Maple Leafs 5 (EN), Islanders 3: Coming Back is Hard
by Dominik on Dec 23, 2011 9:58 PM EST
in New York Islanders Game Recaps
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The obvious difficulty with spotting your visiting opponent an early 3-0 lead: Coming back is hard, requires no further mistakes nor bad breaks.
The Islanders did alright to climb back into the game (twice) after conceding first-period goals to Clarke MacArthur, Nazem Kadri and Carl Gunnarsson [sorry, I had those goal scorers way off in the original post; I blame Christmas], but you need a perfect night to pull it off, and this was by no means a perfect night.
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The killer? After the Islanders had pulled back to 3-2 on a partial breakaway goal by Kyle Okposo (nice pass by Mike Mottau) and a powerplay goal from Frans Nielsen, they had several close chances to tie it on another second period powerplay. Instead of getting the right bounce to tie it, Nielsen made a boards pass P.A. Parenteau couldn't handle, it created a 2-on-1 that Mark Streit handled poorly, and the Leafs got that momentum-salvaging insurance goal. Shorthanded, no less.
A side story was several Isles taking facial wounds and another comical night of refereeing that was at least equally inexplicable to both teams. The Islanders have now lost their final two games before the break and their first two of five in the run up to the New Year.
Game Highlights
The Officiating
I don't know what was funnier, that they missed a high hit on Tim Wallace, or that they called a phantom high stick on Cody Franson after he batted the puck up into Michael Grabner's face. No, neither sequence was as good as calling Joffrey [sic] Lupul for battling John Tavares along the boards, then doubling down on the dumb by calling Tavares for diving on the same play.
Doug Weight was so livid that Jack Capuano had to hide a smile and put out a hand to hold him back, lest the officials do something like call Weight for an unsportsmanlike bench minor and then even it up by calling Scott Gordon for deadpanning. Not a proud night by any means from the officials, but in case I'm not making myself clear: It was comical for both sides and did little to affect the game's outcome.
Anyway, with the score 4-2, the Isles made it interesting one more time on a John Tavares goal from in front with 9:30 left in regulation. But the difficulty of erasing a 3-0 deficit lingered all night as the Islanders essentially lost this one in the first 12 minutes. Evgeni Nabokov even made some big saves to preserve some hope (and earlier, to keep it from being worse than 3-0) while the Isles tried to get that elusive equalizer, but no dice.
Because coming back from down 3-0 is hard to do. Best not to dig that hole that next time.
The Wounds
Matt Martin was knocked woozy when he went in to check Keith Aulie in the corner and Aulie's elbow came up and popped him in the face -- either through guile or through the natural motion of the high hand raising the arm when trying to dig the puck out along the boards. Martin would go to the locker room but return.
Grabner took the aforementioned puck to the face and went to the locker room for a while but returned. It was a good knock to the cheek.
Wallace took a high hit (shoulder? arm? meh.) from Jake Gardner and needed repairs but returned.
Overall, a lot of guys will be having Christmas dinner with some black and blue faces.
Butchie Quote of the Night
"We'll see when Coach Capuano pulls his goaltender today."
>>said with around 75 seconds left in the game
They gave up yet another empty-net goal, though at least tonight they made the opponent actually have to carry it 200 feet or so to get there. Still, once again they appeared to have no organized plan on how to use the sixth attacker.
Doug Weight Viewer Lipread of the Night
"You [Avery]'d up!! You [Avery]'d up!! You [Avery]'d up!!"
(To the officials, after inexplicably calling John Tavares for a "dive" late in the game.)
Well that was amusing anyway, and befitting the bizarre situation.
Have a good Christmas. We'll still have stuff both days this weekend before the Isles get back at it Monday night at the Garden.
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Ack
Just got back from the game…
-Mark Streit needs to sit and recuperate from whatever is eating him because he has been terrible. Every night a bone headed play that ends up in our net. I put that shorthanded goal squarely on his shoulders. He stopped trying when he thought his guy was gonna peel off. Terrible.
-This team played only a 10 minute game with any heart (save Matt Martin and JT)
-That diving call was the worst I have ever seen.
by GreekIsles83 on Dec 23, 2011 10:13 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Agreed on Streit
Diving call was horrible. I was the one leading the “refs suck” chant.
I thought the first two goals were kindof weak and the shorty was pretty bad.
by BPlaia on Dec 23, 2011 10:31 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
2011 Streit is not the Streit of 2009
Hope the defensive draft class of 2011 pans out early (not likely), or Snow solves our defensive woes with a trade/FA (less likely), or 2012-13 doesn’t look any better. Hammonic is still very young. AMac’s steep development curve has been flattened by injury. I think Streit is coming back from a decision injury not a shoulder injury. Mayfield, Pedan to far away. DeHann, Donovan not enough. Until we have four NHL defencemen who can support our young forwards with puck posession, this is not a playoff team.
Thou shalt not recognize false enemies, they are the Rangers, you shall have no other enemies before them.
