Islanders 5, Flames 2: DiPietro, Nielsen hurt; Lawson, Tavares/Moulson steal show
by Dominik on Jan 4, 2011 4:46 AM EST
in New York Islanders Game Recaps
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PrintYou just can't script it any better: The first game after Dwayne Roloson is traded, with Calgary native Nathan Lawson called up for good mid-road trip to be the new backup, Rick DiPietro gets hurt (adductor strain, not knee), forcing Lawson into the game cold in a winning situation that still required 28 saves on 29 shots in front of his family, with his mother in tears of pride by game's end for how far her 27-year-old rookie has come.
Game Sum | Event Sum | Corsi - H2H | Recaps: NHL - M&G - Isles
I'll fess up to "You've GOT to be Avery-ing me!" panic when I first saw DiPietro go down. Those were some acrobatic moves on the PK that led to the injury, and he managed in the moment well. It's good it wasn't a re-injury, though -- the Isles need him to PLAY, to test the durability of those repaired joints. But with the damage apparently not of the catastrophic kind, I could resume focus on the nice stories.
Like the Lawson story (alas, in the NHL's baseball pitcher win/loss style accounting, he gets no credit for the win). Like John Tavares and Matt Moulson resuming their battle for the team goal-scoring lead. And Tavares unleashing both a sweet backhand roofer and a sniping wrister like he was born to do, with celebrations afterward that betray he is starting to "feel it" in terms of how to produce in this league. Frans Nielsen's injury, according to Katie Strang, is a groin strain; so I'll withhold panic there (really, I can do it!) and just enjoy the night. The Islanders are on a 7-1-1 run, with just one of those wins coming via crapshoot shootout.
Game Highlights
Notes while Feeling Good for Lawson
Thankfully the Isles got out to that early big lead -- well-earned, even if the Flames dressing their backup Henrik Karlsson (stats after tonight: .894%, 2.74 GAA) was an important factor. The second half of the game was a fire drill. Jack Capuano called an early timeout, and it may have helped, but it didn't prevent this team from having to survive a barrage. Still: Finding ways to win, taking the opening the opponent gives you.
Here was Brent Sutter:
"We showed up halfway through the game. The first 30 minutes was missed," Calgary coach Brent Sutter said. "You're looking at two different hockey games. A game we can't play and a game we're better at.
"We weren't assertive. We didn't respect our opponent enough."
If the Flames didn't respect their opponent...is it a coaching or player issue over there? The Isles are just the 29th-place Isles, but they arrived in Alberta on a bit of a hot streak.
- Seriously. How cool was that scenario for Lawson? He didn't just do mop-up duty -- he made some huge saves to preserve the win. This guy has taken the loooong road to his NHL moment.
- Too fantastic to see Tavares roof that backhander early on the powerplay. Took my breath away. I noticed the Flames didn't leave that doorstep open again for JT all night. So he did what stars -- that's what we hope he'll become -- do: He scored his next one from out at the faceoff circle.
- Matt Moulson is now up to 14 goals in 37 games. Don't look now, but he's still on pace for 30 goals again. His agent smiles, and Isles fans get nervous.
- Moulson's tip on his second goal was pretty fantastic. Fun for a moment to read the on-ice body language as they communicated that no, it wasn't Travis Hamonic's first NHL goal -- rather another NHL point for the rookie. (By the way, Moulson's first goal, getting his blade on it in tight by his skate off the pass from P.A. Parenteau, wasn't too shabby.)
- I like to hear this approach from Tavares: "Things are starting to pay off. We're starting to find that chemistry. We're just outworking other teams. We keep stressing how we need to be better each and every day. We'll do the same thing next game. We've got to be better."
- I said it before the game, before the injury, but I still don't want Michael Leighton. He's had one hot run in his career, he's had injury issues this year, and he's on a contract through next season. If DiPietro's injury is minor and short-term, then claiming Leighton now would create another organizational logjam in a few weeks. They need DP back and to test him, to learn how to proceed beyond this year. For me, Leighton and his contract are not an answer -- Leighton is not Roloson -- unless they determine that DP will be out a while. Leighton has been tossed up and down waivers before; I suppose if it's serious they could do the same with him once the need was gone.
- Speaking of DP: Good call to take him out. Looked like the training staff helped convince him to leave the game. For one, you've got a preservable lead. For another, no point risking a worse injury while "toughing it out." And finally: It's Lawson's hometown! Let him have a night like this, and everybody wins.
- On the Roloson move: Call me blind, but I still don't see it as a "big risk" even after tonight. Most organizations have four goalies between the NHL and the AHL. The Isles were odd for having five. They had five for a special reason, which was tangentially exposed -- not for the reason expected -- tonight. But that special reason is also why they need to use the upcoming second half of this season to learn what they have in DiPietro.
- That Flames fourth line featuring Tim Jackman! What a fourth line should be. Flames blog Matchsticks & Gasoline had them at +16 in terms of scoring chance differential at EV and +38 in Corsi. Apparently they've scored more of the teams goals in recent weeks than the top line. Good for Jackman. With the win, it adds to my fan feel-good feelings.
How we feeling now, Isles fans? I'm always one to point out streaks happen, in both directions, so don't read a giant forecast into it. But even in 29th place, winning runs are fun. With or without injury.
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Moulson
Maybe I’m just being too optimistic but I’m not really worried about Moulson leaving in the summer. Our issues recently in free agency have come from not being able to lure people to come to the island even with the promise of a better deal. Moulson seems to genuinely enjoy it here and enjoy the guys on the team. It seems as if him and JT really get along. He was even just joking with Grabner on twitter tonight. All signs seem to indicate that Long Island is where he wants to be due to the relationships he’s formed and the opportunity he was given by the organization.
Even during the arbitration scenario last year he seemed relieved to have avoided going into it.
“I wanted to be back on the Island . . . I let the agents and the GM deal with all the numbers and stuff. I just want to play hockey and win the Cup. I think we reached a good number.”
We have more money than any other team in the league to throw at him so we don’t have to worry about being out bid. He’s proven his worth putting up similar numbers in year 2 and I think he’ll be paid accordingly.
"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."
I'd be surprised if he left too
We gave him his break and he’s got his numbers with his long time friend Tavares. I would offer 2 or 3 years at 3.5-4 million and keep the deal short becuse he’s still 27 and would be 31 after he finishes a 3 year deal
i think a big factor in this could be his newlywed status, does his new wife live here with him yet? and such and such… in the past, most players found they loved it on LI, many keeping their families there, or at least keeping ownership of a house there, after their time with the isles ended… personally i think he gets a 3 or 4 year 10.5-14.5 mil offer from the isles only, is that enough?
NYI Hockey! We'll get that winless month yet!
I heard he was married to a Kings player’s sister, so I guess they met when they played out there. I think she lives on the island with him because I work at a store in Nassau and saw him in there a couple weeks before Christmas with said wife.
j.quicks’ sister i think yeah, but i think he’s just got an apt. here with her, not a house… house is more of a commitment :-)
NYI Hockey! We'll get that winless month yet!
wait a minute...
Are you saying that Jon Quick is Matt Moulson’s brother-in-law?!?!?? GET OUT!
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Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
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by mikb on Jan 4, 2011 10:02 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Why has nobody ever mentioned this??????? :O
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 4, 2011 10:11 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I love you guys
Thanks to the Winter Classic, we have finally found ice worse then the Coliseums'
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
I really want to believe that as well...
