Rangers 6, Islanders 3: Well, so much for that
by Dominik on Mar 15, 2011 9:59 PM EDT
in New York Islanders Game Recaps
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PrintThe Islanders were dominated up and down throughout the opening 20 minutes, and yet the scoring chances they did have were dangerous enough to require fantastic Henrik Lundqvist saves to preserve a Rangers 2-0 lead. That gave a small hint that the Isles, as has been a pattern during their slow starts under Jack Capuano, would adjust and come out with a better second period. They did that. For a while.
Game Sum | Event Sum | H2H | Corsi | Recaps: NHL - BB - Isles
They stormed back to tie it at 2-2 on two fantastic John Tavares assists, but then just as quickly let off the throttle, gave up a fluke-ish go-ahead goal to Ryan Callahan after a poor clear, and the wheels fell off when they failed to kill two admittedly dubious hooking penalties.
In a sense, their special teams failed them (there was also a Rangers shorthanded goal in the first), but more precisely it was the usual cascade of factors that feed each other in a hockey game, from the soft start to the timely saves and the special teams. For those looking for nice stories: Matt Moulson was tardily credited with his 30th goal for the second consecutive season, so congratulations to him, though I'm sure he'd prefer it come under better circumstances. Tavares had the two nice assists plus his 26th goal.
Game Highlights
Notes from a Letdown
- The Rangers' shorthanded goal was just a massive breakdown. The first unit of Islanders forwards went for a change, and fresh Rangers changed too but pounced on the opportunity, streaming into the Islanders zone with the puck and crashing the net. Just coming on to the ice, Blake Comeau had a chance to box out the goal scorer Brandon Prust but lost that battle. It was a classic 4-on-5 goal where the PP team is caught ball watching because each guy assumes someone has the short team covered. That's actually a fun dynamic to watch in hockey...except when it's your team.
- Nathan Lawson relieved Al Montoya after 40 minutes. Montoya did alright to keep it at just 2-0 as he faced 21 first-period shots. But he also benefited from a couple of posts, and the Rangers' second-period goals found holes. Certainly one of his weakest games as an Islander. Lawson faced 11 shots, gave up one to Marian Gaborik.
- Those were two pretty bad hooking calls on Comeau and Michael Grabner that enabled the Rangers to make it 4-2 and 5-2, but still: the PK failed. Grabner's penalty made it 5-on-3 because Travis Hamonic was already in the box for a bad frustration penalty, where he took a flailing swipe along the ice that tripped Ryan Callahan. Rookie mistake; he'll learn.
- FnGO Line: By their now-lofty standards, not a great game for the Kyle Okposo - Frans Nielsen - Michael Grabner line (they were even hemmed in their zone once). But they still had several moments of the danger we're accustomed to -- including a lengthy first-period stretch where Lundqvist was the only thing preventing multiple goals. By the end, they also had the best Corsi/Fenwick figures of any Isles line, but of course it was the JT line that was doing the finishing on this night.
- The shots were 47-28 overall and that probably tells the simplest story. 21-12 made for a wild first period, 15-5 made for a once-promising second period turned on its head by penalties and the failure to kill them. The end.
The Tired Yet Obligatory 'Why Do You Exist?' Lament: Remember kids, Sean Avery isn't dirty, he's just an agitator. That early check from behind on Micheal Haley -- Haley's numbers were staring at him -- he's lucky it didn't become a major. (I'm sure it was just a "hockey play.") If I were his coach, I'd have limited his ice time the way John Tortorella did. Avery went on to take another "typical Avery" goalie interference call when he swan dived on Al Montoya, followed by a high-sticking call on Justin DiBenedetto in garbage time that appeared to make Torts scratch his head (John Tavares scored on the powerplay). Little feller won't ever learn. He did more of his swan act in the crease in the third, and I wonder if Matt Martin's brief approach to Lundqvist's crease was a response. Again, if Lundqvist were my meal ticket, I wouldn't give the opposition any extra reasons to crowd his crease.
State of the Rivalry: Though penalties and special teams helped extend the margin of defeat, this is the second consecutive meeting that became a vastly outshot drubbing of the Isles. It's too early to crucify Capuano for not handling division rivals, right? (I kid. The truth is the Atlantic Division is tough no matter who your cruise director is. But two blowouts by the Rangers doesn't sit well.)
Fighting to Fight because Fighting is a Hockey Play: So Matt Martin and Michael Sauer fought late in the third, Martin eventually taking Sauer down. By the replay it looked like Sauer initiated the fight despite the linesman's effort to prevent it. Probably should fine the Islanders.
FIG Winner: They changed the scoring on us twice (Moulson's goal went off his skate and was originally credited to Hillen, who shot it), but we think the winner goes to O.Bender.
Up Next
Back to backs Friday and Saturday in Carolina and Florida, which means Lawson and Montoya will almost certainly be splitting duties this time. Don't go away though; as always we'll have plenty to chew the fat on between now and then.
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So if this is a mirror of that one game against Boston
does that mean our next game against the Rangers will feature a roaring third-period comeback?
How Doesn't Fashion Boy Get a 5 Min. Major and Game Misconduct?
If any Islander made that boarding call he would’ve been gone, but nooooo, since it’s the Islanders and some AHL 4th liner on the receiving end it’s just 2 minutes. Right then I knew the refs would screw us. Like the no call with 7:30 left in the 2d when Prust cross-checked that goon Nielsen, taking him down right befor the Rags scored.
And what with the multiple M-F’ers from that moron Tortorella on the bench when Tavares scored late? Because the Isles scored on Fashion Boy’s penalty? That’s exactly why scumbag Tortorella had him in the line-up in the first place.
by rmblifn on Mar 15, 2011 10:12 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Too early and too "important" a game, perhaps
I’d bet it was “too early” in the game to give him the gate, and it didn’t look as vicious as the really severe checking from behinds, so they went with The Clutterbuck, i.e. “boarding an Islander I’ve never heard of: 2 minutes.” Also maybe because Haley was upright rather than prone in the really dangerous position.
Do you think Tortorella uses Avery for that though? I’ve always had the impression he tolerates him because his GM signed him to a big deal, but Torts has scratched him and put him in timeout enough that I thought tonight’s episodes of Avery Drama were exactly what Tortorella hates most. But I could be projecting. I just think it’s a hilarious character flaw if the Brooksian Theory is correct and Avery can only be an “effective” hockey player when he’s also being a disgrace on skates.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Tortorella DOES Use Fashion Boy for Dirty Play
And then like the little girl with the big curl on her head he pretends like he has nothing to do with Fashion Boy’s behavior and pretends to hate it. He knows exactly what he’s doing even if Avery himself is too dim a bulb to realize it. That’s why he sat him right before this game and then put him back in the line-up.
Put it this way
I can buy that he was scratched to get him chomping for this game — but not so he can check people from behind, do his swan dive act around the crease, or high stick a guy when the game should be over. Probably wants him to be a distraction (and be what I would call an ass and a disgrace), but all he did tonight was endanger Haley’s health and his own team’s chances of winning.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Tort's is on record about his feelings for Avery...
