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New York Islanders 2009-10 Schedule: Diving in

One thing to keep in mind, before we register further complaint about the Islanders' schedule, is that it sounds like every fanbase has reason to say, "Who came up with this thing?"

That's the case every season when you try to herd cats -- or rather, fit 30 teams' 82-game schedule into travel patterns, around big dates and holidays, and into multi-use facilities. But it's particularly so when the league takes the second half of February off for the Olympics.

That said, there's nothing wrong with crying in our drinks about scheduling hardships, conspiracies and near-misses  -- for we humans are good at this game. There's also nothing wrong with the filp-side: Thanking our lucky stars that Molly McWaffle called off the wedding (again), leaving us free to catch the Islanders-Devils matinee the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Or allowing a moment to thank Uncle Edgar for, if he had to go this week, at least he waited until after the big game. (And maybe, just maybe, we'll let us think he planned it that way as a parting gesture. Thanks, Uncle Ed!)

After the jump, some highlights and lowlights of John Tavares' first NHL schedule in all of its glory.

Star-divide

The Forechecker's end-all, be-all NHL Super Schedule

If you didn't already check it out in the morning links, you better take a gander at Dirk's (of Preds blog On the Forecheck) annual NHL Super Schedule. That's where you'll see that the Islanders have 19 back-to-back game sets (tied for most in the league) but also that the Islanders have one of the smallest total mileage traveled in the league (31,550 as the crow flies). The Isles, Devils and Rangers are always sitting pretty in that department.

The Opener - Sat. Oct. 3: #87 flashes his Cup ring in #91's eye

At home, against the Cup champs, but get this: The Penguins will have raised their Cup banner at home the night before against the Short Island Smurfs (that's the Rangers, in my dad's vocab). Maybe Brashear will already have taken out one of their stars.

The Matinees and Holidays: Because it's never too early to drink overpriced beer

  • The first weekday matinee (Kids Day?) is Monday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. against Los Angeles.
  • Friday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) is home at 1 p.m. against the Penguins.
  • Sunday after Christmas (Dec. 27) is a 5 p.m. home start against the Flyers.
  • President's Day Monday, Jan. 12, is 2 p.m. against the Devils.
  • Saturday, Feb. 13 is home at 2 p.m. to the Lightning; the next day (Valentine's Day, for the conscripted) is a 5 p.m. start against the Devils.
  • Saturday, March 6 is home at 2 p.m. to the Bruins.
  • Couple more Sunday games at 5 p.m.: March 14 with the Leafs, and the season-ending April 11 with the Pens.
  • Saturday, April 3, is also a 2 p.m. start with the Senators.

October's March

As was noted in comments yesterday, the lineup of October opponents is hardly a bunch of patsies, with the Sharks and (improved?) Kings, plus the Caps and Habs twice each. But anything should be better than last year's 2-6-1 October, when the Isles last saw .500 after Game 4.

The Road Trip: Nov. 11-23, 7 games

Now that's just brutal, though not quite as brutal as it looks. Games in D.C., Carolina, Florida and Boston will be one swing; then it's a three-day break before resuming in Minnesota, St. Louis and Toronto Monday Nov. 23. The worst part is that Thanksgiving week they have four games, including home to Pittsburgh on Friday and then a matinee in New Jersey the next day. Holy turkey hangover for all the young kids. Last year's post-Thanksgiving game was the awful 7-2 loss in Boston.

A Home December

The travels don't end there -- December starts with four more road games, through Atlanta (12/3), Tampa Bay (12/5), Philadelphia (12/8) and Toronto (12/9). Then the home cookin' starts: 8 of the next 10 games are at home, and the only two that aren't are at Madison Square Garden. Speaking of which...

Short Island Smurfs and the Gabby Groins

The first match with the Rangers is at home Wednesday, Oct. 28. After that, nothing until a home-and-home (Dec. 16-17), and a rubber match four games later on the day after Christmas at the Garden. The Battle of New York concludes March 24 (away) and March 30 (home).

New Year's Eve in ... Kanata?

Like last year, the Islanders are playing on New Year's Eve. Instead of playing at home and then flying out West, though, they'll be on the road in Ottawa. Don't feel bad for the players though: As luck would have it, this year the Canadian New Year falls on the same day as ours.

The Olympic Break: Feb. 15 - March 1

The Islanders have six February games before players report to the beach ... or to their country's camp in Vancouver. Which way will Kyle Okposo go?

The Longest Road: March 16-20, 3 games out West

The Islanders visit Vancouver (March 16), Anaheim (March 19), and Los Angeles (March 20). Four days later, they're at the Garden.

The Preseason

The preseason isn't set yet and should be different with the training camp in Saskatoon. One thing we know: Sept. 22 in Kansas City against the Kings.

Living in the Midwest, I may be the only Islanders fan happy about the game in K.C. (particularly if it will no longer feel like a veiled relocation threat). For that reason, for me the season starts there, in September. Thanks to a death in the family and some other road trip cancelations, I didn't get to see the Islanders at all in person last year -- neither in New York nor on their trips to Nashville, Chicago or Minneapolis. So I'm feeling a bit famished and will be enjoying that preseason game more than any rational being should.

Other than that, depending on domestic priorities, I'm looking at one or two trips during the regular season, plus their visit to St. Louis in the middle of that November road trip.