But TOR will have a lot of money to throw at him in the off season… and i wouldn’t put it past Burke to use Moulson to lure JT to the epicenter of the hockey world in 4-5 years. They’d both be “home” and playing in front of full houses… and Burke will have the draft picks to sign an offer sheet when JT hits the RFA market. If he could give them up for Kessel I have no doubt that he could give them up again for JT.
That is my biggest concern with Matty Ice. I do hope the Isles make him wealthy, but they may not be able to compete with TOR… see Jason Blake… though I think that Matty is much more valuable… especially right now.
Lighthouse Hockey: "where everybody knows your screen name" -mikb
I watch hockey because I love the game, I watch the Islanders because I hate myself.
You assume Burkie survives five more years in TO
He’s a stubborn mule SOB, but even the Leafs have their limits and that would be nearly ten years Burke would be at the helm. The Leafs are currently in far worse shape than the Islanders and this is Burke’s team. How’s Versteeg working out for them at this point? Besides if the pension fund sells the Leafs as rumored that could lead Burke out the door as well.
I agree that the Islanders need to get Moulson’s signature on a sheet before July 1 or he is gone. I say that only because once you reach that point it means you no longer have the intention of re-signing. The Islanders need to do right by one of the own and not be like the Redskins that pay a premium to bring in someone else’s bum and then short change the loyal guys from within the system.
Not AFTER 5 years...
JT is an RFA after next year. Burke as 4-5 years to lure him to the dark side. It’s a stiff price to pay, but if TOR starts playing like a top 20 team then adding JT (as Burke figured with Kessel) would be giving up mediocre first rounders for a PREMIUM offensive threat… and if he picks up Ice to boot for some loot… then it’s his turkey shoot.
- Dr Suess
Lighthouse Hockey: "where everybody knows your screen name" -mikb
I watch hockey because I love the game, I watch the Islanders because I hate myself.
We're fast reaching a time when.....
…..Wang needs to PUT up or shut up. Estimation: Moulson, 3 years w.option to extend, staggered 3.2, 3.5, 4 w/bonuses; JT, 5 years (that’s right) at 4 mil as a number 1 draft pick, w/bonuses to reach 4.5-5 million/year. From where I sit, it’s WELL worth rolling the dice on JT….. totals: 9 million a year maximum for both if all bonus criteria met (remember, we may be talking about 60 goals MINUMUM between the two of them alone, and likely 70-80 at least once if not more). Figure Okposo and Bailey around 3-4 years each, 3-4 million each including bonus incentives reached….am I so far off base with this scenario?
That SAID,
Bails is well on his way to establishing his standards and upon which value can be determined; Ox is STILL something of an unknown quantity. Upon reflection, more like 2.5-3 mil each but same duration…..
Pretty sure options are not allowed in the CBA
but I agree the Islanders will need to start showing the love, and by that I mean money. I’d have to look at a few comaprables before I say your numbers are too far out of reality. I think if Moulson is on track for 30 again, 3 million plus is not outrageous. We had this debate all summer for what he is worth and I thought the consensus was $3 million for a one year wonder is high, two is a pattern and gets him paid. Does what may eventually be your second line winger (if Nino and Okposo ever develop an NHL level scoring touch) fit into the salary structure? My hope is yes.
Nino WILL pan out, I'm certain - into another 25-30 goal scorer....
…..so he should be looking at around 1.75-2 mil minimum for 3 years once the entry level expires, with bonus clauses bumping that up to 2.5-3 mil once he’s reached the 30-goal plateau…..
Showing my CBA ignorance here
IPB reported that since Moulson is on a one-year contract he cannot re-sign until July 1, if I’m reading that site correctly. That means the Islanders can exclusively talk to him from Jan 1 to July 1, but he will hit the UFA market on July 1 and it will be up to the Islanders to have a deal in place at that time. That doens’t seem to make sense to me, but then again in fairness I didn’t think reading or math would be a requisite for following hockey.
You're right and I can't read
My understanding all along was that the Islanders had exclusive rights to talk and sign Moulson from Jan 1 to July 1, but the way I read IPB it made it seem that because he was on a one year deal they couldn’t sign him until July 1, which makes no sense at all to me, but I’m a firm believe in not reading the CBA and going on heresay.
I have now re-read it, and I’m truly an idiot. I read it wrong and my initial understanding was correct. I just find that reading only confuses me.
I can read
The site was updated to state January 1 as the re-sign date and no longer July 1 and my original post questioning this was deleted. I may be bat shit crazy, but this isn’t helping me much either.
Ha!
Nice. This is why strike-throughs serve both Mr. Subliminal Sarcasm and to preserve the sanity of the reader after you’ve changed something.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
LMAO!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 4, 2011 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
NO BONUSES allowed
FYI for this discussion: Not only does the CBA prohibit options, it also prohibits bonus clauses for every contract except for: 1) ELC’s, 2) over-35 contracts, and 3) very special circumstances where a guy is coming off of long-term injury.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
Dom, what would YOU pay.....
…..Moulson, JT, Bailey, Okposo and Nino yourself, and for how long? No matter WHAT, I’m of the opinion that JT gets a 5-year deal…..
Mo' money, mo' problems
I can’t say on Nino — way too soon for that. Wouldn’t even say on JT, since we have another year-plus and there will be more contract comparables to come.
Moulson, if he nears 30 again, he’s going to be in $3 – $4 million territory. Depends on term.
Bailey and Okposo: Depends on whether you take them long and “buy out” some of their UFA years or stick with short-term. Given the injury/demotion circumstances with both, I could see why their agent would push for short-term so that they can really cash in next time. But I’d be completely comfortable if the Isles locked both up into their UFA years.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
NHLPA
Lost a season of income, started to reflect on things?
Anyway, I think limiting bonuses is good, capwise. You only want so much wiggle room with a cap, and we’ve seen even with this fairly hard cap how much teams can tinker with bonuses for rookies and vets (whether it be Chicago at one end or the Isles at the other).
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
Acknowledged, but.....
…..while I’m no fan of a purely meritocratic system (to which JP can attest!) bonuses seem like a good way to incentivize individual player performances while at the same time NOT committing a disproportionate amount of money per year/season….were things so bad when bonus clauses WERE allowed? I don’t remember them being, but maybe the salaries got so large that it became a matter of perspective …..
I just think GMs are bad at math
and limiting bonuses made it easier to cricumvent or blow the cap completely. Otherwise we’d see teams with low cap numbers with easily acheivable bonuses that far exceed the cap, then what happens the next season?
this
Also, the NHLPA was concerned that teams were offering big incentives and then monkeying with playing time to keep their players from making those incentives. It cost guys some money and the NHLPA was annoyed by it.
known far and wide for stat-fu and irking people
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
"isn’t it amazingly simple to use the link pop-up?" - JPinVA
Good point
Also, while I’d love to force some of these guys to earn their money each year, I’m not sure hockey is conducive to a lot of guys pursuing individual goals…and the fact teams can jerk you around just by ice time or PP time makes that even more scary.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
I just dread this team becoming a clone of.....
…..the BRUINS – up until last year or so; I want to know beyond reproach that CW and GS are 100% committed to keeping the core on LI at almost whatever cost is necessary. Have seen the B’s let their best players walk and or get snapped up too many times!