…before he was forced to COACH HIM.
You try and get the positive (for your team) Avery every night, but that doesn’t happen because “fashion boy” is a self absorbed asshole. So… they have him for half price…making Dallas pick up the other half.
I think he’s gone after next year, unless they hire a new coach, just so they can keep sean around… maybe the Dolans want to make sure they can get into all the cool clubs.
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He sat the game before because he’s been recently ineffective, and moreso a defensive liability. He’ll be out of the lineup Friday again for the same reason, plus his shenanigans.
He’ll certainly be gone after next year, and IMO they’ll try for sooner, but his full hit would get tacked on anyone trading for him. Unfortunately, he’s not a $4m player (thanks Brett Hull!)
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by George E. Ays on Mar 16, 2011 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Torts was ripping Avery
Did you see Avery slink off to the end of the bench in his continuing search for Lisa Loeb’s glasses? He couldn’t have gotten any further from Torts if he were the visiting back-up goaltender at the Nassau Veteran’s Coliseum.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
He sits by himself at the end of the bench anyway, but yeah, the string of Tort’s F-bombs after Tavares’s goal was entertaining.
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by George E. Ays on Mar 16, 2011 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Haha
Don’t all if the league’s “agitators” sit there? Best seat in the house for chirping the opposition bench!
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
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by Keith Quinn on Mar 16, 2011 10:37 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Don't think so
He was asks about being upset with Avery in the post game and he went with “that’s personal” affirmatively ending the question. He went on to talk about basically putting teams away, not letting them back into it. I get the sense that Tortorella is more of a hard ass than a cheap ass. There are many other coaches that I think have sen peoe out to do dirty, and as intense as this rivalry has been at times, the Rangers have avoided dirty (aside from Avery) over the last few yrs.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Mar 15, 2011 10:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Actual torts “That’s my business”. Not “that’s personal”.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Mar 16, 2011 10:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
his GM signed him to a big deal
cough brett hull cough
"Wonder where Botta will go from here?" "to work for the Ministry of Truth?" ~ Original Rob
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
LOL
Yeah, I brain-glossed right over that.
Never go to Hull for character checks. He’s not uh, he’s not looking for the same things a real GM is.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
If any Islander made that boarding call he would’ve been gone
At that time, I agree… they would have “made an example” of any Islander that starts off a game like that.
But remember, they gave Haley the same thing afterwards for a boarding- I guess because they let Avery off so easy.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Mar 16, 2011 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions
they gave Haley the same thing afterwards for a boarding- I guess because they let Avery off so easy.
Maybe so but that really hasnt stopped the refs from screwing with us before
Put the words in the below box (cut and paste)
Then left click and drag to highlight, then click on the quotation marks above (text should now be bookended by
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
Haha
fail
< blockquote >
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
heheheh
At least you know it works!
Fast strikers, give the defenders difficulty!
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On the bright side...
That’s the first time I’ve seen anyone blockquote their own sig.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Total accident
I actually typed that out (and it was only one of them), so I didn’t expect it.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
The worst is when someone types an italic tag
And doesn’t close it. Then the entire rest of the page turns to italic until someone closes it (which they never do).
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
ahhh, now I have the power!
Put the words in the below box (cut and paste)
There are two ways...
You can either use that blockquote button OR you can just type in lowercase “b q .” (without the spaces) and then paste whatever line you wanna quote. Works perfectly if you are only quoting one line or one paragraph.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Mar 16, 2011 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions
honestly I think the right call was made
Now I HATE Sean Avery, but to be fair, Haley was playing the puck, he even looked over his shoulder and saw a hit coming, then turned his back. Haley could’ve prevented that from being a check from behind in my mind. So 2 minutes was the right call I think.
The rest of the night the refs were pretty anti-Isles though. Tough game to watch with a couple of Rags fans.
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
Who were the referees?
Earl and Dave Hebner (of WWF/WWE infamy)? They seemed to be looking closely at every islanders play and looking the other way when their favorites were doing something illegal.
Will the league fine and suspend Tavares for getting three points against Campbell’s home boys?
It was nice to hear Butch going off on the calls. Everyone sees it. I bet the league people just laugh at how they can effectively job this team.
Too bad I got the Chinese Allergen Network Ranger feed instead of the Isles
I had to see the bad calls all by myself and not get Butchi’s analysis. I knew the officiating was bad when “Homer Joe” didn’t provide any analysis on the calls outside of Grabner lifitng the stick was bound to be called.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
I don't know about that
I thought the Rangers’ feed was excellent, to be honest. And certainly provided more analysis in this game than Howie&Butch have all season.
True they provide analysis
but they avoid any commentary which might go against the story line they are writing. It is the smae way how some journalist appear to be unbiased by accurately dissecting some events while completely ignoring the more relevant events.
I can take apart the entire 5-on-3 Ranger goal without ever mentioning that the 5-on-3 wasn’t merited in the first place and that is giving a skewed view of the game by the omission of facts. They didn’t analyze why Comeau received a hook, but a trip was ignored. I’m a novice to this sport and would like that part of the rulebook explained to me.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
I was watching the Rags feed because I like it in HD
Mchelletti actually said that Averys momentum caused him to fall on Monty which was absolute bullshit….Anyone with eyes can see he looked like a guy trying to look like he made an accident….So Micheletti must’ve thought everyone watching was blind…Other than that he was giving the Isles plenty of credit
My wife is the one who said why does Avery even attempt to make it look like an accident
We all know it isn’t and she just hates when I remind her they are both from Pickering, but Avery must have been affected more in utero by the nuclear plant.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
your wife can see for herself???
God bless her…Too bad Michelletti patronizes us like we’re blind and/or dumb…
that's crap
“It was his momentum” is a nice excuse when the player doesn’t bother trying to avoid the contact. The player has to make an effort… like Okposo risking injury to himself, trying to catch the crossbar rather than get ridden into Brent Johnson in the Pens game. (Not that this worked in the eyes of the refs, but yeah, water is wet, next question.)
Fast strikers, give the defenders difficulty!
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
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See my plus/minus for Ballerina Avery
I cannot recall ever trying to stop by putting my arms up and then flopping on another player without ever even attempting to catch an edge. LEt’s not forget that his flopping on DPs head lead to hsi first concussion, but it was an “accident”.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
It was like
that time my momentum took me right through that red light…I mean, I didn’t try to alter my momentum or anything by braking, but hey, it’s not my fault this planet isn’t like a vacuum…stupid planet.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Mar 16, 2011 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think he slipped on the ice, it was everywhere last night.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
To pile on
Not to mention, if you’re truly trying to avoid contact with someone you shouldn’t be hitting, you put your arms out to brace both of you for the collision. Well, I mean unless you’re a bastard.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
I can't wait for suspensions and fines to the Isles after this one.