AND "Thank you Dale Tallon"
Drafting Defense
I am thinking like you, a big, mobile, NHL-ready defenseman is imperative. However, I am struck by the fact that we have to listen to “defensemen take longer to mature” when discussing deHaan, while Victor Hedman and Adam Larssen are playing in the NHL. Which means I don’t trust Snow to draft the right guy.
Remember two things with Hedman
His draft year was the same as JT’s and even at the time when I didn’t know what the Isles should do I still leaned towards getting JT they needed a guy like him that is going to be a superstar in the league. The second is that Hedman’s development curve wasn’t assured to turn out the way it has. For that matter neither was JT’s, thankfully it has, but for a d-man both Hedman and Larssen operate outside the norm.
by IDCWhoYouLike on Dec 24, 2011 9:02 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
absolutely
Calvin de Haan was never considered a possible first-overall draft choice the way Larsson and Hedman were.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
I am thinking like you, a big, mobile, NHL-ready defenseman is imperative.
Thankfully they grow on trees.
by afrosupreme on Dec 24, 2011 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Dr Seuss's How the Ref Stole Christmas
The new holiday classic. Starrin Don Van Massenhoven as The Grinch, John Tavares as Jesus Christ and Doug Weight as The Really Pissed Off World War I Flying Ace. The rest of the Islanders are in it, too. But they don’t show up until after the first commercial break.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Dec 23, 2011 10:14 PM EST via mobile reply actions 3 recs
I don't know if it's a good time to say what I got my nephew for Christmas, and no, it did not come from John Tavares Claus
A poorly gift wrapped copy of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas book. Since it was poorly wrapped, “Rick DiPietro” is giving him the book. Nicely wrapped gifts come from “John Tavares Claus”.
by Dougtone on Dec 23, 2011 10:57 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Any gremlin or danish gifts on the template too? :-)
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
I didn't think that far
I’ve been giving out gifts as John Tavares Claus for 3 Christmases now.
Sadly, I can’t give the gift that us fans really want, since I’m not the real John Tavares Claus.
Someone get the DP meme changed to a white beard so we can have DP Claus…
by Nick (LetThereBeLighthouse) on Dec 24, 2011 12:15 AM EST up reply actions
Tough one
to be at.
The team took themselves and the crowd out of the game early and often with awful defense, and what seemed to be some poor goaltending. This happens when you only have three NHL defensemen and two of them are coming off major injuries.
Was nice to see them fight back. JT’s goal was some really nice patience on his part. That call was amazingly bad-he takes a crosscheck to the face and gets called for diving. But we had lost the game well before that. That fourth goal was a real dagger.
Sometimes I’m glad I can’t go see them on a regular basis-it would be far too depressing.
Ha
Was wondering how it went for you. Just like them to provide a close result…but only after sucking the air out by falling behind so far.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Yea, watching the game with my brother and pops can be tough. The last time we were really going to a lot of games together was the 93 run. So really there was nothing before that that can compare to the past few seasons. Needed a lot of gallows humor to make it through the first.
Hopefully next time we’re together it’ll be for a win … it’s been a long time.
this league is a friggin joke
Don’t anyone tell you otherwise.
Didn’t cause this team to suck more tonight than they already have. But bad officiating sets the tone. Surprised from van Massenhoven too. He’s a vet ref. He’s no Auger, but his spirits were summoned tonight.
Oh yeah, this team is also going nowhere this year. The franchise? They keep this up, they’re gone in ‘15. Don’t yell back at me for being negative. I’m being realistic. This organization is done. Move em to Toronto…at least they’ll get some calls their way.
What the fish, stick?
I have to wonder if I want to pay for this next season
This is simply not right. I watch 4 or 5 other teams in the NHL on a regular basis and i don’t see the refs screwing anybody over like this, and definitely not in the last three minutes.
I don’t think the NHL is getting anymore of my money next season. I’m going minor league only. I will pay the 14 bucks for msg and watch the Isles replays at midnight.
Like homey said, this league is a NBA style joke. Fuck them.
I watched the game late because I went to and SPHL game tonight, and the refs aren’t as bad. I wonder how the refs in that crappy A level gong show hockey league can outperform your refs, Buttman? Tell me. How can that be? A little dirty, are you? You piece of shit, you should be ashamed of yourself. Maybe this team tries to skirt the salary cap, I don’t know what problem you have with my team, but us fans pay money just like all the other fans. You frigging midget. Who gets booed more than any other man on earth, and you deserve every bit of it. Screw you and your NBA like league. Next year, you don’t get my money. I don’t pay money to get screwed. Fuck you.
"We owe him a lot more than he owes us at this point. He's been stellar all year. He still gave us a chance to win this one, and we've got to find a way."
—C Josh Bailey, on G Al Montoya after a 5-3 loss Tuesday in Montreal.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Dec 24, 2011 12:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Man...Streit is playing like
he was when he was moved to 4th line wing in Montreal. He’s in a pretty bad mental slump, making really poor decisions with and without the puck. The team is lacking confidence. Maybe an infusion of toughness will turn this around (Haley, Gillies). I don’t know. This is getting old…FAST.
"Hating the Rangers since before I was born."
He's not making good decisions, that's what bugs me.
