Islanders Preview: Here come the Habs
by Dominik on Dec 25, 2010 5:08 PM EST
in New York Islanders Previews
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PrintPlaying the entirety of the season so far without Mark Streit has obviously hurt the Islanders as feared, but can we count the ways? You've lost a minute-muncher, a strong two-way guy, a powerplay cog. You've also lost an insightful breakout passer whose absence forced every other defenseman to play up a slot (or two, or three, as other injuries mounted) against tougher competition, where the goal can be just to survive rather than take control and drive the play.
It certainly hasn't helped that the Islanders forwards have also struggled to score, either. But take a quick look at the Islanders blueline production minus Streit, and the Canadiens minus Andrei Markov, who has missed all but seven games this year:
| Defense | G | A | Pts | ES Pts |
| Islanders | 5 | 38 | 43 | 25 |
| Canadiens | 11 | 48 | 59 | 38 |
*Notes: This is through 35 GP for the Habs, 32 for the Isles. The Habs total includes 1G, 2A (2 ESP) from Markov.
On the blueline, the Isles' leading point-collector by far is James Wisniewski (19 points), he of the minus-18 (against lighter matchups), who rattled off 12 points right at the start when the powerplay and the team overall was working. No other Islander defenseman has more than 5 points. For the Habs, ex-Isle Roman Hamrlik leads the way with 16 points, but Jaroslav Spacek has 12 and recently scratched phenom P.K. Subban has 11.
How much is Mark Streit missed? He has put up 105 points in 156 games as an Islander. Again, it helps the blueline totals that the Habs' powerplay is better (19.3 vs. 15.2%), and their overall offensive tide (2.63 GF/GP vs. 2.25 for the Isles) might lift all boats. But the Habs were much better equipped to withstand a devastating injury to their #1 than were the Isles.
Another sign of the Habs' blueline depth? Fan whipping-boy Ryan O'Byrne (remember how mercilessly fans jumped him after that own goal for the Isles?) who has a large frame and potential, was discarded to the Avalanche this year and has shined ever since, logging nearly 21 minutes and a +13 in the league's tougher conference.
Contrast that with the fact youngsters Andrew MacDonald (who missed six weeks) and Travis Hamonic recently formed the Isles' strongest pair.
Montreal Canadiens (20-13-2) @ New York Islanders (8-18-6)
7 p.m. EST | Nassau [gloriously unsponsored] Veterans Mem. Coliseum
MSG+, RDS - NHL audio, WRHU 88.7
Eyes on the Habs: Habs Eyes on the Prize | Habs Inside/Out
Putting this preview up a little early thanks to the holiday. As I'm visiting a lot with family this weekend, I still can't get my thoughts off of the Pierre Turgeon family, who lost their twin daughter Elizabeth suddenly at age 18. Pierre coached her club team, and the USA U-18 winger was reportedly a freshman at U. of Minnesota. With Pierre Turgeon being a beloved former member of both of tonight's competing clubs -- and if there is another busload of Habs fans in attendance -- hopefully there is a small gesture at tonight's game.
Lineup Topics
- No word on Matt Moulson, who suffered what appeared to be a head injury thanks to the upper arm of Anton Volchenkov in the 5-1 win over the Devils. (No word either during this holiday break, on whether the hit will be reviewed.)
- Speaking of league discipline, Matt Martin returns from suspension for this one. Jesse Joensuu was reassigned to Bridgeport, but it's theoretically possible that becomes just a paper move if Moulson can't go. However, the Islanders went with seven defensemen last game while Trevor Gillies was a healthy scratch.
- And on the topic of injuries, by my count Rick DiPietro would be eligible to come off IR for this game if they saw fit. Not that if I were boss I'd start him for this one anyway.
While the Isles are suddenly on a 3-0-1 little roll, the Habs recently lost three in a row for the first time this season, lost four in a row on the road, and had dropped five of six, all regulation. That's still good for first in the Northwest, however, and they entered the holiday mini-break with a win at Carolina.
Ahead: The Islanders have four games this week, including Monday at the Garden and New Year's Eve in Detroit, the Habs are on a seven-game road stretch that continues this week with games at Washington and both Florida teams. Suffice to say, neither team gets to let those Christmas meals digest very long.
FIGs
Shake off that holiday meal and pick your FIG (First Islanders Goal) -- but you might want to wait until lineup news is announced. And in any case, remember to leave your pick as a REPLY to the first person to post a FIG comment.
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FIG Thread
Gift of the Magi – Rob Schremp Hockey with the Whiff from Western New York at 12:00
It was worth posting my drivel to get that link… That was the Shizzle my HansunFrizzle! - JPinVA
After being fired as head coach, now a "Special Adviser" to Lighthouse Hockey
Bailey @9:12
You mean to tell me shooting the puck from 70 feet out doesn't earn us extra goals?
