“We are picking up points, and taking what we can get during the early homestand,” said Tavares. “We were hungry and played hard. It was not pretty, but with skill and great goaltending, we got it done.” In regards to the scoring performance, the former No. 1 pick of the NHL Draft stated: “It is always nice to break the ice. I had a positive feeling, and got rewarded. We are continuing on the good opportunities we got from Monday’s win.”

New York came out flying in the opening period, as Tavares struck twine only 36 seconds in. He took over on a miscue by Tampa Bay in the offensive zone, and fired a shot off the glove of former Islander netminder Dwayne Roloson. But, on the ensuing clear attempt, Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman tapped the puck into his own net, giving the Isles the quick 1-0 cushion. 2010-11 NHL leading scorer Steven Stamkos answered for Tampa Bay just seven minutes later as he re-directed a Marc-Andre Bergeron through the five-hole to tie it up.

Matt Moulson quickly gave the hosts the lead again with 9:28 left. On the play, Marc Eaton hit the iron from the point. The rebound then shifted to Tavares, who handed the puck off to Matt Moulson for his first marker of the season. Tavares wasn’t done just yet. He tacked on another tally, in addition to an assist on a P.A. Parenteau goal, staking him four points through one. On the marker, which came in tic-tac-toe style, Tavares one-timed a Moulson pass by Roloson for his second goal of the game. The Isles eventually went into the break up 4-1.

No sportsbook online could have predicted that.

“We got good things out of our line,” said Moulson. “The timing was a lot better. We worked hard, and needed a quick spark, which we got from Johnny (Tavares) on that first goal.” In regards to keeping the opposition off the scoreboard, Moulson stated this: “The whole team did a good job of forechecking. There were not a lot of odd man rushes, and we continued to sustain pressure throughout the game.”

In the second period, Tampa Bay had the early opportunities, as Ryan Shannon, and Mattias Ritola paced the Lightning on their combined three tries. However, Shannon’s transition shot, and Ritola’s two stuff-in tries were knocked away by New York goalie Al Montoya. After that, the Islanders got back to their first-period ways, as Michael Grabner found the back of the net to make it 5-1 with 13:13 to go. Kyle Okposo was credited with the assist after his rebound caromed behind Roloson, and Grabner was there to tap the puck over the line.

Guy Boucher then made a change in goal for the ‘Bolts, replacing Roloson with Mathieu Garon, who came in sporting a 0-1 mark with a 4.01 goals-against average. From there, the Isles were unable to strike again for the remainder of the stanza, which included a near one-minute, 5-on-3 two-man advantage opportunity off hooking and interference penalties by Vincent Lecavalier and Pavel Kubina. Over the last minutes of the period, Tampa hoped to cut the deficit, but it was to no avail, as New York went into the second intermission up 5-1.

During a physical third period, both squads combined for four trips to the sin bin. Neither team knocked home a marker though in the 20-minute stint though, and the Isles soon posted a 5-1 win in front of 9,000 strong at the Nassau Coliseum. Furthermore, New York achieved the greatest scoring chance during that stretch. Down one player (Tavares) on a two-minute hooking penalty, Grabner had a shorthanded look. Trying to go between the pads, Garon closed up the five-hole at the 14:26 mark.

Head Coach Jack Capuano had this to say about the overall effort. “I don’t think it was easy. We made some mistakes, but capitalized on our chances. I thought it was big that we got out of the gate early. The sticks were great, and the gap was good…We adjusted well at times, put on some good pressure, and got pucks where we needed to get them.”

Capuano and the Islanders cap their season-opening four-game homestand on Saturday (Oct. 15) versus the arch-rival New York Rangers in an Atlantic Division battle at Nassau Coliseum. The puck drops at 7 p.m.

Here it is.

Despite the fact that many scouts have said he doesn’t play great defense and is a bit selfish with the puck, those same scouts still see him projecting into a 40-goal scorer. That reason alone, I feel the Islanders need him in the lineup. Simply put, who gives a crap if he doesn’t play defense now. That should change over time and if he’s scoring 40 goals, I could live with bad defense, even if it’s on the Mike Comrie level.

What many people are failing to realize here is that the New York Islanders are desperate and far more than anyone thinks. They need someone on the ice they can believe in and someone they feel can be a guy that can help them get out of this funk they’ve been in since the early 90s. Since that time, they’ve brought in so many people that have failed miserably at the task and it’s time now to set this ship right before it’s totally unrecoverable. So far, Kyle Okposo looks to be a guy the team can build around, but he is not going to be the offensive leader this team needs in order to make the playoffs, nevertheless win a championship. Josh Bailey, too, while he made significant strides in spite of tremendous growing pains this past season, looks more like a 50-60 point guy with character.

John Tavares however is a star right now and the Islanders don’t have any.

The last thing you want to do is go playing around with trades and hurt your chances at giving the fans what they want. While this is a sport and of course, the main goal is to win, sometimes making fans happy is the smart thing to do. As of right now, Tavares is the clear fan favorite, despite Victor Hedman having a group of fans that think he’d be the right guy as well. As far as Matt Duchene goes, the fans don’t know much about him.

What the Islanders need to do now is to protect themselves by putting as much information about these three players on their site and show them meeting the Islanders brass. I’d even go as far as quoting them about how’d they feel if the Islanders drafted them, even throw some video on the site of these guys in action, so they can make their own decision and be forced to go off of what the media tells them. Make the fans aware of what is going on and put them in a situation where on draft day, they are educated and don’t flip out because they have no idea who the team drafted.

Remember, this is a business and the Islanders have to make their customers happy. If they aren’t going to do what everyone thinks they should do and draft Tavares, they should start preparing now in order to deflect that obvious backlash that may ensue.

Blake Comeau- I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; this kid has the makings of a great role player, but he has to take his destiny into his own hands. While I have little doubt that the Islanders will re-sign him this offseason, he has to come into next season’s camp in the best shape of his career and has to force Islanders head coach Scott Gordon to keep him with the big club. If he does that and can shoot the puck some more, there’s no reason why he can’t find himself in the 15-20 goal and 40 point range. I don’t know how you guys feel about this, but as far as a non-top six forward goes, those are damn good numbers.

Jeremy Colliton- Every time he’s been up with the big club, I’ve enjoyed watching him and I think he’s got a lot more offensive ability than people give him credit for. However, much like Ben Walter, I think he’s been lost in the organizational shuffle. Because of that, he’s better off trying to go somewhere else in order to accomplish his dreams of being a NHL regular.

Sergei Ogorodnikov- Don’t know much about him aside from the fact that he had a decent year in the ECHL a few years ago and he’s got some international experience until his belt. At 23 however, the questions remains as to how effective he can be at the NHL level and when he’ll get there.

Jamie Fraser- I think he’s another no-brainer. He’s got the same great hair as his relative Kerry, who is one of the best officials in the league and is a good leader. On the ice, he’s got a big heart and that’s one of the reasons why he’s a fan favorite in Bridgeport. A good player on both sides of the puck, Fraser, in my mind, should be one of the first players called up if the Isles get hot by the injury bug again.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Unlike DiPietro, who, I believe to this day still has no idea just how talented he really is and repeatedly goes out of his way to make the superstar play, rather than the smart one, Hilbert is smartness personified. As a matter of fact, I think he knows his game perhaps better than anyone else in the league. He knows that he’ll never be the 30 goal, point per game player he was in the AHL and has modified his game in order to stay in the league. As far as I see it, he’s one of the hardest working players in the league today as well.

As a fan, he irritates me because he can’t finish and he always seems to be around the puck. If someone like Jon Sim had as much moxy and awareness on the ice, he wouldn’t be in Bridgeport and would have ended the season with more goals than he’s ever had in a season.

As a journalist, I love the transition he’s made in order to stay in the league and love his heart. He’s the kind of player that won’t hurt you by being on the ice and like I said, works his tail off. However, at the same time, those attributes don’t always translate into numbers and that’s why I’ve often complained about his play.

Simply put, if the Islanders feel that either Trevor Smith or Jesse Joensuu is ready to play in the NHL full-time next season, Hilbert, despite his responsible play, should fall victim to the Islanders youth movement. However, considering the fact that like Nate Thompson, he has proven he can play in Islanders head coach Scott Gordon’s system makes him an intriguing option. An unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, the most I can see the Islanders giving Hilbert is a one-year contract, hoping he stays healthy and continues to thrive with Gordon, while the youngsters continue to develop in Bridgeport.

At 28 years old, Hilbert can play it safe and earn a decent contract that could keep him somewhere for a few years in hopes of finding a linemate that can help him take his career to the next level, preparing him to sign one bigger contract before he hangs up his skates. He can also sign a one-year contract somewhere and go for the gusto and prove to the rest of the league that he’s more than an immensely talented and hard working third liner.

Stay or Go- If the Islanders don’t have confidence in players like Joensuu just yet, I’d sign Hilbert to a one-year contract and if he’s playing well enough at the trading deadline, I’d ship him off for a pick. If Joensuu and Smith come to camp ready to earn a job, Hilbert’s hard work alone would secure him a spot.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Today, against the Eastern Conference leading Boston Bruins, the Islanders will try and go out in style the same way the did last season when they beat the Rangers on the last day last season.

If all goes well, the Bruins will dress Manny Fernandez, who got the start last night, and make sure he’s ready just in case uber-dependable Tim Thomas [Did you ever think you'd say that about the guy four years ago?] goes down for the playoff run. With the Islanders luck however, Thomas will be in net, as the Bruins too look to go out in style and crush an Islanders team that doesn’t stand a chance.

At any rate, should be an interesting match-up. Lets see if Kyle Okposo can have a good game as well and make sure the Islanders have a 20-goal scorer on this team this season. If not, it’s going to be something many Islanders fans remember for years to come.

Streit wants a sniper- Islanders All-Star defenseman Mark Streit knows what he wants the Islanders to go after this draft.

I’m sure many of you will agree with him as well.

“I think we need a sniper, a goal-scorer,” Streit told Newsday. “I think when Ricky (goalie Rick DiPietro) is healthy and we have our whole ‘D’ corps, we have a pretty good defense we can build on. We have a lot of good talent up front, and obviously, one other guy who could put the puck in the net wouldn’t hurt next year. But that’s out of my hands.”

I’ll be there- As part of my winning the 2008 Islanders blog of the year, I won a pair of tickets to any non-Rangers home game this season and decided a few weeks ago that today would be the perfect day. I’ll see you guys there. Driving all the way from Brooklyn, the Islanders better not let me down, or they’ll be hell to pay.

Pretty hard to do considering the fact that as a child, I’d watch Faces of Death while eating ice cream.

Nothing like cookies and cream and monkeys getting their brains bashed in if you ask me.

Last night’s game however, proved to be much more than disgusting; it was pitiful.

After Bill Guerin scored and looked down, it was obvious- even after being traded away a few weeks ago, for a paltry fifth round pick, he felt bad for his former team.

Six unanswered goals is hard to stomach and especially considering how hard the team came out in the first period.

