Islanders vs. Leafs Gameday: Year Later, Nabokov Waiver Claim is Kind of Important
by Dominik on Jan 23, 2012 6:15 AM EST
in New York Islanders Previews
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PrintThe Islanders visit Toronto tonight as part of a home-and-home that's big in terms of the slumping Leafs holding themselves up in the playoff bubble and the mildly revived Islanders giving themselves some hope of joining the party before the All-Star Break.
A high-scoring team for much of the season, the Leafs have scored more than two goals only once in their last six games and are fighting at practice but not in a serious kind of way . Their dependence on Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul to generate the offense is unsettlingly familiar for people watching John Tavares' line carry the Islanders.
Islanders (19-21-6, 12th/E) @ Maple Leafs (23-19-5, 9th/E)
7 p.m. | MSG+ (*unless you have TWC) | Audio: NHL - WRHU
[Airfare is cheaper than game tickets] Centre
Now media property puppets: Pension Plan Puppets
For those stoking playoff dreams -- I don't share them but certainly don't begrudge you if you do -- JoRiverside has a fun FanPost on what it would take, Hockey-Reference puts them at 7.6%, and Brian Compton points out the Isles are two points behind where they were at this stage in 2007. When they made the playoffs.
About that Offense
In truth, the Leafs offense remains comfortably in the top 10 of the league with 3.00 goals per game, and their 1.01 GF/GA ratio at 5-on-5 is 12th-best. Which of course means it's their goals against that's killing them (3.02 per game), highlighted by a PK that somehow continues to give up a goal one out of every four times shorthanded.
Their young draft prizes like Luke Schenn and Nazim Kadri have faced the trade rumor scuttlebutt, which comes with the territory when playing in that market or when Mike Milbury is your general manager. (Thankfully, no one has ever had to experience both at the same time.)
The Islanders' special teams have been fine, it's their 5-on-5 that remains the long-term challenge. Or, simply finding someone else to score.
12 Games of Streaking: Eric Hornick notes that since the first line swap of Kyle Okposo for P.A. Parenteau was made 12 games ago, Matt Moulson is 6-9-15, Kyle Okposo is 5-6-11, and John Tavares is 8-13-21. Tavares' 12-game point streak is the longest in the NHL this season.
Parenteau has put up 3-13-16 in that time as well, though some of that has also flowed through Tavares on the powerplay or on the 4-on-4 OT winner Saturday night.
The other day Parenteau and Jack Capuano each discussed the adjustments and attributes Parenteau brings to the second line now with Michael Grabner and Frans Nielsen:
"It’s a little different on my new line, because Grabner is a little faster. He’s on the go all the time so I have to move the puck a little quicker than when I play with Johnny and Matt. Frans is so reliable on both ends of the ice that we can take more chances in the offensive zone. It’s a little bit of an adjustment but it’s a good one and I’m just trying to play the same game."
The Evgeni Nabokov Waiver Claim: A Year Later
It was a year ago yesterday that the Islanders -- in the middle of a seasonlong goalie injury crisis -- exercised the right given to every NHL team by claiming Evgeni Nabokov off waivers. Nabokov and his agent sent a mess of confusing signals before and after the claim, and fans and media from various reactionary NHL outposts blamed the Islanders. Boo hoo.
Here was our recap of the waiver claim drama at the time, fun reading one year later.
Nabokov is 10-11-0 as an Islander, with a 2.35 GAA, a .919 save pct. and a .915 even-strength save pct. With Al Montoya injured (though now healthy and ready for duty), Nabokov was essential to the Islanders stabilizing over the last month. So gosh, all those critics must've been right about how pointless it was to claim him.
Any rational view saw that claim as a no-brainer. Probably people just prefer their archetypes stick to the image they have of them though, so some would rip the move no matter what sense it made; it's only natural. For example, the Rangers are battling for the top of the league right now, yet I still just see them as a spiritual carcinogen eating away at the soul of this fine sport nearly two decades after buying the Oilers' sixth Cup.
Other Reading
- Our visiting Leafs fans might get a kick out of Mark's most recent Lost Milbury Files: Bryan Berard.
- The Checking Line looks at the Islanders offensive contributors and heaps some praise on the Sound Tigers.
- garik16 took to the stats to disassemble the silly ESPN Top 25 Under 25 that left out John Tavares.
- Puck Daddy airs the Howie Rant and namechecks Keith.
-
Evander Kane is proof that any Canadian media market will eat its young.
-
Olli Jokinen has abandoned the booze. (Note: This happened six years ago.) Not sure if that's what's made his hair grow though.