JT 13:57
Just when you think your in the toilet you come out smelling like roses!!
by bigragoo16 on Dec 25, 2010 9:16 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
because he is streaky, and we need him to up his value for the deadline.
Nearly enough defensemen to last through the injury bug
think you got it
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Dec 26, 2010 10:22 PM EST up reply actions
Hamonic 7:00 1st
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Dec 26, 2010 9:55 AM EST up reply actions
I think we get a gift of a D goal
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Dec 26, 2010 9:56 AM EST up reply actions
FIG Bailey
on a give & go from Nielson, early first period…
by KO21 on Dec 26, 2010 11:40 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Could you please post a time, for tie breaking's sake?
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it sn... oh, wait a minute. OK, that's enough!
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Dec 26, 2010 4:59 PM EST up reply actions
I'll take Comeau
@ 6:30
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
Nielsen 7:28
John Tavares=The Franchise, The Future, and still only 20yrs old, SO GIVE HIM SOME F**KING TIME TO MATURE CRITICS! Not everyone is Wayne Gretzky(although Tavares did break some of his records....tee hee)
Bailey at 7:49
Go find yourself an open door.
by The Black Map on Dec 26, 2010 3:31 PM EST up reply actions
FIG Bailey 24:01
He’ll get two tonight. We got a lot of snow already so I’ll just watch the Isles and shovel the driveway between periods.
I'll go Bailes for today.
Bailey at 9:14, and why not?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 26, 2010 5:43 PM EST up reply actions
Nielsen, 14:51
Let’s go Isles!
Lighthouse Hockey: On the IR with swollen knees from praying for the injuries to stop.
Really wanted to go to this one
Really don’t know about driving 20 miles in a blizzard though. This could be a really ugly attendance number.
You mean to tell me shooting the puck from 70 feet out doesn't earn us extra goals?
I know
My father is supposed to fly out here to Minny tomorrow but I don’t know if he’s going to make it with the storm coming up.
It was worth posting my drivel to get that link… That was the Shizzle my HansunFrizzle! - JPinVA
After being fired as head coach, now a "Special Adviser" to Lighthouse Hockey
by David Hanssen on Dec 25, 2010 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
Heck… if the Canadians don’t travel early enough, the attendance might be about 20 players plus a coaching staff and Dina the hostess.
Insert obligatory JPinVA quote here!
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Dec 25, 2010 7:25 PM EST up reply actions
lol, think they
John Tavares=The Franchise, The Future, and still only 20yrs old, SO GIVE HIM SOME F**KING TIME TO MATURE CRITICS! Not everyone is Wayne Gretzky(although Tavares did break some of his records....tee hee)
"lol, think they'll make the trip the day after x-mas and with a big pending snow storm?"
I think you’re right, gonna be a desert in the coliseum.
John Tavares=The Franchise, The Future, and still only 20yrs old, SO GIVE HIM SOME F**KING TIME TO MATURE CRITICS! Not everyone is Wayne Gretzky(although Tavares did break some of his records....tee hee)
agreed
I also wanted to go, if for nothing else than to spite the legions of habs fans, but the blizzard is a real downside coming from Suffolk.
"It's a good thing the Islanders spent the offseason compiling organizational depth on the blueline. Because, yes, they're losing defensemen almost as rapidly as they're losing games."
Suffolk? Try coming from WESTERN MA.....
…..for about 15 minutes there was some thought I might stop over at the game as one of my best friend’s friends wanted her to come down to Port Chester today – she’s extremely disinclined even WITHOUT the potential whiteout, though…..
btw it's hilarious that we all checked this site on Christmas
I told my girlfriend I had to go upstairs for something, she came upstairs after a few minutes, found me checking lighthouse hockey and was like “Really?!”
by backstop87 on Dec 25, 2010 9:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Be thankful
There are far worse things she could have caught found you doing on the interwebs.
Merry Christmas everybody.
NTIPC
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Dec 25, 2010 10:06 PM EST up reply actions
An argument to make
You could always make the argument that Lighthouse Hockey is part of your Islanders family.
by Dougtone on Dec 26, 2010 6:01 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
This is perfect
Especially considering how many times I’ve gotten the, “Is this really WORK, or is it Lighthouse?” line.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
repost this under the correct reply spot so you aren't forgotten.
John Tavares=The Franchise, The Future, and still only 20yrs old, SO GIVE HIM SOME F**KING TIME TO MATURE CRITICS! Not everyone is Wayne Gretzky(although Tavares did break some of his records....tee hee)
I hope we stomp the Habs and Calamari tomorrow
by Torch7 on Dec 25, 2010 9:43 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Calamari... an after-Christmas delicacy!