Im not concerned about that at all
I was comforted by a lot of the recent stories (i.e. Fanhouse on Tavares, Wang and Snow on Bettman). I don’t believe that we will lose any of our important core pieces (Okposo, Bailey, Tavares, Moulson).
It is going to be interesting to see how this team handles the group of UFA and RFAs that are not in the building block core group. Jurcina, Marty, Comeau, Schremp. I think either Comeau or Schremp will be the last of the traded players this season.
Thye stability of holding onto a guy like Moulson is KEY foir the Isles though….that kind of stabillity is what will attract Free Agents this coming offseason.
FB4Real
"Past performance Is Not A Guarantee For Future Results"
Moulson will not be going anywhere
He knows who gave him his chance when no one else would and he knows where his best bud will be playing until at least 2016. As long as the Isles make him a reasonable offer, which they surely will, he will stay. Only caveat is if someone makes the Isles an absolutely off the charts offer, which I doubt.
I agree, he gets signed to 3 years
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Jan 4, 2011 7:06 AM EST up reply actions
Loyalty goes a LONG way and is noticed by others.....
…..who might then consider coming to the Island themselves…..
sloppy 2nd half of the game
we had a great start, went up 2-0, quickly came back after giving 1 up to get 3-1 and then got 4-1 early in the 2nd.
then we gave up 30 shots in 35 minutes after we took the penalty 4:26 into the 2nd.
we need to play tighter with teh lead, it is only because of a good game by Lawson and DP on the PP before the injury that we won. The team should not have given up that many shots
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
a LOT of that
was our inability to subdue their 4th line, which steamrolled us for most of that lopsided look
NYI Hockey! We'll get that winless month yet!
also...
lets not forget we were short on forwards, with no blake and limited frans… which couldnt help
NYI Hockey! We'll get that winless month yet!
Less sloppy and more conservative
I think once DP went down the Isles decided to change their style of play and it hurt them. Instead of pressuring with the puck they started to just dump it out and collapse into a defensive shell. This isn’t atypical where a team is doing all the right things to get the lead and then switches styles to preserve the lead. What it usually amounts to is a lot of shots by the opposing team, but fewer qulaity scoring chances or each side. In some ways its smart since there is no reason to trade scoring chances when you are up, by 3, but 30 minutes is a long time to play prevent defense.
A mystery it will remain as to whether they would've done Larson a bigger favor.....
…..resuming their attack on Karlsson and keeping Calgary on its toes, or hanging back as they did with a notion of protecting Nathan more closely, yet STILL exposing him to 30 shots…..
I think they would have
their attack was working. The best defense is a good offense. Keep the pressure on and when the opponent gets a chance they are gassed and do nothing.
it is like when a football team play prevent D in the 4th. I hate it, they smack down a team for 3 quarters and then they let up and the next thing you know it is a close game
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Jan 4, 2011 9:40 AM EST up reply actions
For the first 30 minutes the Flames couldn't leave their own zone.
They looked like the 20 out of 21 Islanders; when they did get the puck it was to dump it out to make a line change. The “energy” line had a few good shifts, but I’d take a matchup against another teams fourth line any night of the week.
I only saw the first half
so I’m glad I at least got the good part.
Tavares’ little slapper from the circle showed he’s gaining confidence, which might be the first step for him to start playing like a productive NHL forward. He’s very impressive when given a little time and space, he just needs to figure out how to find more of it, which might be happening.
I still would like to see the Isles win at least one game where this line didn’t appear in the game story: “the Islanders won despite being outshot a lot to a little in the (you pick the period).” It makes this recent run just seem like some good luck. While it might be more than just luck, they still need to show they can put together a 60-minute effort.
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
60-minute effort
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, in part due to the circumstances you mention. I’m never sure how much is “effort” and how much is in-game adjustments between two teams. Or in other words, few teams rarely control play for all 60 minutes or deliver the proverbial “60 minutes,” and score effects/having the lead generally influence how many shots you get — the trailing team usually getting more as it pushes to come back.
For the Isles, still outmatched, to get the lead early is probably even more important than for most teams. So sometimes I think they have an awful period, but sometimes I think they merely suffer from seeing the opponent’s best effort to get back.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
Jackman and their 4th line looked great
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Jan 4, 2011 7:31 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
true
Bergy, Thompson, Tamby, Jackman are all having better seasons.
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Jan 4, 2011 9:41 AM EST up reply actions
Better fit in better situations
I liked Bergy, but his play is on par with what he did for the Isles last season. Thompson and Jackman were a good fourth line guys, but Martin was brought up to help fill that role and they apparently wanted more pucnhing power out of the limited minutes with Gillies and Konopka. You can’t keep everyone and the energy guys are the ones you cycle through when they need a little bit more cash, ice time and you need roster spots to evalaute new blood. Tamby is Tamby, he wasn’t doing it here and is streaky on a Vancouver team that may be best in the league right now. So he’s found a nice place to hide.
David Moss was a player I was looking at prior to Calgary re-signing him.
I liked his size and youth, but I’m surprised that he hasn’t scored more this season. He’s on a 12 goal pace, but I would have thought he would be closer to 18 goals this season and I think goals become harder to come by as the season wears down.
Spent the evening on TSN at the WJC...
… and only saw the highlights on TSN this morning.
For some reason was expecting more panic than this about DP’s latest tweak, especially after the Rolo trade. Nice job of crowd control, Dom. I agree with your comments completely. When will we know about DP’s status? It’s a long flight from Bridgeport to Edmonton, if he can’t sit the bench on Thursday, and longer (given the return trip) if it turns out he can. Koskinnen or Poulin for the emergency callup?
NTIPC
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Jan 4, 2011 7:52 AM EST reply actions
GOOD question, but I'm suspecting.....
…..Koskinen, just to give him a taste now as necessary, and then bring Poulin up as discussed toward season’s end…..it may give Mikko a much-needed shot in the arm and be viewed by him as something of a vote of confidence, too…..
He got to play in the scrimmage game
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 4, 2011 8:21 AM EST up reply actions
De Haan
is having a rough tournament. A penalty and two neutral zone turnovers (at least while I was watching) when he wasn’t even pressured that on a different night would’ve cost his team. He started the tourney on the 2nd pairing but he’s definitely wasn’t seeing the ice as much as most of the other D-men. Hopefully it’s just a minor slip-up.
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
I have to say...
CDH has not been impressive at all. People have said he had great camps and he’s the shit in juniors. I’m just not seeing it with him. I really don’t think he jumps to the big club like some have suggested. With MacHamonic continuing a solid run, Jurcina improving… and possibly both him and Marty being cheap enough for short term extensions, I think CDH spends at least a year in BPT.
That really isn’t a crime considering how long some defensemen take to develop into quality NHL players.
But who knows… he could get called up later in the season and blow us all away.
Lighthouse Hockey: "where everybody knows your screen name" -mikb
I watch hockey because I love the game, I watch the Islanders because I hate myself.
CDH is playing hurt right now
De Haan hasn’t been spectacular, but he is nursing a leg injury of some sort right now still. Canada is playing with 7 d-men, so right now he is not getting a lot of minutes. I am not concerned about his long term health. A year in BPT won’t be the worst thing for his development.