FIG Picks
Leave your First Islanders Goal picks in this thread.
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Montoya is finally ready
But still will most likely not play today. Oh well, in time Montoya, in time.
All Who Oppose Grabner Shall Perish.
I wouldn't be surprised if Montoya gets one of the games from this home-and-home series against Toronto
However, I’m thinking that Montoya won’t be starting again until after the All-Star Break.
Agree
He should get one either tonight or tomorrow. Otherwise he probably shouldn’t have been activated.
Pretty sure he wasn't activated
Because he was never on IR, but I get what you mean…probably should’ve been on IR.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Jan 23, 2012 11:55 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Right
Or on the active roster I guess is what I meant.
by afrosupreme on Jan 23, 2012 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
And with concussions being what they are
a.k.a, very tricky and scary, I was thinking the same. Give Al a few extra days to get back up to speed.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
nabby has been playing well
Despite the man crush so many isles fans have for putting Monty in net. You ride the hot goalie until he is no longer so.
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...
by Turgeon1992 on Jan 23, 2012 7:35 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Most people with a "mancrush" on Montoya now have a "mancrush" on Nabby
What it really is, is having a “mancrush” on any real goalie. Something both of them have played like this year.
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 9:23 AM EST up reply actions
Legit "crushes"
Both have provided pretty consistnet goaltending since putting on the uniform. A crush on either is rational. Unlike some of the DP love that has been spilled over the past few years.
That’s like when you learn that your daughter has a crush on her biology teacher, and on teacher-parent night you find out it’s this guy…
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
by JPinVA on Jan 23, 2012 9:32 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs
Hey
he just switched to Sanka, so give him a break, OK?
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Jan 23, 2012 9:54 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
JP,
That was my point., exactly.
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 9:55 AM EST up reply actions
Oh I know...
I just like getting that guy’s picture up once in a while. Around the same time as FTARH, I had a bio teacher that really looked like him. Whenever I bring that up in conversation somebody will always say, "wow, I had a guy for (physics, bio, gen science…) that looked just like that. So, either they’ve been experimenting with cloning since the 40’s, or their is a genetic anomoly dating back to our neanderthal days that shows up across the population in every generation… and they all become science teachers, funeral home directors, or graveyard shift managers at White Castle.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Pretty sure my father told me
He was friends with that guy growing up in Queens. Think his name is Vinny Schavelli. (spelling?)
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Jan 23, 2012 11:57 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Ol' Vince is from NY...
so you are probably correct.
Ask him if he knew Mr DiMartino who taught freshman biology at Xaverian. If so, maybe your dad was moonlighting at the pod factory.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Close, Keith - just overlooked the 'i' before 'a' rule in many Northeastern Mediterranean surnames, if I'm not mistaken......
In memoriam: Virginia Ariel Cayon 1927-2011 R.I.P. Mom
Schiavelli or Scavelli are possible Italian spellings.
"If you have what you say you have, I’ll make you rich. If you don’t, I’ll make you into shoes" Jim Moriarty 1/1/2012
Lane...well this is kind of awkward.
I was wondering what you would think if I played with Tavares and Moulson
Until we cure this tea kettle there will never be enough bread in the laundry. Ding Dong! Karate!
by metalcoconut on Jan 23, 2012 10:24 AM EST up reply actions
I agree a mancrush on both goalies is rational given their play, but it doesn’t need to be accompanied by that attitude of “if Monty doesn’t play a game I feel he should (not being the coach or part of the team) then the isles should never have activated him or what not”. If nabby plays poorly then switch to al. Otherwise leave it well alone.
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...
by Turgeon1992 on Jan 23, 2012 1:19 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Parent Teacher Night
That’s like when you learn that your daughter has a crush on her biology teacher, and on teacher-parent night you find out it’s this guy…
I can see that parent teacher night going something like this…
“Please Mr JP, I’m just a professional doing a job!”
Sweeping Toronto...
would put us 3 points behind them with a game in hand. Having surpassed Mntreal for 11th(by PPg) their next target is 10th place (in the East) Winnipeg.
Let the scoreboard watching begin!
BTW: Awesome win by the G-men yesterday. I’m drained. We have a group of ex-NY/NJ/CT fans down here that have been watching the games together for 15 years. What a night… I can’t wait until the isles do it again! (Gamethreads won’t be the same… but it will be very cool just the same)
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
what a great game yesterday
I mean that was old school football straight from the black and white films. Defense pounding 3 and outs like no tomorrow and everything hinging on just one kick.