What is even tougher to understand is how bad the Islanders powerplay was. Spoiling two separate five on three opportunities, the Islanders powerplay needs some serious work. However, with all the injuries the Islanders have dealt with as of late, what did you expect.

Even Islanders coach Scott Gordon knows his team will going to have a rough time competing the rest of the season.

“Right now, in our lineup, we don’t have a lot of firepower,” Gordon told the AP after the game. “I think we hit four posts during the course of the game. It’s not going to come as a surprise that the puck is not going to go in as easy as it would for some teams.”

In other news, the Islanders signed 2007 third-round pick Mark Katic and 2008 sixth round pick Justin DiBenedetto to three-year, entry-level contracts.

Katic is coming off his best season in juniors producing more than solid numbers of 13 goals, 41 assists and 54 points in 63 games. With Chris Campoli gone to Ottawa, Katic will first have to prove himself in Bridgeport, but will eventually at some point in the future have an opportunity to be the slick skating offensive defenseman the Islanders will need in the future to compliment Mark Streit.

Scoring 45 goals and 48 assists in 62 games with Sarnia this season, DiBenedetto proved he could still put up big numbers without Steven Stamkos around and with the team in need of young and talented forwards, DiBenedetto not only makes the organization deeper at the position, but he could challenge for significant time in Bridgeport next season.

If the injury bug takes over again next season, who knows, we may see both of these kids.

For time being however, they have both been assigned to Bridgeport.

Yes, Joey “Pickles” MacDonald isn’t ready to give up this season. Despite playing his heart out for most of the season, MacDonald in fact may be without a job next season and he knows it. That’s one of the reasons why he needed to be on top of his game last night. Making 42 saves and getting some help from the pipes behind him and two youngsters in Frans Nielsen and Josh Bailey, the Islanders and Joey Mac earned a much-needed win against the Detroit Red Wings.

I can almost guarantee that Mikael Samuelsson and most of the Wings had trouble sleeping last night.

“Time and time again we had great opportunities, I thought our execution was really good, but I thought they were desperate,” Babcock told the Associated Press. “The goalie was good, they blocked shots, they competed really hard.”

Wow, that should be a line in an Alanis Morrisette song, The last place team was desperate and beat the first place team. Isn’t it ironic? Don’tcha think?

At any rate it shouldn’t matter how the Islanders won, just the fact that they did win and against a team like the Red Wings, is something that they should be uber proud of.

Josh Bailey has been talking more about improving his shot this summer and Kyle Okposo [who is another guy who has been getting better and better this season] has said on numerous occasions that he’s been working with him in practice on it. Starting to see a difference? I think so. He’s got much more confidence when the puck is on his stick and even though I believe he’s a great passer, he’s definitely got the ability to put the puck in the net more than he has this season. Seeing that development occur right before your eyes is pretty damn fun if you ask me. Earlier in the season, he would have been out by the circles, rather than in front of the net fighting for the garbage goal.

The same process is beginning to take place with “The Great Dane” as Nielsen seems to be getting better and better every time he steps out there. 29 points in 51 games may not be too enthralling, but considering the fact that he has 10 points in his past 13 games, it’s easy to see that he’s not the same player he was earlier in the season.

I think it’s fair to say that most of the youngsters are going through the same thing.

They are taking their Flintstones vitamins.

They are 10 million strong… and growing.

Sing it with me.

After the game, I had an opportunity to ask him a few questions about just how intense the rivalry was between the Islanders and Rangers.

The Drive for Five: You played a big part in the Islanders/Rangers rivalry in the 70s and 80s. What was it like for you?

Ron Duguay: What made it exciting aside from the teams being so close in proximity, was the fans. I’m sure that there were probably more fights in the stands than on the ice at times and it was fitting since the fans were the ones that really created this rivalry. On top of that, both teams really enjoyed playing against each other and there was a respect. It wasn’t like when we played Philadelphia, when it was a gong show. When we played the Islanders, it was hard-nosed hockey.

TDFF: Was there a player on the Islanders that you were scared to hit the ice with?

Duguay: No. I just knew and was always aware that if I went into Denis Potvin’s zone, I was going to get hit and hit hard. Other than that, I think everyone always played hard and were respectful of each other.

Photo Patrick Hickey Jr.

From Bruno Gervais and Frans Nielsen fighting for the puck and to Kyle Okposo finishing the play and jumping into the arms of his teammates, this is what I want to see for the next few years.

If that wasn’t enough, I think the Islanders have struck gold with Mike Iggulden. Talk about net prescence. In every game he’s played this season, he’s gotten himself in a place to cause damage. Tonight was no different as he got himself right in the slot and took advantage of the fact that Josh Bailey, another kid who is playing good hockey over the past few games, was in front of the net, looking for a rebound as well. If Iggy can continue to play this way, I can see him on this team next season.

What do you guys think about that?

Personally, I could see him on a line with just about any of the youngsters. He doesn’t hurt any of them and is a good puck distributor in addition to possessing a good shot. I like his defensive game as well.

Right now, this team feels like they are beginning to form their identity. Void of real veterans besides Radek Martinek and Brendan Witt, the youngsters have taken control and are holding their own and the young veterans like Tim Jackman and Mark Streit are playing more than solid hockey as well.

Slowly, but surely, every signing by Mike Milbury or Garth Snow during the Ted Nolan era is either adjusting themselves to Scott Gordon’s system or is leaving via trade or free agency. As this trend continues, this team will get better and more exciting to watch.

It’s happening right now, can you see it?

Over the past few weeks, I’ve loved the fact that they can come out and play well against teams like New Jersey and Montreal that are trying to cement playoff spots. Because of that, the next few games against Boston and Chicago will be even more enjoyable to tune into. Now who said playing spoiler wasn’t fun? Sure, many fans of this team have given up on them this season, but the real fans will come back next season when they see all these kids come back meaner, faster and stronger.

It’s only a matter of time. Add in a few key signings and this team will be right where it needs to be. I can smell it. It’s just going to take some time. This band can play.

Tonight, simply put, was 60 minutes of fun hockey. Plenty of penalties due to hard work, a few fights and a plethora of great saves, especially the Carey Price stop on Jeff Tambellini late in the third made this one of my favorite games of the year.

Simply put, if this can keep up the rest of the season, the Islanders will be in much better shape to challenge for a playoff spot than they are right now. Well, OK, maybe I’m dreaming a bit here, as this team is still in need of a legitimate sniper and a healthy Rick DiPietro before they can even attempt to make the playoffs, but it’s fun to dream right?

At any rate, with the experience the Islanders youngsters have gotten this season, I really believe some of these kids have what it takes to be huge building blocks in the team’s future.

Like I said yesterday, I really feel that Kyle Okposo has what it takes to be a perennial 30-goal scorer in this league. If he continues to take the body, skate hard and shoot the puck, I think he can be a very similar player or give the Islanders the same jolt that Zach Parise gives the New Jersey Devils. His rookie season, Parise put up very similar numbers that Okposo is putting up now. It wasn’t until his second season that he truly began to show signs of what he is now. I feel the same thing will be the case for Okposo.

While he’s a bit older than some of the other youngsters, I see Blake Comeau eventually developing into a guy that score a dozen goals a season in a checking line role and provide the bench with leadership, charisma and hustle. With six goals this season and I believe 14 in about 100 games of NHL experience, his offensive game still needs more refining, but many of his problems early in the season had to do with conditioning, rather than his own individual skill level.

The case with Josh Bailey and Frans Nielsen I believe are different ones that Comeau, as I feel they are beginning to show that they have the ability to be more than effective centermen. I think they both have to shoot the puck more, but I do love their playmaking ability and of course, “The Great Dane’s” ability in the face-off circle. Of the two, I think Nielsen has more polish, but overall, I do believe Bailey will be the better overall player in the years to come. Nielsen I see developing into a 10-15 goal, 35-40 assist guy, but I think Bailey can be a consistent 40-assist man in this league. Even attempting to predict his goal totals is a tough task, but I do think that if he takes the initiative and shoots more, he could score anywhere from 15-20 goals next season.

However, in order for all this to happen, these kids will have to continue to work hard this season and prove that they belong.

If not, they’ll find themselves back in Bridgeport.

I don’t see that happening though.

The game was a also pretty physical, as both teams were taking the body. Aaron Voros was on his game tonight in that department and was itching to draw penalties all night. Colton Orr too was hungry for some fisticuffs, but Tim Jackman and his teammates weren’t that frisky. Of all players on the Isles, Sean Bergenheim [who continues to play his heart out lately] was the one who ended up dropping his gloves with another unlikely combatant, one Petr Prucha in what ended up being an entertaining scrap.

Overall, it was a gritty, nail-bitting game to watch that would have been even better had both teams scored a bit more. Both goaltenders were solid, but got a ton of help from their respective goalposts. All in all, I think it’s just fair to say that both of these teams are lacking in the offensive department. It’s the reason why the Isles have been as bad as they’ve been this season and the reason why the Rangers won’t make the playoffs this season. Yes, I said it. They won’t. Anyone that does is someone that thinks Herb Brooks is country singer, you know, the guy that sings with that Dunn dude, right? Exactly.

If they do manage to squeak into the playoffs, it’ll be in eighth spot, where the Bruins will then proceed to pull a Nelson Munz on them and throw the Rangers in a trash can down the street. And it’ll be done in four games.

On a side note, something happened for the second consecutive game that is beginning to piss me off. During the Isles’ last game, Evgeni Malkin threw repeated punches with his gloves on at a few players on the Islanders and last night, Nik Zherdev too was throwing punches at Bill Guerin. My message to these two: If you’re not going to drop the gloves, boys, don’t do that. It’s disgusting to watch as a fan and it’ll continue to spread the already existing rumors that both of you have no spines.

It drives me crazy that just because these guys are superstars that referees let them get away with it. They also never pick a fight with someone that can really defend themselves. I’d love one day for Malkin to do that to someone like Dave Clarkson or Arron Asham, two guys that an skate and fight. I guarantee it would never happen again.

I think everyone in the NHL is as well.

4-4-2 over their past ten games, the New York Islanders are playing good hockey, but it’s the youngsters that are carrying them this time around.

With six goals in his past nine games, rookie winger Kyle Okposo is starting to establish himself as the guy this team can depend on to score. No longer scared to do what it takes in the corners or high traffic areas in order to put himself in a situation to produce, Okposo has been almost a completely different player since returning from an injury in the middle of December.

“It’s starting to get to the point where Kyle isn’t surprising us anymore,” coach Scott Gordon told the Associated Press. “He’s showing us that he has that element of skill that goes with that power-forward type of play.”

That added tenacity isn’t something that KO began to do by himself however. Even teenage center Josh Bailey has begun to finish his checks more, creating turnovers galore and opportunities for himself and his teammates. While Blake Comeau too has been doing much of the same on a line with these two guys, the added physical play of Bailey and KO is starting to pay dividends for the Isles.