One good thing about depth
You get a lot of looks and guys who maybe need extra time can get it, without being rushed and ruined. We’ve had quite enough of guys here before their time, guys with no business on an NHL roster getting top-six minutes because there’s no other option. We’re deep enough as an organization now, that no longer has to happen.
If deHaan was a guy we were absolutely counting on next season I’d worry about this. As it is we were able to flip Wizzer AND lose Mottau for the year, to say nothing of Streit, and still get along. CDH is only 19, and few defenders are polished professionals at that age. Give him a full year at the Bridge as the first call-up guy and at the end of it, we’ll see what we’ve got.
known far and wide for stat-fu and irking people
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
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by mikb on Jan 4, 2011 10:08 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He's been the 7th guy since he came back from the injury
I’m hoping it’s just the injury. The games I’ve seen he has looked lazy. Bad passes, lazy penalties, etc. I think with Wishart in the fold he will get at least a year in AHL with a possible call-up if he does well or big club injury issues.
You mean to tell me shooting the puck from 70 feet out doesn't earn us extra goals?
Yea let’s hope it’s the injury. I mean he’s been productive with his club team at least. And he was pretty good in their first game before he got hurt. I was surprised he was on the 2nd pairing though, not that I know a ton about the Canadian Junior team, just wishful thinking I suppose.
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
Club team
Yeah, he’s gotten more praise with his club team. Even talk of whether they need to cash in this nice prize by trading him to a contender.
That knee, or whatever it was, makes evaluating his play right now tough.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
He's been playing hurt
and that WAS a sweet outlet pass to Kassian for the Insurance goal.
NTIPC
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Jan 4, 2011 11:02 AM EST up reply actions
Poulin is the emergency call up
Thus tweeteth Strang.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
Let teh speculation begin
Is it Poulin because DP is out long term and they want their “top” goaltender prospect getting some time in, or is it DP is out short term only and Koskinen was scheduled to start so don’t mess with the Bridgeport rotation. Who can read the tea leaves?
It does end any Leighton speculation
You mean to tell me shooting the puck from 70 feet out doesn't earn us extra goals?
good!
I think Poulin coming up is a good sign for DiPietro, actually.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 4, 2011 11:59 AM EST up reply actions
That's my thinking as well
If DP were to be out longer I would think they would want Poulin to continue his development uninterupted down in Bridegeport. Koskinen is older (isn’t he?) and would get the first crack at showing his ability in the big leagues if it were for longer term.
If it is a groin injury.......
am I correct in thinking they would have to sit DP for a while?
Couldn’t his coming back too soon if it is not completely healed, make things worse because he could just keep pulling it?
Have you seen the commercial with Manning where he is in bubble wrap??? They really should be warpping up DP.
Native LI'er living in the land of Black & Gold.
Amac and JT turning into a scoring machine?
Sure seems like it, either with Amac getting assist’s on JT’s goals or the two of them combining for assists on other peoples’.
01/03/11 @ CAL +/-
? I missed the reason why Comeau wasn’t out there. Any answers?
+7-1-1… that is sweet. they still have 13 losses to play with to make the playoffs. Not a lot… but it’s a hook to hang our very small hat on.
+ MOULTAVERTAU… It’s going to be hard to break them up when Okie comes back. Let’s hope it’s harder to break them up next year. There have been stretches when the Frans line and even the RSH line have been slid to the top of the charts… but they have clearly been a number one line over the past 4 or 5 games. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but this team hasn’t had a productive first line in over two years.
+ Nathan Lawson… there’s not much I can add to what Dom has said. I will however say, that to be brought in cold to a situation where the team was leading, but under seige… he was SPECTACULAR. He should be proud of his effort, and has definitely earned a start in the next one. DP played pretty well before being pulled… and as stated before, that was one hell of a move to cause and adducter strain.
- RSH, JJ and Sim. (also Eaton, D. Reese) To have a negative +/- in a 5-2 game is understandable… but to have that hanging over your head because your line was DOMINATED by the opponents FOURTH LINE… that’s a stat of shame.
+ The sinking canoe line (Kneel Grab and Bail) they are playing solid two way hockey that’s like a mullet… business like in one end and party time in the other. This has emerged as a pretty exciting even when they’re not “productive”… but then again… production is a relative term…
+ MacHamonic… best pair on the ice…AGAIN.
+ Jurcina… there was a lot of scrambled pairs with the 7 defensemen, but for the most part Milan seemed to be moving the puck well and I noticed at least two good cycle ending hits down low.
+ Matt Martin… again a good physical game.
- 7 defensemen. I guess limiting Gervais-Hillen by removing some of their minutes may be helpful… but giving them to Reese… that’s questionable. I understand that Dylan was most likely playing because Comeau was out… and he was a better “along for the ride” option than Katic or Kohn… but it appears that Wishart may be making his Islander debut before I get to see him in Norfolk… or at least if Comeau is out for an extended period… then get Rhett and one of the K’s on a plane…. we’ve got a roll to stay on.
+ congrats to Jack and Mrs Hillen. You know we never really think about stuff like this, and how it factors into one’s professional life… but the last trimester of a pregnancy can take a toll on a young couple. Jack wasn’t himself this year… but now with a new “Little Hill” to climb maybe he’ll regain some of that form we all really grew to admire.
Lighthouse Hockey: "where everybody knows your screen name" -mikb
I watch hockey because I love the game, I watch the Islanders because I hate myself.
by JPinVA on Jan 4, 2011 9:14 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
blake woke up with a sore neck… try using that excuse at your job… meh
NYI Hockey! We'll get that winless month yet!
I can't imagine that the trainers didn't work on that, but.....
….he was held out in part for cautionary reasons as well; alignment issues can lead to still more serious injuries due to limited mobility (especially the head and neck)
man up
a sore neck is not worth bothering a trainer, be a gamer
we coddle guys so much because of paper mache Ricky has made it a policy on the isle that No Injury Too Small Treat it Right or Not at All (i think that’s someone’s sig)
NYI Hockey! We'll get that winless month yet!
.....speaking of which, we WERE very, VERY lucky JT wasn't seriously injured on that boarding;
when I saw his head jerk back I was terrified of a broken neck; that is a PROFOUNDLY disturbing thing to see….if something similar happened to Comeau either in the Detroit game or after, do you put him in with the risk of a worse hit crippling him for life? Again, I can’t imagine the trainers didn’t have a look at him for that very reason…..
I'm also surprised...
that jack had no answer for Bowsphincter… I really did expect Martin to put him through the boards at least once.
Lighthouse Hockey: "where everybody knows your screen name" -mikb
I watch hockey because I love the game, I watch the Islanders because I hate myself.
...and the concussion from the beginning of the season
I got really worried for a moment. Huge sigh of relief that nothing went wrong there.
You mean to tell me shooting the puck from 70 feet out doesn't earn us extra goals?
I have been a fan of his since they called him up the first time..
…but I’m coming to the conclusion that he may be the next Sean bergenhiem in the Snow shoveling of former high, under-achieving draft picks.
PA and Grabner have both out performed him. When he is on he is better than both as he can play more physical than Grabner and can be stronger on the puck than PA… but he lacks consistency, and he’s becoming pretty high maintenance in the grand scheme of things.