I felt real bad for the ravens in the game against the patriots. Same kick distance (~1 yard) and they miss. Thats the playoffs where stats go out the door and anything happens.
Lets see if the Islanders can at least try and make us into dreamers like 2007. Keeping us within 5 points of the playoffs would be a huge boost for the team and its fans going into the off season. Playoffs would be a downright miracle.
this would be huge
it would show are ability to step up when it reall counts and give us a true shot at the playoffs. conversely if we get swept in regulation we may as well shop Nabby
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Jan 23, 2012 5:23 PM EST up reply actions
the Rangers
are battling for the top of the league right now, yet I still just see them as a spiritual carcinogen eating away at the soul of this fine sport nearly two decades after buying the Oilers’ sixth Cup.
Classic.
by vince from NJ on Jan 23, 2012 8:14 AM EST reply actions 4 recs
The typical much ado about nothing
From the linked Jokinen article:
In the back of Olli Jokinen’s mind, he knew for years the drinking would have to stop.
He knew the toll his binge boozing was taking on his body and, ultimately, on his career.
…
"I’ve been sober six years now," a candid Jokinen told the Calgary Sun, sharing his alcohol issues publicly for the first time.
…
"You have to be honest with yourself and make decisions on which way you want to go," said Jokinen, who quit cold turkey and without the aid of Alcoholics Anonymous or any other support group other than his wife and kids.
You would think, props to his family for helping him to get out of alcohol dependence.
Then you read this:
“To be honest, it wasn’t hard (to quit). I wasn’t a guy who got blasted once a week — more like four or five times during the year and then also through the summer. It wasn’t like I was hung over every day. You’ve got to know yourself. When you’re young, it takes time to understand what’s good for you and what works."
Really?
"If you have what you say you have, I’ll make you rich. If you don’t, I’ll make you into shoes" Jim Moriarty 1/1/2012
That article describes my late 20s/early 30s
Me and Jokinen – two peas in a pod.
You hate to belittle someone’s struggle, but yeah – that reads like an air-quote struggle.
Success was survival and, kid, it still is
by IslesFanInNJ on Jan 23, 2012 9:00 AM EST up reply actions
Was thinking the same, honestly
While acknowledging that we don’t know the inside of anyone’s struggle.
When I got to the “six years” part, I thought — wait, Jokinen’s game improved six years ago? This sounds more like athletic reality: As you get older, you can ill afford to keep abusing your body if you want it to function optimally.
There’s a reason the military drafts at 18 and not 28.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Fixed
There’s a reasonthe militaryNHL teams draft at 18 and not 28.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
No doubt
Though I think the NHL would much prefer to draft them at 20, like old times.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I'd be in favor of:
The first 10 overall picks are the only ones of which an 18 year old can be drafted. After that, every player has to be 19+.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 23, 2012 3:34 PM EST up reply actions
There actually is some age reg's, if I remember right
It’s nothing like that, but I think 19-year-olds have to be drafted after round 3 or something like that?
Note: Information in this comment is highly unreliable and prone to faulty memory.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
It could also be a bit of denail......"I really wasn't that bad"......but the truth generally is different when it comes to alcohol abuse
by NHL fan on Jan 23, 2012 10:21 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If you have recovered, the first step is acknowledging you have a problem
He theoretically shouldn’t be in denial anymore. Maybe you have uncovered a sign of relapse – very astute.
Armchair psychology is fun.
Success was survival and, kid, it still is
by IslesFanInNJ on Jan 23, 2012 10:27 AM EST up reply actions
Acknowledging it, yes- but not necessarily blabbing about it to everyone.
He doesnt have to pour his acknowledgements out to the media for them to exist.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 23, 2012 10:46 AM EST up reply actions
I commend him for being up front about his addiction...
He could use celebrity status and his issues to educate …
From my point of view, it's a non story.
The journalist chose the serious alcohol issue angle, but reading Jokinen’s declarations, you realize he never had an addiction.
He gave up alcohol altogether because he is a serious athlete who wants to make the most out of his career.
"I don’t want to be one of those guys who sits in the bar after I’m done playing and says, ‘What if?’ I don’t like to use the word ‘if.’ Whatever the length of your career is going to be, you want to make the most out of it. You want to be in a position to look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself, ‘I did everything I possibly could to be the best I could.’ "
I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that JT is under the same no-alcohol regimen.
"If you have what you say you have, I’ll make you rich. If you don’t, I’ll make you into shoes" Jim Moriarty 1/1/2012
Compare that
to Theoren Fleury’s struggles and you wonder why Jokinen is wasting our time whining about it. I mean, there’s three whole minutes of my life that I’ll never get back.