Have I mentioned that I hope a ref takes a puck right between the eyes? Just call a fair game and I’ll surely be angrier at the Isles for showing up with no jump despite all this talk about caring about the rivalry for the fans. If it helps them to think of the Rags as just another team, then fine, but don’t “respect” the rivalry simply because the fans perpetuate it.
/oooo double rant
Hunter said he was just finishing his check.
Just since I wanna change the subject of this thread. Cause I don't think anyone wants to talk about this game anymore lol
I was looking at our roster, to the right there, in bright Islander Orange. Besides the AHL call ups like DiBo and Haley, who does anyone think won’t be back next year.
I was thinking Bruno won’ t be back on the Island. Hillen, i’ve made clear I don’t like, but he’s not a bad guy if he’s a depth guy like he was supposed to be this year. Weight will retire. I wonder if we’ll offer Montoya a contract with how well he’s played. I hope to see Martinek back, guy has bled for this team. Konopka, I’d hope will be back since they didn’t trade him. Hopefully for a 1 year contract or so. I wonder if Hunter will be back in the starting lineup come next season. I feel all our young RFA’s will be back, though I hope it doesn’t get nerving this summer.
Thoughts?
by Meet Me at the Lighthouse on Mar 15, 2011 11:50 PM EDT reply actions
I can’t imagine Bruno being back. Lawson. I could see moving on from Martinek but he probably still represents value at his likely asking price (and considering their thin D depth). They may want to create some competition that doesn’t include Marti or Bruno. Of course you have two guys returning from hip surgery, which isn’t a good bet for full productive seasons.
Not really sure on Konopka. I read that situation as: His presence the rest of the year was worth more than the offers for him (and understandably so, because who offers much for a 4th-line center?). But that doesn’t mean his presence cannot be replaced/upgraded. He has those two unique skills but he’s still fundamentally a marginal NHLer, so if you can improve on the margins, you at least try.
Of course the flip side to that is there are only so many decent players who still put in an honest effort when given 4th-line minutes. If 4th line isn’t a player’s only ticket to regular NHL duty, then he usually is unhappy until he gets more. And while promising hungry young guys can be nice there, if all of your lines are young guys that might be a spot you stash a vet like Zenopka.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
My thoughts
I’d like them to resign Konopka for two years. I think he’s good for the team chemistry , he puts forth a good effort every night, good on faceoffs and lastly adds toughness.
As far as the defense corp goes, I think both guys mentioned fit into the size argument. Nice players, but nothing extraordinary jumps at you, other than the fact that they are small for the position they are playing, or, better yet, PLAY SMALL. Example, Bruno, Hillen & Amac are pretty much the same size, yet Amac CLEARLY stand out in the way he plays defense and throw the body around much more effectively than the other two. All that being said, kinda hard to let these guys go if you throw in the injury factor that has plagued the Defense corp the last few years, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they came back.
This just in: DP to attend Ed Hospidar School for Fisticuffs, film at 11
*grumblegrumblegrumble*...
…Moulson nets #30…grumblegrumblegrumble…Tavares goal and two assists gives him 60 points for the season, 26th goal of the season, 4 away from 30…grumblegrumblegrumble…PA nets #17, 3 away from 20 and becoming the 4th Islander with 20 goals on the season and third member of the 20/20 club with Tavares and Comeau, his assist gives him 30, second on the team…grumblegrumblegrumble…Montoya got bombarded…grumblegrumblegrumble…“Killer Frans” was, apparently, off for the night…grumblegrumblegrumble…I hate The Rags…grumblegrumblegrumble…
Ya ever seen Frans Nielsen’s eyes, Chief? Those…cold…black…lifeless eyes, like a dolls eyes…
by BrassBonanza10 on Mar 16, 2011 12:12 AM EDT reply actions
*grumblegrumblegrumble*...addendum...
Moulson’s two assists give him 18 on the year, 2 away from joining the 20/20 club, or, starting his own 30/20 club, whichever you prefer…grumblegrumblegrumble…
Ya ever seen Frans Nielsen’s eyes, Chief? Those…cold…black…lifeless eyes, like a dolls eyes…
by BrassBonanza10 on Mar 16, 2011 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions
03/15/11 @ NYR +/-
+ – - PPH Psuedo Playoff Hockey! Ruined by the poor play, then the officials, then poor play again!
+ + + Thirty Goal Crew (Moulson(30*), Grabner(28), Tavares(26*)) 11 games left. Another good game by the stars. Moulson-Tavares-Parentau were a combined (3-5-8-(+1)) on the night of a 3-6 drubbing. Grabner, to his credit was 0-0-0-(0)… with a couple of very good scoring chances taken away by the Queen. The crew had 7 shots and scored two goals.
+ + + THE PASS!!! Please do not lose sight of the PLAY OF THE YEAR lost in this pile of crap. The pass that Tavares made to Parentau was Montana-esque. I didn’t think you could "pull the string" on a hockey pass, but it appeared to stop, mid flight, and wait for P.A. to slam it home. THAT WAS A THING OF BEAUTY.
- Al Montoya was raped! He went to the dance with the GLEE CLUB. In the first period they performed the Keystone Cops on ice. When they were awarded the first PP they rewarded Montoya by looking like a bunch of stooges in front of him. Head stooge, and PP point player Kyle Okposo… who was housed on the play and never quite caught up to his responsibility. The rest of the story to follow.
- Kyle Okposto… this is the half year make-up exam for him. He didn’t play THAT bad… I mean, he wasn’t BRUNO BAD…but if you want to be mentioned with the big dogs, you gotta bury a few bones. He has yet to bury enough of them to mess up anybody’s back yard… this is why he gets a one year contract, just like Bailey… and they can try again next year, like Comeau has done year after year… while moulson, Parentau, (most likely) Grabner and there will be more come TAKE YOUR MONEY!
- – - The scape wagon is a little heavier tonight, but it has the same driver. Bruno missed clearing attempts, weak one on one battles and no redeeming qualities at all. The only positive thing was that he didn’t block any shots… because the Rangers were trying to hit him… but he was too good for that. He’s been driving the wagon long enough. It’s time to get a LH defenseman up that will be playing next year… or at least has a chance to play with the Islanders. Bruno Gervais… you’re a great guy and we’re going to miss you, but if you’re not put on waivers to end your Islander career in Bridgeport you must make one helluva chicken Florentine.
- MBC (March Blake Comeau) turned into N[ovember]BC. He was stiff. He wasn’t seeing the ice well at all… making poor decisions with the puck and playing like a third liner having a really bad night. I’m not gonna heap this one all on BC because he’s had too many good ones lately, this was not one of them. He does need a bounce back game though… and fast. Just a word of advice… when nothing else is working at least finish your checks with some passion. (see Matt Martin)
+ Martin gets a plus for going against Mike Sewer… in the 12/2/10 game they went at it and Martin tested the limits of the instigator rule… as he skated backwards laughing at Sauer after he dropped his gloves to retaliate against a clean hit. The fact that the refs don’t give two shits when it’s an Islander was proven in Martin’s last fight, when he did the same thing, and was forced to fight again .. instead of drawing an instigator. So.. he just went at him early, kicked the shit out of the 6’3" 220 fine upstanding hockey player, and it was over. The plus is also for playing the game with passion all night. I think Matty understands what this rivalry means to OUR fans… especially after a shit filled season. Hey Garik, what was his corsi tonight?
