THE MORNING SKATE FOR OCT 19TH
A Quick Q&A with Al Montoya
Monday at practice I was able to catch up with Islanders goalie Al Montoya who has started three of the Isles’ four games this season. The team heads to Florida for games against the Lightning and Panthers later this week.
KS: With Tampa and Florida coming up, which one would you rather face if you have a preference?
AM: There’s no preference. We’re getting ready for Thursday against Tampa. We played both teams, we had some strong games against both. We want to continue what we’ve been doing here going as a team and going in the right direction. We’ll be focused on that game Thursday against Tampa.
KS: Is there anything you would like to do differently against Tampa this time around?
AM: No, we know they’re going to be gunning for us. But at the same time we just need to go out there and play our game in the first period and we need to establish our game, which is the forecheck, getting in there, getting our shots and getting four lines rolling.
KS: Are you upset at all about not getting the start Saturday against the team that drafted you?
AM: No, not at all. I’m here to play when I’m called upon and when I’m not to support my teammates. It was a great win, a big win for the team.
KS: How does it feel to lead the league in GAA?
AM: [laughs] I’m not even there. Not even thinking about that.
PROGRAMMING NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Over the next two weeks real life is going to take me away from the blog a bit. You may see other folks writing here, especially when it comes to post-game reports. Please give them your respect and attention as you would anyone else — we’re all trying to do the best we can. Things will be back to normal for me as of October 31st.
ISLANDERS NEWS AND NOTES
+ A good story from The Score on hot starts and what they mean (or don’t). Isles/Tavares mention in there along with the main Leafs angle. It’s worth a read if you don’t automatically vomit at the mention of the Leafs.
+ The Shawinigian Cataractes of the QMJHL have acquired the junior rights to Kirill Kabanov who is currently in Sweden on a tryout for Farjestads. The saga continues…
#NYIPB’s OFF DAY #TWITTER QUESTION
To everyone out there in Twitterland, here’s a query for you:
Who should be the Islanders’ healthy scratch at forward for Thursday’s game against Tampa Bay?
Let us know what you think on twitter and chat along with other readers by using the hashtag #NYIPB or @ing me @schultz88. Of course, you’re always welcome to respond in the comments as well.
CAPTION CONTEST WINNER(S)
You guys completely destroyed the caption contest I posted earlier in the week. My hat is off to all of you. I couldn’t choose just one caption, so here is an assortment of the best that I picked out.
BJ —
“If I knew the ice girls were this hot, I would have reported to the team last year”
dedshark —
”no wonder DP has bad hips”
Mission9000 —
How do you say Giggity in russian?
James —
“Why did I ever sit out last season… no one told me of these lovely ice wenches.”
And I don’t know what to make of this but it was too full of win to leave out:
Staten Islander –
“if they put on a few pounds they could work on my uncle’s farm outside Minsk”
About Kevin Schultz
Kevin was formerly an NHL blogger for the now defunct AOL Fanhouse and was the creator of the hockey comedy blog Barry Melrose Rocks. He now covers the Isles for Islanders Point Blank. You can follow him for instant updates on the team and talk hockey with him on Twitter @schultz88. View all posts by Kevin Schultz →31 Responses to THE MORNING SKATE FOR OCT 19TH
A Quick Q&A with Al Montoya
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Staten Islander says:
Hurry back Kevin, and I’m not just saying that because I got comment mentions twice in a row, just saying.
The more I see of Big Cubano, the more I like him. DP, take your time coming back, but when you do, come back 100%. Hips and knees are one thing, cuncussions are an entirely different matter. An I say this in all sincerity.
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Schultz39 says:
Well done….guess we need to get CBs mug off the webpage, huh?
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Brian G says:
Gillies should be the scratch the next 2 games….his 2 meaningless shifts on saturday do not do anything for this team.
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John says:
Thanks for the post Kevin. You’re doing a great job here. If you keep it up I doubt it’ll take long to build the audience back to where it was.
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Catman says:
Hat’s off to Kevin and the others for interesting and current content. Still my first place to go to read about the Isle’s every day.
Sit Gillies…we might need another goal in either game and he does not contribute offensively.
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Bob E. says:
Montoya picking up where he left off. I guess Capuano knew it would good to keep him out of ranger game as he didnt far too well again them last year.
Tampa no doubt will be gunning for us. Especially b/c they got embarassed again by Floriday earlier this week.
Taken a Leave? already. didnt you just start this gig.
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Smitty031 says:
Nice job KS, good to see PointBlank not only continuing but thriving. Thursday night cant get here soon enough!! Lets Go Islanders!!
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bill says:
Nice job so far Kevin…very well done.
Sit Gilles…just make sure Martin doesn’t let JT get pushed around again. Make your presence felt early Matt, maybe even drop the gloves!
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Sidd FInch says:
Gillies should be the scratch for the next two games. I don’t see the need for muscle against either of the Flordia teams. Secondly, with Blake Comeau’s contract being what it is, there is a need for the Isles to get production out of him. While the old adage “You can’t count your eggs before they hatch clearly is key here, the Isles have alot of promising talent in the pipeline and even the addition of Nino to the current mix will make things interesting. Cizikas and DiBo are playing well in BP which could make for some trade ops. While I like Comeau, he is not destined to be in the Isles mid term plans unless he steps it up. A year from now, Strome, the Kirills and who knows how many other players will be pushing for Blakes spot. Get him going for our sake, either on the score sheet or as trade bait.