STOP effin' messin' with my FnGO!!
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Jan 23, 2012 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
Brian Compton points out the Isles are two points behind where they were at this stage in 2007. When they made the playoffs.
Who will be this year’s Wade Dubielewicz?
Hoping that Haley comes around more than once every 75 years.
Coincidentally (via Wikipedia)
After an injury to the Islanders’ goaltender Joey MacDonald and with starting goalie Rick DiPietro sidelined, Dubielewicz re-signed with the Islanders on January 15, 2009, but the Blue Jackets claimed him off re-entry waivers on January 17, 2009. Dubielewicz played the rest of the season for Columbus.
If Nabokov’s career with the Islanders is the inverse of Dubie’s, maybe he really will lead the team to the playoffs!
Hoping that Haley comes around more than once every 75 years.
That claim was so annyoing
CBJ played him all of 3 games, when we actually needed him as a starting goalie, or to at least spell Danis for half the season.
Dubie might have an NHL career now if it wasn’t for that claim.
"Mark D: the internet's foremost chronicler of Milburian insanity" - Pretty Good Idiot
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
by Mark D on Jan 23, 2012 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And nobody gave THEM shit about it because, hey- they needed a backup for a couple of games.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 23, 2012 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
i expect a split of the home at home...
as great as nabby has been, i dont think it’s a wise idea to start him both games. he’s gonna be wiped. start nabby tonight, and montoya tomorrow. if montoya gets into trouble early on tomorrow, have nabby ready to play at least half of the game. isles will have a week to rest up before the next game after tomorrow with the all star break this weekend.
"son of a bitch i'm sick of these dolphins"
- Steve Zissou
Chinese New Year
Remember, today starts the Year of the (Sparky the) Dragon!
by joecas71 on Jan 23, 2012 9:08 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
I didn't even know about Sparky until i went to the Coli in November
I asked the kid next to me:
“Hey, man why do we have a Shark as a mascot?”
Kid: “that’s a Dragon, a flying dragon.”
Me: “A flying dragon, what does that have to do with Long Island?”
Of course he had no answer. I’m not sure anybody does.
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 9:59 AM EST up reply actions
He's just a leftover mascot
from the arena football team (The NY Dragons) that used to share the Coli
Still feels weird cheering for Nabokov
Oh, okay.
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 11:35 AM EST up reply actions
AFL
A few years back Wang owned a team in the Arena Football League called the Dragons. To save money he used the same costume.
And that's the true story, isn't it?
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 23, 2012 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
How much could a mascot costume cost?
Our SPHL mascot is cooler and goes with the team perfect.
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
There were two Sparkys
Red one for the Dragons, blue one for the Islanders.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
That I don't remember
But I do remember their cheerleaders/dance team, with their outfits with flickering flames on them…
He's also BP's Mascot
Which makes even less sense
"Mark D: the internet's foremost chronicler of Milburian insanity" - Pretty Good Idiot
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
No he's not
My mistake it’s this guy
I just never got a clear look at him, thought it was sparky
"Mark D: the internet's foremost chronicler of Milburian insanity" - Pretty Good Idiot
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Not to sound racist, but
All mascots look the same to me.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
You'd be screwed here, Dom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20K9CdAVxF4
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 2:14 PM EST up reply actions
They didn't go far enough
It’s not a real wiener race until one fall over.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 23, 2012 3:38 PM EST up reply actions
Don't piss off the
NAAMP.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 23, 2012 3:39 PM EST up reply actions
?
North American Amphibian Monitoring Program?
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
That's just what Google wants you to think.
Here it is:
National Association for the Advancement of Mascotting People
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 23, 2012 5:01 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
lol
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 5:07 PM EST up reply actions
I think I do remember them from this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V9kJw-kWQ8
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
He's adorable, ev-en.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 23, 2012 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Hockey Reference has odds at 10.1%
But remembet that is as of Today. If the Isles can go 7-2-1 the probability of the playoffs shoots above 30%. A big if! Who knows what the future holds. Have the Islanders found their mojo or are they just going through a mini win streak? We’ll soon find out, but they’re still in this thing.
SCS is more inclined to fluctuations.
I rememver the last time the Isles made the palyoffs, the map of the odds of the Isles getting in looked so ridiculously- unlikely! The Isles chances of making the playoffs were perhaps a percent or two, then they just skyrocketed.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 23, 2012 10:48 AM EST up reply actions
There it is! :)
That really was unbelievable.