I really don’t like the fact that he has to play the LW when the team has so few RH options. I know a lot of people think that’s ridiculous as hockey is a flowing game that doesn’t necessarily lend itself to hard positioning… but when you are forced to play guys where they aren’t comfortable it limits options through the nuetral zone and during odd man rushes. If okie comes back and they put him with RSH and JJ or Sim… both of which can play the LW as lefties… and they produce out of the gate… Blake is the odd man out in July because they most certainly won’t let a guy like Grabner go… or PA… his only shot at being back with the team is if they are bent on giving Josh a shot at #2 center and ex-isleing RSH…
I hope not… but I bet that this is another pre-deadline decision. Just like they were shopping Bergy last year, I bet they are mentioning RSH or Blake right now. If Moulson to TOR isn’t on the rumor boards soon, then Comeau or RSH going there will be as soom as Okie is back.
Let’s just say I’m prepared for it this time… I hope he is.
Lighthouse Hockey: "where everybody knows your screen name" -mikb
I watch hockey because I love the game, I watch the Islanders because I hate myself.
+ MOULTAVERTAU… It’s going to be hard to break them up when Okie comes back.
i kinda like P.A. Tavoulson as a frankenName better, but your point is noted… maybe move Josh to C again, with KO and Blake… idk
NYI Hockey! We'll get that winless month yet!
by bob l on Jan 4, 2011 9:28 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Eaton was terrrible last night.
- and pairing him with Reese didn’t help. Too many turnovers up the boards, I expect Eaton to have trouble handling plays off the rush with his limited mobility, but blind passes along the boards and behind the net are just mental mistakes from a veteran. Reese on the starboard was just as bad with soft passes to Eaton that he then efficiently turned over.
+ The training staff for not allowing DP to continue. Get him out of there regardless of his past history. I commend DP as well for making a couple of nice saves even after being injured, the kid is competitive no matter what else you may want to say about him. The inury did at least prevent DP from making one stupid roaming move last night.
+ having alternating lines pick up the scoring slack. Grabner-Nielsen-Bailey one game then MM-JT-PAP the next couple while still having pressure from a secondary scoring line. One of the few tiems this year that two lines are playing well at the same time and this leads to wins, not one player on each line doing one memorable thing per night.
- Konopka, okay I hate to give a guy a minus for fighting, but does he have to say yes to every single challenge even when not in the teams best interest? Down a forward with Comeau out and up by a pair do you need to enterain Calgary’s puncher?
+ Lawson, feel good story of the night. Okay he overplays the puck quite a bit and either slides to far to one post or all the way into the back of the net, but he also challenged above the circle right from the get go and made himself a big enough target for half the night.
? indifferent. Okay Capuano is now taking that TO early thing a little too seriously. If he was doing it to give Lawson a breather fine, but I didn’t see the need to jump on the TO then and there. They weren’t being any worse outplayed, they were just doing a little bit too much to protect Lawson.
+ PK. Another solid night of penalty killing. Particularly when Lawson gets called in mid-kill.
+AMAC – great puck control along the line (JT as well) and keeping that puck in on one knee and moving it nicely along the boards all night. Didn’t see any Schremp and Comeau like moves to the blueline for a turnover; then again with AMAC and Nielsen at the point you have people that move to get open, not move to the center of the ice to wind up for a shot into someone’s pads (Wiz cough Wiz)
+ Frans on the PP. I said I’d liked to see him there when Weight was still holding down one of the pointds and my faith in Frans has been rewarded. He’s the best defensive forward on the team and he has the ability to distribute the puck. He doesn’t have a cannon for a shot, but he maintains control and knows who to get it to on the PP.
+ to JT for taking the open path to the net on the PP, but seriously what the hell was Calgary’s D thinking letting him walk out and the goaltender not even attempting to lay the paddle down and cut him off. The Flames were shorthanded, but JT was outnumbered on the play. Nice play by Moulson to give him a high slot options if the Calgary pylons moved.
- Bailey on the backhand. I love the confidence he is playing with, but his sticked needs to be curved the other way if he is going to convert every open shot to a backhand attempt. Also a very dangerous between the leg bachand pass at the blue line that lead to a turnover. Love the backhand, but not on every single move or he’ll become like Okposos with the drag and drop going wide on the D. Too predicable.
what the hell was Calgary’s D thinking letting him walk out and the goaltender
he was backing off to cover Moulson in front, and to be fair, the goalie has a responsibility to poke that away too
NYI Hockey! We'll get that winless month yet!
I did mention the goaltender didn't put the paddle down and Matt giving him an out
but there were two defensemen in front and by the time either reacted the puck was top corner. The goaltender at that point was also way too deep to do anything. You can hug the post and be square, not hug the post and have your body behind the goal line. Nice move by JT, but how do you allow that much space is still beyond me.
true, i read that phrase different, the marty/roli stick sweep was the appropriate defense, i thought the goalie just had his paddle down covering low… which is what i thought you meant when you said put the paddle down, i read it as, he needs to have that down to cover that space… not as, he needs to crack the paddle down on JT as he comes across… all good
NYI Hockey! We'll get that winless month yet!
agreed. I meant put the paddle out like a Dubie penalty shot stopper...
and stop JT’s progress across the paint. Failing that, take one half step up from the goal line and block him out.
possible but a low-percentage idea
You have to make ABSOLUTELY sure to time it right and disrupt the play.
The weakness of the paddle down is that it exposes the area over that shoulder. If you lunge too early at a guy cutting forehand-to-backhand he simply stops and pops it over you – and especially a lefty shot on a lefty-catching goalie. If you lunge too late and miss you look like an idiot flat on your face with the guy skating around you. Then he doesn’t have to do anything special to get it over your pad and glove.
Your second idea is better – Karlsson should keep his feet and challenge the walkout by physically occupying the lane. I think he went paddle down to hug the post because JT was behind the goal line, and he expected Bowie to cut off the slot.
known far and wide for stat-fu and irking people
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
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I think Karlsson was also too far back behind the goal line as well, and that’s why I thought he’d try to lay the paddle down and poke it as JT came across the crease. Being that far into the net he really exposed a lot of the far side.
exactly
It’s a stance designed to defend low wraparounds and disrupt passes from behind the line – you don’t worry as much about exposing the top shelf to a guy who’s in no position to shoot on net himself. When he walks out, though, you’ve got to get back up, or keep him out of the slot.
known far and wide for stat-fu and irking people
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
"isn’t it amazingly simple to use the link pop-up?" - JPinVA
Wasn’t even thinking left catching goaltender which would have put his stick to the post and not on the far side, good point. In that case I’ll go with answer number two and push out into the lane to stop him from coming across and exposing the glove side. I’m even more surprised then that JT went high since in that situation you usually have low glove side exposed, but I think by that point Karlsson was falling over to cover the low post as opposed to sliding over with the pad, but I’m going on memory.
Mikb, what was your take on how DP played the Moss goal?
I didn’t think it was as bad as some people. Though it did look awkward by the end.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
looked awkward, I wish I could see a replay from the reverse angle
The highlights only show it once at full-speed. Didn’t see it live. It looks like he maybe went down a little early, and Moss read him, pulled it back, and went forehand. Without a second look I don’t feel like I should say more. BUT – terrible work by both Eaton and Reese on that goal.
known far and wide for stat-fu and irking people
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
"isn’t it amazingly simple to use the link pop-up?" - JPinVA
I think he played the deke, laid the paddle out, did the splits to cover, and the puck squibbled by on the inside. Or something. I saw a few replays at the time.