“One thing the young guys, especially, have been trying to do is really play physical and finish all of our hits,” Okposo told Newsday. “I think that it’s given our team a little bit of a boost. We feed well off each other. We’ve been playing pretty well together, and we seem to know where each other’s going to be most of the time. We’re able to find each other and hold onto the puck a little longer and then make the right play instead of being a bit jittery like early in the season and trying to force something.”
With the only thing left to gain this season for the Islanders being the bumps and bruises to win back some respect next season, the youngsters are ensuring it by making sure they don’t get pushed around and show that they can thrive in the NHL.
Soon enough, they’ll be asked to lead this team and to carry this team on their backs when the going gets tough. The way things have been over the past handful of games, it looks like these youngsters may in fact be able to handle that burden.

Too bad Bruno Gervais has hit the goalpost more over his past 150 games than the back of the net as well.

On the whole, I liked the fact that the Isles were attempting to take shots on Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick from all angles. Tim Jackman’s goal, aside from being incredibly sneaky, proved that when you have the puck and shoot it, good things happen. For far too long this season have the Islanders tried to set up the perfect pass and take the perfect shot. Now, it at least looks like they are getting the idea that garbage goals are just as good as highlight reel ones.

Nevertheless, they were still a bit too pensive out there, especially on the powerplay.

Going 12:47 without a shot just proves that.

Speaking of highlight reel goals though, who would have thought that Bill Guerin was going to pass when he had the whole net to himself? It seemed like Doug Weight came out of nowhere. That goal got the Islanders back into the game and gave them some more confidence, but the seesaw battle continued for 60 minutes.

While he had two golden opportunities over the course of the game and couldn’t finish, I really like the spunk Bergenheim had out there tonight. The same thing goes for Andy Hilbert and Jackman, who never hurt the team when they are on the ice and somehow, someway, always do something that gives the team some kind of boost.

However, one of the reasons the Kings were able to sneak back in was because of a few bad penalties by the Isles and poor coverage in front of the crease. While he’s been much better over his past few games, Brendan Witt again was on the ice during a key moment and failed to clear the crease. I know he does a lot on the ice, but that’s what is priority should be and he hasn’t been doing it for a big chunk of the season. A lot of this has to do with the fact that he’s been forced to play much more in his own end because of youngsters like Joe Callahan and Jack Hillen

In all honesty, this game should have never went into overtime, but both teams couldn’t finish each other off. With the powerplay opportunities both of them had, this game should have ended in regulation. But when you have two teams that aren’t playoff bound [The Kings could still make it though if they get hot], things like this are bound to happen.

Then it comes down to the crap shoot and the Kings prevail courtesy of a slick move by Jack Johnson.

Game over.

It’s till a game though and a lesson learned.

Stop taking bad penalties and convert on the powerplay.

When I first became a journalist, I was told by another writer a few years my senior that by just being at games, you learn things that fans could kill to know and by just being at those games, you never know what stories you can get. It’s just a matter of dedicating yourself to giving up your fandom and showing up every night with your laptop, recorder and shirt and tie and just being there. You show up two and a half hours before the game and you stay until after the game is over. You basically earn the respect of the players and the organization, which basically puts you in a situation to do your job better than anyone else.

This season, I have done that on my AcesOverBrooklyn.com site, which is dedicated to my coverage of the EPHL’s Brooklyn Aces and last night I got a bit of a reward for that hard work. Dropping the ceremonial first puck at the game last night was Montreal Canadiens forward Chris Higgins, who I had the opportunity to talk to after the game. We talked about his season for most of the interview, but I did manage to sneak in question I’ve been waiting to ask someone in the Montreal organization all season:

“Your powerplay isn’t nearly as good as it was last season, what did Mark Streit mean to it’s success?”

While Guy Carbonneau has dodged the question with the New York and Montreal media all season, Higgins, a Smithtown-native, was honest about what Streit meant to the Habs.

“He was a big reason why our powerplay was number one,” said Higgins. “He’s got a great shot as many of you guys in New York now know. He’s a great guy off the ice and he deserves to be playing every minute that he’s been playing this season. I’m glad he’s been given a shot to be a number one defenseman.”

If I was Streit, a comment like this would mean more than an All-Star nod. It means that the Canadiens know now that they made a mistake letting him go. Like I said before, the organization won’t admit it, but the players he shared a locker room with know just how vital he was.

Let’s hope the Islanders don’t make the same mistake in the future.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Damn skippy.

I could not believe how this this team played in the first period. Sure, they missed a few golden opportunities, but to come out with a 2-0 lead against a team like the Ducks was no simple task. Seeing Kyle Okposo light the lamp from the circle on a one-timer like that is something that I want to see more of in the future. If he can continue to make the most of opportunities like that, he may find himself around the 20-goal mark.

Speaking of players that look like they’re headed down the right bath, Kurtis “Don’t call me Kirk or Brett” McLean has looked good in both ends in his two games as an Islander. Being 28, he’s got far more polish than some of the other youngsters on the team and from the looks of it, can get a good chunk of ice-time the rest of the season. That process will become an even easier one if he continues to put the puck in the back of the net as well.

Frans Nielsen is another player who I feel had some spunk last night and even though he couldn’t cash in during the first on a golden opportunity, the pass he made to McLean on his goal was exactly what I want to see from him the rest of the season.

After those goals however, I feel like the Ducks were the better team. They were getting shots on Yann Danis and if not for him and some good penalty killing by Tim Jackman in the third and good defensive composure, they may have lost the lead. Danis rebound control still needs some serious work as well, but I don’t think it held him back enough to be a huge factor. Simply put, if the defense is skating hard and clearing the crease, those opportunities aren’t an extreme factor.

Sure the Isles were out shot 38-14 up until the last two minutes of the game, but the fact that they could hold on for dear life against a team the likes of the Ducks with Trent Hunter and Doug Weight both out of the lineup shows that this team still has some heart. While the playoffs are obviously out of the question, the fact that this team isn’t looking for a hole in the woods to crawl in just yet is good for the legion of fans that still care about this team.

Grade C+

Blake Comeau- After coming into camp in terrible shape and being forced to earn his stripes again in Bridgeport, Comeau has been solid over the past half dozen games. Extremely solid in his first handful of games, Comeau’s play was sporadic before he turned it up again. Much like Bergenheim, his spunk and potential are one thing, but his lack of consistency and in Comeau’s case, conditioning, may keep him from being the 20-goal scorer he should be.

Grade- C-

Josh Bailey- Great passer. However, in spite of his playmaking ability, he still has a lot to learn in the defensive end. He also has to take advantage of his shot more and gain confidence. With Okposo, Bailey will be asked to lead this team offensively as soon as next season. He has to earn those bumps and bruises now.

Grade- C

Kyle Okposo- Much like Comeau, Okposo has been a different player over the past half dozen games. However, over the first 20 odd games he played, there was a tentativeness and unwillingness in his game that scared a lot of NHL scouts and fans. However, since being paired with Mike Comrie, KO has begun to show the organization that he has to tools to be a more than solid NHL player. Is he a superstar? The jury is still out on that one.

Grade C+

Jeff Tambellini- A disaster. Everyone expected him to score 15-20 goals this season and prove that he belongs in this league. That hasn’t happened, even though he has begun to shoot the puck with more confidence. As of right now, this season has been a failure for him, but much like Bergenheim last season, a few solid games can turn things very quickly.

Grade- F

Nate Thompson- A true grinder, Thompson is the kind of guy that is great to fill out the bottom of a depth chart. However, it would be great if he could score a bit more. Block shots are hits are things that don’t show in box scores and for Thompson to truly have a spot on this team, he’s got to hit the net a bit more. Otherwise, he’ll be on the path of a mid-season call up the rest of his career, rather than true NHLer.

Grade- D+

Frans Nielsen- Much like Bailey, I think Nielsen is a great passer. However, with his skill in the faceoff circle and defensive ability, I think “The Great Dane” has he ability to be a more than solid third line center. It’s just a matter of him staying healthy and getting playing time.

Grade B-

Grade- D

Radek Martinek- When healthy, Martinek is one of the best shutdown defensemen in all of hockey. Playing in only 11 games this season however, Martinek hasn’t been able to do much of anything.

Grade- D

Freddy Meyer- He was the team’s best defenseman through their first five or six games, but between getting injured and some rough spots along the way, he’s never been able to get back to where he belongs. With his spot and passing ability, Meyer can and should be a 30-point D-man every season. Combined with his physical play and skating ability, he should be able to play against the top forwards in this league every night. The only way that happens however, is if he finds the same consistency he had earlier in the season.

Grade- B

Thomas Pock- From watching him play this season, you’d never know that he once scored over 60 points in the AHL one season and was once considered one of the Rangers’ top young D-men. Simply put, Pock was the victim of the Rangers spending money on defensemen that could sell tickets and this season has been the beneficiary of the plethora of injuries that have ravaged the defense core. However, his play in both ends has remained mediocre throughout.

Grade- F

Chris Campoli- Offensively gifted, Campoli has the shot and instincts with the puck that should produce a 40-point a season defenseman. However, between injuries and the amount of shuffling going on within the D-men on the team, he’s on pace for only 24. His physical play has been taken down a notch as well, making him neither the good offensive d-man his was in his rookie season or the tough cookie he was in his sophomore season. Simply put, Campoli has to start producing more.

Grade- C+

Bruno Gervais- In the team’s last two games against Edmonton and Calgary, I really liked what I saw from Gervais, who was using his skating ability and was pinching offensively while not hurting himself in the defensive end. However through the other 27 games he’s played in this season, he hasn’t done it nearly enough, making him another Islanders youngster who still has some growing up to do in all facets of the game. I’d also like to see him shoot the puck some more over the second half of the season.

Grade- D+

Mark Streit- Offensively and defensively, this guy has been solid and has proved he’s much more than a gimmick. He’s a real defenseman in this league and is a damn good one. In my mind, the Islanders best offensive defenseman since Jeff Norton.

Grade- A

Andy Sutton- Before his injury, Sutton was the Islanders best shutdown D-man. If you don’t believe me , his +3 rating pretty much proves it. Add in 10 assists and some good physical play and it’s easy to see how much this team is missing him.

Grade- A-

Bert Skinner- Despite playing in 11 games and being a +2, the Islanders coaching staff never let the leash off on Skinner and it’s tough because of that to assess him. Nevertheless, he has good size and with some more polish can be a decent number six defenseman in this league.

Grade- C+

A few years ago, a good Western swing was the kind of thing that got fans in Islander country excited. The message boards would chat it up about who the team could get down the stretch to help during the playoff run and who should get traded. Even though many of us knew the team didn’t have much of a shot to get past the first round, it was always fun to see how the team stacked up against the good teams in the West, just in case the Islanders pulled off something magical later in the season.

Make no mistake about it though, this season’s Western road trip has proven this team has no shot at doing much more than causing the team and it’s fans a whole lot of aggravation.

Every night this season, Joey MacDonald leaves his soul out on the ice and the Islanders make mistake after mistake in their own end. If any goaltender in the NHL had it bad, MacDonald could laugh right in their face. If this keeps up, MacDonald may go down in the history books for having one of the worst records in NHL history. However, it’ll have nothing to do with his play as he’s been just as good as any goaltender in this league.

He just doesn’t have the support on the ice that the rest of the netminders in the league do.

By the end of the season, that may be the biggest travesty this team commits.