And he’s nearly never using his slapshot. I don’t what it is, but this isn’t the same mark streit from a couple years ago. He is getting older though, so maybe it’s part coincidence of him slowing down and his brain not catching up/realizing this. His pinching has cost us this year, and his defense has cost us this year. This is why I have no problem saying with confidence that Hamonic is our best defenseman. Garik is right, Streit looks more like MAB this year then he does 09/10 streit.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
Yeah, MAB does and streit doesn't.
Streit is averaging only 1.636 shots/gm this year vs 2.280 shots/gm he averaged 2yrs ago. He just doesn’t like shooting anymore for one reason or another. He shot the puck 39% more according to stats in 09/10 than he does shoot it this year. That’s a huge difference, especially for a guy with a slapper and one that runs a PP like streit does.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
There is something wrong...I doubt its by choice...
He has a hard and more importantly accurate shot…
The whole decision-making process on the shortie
It was of either a spent or just completely out-of-whack D-man. Mistake followed by resignation.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
The short bench
Back to back games. Its hard to win if 5 fowards skate less than 10 minutes. The top six were so tired at the end they had nothing to give. Taking the first 10 minutues of the game off didn’t help.
Too true
They rely so much on the top six, I’m starting to wonder if they just need a new approach. I know they’re the bread and butter and the others aren’t that great, but they’re burning the candle at both ends on those guys. Maybe break up FNGO and aim for more balance. I don’t know.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I've been thinking break up FNGO
I think if we split them up we can still see similar offensive contributions from all 3 of them. We have 3 centers playing real good hockey so splitting the good wingers up between couldn’t hurt to much. I’m also not a coach but I think Martin Bailey Okposo and Grabner Frans Nino could work.
Constantly building for the future.
Dom....Breaking up FNGO
I think this is what I was thinking when i posted my Trade Frans Neilsen FanShot. I was getting frustrated with the lack of secondary scoring. I think my instincts tell me that more than any other forwrad besides Tavares….Frans would really stabalize whatever line he does play on.
I think a few games with lines like this might help:
MM-JT-PAP
Grabs-Bails-Okposo
MMartin-Frans-Nino/Wallace
Cappy is trying to kill two birds with one stone on that second line and as a result asking for too much out of them. He wants secondary scoring from those three but also wants to make sure that they are given the other teams best assignments.
Frans needs to be saved for a lot of those important intangible roles. Also, with the way certain younger more physical players (i.e. MMartin are playing…they could be a nice compliment to Neilsen’s game).
An xtra 3-4 minutes of Ice Time for Nino/Martin/Bailey might help. Let these kids go out there and learn a bit. They could find out some things about them in more involved roles.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Twitter: @mikeryaninc
"Past performance Is Not A Guarantee For Future Results"
"Listening is a Skill" -Jack Capuano
pretty good game
+ Okposo played really well
+ Stan Fishler autographed my copy of his 1971 book “hero’s of pro hockey.”
+ good comeback
+ fun game to watch
- we lost
by Smoothcatdaddy on Dec 23, 2011 10:51 PM EST reply actions
Can anyone get a video of the diving call?
Want to show it to people who missed the game.
UVa Student. Twitter: @ericdavidmorris
by edavidmorris on Dec 23, 2011 10:57 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exUnJeco5As
"We owe him a lot more than he owes us at this point. He's been stellar all year. He still gave us a chance to win this one, and we've got to find a way."
—C Josh Bailey, on G Al Montoya after a 5-3 loss Tuesday in Montreal.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Dec 24, 2011 12:47 AM EST up reply actions
Martin on Aulie
I’m usually very critical of the refs, and the JT call was a joke (didn’t cost us the game, but it didn’t help, either). Should the elbow from Aulie been a penalty? It was a blatant elbow to
Martin’s face, but Martin was the guy hitting. I know that the guy getting hit can defend himself, but he can’t use his elbow, can he? When looking at it, I thought there should be a penalty.
Again, just a clarification. It didn’t cost us the game, and the refs went both ways on shitty calls (Hammer is lucky he didn’t get a major for cross-checking Connolly in the face – and the refs evened that up, which had make-up call written all over it).
Aulie should have been called. You're not allowed to bring your elbow up when someone is going to check you, same for your stick.
That should have been a penalty. You can prepare yourself for a hit, even try and throw the body yourself, but you can’t raise your elbow. Refs were bad for both sides tonight though.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
I think the refs got this one right unfortunately.
Aulie is 6’5" and was bracing himself for the Martin hit against the boards. I can see why this call would slide.
The JT diving call for taking an elbow to the face … just fracking terrible. TSN had the camera right on Weight for his reaction which was priceless.
I honestly don't know
And I’m not sure what’s the right call. I know I sympathized with the refs because that’s a tough spot. (I’m also tall with a long wing span and long stick, so I’ve been in that situation many times where I’m stickhandling in tight and it forces my elbow up. Is that my fault or the aggressor’s?)
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
The Elbowing Rule
45.1 Elbowing – Elbowing shall mean the use of an extended elbow in a manner that may or may not cause injury.
45.2 Minor Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a minor penalty, based on the degree of violence, to a player guilty of elbowing an opponent.