Thanks everybody for the schedule feedback yesterday. Any more thoughts, road trip plans, or -- if you're a fan in the disaspora -- a date where they come near you (such as catching them out West)? Chatter away. I'm a bit biased, but I like hearing tales of catching teams on the road.

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Road trip plans

Now, this all depends on the possible Winter Classic hook-up, which I doubt will pay off because season ticket holders in Boston are only getting their seat(s), I might take a trip with my Bruins season ticket friends to Chicago and Toronto on consecutive days on December 18-19.

Also, as I live in New Jersey, it is hardly a road trip, but I would be crazy to not at least try to make one of the three makeable games in Newark against the Devils. They are all on Fridays and Saturdays.

I have had the pleasure of doing a day-night doubleheader with a day game in Jersey and a night game at the Coliseum, but, sadly, there are no opportunities like that on the schedule this season.

by gstatman on Jul 16, 2009 1:39 PM EDT reply actions  

Nice. I always wondered if anyone ever did the Jersey/Coliseum day-night doubleheader. That sounds fun; something the teams could even promote if they wanted to get creative.

The Winter Classic ticket situation should get interesting. Sounds like last year’s got pretty crazy. The weather throws in a whole variable of how many tickets will spring free the day of.

Chicago – that building has become great again, that’d be worthwhile trip.

P.S. Thanks for joining and weighing in!

Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.

by Dominik on Jul 16, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

This is an Olymipic year so it looks like everyone has a crappy schedule.

I we actually had a good team this years wouldn’t seem all that bad. Fact is that there are very few teams I look at the schedule and see guaranteed wins. The best we can hope for is that the team continues to improve throughout the year.

They just don’t have it in them to get off to a 10-2 start or anything like that.

by Chickendirt on Jul 16, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions  

Speaking of the Sharks

If people are frustrated with the lack of signings this offseason by the Isles, take comfort in the Sharks inability to do anything with that roster. They have flat out had the worst offseason of any team in the NHL.

That roster, after last seasons post season collapse (AGAIN) is in dire need of a shake up. Thus far they did nothing at the draft (Their system is a mess and hasn’t produced an NHL talent in a long tme) and had no pick in the first round. They should have been looking to move anything on that roster for a few picks.

They just resigned Rob Blake.

What a mess.

by Chickendirt on Jul 16, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions  

That situation is fun to watch. Awfully jittery over there as fans wait for Doug Wilson to do something. He promised a shake-up, but I’m not sure what he’s waiting for. For the Heatley price to come down? But that cap situation demands a move.

Radio interview with Wilson here.

Their system is a little dry after so many big years, but at least Setoguchi has delivered … just in time for Cheechoo to fade.

Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.

by Dominik on Jul 16, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

I've never seen a presidents trophy team in such bad shape

I think the problem is that a lot of the guys they need to move are not going to get them a big return. Marleau is their most valued piece and at this point don’t hink he’s worth more than a B prospect and a second round pick.

Thornton is worth just throw aways. Probably one of the biggest dissapointments in the game.

by Chickendirt on Jul 16, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

They both carry loaded playoff baggage, but they’re hardly throwaways. I think Thornton’s value is higher, too. They each should worth a big return, but who can fit in their salary without sending back the same the other way? Fear the Fin had a nice piece about Wilson appearing to be backed into a corner because of the market conditions and lack of leverage.

Thornton and Marleau strike me as the type of stars who need a few alpha dogs in the room to make them deliver in the postseason. (Brett Hull was except the opposite way: too loud and hard on teammates, no one to rein him in.) Given the circumstances, I’d go to battle with them one more time while changing the supporting cast. Coach probably needs to be harder on everyone, too (which is funny, since that’s what Marleau supposedly didn’t like about Ron Wilson).

Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.

by Dominik on Jul 16, 2009 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

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New York Islanders Roster

# Pos. DOB W H
Josh Bailey 12 LW 10/2/1989 190 6-1
Rick DiPietro 39 G 9/19/1981 190 6-1
Mark Eaton 4 D 5/6/1977 215 6-1
Michael Grabner 40 RW 10/5/1987 185 6-0
Travis Hamonic 3 D 8/16/1990 203 6-2
Milan Jurcina 27 D 6/7/1983 253 6-4
Andrew MacDonald 47 D 9/7/1986 196 6-1
Matt Martin 17 LW 3/8/1989 210 6-3
Al Montoya 35 G 2/13/1985 203 6-2
Mike Mottau 10 D 3/19/1978 190 6-0
Matt Moulson 26 LW 11/1/1983 205 6-1
Evgeni Nabokov 20 G 7/25/1975 200 6-0
Nino Niederreiter 25 RW 9/8/1992 205 6-2
Frans Nielsen 51 C 4/24/1984 184 6-0
Kyle Okposo 21 RW 4/16/1988 205 6-0
Jay Pandolfo 29 LW 12/27/1974 190 6-1
P.A. Parenteau 15 LW 3/24/1983 193 6-0
Rhett Rakhshani 49 RW 3/6/1988 190 5-10
Marty Reasoner 16 C 2/26/1977 205 6-1
Dylan Reese 42 D 8/29/1984 201 6-1
Brian Rolston 11 LW 2/21/1973 215 6-2
Steve Staios 24 D 7/28/1973 200 6-1
Mark Streit 2 D 12/11/1977 197 6-0
John Tavares 91 C 9/20/1990 202 6-0
Tim Wallace 36 RW 8/6/1984 207 6-1
Calvin de Haan 44 D 5/9/1991 187 6-1

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