Tambellini stepping up?- You don’t beat goaltenders like Mikka Kiprusoff by accident, so make no mistake about it, Jeff Tambellini’s wrister last night was the real deal. Rather than skate in and try to deke his way to a goal like he’s been trying to do all season, he just shot the puck with a decent angle and rolled the dice. Guys with shots like Tambellini do that in this league and they score. If he can continue to skate hard and take those types of shots, maybe he’ll save this season for himself.

Trevor Smith’s first goal- I said it after his first few games and I’ll say it again; this kid has a nose for the net. It’s something you can’t teach. He’s not incredibly quick and doesn’t have a super duper shot, but he’s always in the right place at the right time and is tough enough to earn the bumps and bruises needed to continue scoring. My kind of player.

From what I saw, Joey MacDonald was not on his game. He was giving up way too many rebounds and the first goal in particular was a bit soft if you ask me. Mathieu Schneider is a great defenseman, no doubt about it, but to score from the point like that on an NHL goalie isn’t an everyday occurrence. The pair of Little goals were the bi-products of Joey Mac giving up too many rebounds and the Islanders defense in front of the net not being what it should be. There’s a reason why Andy Hilbert broke his stick over the net after one of them, it shouldn’t have happened.

On a positive note, the Islanders were generation a plethora of quality scoring chances, but Johan “Call me Moose please” Hedberg was on top of his game and the Atlanta defense was solid enough to ensure a win. When you get good defense and quality goaltending, you tend to win in this league. When you don’t unless you have the offense of the San Jose Sharks or Detroit Red Wings, you tend to lose.

That’s what happened last night and that’s what’s going to continue to happen until the Islanders devote themselves to scoring more and playing better defense. Right now though, it just feels like they don’t have the right combination of players out there. Simply put, the faceoff and passing ability of Doug Weight, Frans Nielsen and Mike Sillinger are severely missed because the Islanders already have problems controlling the puck and without a good faceoff man and playmaker, that process becomes an even tougher one. With Nielsen out for at least another month, Sillinger back on IR and Weight day to day, the Islanders are going to have even more problems playing an overspeed system that depends crucially on puck control and establishing a forecheck.

This is exactly the time when guys like Mike Comrie and Josh Bailey have to step and show exactly what it is they are capable of.

Stay tuned.

This is a team the Islanders should have beaten, even without the bodies they’re missing.

Instead, the Isles beat around the bush for 60 minutes, rather than establish the forecheck. On top of that, this team refuses to skate the puck into the offensive zone and repeatedly plays dump and chase, which, to me, is like praying to win the lottery every night before you go to bed [do you hear me up there, lottery gods?]. Why not skate the puck into the zone and start a cycle?

At any rate, I don’t have the answers to these questions. As a matter of fact, I don’t think anyone in the organization has the answers right now.

Time is running out boys. If this skid continues, the Isles will have dug themselves such a whole that the “Mole Man” wouldn’t be able to get out.

All childish comparisons based on Marvel Comics aside, this team is getting so bad that my mother, is even saying things like: “They stink, they can’t even complete a pass.”

This coming from a woman that doesn’t know the difference between Kyle Okposo and Hubie McDonough. However, in spite of my mother’s lack of Islanders knowledge, she’s without a doubt a die-hard. When my father seems to give up on the team after 65 games every season, my mother still watches the games and roots for them with all her heart. If that doesn’t prove her loyalty, maybe this will. She had Miroslav Satan’s back all season, especially when I was on him for under-performing, and was pissed when they didn’t resign him, saying he deserved another chance.

To see someone like that start to see the light makes me feel this team is really as bad as the rest of the NHL thinks.

Now with Doug Weight and Trent Hunter battling injuries, it’s going to be even tougher to change the minds of the rest of the league.

But hey, at least they know what the deal is. At least this team knows that they’re not only under-performing, they’re just not very good right now.

And the only people that get the Islanders out of this are themselves.

And maybe Chuck Norris.

“Nobody’s going to get us out of this slump but ourselves,” MacDonald told the AP after the game. “We know this and the coaches know this. Everybody has to get together and keep working. We are short on bodies, but we just have to keep battling and working hard. We’ll get out of it. I thought tonight we made a few good steps.”

Then something started to happen. After blowing a handful of third period leads, they woke up and decided to play as a cohesive unit and since then, they’ve won four out of their last five games.

Sure, they still don’t have a legitimate sniper or a point a game player, but they have enough pieces and have enough depth at defense that if they continue to play this way, they can surprise a few people.

Andy Hilbert, Doug Weight and Trent Hunter look like they’ve been reinvigorated under Scott Gordon and are proving they either are capable of more than they’ve produced in years past or their back to where they should be. In the case of Hilbert, it’s great to see the guy on pace for a 15 goal, 35 point season. I’ve said plenty of times on this site that that’s where he should be and considering what a solid job he does in the defensive end, he and Richard Park could give the team a great tandem of role players that can contribute on both ends of the ice. Weight and Hunter are both coming off years that they know they’re better than and have responded marvelously this season.

Weight looks like he did with the Blues a few years ago and looks extremely solid with Bill Guerin, who has looked good too. Hunter has been picking his shots much better than he did last season, when it felt like he was simply peppering the net. Scoring 25 goals his rookie season, Hunter should be around that total every season. I’m so sick of pundits calling him a defensive forward. The guy’s a power forward who needs someone to feed him the puck. Frans Neilsen was doing a good job of that through the early season and his injury may stunt Hunter a bit, but I feel as if he’s confident right now and will continue to produce in spite of the Great Dane’s absence.

Guys like Sean Bergenheim and Jon Sim are too proving that they can be depended on, but still have a ways to go to establish themselves. Both have great wrist shots, can skate and play a physical game, which makes them tailor-made for Gordon’s system; they just have to continue to work hard and I’m sure the goals for both of them will be there. Surely nothing in the 30-goal range of course, but if they continue to skate and get some time on the powerplay, I don’t see any reason why the both of them can’t score 15-20 goals each.

Nonetheless, the Islanders offense is still missing key contributors in Kyle Okposo, Mike Comrie and Mike Sillinger. Once those guys get back and can be healthy, the Isles offense can go from mediocre to surprising. I mean lets be fair here, this team is never going to be the Detroit Red Wings on offense, but combined with their defense and provided they continue to get the defense they have over the past few games, they can squeak into the playoffs.

Yes, I said it.

Can’t believe I did, but I did.

Scary thing is I know it’s not the Kool-aid talking either.

Cam Ward was damn good.

The Islanders offense, despite registering all of those shots, wasn’t up to finishing the job. Kyle Okposo had a golden opportunity to get the Islanders on the board in the first, but came up empty. As I’ve said before on the site, this is a guy that has to start finishing and soon. The same thing goes for Jeff Tambellini and Mike Comrie.

However, despite the fact that this team is having problems finishing, there were several positives to take from this game.

The physicality was there. Doug Weight and Nate Thompson were taking the body. I think overall, Thompson played his best game of the season. He had much better shot selection and was a force physically. As far as the responsibilities of a fourth line center go, he’s was on top of all them last night. With Mike Sillinger and Mark Parrish in the wings, Thompson is going to have continue to play that way or else he’ll find himself in Bridgeport.

Another Islander who was strong last night was Bill Guerin. On the whole, the line of Sean Bergenheim, who is quickly becoming a force, Guerin and Weight have been solid. All they need is a huge game to get the confidence going. Once that happens, hopefully the rest of the team can pick up the slack.

Speaking of someone who needs to pick up the slack, Rick DiPietro was not on top of his game. I’ve made several mentions over the past three seasons at how DP, while being a great puck-handling goaltender, needs to watch himself at times. When he tries to do too much, he usually ends up hurting the Islanders. Last night was no different. If this team has any shot at turning this season around, it all starts with Rico. He has to be on top of his game.

With the team’s next game against the Rangers on Monday, there’s no time like the present. Games against the Rangers usually bring out the best or worst of both teams as well, making this an even more important game for both teams, with the Isles struggling to find out where they belong in the league and Rangers trying to keep their lead in the conference.

In the games the Islanders have won this season, it’s easy to see how hard they’ve worked in both ends of the ice. Practically swarming the puck the entire game, the Isles have proved Scott Gordon’s coaching system works, as long as they stick to it. However, for the majority of the young season, the Isles have looked tentative and seem unable to push the kind of pace on the ice they need to in order to win hockey games.

Perhaps as the season gets going and they get key players back this will change, but as of right now, this is starting to look like the beginning of a very long season.

On another note, according to Newsday, Andy Sutton is very close to returning and Mike Sillinger skated with the team for the first time this season a few days ago. If Witt is out long term, Sutton’s return is a crucial one. Even though he isn’t the defender Witt is, he’s a solid defenseman who can even help out on the powerplay if he has to. He’s also the crease clearer this team desperately needs right now. Guaranteed if Sutton is the lineup against the Sabres and he was on the ice for a few of those goals in front of the net, there could have been a few that he could have got in the way of. His toughness too is something this team desperately needs as well.

The same thing goes for Sillinger, who if healthy, gives this team an offense threat and a guy that can win important face offs. With Mike Comrie, Doug Weight, Sillinger and possibly Josh Bailey at center, the Isles will be solid depth wise at that position. Nothing against Frans Nielsen, but he’s another youngster on this team that while showing flashes of brilliance at times this season, has for the most part, looked out of place.

Can’t think about any of this tonight though, as the Isles will simply have to stick to the guns they have and hope they’re firing.

It is something to think about as the season continues though.

Because if that, I figured I’d break down the play of some of the youngsters in this post and discuss what I think they need to do to be more effective.

Kyle Okposo- In order for KO to be at his best, he has to do two things: shoot and take the body. Similar to Trent Hunter in the fact that he has a great shot and can be a presence physically, but different due to his solid skating ability and above average speed, KO can be a dangerous commodity; he just has to be less picky with his scoring opportunities and skate more. He can’t shy away from contact either. The next time he’s skating towards a puck in the corner, you’ll see that he’ll take the puck, rather then the body. Once that agenda gets fixed and he starts shooting more, I think you’ll see a different player on the ice.

Nate Thompson- Another guy that needs to take body more. His play in his own end has been okay, but he has to be more of a physical presence. He hasn’t been shooting the puck at all either through his first cup of coffee with the Isles, so I don’t even know what else to say

Jeff Tambellini- He needs to stop avoiding contact and use his stick handling ability to find his way in the middle of the ice. Too many times this season has he skated by people along the boards and ended up coughing the puck. In the AHL, Tambellini wasn’t scared of getting hit if it meant an opportunity to score a goal. In the NHL, he seems extremely passive and rather than go through defenses or draw penalties through hard work, he’s trying to make the highlight reel east west pass in front of the net. I got news for you Tambs, it’s not going to happen. Start earning your bumps and bruises and you’ll be a better player for it.

Frans Nielsen- While his passing has been solid, his play on the powerplay has been a bit suspect, as a lack of confidence and an overbearing sense of unfamiliarity with the NHL game seem present. With his speed, Nielsen should be playing with fire, much like a guy like Jason Blake, who draws penalties and uses his speed to give himself room on the ice. Right now however, Nielsen seems too preoccupied with making the perfect pass than skating and giving himself the adequate room so he’s able to pass in the first place.

