Bits: In playoffs, Roloson saves, 4th-liners watch
by Dominik on Apr 26, 2011 6:00 AM EDT
in Bits o' Islanders News
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PrintAs many Islanders fans (and every Lightning fan) hoped he would, Dwayne Roloson stood on his head at a few critical moments last night. After his wins in Game 5 and 6, apparently now only Chico Resch has "more wins when facing elimination."
Video of some pivotal Roli saves is after the jump. (Sean Bergenheim also was key with a goal on a pretty Dominic Moore pass.) In the process, the Lightning forced Game 7 with the Penguins, meaning tonight's pair of Game 7's will be followed by another Wednesday night. Giggidy.
Sadly, no Game 7 in the Battle of Cali, as the Kings used their powerplay to stay in a lopsided game but then wasted a five-minute powerplay that carried over into OT. Joe Thornton soon put in the series clincher for San Jose. Dustin Brown reflects the mood of the disappointed Kings here. More hockey links, video, and a note on ice time after the jump.
The Save(s) by Roli
Dwayne Roloson stands on his head at a critical moment. Marc-Andre Bergeron fans, look away at the start of the play:
Fun, impressive stuff from Roli. The Lightning were giving up a lot of these odd-man breaks through the center of the ice though, so hopefully that trend doesn't bite them in Game 7.
Ice Time Rationers
I chuckled when I saw Jamal Mayers in the handshake line last night because I didn't remember seeing him on the ice. That made me check his stat line -- sure enough, he played 8 shifts and logged 4:38. The playoffs are a time for leaning on your best players...over and over and over. The fourth line gets even sparser duty than during the regular season. During OT, they're nailed to the bench.
A check of the ice time sippers so far in the first round shows this, for guys who have dressed for four or more games:
| Grinder | Team | GP | TOI/GP |
| Parros | Ana | 6 | 4:06 |
| Eager | SJ | 4 | 4:32 |
| Mayers | SJ | 6 | 5:18 |
| Westgarth | LA | 6 | 6:15 |
| Geoffrion | Nas | 6 | 6:49 |
| Nichol | SJ | 6 | 7:12 |
| Syvret | Phi | 6 | 7:35 |
| S. Thornton | Bos | 5 | 7:42 |
| White | Mon | 5 | 8:00 |
| McCormick | Buf | 6 | 8:16 |
A lot of grinders and enforcers on that list, plus fun young player (Geoffrion) and one defenseman whose team kind of fears using him.
Ex-Islanders note: Heh, J.P. Dumont (6:38) would also be on this list if the Predators had dressed him in more than two games. Oh, also Andy Sutton (8:18) isn't on the list because he saw only one game for Anaheim.
With two Game 7's tonight, I'm guessing a few guys on that list see that average go even lower.
Hockey Links
Martin Brodeur on Rick DiPietro [Point Blank]
KHL misinformation shocker: Radek Martinek texts Katie Strang that the report of him signing in Russia (referenced here) is "not true."
I'll be in New Orleans (Jazzfest), but the Isles are doing a playoff watch party Friday. Ice Girls! [7th Woman with details/links]
I'm thinking these fans had a fun dinner with Trevor Gillies. [official site]
Who should move to the East? Columbus? [Dispatch] Detroit? [Kuklas] I know a bunch of us would love Columbus, for the joy of reading Portzline coverage more. I really think the NHL should consider a version of imbalanced conferences, since the league is inevitably weighted to the East what with population density and the small matter of vast expanses of plains, mountains and deserts (oh, and tundra/prairie) in the West.
Kirill Kabanov's Lewiston team still struggles off the ice. [Buzzing the Net]
Speaking of Isles kids in the CHL playoffs, Casey Cizikas is one win away from the OHL finals after an easy win last night.
Whatever happens tonight in Philadelphia, the fact the Flyers have not solved their goaltending issues since Ron Hextall was considered a good goalie frightens, amuses and amazes me. Sometimes, even I agree with Brooksie (although he completely glosses over Pelle Lindbergh and Hextall, who only won the Conn Smythe).
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I would love to have Detroit in the East simply because I'd get to watch them play more often.
I’d take Columbus too, though they’re one of the West teams I root for. Plus, Rick Nash.
Bergeron
If he’s so awful on Defense, why doesn’t he just convert to forward?
"And Campbell knows that if head-shots are eliminated, fighting must be eliminated too. Since fighting is, by definition, punching people in the head" - Quisp
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
It was just funny
And not all his fault as there was apparently a botched line change (which he maybe should’ve recognized) on the play. But I saw that open up and wondered, “Whoa, who was the guy going for the aggressive steal and sprint up ice without backup? Oh, MAB.”
