Point Blank Q&A with Al Montoya:
His Homecoming, Playing Back-to-Backs and Cap’s Tie
Yesterday at practice, I spoke with the Islanders goaltender Al Montoya. He has started four of the team’s last five games since returning from injury on November 25th and made a relief appearance on Saturday night in Dallas. Through nine starts this season, he has a .930 save percentage and 2.17 GAA. We touched on playing in front of his family last Friday in Chicago, how he’s handling the workload of playing on back-to-back nights and, of course, the obligatory question about Capuano’s tie.
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 →29 Responses to Point Blank Q&A with Al Montoya:
His Homecoming, Playing Back-to-Backs and Cap’s Tie
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danfromouteast says: That is sad that in this day and age HD isn’t the norm for the Isles. Well I remember watching them on channel 9. I’ll tell you this; I’ll take channel 9 no HD and that team because sometimes watching them I’d rather not watch them in HD. Oh well all we can say is WSS or W double S which means Wang & Snow Suck.
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Ct 74 says:
Maybe Montoya will help us make the kind of turn around Florida has made, and in one summer, currently third best in the league!
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Mike says:
I dont kno why you cant see the game in HD…ALl isles games this year have been in HD. And when their on MSG+2 channel 414 for cablevision its still in HD
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juniorjunior says:
not for me…414 is always in low def- perhaps its a regional thing…i live in the hamptons – take the dallas game, low def…almost unwatchable.
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Love Montoya. I always felt he was under rated. Being a long time Islander fan, I always have a fear that our management will trade Montoya and keep the other 2 pseudo goalies. At any rate, Big-Cubano deserves to play the majority of the games, and we as fans deserve to see him play and give this team a chance at success.He is a true professional! Go get em’ boys!
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danfromouteast says:
AGREED!!
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ed says:
Glad to see Montoya is getting the attention he deserves. Guys just wins and never complains how he is getting treated. Islanders got very lucky with him
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Sell Wang says:
Montoya is no doubt the Islanders #1 Goalie.
However that may lead to a problem down the road. Lets face it you can only look ahead because this season is basically over.
You have to look at the Compensation of Rick Dipietro 4.5 million a year for a Backup goalie? What will Wang and Snow reward Montoya for being their savior? Or will reckles Wang and Snow trade him away for a draft pick?
Lets face it Islander Fans, Charles Wang once again put this team in a bad position going forward by giving DP a 65 million $ contract and 10 years Left. High price for a back up goalie like swiss cheese. You can not trade him at that price so that is why you have a screwed up salary cap here.
You now have a Montoya situation problem. you also have Kevin Poulin on the roster (Why?) that also effects our salary cap he earns currently over 600k More than montoya and he does not play in the NHL. So how will Charles Wang and Garth Snow screw it all up going forward? Well, I do not know but I do have NO faith in them.
Also look at the Players association web-site for compensation of the Islanders their is alot of wasted $$Dollars that could be put to a better NHL players.
Mark Katic and Dylan Reese make over 1.5 million together and they both should be maturing in the AHL. However they take up cap space which is the purpose of and use for Charles Wang. Look for yourself… -
steve m says:
dipete contract is ancient history. unless theres a buyout clause in the new cba, the owner wants to buy him out, or the player retires, its not going away. another was taking rolstons deal for one year vs hunters deal for two years. one is a hard fact of life, the other clears cap space for 2012-2013.
the cable tv money is huge. it was a long term deal signed many moons ago with cablevision, and the isles are paid big money for their tv rights( a long term deal that the teams way!).
good for montoya. his stats are superior, the team looks to play better with him in net, while their record is better. heres hoping the success continues vs the bolts.-
danfromouteast says:
Only snow regains any respect, and wang for that matter is to release, trade, buyout, relocate him to Antarctica Rick Dipietro, get rid if the old vets who are anchoring down progress, make some trades show some balls and players themselves will eventually start to have a desire to play here because they will notice the owner and GM are serious the fans will notice and comeback t
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danfromouteast says:
(Sorry) *continued – By fans coming back I’m sure a new home/arena/coliseum
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I am hoping there will be an amnesty clause in the next cba so the Islanders can get rid of DP’s contract without wrecking the salary cap going forward. One can dream
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danfromouteast says:
All I know is rematch vs dallas better have some retaliation and I’m not talking illegal or cheapshots I mean a hard checking hard fought game. Scratch reasoner and Rolston and out in Gillies & Haley. Dallas wants to take out one of the young guys then they need to step up.