Awkward but not disastrous, I didn’t think. And yes, the D {bangs head}.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
Nice work.. a few I left off in "post win hangover" mode.
+ PK. Another solid night of penalty killing. Particularly when Lawson gets called in mid-kill.
I’ve kind of let the awesome special teams work of late go “unplussed”. Things have been looking up and I think a lot of that is the double duty by MacHamonic. Mac and frans on the points aren’t bad… but Hammy has a nice shot and good point presence as well.
- Bailey on the backhand
We’ve been seeing more of this than should be necessary. I think Bailey has been outperforming expectations on the RW, but when Okie returns things are going to get shuffled… and i think the guy whe suffers the most will be Comeau.
Bailey-Frans-Okie, Grabner-RSH-Comeau on the RW. There are too many LW’s and he’s just not producing enough at LW to justify the double off-wing play. Sim probably uses his two way availability and helps BPT make the playoffs… and JJ splits time with trevor on the fourth line with Martin and Konopka.
Lighthouse Hockey: "where everybody knows your screen name" -mikb
I watch hockey because I love the game, I watch the Islanders because I hate myself.
With Bailey I actually think he has used the backhand effectively in quite a few cases, but now it just seems like he’s forcing it. Maybe it is playing on a line with the "Danish backhand of judgement " that is inspiring him.
I don' tthink it's just the backhand shots...
it’s also the backhand passes. It is a different dynamic to have to open your body on the off wing, or constantly comprimise your options when you aren’t fully comfortable transitioning from your off-side. I don’t know how young kids are coached on how to play the off wing, but I guess there are techniques that make it easier… and for some, more comfortable. I don’t think Bailey is there comfort wise in the NHL… but he’s done a helluva job. That line is performing a lot better than I thought it would. They create space well, and after establishing possession in the offensive zone the off-wing play actually provides more opportunities…. I’d just rather have guys cross over after possession, rather than play weaker in transition.
… god, that’s a hat full of bullshit from somebody who never played a minute of organized hockey. Sometimes I even amaze myself with the crap I come out with.
Lighthouse Hockey: "where everybody knows your screen name" -mikb
I watch hockey because I love the game, I watch the Islanders because I hate myself.
by JPinVA on Jan 4, 2011 10:37 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
See part of my minus
I think it was a between the legs backhand, not even just a drop pass that had me shaking my head. That line has been really effective and I didn’t want to give the impression that I was down on Bailey, just feel that when things are going right its time to pick out the flaws and not dump on them when they are down. I think players on the off wing tend to send the puck up to the d on the forehand along the boards or high around the net to protect the puck. Being the puck carrying forward on the off wing, you’re usually in the shooting position, so that’s what confuses me about the backhand love.
I’ve noticed Hillen playing behind this line and being more effective carrying the puck up the ice since the trend started, so who knows how to sort all of this out. I know from a defensive perspective it is harder to hit the guy off the near boards on the off wing, which is usually the safer option, and that may be why Hillen carries a bit more to make the cross ice pass to the off winger.
LOL
Rec’d for brutal honesty. You actually make sense, though. Playing the off wing is a challenge and it does change all the angles.
known far and wide for stat-fu and irking people
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
"isn’t it amazingly simple to use the link pop-up?" - JPinVA
I see your hat full of BS and raise you
that’s a hat full of bullshit from somebody who never played a minute of organized hockey. Sometimes I even amaze myself with the crap I come out with.
Yeah, but you know this is why I think these discussions rather rock. I’ve played hockey since I was out of diapers, didn’t get coached/organized hockey until about age 12, and do not think of some of the things people who’ve never played think of.
I know I have many blindspots in observing the game simply from relying on instincts that never required much thought. And I know I have some areas where I’ve been coached well or thought through the biomechanics a lot and can bring something to the table. Add to it that some pro athletes don’t have much going on upstairs while others are obsessed self-improvement machines (#87 in Pit, hate to say), and it’s pretty fun for me to hear a wide range of theories and observations.
Or maybe you're just full of crap. Yeah, probably.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
I need to master the sarcasm font...
… until then my sarcasm will go unrecognized… and people will continue to take me seriously… then they’ll burn me at the stake.
Lighthouse Hockey: "where everybody knows your screen name" -mikb
I watch hockey because I love the game, I watch the Islanders because I hate myself.
I wuss'd out
Or got addicted to Courier. I know I didn’t need it there, but it’s too mesmerizing to leave in the holster.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
Indifference may be the correct call...
? indifferent. Okay Capuano is now taking that TO early thing a little too seriously. If he was doing it to give Lawson a breather fine, but I didn’t see the need to jump on the TO then and there. They weren’t being any worse outplayed, they were just doing a little bit too much to protect Lawson.
Those are precisely the situations to call a time out. If my memory is still working…they were being outplayed and forced to ice the puck after an already long shift… with a cold goalie. Better to burn one there and try to help stave off a quick goal.
As Dom points out whenever I brought up Gordon not using his, ever… the TO is mostly over-rated. But I’ll never kick a coach for using one. It’s a TOOL… and if you’re not using all your tools and you’re not succeeding that’s one of the reasons. If you are, and you’re winning… then you have a one hand clapping scenario… why call him out for that?
Lighthouse Hockey: "where everybody knows your screen name" -mikb
I watch hockey because I love the game, I watch the Islanders because I hate myself.
We're on the same page and have been for a while on the TO usage
I just find it curious now that Capuano always uses his TO in the second. We’ve gone from Gordon’s Gollum like infatuation with preserving the precious TO, to a I’ll be damned if I’m not gonna use this sucker as soon as I see the slightest slide (in the equivalent New England accent). I just didn’t see a big need at that point in the game, just as soon see him use it than not, but I wasn’t sure if it helped spark Calgary a little more with them thinking all of a sudden they have the Isles on the ropes.
"icing timeout"
It seemed pretty clear to me Capuano took that timeout solely for the fact that they had iced the puck and JT’s line (with Gervais/Hillen behind them) had been on for about a minute. There was no need to take a “regular timeout”, as a TV timeout would follow on the ensuing stoppage anyway. Anyway, a decent call, which however has nothing to do with other aspects of coaching/timeout usage.
+AMAC – great puck control along the line (JT as well) and keeping that puck in on one knee and moving it nicely along the boards all night.
Ha, that was awesome. I was just trying to remember further up the thread whether that was last night or a few nights ago (I watched the game in halves, interrupted by a rec hockey game and several beverages). That was fun stuff.
Agree on Frans on the PP…but then I would, wouldn’t I?
And the fact the Isles were already down a forward…hadn’t thought of that but that’s another good reason to wonder why Zeke had to go then and there.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
This
congrats to Jack and Mrs Hillen. You know we never really think about stuff like this, and how it factors into one’s professional life… but the last trimester of a pregnancy can take a toll on a young couple. Jack wasn’t himself this year
Was thinking that myself. That’s a LOT that could be going on, all while your pro future and the residence/location of your new family hangs in the balance.