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
It could have been worse
No doubt Roli had to quickly shove aside the fear that MAB would drive Talbot into one of his knees.
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
El Syd
Did anybody else get the feeling that the officials were marching to the, “keep Pitts in the playoffs” drum. I know it wasn’t so that NBC could eventually showcase Matt Cooke v John Erskine on a Sunday afternoon.
It’s funny the same hit that talbot put on Comeau which I thought was legal, but predatory, was legal then… and now when Malone puts it on Dupios, Talbot complains that it’s illegal…. you could drown in the hypocricy. Even though he’s an Islander Killer, I’m glad Malone potted one. … but I’d be even happier if when it’s 4-1 TB next game Malone takes Talbot out… clean hit… bell ringer…Talbot smells like urine the rest of the game… and pisses blood until the draft.
Oh yeah… YOU GO, BERGY!!!! (I hope TMC was yelling when that goal went in… but in a good way!)
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
by JPinVA on Apr 26, 2011 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I see a major difference, although the league doesn't
When it happened, I thought the refs might call that Malone/Talbot hit, but the reason I find it foul or gratuitous (and more dangerous than Talbot-Comeau) is something that is never explicitly addressed: Malone is the THIRD man into the intersection.
It’s like the Phaneuf hit on Okposo: You have a defenseman teammate and a backchecking teammate already engaging the puck carrier, forcing him into a prone/vulnerable position. In this case, there’s the bonus that the puck is wobbling (it will tend to do that when two opponents are impeding your progress). Any old adages about “keep your head up!” at that point are moot and absurd to me. The opponent is virtually helpless for the predatory checker because he’s already being two-timed. The only thing you need to do as the third checker in is a pretty safe hit or, hell, just take the puck away cleanly because the guy is already engaged with two of your buddies.
I was talking to my brother about the hit, and basically I concluded it’s a risky hit Malone has to know could end with him in the box. When you go for the “I blow him up real good” hit against a guy who’s already tied up, I say you’re asking for trouble.
As for the, ahem, showcase interest: While watching SJ-LAK I started to wonder about the league’s desire to see a Game 7 in that series. Some interesting calls, including the 5-minute one with 3+ minutes left in a tie game.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
SJ 5 minute penalty last night
I did not see anything that would constitute a 5 minute major penalty.
We are all Islanders, even if we are in Jersey!
by Russel Ginart on Apr 26, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
It looked worse
At full speed at the time then when you go back and take a second look at it in slow mo
"And Campbell knows that if head-shots are eliminated, fighting must be eliminated too. Since fighting is, by definition, punching people in the head" - Quisp
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
The Problem is the NHL isn't fighting to get hockey fans to watch
The NHL has spent so much time and money on Crosby and Ovechkin (although Crosby seems to get most of the league’s adulation) promoting the sport. Crosby wasn’t just the guy that was bringing hockey back to Pittsburgh he was the savior of the league. When Ovechkin hit the league the NHL saw double, not only that but they saw an instant rivalry. It became “The greatest player in North America vs. the greatest player in Europe.” All of a sudden the NHL had McGuire vs. Sosa chasing Maris’ home run record. The biggest difference is this wasn’t going to be just one season, this was going to last for years. So what happens, as far as the league is concerned, if Crosby and Ovechkin are not in the playoffs? They lose viewers. They don’t lose hardcore hockey fans, ones that watch because they love the sport, they lose the other fans. The one’s that identify with a particular team, or a particular player. The NHL doesn’t want to lose that fan. They figure, and for the most part they are correct, that the hardcore fan will stick around because they identify with the sport (even though they are dangerously close to going over the line). The NHL is playing the same game baseball played in ’98 when they looked the other way while players were juicing themselves out of their minds. How long can they tread the line between getting more viewers and saving the sport vs. how long until the hockey fan gets fed up with the league and stops watching?
by IDCWhoYouLike on Apr 26, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Jazzfest
Have a great time Dom. I never knew you were a jazz fan— nice!!!!!!
by Torch7 on Apr 26, 2011 9:58 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Thanks!
Put me anywhere there’s music playing in New Orleans, and I’m likely to have a good time. Although I’m told Bon Jovi(?!) is one of the closing acts this weekend.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
See Dom
Jersey ain’t all that bad we got Bon Jovi and The Boss!
We are all Islanders, even if we are in Jersey!
by Russel Ginart on Apr 26, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Tell that to WebBard!
I can appreciate the Boss, but my life would’ve been no less complete had I never heard Bon Jovi.
