THE MORNING SKATE: Stars at Islanders, 7pm
DeHaan Up, Poulin Starting
VERIZON FIOS TO CARRY ISLANDERS IN HD
Want to know how a cable company loves you? When they’ll go to court to make sure you see your favorite team in HD (OK, and maybe to level the playing field in the marketplace too). Long story short, Cablevision (aka Optimum) wouldn’t give Verizon MSG and all of the Pluses to you in HD. For the longest time, it’s been one of Optimum’s biggest marketing slogans that ‘you can only get News 12 and all six NY sports teams and the Mets all seven NY sports teams in HD on Optimum.’ I think I may have the commercial memorized. So Verizon took it to the FCC who said Optimum had to share their toys. And yesterday Verizon announced that you can have some of the HD-goodness too. You may start getting the channels as soon as today.
POULIN AND DE HAAN IN
So even though Evgeni Nabokov has been practicing with the team for nearly two weeks, he’s not ready to go. The Islanders have recalled Kevin Poulin from Bridgeport and he will start tonight to give Al Montoya a break. Also up is Calvin de Haan to replace an injured Steve Staios. At practice today, Capuano said he was leaning towards pairing de Haan with Dylan Reese probably due to Sound Tiger familiarity.
Steve Staios is out of tonight’s game against Dallas with a possible concussion. No word on when Staios’ concussion occurred and no official word from the Islanders that it is, in fact, a concussion. The Official Twitter is calling it an “upper body injury.” But hey, there’s definitely no concussion epidemic in the NHL. Nope. Nothing to see here.
Update (12:30pm): I missed it before, but Rick DiPietro was placed on IR to make room for Poulin. That is retroactive to 12/3 so he can come off at anytime.
SPEAKING OF THINGS THAT MAKE HEADS HURT
That Hamonic ejection/referee brain cramp got rescinded. Rescinded very, very quietly.
MARK FISTRIC IS IN THE BUILDING
A friendly reminder in case you forgot but I’m sure you’ve had it marked on your calendar.
Update (3:30pm): Fistric will NOT be in the lineup tonight.
Also, former beat writer for Newsday Alan Hahn has joined MSG as an analyst for both basketball and hockey.
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 →69 Responses to THE MORNING SKATE: Stars at Islanders, 7pm
DeHaan Up, Poulin Starting
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myisles says:
“Poulin wall” bring it on!
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Stumpy32 says:
All I’ve heard so far this season is that both Poulin and DeHaan are NOT ready, and have been having quietly mediocre seasons in B’port. Anything change, or are we simply out of depth vets like Reese and Wallace to bring up?
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danfromouteast says: I think pluming needs to play in nhl. I think his numbers are subpar because he is playing up to the opponents level. He is going to be a starter here within a season or so.
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danfromouteast says:
Damn spell check poulin
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Dan C. says:
I could also be that Poulin is still recovering from last year’s season-ending injury.
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Brian says:
This is fantastic news about Fios. I’ve been waiting for years for Fios to pick up MSG HD. Unfortunately now within those years I’ve since moved to Brookhaven who does not have a contract with Verizon, so no Fios for me
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Hishutzi Skorz says:
So it’s “Fios Condios?”
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Game Misconduct says:
I hope to God that Poulin is unbeatable tonight and makes Ricky and Geno seem worthless. Also hope DeHaan is a breath of fresh air! Want to see KO keep playing hard and Bailey continues to improve! All good signs, that the future is bright here in mudville…at least I hope it is!
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Bean322 says:
the future is bright?! how many years have we been saying that now?
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ed says:
Doesn’t matter the Fitric is in the building. Martin is still the only one who fights and hits. Who will provide retribution? Okposo?? That guy is large but small in the physical dept. Islanders refuse to address toughness and players keep getting smashed. Same story every year. Snow is terrible
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isleopine says:
yup I’m sure you’ve noticed how many times Montoya has been run.
HALEY HALEY HALEY
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As soon as the penguins decided to get physical against the Islanders, the whole vibe changed
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Yeeeeeeeeppp says:
What channel will the HD feed be on fios?
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Al says:
How long have I been waiting for this? Two months in and finally a Poulin-Montoya combo.
Wow Snow, you’re a fast learner. Now if we could be just like all the good teams out there who have tough guys in the lineup, we might actually resemble a hockey team. Oh, and lets not forget our defense which is a whole different discussion… -
Brian G says:
Fios actually has a deal right now 2 years for $79 a month for all 3 (TV, Phone, Internet)….I never thought about the move to now, goodbye cablevision….Going to game tonight, can’t wait to see Poulin & Dehaan.