- (this should be my MISSED OPP MINUS) Gabby had a GOOD Gaborik type night. The shot between Hillen’s legs and into an unreachable corner of the net… that is an NHL ALL-STAR. Sure, he’s hurt a lot, but when he is on he has the skill to do THAT. It’s nights like this when you wonder what Milbury was thinking. But when the answer reveals itself you look at that wallpaper covered in 5 years of Xed out boxes and 10 years to go. Then you can switch on an assortment of NHL media forums and hear what a GENIUS he was, is and shall always be. Why didn’t somebody push him down an elevator shaft in 1999… you’d be getting out of jail about now.
- 12/16/10 22-15-6-131-126
+ Hamonic… Not a BIG PLUS. He was not operating under pressure well tonight. He has had a few "bad" games this season, but he really looked like a rookie tonight. Why am I giving him a plus? Because even though he looked like a ROOK…HE SHOWED UP. He needs to be more mentally prepared for games like this. There are going to be a lot more PRESSURE games next year, with crowds booing you, and the refs screwing you every chance you get. BUT YOU SHOWED UP. Now… get up.. brush yourself off and get some sleep… back to WORK tomorrow. Next game.. YOU’RE THE WINDSHIELD AGAIN!
- The officials were there, JUST IN CASE, the MIGHTY RANGERS didn’t show up. I don’t know what the Islander broadcast showed, but it took a good long time for the Rangers crew to find Comeau’s penalty, and they only showed it once… so I’m looking for opinions here. What I saw was obstruction as he goes down the left wing. Eventually, as is oft the case, he can’t fight through it and turns, his stick is now up to the Ranger player’s waist and I think it BRUSHES against him.. hand goes up and Comeau figures he’s drawn a penalty… then he sees the Queen leaving. Are you shitting me? I’m not sure what was going on with the Hamonic penalty and I’m too lazy to go look at it… but when a player is prone because he’s just fallen it’s pretty hard for me to believe that he is that much of a magician to think that he could trip somebody with his outstretched stick… but… I’m probably wrong on this one. I know I’m not wrong on Grabner’s lifting the stick penalty… 35 years of watching hockey, never saw that as a penalty… especially when you’re KILLING A PENALTY. At that point it was evident that it was a fuck-a-thon.. The NHL can either turn off Islander fans, or they can pound them into submission… whichever happens first, I’ll be the last to go… and before I turn off the lights I’ll make it my life’s work to expose these douchebags. Let’s see how many games Sean Avery gets for his BLOW TO THE HEAD..WITH HIS STICK.
+ THE DREAM 65PTS…11 Games remaining. Winning out would mean 87 points. It’s really just a pipe dream at this point… like it has been since November.
THE GAUNTLET: CAR, FLA, TBL, ATL, PHI, NJD, NYR, BOS, PIT. Time to see some more rooks. Bring back Wishart and/or Katic. Maybe sign a college UFA. Otherwise.. BOOOOOORING!
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
JPA - Agree with your KO comment
I always shake my head when folks start talking about Okposo for Captain. You have to earn it. i like KO, his work ethic and am confident he will be an above average player in the NHL. But to me, in order to wear the “C”, you have to have 2 things. You have to have leadership skills and you have to deliver on the Ice. I think he has the former, but not the latter. That’s why I think Streit or JT are the best candidates to wear the “C” (and I lean towards JT who will be the face of the franchise for years to come).. IMHO
YOU GUYS
do realize he missed half of this year due to injury?? Last year he had 19 G and 52 Pts . 2nd on the team behind Tavares. I think you are being unreasonably harsh on a player still trying to work his way back after a serious injury. How about we give him a wash for this year and see how he responds with a healthy season again before we write him off for the C???
Youth WILL be served!!
The REBUILD marches on!!
LHH: Where venting your spleen is not just encouraged but expected...
by upstateislesfan on Mar 16, 2011 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Funny I posted before reading
I gave Okposo a plus for the incredible board work behind the net all night. He can’t retrieve the puck and score at the same time. That would make him Tavares. I also felt Henrietta made a horseshoe up his ass save to deny him on the shot in the first.
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Agreed, I think Henrik and maybe two other goalies make that save.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
by Dominik on Mar 16, 2011 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Kyle Ok Post Oh
My spin on him is very simple. He is super talented, but is still a super question mark until he starts FINISHING. Why? Because he doesn’t make large impact defensive plays, he doesn’t play a physical game in proportion to his size and skating ability and he DOESN’T FINISH ENOUGH.
All three of those things are extra credit points. He’s a nice guy, a great kid in the locker room and part of three top five draft pick earners. I’d rather have fat ,slow and grumpy Billy Smith. Because when you lead with your WILL you WILL lead to VICTORY!
AMAC… on the ICE guys would follow him through a fire ring in oil soaked suits… because he COMMITS.
FRANS… same thing… they put it all out there…
Look at Hamonic… he’s a kid that probably didn’t change the blade in his razor more than twice this season… but he NEVER BACKS DOWN… ESPECIALLY when he’s defending a teammate… and he DOES HIS JOB.
Kyle can blow all of those guys away… when he stops whistling while he works… whistle after you’re done… be mean on the ice… go f*** somebody up… make them pay for their indiscretions… their MISTAKES… see JT.. Moulson… Grabner!
He has to say, “HEY, I’M HERE…THIS IS ME PULLING OUT YOUR HEART AND EATING IT!”
We’ve been saying that he has time to get to that level.. Well… people are passing him by… we’ve even seen more of it in BAILEY than we have in him.
I love Kyle Okposo as a player… I just don’t want him to get lost.
BTW: I don’t want him on the point anymore either. Grabner and frans seem to be much better options. Nobody is going to get behind GRabs where he can’t catch him, and he is just a better defensive player… same goes for Nielsen. Okposo needs to be fighting for pucks down low on the second unit… or with JT and Moulson on the first… NOT ON THE POINT. Hopefully when Streit gets back none of those options will be necessary. RH shot? J-U-R-C-I-N-A!
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
I hate having him on the point as well
He would prolly score 10 more goals a year on the PP if he was actually playing as a forward…
No doubt I don't like him at the point either
In general I hate forwards at the point (they eat up my point producing minutes), and Okposo is no exception. I thought his best work last night was behind the goal line fighting for pucks and winning, DUH!
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giggling
I’m sorry, but this:
Because when you lead with your WILL you WILL lead to VICTORY!
Unintentionally reminded me of every over-the-top motivational speaker parody I’ve ever hear. Okposo needs to blow Seven! Kinds! of Smoke!
More seriously – the guy’s coming off a huge, long layoff. He commits. He works hard and creates chances… in fact, according to Behind the Net, he’s leading the team in relative Corsi: the club’s 12 shots better than their opponents while he plays, and 12 shots worse than their opponents while he sits. He also leads the team in relative plus/minus: per 60 minutes, the Isles are 2.13 goals better than without him (+1.68 when he’s on, -0.45 when he’s off).