/ducks flying objects
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
by Dominik on Apr 26, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
My life would be perfect
If I never had to live in Jersey again. Or deal with the Insane females from the state.
"And Campbell knows that if head-shots are eliminated, fighting must be eliminated too. Since fighting is, by definition, punching people in the head" - Quisp
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Insane females
That’s redundant!
by Empire39 on Apr 26, 2011 1:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Insane females
That’s redundant!
by Empire39 on Apr 26, 2011 1:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I know. I was so pissed when I saw that.
by Empire39 on Apr 26, 2011 2:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Aww, man
I thought that was part of the comedic effect.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Hey! >:-\
I represent that.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Apr 26, 2011 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions
HUH?
What do you mean I represent that? Do you mean you are redundant or a former Jersey girl?
We are all Islanders, even if we are in Jersey!
by Russel Ginart on Apr 27, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Im a big bebop and hard bop jazz fan good stuff that jazz
i also heard Robert Plant is gonna be there friday
My dad was a jazz drummer on the side
Yeah, the Robert Plant thing intrigues me. I’m not a Led Zep zealot (they’re fine, I’m just not fanatical), but his side projects can be interesting.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
My late brother took drum lessons from.....Joe Reich? Seems unlikely.....
….can’t remember as it was over 2 decades ago, but the guy was someone that had played with Phil Woods (NOT Bill Goodwin……) who is of course, like Joe Morello, from Springfield and the Valley….
Nice --Art Blakey is my favorite
I say Mc Coy Tyner up in Harlem last summer He was great but OLD!!!!! Could hardly hear him because some rasta dudes thought it would be fun to bn
sorry pressed post by accident
because some rasta dudes thought it would be fun to have a bongo drum session totally not cool on their part
Yeah - Billy Cobham circumvented that problem by.....
…..playing his kit like they were bongos at UMass many years ago!
Pelle Lindburgh
WOW! There is a name from the past!
I remember that very well…….very sad.
"If the bell needs to be answered, we've got the guys to answer it." "If they want to start something, that's fine."- Trevor Gillies
Yeah, that whole story was such a tragedy.
For me, a pretty powerful lesson to a young boy into hockey and cool goalie masks, too.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
If a Western team moved to the East....
…. then who would move to the West?
Only half a year 'til Opening Night! ... *Sigh!*
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Apr 26, 2011 12:44 PM EDT reply actions
What Torch7 said
I think that’s the only way they’ve considered the scenario (or eventually, if there’s more expansion).
I just think if the travel and time zone issue is that important to Columbus and Detroit, then just move them both and have imbalanced conferences. It would put Western teams at an even greater travel disadvantage, but there’s no changing that.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
If they did that
…then it would be almost inevitable that they’d have to move to a 1-16 league-wide seeding for the playoffs.
No, wait – that makes sense and this is the NHL.
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
by mikb on Apr 26, 2011 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Ha!
Only half a year 'til Opening Night! ... *Sigh!*
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Apr 27, 2011 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
I highly doubt they’d separate the Wings and Hawks. Same reason why the Cowboys are in the NFC East.
I think they should have only four divisions of 7-8 teams each. No need for conferences, if the All-Star Game continues with its current format. Playoffs should begin with the divisions. The four division champs should be then seeded by regular season record for the semi-finals and then it’s business as usual from there on out.
The beauty of this format is that you can have four divisions with approximately the same travel schedule: Western, Central, and two Eastern divisions (naturally we’d go back to Patrick, Norris, etc.). The two eastern divsions won’t be north-south, but rather two overlapping divisions all up and down the eastern seaboard.
You play everyone in your division 6 times, and the remainder of the games are distributed as evenly as possible amongst the other three divisions. That means two games against most teams and only one against others (based on prior year’s records, i guess).
The bad part? Well, playing a team only once means some cities won’t get to see Crosby or Ovie play in their backyard every year. And, as mikb (I assume that’s Mike B?) pointed out below, such a thing makes too much sense for the NHL to implement.
Only half a year 'til Opening Night! ... *Sigh!*
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Apr 27, 2011 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm 100% on board with that
The three-division format has always felt forced. And I’d love a return to four divisions with zero schedule significance ascribed to the other division in your conference (maybe only for rivalries and such).
Every time we toy with realignment, I always do my versions in a four-division setup. Why, by golly, if it worked for the Patrick it should work for us!
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
when we had our mass redistricting exercise
I think that most of us went for four divisions. A few went for eight divisions of four each, but if there’s no actual expansion, then you’d have divisions of three teams, and that’s awkward. Better to keep it to seven and eight.
