THE MORNING SKATE: Islanders at Blackhawks, 8:30pm
The Islanders finish up their four game road trip with a midwestern swing. They’ll be in the Windy City tonight for the Blackhawks and tomorrow night will be in Dallas. It’s a bit of a hectic back-to-back, with a 1,000 mile trip sandwiched in between the two games. It’s easily the longest trip the Islanders will have to take on back-to-back nights this season, so we’ll have to see how they handle the extra stress of travel. Al Montoya got the start both last Friday and Saturday and has started three straight, so it’s possible that we may have a Rick DiPietro sighting before the week is over.
Speaking of #1800BigCubano, Eric Hornick had a breakdown of how impressive Montoya’s small sample size stats are thus far. Since the start of last season, only five goalies have stats better than 2.30 and .925. Montoya barely fits in with 2.29 and .925, but is in the class nonetheless.
As for the Islanders’ opponent, the Blackhawks have scored and given up a ton of goals, so we may be in for a goal fest tonight. They’ve scored 80 goals — most in the western conference — and given up 78 — also most in the west. The 78 goals against are actually the 5th worst total in the league, and neither Corey Crawford or Ray Emery have been playing very well in net. This could be a great opponent for the Islanders to rack up some goals against. Given how the Islanders scoring this year, they’re going to need it.
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 →51 Responses to THE MORNING SKATE: Islanders at Blackhawks, 8:30pm
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EJ1SINCE40 says:
Hi Kevin!
It’s gotten to the point as just the mention of _ _ in net makes me get the bottle ready for a loooong game, LOL.
I hope Cappy has the power and balls to make the call and ride BIG Al on the B2B.
Monty played well enough to take 2 of 4 points from the Devils last week, no reason to ruin the mojo.
IF, and it’s a BIG IF, they can sweep these 2 games WITH Montoya in net, next 3 games are @ home.
Pick up a little steam with a nice 5 game winning streak and right back in the chase for Stanley’s hardware…LOL
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AFIsle says:
if we win the next 2 i may regain hope for this team making the playoffs.
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GeneF says:
you are kidding, right?
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Bean322 says:
yeah lets try a 20 game win streak and then ill think about it
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Dk says:
It better big Al tonight! And 85% of the rest of ‘em too.
Huge game last night for big center Colin Wilson …… Sure glad Snow passed on him for Bailey!
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Larry G says:
Good point about wrong choice Bailey over Wilson, but I wanted to keep the #5 pick for Luke Schenn. One of my sons liked Wilson, as you, and I liked Schenn, but how come, us ‘amateurs’, all picked better than Wang/Snow?
And for anyone interested, I can prove, by all the debates, within my sons & friends, I picked better and would have never made some clearly retarded/ridiculous trades (Chara + #1 pick (second pick in the draft BTW) + MCcault, for example), that have been made since Wang took over.The funniest thing about that fact, is I bet, way over 60% of fans, could have done better as well, over these ‘M’orons!
Good reminder Dk about Wilson. Also, can anyone tell me how NoReasoner can be in the lineup, over Haley, AGAIN ? HE SUCKED THE LAST GAME!
40 year fan, FORMER SEASON TICKET HOLDER
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Larry G …. I too am a 40 year fan and former season ticket holder. I take what Wang and Snow are doing highly personal.
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Dan C. says:
Any fan with a little bit of knowledge would have taken: Schenn over Bailey
Kulikov over de Haan
Fowler over NiederreiterImagine how good this team would look if it actually had those three to go along with Streit, Hamonic and AMac? Would have been the best young defense in the NHL.
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IslesFan says:
I guess I am fan with no knowledge, because I would not have taken Schenn over Bailey or Fowler over Nino.
Many teams passed on Fowler. Yes, 40pts last year was nice….-25 isn’t.
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I would take Bailey of Schenn, especially since the Isles have had a problem scoring goals for years now. They need forwards who can score goals. Bailey was an attempt at that.
As for the Yashin trade, that Milbury. I agree it was a bad trade, but I am sure many Islander fans were psyched at the notion of getting Yashin, a legitimate goal scorer. It looked like the team turned the corner….but did not work out.
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Don from Levittown says:
You are full of it if you thought that Chara trade was bad at that time. At that time Chara was a big body that got beat a lot. They basically traded a #1 for Yashin who, even though was a malcontent in Ottawa – he was a 40 goal/80 point player. He had 75 points in his 1st season as an Islander. Tell me the last Islander that had those stats? I think Jason Blake may have had 69 pts. Jason Blake!