This is straight from: http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26335. To me this reads that any elbow is illegal, no matter what the circumstance.
by IDCWhoYouLike on Dec 24, 2011 9:18 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Don't know what happened at the ranger game, but tonight I saw Weight give Nabokov the signal that he can come to the bench with around 1:35 left.
So tonight Nabokov chose when to leave, but again he didn’t cheat like normal goalies would skating the middle of the faceoff circles or almost to the blueline and then leaving. He went straight for the bench when he thought was best and didn’t watch what was going on with the puck when he decided to play. So last night definitely falls 100% on Nabby I’d think. Nab doesn’t play leaving the ice for the extra man well at all at the end of the game it appears. Maybe because he’s been on good Sharks team mostly, or maybe he just isn’t thinking. Either way, I hope that gets fixed.
Other then that, meh. Weird game, we had our chances but the leafs were just so fluid with crisp passes all over the offensive zone and hitting their man. Seems like they ran a couple of set-up plays at even strength on offense too. One of the main things that pissed me off tonight was that we had nobody finishing rebounds, Reimer was completely awful tonight with his rebound control, we should have had “at least” 1 rebound goal but we had none. Haley challenged at least 3 people that I saw, all bigger then him, but he had no takers. Favorite was that he challenged Phaneuf, but obviously Dion didn’t oblige.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
But the Leafs were collapsing around the net so he rarely had to make the second save…..Reimer looked REALLY shaky tonight.
by Nick (LetThereBeLighthouse) on Dec 24, 2011 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And that's not our fault? Our job is to put rebounds away, not leave them uncovered, and with how bad Reimer was with his rebound control yesterday, we should have had at least 1 more goal.
We need to bury rebounds or have a guy in front of the net when we take shots, it’s somewhat hockey 101. Or are we that weak that we can’t win much of any battles in front of the net on offense?
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
PS-Your box score is wrong:
NHL.com has MacArthur, Kadri, Gunnarson as the 1st period goalscorers:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2011020510&navid=sb:recap
Or maybe NHL.com has them wrong? I don’t know, just wanted to point that out.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
Ahh...thanks
Must’ve hallucinated or took the wrong note while wrapping presents.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Instead of the “Well the refs have a tough job” thing, he said the call was terrible and that he was indeed checked in the head.
I guess it would be considered tame by other guys standards, but for JT I was genuinely (and pleasantly) surprised to hear him speak up and openly disagree with a BS call.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 23, 2011 11:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He also looked like he was about to cry
I died a little watching it.
Also, that shortie was largely PA’s fault – hit somebody, please!
Success was survival and, kid, it still is
by IslesFanInNJ on Dec 24, 2011 12:25 AM EST up reply actions
Lack of hitting is an epidemic
Only Martin and Jurcina were slinging the body. But when they got hitting suddenly the crowd was back into it, emotions went up and low and behold…scoring chances!
Have to disagree on the shorty. Mark Streit shoulders most of the blame. He gave up on Crabb after Crabb got around him. Had he stayed with his man all the way to the net, he may have been able to break up that easy tap in. Streit has not been looking good.
Tonight was uninspired, lazy. EVERY loose puck was picked up by Toronto. Pathetic.
by GreekIsles83 on Dec 24, 2011 12:34 AM EST up reply actions
haley had some hits
"We owe him a lot more than he owes us at this point. He's been stellar all year. He still gave us a chance to win this one, and we've got to find a way."
—C Josh Bailey, on G Al Montoya after a 5-3 loss Tuesday in Montreal.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Dec 24, 2011 1:20 AM EST up reply actions
It was Haleys hitting that sparked the whole team...
we need guys like him…Plain and simple…I just dont understand wtf Garth is thinking…He was a tough player…Why does he want the Isles to play so passive? I hope he learned his lesson by now and keeps him in the lineup.
I hear you
But if PA hits his man instead of a stick check, that 2-1 on never materializes in the first place.
Success was survival and, kid, it still is
by IslesFanInNJ on Dec 24, 2011 8:30 AM EST up reply actions
can't really hit the guy there
Well, he could, but from the angle he had to take coming to the wall, he ran a real risk of a boarding penalty. He was going to nail Crabbe in the numbers if he broke to him instead of the puck. I really think that was much more Nielsen’s fault for not carrying deep or putting the puck into the corner. I mean, he does realize that on the PP he’s one of the two point men, right? So if he’s deep why is he sending the puck backwards when his back is to the entire zone? That is a dumb and dangerous play.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
He's probably hurt a little...
Maybe that corny but that guy works his ass off and wears his heart on his sleeve…He plays the game the right way and wants to be known for that…Instead a fucking zebra blatantly disrespects his character by saying he took a dive? Meanwhile he got his head smashed with a stick that could’ve knocked him out… So, if he was emotional, I can understand why…
We'll still have stuff both days this weekend before the Isles get back at it Monday
Thanks for the warning!
We are all Islanders, even if we’re from Jersey!
Okay, here's my analysis on the goals the Isles gave up
Disclaimer: this is completely arguable but that please, that does not mean rip me apart, this is solely my own beliefs
*Note: I was sitting directly behind the Isles net for the first and third periods, and when I say there were some bad goals…damn, there were some bad goals.