If the Islanders offense could have gotten something going, this game could have been won. However, they didn’t have the same jump in their step they had against the Lightning. It just felt like every time they got a cycle going in the offensive zone, someone committed a turnover or failed to pull the trigger. Simply put, many of the youngsters have to shoot the puck more and stop hesitating. There were a few instances last night where that happened and it ended up costing the Islanders the game. If this team is going to battle for the last playoff spot this season, they have to finish on offense. That didn’t happen last night.

And therein lies the biggest problem with this team this season; they don’t have a bona fide finisher aside from Bill Guerin. So they have to get the youngsters and guys like Andy Hilbert, Trent Hunter and Richard Park to pot in a few every time they get a chance. Otherwise, this is going to be a very long season.

The only line that really had their legs in my mind last night was the Jon Sim, Guerin and Doug Weight line, who were buzzing in the offensive end, making passes and taking shots when they had to. However, Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun battled back after a less than mediocre appearance against the Wild a few days back and shut them down. Even a pair of powerplay opportunities couldn’t get this team going on offense. Because of how dormant the sticks were last season, I’m sure many fans are hoping that the team doesn’t fall into the same rut they did last season. If they do, things could end up even worse. Remember, this team doesn’t have the depth on the forward lines they had last season either.

The defense, aside from a few terrible passes in his own end by Thomas Pock, the Islanders defense was pretty solid. Again, their play in front of the crease needs to improve, but they weren’t allowing as many second chances as they were in the other games they’ve played this season.

That was one of the only real positives I could take out of last night’s game.

Looks like Scott Gordon is going to have some video to watch this week before the team’s net game with the Dallas Stars.

However, they are two teams that are very different from one another.

The Islanders on one hand are hoping, almost praying, that guys like Sean Bergenheim, Kyle Okposo and Jeff Tambellini can develop into superstars and take them to the next level. They’re also hoping that guys like Mike Comrie, Trent Hunter and Richard Park can have career years, while keeping their fingers crossed that Doug Weight and Bill Guerin can prove they have some gas left in their tanks.

The Panthers on the other hand, missed the painfully obvious memo last season that most of the kids they’ve drafted over the past few years have turned into decent players, rather than the superstars they’ve envisioned. Sure Jay Bouwmeester, Nathan’s Famous Horton and David Booth are great players that any team would like to have, but even the biggest Panthers fan would have a problem explaining what went wrong with guys like Stephen Weiss, who was supposed to a point a game player in this league at one point and Rusty Olesz, who prefers to hit people from behind nowadays, rather than put the puck in the net; something he hasn’t shown too much proficiency doing yet anyway. After that, they have former high picks like Shawn Matthias, Kamil Kreps and Anthony Stewart, who are servicable players that are merely taking up space on the bottom two lines. Add in acquisition Corey Stillman, who has never been the same player since leaving the Lightning and it’s easy to see how similar, yet different these two teams really are.

So with that being said, what do the Islanders need to do to come out victorious tonight? The same thing they did against the Lightning: SKATE! If the Isles keep those legs moving, they will draw penalties and with the way Hunter and Weight have played over the past few games, the Isles can and will pot few with the man advantage.

However, there is another way the team can give themselves a chance at victory tonight and that is having a healthy Rick DiPietro in net. Newsday beat writer Greg Logan seems to think DP is in the net tonight and I have to agree. He’s been off the ice first in practice, which is customary for the starting goaltender of the next game and I think after the 6-0 loss in his first game in the preseason, his conditioning may finally be where it’s supposed to be now. If he is healthy, the Islanders just got their best player back and a third defenseman on the ice that will keep the Panthers at bay behind the goal line.

If not, Joey MacDonald will get the call and that in itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Despite the one game against Buffalo, where the team’s defense called in sick, Mac has been good enough for the Isles.

At any rate, regardless of who is in net, this should be a fun one to watch.

So what exactly does Comrie have to do to get back on track?

1-Make decisions with the puck

Just like a bad driver, Comrie is at his worst when he isn’t aggressive. When he’s forced to hold on to the puck and do something with it, he often reverts to his toe-drag [I'll get to that some more later] to get around and often gets stripped of the puck. If that doesn’t happen, Comrie was resort to dumping the puck into the zone and often times that will be the end of the play. He doesn’t have the smarts of a guy like Mike Sillinger or the play-making ability of Doug Weight, but he does have good speed. If he uses his legs, he’ll get more scoring opportunities and will draw penalties.

2- Don’t get lazy

When Comrie isn’t on his game, he gets so lazy with the puck that he won’t hesitate for second to bring a guy down with a hook. The same thing goes for him on offense, as cross-ice passes aren’t out of the ordinary. Much like Rick DiPietro, when Comrie is on, he can be a dominant player. When he’s off however, he can really his team. In order to counteract this, Comrie needs to keep his legs moving and fully embrace Scott Gordon’s overspeed system. If he does, it could transform him into a different player.

3- No more toe drags!

I’ve said it a thousand times on this site and I’ll continue to say it until Comrie tries to become a more eclectic player. The toe drag works in moderation. Not every single game. Notice that after the first few weeks of the season last year, Comrie didn’t score with the move again until a late season game with the San Jose Sharks and again against the Sabres, the same team he used it against the first week of the season.

If he wants to be a player this team can depend on, he’ll have to devote himself to asking for more out of his game. Being more aggressive, using his speed and using other moves besides the toe drag can get him there.

When the Islanders skate, pressure the puck and play a little smarter in their own zone, they can be a pretty fun team to watch. Add in an empty-netter, a short-handed goal and a goal with the man-advantage and I don’t think the Isles could have played this one any better.

Overall, it was great to see guys like Andy Hilbert and Mike Comrie, who didn’t play their best hockey on Friday, turn it around and be driving factors in the win. Comrie, who was schooled so bad defensively on Friday that I thought I heard my dog cry in the other room, was snappier on the ice and was visible on nearly every shift. And more importantly, no toe drags! Hilbert wasn’t horrible on Friday, he just couldn’t finish. But last night, he, too, was noticeable and was making the most of opportunities.

However, while the team turned around their timid play from opening night, one player didn’t need to step it up. Simply put, Joey MacDonald was once again stellar, making breathtaking saves left and right, while having solid rebound control and poise. A lot of Islander fans weren’t happy when Wade Dubielewicz left the team to go to Russia [and because the Isles pretty much pegged MacDonald to be the backup this season] so number 35 kind of had a tough task ahead of him. One, play well an earn the respect of the fans and now, play well enough to keep the team above water until DP is completely healthy. It’s always a feel-good story when a guy performs well that you didn’t expect too, but MacDonald’s play over the last two games has proven [so far] that the Isles don’t have to play DP 70 games this season. With the NHL’s new policy on injuries, I doubt any of us will know what is exactly wrong with him and when he’ll be back, so until then, Joey Mac has to keep running with the ball.

Another guy that played very well last night was Sean Bergenheim. Anyone see Scott Gordon patting him on the back in the third period? Less than 10 minutes of ice-time and four shots on goal. Not a bad day at the office if you ask me. I think it’s fair to say he earned himself some more playing time last night and if he continues to play that way, he’s going to be playing much more. Also, I loved that the Isles had the veterans out there the last few minutes to sew up the game. Hopefully, by the end of the season, we’ll see a few of the younger guys in that spot.

Lastly, in my opinion, it looks like Radek Martinek has at least a separated shoulder. If you watch the video, it look like his shoulder disappeared under his jersey when he ran into the boards. Not good if you ask me. This guy has the worst luck of any player I’ve ever sen. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best defensive D-men in the league. With Chris Campoli and Andy Sutton already out as well, this was the last thing this team needed. For the time being, Jack Hillen will most likely get the nod to replace him, which is good for you fans that want to see more youth, but for those who want to see the team sneak into a playoff spot this season, it’s scary.

Scarier than seeing Barrett Jackman punch Jon Sim in the face twice and not having a penalty called.

Photo by NHL Media.

From the look of it so far, it looks like the team is diggin’ it.

“The essence of the style is to be constantly moving and getting the puck up the ice quickly. It’s all about high speed with and without the puck and putting pressure on the opposition. “It was a long night for the wingers when we played against Providence in the past,” said Tambellini on the team’s official website on Sunday. “The defensemen sat right up on the wingers when we tried to get the puck out. It’s a very fluid system that Gordon implements. It keeps the opposition from having too much time with the puck. We’re all going to have to be skating at top speed.”

Sounds to me that every player on this team is going to have pest-like characteristics then. With a lack of a true first-line center and a first line in general, this may work out well. Again however, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about guys like Hunter, Guerin and Weight getting comfortable. Over the years, I’ve seen guys [take Markus Naslund for instance] get their style cramped when a new coach came in with a new style, so I really don’t want to see guys games get hurt to their point where they are ineffective.

On the other hand, you’d have to think that after the relatively mediocre offensive production this team had last season, that a guy like Hunter or Guerin that have the talent to score 25 to 30 goals in this league if they get hot, are willing to try anything.

With that being said, I think this system to tailor-made for getting the most out of players like Richard Park, Sean Bergenheim, Frans Neilsen, Andy Hilbert and Jon Sim. I even feel that Mike Comrie and Kyle Okposo can benefit from it as well. Let’s face it, teams that skate hard and keep moving every night usually win hockey games. If not, they’re fun to watch. Look at the Sabres team that beat the Islanders in the playoffs a few seasons ago as an example. Many of those players work their tails off in both ends and keep the puck moving, which makes them hard to defend against. I don’t know if it’ll work with the Islanders this season, but it should be fun to watch.

Here we go:

Defense Combo 1

Brendan Witt and Radek Martinek- Absolute no-brainer here. These guys in my mind are one of the top defensive pairings in the league when it comes to shutting down top lines. They play smart hockey and get the absolute most out of their ability. They had a bit of trouble against some of the faster teams in the league that I played, but with Martinek’s puck moving ability and Witt’s toughness, they were a blast to play with and guys that I know will be solid this season. I wish Martinek was more of an offensive threat, especially on the powerplay, but beggars can’t be choosers right? Overall, these guys were on the ice for 28-30 minutes a game for me and I don’t see any reason why they won’t get that type of ice time this season.

Defense Combo 2

Mark Streit and Chris Campoli- I know I may catch a little bit of flack for this, but I love this combination. Both have offensive ability and Campoli’s toughness and growing ability as a well-rounded defenseman in this league make this work for me. Campoli is ready for more responsibility and I think covering up for Streit on defense will allow him to grow as a player. Streit also benefits by having Campoli around because defenses will also have to watch Campo at the blue line, which gives him more room to skate and create. They were also very solid on the powerplay and it was fun to see them both take shots from the point.