It seems very much like he is doing as much as anyone since he’s been back. Even his standard stats (4-12-16 in 27 games) put him very close to last year’s points pace (48 for a full season vs. 52 last season). The difference this year is that Martin Biron isn’t allergic to rubber this season, so he’s +9 instead of -22.
Fast strikers, give the defenders difficulty!
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Does the NHL need Universal Health Care?
Martin Biron isn’t allergic to rubber
He actually still is, but the Islanders couldn’t afford the medicine to keep his allergies in check. The Rangers with their big money ways are able to buy the best health care and treat his symptoms. Unfortunately there are side affects to the medicine such as bone density loss that could lead to fractures.
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why are these rec'd posts that were meant for upstateislesfan end up all the way down here???lol
for the record I agree with upstateislesfan regarding KO
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Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
He delivers allot more than just goals...How many assists does he have???
don’t get me wrong, his goal totals leave allot to be desired but hes does DELIVER in so many ways….You dont have to be a goal scorer to be wear the C….
Rangers
2 points
1) NHL needs the Rangers in the playoffs – big market team etc.
2) Rangers are desperate team. Bet you after the Isles tied it up and Carolina was winning a few of them had to change their underwear. Tortorella is one tough coach and no doubt put the fear of god in them.
+/-: I HATE when we lose to these guys and there's plenty of blame
- Ballerina Avery – you don’t stop from falling on the goaltender by putting your arms up and getting on the toes of your skates unless you’re a figure skater. If you want to avoid the goaltender, try a hockey stop. No one is buying the I’m innocent crap.
- Crosscheck to the head Avery. No intent to injure, I guess cross checking someone to the head on a faceoff is a "hockey" play. What is it about DiBo that he is such a douche magnet?
-Boarding Avery. Boarding a prone Haley – Let me guess this is a "hockey" play as well. Is Tortorella caling the league and requesting a three game suspension for Avery? Looks like he could have F**ing, F**ing, F**ing killed him with the stupid penalties. Guess sitting him in San Jose got him all riled up.
-Haley takes a boarding penalty, you have to let up, but didn’t it look like the Rangers threwh his ass into Haley to ensure there would be contact?
-The Defense has to stop clearing the puck up the middle of the ice. Is this their new breakout play? Is a winger supposed to come down to the high slot and move the puck out of the zone? It isn’t working. The boards are your friend, please move the puck to the safe areas.
+ Hillen finding seams in the offensive zone and some nice breakout passes to break down the Ranger forecheck and get the puck behind their D.
- Michelleti. Okay I’m sorry I was ever disappointed they let this guy go. What a homer. I know its a F**ing power play goal Sam you douche nozzle!
+ Tavares in dominant performance. Goal and two assists shows he can carry this team when needed. Can he get any calmer on the goal? Better vision with another behind the back seeing eye pass? Softer hands than the saucer to PAP?
+ Matt Moulson, congrats on goal number 30. You’ve done better than I expected in year 2. No sophomore slump for you.
+ PAP, great hands to drop that Tavares feed into the back of the net and a lot of effort all night. He came prepared to take revenge on the Rangers.
- Officiating as a craptastic momentum killer part 1. Comeau is tripped along the left wing boards, loses the puck causing a turnover and he gets called for a slight hook that had no impact on the play moving the other direction.
- Officiating as a craptastic momentum killer part 2. As per Michelleti, "Grabner was bound to get a penalty if he kept lifting the stick." Lifting the stick is now hooking, when did you become such a stupid homer Joe? Now Grabner put hook on the Ranger, but the Ranger kept possession and the refs arm didn’t go up. Grabs then lifted the stick and took the puck away and was called for hooking. In other words you can take a penalty and no call, but if you take the puck we have to call something. 5-on-3 for that play? Take that Capuano for calling the refs out.
- Officiating as a craptastic momentum killer part 2. Islanders get the extra two for the scrum at the end of the game. Let’s see, Ansimov sprays Lawson and pokes at the puck, AMAC gives him a shove across the hands in a play that happens on every single whistle at the net. Ansimov punches AMAC in the cage and the pushing and shoving ensues. Islanders down an extra man?
+ Matt Martin with a decisive win over Sauer. – to MSG, nice replay talking up Sauer and then cutting off the replay when Martin connects multiple times to take him down.
- I like Bruno Gervais, I can no longer stand the inconsistency of number 8 on defense for the Islanders. Here’s a little Don Cherry moment, "kids, when you are a defenseman and you lose track of the puck, don’t go fishing for it. Take a man in front of the net." Callahan walks in for an empty netter is just brutal. I won’t even talk about what a fluke that puck getting through was.
- Defense flopping down low again. I complained last game that Comeau was on one knee for a tap in on a PK against the Devils. Now Prust scores with 4 Islanders down low and the one player that could stop him, flopping on the side of the net. Is this dropping around the net contagious or trying to look like you were making a futile attempt to stop the puck, but were really out of position. Either that or we need a new skate sharpener.
- Defense not clearing the crease. On Christensen’s goal a perfect screen is setup by the Rangers forward down low because instead of the defense instead boxing the player out so that he can’t cross the crease, he is standing behind the player allowing him to move across the paint unmolested. Set a pick at the top of the crease and force them around you or through you. In general not a strong night in the slot for the entire defense.
+ Okposo, the FnGO line had a great first period and Henrietta stoned them, but Okposo didn’t stop working after the first, he was a beast down low along the boards all night. For those calling for him to man up, he took a coincidental roughing last night so there was that too. I won’t mention Nielsen’s turnover at the blue line either, just like it didn’t happen the game prior either.
- Jurcina, you’re about 11 feet tall, you don’t need to keep backing up to give Gaborik more room to shoot. Please step up on the play. I know Garobik doesn’t play very often, but I think he has a reputation for shooting the puck pretty well when given all the time in the world..
? Bailey, calling Josh Bailey. Was he in the lineup last night?
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Fantastic
“Douche magnet”
I also thought Dubinsky initiated the Haley contact by stopping short. I could see why a penalty wa given, but that should be in the “not a boarding” highlight reel. Or they should come up with a new “embellishing” or unsportsmanlike for it. Of course, another subjective call for the NHL to make would probably be a problem and they’ll end up punishing the victim more often than not.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Mar 16, 2011 10:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’m not blaming Dubinsky for tailing into Haley, but it is a sublte difference on classic boarding and a play where a player puts himslef in a vulnerable position to draw a penalty. Haley still has to let up, but there are extenuating circumstances.
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I don't blame him either
I would do the same thing in his position. on that play, he knew he wouldn’t get killed on the resulting boarding, so he took it. Good on him. What I’m trying to say, is that he never put himself in a “vulnerable” position as much as a position that “looks a little vulnerable”.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Mar 16, 2011 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm in agreement with you
He put himself in a vulnerable looking position moreso than a position to be seriously injured. Him “tailing” into Haley gave him more clearance from the boards than if he would have tried to pull up between Haly and the wall.