Insert obligatory JPinVA quote here!
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Dec 26, 2010 10:45 AM EST up reply actions
.....hopefully Schremp beats Calamari - to the puck.....
……again and again:)
by ogam5 on Dec 26, 2010 10:57 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Couple that with a Moulson or two
by Torch7 on Dec 26, 2010 11:04 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I like shrimp better than calamari.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 26, 2010 11:09 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I got food poisoning from Calamari once- never liked it since
Just wish we could find the jumbo Shremp.
Nearly enough defensemen to last through the injury bug
Nope
you were right- I want a Jumbo Schremp- pun intended.
Nearly enough defensemen to last through the injury bug
AHH..
I am going with a large family party to this game. I am hoping the weather people are wrong and there is not alot of snow. Lets go Islanders!!!!
Roman Hamrlik
Never liked him in the least. The guy has no competitive fire whatsoever. I was so pissed when we traded for him. It’s obvious he has all the talent in the world and never utilizes it.
"My lasting image of Lemieux interacting with an Islanders defenseman is of Mario getting knocked on his ass by Darius Kasparaitis in 1993." - rmblifn #VolekStatue
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
DiP off IR but seems like Roloson will start
Lawson back to the Bridge. Strang also reporting Moulson skating this morning so sounds like he’s good to go (but still no official report).
Game is on even if no one else can get there.
You mean to tell me shooting the puck from 70 feet out doesn't earn us extra goals?
It's nice to get some good injury news for a change.
You mean to tell me shooting the puck from 70 feet out doesn't earn us extra goals?
But somebody should remind MMo......
….that he needs to step up when boarding the A train, or any other! LOL
maybe MMo should remind somebody...
…that THEY need to step up after a high hit on our best goal scorer. Volchenkov never got the proper message back :-(
"I think we got the better Lindros." - Fulla Maloney; "If I'm wrong about Kvasha, then off with my head" - Voldemort; {{lifts hand; several pencils, keyboards, and cell phones shatter}} - Darth Wang
Where is the suspension
for the hit on Moulson? It didn’t look like the hit was done with intent to injure but his elbow came up…Players just have to learn to lead w the shoulder and not the elbow…Guys seem to reach out w the elbow as apposed to, outright, missing the hit all together..
by KO21 on Dec 26, 2010 11:47 AM EST via mobile reply actions
It was as much of an "intent to injure" as Matty Martins hit
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 26, 2010 12:04 PM EST up reply actions
Yup, u wont get an argument from me...
If I remember correctly both incidents were very similar…
by KO21 on Dec 26, 2010 1:24 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Not to mention
Where is the REVIEW even? Did they really not even bother?
(Yes, I know. It’s the NHL. Of course they didn’t.)
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
Grabner continues having the best twitter
grabs40
Well @everyone who said they got my jersey.I am not sure if that means you were good or bad in 2010.lol
"My lasting image of Lemieux interacting with an Islanders defenseman is of Mario getting knocked on his ass by Darius Kasparaitis in 1993." - rmblifn #VolekStatue
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
by Mark D on Dec 26, 2010 1:26 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Nino with a goal (PPG) and a assist so far in the 1st game at WJC
4-1 Swiss over Germany after two periods.
can you send me a link where i can follow wjc stats?
"I think we got the better Lindros." - Fulla Maloney; "If I'm wrong about Kvasha, then off with my head" - Voldemort; {{lifts hand; several pencils, keyboards, and cell phones shatter}} - Darth Wang
Katie Strang says Isles officials told her game is on tonight
Should be a small gathering tonight at NVMC but that’s nothing new.
Pronunciation Question for Dom
Perusing the Czech Republic’s WJC roster, I came across a certain Martin Frk. How in the blazes do you pronounce Frk?
It was worth posting my drivel to get that link… That was the Shizzle my HansunFrizzle! - JPinVA
After being fired as head coach, now a "Special Adviser" to Lighthouse Hockey
probably something like
fur-k
czech is one of those weird languages were words dont need vowels, the czech word for wolfe is vlk or something like that
I was precisely about to mention a former Isles draft pick with this exact last name.
For the pronunciation of Frk, I’d say it’s closer to Fruk, with a rolled r and a very weak u.
The Finns stole all our vowels
And now, we Bohemians and Moravians must smhw sldr n wtht.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
1st guess is right
He plays here in Halifax for the “Q” league Mooseheads. Epitomizes the Czech fear of vowels.
Nearly enough defensemen to last through the injury bug
Bettman's gotta fix the scheduel
Second year in a row a snowstorm followed the Habs too LI. If he’e gonna do this again next year do it so i miss school and not durning the holiday break or weekend
LOL
Glad you found the game thread! :)
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 26, 2010 11:08 PM EST up reply actions
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1979-80
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