1st Goal: horrible. absolutely horrible. I will get to Nabokov’s play on that later in this paragraph, but Eaton shit the bed, plain and simple. Watching the replay, he’s too busy bunched up in the middle with Mottau mesmerized by Connolly stickhandling through center untouched to even notice MacArthur streaking down left wing completely open. Then what does he decide to do? OH! Let’s take the body on the man who just passed the puck to the goal scorer! Sound strategy, let’s slow down the play and see what happens next…
Well Nabby just got beaten like I don’t even know what. He went down too early, gave up too much blocker side and looked completely inadequate there. Would’ve done better if there was a shooter-tutor in net, and then they still might have scored because the defense left a man with a clear lane to the outside of the net. In all honesty Nabby looked like he was cheating thinking that Connolly was going to go behind the net and keep the play alive, but instead he pulls up and fires a top-shelfer right past Nabokov’s stunned ass.
Second Goal: Alright, this one was tipped and he made a nice save on that, then the rebound was allowed to skip right out into the slot by Bailey trying to one-up his hand eye coordination by batting a bouncing puck out of the air and zone at the same time. Needless to say, he missed, it ended up on a Maple Leaf stick and a soft backhander found it’s way past Nabokov for the second weak goal of the period. Now, I’m no NHL goaltender (far from it actually) but the angle he took to play that puck in the slot was horrendous. He has not looked on with regards to his angles and the cheating towards the sides of the net since he came back from his injury.
Third Goal: Tipped, no chance for Nabokov, so I’ll leave him alone on this one. The person I will pick on for this is JT. Juice gives him a pass as he’s breaking up the boards, and he can’t handle it…so rather than get it out of the zone, he gives a handcuffing pass right to Matty Mo’s feet, who in turn is gives it right out into the middle to a Leaf who rockets one home.
Fourth Goal: I’m going to start this one with Streit needs a game off. He’s looked terrible and lazy these past couple of games. All of our players with the exception of Streit get trapped in the offensive zone here when an attempted keep in doesn’t work. PA is busting his ass to get back but isn’t fast enough (no problem there, at least he is trying to backcheck). Now, at this point, man on the right wing side has the puck…
*side note: as a defenseman, when you see that you’re about to be faced with a 2-on-1 against, you NEVER, EVER play the man with the puck, because what does that leave? YOU GOT CLASS → a wide open man in front of the net! *
Rather than go to the middle to defend the pass, Streit decides to step up on the man with the puck and defend, but instead of taking the body quickly and cleanly to wipe out this rush, he backs off and plays the man at the same time, leaving a wide open Maple Leaf in the middle of the ice. Realizing the error of his ways, Streit cuts back to the middle (the play is now at about the hash marks), completely abandoning the OTHER man involved in the 2-on-1, (which we have already discovered, leaves someone open in front of the net). Nabokov has already committed to what would usually be a shot in a 2-on-1 situtation because your defensemen usually have your back and slap away any passes across the slot. But not on the New York Islanders! A beautiful tic-tac-toe pass comes BACK across the slot to where Streit has just abandoned and back to Joey Crabb (who?) who has no qualms about slamming home a puck into an empty net. Inexcusably on Streit – that’s Defense 101.
Fifth Goal: Empty netter – at least it was with less than 2 minutes left in the game, but after an unforgivable BULLSHIT diving call on Tavares had already wiped out a powerplay and the energy from a defeated Isles team.
Winners: Toronto, Officials
Losers: Us, the Isles
Cheers everybody,
I’ve lost my voice from booing and yelling “Refs suck” and “Let’s Go Islanders” all night at the old barn. Let’s hope my next trip out to the Coli against Edmonton goes better.
Good on you for losing your voice in the effort
On the second goal, it was tough on Bailey but on the replays I thought that was more of a Mexican jumping puck scenario where you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
Of course fully agree on the analysis of Streit handling that play.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Both Capuano and Tavares saying they got no explanation for the diving call
Just goes to show that the league and the officials and players in the league have ZERO respect for this team. Nobody is going to just hand us respect or recognition for what we do out there despite the injury bug/players not wanting to come here/getting shot down by the county etc. we have to go out there, and TAKE the respect from them. After the Pens game last year, teams and the league might not have liked us, but they sure as hell respected us because they didn’t want to get their heads beaten in. We have got to start defending ourselves. Kane barrels into Montoya with a crosscheck to the head…results in a two minute powerplay and nothing else…NOBODY goes after him. Who are we the Sabres? I don’t even know what no name fuck cross checked Tavares in the FACE tonight, but NOBODY on the team goes after him!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Last year, there’s at least 4 guys on the team that jump on that right there right now. You DO NOT take liberties with the star player of the New York Islanders…or at least that used to be the message we sent out. On the way home from the game with my two friends (who happen to be ranger fans) I asked, what would happen if someone did that to Richards or Gaborik…their unanimous answer was that there would be hell to pay. Boyle, Prust, Dubinsky, Callahan and other would be ALL over them. We do not have that aire of toughness anymore…it and a majority of the pride to be playing for the NYI walked out of the arena when we sent Konopka packing. I’m not saying the guy is a 40 goal scorer but god dammit he wanted to be here, and he fought for every one of the guys who put on that blue and white jersey. I expect everyone to do the same. We need to stop being the doormat of the NHL again, because we are right back where we started last year. This team needs to make the league take notice and say hey, youre not getting an easy game when you play the Islanders. Fucking 3-0 in the first period is a disgrace
by BPlaia on Dec 24, 2011 12:42 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
Boyle is not close to tough, they have Rupp though for heavyweight fighting. But point proven.