I’ve never totally bought the “Ovechkin ruined Hillen” theory because by the end of last season Hillen was looking back in form. Don’t know how he did at the WC (though I think Ben reported it wasn’t too impressive). But I just wonder if there are more factors.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
indeed
great angle on Hillen’s situation, JP, never thought of that. So, there’s hope for him to bounce back in the 2nd half. I never really bought into the “Ovechkin theory”, either, simply had no clue what’s up with Jack, but then again honestly don’t even remember what I thought about his showing at the WC… I thought he had a decent game against Denmark, was skating well and the bigger rink didn’t seem to hinder him as much as others on Team USA, but he wasn’t exactly spectacular towards the end of the tournament, if I remember correctly.
A good point about Fin, JP.....
……Jack has a lot of character himself and his son’s arrival definitely will help him to focus further on hockey still…..as for RSH, I think he needs to have Ox join him (not sure if Comeau ends up being the 3rd on such a line) and it’s the best spot for Kyle to regain his on-ice traction, maybe, rather than compromise what is proving to be a primary offensive source in JT-MM-PAP as you noted (?)
I’m not a doctor and I don’t play one on TV, but isn’t the adductor a hip thing? Is there any chance this is a re-injury of his old hip injury?
I play one on a blog
Apparently there are multiple “adductors” in the hip and groin area, so I’m assuming {knock on wood} they know which one.
I do know that adduction is just the general term for the motion of pulling a limb/digit toward the body, where abduction is the reverse.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
Jt's celebrations are more reserved
Which, I believe, shows he’s expecting to score on a regular basis…Its not a surprise to him..Not saying that if he does get excited that is a bad think at all…
by KO21 on Jan 4, 2011 9:30 AM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
i didnt even know the isles scored after that first goal, the crowd was silent, jiggs hadn’t realized he roofed it, and no one reacted for a second or two, i thought he shot it over the glass and out of play, lol
NYI Hockey! We'll get that winless month yet!
I'm not sure Jiggs didn't have the same reaction as me...
when I saw him skate right into the paint, make that little mini-dangle and then propel the disk on a 75-80 degree launch angle I was STUNNED. I saw it, I registered it in the gray matter….but I didn’t believe it at first. We just don’t get goals like that on a regular basis.
That’s why we drafted him… the abilty to make shit happen in a phone booth.
For a team with “limited talent” two months ago they sure are finding some recently… and a lot of it.
Lighthouse Hockey: "where everybody knows your screen name" -mikb
I watch hockey because I love the game, I watch the Islanders because I hate myself.
Nice change up in the repertoire
Nice to see JT starting to fire it from the outside a bit more. Goals against Toronto, Devils and last night are just a few examples where he really rocketed the puck from further out. We expect him to score those goals in tight, but he’s getting more confidence to take the shot from further out and having Moulson as an outlet in the slot really gives him a bit more room. I’m starting to warm on PAP being the puck carrier on that line as well. He’s taking it in with authority and then distributing behind the net for JT to pick it up. JT then has the option of Moulson in the high slot, pass to the point for a Moulson deflection, take it directly to the net, take it higher and roof the shot or send it back over to PAP trailing on the far wing. We’ve seen each of the scenarios lead to a goal in the last severn games.
Man, it’s just really fun to watch and talk about a line’s developing chemistry again! (A couple of lines, really.)
I guess I just enjoy getting to see guys play together enough to see how they’re working and evolving together. That, and I’m high on wins.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
I've never once lost faith in JT; knew he'd come alive sooner rather than later.....
….but the show he’s putting on with almost every game since Cappy took over is nonetheless STUNNING…..
To me, it seems like when Tavares goes, the team goes.
Or when the team goes, Tavares goes. One or the other.
Except it was the Bailey Neilsen and Grabner line that got them going against Pitt.
They need two lines functioning at all times. On most nights one of them should be your top line which we’ll concede is PAP-JT- MMoulson. If you get either Neilsen or Schremp’s line to provide secondary scoring it allows JT to operate without being suffocated.
so if Frans is out a few games, does Bailey get moved to C or does Schremp move up a line
then they would need to recall a C, but I don’t like moving Bailey back and forth. he is having success, leave him at W. I think for a few games RSH will be able to handle the offensive side of the #2 line, but D of Frans is hard to replace
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
Frans?/KO Return
Is Frans out? He returned in the third last night. Thought he just had a nosebleed that needed plugging up.
We keep hearing little rumblings about KO coming back. Has anyone heard anything more about how imminent his return might be? Last I heard was late this month. Might be a nice shot in the arm if they could get him back when this trip is over.
by DieHardDyingHard on Jan 4, 2011 9:55 AM EST up reply actions
Frans
He wasn’t playing much in third. Better to rest a groin injury then play through it and make it more severe.
Has KO been cleared for full contact in practice yet? I haven’t heard and that is the next big milestone for his recovery.
Frans is one tough SOB, his groin is bleeding through his nose and he continues on.
by Hockey1919 on Jan 4, 2011 10:03 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
LOL. Awesome.
Frans thinks Wolverine’s healing ability is “cute.” I don’t see him out too long. I’m pretty sure “injury” translates from Danish as roughly, “I grow bored of this Calgary team. 4-2? I will sit now and meditate us to victory. Leave me.”
by Les Beaver on Jan 4, 2011 10:06 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I believe i heard mid-to-late January.
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it sn... oh, wait a minute. OK, that's enough!
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Jan 4, 2011 9:59 AM EST up reply actions
A great game, from what I’ve heard. Wish I could’ve seen it, but I needed some sleep after a run of epic parties this past weekend.
I’m very concerned about Frans, however. Not that he’s terribly hurt, apparently, but rather because he’s one of those keystone pieces to the team. Much like when A-Mac went down, I have a bad feeling we’re in for another losing streak until Frans returns.
(I hope that did enough to appease the hockey gods, so that we may continue our merry little way up the standings).
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it sn... oh, wait a minute. OK, that's enough!
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Jan 4, 2011 9:58 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I cannot believe we are still 15 points out of 8th
That is one huge hill to climb. We are back in the pack at least. 2 points from Toronto.
You mean to tell me shooting the puck from 70 feet out doesn't earn us extra goals?
heheheh
How hard are they rooting for the Isles in Beantown, you think?
known far and wide for stat-fu and irking people
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
"isn’t it amazingly simple to use the link pop-up?" - JPinVA
I think Burke actually works for the Bruins.
Think about it, it’s genius: “Burkie, go to Toronto, get us their next two first round picks…here, you can have Kessel…..no, they won’t see right through it- you’re Brian F’ing Burke, man, …once we get those 2 picks, we can continue to be good with our vets AND plan for the future with high first round picks, as well as our regular first round picks…”
Can you imagine the follow-up phone call between Leafs and Boston this season?
Burke: Hello Chiarelli, about that deal, not working out so great , so uh now that I’ve thought about it, can we have our picks back and you can have Kessel?
Chiarelli: Sorry Burkie, no do overs or give backs.
Burke: What the &@*K Chiarelli, no do overs in hockey! Man that’s Bull$hit!, since when? Than what about the lemon law?
Chiarelli: Burkie that’s for cars, you bought a Kessel
Burke: I’m calling Gary on you.
Chiarelli: “Click”
or now
Burke: I’m calling Gary on you.
Chiarelli: I’m calling Greg’s Dad on YOU.
Burke: click
known far and wide for stat-fu and irking people
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
"isn’t it amazingly simple to use the link pop-up?" - JPinVA
Yes, but they have three games in hand on 8th.