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I agree here...
If I can know you over with a hit that wouldn’t be illegal otherwise, like a PUSH, or a shove(hands on stick, initiate forward at point of contact… no initiela “impact”) then you get what you deserve. If a player travels more than 6 feet before the contact, that implies IMPACT and the offender should be penalized. THIS WILL STOP guys from stopping with their toes pointed to the boards because they can’t balance themselves against slight force with no IMPACT. It used to kill me when Hamrlik would shove a guy once a night…. and you know he was doing it just to show how bad the other player was.
Opponent: /bends over ass to Hammer, head to boards.
Hammer: are you kidding me /puts hands on his back, and slightly pushes the guy face first in the boards… 2 minutes!
I can’t say Hammer was the smartest guy for doing that… but he probably did that 1000 times when c-level players protected the puck against him in juniors… and he probably didn’t get called for it in juniors, because those leagues want to stop that mickey mouse crap.
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
"know" = "knock"
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
One More MSG Minus
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
why does the injury report discuss Sidney Crosby back on his skates?
Has this been constant for you guys? He’s been the injury report for NYR broadcasts for 2-3 games running now, it’s comical. Nothing on Drury, nothing on Boogaard (though I personally don’t care much about either), only Sidney.
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by George E. Ays on Mar 16, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
As soon as he's back
the NHL, and possibly the world will be able to function again. I personally haven’t cared much that he’s out…maybe I have no soul (and by maybe, I mean definitely) but I think there are enough quality players out there that the NHL can get by. The NHL/Crosby bandwagon on the other hand…
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
I haven’t been on the Sidney watch and I don’t recall the Islanders MSG feed ever covering it. Does Dolan get extra Bettman bucks if they promote Crosby? I don’t have anything against him (outside of that goal that cost the US the gold medal), but relevance to the game last night?
I heard Pacioretty is feeling better too or should we not talk about that incident?
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Also
Just know that it’s been discussed here that many Islander fans actually now like the Rangers more than Pittsburgh. (and possibly Philly). The Rangers are now 28/29 on the Islander fan “Hate” power rankings. Congrats! You have some good young guys over there now…congrats on getting rid of whatever ailed Slats for that decade!
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
Can I say that Callahan is the Ranger's mature version of Okposo?
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by Hockey1919 on Mar 16, 2011 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Probably,
but I hope not! I want Iginla/Tkachuck…not Callahan…but I’d take it!
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
I want a pony, no make that a unicorn and my own rainbow machine in my room too, but I’m just talking in terms of playing style and trying to be a bit realistic ;). I think Okposo has shown at an earlier age a higher offensive upside, but until he actually hits 20 he isn’t a 20 goal scorer.
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by Hockey1919 on Mar 16, 2011 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
PS I have no idea why my wish list is the same as a five year old girl.
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Same wish list as Avery?
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
Was I copying from the wrong cheat sheet?
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
I love Ryan Callahan. I wish he wasnt a Ranger. :(
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Mar 16, 2011 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I never believed in hating other fans because they root for a different team. I hate other fans for being a-holes, but that’s on a case by case basis, and applies to all 30 teams, not 29.
I am happy to know we’re hated slightly less these days. Progress!
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Twitter: RangerSmurf
by George E. Ays on Mar 16, 2011 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, not fans
I meant team. Definitely not fans…both of my brothers are Ranger fans…I like them very much…and we can almost watch games together now…almost!
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
Oh, I'm in the minority there.
I have no hatred for teams. I don’t root for them, but I don’t seethe over their success. To me, it falls back on the fans, a team’s success breeds more douchebaggery. That’s where the hatred comes in, more a-holes to deal with.
Blueshirt Banter - Where Rangers' Fans Matter
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Twitter: RangerSmurf
by George E. Ays on Mar 16, 2011 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Well put
It seems the d-baggery of a fanbase is directly proportional to its recent success, with a households per team multiplier. Look out Isles Country, “hopefully” we have more d-bags on the way!
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
I hate other fans for being a-holes, but that’s on a case by case basis, and applies to all 30 teams, not 29.
Agreed.
My close friends are another islander fan, a Bruins fan, a Rangers fan, and a Kings fan. I watch hockey with all of them, and enjoy it.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Mar 16, 2011 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions
So all your friends are a-holes?
;)
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
by Dominik on Mar 17, 2011 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Wait a second, there's another Islander in the bunch.
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LOL!
Yes- the very Isles fan who made me into the hockey freak I am now.
The Isles fan who told me back in 1993-94 that the Isles ALWAYS make the playoffs lol.
I still remind him about that!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Mar 17, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Comeau was tripped leading to a direct turnover
That “hooking” penalty that was called after the puck was moved up the ice was just an “FU” frosting on the “SH!T Cake”. That’s the ref flexing their sphincter muscle to show that they weren’t letting Comeau get away with a penalty just because they just let one go.
A rational official realizes he just missed a blatant penalty which caused a turnover, sees that the “penalty” by Comeau has no bearing on puck possession, on the play in general and no one is injured and he decides those things happen on every single shift so we let it go. Instead he decides to make this a teachable moment that it is the ref that decides what is a petty little infraction and what is not. There’s a reason MSG showed it only once, they didn’t realize what a bad sequence it was and wouldn’t have shown it at all if they knew otherwise.
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That was really frustrating
So was the Grabner call. It really is amazing to think the Islanders get the shit end of the stick EVERY time. I’m trying to be objective but there are sometimes that even non Isles fans would have to admit it’s tough to swallow.
Agreed on Bailey. He just has these flashes of brilliance, but otherwise he seems to have no sense of purpose out there.
And I was screaming at Jurcina when he was giving all that room to shoot.
The Isles were feeling good about themselves and were in a big game with a big atmosphere and I think we saw their inexperience a little bit as they seemed to lose themselves, especially in the first. Then the PK was just the nail in the coffin. But the Isles played like shit for the most part.
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
Their play in the slot last night was abysmal
I gave the officiating plenty of minuses, but I think I balanced it out with piss poor play in front of the net, on transition, on reading plays, on the penalty kill, on man-on-man coverage and on clearing the puck from the slot and at the blueline. I missed poor communication behind the goal line going D-to-D because I couldn’t recall the names of the players involved. How many times did a defenseman hold the puck until a Ranger forechecker drove behind the net and then they passed it into the feet of their defensive partner who already had a Ranger forechecker waiting for the puck?
The Islanders came out of the game flat and weren’t ready for the Rangers tempo. We’ve seen that in the past that an agreessive forecheck seems to rattle the D and guys like Hillen that are a little bit more mobile with the puck look better on those nights. Put Streit back in the lineup and you have one more guy that can beat the forecheck with a heads up pass or skate the puck out and it changes the whole dynamic of the defensive pairing. The Devils passive system gave the Islanders D more time, the Rangers agressive forecheck like that of Toronto also gave them trouble. In time the lineup will be able to handle all styles of play better.