Thing is, Duby and Prust are the only 2 players of those that “really” fight and would do anything about something like that besides scrumming. We have Haley and Martin for that right now. Haley challenged everyone under the sun, but nobody obliged. And it’s not like Haley didn’t try harder to get the ball rolling. He threw 2 or 3 big checks during this game too.
Thing about konopka is, he wasn’t a good fighter. Would he fight for his team? Sure, but he wouldn’t really send a message ala Haley/Prust. But he could scrum.
I do agree we are a really soft team. And when I mean soft, I don’t just mean we aren’t physical, I mean we are full of “unphysical” players: Grabner/Moulson/Okposo/Nielsen/JT too are all people that don’t finish their checks or even throw real checks(not to say that they aren’t quality players). When your “toughest”/most-physical top 6 forward is averaged sized PAP, there is a problem. Not to mention, we are really small in the top 6 with 4 average sized forwards and 2 udnersized ones, no big guys(although that is what nino is supposed to become). And when we lack a physical/tough or sizable player on the top 2 lines, that means for 35mins a game we don’t have that element “on O”. That means we don’t have that guy that can skate with Grabs or JT or Nielsen that can “truly” protect them, ala Duby or , not even a lucic type is necessary. Even a 3rd liner that can skate with the guys every now and then would work: ala Kane/Prust/Simmonds/Hartnell/Neil/Tootoo/Downie/Ott(yeah some of these guys are dicks, but they could be our dicks! lol) or possibly martin one day. And our 3rd line isn’t “great” at finishing checks either, but Ullstrom/Bailey are more committed to physicality then everyone not named PAP in the top 9. 4th lines, everyone fills with a physical guy or too(as we had martin to start the season and brought up haley/wallace later), so that’s nothing new and minimal toi.
Main point is, we are incredibly soft and a bit undersized in the top 6/top 2 lines. Having a real physical element beside pap in the top 6 I think would really pay dividends. Imagine throwing someone like Bobby Ryan or Evander Kane or Ryan Malone or Todd Bertuzzi-even or James Neal or Bobby Ryan or Franzen or Clowe or Chris Stewart on JT’s wing, or Nielsen’s wing. Imagine the space they could create for these players, imagine the scrumming they would do if people touched JT after the whistle. We aren’t talking PAP giving you a talking too and pushing you, we are talking 6’2’’+ 210lbs+ guys getting in your face and facewashing you while threating to run you later in the game. I don’t think size is the end all be all, but a lack of size and physicality can kill a team that isn’t overly skilled like us and that needs to battle night in and night out for points. And of course, we traded comeau away, one of our most physical top 9 forwards, if not our most physical top 9 forward. We have to outwork and tire opposing teams to win because of how we are on paper, and some size/physicality up front I think would make a significant difference.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
I agree
What i was getting at with the Konopka thing was that he loved to be on the ice with those guys. Even just seeing how he led the team off the ice and in the room with stupid stuff like the goal song last year (no matter how much people hated it), he still had the team fired up. He might’ve sucked at fighting most of the time, but with him, Haley, Martin and Gillies, teams knew that they better not fuck with the Isles or they’ll get Teh Gritz. I completely agree that we need a skilled, physical and tough player on the wing for JT and Nielsen just to create time and space for them to work their magic with their hands.
Heres to hoping we get some toughness back and take back some respect from the teams in this league, cause we sure as hell aren’t getting it for free. The Isles are a team that is going to have to fight (quite possibly literally) for every inch of ice out there and they cannot afford to let the foot up off the gas
Why is it that the GM doesnt seem to think we need grit or any heart?
Konopka didn’t kick asses, in his fights, all the time, but he was always defending the honor of the team and more importantly, he stuck up for the entire the franchise as a whole….He was verbal to the media, saying that the Isles are “no longer doormats to be stepped on”…Fans loved him for how he stuck up for everybody…He brought pride to the team and the fans…Im sure he was constantly talking to his team mates in the locker room as well..Getting them pumped up and to play with a chip on their shoulders…You cant underestimate that, especially with this organization that has lacked any pride in ages…It seems like Isles fans know we need this type of attitude…Its clear as day…When Haley came out, throwing hits and getting in the Leafs grills, the whole team stepped up and played harder which resulted in KO’s goal…Wake the fuck Garth and bring back the gritz…I wish we could get Zeke back…I’m telling you, “what he brought can not be under estimated”…He was a big ball of pride that everyone can feed off of..Including the fans and the players…This is the worst off season Garth has had…His only redeeming moves is signing the core guys but he fucked up big time by letting the heart & soal walk away…
by KO21 on Dec 24, 2011 10:20 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
rec'd agree with all of that
The thing is, Garth was a tough goalie that stuck up for his teammates. So I’m not sure he’s to blame. Or Caps for that matter. I think he proved last year what he thought of the tough guys.
