GAME DAY: Kings at Islanders, 1pm
Kenny Jonsson Day
There are quite a few reunions for today’s game. For one, the Kings get their annual look at the 30-goal scorer they let slip away, pictured above. Moulson’s recorded his 24th of the season on Thursday night, putting him on pace for 37 goals and 72 points, which would crush last year’s 30/53. There’s still a ways to go but it’s always interesting to project these things out.
In reverse reunions, Trent Hunter returns to Long Island. After being moved to New Jersey for current healthy scratch Brian Rolston, he was bought out by the Devils. Later on in the summer he moved onto Los Angeles on a training camp try out and the Kings eventually decided to take a flyer on him. His year in Los Angeles has not been a good one, putting up Rolston-like numbers of 2-5-7 in 37 games and there was talk of getting rid of him within the season’s first few weeks. In fact, this article sounds an awful lot like it could have been written on Long Island with the author opining about the complete lack of bottom six scoring and the ‘why, oh why are these veterans on the roster?’
One final homecoming is a happy one and not of the ‘look what they’re doing without you’ variety. At long last Kenny Jonsson returns to Long Island for a pre-game celebration. Jonsson spent nine seasons on the Islanders blue line from 1995 to 2004 when he returned home and didn’t come back after the lock out. Jonsson arrived at the start of the Milbury era and somehow survived it without being traded. He was able to see it through to finally making the playoffs at the end of his tenure.
MSG has the requisite video for Jonsson, talking to former teammate Adrian Aucoin and coach Peter Laviolette.
TONIGHT’S LINES
Moulson – Tavares – Okposo
Grabner – Nielsen – Parenteau
Rolston – Bailey – Martin
Niederreiter – Pandolfo – Wallace
Streit – Staios
Ness – MacDonald
Jurcina – Eaton
Nabokov
Montoya
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 →33 Responses to GAME DAY: Kings at Islanders, 1pm
Kenny Jonsson Day
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Cdu says:
Ugh Rolston is back in the lineup.
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ice Girl Dad says:
“Living in the Past” great Tull album!
Need 4 points this weekend!
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DaGiants says:
ROLSTON??? NO!!!!!! for god’s sake I thought we learned by now…
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Steven says:
Fitting Rolston is back in today. Today is about the past and Rolston’s better days are in the past.
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By the way, an interesting bit of trivia. Jonsson is YOUNGER than Rolston and Staios
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2Bit says:
Really wish Jonnson was still playing for us. So disappointing he called it quits during the lockout.
Why is Nino still playing on the 4th line? He should at least be on the 3rd line. I’d even give him a look on the first line to see what he can do. The 4th line is horrible. We need to shake things up for real.
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I’ve never seen a coach not change the lines like our brillant coach. Especially when the offense is horrible. Maybe Wang and Snow have not given there approval?
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billy from RYE NY says:
I don’t know why they are having a day
for him . He was just an ok player and
not much of a captain.Was always injured
too. -
Rob hock says:
Who else would they honor from the past decade? Alexei Yashin?? Not many had as long of a tenure that Kenny did in the past 10 years.
Kenny is a good guy and deserves some recognition for his commitment to the islanders
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Islebethere4u says:
so far, nothing but complaints, wow.
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1-1 in the 2nd. and a penalty within moments. Not good.
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NYOSLES001 says:
Whta is wroing with these guys, they get into a funk and look terrble comming out of their zone for many games. This causes the long losing streaks.
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escaped the 2nd period. Got blitzed in the last minute.
LA 12 shots. NYI 4 shots -
Tom D. from New Jersey says:
Kevin – any insights as to John Tonelli being inducted into the Isles HOF? Surprised this hasnt happened.
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refereeing has again degenerated into making it dangerous for the players. ref clearly watched two blatant crosschecks to PAP and Moulsen and no calls. Its not whats wrong with the Isles here, its whats wrong with the refs.
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ed says:
Martin gone from game, and Kings turn up cheap shots. No one on this team will answer. Where is Okposo?? This guy is “supposed” to be a beast. Answer the bell buddy. Drop your purse and get into this game. Love the fact we are debating signing PA but we extend KO. Who would you take? Okposo is the cowardly lion and he is supposed to be a leader.
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SnowBalls n Wong says:
Boring team!
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refs allow it and then say its the players fault. Why doesn’t the league take a closer look as to why these dangerous plays develope…namely the poor refereeing.
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This happens every game and players need to step it up themselves. Not disagreeing with you, but refs let things go so you must adapt. if they are allowing physical play, answer the bell. Or get ready to lose 2 points
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eaton should’ve leveled Nolan in the crease!
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If it is leading to injuries then no, it not part of the game. I know its a tough game but still…bad reffing is just bad.
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Bring back the real NHL!
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Think there is any trade value for Okposo? Power forward who doesn’t hit, score or fight?
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mark streit game winner 5 hole!
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Nabby with a big game too
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Nabby no. 1 star of game too!
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Lanny says:
Can someone tell me why Tonelli isn’t in the Isles hall of fame.
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Steve C says:
It was good that both teams got a point since my two favorite teams at least earned something today. As far as Trent is concerned, the major reason for his struggles is his ice time of 7-8 minutes a game. That’s with two of the 3rd line players Lewis Loktionov getting 2X the ice time but their offensive numbers are not better.
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RICH L says:
Jonsson was one of the biggest pieces of crap as a Dman, he personally lost at least 3 games a year by putting pucks into his own teams net, and his overall incompetence, it was a “Thank God” moment when he left this team.
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TJ Bova says:
LOL….are you on drugs? The Jonsson/Aucoin D pairing was the best D pairing this team has had in like 15 years.
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Take off your rose colored glasses,my friend, Jonsson was one of the worse Dmen i’ve seen, and I’m following hockey for well over 40 years, you disagree fine, but research should bear it out, problem it would take an extensive amount of time and patience, but i stand by my post.
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BIGSAVE77 says:
Why are so many on here so negative. We won a hard fought game and sit 8 points out of a playoff spot with 2 games in hand. We need to come together as fans and stop complaining all the time about this team. We all know where this teams weaknesses are once they get eliminated we will be well on our way. We should be able to fight all the way up until April with this team we have now and a lot of talent on the Bridge and in juniors. That is my 2c. GO ISLANDERS!!!!!!!!
Have to love these events. Instead of improving the current team we are living in the past.