Please feel free to add your own Plus/Minus in the comments section regarding Saturday night’s game.
Plus: It’s great to see the Coliseum rockin’ on Opening Night! With big expectations, come big crowds and with big crowds, come big expectations.
Minus: Streit’s fault on the 1st goal – turned the puck over behind the net, then lost his man (Weiss) off the rebound, 1-0 Panthers.
Plus: Good to see Hamonic defending his goalie at the end of the 1st period. Travis was the best Islander on the ice tonight.
Minus: Rough 1st period for the Isles…indicative of a team playing with nerves on opening night.
Minus: I promise Kyle, the goals will come!
Plus: I’d love to hear what Panthers’ management says every time Grabner races down the wing.
Plus: Streit’s presence on the power play makes the first unit soooo much better. 4 shots on their first PP.
Plus: Much better 2nd period for Isles, more cohesive, more energy, but no goals.
Plus: Despite the mistake on the Panthers’ first goal, Streit had an all-around solid game.
Plus: Great pass by Hamonic finding Okposo in the slot. Of course, KO hits the pipe.
Minus: I love Matt Martin’s energy. I also love when he can stay out of the penalty box.
Minus: Some penalties are killer, some aren’t. Parenteau’s tripping minor with 4 minutes left in the 3rd was a killer.
Minus: Tip your cap to the Panthers. They played a great road game.
Plus: Montoya picks up where he left off last season, sharp in his 2011-12 debut.
Minus: This team isn’t good enough yet to take a period off and win on most nights. Back to the drawing board for Cappy and crew.
written by Kevin Schultz
updated 10:20am: per Katie Strang, Al Montoya named Isles opening night starter.
Ten years ago, the Islanders played the video above at opening night for the 30th anniversary season. If that video still doesn’t get you pumped for the game tonight and the return of NHL hockey on Long Island, you might be a Rangers fan. That team would go on to start the 2001-02 season on a 11-1-1-1 run and end with a loss to Toronto in the playoffs that, despite coming out on the losing end, has to be one of the most exciting series in franchise history. I certainly don’t need to give anyone a history lesson on where the team his been since then.
Ten years later, it’s starting to look like the Islanders are finally coming up the other side of the rabbit hole they went down after the 2002 season. There’s three NHL-level netminders on the roster — I mean, jeez, one of them has to be ‘the guy’ right? — plus a few exceptional prospects in the system just for good measure. The defense isn’t what we’d like it to be, but again, help should be on the way in the next year or two. There are five forwards on the roster who scored 20 goals last season, the best three of which are signed through 2015-16.
This is a team set up to succeed within the next 1-4 years. This is a team that will be fun to watch. All of the top players are healthy to start the season. The real question that no one can really answer is, ‘how far do they go?’
NEWS AND NOTES
+ On an editing note, I unfortunately have prior engagements and won’t be around Saturday to write a post-game (blog fail, I know). I trust you folks will either be at the game or glued to the TV, so let’s all go out and enjoy this night, eh?
+ If you’re headed to the Coliseum today for the game or any of the festivities, I’d like to invite you to send your pictures in. I’d like to put a reader gallery together of your opening night experiences for everyone to enjoy on the site later this week. Send them to kschultz08@gmail.com or tweet them to @schultz88. Feel free to include your name, hometown and brief description.
+ It’s only October and there’s already only one t-shirt I really want this season; this minimalist Islanders design. (Puck Daddy)
+ Rick DiPietro and Jose Theodore should be the starting goaltenders tonight. (Everyone, basically)
+ Your opening night lineup projection. (Islanders Hockey Blog)
THE OPPOSING VIEW with Donny from the Florida Panthers blog Litter Box Cats (SB Nation)
KS: First off, the big news surrounding the Panthers this off-season was the throwing of money at free agents such as Ed Jovanovski, Jose Theordore, Kris Versteeg and former Islander Sean Bergenheim. How was this received by the fanbase and personally, do you think it was the best direction for the team?
DR: The fanbase – and more importantly the community – was ecstatic that such measures were taken. The initial thinking, historically, was Florida would simply overpay anyone – regardless of pedigree or resume – willing to come to Sunrise, letting whomever the coach might be to fend for himself before a roster composed with very little forethought.
Early on, Dale Tallon had promised a plan to rebuild through the draft (which he has), eliminate the bloated “untradeable” contracts and deadwood prospects in the organization (he did), replacing them with high-character, similarly-constructed players who conform to his internal ideals (the vaunted “Blueprint”)… Signing Kevin Dineen as head coach was likely the most important move of all.
KS: Speaking of free agents, the Islanders picked one up from the Panthers in Marty Reasonser. What should fans expect from him this year?
DR: Reasoner was effective on an ultimately bad hockey team last year, and won the hearts of many fans who hoped for his return, possibly as captain. In hindsight it doesn’t sound as if management nor the player were all that interested in remaining together. Whatever the case, Marty brings good speed, solid on-ice awareness, and relatively exceptional health (72+ games-played over each of the past five seasons) for a veteran closing in on 35.
KS: Finally, I’m going to put you on the spot. Give us a prediction for where the Panthers and Islanders will finish in the Eastern Conference this year.
DR: Yikes…been able to dodge that one all summer. Both clubs are unquestionably going to be better – pointwise – than in 2010-11; what is very questionable is how quickly all those new faces come together. New York probably has the upper hand in that category, as coach Jack Capuano has had a bit more time to establish his system; far more turnover in Florida, combined with 2/3rds of a new bench staff, may conspire against the Panthers in the early going. So many variables for each team to consider, and we’re not even mentioning the rest of the conference, but simply for fun let’s say the Isles take 10th with the Cats at 11. Reality will of course prove far stranger.
AND FINALLY…
Squeezing in some fun predictions right before the puck drops.
- I’m picking the Islanders to finish 9th in the conference, close but no cigar.
- John Tavares to score 31 goals and 75 points.
- Michael Grabner leading the team in goals with 35 and 55 points.
- Jack Capuano will not be on the hot seat, barring any 20 game losing streaks.
- Travis Hamonic will step up in a big way.
Feel free to leave your own in comments and enjoy opening night!