PS: For anyone attending the game tonight, The Isles are collecting new toys, for toys for tots. you bring 3 new toys in a bag and get a Ticket to the Toronto game next friday 12/23….good deal for making a donation for a good cause…
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The Haley Hammer says:
Not a single thing with happen to Fistric because this team is filled with pooters.
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danfromouteast says:
Is it me but aside from martin the islanders resemble the village people
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Nope, you’re absolutely right.
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IslanderFAN says:
Poulin the real future number 1 goalie and who knows maybe DeHaan will de well (like Hamonic did last year) and not return to the AHL…i certainly prefer to see kid make mistake then old slow guy like Staios, Motteu or Eaton
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Me thinks you just insulted all of the world’s old, slow guys!
I had to swap last week’s Chicago game for tonight. Nice surprise! Poulin and the debut of CDH. May they never see I-95 again!
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moonshine says:
finally poulin. this is the only real hope for a future #1 goalie to help this team compete. he has the personality and the physical attributes. the problem are the knee injuries. i’m wondering whether the slow start at bridgeport wasn’t due to diminished mobility. if his career is derailed by injury, imo it would be the worst possible on-ice news for the isles.
staios might have gotten a knee to the head when he made that diving play on cole? -
onesinceforty says:
I hope they bring their knee and shoulder braces and enough white tape to stay a while.
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So,DP is back on IR as per Lighthouse Hockey.
I wonder if they just white outed the last date
on DP’s current IR reporting form to the NHL. Check that, they probably just used a #2 pencil. -
I still think this team is only a good shake up on the trade front from putting things together in the win column. I wish Garth would attempt a big trade plus a minor adjusting deal.LA, Carolina, Columbus and Anaheim are all teams that could be partners….there are some intriguing players out there perfect for the Isles.
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Names?
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caber09 says:
People, the trade talk is a waste of breath, Garth Snow is not capable of making a decent trade, we need a new GM before any deals that will help can be made.
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So sad.
Fistric NEEDS to be stepped to.
This is NINO. Hasn’t developed into much yet, but isn’t this team hoping for that. He was our #1 draft pick last year and was #5 overall. The message needs to be sent that we will be protecting these players…we look heartless if we don’t.
I don’t care if Martin is the only “tough guy” dressed…Streit is our Captain, JT is our main guy, KO – is an “A”…SOMEONE make a damn statement.
Watching 24/7 is cool and all but it’s makes me nauseous to see how much grit and character those teams i hate have. I get nauseous because I question whether the Isles do all the time…with the exception of pretty much everything that happened (AND WENT SO INCREDIBLY RIGHT) after that Penguins game last February.
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MenstraulCrampCuties says:
Yay! . Long time waiting for Fios to bring us MSG HD. I can finally switch to fios.
Surprised Dehan was called up to.
This site rocks like no other.
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I'm DONE with the Isles says:
Yaaaaaay FIOS! Screw Cablevision!!!!
I am so happy!!!! I have MSG HD!! Thank you!!!
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BanGarth says:
Great news on FIOS. Fistric need not worry absolutely nothing will happen to him, sad.
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Mike says:
Was going to call Verizon today since that PRICK dolan raised my cable bill to $215 a month yesterday and told me TOO BAD!!!! GREAT news SCREW YOU dolan!!!!!! as far as hockey It should be Poulin and Al the rest of the season!!!!!
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kingdm9 says:
“ABOUT TIME FOR FIOS” for the love of god why bother hockey fans..basketball i could live with out. HD is here.
wow garth must be reading this stuff because pouls is back . Staois, get some rest man go to flordia take mots with you for 2 months..Dont worry man we got a bunch of young talent ready.
Dehan is finally up !!! still needs about 10 to 15 lbs. i’ll take the speed and passing..
no amac we need a qb.and someone to move the puck up quick.
the team is playing better ,these kids need to realize they are almost over the hump, 500 is only a couple of games away. after that they are back in to the mix of things..
still want webber for christmas. we need a physical presence on the ice.
i want to see josh on the pp centering jt and matt.& ko on the point .
they must find ways to keep this kid going !!
pa takes ko spot on wing.LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!!!!!
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jisles says:
I know a lot of you guys will disagree, but I think and hope CdH is going to stay up and be on our blue line for years to come–much like what happened to Hamonic. Several first round defensemen from the 09 and 10 drafts are having plenty of success in the league and I think Calvin will be no different, especially when you look at who he has to outplay to stay up.
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Extra Butter,
Ahmen to that. Snow is a disgrace and he actually played the game. He should know better. Inexcusable. That’s why we will never be taken seriously.
If you can’t put a winning team together, at least have guys that play with heart, pride and emotion. Excuse me, but I’m gonna be sick -
FYI – Staios is fine , just have no PR department to tell them its ok to say that you are scratching one of Snow’s great off season steals. Que the circus music….
