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Around SBN: The End Of Sabanball: Details, Barbarians, And Precision

Islanders 4 pm Gameday: Drawing David Booth's return

[Note: This game starts at 4 p.m. EST, due to some absurd costume show known as a "Pro Bowl."]

It's good for hockey that David Booth, out most of this season with a Mike Richards-induced concussion, is back and playing. It's a bit of a bummer for the Islanders that they draw Booth's first game back.

Nyi-n_medium                Fla-clawr_medium
New York Islanders (23-24-8, 13th/E) at Florida Panthers (23-22-9, 11th/E)
4 p.m. EST | [car rental or bank or such] Arena | MSG+, radio
Furry Feline Folks: Litter Box Cats

The Panthers haven't lacked for offense against the Islanders this year (12 goals in 3 games, though the last game was a 1-1 affair ended via shootout). But in that last game the Cats lost Islander-killer Nathan Horton to friendly fire, so an offensive spark is most welcome.

The big news today is Charles Wang's continued China flirtations and, league-wide, Brian Burke's bombshell dealings acquiring Dion Phaneuf and J.S. Giguerre. The Islanders host Phaneuf's new team March 14. More on the Islanders-in-China training camp gambit later, but quickly:

I support spreading hockey to all corners of the planet; I don't support my team being the guinea pig to do so. Opening the season in Europe is hard; doing all the travel to Asia right before putting the body through a grueling NHL season is, I suspect, harder. In terms of the Islanders' outlook next season, I'd much prefer they not start off with intercontinental travel and all of the physical, logistical and sleep-habit challenges that entails. But Wang supports the causes he believes in, and he certainly has the right to put his resources toward this one. I respect that.

No major roster updates with yesterday's road matinee followed by today's early start time. Presumably Rick DiPietro gets the start; beyond that, it's natural to wonder whether Trevor Gillies is replaced by Blake Comeau or if some other tweak is made for a team that has now lost four in a row and five of six. Even with yesterday's loss to Philadelphia (now in 6th place), 6th through 13th in the East is still separated by just 3 points. Florida is one ahead of the Isles. Every game counts.

Prediction: The Pro Bowl is full of suck.

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they’re all D and no offense

by Keith Quinn on Jan 31, 2010 4:10 PM EST up reply actions  

you are assuming that Burkie is done dealing

he has nine defensemen on the roster now and Phaneuf probably makes Kaberle or Komisarek expendable. Chicago, which has been rumored in deals with Burkie, has seven defenders and a veritable plethora of talented forwards—some of whom would likely be dumped this summer anyway. Expect at least one more big deal out of Burkie. It would be really funny if he traded Dion in the offseason to Edmonton for the #1 overall pick and got Hall.

by BCISLEMAN on Feb 1, 2010 3:54 AM EST up reply actions  

Of course, one of those D-men is Exelby, who he wasted Kubina on, and the other is Jeff Finger, whose contract is concrete. Hopefully Sather helps him with those, mwahaha.

Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.

by Dominik on Feb 1, 2010 11:12 AM EST up reply actions  

In any event, Burkie probably has at least one more trade up his sleeve before the deadline…maybe Komisarek for Buff and Brouwer?. And an offseason move of, say, Phaneuf and Kadri for the Oil’s first overall and rights to soon to be UFA Grebeshkov might be his style as well. Oil fans would eat up the prospect of sending Dion into the Saddledome for the Battle of Alberta enough to help them get over losing out on Hall.

by BCISLEMAN on Feb 1, 2010 11:39 AM EST up reply actions  

Greatest Prediction ever

"So basically, the Stats make no sense whatsoever."

by Mark D on Jan 31, 2010 5:00 PM EST reply actions  

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Isles Reading

Atlantic Standings

GP W L OTL PT
New York Rangers 54 36 13 5 77
Philadelphia 56 31 18 7 69
Pittsburgh 56 32 19 5 69
New Jersey 55 31 20 4 66
New York Islanders 55 23 24 8 54

(updated 2.14.2012 at 3:50 AM EST)

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
Aaron Ness 55 D 5/18/1990 170 5-10
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
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
Ty Wishart 6 D 5/19/1988 222 6-4
Calvin de Haan 44 D 5/9/1991 187 6-1

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