OR if you wanted to get completely bughouse, you could use three divisions of ten each, seed the whole league 1-16 (winning your division nets you a top-three seed), and forget you ever had conferences.
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
Well, THERE's an idea that never crossed my mind.
But why not? It’s not like the All-Star game needs conferences anymore, anyway. :-)
Only half a year 'til Opening Night! ... *Sigh!*
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Apr 28, 2011 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Amac (kind of) update
grabs40 Michael Grabner
Driving Amac around a bit today…waiting for him to get done rehab to pick him up again..gona watch the games together..#naptime
1 minute ago
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
the best part of this...
Grabs and Amac are ON LONG ISLAND…. MacDonald may just be there because of his rehab, but you’d think that Grabs could be anywhere in the world with Aiden and his girlfriend… but he’s hanging out being a good teammate. Hopefully Snow gives him a nice downpayment on a nice shack on the North Shore…and a reason to buy rather than rent.
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
by JPinVA on Apr 26, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
New Orleans needs an NHL team...
So I could plan an annual roadie….
Assignment: If you’re in the neighborhood, stop in the Jimani. I think Lyle Odelein’s brother Lee (?) worked there before Katrina. I stopped in there on a massive drunk because it was the only place showing hockey and had a great conversation with [I’m pretty sure it was] Lee .. my memory is shit, but I’m pretty sure Lee played some ECHL hockey… and may have been a pretty good lacrosse player. Great guy… great place (shithole with an awesome jukebox)… and hockey friendly! Not sure it’s still there… the last time I saw it was about two years ago, the were dragging two transvestite hookers out of the place on COPS…
141 Chartres Street
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
Thanks!
This is actually the second Chartres assignment I’ve been given for this trip. (Well, the other one is self-imposed. We have a buddy who’s a regular at another bar there and I plan on paying a visit flashing a photo of him and pretending to be either on a manhunt or his distressed ex, depending on my mood.)
I used to have family there but haven’t been since pre-Katrina. Really looking forward to it.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
We just flipped a coin two weeks ago...
between Vegas and New Orleans for our 2011 poker trip. Vegas won… but if I’d have known you were gonna be there for Jazz fest I’d have at least met you for a beer or 10. Only there once, but I have a great desire to return… and Treme is like a weekly hour long promotional video … I need a NO fix soon.
“Distressed Ex” has so much residual depth there shouldn’t even be a second choice…just do it man!
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
The brother
So…uh…is Lee as attractive as his brother? (Easy to spot then?)
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
6'3" 210... blonde... great personality... easy smile...
If my wife wasn’t with me I’d have done him.
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
TMI
We are all Islanders, even if we are in Jersey!
by Russel Ginart on Apr 26, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions
OT perhaps....but in the resurgent Blackhawks I once again see.....
…..the Islanders in about 2-3 years, but ALSO the Islanders of 29 seasons ago; Chicago is showing unmistakable dynastic resolve and might just be the first repeat Cup winner since…..who? Detroit? The Devils? Hell, EDMONTON 20+ years hence?
Chicago
Won’t win this year.
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"You can't come in my kitchen, kick my dog, and take a box full of ballpoints! Your ass must be crazy!"
Put it THIS way, Semi:
- if the Canucks pull it out tomorrow night, they’ll be ENTIRELY deserving and my favorites still – but like DiPietro, Luongo isn’t making a lot of friends with his comments…..
this is true, but
….the man doesn’t make saves with his mouth.
(Waits for punchline)
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
wow, nobody went for the low-hanging fruit
I guess winning a GAME SEVEN IN OT HOT DAMN gets a guy a break. =D
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
Sorry.....ahem.....
- he doesn’t make saves with his glove either NYACKNYACKNYACK
- I’ve seen ACTUAL deer in headlights give a more intelligent interview
- his brain left his mouth out to dry on those last comments
Oh…and this:
- low-hanging fruit isn’t his problem, it’s the ones up high that allude him.
In all seriousness, congrats Bobby Lu, who now has tasted and is not choking on the sweet nectar of Victory…
"Seriously that's the last time you guys f#@%ing won?" -RSH (about beating the Penguins in '93)
I knew someone had to convert the set up!
the low-hanging/high-hanging fruit line made me lol.
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
Team USA news
Chris Johnston
reporterchris Chris Johnston
U.S. adds Cam Fowler, Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan to world championship team.
1 minute ago
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHockey
Had no idea fowler was american
this makes me smile
"Mario Lemiuex… I used to respect you."- Turgeon1992
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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.