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Anyone counting on justice on Fistric can Fougheddaboutit! This is the softest team ever assembled!
Still waiting on getting justice on Phaneuf for hit on oksposo, or brieres mugging of neilsen at face off circle, or gaboriks dirty hit from behind on frans, or mottaus dirty hit on frans when mottau was with devils,or cammaleri face carving against nino-do i need to go on?!
This team is a joke! -
I wish Dallas was playing the Sound Tigers so Haley and/or Gillies had a chance to take it to Fistric and the Stars. Good to see Poulin get a start and DeHaan in there (someone with skill and footspeed is a welcome change). Still no reasonable explanation why Rolston, Reasoner, and Mottau (I’d prefer Wishart right about now) are in the line-up.
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upstateIsles says:
no fistric tonight says report
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Reasoner needs to be scratched .
25 0 4 4 -16 12 0 0 0 30 0.0
his stats suck a55!!! 1/4 of the season no goals. konapkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…
i would have kept blake over this .. time to send him down and make a roster spot. make nino c the 4th line when he comes back or wallace .
next time sign arnott !!! snow
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cjcb says:
No Haley? You have to be kidding? Like Buffalo against Lucic. Fristic cant hit the ice without a fight first shift. Snowball and Wong need to go, they have a major dissconnect from the fans and what this team lacks and everbody in the world knows it. Whatg are they trying to prove by not dressing toughness? Its not like this team is really any good, they have tons of spots that shouldnt be considered locks. plenty of guys could sit any night on this team and you wouldnt even know they were gone??
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MikeInNYC says:
Maybe this FiOS thing means that Cablevision will get the NFL network and NFL Redzone to compete.
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Marc says:
Apparently, FIOS is not getting MSG+2 HD until next year. Many Isles games are on that channel.
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Now everyone gets to watch this crappy team in high def.
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seabass says:
for all NYC fans – I noticed that MSG+2 will also be broadcasting in HD soon as well. I noticed when I was searching for the Islanders game on the overflow sports channel of 198 last night. All Time Wanrer / Isles fans know how crappy those feeds are. Actually last night the game was not even broadcast until midway through the second period due to “frequency” issues with the feed. Hopefully, stuff like that will be a thing of the past once MSG2+ starts broadcasting in HD on Time Warner. (I think it is channel 196 btw). Somehow, whenever the Isles get pushed to the overflow channel, and the picture quality is akin to or worse then Sports Channel circa 1989, I find a way to blame Charles Wang in my mind. It probably is his fault in some ways…
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Tedge77 says:
I wish someone would sit Snow and Wang down and make them read our comments
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Believe me, Snow reads our comments. His hands are probably tied with what he can or cannot do, though!
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RICH L says:
I just heard Ruttgaizer say the injury bug has hit the Islanders just like last year, and Steve Staios will miss the game, and he has been so reliable on the Blue line,What? not only do we get BS from Wang,and Snow we also hear it from the morons who cover the team.
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terry b says:
i cant stomach this soft as jello lineup snow,,they keep replaying the nino hit,,
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Islebether4u says:
YES!!!!!!! Watching in HD right now. Thank you judge. Thank you Verizon! Go Isles!!!!
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BringBackNyles says:
Now Dolan will have to compete based on his product, he will be the Islanders of cable
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Dk says:
Channel 580 on FIOS is soooooo beautiful!!! And not a black jersey or a DP sighting to ruin it.
I know a few people wouldn’t leave cable because of MSG but now you could. As a former subscriber of both Cablevision and Directv I can say neither is anywhere near FIOS in quality or value.
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Nick M says:
Softest EFing team I’ve seen in a LONG time. Islanders showed no guts. I’m one of the few who let the garbage go on. It’s about time the islanders grow sack. The refs are not calling anything and the other teams are taking liberties. It’s time for another PiTT style game
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Bob says:
it is amazing how fast this team got in one day…Staios and now Rolston out. That takes about all the cement-feet free agents. Now if Reasoner can find some way out of the lineup then maybe we can find some of last season’s second half magic. At least their losses now won’t be atributed to overage, past their prime, slowfooted pickups from the summer. Way to go Garth!!!!
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F- YOU Garth Snow and your playoff push….you are THE reason (other than Wang) that noone will care when this team leaves in a few years….Capuano should never have been the permanent coach….now we are on ANOTHER losing streak….too bad the next coach will be Weight..this team needs a real NHL coach (and GM while at it), no more shots in the dark.
This team is slow and cant play fundamental hockey, they dont stick up for themselves or punish cheap shots…cant pass, cant hit the net….and anyone else notice our guys get tired alot faster than other teams…Isles consistently have to change lines despite being on odd man rushes or facing odd man rushes..pathetic
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Al's Beef says:
What play-off push? The Islanders are only in draft race push so Wang and his chubby son can go on the stage at the draft and get laughed at.