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Ray says:
The Isles should sign Montoya to a 15 year contract while they can…You wouldn’t wanna lose Montoya at the end of the season, would you?
Nabokov most likely will not return after this season. They need to get rid of the vets like Rolston, Pandolfo, Mottau, and Reasoner. I don’t see anything wrong with Staios or Eaton. Oh, I think they should fire Josh Bailey. Why is he even on this team anymore??? He can’t make a single decent decision on the ice, he misses wide open nets. If he could capitalize on more than 25% of his chances than he would have 10 goals already.
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JTizzle says:
Montoya is pricing himself right off of Long Island! They will either trade him or lose him to free agency.
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The Sick one Six says:
If Montoya is any kind of decent man (and i think he is) he will keep in mind that the Islanders are a team that gave him a chance when everyone passed on him. He is like the fat chick that loses 50 lbs and is now hot. She will always stay with the guy that dated her when she was supersizing, even if she could get better now. So I guess i’m saying that Montoya is our used to be fat but now hot chick… You go girl!!!! HaHa
P.S. Montoya and Martin should be wearing “A”‘s on there sweaters!!!
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Frank the Tank says:
Best comment All YEAR!!! LMAO!!!
And so true!!!
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Blizz says: lmao
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dorky says:
It’s time for Snow to trade for some struggling players from other teams.
Semin, Ryan. Rumor has it, Van wants Loungo out with his big ass contract. -
Glens says:
unless I missed it somewhere here it is Tuesday and still no word from Shanny in regard to the hit on NINO on Saturday night. Three full days and not a peep, thats a sign that that were going to get there was nothing dirty about the hit. I hope I’m wrong.
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MCG1 says:
OK, gotta stop with any more references to the cable tv contract. Back in the day, when total team salaries were less than $15mm it was valuable. Today with the league min at $48mm+ it’s barely relevent. I mean i guess it’s better to have the revenue from than not, but if someone could actually find out how much the team gets anually i think you’d be really suprised. It certainly isn’t a number that would make any perspective owner think twice before moving the team.
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cable tv contract..point of comparision..
the team radio broadcast is carried on a college station.. i dont think Mr Wang is passing up massive radio revenue out of the goodness of his wallet, to enrich the lives of Hofstra students, while he loses 20 plus million per annum. i think, think, its 15+ million a year for TV.
shanny was busy dealing with the Ryan Miller thing involving ruttu via phone( 2 game suspension). the Dallas guy has an in person interview, which TENDS to mean more games.
the cable deal has nothing to do with not moving, as stated repeatedly, its the lease. -
isleopine says:
Does anyone know if Haley is in the line up tonight?
There is no way Fistric does what he did to Nino if Haley had been on duty in Dallas.
WangSnow wake the f**k up this is the NHL
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KaiserVanIslander says:
Hey Kevin,
What happened to the guy that hit Nino? I don’t see anything about it on TSN or NHL.com
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He may be fleeing the country. We have agents at airports on full alert. He wont won’t be getting away with this.
With the new realignment, the rags will be making playoffs every season wtf.
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Kevin Schultz says:
Supposed to have a conference call with Shanahan today. Stars don’t play until Thursday so I guess they’re not rushing it.
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Hollywood says:
This is now Al’s team as it should have been from the start. To far behind to fool around with the goaltending position. Let Al run unjtil he’s out of gas or he asks for a break!
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Per Nostradamus, JT will be scoring today.
First! Nice job cubano, keep up the good work.
Off topic…can someone explain why the cable contract is so lucrative for the islanders? And why do we have to watch the games in non HD when broadcast on msg+2 ? In this day and age every game should be available in HD. We have over 20% of our games scheduled on channel 414. Am I the only one that’s bothered by this?