Defense Combo 3

Bruno Gervais and Andy Sutton- Well-rounded and steady. That’s what comes to mind when I think of these guys. Both of these guys have more grit and offensive ability than they get credit for and in the video game world, or in a perfect world ha-ha, this completely shows. They block shots, take the body and can make the first pass out of the zone. They can also kill penalties pretty well too. However, inconsistency isn’t prevalent in the make-believe world of NHL 08 and while I think these guys can and will be solid, they will have to both be on top of their games this season or they’ll be in smaller roles.

Photo by Gamespot.com

At times, Comrie can be a potent finisher, capable of being a leader on a team and despite his size, is willing to drop the gloves if he has to. For those reasons, he’s a guy that many teams would like to have in a second or third line role. However, considering the combination of the Islanders rebuilding plan and a lack of solid free agents wanting to go there, Comrie was slotted as the team’s number one center.

While starting off 2008 like he was ready to score 70-80 points and proving he was more than a depth player, Comrie faded down the stretch. When the Islanders resigned him for 2009, I was originally happy because his numbers weren’t that bad, with 47 points in 55 games. Over his next 11 games though, Comrie only had two points and soon after got the flu and missed the rest of the season. Because of the way the Islanders handle injuries with the media, it’s hard to really know if Comrie was indeed sick or if he had other injuries plaguing his performance on the ice.

If he wasn’t hurt, his overuse of the toe-drag had to have played an influential part in his slide towards the end of the season. After the first 10 games of the season, the entire league had him scouted and was ready for his little move, making him look silly numerous times. The only teams that it wound up working against later in the season were the Western Conference teams that didn’t see much of him. In order for Comrie to effectively take his game to the next level, he’s going to have to add a few more moves to his arsenal. Otherwise, he’ll continue to be a solid secondary player and will never be a true superstar.

Another way Comrie could improve his play this season is by redefining his defensive game. How many times last season did Comrie cough the puck in his own end? Way too many times for many fans likings and my own. If he steps up his play in the defensive end, he’ll get more ice-time and will be able to get more of an opportunity to produce. He’ll also make himself more attractive to other teams in the league, which could nab the Isles a few prospects or a high draft pick if they decide to trade him at some point in the season.

The other variable with Comrie is where he fits in with the team’s offense. For my money, I’d like to see Doug Weight play with youngsters Jeff Tambellini and Kyle Okposo. The coaching staff however, may want to reunite Bill Guerin and Weight. That leaves Comrie kind of up in the air. Not having steady linemates may prove to be beneficial for him, considering how his play dipped on the same line with Ruslan Fedotenko and Guerin for most of the season.

However, it may limit his production and leave him on a line he’s not comfortable on.

The waiting game begins…

Photo by NHL Media

Well, as Meat Loaf once sang, “Two out of Three Ain’t Bad.”

Despite not scoring the amount of goals many people think he is capable of, Hunter has consistently been in the top ten in hits every season and is quietly becoming a leader on the Islanders. As a matter of fact, when Bill Guerin retires or signs somewhere else, I see either Brendan Witt or him becoming the next captain of this team.

Not the best skater in the world or the most flashy, Hunter is exactly what the Islanders claim to be in ads online and in the posters all over the Nassau Coliseum. Every night, he personifies, grit, character and heart. However, like most of the players on the team last season, Hunter had problems putting the puck in the net and despite playing hard all season and setting a new career-high in assists, many were disappointed in his overall play.

Others however feel that Hunter falls into the category of players like Richard Park, who work so hard on the ice that their offensive production is simply a benefit and that they should not be counted on for points. I however feel that the day Hunter is put into the same category as Park, it’s a sad one for Trent Hunter.

Nothing against Park, who had a great season last year, but he doesn’t have the size and potential of Hunter. With his strength and nose for the net, he should be scoring 20-25 goals a season. Park is a guy that kills penalties, buzzes around the ice all night long and takes advantage of mistakes by the opposition, He also takes a lot of shots for a fourth liner, hence his amount of goals last season.

Hunter, on the other hand, has the ability of taking his game to the next level if he continues to take the body and more importantly, finishes offensively. His shooting percentage was a deplorable 5.4 percent last season, meaning if he shot 10.8, which could still be considered average, he would have scored 24 goals. His rookie season, he shot 13.4 percent, which induced a 25-goal season. If he would have got that last season, he would have been around the 30-goal mark.

Also, he’s shown some kind of pattern in his game that every other year, his shooting percentage gets cut in half and he can’t get to 20 goals, where he belongs. In order for him to take his game to the next level, Hunter is also going to have to try and find a level of consistency. Otherwise, he like the Islanders, will be forced to revel in mediocrity.

Photo by NHL Media

Freddy Meyer- He may look like Bill Pullman, but he was no nonsense last year when he finally got an opportunity to play. After his first season in the NHL, many thought he could be a decent option on the powerplay, but after two seasons with the Islanders, it looks like he’s more of a puck-moving defenseman, who can play physically or against a top or second line when needed.

However, those attributes are those that are pretty much taken care of on the Islanders front with guys like Andy Sutton, Brendan Witt and Radek Martinek being able to play the shutdown defense the team needs and with the exception of Martinek, take the body. With that being said, it looks like either Gervais or Meyer is going to be the sixth defenseman on this team and it’s too early to tell who. For my money, I see Myer as a seventh defenseman, not for a lack of ability, but because of a lack of versatility. If he can get his game going offensively and be even more physical, he’ll be a top six d-man in this league.

Jack Hillen- I think he falls into the same category as Meyer because he does a lot of things that players on the Isles can do. However, given his track record in college, I think he’ll get a very long look in training camp as well. If Gervais and Meyer come into camp with an attitude or out of shape, I fully expect Hillen to be able to jump in and provide the type of play that will get him noticed as a top six-D man.

Overall, while not as good a skater as Gervais and not as physical as Meyer, Hillen has the best offensive game of the three and plays very solid defense. That type of versatility is something neither Gervais or Meyer have and it could go a long way in deciding his fate this season.

Dustin Kohn- I’ve been hearing this kid’s name for years on message boards and on the team’s official site and while I don’t know much about his game, it appears like he too could be a candidate for the final spot if he comes into camp with the right mindset. A second round pick in 2005, Kohn isn’t 18 anymore and this may be the camp when he starts to really open up some eyes.

Photo by NHL Media

Bruno Gervais

Predicted Stats- three goals, 15 assists, 22 :00 ATOI.

Last season, Gervais averaged 20 minutes a game of ice time and while it looked like he was in the good graces of Ted Nolan most of the time, he never really got a chance to break out of his shell offensively or play big time minutes in close games. Preferring to go with the likes of Brendan Witt and Radek Martinek on defense most of the time in tight contests, I believe Gervais was limited to mop up duty and only got a chance on the powerplay when there were little or no options left. A solid offensive D-man in juniors, I think Gervais can produce a little more than he has been over the past few seasons if given a real opportunity. At times, Gervais has led the rush on offense and seemingly, doesn’t look out of place at all. With a little more work, he can be a solid number four or five D-man that can contribute on both sides of the puck.

Chris Campoli

Predicted Stats- 12 goals, 22 assists.

Another player with a lot of room to grow, Campoli looked like he had it all figured out before a nasty shoulder injury ruined his season in 08. Combining the physical play he’s been getting a reputation for, while developing already good offensive skills, I see Campoli as someone who would look great with Mark Streit on the powerplay at some point in the season. It’s just a matter of staying healthy and in the good graces of the whoever coaches this team in 09, something the youngster has had a few problems with over the past few seasons.

Frans Nielsen

Predicted Stats- 10 goals, 20 assists.

Before Doug Weight was signed, I may have considered bumping his stats up just a little bit. However, on a fourth line with guys like Blake Comeau and Richard Park, I see Nielson playing a crucial role as a sparkplug and someone who can help on the powerplay and the penalty kill. Some may be turned off by his lack of size, but I believe his ability in the face-off circle, combined with his speed and quick release will make him a solid fourth liner and someone Isles fans will love by the end of the season.

Photo by Pete Borriello

Here we go:

Tom Poti.

I don’t know how you guys feel about him, but I think he was easily the Islanders best defenseman last season and was extremely under-appreciated and didn’t get nearly as much praise as he should have. However, at the same time, he wasn’t booed every single time he touched the puck when he was on the Rangers. That I think might have been what Poti wanted all along, just to be able to play his game and in the end, his game really benefited from it. Make no mistakes about the guy, Tom Poti was everything the Islanders could have ever asked for this season.

Basically combining the solid defensive play he showed the NHL during his last year with the Rangers and being the consistent offensive defenseman many scouts thought he was eventually going to be during his days in college, Poti was excellent on both sides of puck. In all honesty, he reminds me a lot of Adrian Aucoin [at least when he was on the Isles] because not only can he eat up minutes, but he’s not scared to block shots and take the body when he has to. The only thing I think I’d really change about Poti’s game is that I’d make him take some more shots from the point. He’s got way too good of a shot to be passing to Marc-Andre Bergeron ALL the time.

Poti shooting a bit more would also make Bergeron less on a target on the powerplay and penalty-killing units would have to worry about both of their shots and not just Bergeron’s. At any rate, Poti, if signed, could continue to be a huge contributor to the team.

The only question is, do we keep him?

With Sean Hill’s Islanders career most likely over, I think Poti has to stay. I love Bruno Gervais and Chris Campoli, but I don’t think their ready to be 25-minute a game defenseman yet. In addition, Poti is more adept on the power play than both of them and as we saw in the Islanders playoff series against Buffalo, they don’t have many options at the point when they’re on the man advantage. Radek Martinek coming back healthy and strong will help, but having Poti around as both a leader and a mentor to Gervais, Campoli and whoever else might be around next season will be extremely important for the Islanders and their defense core.

Keep ‘em.

One quote in particular, by Mike Lupica, after the Islanders lost to the Rangers in the playoffs in 1979 [four years before I was born] really made me think about how far this sport has deviated from what made it so great and thrust me to the keyboard faster than Rosie O’Donnell to a nearby White Castle at lunchtime.

After that series in ‘79, Lupica wrote, “New York has been spoiled. They will never forget these hockey teams.”

Sadly almost 30 years later, Lupica was wrong, but I’d almost do anything in my power to make him right on this one.

After the Rangers won the Cup in ’94 and after two strikes in 95 and 2004, this sport has paled in comparison to what it used to be. When I first started watching hockey, it didn’t matter who was playing. The passion, grit and energy that was hockey in the early 90’s and before was absolutely astonishing to me and glued my young Rickey Schroeder- looking self to the television . As I’ve mentioned before in previous columns, I would watch Rangers, Devils and Islanders games as a youngster because I loved the game so much and just wanted to see guys out there competing. That’s how amazing the sport was to me then.

Nowadays, despite seeing all three local teams make the playoffs for the first time since ’94, I feel that the game has changed drastically and the things that made it so great may be gone forever. Gone forever are the personalities like Clark Gillies and Bob Probert, tough guys who could put the puck in the net as often as they dropped the gloves, to only be replaced by uber-talented youngsters like Sidney Crosby, Dany Heatley and Evgeni Malkin. It’s not that that’s a bad thing, it’s just not the same.

I know I’m deviating from my point here, but 30 years after that amazing playoff series that Lupica spoke about, are there any remnants of that kind of play left in the game today? Sadly, I’d have to say there aren’t nearly enough.