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I’m done caring, after 39 years they can all go straight to hades, and do not pass go and do not collect any sympathy.The entire 1st period was played in the isles d end of the ice. Wang, Snow you are doing the job of 3 men, Moe, Larry, and Curly.
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During their modest success, every player gave second efforts. Now, they seem to be allergic to the puck! It’s almost like they avoid it! I would put a picture of a juicy steak, or a Victoria’s secret model on the face of the puck!
J.T. looks tired. Sad that he gave us so much and all for nothing!
Poulin was pretty good. Winning goal was like 4 against 1, seriously where the hell is the D????
agree with everyone, the team is way too soft to play at this level. Teams run them down without even trying! It’s really too bad because I believe we do have talent, but our yearly tradition of trying to fit a square into a circle by force feeding D.P. on us when he should have been retired, combined with 3 of the most hideous off season signings, add to it the inability to sign not 1 decent D-man, and well…we have the losing team we have been watching.
Buckle up folks, nothing is changing until Mr. Wang sells the team or gets some sort of Arena deal that satisfies him. Until then, we will be bottom feeders. God, why is it so painful to be an Islander’s fan??? -
giz says:
Poulin an de Hann played good to bad most of the other Isles didin’t an whats up with streit this year doesnt shoot an looks shaky.
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Stars had most of the jump tonite. Islea lost a lot of races to the pucks. Refs let a lot of cheap shots go by the stars in the third. Souray should have got an extra 2 when 4 went to the b ox in the third. Again a bad game for the refs. But not a good game again for the isles. Isles have to make opposing players think twice about chasing pucks into the corners and especially think twice about laying cheaps shots unchallenged and unanswered. Not just the players responsibility but the coaches as well.
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isles316 says:
Isles didn’t show up until the 3rd period and the referees had a bad game tonight. Lots of missed calls, lots of soft calls. Sick of that crap too. Isles didn’t deserve this one anyhow.
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be gentle says:
you know, when i saw Rolston throw that 1 good healthy bodycheck, i thought to myself, hmm never seen Rolston hit someone so hard. Could he be playing with passion?
Now he is concussed.
In conclusion, We signed rolston to play half ass hockey, no passion, no speed, poor passing, useless shots on goal, playing him 5 mill no less. Thanks Garth. -
D in Big D says:
Can we not CATCH AN F***ING break!!Why is it everytime Isles game momentum or take the lead the refs decide to call a penalty(or 2) to get the opposing team back in it!!Garth has no excuses for toughness ’cause we have 2 players for sure that could right that ship.Wang sell the team ALREADY!!!You SUCK as an owner!!!!I apologize to any Isles posters here that are offended by the language but I JUST CAN’T TAKE ANYMORE of this bushleague CRAP!!!!!DeHann looked like he belongs.Now bring up Wishart,Gillies&Haley!I’m tired of being run out of the rink.Franz(PANZY)MUST GO!!Send him the way of Comeau if necessary!!!!!
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Walt says:
“Fail for Nail” on course, take her down, “Dive, Dive, Dive”.
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Hey Walt, with our luck we’ll finish dead last….and then lose the lottery! Feel really bad for the little talent we do have on this team. The management refuses to help in any way.
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The Pork Chop Express says:
I missed the first period but I think I can say “Different Game, Same Story”. Other than JTs line, hamonic, martin the team plays with no urgency, fire and passion. This is a huge problem and cant believe management does not see this. You need a mix of multi dimensional players not all softies. Dallas had a good game plan. Play the body and wear the isles down and force them to make mistakes. All the teams will do this to the isles since only two players will fight back.
KO got two points so trade him. I am going to say that every game. He is not the player that we are hoping for. There is no passion in him and he is not a smart player. The game winning goal was due to that line being caught in the offensive zone and not skating back to play defense. Last year that line was a plus now they are a minus (Grabner/KO minus 11).
Perhaps we can have a team start a brawl with them and that will light a fire. That created a passion and the sense of brotherhood. You dont get that feeling from watching them.
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I just heard Snow say on another blog that soon Pandolfo will be back in the lineup and then they will go on their annual playoff push,remember Snow claimed this is a playoff team, I believe he is right, if they are playing 8 to 10 year olds, but it will still go to a 7th game. I’m putting my money on the kids.PS Please get rid of Kyle Obama.
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Ric S says:
I thought the commercial boasts about all 9 NY area sports teams?
Islanders, Rangers, Devils, Yankees, Mets, Jets, Giants, Knicks and Nets.
Ya Montoya looks like he could use a rest looked a lil shaky last game.. Happy KP is geting the start and will get to show what he has!