THE AFTERNOON SKATE FOR NOV 3rd
Changing the Lines, Nino and Captioning Marty Reasoner
We’re a bit late on the uptake today, so please enjoy this afternoon edition of our intermittently posted off-day news and shenanigan round up.
@NYIslanders: Lines unchanged: Moulson-Tavares-Parenteau; Grabner-Nielsen-Okposo; Comeau-Bailey-Rolston; Pandolfo-Reasoner-Martin.
The above tweet was from practice earlier today and it got me thinking about when, exactly, we will finally see some lines shuffled if the offensive woes of the team continue. I mean something has got to give, right? Either they’re going to start scoring or there needs to be some kind of a change. I imagine that the breaking point could — well, should — be Saturday after the Capitals leave town. As I said a few weeks ago, that game marks an end of a key stretch where the Isles play 4-of-5 at home and 8-of-11 at home overall.
After Saturday’s game they head to Boston and Colorado before playing eight games in a 14 day stretch between November 13th and 26th. That stretch includes games against every divisional opponent, the defending Champs, the defending Western Conference Champs and the Canadiens (police vehicle fires not included). Yeesh. So that’s a series of eight games that you would hope the Islanders have lines and goaltenders efficiently clicking by. You can experiment against a team like Winnipeg that’s pretty awful defensively or on the road against a struggling, albeit still defending champ, Boston team or in a late game a lot of people won’t stay up for against Colorado. After that, the jig is up.
October is for getting used to the grind of an NHL season and a slow start is cause for concern but no reason to abandon ship. Capuano hasn’t experimented with lines yet — please understand there’s nothing wrong with staying with the lines worked so well under his watch last season and giving them time to gel — and has obviously flipped around a lot in net. November is going to bring tough opponents and it’s going to bring them fast and furious. The Islanders should try to take advantage of having a couple more games to get ready before things get real tough. Of course every two points are equally important but with so many games against the division coming up, well, you know how I feel about that.
Before I get too sidetracked, the obvious and most likely answer is that lines will get shuffled whenever Nino is ready. Whether he ends up on the first line or the third, something is going to change. That’s probably how this is going to play out. His latest return date is two weeks from November 1st which, if he’s kept in Bridgeport the full two weeks, would make his debut against the Rangers on November 15th (barring being given a seat in the press box). That date coincides nicely with the previously described November gauntlet. Whether he should be up with the big club before that game is open to debate and probably dependent on how he looks and feels in these tune ups.
But, in my opinion, the latest a shakeup should occur is after the Capitals come to town on Saturday. With games this week against arguably the best team in the league (Washington) and arguably one of the worst (Winnipeg) to evaluate these lines — give them one more shot as is, if you will — changes will have to be made if the current drought continues. Saying that he is not thinking about things and putting off decisions until Nino is 100% only buy so much time for Capuano to evade answers. Eventually, if the Islanders continue to miss the net, there are going to have to be some changes.
YOUR DAILY NIEDERREITER UPDATE
During today’s game against the CT Whale, Bridgeport Sound Tigers Temporary Employee Nino Niederreiter found himself on a line with David Ullstrom and Jeremy Colliton. He didn’t find his way onto the score sheet but let’s not read too much into that into that at all. It is only one game. (update: Isles twitter says he hit two posts)
The Sound Tigers were down 3-1 in the third and came all the way back to win 4-3 thanks to a goal from David Ullstrom and a hat trick from Tim Wallace. The line of Wallace-Cizikas-DiBo continues to be en fuego. In addition to Wallace’s hatter his linemates each had two assists in the game. In fighting news, The Man, The Myth and The Legend Micheal Haley fought Stu Bickel. Expect video of that when (and if) it surfaces.
Seeing Wade Redden listed on the Whale’s lineup was kind of bizarre. It’s like seeing on old friend or co-worker you completely forgot existed years later. “Oh, uh, hey Wade. Still doing that, uh, stuff in the AHL?”
ESPN CONTINUES TO NOT WATCH HOCKEY
As pointed out by the always on point Dominik of LHH, ESPN’s power rankings this week were, let’s say, questionable. I’m not talking about the World Wide Leader dropping the Islanders from 19th to 28th — going 1-4-2 makes that pretty well deserved. However, the comment attached to the ranking jumped out a little bit:
The Isles are winless in their past five games, and the offense, supposed to be the team’s strength, has chipped in just seven goals during the slide. The three-headed goaltending monster continues to plague the team.
Yes. It’s the goalies. CLEARLY. The three of them and their “haven’t given up more than three goals in a game except for that monstrosity in Tampa Bay a few weeks ago that wasn’t entirely Al Montoya’s fault” caliber of play. /sarcasm
The list was compiled by Scott Burnside but he’s a pretty decent guy so I’ll absolve him of wrongdoing and chalk this up to the fact that ESPN and hockey mix about as well as Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. Or as well as Chris Berman being the keynote speaker at a migraine headache convention… But I digress.