However, I’d be out of my mind to say that I still don’t love the game, it’s just in a different way.

Like a long, loving relationship, over a long period of time, things change and the reason why you originally fell in love with someone may not be present anymore; despite that however, the person can name a myriad of other reasons why they stay connected with that person and still harbor feelings for them, making the relationship stand the test of time and provide memories that make life itself worth living.

While hockey doesn’t feature the same type of hitting, grit and toughness that made me a lifelong fan 15 years ago, the speed added to the game over the past few years are exciting and great to watch in their own way and have continued to spark my interest and keep me watching.

But that’s just me. Like the thousands of marriage that end up in divorce every year, hockey fans will continue to watch something else if their needs aren’t met and they aren’t satisfied. Let’s face it, not everyone is a hardcore fan or capable of being in a loving, long-lasting relationship and it’s those people that have the ability to change the way the world looks at things.

Right now, the NHL needs to find a way to keep the hardcore fan involved with the game and bring in the casual one, without altering the game to the point where it’s barely recognizable anymore.

Otherwise, the rich and nostalgic history this sport has will be gone forever.

It’s already started.

Now it’s time to stop it.

This team didn’t play their best hockey last night, but there are huge questions still surrounding the game as we speak.

I know what most of you are thinking; “Why did Mike Leggo blow the whistle?”

Well, Rule 69.3 in the 2006-07 NHL rule book states:

“If an attacking player initiates contact with a goalkeeper, incidental or otherwise, while the goalkeeper is in his crease, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.

“If a goalkeeper, in the act of establishing his position within his goal crease, initiates contact with an attacking player who is in the goal crease, and this results in an impairment of the goalkeeper’s ability to defend his goal, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.”

Now the question is this, does the goal the Isles almost scored last night fall into one of those categories? Well, I guess you guys are going to going to have to be the judge on that.

At this point, it has to be either that or in an even more unfortunate situation for Leggo and Islander fans, he just lost sight of the puck.

If you guys want even more information on what happened, hear it straight from the horse’s mouth: http://www.newyorkislanders.com/pressbox/archive.asp?id=1576. By the way, it only gets more provocative from there, so be warned.

All I know is if that goal stands, then the Islanders have a totally different game on our hands. Instead, what happens is that the Isles find themselves down a goal and had no more momentum. It was like someone stepped on the garden hose when the water was on full boar. The energy was there, but after that goal wasn’t allowed, there was no way the Islanders were going to come out victorious against a team like the Sabres.

It almost felt like the deck was totally stacked against them. It was bad enough that for the past three games the team hasn’t gotten enough shots on goal, but to have a goal not counted like that had to be absolutely devastating.

As well, what was the deal with the Teppo Numminen boarding call? The guy went out of his way to take Jason Blake into the boards head first, so why not give him a double minor? The way these referees are calling this series, you’d have to think that the NHL is going to have to seriously reevaluate the way they call the game this offseason.

Let’s face it, this sport changes drastically when a team gets the opportunity on the power play and when there are really no clear cut penalties anymore and a variety of things are left up to the referees, things get really dangerous.

In addition, why didn’t the Islanders respond physically after their leading goal scorer was hit like that in the corner? Where was Arron Asham or Brendan Witt on that play? Why wasn’t Numminen taught a lesson? I don’t know about you guys, but I think Chris Simon could have been an extremely important factor in this series if he wasn’t suspended.

This whole series the Islanders have lacked the type of physical play that could have stifled the Buffalo attack. Rather than take the body on guys like Chris Drury, Daniel Briere and the myriad of other offensive threats on the Sabres, the Isles have given them room to skate and have allowed them to get in front of the net without paying the price.
Over the offseason, I’d really like this team to try and get some more power guys, more people in the mold of Trent Hunter and Ryan Smyth.

All that aside, the bottom line is that the Islanders still didn’t get enough shots on Miller. Sure, the power play looked much better, but they still shanked way too shots and missed the net more times than I can count. While the Isles have been in every game in this series, they missed a golden opportunity to keep the Sabres in check and live to fight another day. Instead, now they find themselves on the brink of oblivion with no room for error.

With the next game on Friday, the Isles will have to empty out their tanks and give everything they got. Otherwise, they’ll have to watch the rest of the playoffs at home with their families. My heart wants to say that this team still has a shot at taking this series, but my brain says that Friday will be the season finale for this team. I can’t say that I’m disappointed in this team however, because in all honesty, they kept me on the edge of my seat all season long.

Despite being on the brink of elimination, I’m not ready to give up on them yet; there’s still 60 minutes of hockey left to play at the very least and you guys can rest assured that I’ll be watching. I’ve refused to give up on them all season and I’m not about to start now.

Because in the end, no one loves a Cinderella story more than I do.

However, can the Islanders miraculously turn this series around and beat the Sabres?

There’s only one way to find out.

Guess we’ll have to wait until Friday.

Like I said yesterday, the Islanders need to get back to the gritty, blue-collared and physical game that got them into the playoffs and have to stop trying to beat the Sabres at their own game. That means that guys like Sean Hill, Brendan Witt, Trent Hunter, Arron Asham and Chris Campoli need to start throwing their bodies around more.

I still don’t understand why this team looked so pensive against Buffalo, were they scared to make huge mistakes and get down early?

Were they intimated by the Sabres skating ability?

Was Buffalo just that damn good on Thursday?

Why I disagree with the later, I do think that the Islanders didn’t want to put themselves in the same situation with the Sabres that they were in on March 30, when they lost 6-4 and found themselves down early. As well, the Sabres are one of the best skating teams in the league and it’s easy to just stand there and watch when a team can do the things on offense that they can do. If the Islanders are going to have any chance at making it to the next round, they have to find a way of stopping the flashy Sabres from finding open ice.
One way of doing that is to start taking the body.

Another way for the Isles to stifle Buffalo’s offensive attack is to have every Islander skate hard, in an effort to outwork the Sabres. How many times this season have we seen guys like Alexei Yashin, Viktor Kozlov and Ryan Smyth draw penalties in the corners because they kept their heads down and kept fighting for the puck? If the Islanders can keep skating, they’ll draw penalties and keep the play in the Buffalo zone, which would give whoever’s playing goal for the Isles a break.

I’ve said it a thousand times this season and I find myself forced to say it again, the Islanders defense needs to try and limit how many shots the opposition takes. I still can’t believe they managed to get this far facing easily over 30 shots a game and if there going to make it further, they have to start playing more aggressively on defense and need to clear the front of the net and not botch any assignments.

If they don’t do that, it doesn’t matter who’s in net.

While Lundqvist and Weekes both looked horrible in net, DP had to make a ton of saves and despite giving up two soft goals, he played well enough to win.
Ah man, I can’t begin to describe how big this win was or how great it felt to know that this team is capable of scoring seven goals against a playoff team without our best player/leading scorer. Also, in spite of the absence of Yashin, guys like Chris Simon, Mike Sillinger, Richard Park, Arron Asham and of course Viktor Kozlov have stepped up their games and have been the main reason why we’re 2-2 with him instead of 0-4.

On top of all of this, the physical play of Trent Hunter and Brendan Witt has really fortified the stellar play on the ice as of late. Scoring seven goals is great, but standing up for your teammates and making sure none of them get hurt is another. Overall, I couldn’t be happier with the way this team has played over the first 26 games of the season. Sure, they started off a little slow and the team has had problems scoring from time to time, but when we’ve been hot, we’ve played the kid of gritty, blue collar and hard hitting hockey that everyone in the NHL can appreciate.

If you asked any beat writer in the NHL or any hockey fan before the season started if they thought the Islanders would be where they are right now, I don’t think that you’d get an answer that I could write on this site. No one expected the Isles to be anywhere near a playoff position, nevertheless first-place. I felt this team had the potential to make the playoffs before the season even started, but getting the opportunity to watch them through the first third of the season, I really think this team has what it takes.

Ranger fans may feel and think the opposite, but right now we’re in first and they’re not, so truth be told, their opinion doesn’t mean much.

Let’s go Islanders.

While I was too young to remember Brent Sutter and Denis Potvin as Islander captains, I do remember Patrick Flatley’s tenure quite vividly. While not the physical type of player future Islander captains would be [Bryan McCabe and Michael Peca immediately come to mind], Flats was the type of player [when healthy] that every team in the NHL would want on their team because he worked harder than everyone else and led by example. 

I can’t tell you how many times during the 93 and 94 seasons that I saw Flatley fight off of checks in the corners and manage to get the puck free to players and turn a useless dump in into a scoring opportunity. Sometimes it was amazing how “The Chairman of the Boards” could squeeze his way through two or three opposing players and use his feet to kick the puck to a teammate or how well he saw the ice and could make such accurate blind passes in the corners. 

It was this type of hustle and grit that made up for the fact that Flatley never blossomed into the scoring machine that the Islanders thought he and Pat Lafontaine would become. However, when the Islanders decided to change the entire makeup of their team, trading away fan favorites like Brent Sutter, Randy Wood and Lafontaine in a matter of weeks, they kept Flatley and made him the new captain. In keeping Flatley on the team, the Islanders showed their fans that they still cared about the legacy the team had and felt Flats was one of the players the new team could look to for leadership. 

And what a solid leader he was, as the Islanders managed to make the playoffs during both seasons Flatley managed to play more than 60 games in, proving just how valuable he was to the team. As a matter of fact, I think Flatley’s presence on the ice alone played a huge part in the eventual development of players like Marty McInnis, Todd Bertuzzi, Travis Green and Zigmund Palffy because he got accustomed to the NHL playing alongside the Islander greats that no one will ever forget and showed those players what it took to be consistent. That alone makes up for the fact that he never scored more than 20 goals in any season during his career with the Isles. 

The only dark spot in Flatley’s career I believe was that one year he played for the Rangers and wasn’t used the way a player with his ability could have been used. Nevertheless, he did manage to score 10 goals and a dozen helpers playing on a fourth line. The only positive was that Flats got the opportunity to play in the playoffs again. 

Regardless, one year with the Broadway Blue shirts could never tarnish a solid career with the Isles. Not to mention the entertainment value of the “Heals and Flats” show, Flats will always be remembered as one of the most underrated team captains in Islanders history.

Being the third game in four nights for the Isles, they weren’t expected to come out with a lot of jump and at first, they didn’t. But, like most games the team has played over the past 3 weeks, they found a way to put things together and pulled out an impressive 4-1 win.

I only hope Yashin is ok after the knee to knee collision, he’s too hot now to get injured on us. We need him for than ever right now.

Over the course of the game, I found myself smiling numerous times. However, it wasn’t at the two beautiful goals Blake scored, the hard working goal Park scored, or even the empty net goal I hope gets Hunter going to get me to crack a smile, it was the play of Rick Dipietro.
 
After a few of those saves, I felt like throwing in my WWE soundtrack and playing Shelton Benjamin’s theme song, “Ain’t No Stopping Me Now.” [If you don’t watch wrestling and have no idea what I’m talking about, then just continue reading and think of other ways to not have a life.]