If (and yes, I’m aware it’s a big “if”) the Isles cash in on all three of those games, the lead is only 9 points. It’s a start. And there’s still plenty of hockey to go.
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it sn... oh, wait a minute. OK, that's enough!
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Jan 4, 2011 12:53 PM EST up reply actions
Montreal is on pace for 92+ points
In past years a mid to upper 80’s would get you in (for the East at least). If 92 points ends up being the cut-off the Isles must average 1.37 points a game….Hopefully one of the marginal playoff teams fail (cough, Rags, cough) and the cut-off is lowered a bit. If they can make it it will be awesome but I’m happy as long as they show progress.
You mean to tell me shooting the puck from 70 feet out doesn't earn us extra goals?
They basically have 45 games to get 60 points, so 30-15 or something along those lines….that would be like .667 hockey, right?
Stranger things have happened.
This team is starting to get healthy* again, and we saw what they were like at the beginning of the year when they were healthy*.
- “Healthy” of course meaning “as healthy as an Islander team ever is,” which still means you’re missing one or two important players.
2011 is our year! Now if only seasons didn't span over two years.
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Jan 4, 2011 9:16 PM EST up reply actions
Asterisk fail
The bullet point was supposed to be the caveat to my definition of the word “healthy”.
2011 is our year! Now if only seasons didn't span over two years.
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Jan 4, 2011 9:17 PM EST up reply actions
Bababouy's happy for the Isles
The Isle are turning things around and heading in the right direction. Still think Leighton might be a good insurance policy for DP.
I agree with those ...
that are tiring of waiting for Comeau to be a night-in, night-out factor. He has the skills to be a 20+ goal scorer and solid two-player but doesn’t play to his talent level and disappears for games at a time. I would disgree though with a comparison to Bergenheim, who I thought always played his ass off but just turned out not to have the expected scoring ability. I always liked Bergy, and still think he’ll be a big asset on a good team.
As for Moulson, if they let that guy walk it will tell us a lot about the team’s future here. The chemistry he has developed with Tavares, and now with Parenteau too, is precisely what the end result of building a team is supposed to be. It looks like a real top shelf #1 line in the making. To me, letting him walk would seem like a white flag going up for this team.
This is a really good run and I’m pretty surprised by it. But didn’t we see a similar run at almost the same point in the season last year, including the 6-0 shutout over Detroit?
Didn’t that turn out to be an anomaly, a string of games against teams in mid-season doldrums followed by another fall down the hill? Can someone help me understand why this is different? And before I get jumped for being negative and a total pessimist, I’m BEGGING to be convinced this IS different, and is a sign of real progress. I want to believe as much as anyone.
Just one more thing. This string of games has been the best Tavares has played so far. Not only can you actually see the guy growing into a complete player – he even looks faster – but the phenomenal hands and shooting skills are really starting to blossom now. For the time last night he actually reminded me of … I can’t say it, but even Goring brought up the comparison during the game.
I think that was after the Olympic break
Other teams stars were tired and the Isles were well rested. I’m not positive but I remember it being later.
You mean to tell me shooting the puck from 70 feet out doesn't earn us extra goals?
Their best run last year was from Dec. 23 to mid-January
Something like 7-3-1 or thereabouts. But there were multiple shootout wins mixed in.
But Tavares’s rebound last year was post-Olympics.
Lighthouse Hockey: And you shall know us by the fraying of our hips.
different in a couple of ways
For one thing, the team is a year older. For another, they’re recovering from one of the most brutal stretches of results any of them have ever played through – and it got their coach sacked. That they respond this well to all of that is a great step forward. I also think that this team is more talented as well as more experienced than last season’s Isles. Finally, I’d say that they’re doing this with more mature and responsible play, instead of sticking to a system like slot cars stuck in a groove. Sure, at times those cars look really fast… but most times they just pop off the track. Now they seem (to my admittedly amateur eyes) more like a team that is learning to make choices on the fly. They look more creative and more passionate about their game, instead of mechanical.
known far and wide for stat-fu and irking people
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
"isn’t it amazingly simple to use the link pop-up?" - JPinVA
Differences:
1. Capuano. Say what you will about the coach having only so much influence over such streaks, but I think Cappy is a much better fit for this particular bunch of players…..
2. Chemistry. Said bunch of players are creating much more effective alchemy and dynamism than did last year’s edition; Okposo was still developing and the whole DiPietro situation was a MAJOR factor in the team’s early second-half slide. Remember, there WAS no Grabs, no PAP, no Eaton, no Hamonic, no Jurcina and a very limited AMac (yes, we had a healthy Streit but even on his best night, Mark CAN’T be the equivalent of FOUR defensemen).
3. JT’s rookie year and inevitable adjustment curve to NHL play. Even so, he STILL managed to score almost 30 goals and nab the Calder Trophy……this season, he’s beginning to REALLY feel his oats as we’ve seen and noted these past 10 games or so.
Poulin
Not at BP practice this morning, tweeted by Forbiano
Thanks to the Winter Classic, we have finally found ice worse then the Coliseums'
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
by Mark D on Jan 4, 2011 12:04 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Hmmmmm. Interesting.
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)
Leighton clears waivers
You mean to tell me shooting the puck from 70 feet out doesn't earn us extra goals?
And I smile
:D <—- see?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 4, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
I think I'm convinced by some ...
good points up there that this is different than last year’s run at virtually the same time.
There is more offensive talent and speed than last year, being unencumbered by Gordon’s rigid system furthers their creativity, and to put it simply, they seem like more of a TEAM now than at any point in the last few years.
Those are real reasons, not just wishful thinking.
The trading of the Wiz has really improved my impression of this team
It seems we are no longer impressed by the illusion of one or two good plays to think everyone is a keeper. I had this nagging feeling all year that Wiz wasn’t working out, but when you look at the offensive numbers you convince yourself that the big shot from the point was working. Then he’s gone, they don’t miss a beat, the PP picks up and I start to think, force feeding the shot from the point was actually hurting the PP. If the team, as well as the fans, can separate guys that we like for marginal contributions and token moments of glory (see Dubie) from core guys (see Tavares) this team can get on the right track.
by Hockey1919 on Jan 4, 2011 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Roloson shutting out Caps through 2
You mean to tell me shooting the puck from 70 feet out doesn't earn us extra goals?
Good for him!
2011 is our year! Now if only seasons didn't span over two years.
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Jan 4, 2011 9:17 PM EST up reply actions
28th, baby!
A quick calculation of the power rankings have the Islanders jumping over Toronto.
2011 is our year! Now if only seasons didn't span over two years.
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Jan 4, 2011 9:18 PM EST reply actions
Roloson with the shutout tonught
In the Islander mask :)
KUDOS
all around. But most of all to Captain Jack for keepimg these lines together night in and night out to develop chemistry. Tavares, Moulson and Parentau looking very nice together. Killer pass from PA to Matt, TWO killer goals by JT, and spectacular goaltending by Lawson. You cannot say enough about the job he did in a game that was hardly decided yet. Several HUGE saves when Calgary was threatening to take the game over. BUT, again, no sense of panic among these Isles, no matter how many shots the Flames peppered Lawson with. Really had fun watching this one!!!
What part of REBUILD don't you understand??
Mets/Nets/Jets/Islanders fan: Now that's TORTURE!!
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SBNation.com Recent Stories
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.