Who is to blame for the lack of grit? All of them?
"We owe him a lot more than he owes us at this point. He's been stellar all year. He still gave us a chance to win this one, and we've got to find a way."
—C Josh Bailey, on G Al Montoya after a 5-3 loss Tuesday in Montreal.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Dec 24, 2011 10:58 AM EST up reply actions
Its a head scratcher...
If we had real media coverage these questions would be asked…There is no accountability for the Isles…Its so frustrating to be an Isles fan because we have so many questions and we get no answers…In Yankees universe everything is over analysed and in Isles country we are kept in the dark…How bout something in between? The Isles coverage is literally minor league caliber…
If you told me we had a choice of Pandolfo starting on our 4th line wing vs Konopka, I might have argued we should have kept Konopka around.
And given all the concussions and crap we’ve taken from other teams so far this year, I am leaning towards keeping konopka (especially considering the other option was pandolfo this year who isn’t much better of a 2-way hockey player given what we’ve seen of him).
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
I think Konopka, Haley, and Gillies instilled fear in the hearts of the opposition....
They weren’t the most talented 4th line by any means but they served a serious purpose in the resurgence last year…That’s a 4th line not to fuck with…why oh why did Garth ruin it?
And did anybody see how shaken Peter was having to talk about his favorite team
and the refs getting one over on us? Guy was shaking like a leaf, no pun intended.
He looked like the creator of Facebook sweating in that interview where he was asked about our privacy and if he cared about it..
Of all the bad stuff to happen this year, he’s the worst part. I can’t stand that guy. Go away, and bring Deb back. Anybody but him.
"We owe him a lot more than he owes us at this point. He's been stellar all year. He still gave us a chance to win this one, and we've got to find a way."
—C Josh Bailey, on G Al Montoya after a 5-3 loss Tuesday in Montreal.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Dec 24, 2011 12:45 AM EST reply actions
Peter Ruttgaizer, please stop auditioning for other teams' telecasts
it’s up there with his pre-game interviews:
“what’s it like playing in Montreal, the mecca of hockey?”
and to Streit before the MSG game on Thursday (first question):
“What’s it like playing against Marian Gaborik?”
by noomz on Dec 24, 2011 9:42 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Watch the post game show, he was literally shaking
When having to discuss how we got boned.
I don’t need blatant homerism, but I don’t need our guy kissing the ass of every other team, we are the runt of the NHL anyways,.
I hardly watch the pregame show this year.
"We owe him a lot more than he owes us at this point. He's been stellar all year. He still gave us a chance to win this one, and we've got to find a way."
—C Josh Bailey, on G Al Montoya after a 5-3 loss Tuesday in Montreal.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Dec 24, 2011 10:55 AM EST up reply actions
He also kept going on about MSG being the most famous arena, blah blah blah before the Rags game.
Thats all well and good when the Avs were going there for a visit, but youre talking to Islanders fans now- we dont give a shit.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 24, 2011 10:57 AM EST up reply actions
And he's from Toronto
I love how when he asks hammer about other teams, he always mention Long Island and Isles fans in general. It makes Hammer even more awesome.
"We owe him a lot more than he owes us at this point. He's been stellar all year. He still gave us a chance to win this one, and we've got to find a way."
—C Josh Bailey, on G Al Montoya after a 5-3 loss Tuesday in Montreal.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Dec 24, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Hamonic is unbelievable with that. There have been so many times when he has been asked to literally fawn over other teams and other fanbases, and he almost always tries to steer it back here to LI. Even when he was home in Winnipeg he made a comment at the end about getting back to beautiful Long Island. And I cant count how many times he talks about NYI fans. Its like the perception of LI being a crappy arena and a parking lot with ambivalent fans pisses him off just as much as it pisses us off.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 24, 2011 11:04 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I love it when Hamonic is in the post-game interview
fans loved it when he was battling down low late in the 3rd.
spreading Islander Face to anyone (Tim Connolly) standing near his crease.
by noomz on Dec 24, 2011 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Dear Hammer
Thank you for being a beacon of hope in another lost season.
I hope you know we do appreciate it.
"We owe him a lot more than he owes us at this point. He's been stellar all year. He still gave us a chance to win this one, and we've got to find a way."
—C Josh Bailey, on G Al Montoya after a 5-3 loss Tuesday in Montreal.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Dec 24, 2011 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I thought he was gonna get fined for that. A blatant crosscheck to connolly's face.
But connolly was dicking it up in front of the net, playing the little guy can get away with anything card, so I can’t completely blame him.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
said it before and i'll say it again
If JT’s play was a dive, how is Connolly’s not a dive thirty seconds later?