As for DP, I just wonder if the poor guy has a black cloud over him. I have never disliked DP, but like many, have been disappointed in his play the last few years. If this keeps up, it would not surprise me to see DP make a move like Snow and Weight, up into the management of the team. With the new CBA coming out, there may be new options on how to deal with buyouts, but his personal relationship with Wang makes one wonder if this will ever happen.
And finally, as for KK, this is probably the best trade spot for him possible. As the host of the 2012 Memorial Cup, playing for Shawnigan will provide KK with a full run of playoff games on a national (Canadian) stage. Kind of like the bowl games here, junior players get extra exposure at the end of the year which can increase their value. Considering that KK had such a strong run in Lewiston during the playoffs, this could be just the thing to propel him into his pro career or increase his vaule as trade bsit. Maybe an interview of Casey Cizikas is in order to draw off the value of his experience in the 2011 Memorial Cup with the MSM Majors.
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ernie says:
now it looks like DP gets a start on the Florida trip, hello 20 game losing streak. I knew this start was to good to be true. Old greasy knees is gonna F this up royally just watch.
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JimfromStJames says:
Awesome Kevin, Just don’t get yourself banned from the Coli please.
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Who’s got the over/under that DP gives up a goal by wandering in the first 10 mins of the game?
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The New Isles GM says:
Can we all make a promise to eachother. Let’s not all jump ship if the Islanders have a rough week this week? It happens…give the Cuban a few breaks here and there, he’ll pull through during slumps. Other then that, good article. Keep em coming, because I literally don’t read anything else. Thanks
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DD says:
SIT GILLIES PLEASE
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kingbet123 says:
Kevin, good job. Love all the content!!!
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Gene F says:
the scariest thing is the possibility of DP starting. otherwise it looks okay so far.
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Chris says:
For those who don’t want Gillies to dress that’s okay, but remember it was Tampa that knocked JT around like a pinata so somebody needs to set a physical tone against Tampa.
Makes no sense to fly DP down to Florida after his 3rd concussion unless they plan to start him for 1 of the games.
Thanks MSG for hiring the worse annoucer for pre & post games. He stumbles, stutters, & ask dumb questions. Watch the players, they take a beat before they respond because of the questions stupidity
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Rich says:
I agree not to skybox Gillies – I say to tell him that its his job to make sure teams do not push around JT, and to make his presence known if they do.
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Onesinceforty says:
Montoya seems very personable and affable during interviews. He is the Anti-Roloson. I am rooting for him.
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MarioGazz says:
I guess Gillies is the only enforcer we have since Haley is suspended for boarding for 2 games. Its either that or let Martin take the role.
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Blizzard says: ….No way DP should even dress on this team until either Nabby or Montoya go down. Send him to the bridge let him prove himself there.
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first of all i agree with poster 18. he does ask the most stupid questions that dont make any sense. when asking stan fishler about the future of certain teams, he didnt even mention about the isles situation and kept on mentioning about the rags and how he was very concerned about their lack of scoring and how he hoped that their scoring situation would get better. give me a brake. what a moran this guy is. second of all , let d.p. play thursday. if he gives up his usual 5 or 6 goals a game, hopfully cappy will learn his lesson and wait another 4 or 5 months before putting in d.p. again. unless of coarse if he doesnt care if the isles make the playoffs or not.
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Oh...Marrone says:
DP will be the death of us…
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JKP in Halifax says:
KK isn’t in Sweden, he practiced yesterday in Shawinigan and is playing Friday night against Victoriaville according to his new coach.
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rpchief2 says:
Two years ago people on this sight were screaming that the team was soft and got pushed around, after the way TB took liberties on JT, Gillies has to be in the line up. Tb doesnt have a heavy weight, so anyone that runs JT will have to defend themselves, and Downey and Malone are not that stupid. Sit him against Panthers, he needs to be dressed against TB.
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Paul says:
@#14….AM does not need a break after just 3 games. DP will be the death of us, once AGAIN.
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jamal says:
Big Al, the guy’s a boss
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Jon Gimps says:
Thanks Kevin for posting relevant, interesting articles. I agree with the above post, Botta’s image really should be taken off the site now. But other than that, no complaints good job!
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Joe in Massapequa says:
I am curious about why DP would be traveling with a team after sustaining his third concussion. Air travel and concussions do not go together. For the sake of his health alone I would think he would have been left home but then again if the doctors cleared him who am I to say anything?
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MikeInNYC says:
I was just thinking about this…how many ppl want to bet that Phil Kessel was the player of the week last week over Tavares simply because the Maple Leafs were going to play 2 more games than the Islanders this week and the NHL knew it would be better for marketing to have their player of the previous week playing 4 games instead of 2.
The new and IMPROVED Pointblank. What a novel idea; more insight and interviews and less pointless video’s…..