Not obsessed with playing the puck anymore, DP looked amazing, stopping everything in his way except for a lone Ovechin goal, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. They scored the goals they had to against a very solid goaltender in Olaf Kolzig, took the body when they had to and made sure they didn’t waste a great game in net. That’s what good teams do and ever since they took that shellacking in Tampa Bay a few weeks back, they’ve looked like a totally different team.

DP, for one, is playing the puck much less and has given D-men like Sean Hill, Brendan Witt and Alexei Zhitnik an opportunity to make the first pass more often. That alone has been a huge factor in the Islanders success. The Isles need those three guys back there working hard and being a part in every game they play; they play more minutes than anybody else on the team for a reason. Their invigorated play as of late is going almost completely unnoticed, but truth be told, they have been great over the past five games and it goes hand in hand with the matured play of DP.

POOR ANDY…

What does this poor kid have to do to score a goal? If the man upstairs let Mick Vukota score a hat trick on more than one occasion during his career, he has to let Andy get at least one before the All-Star break. The past few games, he’s been peppering the nets with shot and hitting goal posts, which has been good, but damn, it’s like he’s jinxed or something.

FAVORITE MOMENT LAST NIGHT…

Had to be when Kolzig slammed his stick down on the ice after one of the goals. He looked so frustrated. But then again, that’s what happens when your defense consists of NHL rejects like Jamie Heward and Bryan Muir, geesh.

NEXT GAME…

Tuesday, against the Pens….again. This time they’ll probably have Crosby back in the lineup, so the Islanders can silence the retards on the internet that don’t give this team any credit, making excuses every time they do something right and take these “Happy Feet” impersonators on a march that they’ll never forget.

Let’s Go Isles.

Hopefully, just maybe, looking back a few months from now, we can say that this was when the Islanders season really began.

Pure domination, that’s the best way to put it. Every line had their thing going. Asham, Park and Bates were flying all over the ice and the defense was joining the play and not having any problems getting back and stifling the Hurricanes offense.

While the offense of the Hurricanes was held in check last night, the Isles were all over the puck and again, Alexei Yashin and Jason Blake were on fire. Billy Jaffe made a great point by saying that they are both being unselfish with the puck and it’s paying well for them. Also, despite taking a few penalties [one of them was a complete joke as York was getting his stick held by a Hurricane and the back referee made the call for hooking when it was obvious he was getting his stick held], York played a solid game and provided some energy with Kozlov and Hunter.

We were so dominant last night that even Andy Hilbert managed to stick out, managing a season-high six shots on goal.

Simply put, when someone who has no points plays his best game of the year, you have to win. Luckily for the Isles, DP stayed on top of his game despite facing a minimum amount of shots and the rest of the team stuck together and played their best game of the season. Maybe now, the rest of the league will start to take the Isles a little bit more seriously.

BRUNO!

Maybe it was just me, but I’m starting to become a fan of Bruno Gervais. He plays such a solid game on both ends of the ice and it goes almost completely unnoticed. A few times he joined the rush last night and you could see that this kid has some speed. With Campoli in Bridgeport now, it looks like Bruno is here to stay. Originally wanting to see Campoli back in the lineup, I was hesitant of Bruno’s ability, but over the past few games, he’s made me a believer.

POOR MIRO!

I would have never thought that Satan would get himself into a slump like this, even though he’s a streaky scorer. Nevertheless, it’s great that he’s finding ways to score and he really played a great game last night, if anyone deserved that open-netter, it was Miro. If he continues to play this way, I have no doubt that the goals will come.

NEXT GAME…
 
Malkin and the Penguins come to the coliseum on Friday. Crosby missed the last game due to a groin injury, so he’s not likely to be 100% if he plays. This might be exactly what the Islanders need, considering a win against the Pens will put the Isles in sole possession of the last playoff spot in the conference. I know it may be a bit too early to think about the playoffs, but these games against division rivals will end up meaning a lot by the end of the season.

Before last night’s game started, I really wanted DP in there, because I want him to get into a big rhythm, but after 30 odd saves, I felt like the Islanders goaltending situation hasn’t been this solid since we had Ozzy & Snowie together. Dunham is really making his case that he can be depended on this season.

Always known for being a solid goaltender, who was always in the wrong place at the wrong time [backing up Martin Brodeur, being the starting goaltender for a Predators team that had nobody, but him that was worth a damn, being a part of the revolving door that was the Thrashers goaltending situation last year, THE RANGERS, etc] Dunham has come to the Isles this season and has been simply amazing. Even when they got smoked by the Lighting last week 5-1, Dunham was solid, but got little help from his D.

Last night however, was much different.

Over the past few games, it seems that our defense core has picked up their games and is playing great on both sides of the puck. Even Brendan Witt was taking some shots from the point last night and Sean Hill and Radek Martinek were again extremely solid. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I think aside from the sloppiness they showed for a few minutes here and there last night, the Isles defensive effort was perfect.

If that wasn’t enough, Blake and Yashin again played a marvelous game on both ends and both gave each other great passes that led to goals. It’s kind of a double edged sword however when you think about it, because I keep saying to myself, “WHY DIDN’T ANYONE THINK OF PUTTING THEM ON THE SAME LINE BEFORE?” But then again, instead of thinking about it, I’m just going to enjoy it. I haven’t seen two players on the Islanders play like this together since, well never!

It was also great to see Asham and Satan get goals too; we need to get them going in the biggest way and last night might be exactly what they need. Andy Hilbert also played a decent game last night but hasn’t been anything like the crafty, underrated player we thought he would be. He has to get going shortly or I can see him in another jersey very soon.

This one; hope it fits.

Back to Dunham…

Two nights ago, I compared DP to Billy Smith because of his frequently excellent use of the stick check and last night Billy Jaffe compared Dunham to him, which shows you how well these two guys have been playing. Right now we’re second in the conference in GAA and in the upper tier as far as the entire NHL goes. If we can keep that up and then get some more offense, this season is going to be a lot of fun for everyone.

NEXT GAME…

After we drop off Gino Campoli, we go see our old friends the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, I hope Darcy Tucker and company are ready to meet Brendan Witt and Chris Simon. Should be interesting to say the very least.

Let’s go Isles.

In the end, that was the only thing that separated the Islanders from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It was just a case of the score not meaning all that much by the end of the game.

The fact that the Islanders came back against a team like that after being down early really showed me how much this team wants to win. Ricky D played his third straight great game as well; he’s controlling the puck much less and is challenging shooters, which means his groin is back to where it should be and he’s ready to take this team where it’s supposed to be. It’s funny, a few times last night, my father compared him to Billy Smith because he was being so aggressive and was using the stick check so well.

If Ricky is going to continue to play like that, I think this team can hold their own with anybody. Like I’ve said before, the only thing that is keeping DP from being the dominant goaltender we all know he can be is his maturity. The past three games, he’s almost been a completely different player. To be honest, I hope the old DP got kidnapped and this one is here to stay.

Aside from DP’s great play, what about Radek Martinek last night? Oh my god, it was like someone set his ass on fire or something. I haven’t seen him play like that since the first year he was here. To be fair, Martinek is one of those players [much like Kenny Jonsson] that play so consistently that you sometimes forget that he’s on the ice. But his performance last night was a step above what he’s been doing lately.

I still can’t get over the goal he scored last night, what a laser beam! After he took the shot, Holmqvist snapped his neck back at him, saying in body language, WHO THE HELL WAS THAT?

IT WAS MARTINEK, RADEK MARTINEK. HE HAS A LICENSE TO SHOOT.
[Sorry for the crappy Bond reference, I couldn’t resist]

If Martinek’s goal wasn’t enough, York’s goal was highlight material too. It looked light Holmqvist was having major problems with shots from being the circle and the Islanders should have tested him from there during the shootout. Nevertheless, I’ll take the point considering we were down 2-0 against a team with that such offensive talent. For us to stick in there, take the body, cycle the puck well and come back, is a positive step forward for this team.

TONIGHT, AGAINST FLORIDA…

The Isles need to continue taking the body and hustling against an older Florida Panther team that has a good balance of scoring ability, goaltending and defense. Look for Eddie Belfour to try and redeem himself after his post-game drunken escapes the last time the Islanders played the Panthers. If not, he could always cut Alex Auld with a beer bottle again.

DP was stellar tonight as well. He made all the tough saves [the ones that weren’t blocked by Brendan Witt] and controlled the puck really well and for that, I’d like to take personal responsibility.

Ever since I started this site, I’ve been bitching about DP’s penchant for playing the puck at the wrong times and for the past two games, he’s been great in that area. The only reason I can come up with for this change to occur so quickly would have to be that someone must be relaying these comments posted by yours truly about DP over the past two weeks to him.

For instance:

11-11

Like I’ve mentioned before, I love the kid, I like the fact that he’s a great athlete with a ton of charisma, but like most goalies, he’s a little screwy on the ice sometimes and it costs us every time. Playing the puck like a maniac is one thing, but doing it over and over is another.  

That one is nothing compared to this one:

11-06

Rick Dipietro, you are killing me man! Stay in the goddamn net! You would think by now, after over five years as a professional hockey player, someone would have said you something by now. To me, it seems that you actually think that playing the puck so much is a good thing or you just don’t care what anyone else tells you. Which one is it?   

Regardless of what the case may be, this whole situation is due to the fact that obviously, no one in the Islanders organization feels comfortable telling him to cut out the nonsense. Why you would coddle someone who you just signed to a 15-year contract is beyond me. They obviously want to see DP get better, so why not tell him that he has to wake up and stop acting like a baby?  
 
This is the best one though:

  11-05

DP was on his back like Lindsay Lohan and allowed a weak backhand to get past him.   

But anyway, back to my Post-Game Rant: Was it me or was that goal that Jason Blake scored tonight one of the prettiest from an Islander all season? It makes me feel so good that Yashin and Blake are playing so well together. The revitalized play of Brendan Witt has been inspiring too. He was blocking shots left and right, making solid defensive plays and hitting everything that moves; that’s why we wanted him on this team and I’m happy he’s proving now that he is capable of still being a presence on the ice. Maybe I was imagining things, but I think Sean Hill played a solid game as well; he even managed to take the body on a few occasions; the fact that Miro and Trent got points tonight was another positive as well. Overall, everyone played a hard working, blue-collar game and that’s what this team needs to continue doing if they want to win.

Next up, the Isles have the Tampa Bay Lightning, powered by Brad “My shooting percentage sucks” Richards, who just so happens to be my g/f’s favorite player. Every time the Isles play the Lighting and Tampa wins, I hear it from her… big time. To make matters worse, it seems that Richards is usually the reason why the Isles lose.

To put an end to this, I am personally offering any Islander player 20 dollars or any video game I own [my collection is quite massive, go to http://www1.gamespot.com/users/sonicboom713/games_table?mode=own to check it out] if they manage to put a big hit on Richards. Hopefully, my prayers will be answered.

Let’s go Islanders.

The last part of this blog is a complete faux. If you think I’m stupid enough to give up 20 dollars or a video game to see a player do his job on the ice, you’re an idiot. Thanks for reading though…suckers.