You sound like a typical second guesser to me.
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The Sick one Six says:
Snow passed up an afternoon nap for Bailey! I’m sure he regrets that…i know i do!
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I'm DONE with the Isles says:
i will not watch tonight unless they buy out DP. He stinks
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GodiZle says:
Only positive from baily move was Travis hamonic
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Hishutzi Skorz says:
Sounds like the Windy City might be a good landing spot for Nabokov!
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Kyle says:
nino and a first for bobby ryan
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If I were the Isles, I would not go that trade. You are basically giving up two 5th overall picks for Bobby Ryan.
I wouldn’t do it, and luckily, neither would the Ducks.
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or how about bailey dehaan and a first for bobby ryan
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Sumo Goalie says:
If you think the Ducks would take that, you are smoking crack.
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Steve C says:
Ducks will likely want Strome Nino DeHann and a 1st for next season for Bobby Ryan.
Also I would like to see Montoya tonight and let Ricky start tomorrow in Big D.
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Doug F says:
I would do it…the Islanders need a power forward but I don’t think Ryan is available since they got a new coach…
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Ok, I would never do that.
Everyone should really give Strome a chance.
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Orange & Blue says:
Folks, what the hell do you expect at this point? Wang has been the owner of this team 11 years now. Why does this nonsense surprise you? He has no clue about hockey and never will! Who in their right mind would fire Neil Smith and hire Garth Snow? Nobody because its ridiculously stupid! Wang gave Red Light Rick 15 years and over 60 million. That is why they keep pushing Montoya to the bench. Wang has to justify his moronic contract. Just like Bailey never being benched. Snow has to justify trading down twice. Two words, incompetence and stupidity! That is what runs OUR team. This team needs to be sold, plain and simple!!
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very true! Wang is just buying time until the lease expires.
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Mike says:
You sir are 100% CORRECT!!!!!
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Orange & Blue you are spot on…what bugs me is Wang complains that he is losing $20 million a year but when you give out ridiculous contracts to Yashin, Witt and DP among others you’re going to lose alot of money each year.
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Orange and blue …. You are dead on.
And what truly suxxxx is if the impossible happens and a state of the art arena is built his focus would turn towards getting an NBA team. He loves hoops and never saw a hockey game before owning the team. Obviously watching games haven’t helped his education.
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Joe in Massapequa says:
DK – spot on. I always wondered why he wouldn’t make a bid for the Nets and bring them back to Long Island. When the LHP was hot I thought this would have given him some leverage because he would then have 80+ nights of gauranteed sporting events. Then fill in another 100+ with concerts and other family events are you are now at 180 nights a year with high traffic at the sight. This would probably make that hippo Kate Murray vomit but it couldn’t have hurt to have something other than a bottom dwelling hockey team playing at the arena. It doesn’t matter at all now but I just found it interesting that you mentioned the basketball idea.
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I am so tired of everyone ripping the DP and Yashin contract NOW. Had things gone the way they seemed to be going, the Isles would have been paying a upper tier goalie 4.5 mil a year. The Yashin wasn’t great, but again – made worse by the injuries. You can’t kill these contracts now because the injuries -especially DP. You can’t fault a player for injuries. And you can’t fault Wang for giving him that contact. Had DP been able to stay healthy, it would be a great contract.
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DP had proven nothing when he signed
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Cuban stogies on da house says:
Wang doesn’t know the assets each player brings and doesn’t bring to the team which makes Snow look like he is not messing up as a GM.
Snow updates wang on low cost budget transactions and wang thinks snow is a genius.Wang cares for nothing more other than this.
His interest is for a new arena and nothing more. Yes he will feverishly look into bring Basketball team and neglect the Isles.
I do not care that wang once “saved” the team because in the end of the day he will sell. To me, wang is a selfish, stubborn idiotic sports owner. -
People can say “saved” all they want. To me it was a stay of execution. If he would have kept building on the 02-03 team attendance would have stayed up and there might have been a better chance of an arena. But I do not think he ever wanted the arena as the primary piece. It was almost a token being used in a land grab.
Believe I do not fault him for trying to make huge money on this, but some people act like he was the patron saint of the Islanders. I just don’t see it. He thought having D’Amato in his back pocket assured him a land deal. The Isles were a means to getting it. I am usually noy a conspiracy theorist but in this case I am. Why did acquire Peca, hash, Ozzie, etc. and was looking to win. As soon as the LHP was shot down he went into a reclusive shell and let the team fade away.
