“Skate Skate Skate boys.” Those were Doug Weight’s words during the third period according to Islanders head coach Scott Gordon’s postgame press conference. Aside from leading the team in points so far this season, Weight, to me, has been a leader in the locker room and has been on top of his young teammates who have to produce in order for this team to stay above water.
That’s exactly what happened last night.
Sean Bergenheim and Chris Campoli have the ability and heart to score 40 to 50 points a season in this league and with a few years under their belts, they have to produce. With that being said, it feels good to see these guys come through when they need to. Like I’ve said before, guys that can skate the way Bergenheim and Campoli can, are tailor-made for the Islanders new offense and have to continue producing. For me, it’s a given the Islanders aren’t going to have a 90 or even an 80-point guy on the team this season, but if they have a handful of guys with 40 and 50, then they’ll be more than okay.
However, when you talk about guys tailor-made for the Islanders system, Jon Sim is another guy that comes to mind. The pest that he is, forcing him to play puck pursuit hockey just brings out the best in his game. On pace for a new career high in goals, Sim, despite starting a bit slow this season, is starting to come around exactly when the team needs him to.
Speaking of guys that are coming around, what about Joey MacDonald? Shame on me for thinking for one second that this guy couldn’t hold his own with DP injured [yes, I thought it, but I didn't dare say it at the time] or even as the team’s backup for that matter. Nonetheless, as the season has done on, MacDonald’s weaknesses, such as his inability to cover the posts and take care of pucks in the crease, hasn’t been nearly as prevalent as it was before and it’s gotten to the point where he has singlehandedly kept this team in hockey games.
Last night was more of a team effort than anything, but without Joey Mac between the pipes, things could have gotten really hairy out there.
With their next game against the Canucks on Monday, it’s going to be interesting to see where this team goes next.
Posted under 2008-2009, Post Game Rants
This post was written by Patrick Hickey, Jr. on November 16, 2008
Pat, do you think Alfie is showing some age? He was trying like the dickens to get the team going at the end, but he fell short, unlike he has in past years. I think Ottawa just extended his contract, too.
I think he’s still a great player, but I think he’s going through the same thing Sergei Fedorov did a few years ago where he isn’t the same offensive player and he’s going ot have to start to do the little things more if he’s going to remain a star in this league.