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Agree
In time the D will get better at beating the forecheck and get outlet passes out a lot better.
by Russel Ginart on Mar 16, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
How do you expose these scumbags???
WTF can be done???This league is unprofessional and I dont think anything will be done…
You call Eliot Spitzer!
There is some kind of financial farce going on in the league office. They black-balled a legitimate owner who wants to move a HOCKEY FRANCHISE OUT OF THE DESERT.
They allowed a guy with $8 in his chacking account to make a $200M investment.
They have a baffoon controling league operations, and doling out punishment with a dart. So many conflicts of interest there it isn’t funny.
Hookers and politics aside, I’m a huge Spitzer fan. The guy was making an effort to get the DOUCHEBAGS off of Wall Street. I am a little closer to what he was trying to do with NYRA and his guys stopped scumbag practices going on in the jocks room BY ACCIDENT.
I just wish he had some power, becasue he obviously knows the HOW… he just needs a WHY and a BUDGET!
I hope Client 9 can clean up the league before Player 9 gets here… never happen, I know. :-(
VS 
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
I know you know this... but in case you forgot...
Though penalties and special teams helped extend the margin of defeat, this is the second consecutive meeting that became a vastly outshot drubbing of the Isles. It’s too early to crucify Capuano for not handling division rivals, right? (I kid. The truth is the Atlantic Division is tough no matter who your cruise director is. But two blowouts by the Rangers doesn’t sit well.)
<$40M Payroll vs >$59M Payroll
- Goaltender vs #1 Goaltender
- defenseman down v buyers at the deadline
AHL coach at the start of the season v Stanley Cup winning Coach in his third season.
The trajectory of both clubs favors the Islanders, but the Rangers’ money has no bounds, and the isles are bound to their master/rivals… so… we just bend over and take it every once in a while… but that doesn’t mean we should believe the mind f*** and start self loathing.
I was with this team yesterday, I rooted for them today, and I’ll be with them tomorrow! And Jack Capuano is still the guy that has guided them proudly through a couple of wins and losses, and two disasters…AND ONE GENERATIONAL SLAUGHER against divisional foes. So I BACK JACK!
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
As I said in the game thread
There’s a reason why one team gets the Mercedes-Benz Postgame Show and the other team gets the WeatherTech Postgame Show (that is, when they have the privilege of getting a postgame show).
Yes, I remember the income disparity
It was a joke about the oft-cited divisional record under Gordon, when my memo was then and remains now: The Atlantic is tough. And worse, they’re used to facing the Isles.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Outscored by 2 in the 1st.
Outscored by 1 in the 2nd.
Not outscored in the 3rd.
At that rate, if the game was 6 periods long, the Isles would have tied it!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Mar 16, 2011 1:07 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I was hoping to tie it in OT and then win in the Shoot Out, but then the clock ran out ;)
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Lot of talk about the refs here
but seriously, the neutral zone turnovers, and a really poor game by AMac and Hamonic started the down fall, and a soft goal to Gaborik let in by Montoya kind of iced it. I thought, regardless of the referees, this was the worst the Isles have looked in 20 games.
Seemed like the Rags using their D to pressure the boards on the pinch and on the PK really gave the Isles fits. It created some odd man rushes for the Isles, but mostly just created turnovers and offensive zone time for the Rags.
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
PK and bad penalties
The Hamonic call was OK but the Grabner call sucked, and teh Comeau call sucked.
still I think the guys let the montra, " The league doesn’t like us" get into their heads. Their PK was horrible it was like they were waiting around for something bad to happen and it did over and over again, their head were not in the game, especially after the 1st PP goal
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
That's a big part of it
I was left stunned by the Comeau and Grabner call sequences, but ultimately you have to fight through those. Even if the refs have been esp. bad on the Isles lately, every team faces its Auger Night moments.
I’m confident they’ll get better at handling it over time.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
JT
he is going to get beat, he is a scoring F who attempts to be creative and it can backfire. still the line got 3 goals, one for each of them
Okposo hjad a few golden chances that he couldn’t quite handle
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Mar 16, 2011 7:03 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Last night's game just goes to show that we're the type of team that needs more than just one line clicking each night.
The 1st line was absolutely on fire, but quiet nights from the Cozmonauts and FnGO really highlight our weaknesses.
HIGHLIGHT OUR WEAKNESSES???
One bad game last night after having, what?, 10 good games in a row?? And now we have weaknesses?? We got torched by a superior (for last night, anyway) team clicking on all cylinders. Our PK was dreadful, our PP ineffective and our defense non-existent. Those were our weaknesses last night, not quiet nights from two lines. BTW, in the first period FnGO was only held off the scoreboard by a phenomenal Lundqvuist.
Youth WILL be served!!
The REBUILD marches on!!
LHH: Where venting your spleen is not just encouraged but expected...
by upstateislesfan on Mar 16, 2011 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm not saying we suck or anything
But last night our weaknesses were apparent. Every team has weaknesses in one area of their game or another, but last night our defensive lapses and shoddy penalty kill were the primary reasons we lost, not to mention the shitty officiating. If we had two lines show up last night, the game would be much closer. Our offense has exploded over the past two months, and that’s primarily due to multiple lines clicking each night.
I hope this game is a fluke and doesn’t lead to a losing streak, but that’s what’s going to separate us from being a winner and not.
by Fabtraption on Mar 16, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Not as down on the offense as I should be after last night
Hard to get anything going when the defense can’t get control or clear the puck. They did it well for 4 minutes last night and tied the game. The coaching staff made a nice adjustment coming out of the locker by spreading the D out a little more giving them cross ice outlet pases, but then they fell back behind the net on the Rangers forecheck and couldn’t get the puck beyond the half wall.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
When you score 3
you should be in the game if not winning. I can’t complain about the O. Maybe we can complain about forecheck tenacity by the forwards, but there needs to be far more urgency on the part of the D to gain possession and clear. Last night, they were getting backed in to the middle of the circles. You are giving away prime shot real estate when you do that and increase your goaltender screens. They needed to be a bit more aggressive. (I can’t remember what the backcheck looked like, so a partial pass if there wasn’t one and they needed to back in).