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I disagree. Even the former owners wanted a land deal. If the Isles can get the land, they can become self-sufficient instead of Wang losing $20M of his own money year after year.
Wang doesn’t know hockey….he never claimed that he does. Yes, keeping Milbury and hiring Snow were bad ideas. If only he knew what a good hockey GM is, it would be good.
And no, Neil Smith is not what I would call a good GM. He had virtually an unlimited supply of cash with Rangers and all he could do is win one cup and then watch the team crash for years to come. Sorry, but he was never the answer for the Isles.
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the worst owner in all sports, period!
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MarioGazz says:
From Isles website:
Montoya gets start in hometownAt least we have a chance without Red Light Ricky
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Gets better, listen to quotes from the players, BYE BYE RICKY!!!
“The biggest part of (our low goal totals) has been Al Montoya,” Bailey said. “The way he has played over the last couple of games and all season for us really. As of late, that’s been the key really, is goaltending.”
The Islanders have killed all eight of the opposing team’s power plays in the last two games (Buffalo and New Jersey) and Capuano credited Montoya with stepping up and making some key saves.
“It comes down to your goaltender,” Capuano said. “No matter what you do on your PK, there are guidelines, but there are a lot of shots taken, a lot of conversion to the net, a lot of second and third opportunities. (Montoya) made some big saves.”
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In ricky’s last 3 games, he gave up goals on the first shot twice and in the third he gave the puck away twice leading to a penalty (5 on 3) and followed that with a perfect pass to Horton for a goal.
If we see him in the net and already feel we are down 2-0, I assume the players feel it too.
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Al L says:
I could think of multi million reasons($$$$$$) to continue to attempt to squeeze blood out of a stone(Starting De Pietro tonight). From an on ice aspect,it would be a travesty. Montoya’s efficiency raises the play of his mates in front of him.
In the real world of Wang,effective play doesn’t mean a hill of beans. The only ‘goal’ that means anything to him at this point is winding down the ‘clock’ as cheaply as the league allows!!
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eric Nystrom 9 goals in 20 games!!!! Good thing we passed on him!!!!! Snow & wang You guys SUCK!!!!!!!!!
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Isles should have signed him. There was no reason not to do so.
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There was not reason FOR them to get him. And they would have had to trade for him. He was FA in 2010. They guy hasn’t scored more than 19 points. All of the sudden he is a god? Not trying to dis Nystrom – I would love to see the lineage on the team -but give me a break.
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I respectfully disagree. First of all, no one said he was a god. Stick to the facts. It would not have taken much to trade for him. The Isles would not have lost anyone from the lineup to get him. Nystrom’s salary would not have been a problem. If he didn’t pan out (and I didn’t think he would score 9 goals in 20 games) you could have thrown him in the minors. He may still be a bust, one good season doesn’t mean anything, but there is still no reason why the Isles could not have taken a chance on him and hoped for the best. Worst case scenario, he is a bust but he is back home and the Isles are no better/no worse for making the deal.
Bottom line, we signed worse players. Do you think Pandolfo has brought more to the team than Nystrom has?
If for no other reason, the Isles should have acquired for the lineage reason, as long as they did not have to give up someone of quality to get him.
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FedUp says:
Wang Must Sell!
Snow Must Go!!!!
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MikeInNYC says:
As I was typing about how our power play looked god awful, Okposo scored.
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Real Hockey Fan says:
.. The Isles actually skated ALOT better after the Okposo goal
.. the D still needs some help but the fowards are skating and attacking a lil better lately, nice goal by Parentua — shoot at the net guys good things can happen!
.. They actually looked good in the 2nd part of the first period and skated well, lets hope it continues!
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I blame the 4th goal on the coach for putting Reasoner and Mottau out there to kill the penalty. What season has he been watching?
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tender_bender57 says:
Comeau first star in Flames 4-3 SO loss last night…
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Ok, that hurts…..he plays with a little talent and starts scoring again. Fantastic.
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ASS CLOWN goring it is NOT Niederissor Ya DOPE!!!!!! How the Hell did they fire Jaffe for this Clown!!!!!As far as the game there is a reason they are 0-5 in OT this year they are NOT a good team!!!!!
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Actually,Mike,Butchie was referring to Neidermiser,not once but twice. Hilarious!! Perhaps his mind drifted,thinking of a recent bad experience with a miser.
We’ll make whichever goalie look like Plante.