Speaking of goalies, Evgeni Nabokov skated at practice today.
CAPTION THIS PHOTO
During Saturday’s game against the Sharks, photographer Bruce Bennett captured this image of Marty Reasoner… Um… Yelling like a pirate? Doing his best impression of Harry Dunne in Dumb & Dumber? I don’t know. That’s for you to decide in this week’s caption contest.
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 →52 Responses to THE AFTERNOON SKATE FOR NOV 3rd
Changing the Lines, Nino and Captioning Marty Reasoner
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Eric Cup says:
Let’s remember last season when Capuano took over. We weren’t scoring then and there was alot of talk about changing the line combos. Capuano stuck to his guns and kept the lines in tact and look what happened. They started to gel. He had patience with them and let them get comfortable. Beleive it or not, it feels like it’s been a long time but 9 games is nothing. PATIENCE – the talent is there and the goals will come.
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Bean322 says:
As for caption it makes me think of Sloth in Goonies: “HEY YOU GUYS”
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Hishutzi Skorz says:
Hey Kevin “I know nothing” Schultz,
don’t you mean Ruth’s Chris Berman?-
John says:
By the time the streak hits 10 the season is over. The time to panic IS most definitely now.
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Caption: “Free beer at the consession stand? Outta my way!”
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Erika says:
You can get the beer after the game, Reasy!
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VA Isles says:
Long season boys, lets not worry till this slide hits 10. Then, hit the panic button, because we know how a 10+ game slide ends in the standings.
As for ESPN – Burnside is a hack. (I think that’s as vulgar as Schultzie will let me get here) He knows NOTHING about hockey, and if the Pens aren’t part of the discussion he has nothing good to say. It’s a miracle that a$$ clown is still employed. Not coincidentally, he’s employed by ESPN, who has proven time and again, they have not hockey ‘experts’ save for Melrose.
Moving on….
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ed says:
Devils really need a center. Any chance they are interested in Reasoner? Islanders would have to take money back though. Devils owe us for taking Rolston off of their hands and the Devils getting under the cap to sign Parise.
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isles14 says:
“Yooooooooo!!! Can ANYONE on this freaking team score????? YYYYyyyyaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrr!!!”
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bcarey says:
“I have how many points?”
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Strummer's Army says:
Tavares, Hamonic, Martin & Streit have been the Isles best players without a doubt. Yet some how Martin is pushed to the fourth line? Sorry give the guys the time they earn? Not Comeau has to play here to get his game going? No Comeau hasn’t earned a regular spot in the line up and he hasn’t earned the right to play ahead of Martin. Neither has many of the other forwards.
Three goalies are no problem and have all played well.
Maybe if Cappy gave Martin the first or second line minutes the other guys would have to step up their games an compete harder to try to get the spot back.
Also, “hockey experts” disagreed when I wrote that Staois should not be on the top pairing with Streit. Hamonic is clearly the Isles best all-around D-man, and having him on the ice more will only help the team.
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D-Money says:
Gotta agree Strummer, would love to see Martin move up and take Comeau’s spot on that 3rd line, if not PA’s spot on the 1st line…
But then again, th3 “4th” line has been really effective re: their responsibilities and Martin is only getting about 1.5 – 2 mins less per game than the 3rd liners, who also get some PK time (and maybe a little PP time too).
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rob hock says:
quote – “the puck won’t fit in my mouth either…”
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RWM says:
Caption – Hey Greiss, you wife is a Lezzzzzzbian!
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Staten Islander says:
Caption…..”AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I feel MUCH better now”
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Isles77 says:
“Hey Marty, how does that goal song go again?”
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Bob Bassen says:
To make the playoffs, the Islanders need to be better than 7 other Eastern Conference teams.
Which 7 teams are the Islanders BETTER than?
Not close, not the same…BETTER than?!
Also, for those saying the season is (forever?) young, at what point does the Season actually begin for you?
Not trying to be argumentative just curious. -
Jay says:
Caption: looks like Sloth from the Goonies made the team this year “
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” HEY YOU GUYSSS”
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Caption – “That felt good – I hope no one is standing behind me!”
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steve says:
dude, scott burnside is a complete toolbag. he’s a penguins fan, so all of his effort is towards pitt. he constantly blown crosby and malkin, and i called him out on his writing on twitter a bunch of times.