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Mar 16, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
PK killed us
In my opinion, giving up 3 goals on the PP is a confidence killer. That’s where it’s a mix of crap defense and shitty officiating.
by Fabtraption on Mar 16, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
And a shortie right
Special teams in general killed us. And to boot, Tortorella publicly said that all he watched of us was our special teams and then they came right out and beat the hell out of us with it.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Mar 16, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Could have choked on my own vomit when Avery's boarding lead to the Rangers scoring.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
DOMINATED
by the Rangers and the Refs (a constant refrain). PK was awful with a capital A…Montoya received NO assistance at all and the Rags were given free rein to enter the Isles zone unimpeded all night. Way too much puck possession in OUR ZONE…Bruno, Bruno, Bruno; when your team has momentum you MUST be smart about playing the puck. your inability to clear the puck eventually leads to the 3rd Ranger goal and kills your team’s momentum…Pauly C: with all due respect, amn, I watched a different game tonight than you did. Avery deserved 5 minutes due to Haley’s having to leave the ice woozy and disoriented. your description of the hit is not what I saw at all. Don’t see how Haley could have avoided it. Don’t see how either Gaborik goal was soft…the guy is a sniper and was impressive last night…Comeau was hauled down in the Ranger end-no call-then is called for a phantom hooking call. Same with Grabner. Total brain lock by the refs AGAIN!! Hamonic’s penalty was reasonable-he swung his stick at the puck from his belly and clipped a Ranger skate. No problem with that one…Pauly C is right about one thing though: all the complaining about the refs changes nothing about how the Rangers DOMINATED play and earned two points (WOW that hurts to say)…I guess we were due for a clunker but I sure wish we would have waited to have it against someone else…JT is becoming the star we all hoped he would be…that line MUST remain intact next year…On to Carolina GO, ISLES, GO…
Youth WILL be served!!
The REBUILD marches on!!
LHH: Where venting your spleen is not just encouraged but expected...
by upstateislesfan on Mar 16, 2011 7:33 AM EDT reply actions
NOT dominated
I would put it as out -desired, out-efforted. El Cubano Grande looked slow and to my eyes needed the night off. He was not as quick as we have seen him. Form the pre-game reports and info I got yesterday from LHH, Montoya was supposed to have been questionable for last night’s game? He did look questionable last night, but every goalie is allowed a bad or off night.
The team (aside from JT) looked uninspired, which is really a problem. I can understand not being inspired to play the Coyotes or then Ducks BUT, you BIGGEST rival? And come out flat? There was no constant forecheck. there was not speed through the neutral zone…….enough said a sub-par team effort. NEXT game…..
by Russel Ginart on Mar 16, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
YOU REALLY
want to take all the credit away from the Rangers?? Look at the shots, look at the puck possession in our zone, look at the PP. if that isn’t being dominated, please demonstrate what domination is?? As for Montoya, please. He had NO help from a pathetic defense that allowed the Rangers freedom of movement all over our zone all night. He’s not Superman.
Youth WILL be served!!
The REBUILD marches on!!
LHH: Where venting your spleen is not just encouraged but expected...
by upstateislesfan on Mar 16, 2011 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes really (too many riders not enough drivers)
It was an overall bad team effort, but calling it dominating is a bit extreme, IMO. Yes the D was terible, yes the PK was terible, and El Cubano Grande looked like he was a bit slow and tired. This team got beaten soundly because they did not put in a quality effort. When this team puts in a solid effort and gets beat 6-3 then i’ll consider it dominated.
by Russel Ginart on Mar 16, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
ugh
nhlwheelofjustice.com
is what I meant…hyperlink tool didn’t work for some reason.
What the fish, stick?
by Homey Chives on Mar 16, 2011 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Was at the Game....Not Fun
Not a great game by the Isles by any stretch of the imagination, but this game boils down to one play. BRUNO GERVAIS…WTF! Horrible clearing attempt, then doesn’t take his man out in front of the net…and BAM…..3-2. Isles had momentum at that point in the game, but that goal killed it. Game over.
I wouldn't say it was Gervais
Although he certainly played his role.
As a team, just bad, REALLY bad, decisions with the puck. Comeau and surprisingly Hamonic were the two worst offenders last night.
Overall, just a team that failed to get up for this one after two days rest.
by Chickendirt on Mar 16, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Callahan's goal was a dagger
I feel for Bruno because he makes the most glaring errors at the most inopportune times. You could have another defenseman make the same exact play, but it would be with the Islanders having a 7-1 lead so you shrug it off.
Instead it happens as the Islanders take over the game, tie it up and have all of the momentum and then comes the implosion. I have to ask those at the game close to the Islanders bench if they noticed any drop in morale on the bench after that one.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
Rick off IR, Lawson and DiBo sent down
Looks like we’re seeing the Rick on Friday night most likely. Don’t know why DiBo was sent down, I thought he fit in pretty well on the 4th line. This probably means another JJ or Rhett call-up.
Not sure if going down means anything and DP wasn't down to be called up.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
Is Gillies getting time off for good behavior?
Who will draw penalties for us now?
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Mar 16, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Rick in CAROLINA is a MISTAKE
I sat behind the bench in CAR for the last game there. RDP was HORRIBLE. I don’t think he wants to be back at the scene of that crime until he has a few good starts under his belt. You need to get back on A HORSE, not THE HORSE!
BTW: I may go to that game. email me if anybody is interested in meeting up, or driving down together.
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
Unless they're trying to kill him
I’d sure put him in against Florida rather than Carolina.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Probably... but if Monty really isnt ready, better to put in Rick. We dont need Al on IR.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Mar 16, 2011 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Moulsons 30th
ties him for 9th in the league in goal scoring!
i think thats the first time in years we have had someone in the top 10.
by amongru22 on Mar 16, 2011 1:22 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
NY Ranger Lament
As much as I absolutely HATE the Rangers I will say that they are a much better team at this point. They obviously have strong goaltending, some good high end talent (some of those guys weren’t deemed talented enough to be Islanders though), and they have a STRONG coach.
If it wasn’t for Avery, I might even notch down my HATRED to extreme dislike. Guys like Callahan and Dubinski are of the mold that I wouldn’t mind seeing on our team. They have gotten rid of such shitbags as Holleweg and Orr… even Prust and christiansen.. they are good support players… and when guys like that are well coached the team can progress.
They definitely need to cut the cancer out of their locker room though… I’d be worried about them as we get into more of a position to compete for the division.
Torts should have the team for a while longer. especially if he wins a playoff round. That was a pretty good effort on their part last night, sullied by some bad officiating. It might have been a lot closer in the closing minutes… but that was the better team.
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
No no, you've got it all wrong
That cancer is the soul of their team, you see? Don’t you remember their record a few years back with and without Avery? It’s like the Islanders with Jurcina: Absolute proof. Least that’s what Wrist Shots told me.
But seriously, I agree. For a while now I’ve been coming to terms with how objectively fun this rivalry could be if both teams continue developing, and their side has players I actually {vomits} admire as hockey players {vomits again}. Weird feeling. Good for the whole crowd if it ever happens.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Amazingly
I feel like we’ve developed such a greater rivalry with the Penguins this year than with the Rangers. Maybe it’s because Islanders/Rangers games haven’t bee as passion-fueled as in previous years (and we’re, what, 1-4 against them? yeesh), but the Penguins represent everything that is wrong with the NHL. I’m eagerly anticipating their April 8th rematch way more than the March 31st final game between the Islanders and Rangers.
I think as long as Sather is at the helm, they'll remain a mediocre team.
The Dolans love to dish out huge contracts and/or huge trades that bury the future of their teams, so I would not be surprised if Sather makes another dumb move come this summer.
Plus, I just think that the way we’re being built, we’re going to be a much, much better team than the Rangers once our rebuild hits Phase III (playoffs?).
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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.