Now, I think that NEITHER play should have been diving. It’s clear that Connolly really got tagged. But he had the presence of mind to turn and fall face-first AFTER getting hit in the front – and the xchecks to his back didn’t put him on the ice. So, based on Van Massenhoven’s standard on the JT call, how is Connolly’s much worse belly-flop suddenly kosher?
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
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He also said it would be nice to have some Islander fans rooting for them in winnepeg...
When talking about his family & friends in the stands who were their to watch him live…He called them Islander fans, i like that…I think hes our future Capt if not JT
It's 1:52, I'm drunk but I just saw the 3rd period...
The diving call?!?!?! You gotta be kidding me (I know I’m so delayed but that is a joke… Screw you NHL
by BaltimoreIslander on Dec 24, 2011 1:54 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Most of us thought we needed to improve our defense..
But we also thought that with Streit coming back it would be like picking up a top defenseman in FA…But evidently he has not been that guy we are used to seeing. There is something wrong because he barely even shoots the puck…He took 2 shots in the last 2 games which surprised me because he hasnt been doing that…Both shots resulted in a rebound that were cashed in PP goals…Why isnt he doing that all the friggen time???
I think Streit is taking a while to get back to 100%, and he is trying to do it while having more responsibility and more to cover than ever before. Streit is in a very difficult position.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 24, 2011 10:59 AM EST up reply actions
I also think that Streit's still favoring his shoulder
I don’t know if he just doesn’t think he can trust it, or if it’s barking a little bit, but he might not be shooting as much because of it. Again, this is all if I remember correctly, the shoulder injury happened on a freak play during the preseason. I don’t know, it might be a whole lot of little things that are making him just not the Streit we remember and not the player we thought we were getting back.
by IDCWhoYouLike on Dec 24, 2011 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
Its not like he isnt being physical at all, but there is a definite and notable lack of the MS shots that this team NEEDS him to be taking.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 24, 2011 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah
but not trusting your shoulder wouldn’t necessarily lead to less physical play, just smarter and there have been occasions where he’s seemed to not want to take the body. However, not trusting your shoulder would certainly lead to taking less shots.
by IDCWhoYouLike on Dec 24, 2011 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
This could definitely be part of the explanation.
Unfortunately, the only thing that gets players over this is time- he is medically clear to play, so that makes a lot of this a question of continued conditioning and the rest is psychological.
A positive aspect? If this IS what Marks problem is, its something he can get over and return to form.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 24, 2011 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
And unfortunately
Time is the one thing that’s always in short supply
by IDCWhoYouLike on Dec 24, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
Streit is playing tough competition, but he's being used in a pretty heavily offensive role. He is getting 5% or more more offensive zone faceoffs then every other d-man we have
And he’s getting ample PP time with better PP players(other then Rolston) then he’s had in his whole tenure here. Streit is being given a similar to less responsible job then he has his whole tenure here. What’s the difference between him pairing with Gervais and him pariing with Staios/Jurcina? I don’t think he’s being given a shorter end of the stick than he has his whole tenure here. He’s actually being used like an offensive top 4 d-man this year, a lot more then has been in the past actually.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
He’s actually being used like an offensive top 4 d-man this year, a lot more then has been in the past actually.
That was my point, actually.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Dec 25, 2011 12:16 AM EST up reply actions
Agree with everything said here. Slow start, defensive mistakes, bad officiating, etc. But what about Toronto’s 1 handed goalie? He couldn’t catch a puck to save his life. Even Butch “Forrest Gump” Goring picked up on that. Must have been like 8 shots that he tried to glove that bounced off his glove. I can’t believe they couldn’t cash in on at least 1 of those rebounds.
PS what do I want for Christmas? 60 friggin minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ref who called the diving on JT
Don Van Massenhoven;
And yes, he grew up 2 hours from Toronto. Is that a conflict of interest? He shouldn’t be anywhere near a Leafs game. (obviously)
"We owe him a lot more than he owes us at this point. He's been stellar all year. He still gave us a chance to win this one, and we've got to find a way."
—C Josh Bailey, on G Al Montoya after a 5-3 loss Tuesday in Montreal.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Dec 24, 2011 11:12 AM EST reply actions
I read the Leafs blog and thread for the game
Honestly the number of fans on their that saw it as a dive was quite amazing, although reading “Why Johnny, why?” when JT scored that goal was glorious.
by IDCWhoYouLike on Dec 24, 2011 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
Better/Worse Game (Defensemen Grades)
This game I didn’t see any of, so your help is especially important. (Yes, I realize I should have put this up earlier.) I am going to post up EXPECTED grades for each defenseman. (Basically how I expected each to perform coming into this game.) Please reply if you feel that any defenseman played better or worse than expected for this particular game, and to what extent.
For instance: “Hamonic a little worse. Streit a lot better.” Feel free to comment on as many of them as you like. Type as much or as little as you want. This will help me to come up with grades for each game that I don’t see as clearly as I would the rest of the season.
(PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR OWN GRADES, because if someone replies to your message, I may not know whether their comment is in response to your grades or the grades below.)
Streit: B-
Jurcina: C+
Hamonic: B
AMac: B-
Mottau: C
Eaton: C+
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Dec 26, 2011 1:04 PM EST 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.