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Larry S. says:
Why do we always talk about the playoffs and not concentrate on just seeing some consistency. The first 20 games gives you a good idea on what we have and what we need. My concern is they seem soft thought Millen and Harmonic hit more often last year just to name 2 guys. Need someone to lead by hitting. Staois needs to adjust to today’s game and stop taking stupid penalties. Other than that will watch and wait. By the way the bad call in OT was upsetting but the penalty we took with under 4 minutes remaining did not allow us to be offensive and try to win the game.
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Joseph says:
Marty Reasoner just realized tonight’s powerball jackpot is TWO HUNDRED AND FOURTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS!
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texas_isles says:
“hey DP duck”
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Tom D in NJ says:
Nuk, Nuk, Nuk………
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rpchief2 says:
Caption—”Oh no, I thought I signed up to be in Disney on Ice.”
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Bob E says:
unless you shake up lines for one game how would you ever know. These lines not getting it done. Also Last season there as zero pressure on isles to win when cap took over. way different story when it counts.
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dedshark says:
Caption: “STOP TOUCHING MY WIFE!”
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Matt S. says:
Caption ” I’m not supposed to be the second best Center on this team!!!”
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mike says:
caption “Okposo u blow :0″ haha
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hangover3 says:
Just because the 3 headed goalie system hasnt cost the Isles points this season, it has in the past. 2 seasons in a row Dwayne Roleson was on a roll, and then became a part time goalie the day Dipietro became healthy enough to walk without crutches. The history of hockey has teams going with 2 goalies. Not 3. In fact, if the Islanders were run like the Yankees, they would play the best goalie every night (65+) games. That goalie would be names Poulson. Dipietro would be the practice goalie so they can stay in the NHL (cap floor minimum) and Montoya or Nabakov would be traded. Only if the Isles were run with competent management.
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SK says:
Reasoner exclaims, “Nooooooooooo!!!!!!! after he just read the advertisement on the boards that his agent inked him for another 7 years on the Island.
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Caption: The first time Marty Reasoner saw his own reflection in the glass with an Islander sweater on.
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jeff wall says:
Caption:
“Ay, ref you’ll be walkin the plank for stealin me OT booty!”
Thursday night if the isles get four goals from four lines and a solid game from montoya…we are back to 500 and the conversation changes
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Jim Clark says: Sgt Hartman, Lemme see your war face, Reasoner. Is that the best you can do? No wonder you are an Islander!
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disagree… because regardless of your hypothetical, we’ll be 10 games in with merely 4 players with 2 or more goals. Many will still be looking for their first if they are not among those to pop their cherry on Thursday. 11 games in and either 1 or 0 goals from 6-9 of our 12 forwards speaks volumes.
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disagree… because regardless of your hypothetical, we’ll be 10 games in with merely 4 players with 2 or more goals. Many will still be looking for their first if they are not among those to pop their cherry on Thursday. 11 games in and either 1 or 0 goals from 6-9 of our 12 forwards speaks volumes.
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Nick M says:
I have a really good feeling about tomorrow night. Turning point in the season. Time to string a few of wins together.
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Juniorjunior says:
Caption: “never put your trust in a fart”
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@ jj
true stats are stats.. but as long as teams are still in the playoff picture (hovering around 500) then you are only as good as your last game. One breakout night where all lines contribute could be the turing point. That being said…like last year if the islanders dont break out before its too late than your last game dont matter squat.
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Brian F says:
Caption – Looks like Marty accidentally watched the video from the ring
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cjcb says:
Caption: Ahrrrr the ship b sinking!!!!
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Anthony says:
UH OH, I think I just sharted!!
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StevieL says:
Caption! Hey guys! There is a net down at the other end! Really! I saw it!
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B-ri says:
CAPTION: Oh $***… That’s probably a high stick
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Giannis says:
Quote – “Hey You Guys!” Like Sloth from the Goonies.
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peter debenedetto says:
This is what ‘free chili” sounds like….
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upstateIsles says:
Marty to Thomas Greiss: “HEY GOLDBERG! I BET IF THAT PUCK WAS A CHEESEBURGER YOU’D STOP IT”
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NYIhockey16 says:
All I know is I’m sick to death of all the bitching and complaining from us loyal fans. You know, there’s an old saying about not worrying about what you can’t control. Am I as fed up and disgusted as anyone? Yes. Am I tired of how the team is run? Absolutely. However, I can’t control what ownership or management does. What I can control is my unwavering support for the players who continue to go out and fight every game. The Isles have only allowed 22 goals in nine games – that’s pretty damned good. As we all know, the offense leaves much to be desired (18 goals in nine games). Let’s focus on the positive, people! This is what we, as fans, can control.
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Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It if truth be told was a enjoyment account it. Look advanced to far introduced agreeable from you! However, how could we keep up a correspondence?
nino didnt score but hit 2 posts. and had one other shot on goal.