And it goes to show how things can change- quickly and drastically- if you just WIN!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 23, 2012 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
If I remember correctly...
…two or three other games had to go the Isles’ way in the last couple weeks, along with 4 or 5 of their own. It was down to about 5%!
I also vaguely remember Smyth guaranteeing playoffs when statistically it was down around 5%.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 23, 2012 5:08 PM EST up reply actions
I Remember that time so well.
I was on vacation in LA that last week. I do not think Smyth made any guarantees at all- if he did, people would have been ALL over it. He did however play well during that stretch.
Before I left, my close friend (Savafan1, he goes to Isles gams with me a lot) had this RIDICULOUS idea that all these games would magically work out. Toronto would lose to Montral or Montreal would lose to someone else, whatever, all this crazy shit. And Dubie would win out the season. I told him he was nuts.
Then when I was in LA I wound up hysterical on the phone with him as he got ready to buy us playoff tickets! Everything he said would happen, happened. All of it. The Isles were DEAD, a 90-something percent chance of playing golf during the playoffs, but somehow they did it… just like he said they would. I called him Icetradamous.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 23, 2012 5:55 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Nice find...
I find it funny that a site that is obviously stat based can have the Habs with such a better chance of making the playoffs. We are ahead of them in PPG right now. I wonder if there is a Canadien bias in their algorythm… or if it’s just future schedule is factored in… which would be really cool.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
The model is so sophisticated.....
it even takes uniform style into consideration. The 3rd jerseys cost the Isles 5% probability points!
by JoRiverside on Jan 23, 2012 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I was wondering that too
I think the main reason is goal differential. We’re a -24 and MTL is -9. So if you scroll over to the last column, Strength, you see that they expect MTL to play better going forward, whereas they expect us to play worse. From the explanation,
Green is good because you can expect them to do better down the road, (again, on average).
And it does use future games,
Sports Club Stats calculates each team’s odds of making the playoffs, how each upcoming game will impact those odds, and how well they have to finish out to have a shot. It knows the season schedule and scores for past games. Each night it grabs any new scores from the internet and simulates the rest of the season by randomly picking scores for each remaining game.
by afrosupreme on Jan 23, 2012 11:25 AM EST up reply actions
Actually
Just found a really cool feature. If you scroll down the page to the Big Games section, you’ll see tonight’s game listed. You can select (in the tabs) each of the possible outcomes (Isles win, Leafs win, Leafs OT win, etc), and how it will affect the probability. So if we lose in regulation tonight, Toronto jumps up to 60% (from 55) and we drop down to 2.1%. If we win outright, our chances bump up to 5.1%, but Toronto’s take a huge hit down to 46%. So yea, it’s a huge game tonight, but we’re already just playing spoiler more than anything else.
by afrosupreme on Jan 23, 2012 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
I might have to keep this site on the radar...
Right now it predects that our most likely finish in the East will be 13th. I think I need to incorporate this kind of stuff in my Monthly PLUS/Minus.
Should be interesting going forward… I wish I was tracking it all year.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
I say we finish top 11
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
The team page also has some interesting stuff. 90 points is where the odds go better than 50/50 of making the playoffs. To get to 90 points they set it at 21-11-4 from here out…
by afrosupreme on Jan 23, 2012 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
To get to 90 points they set it at 21-11-4 from here out…
Not easy, but it is doable.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 23, 2012 12:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yea
Although, like Keith points out below, I’d feel better about that if they weren’t 8-4 in their last 12. 29-15-4 sounds pretty monumental.
by afrosupreme on Jan 23, 2012 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
I see what you're saying, I think
But I disagree 100% with this point. I’d rather the Isles had the momentum.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 23, 2012 3:41 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, SportsClubStats is always a fun site to mess with
I’d have referenced it more often over the years, but … well, you know. There was rarely much need. (It is in the linkroll on the left side though.)
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
They need to climb into the top ten, then worry about it
Just keep winning. Like you said, the more we win, the better our chances get with each win. WE need a streak. 8 points in the next 5 games would be great. Not probable, but i wonder what the odds would say then.
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed
Just keep winning. Leave the math for March.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
Right attitude
Athletes can’t look ahead like this the way we do. As sports show us all the time, long odds are defeated all the time. Get within 5-6 points, and then if we can just tread water we have a chance leading up to the last days of the season. Then, as Dubie showed us, all bets are off.
And we have a hot goalie now too,
And Montoya was strong when healthy.
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 4:28 PM EST up reply actions
7-2-1
That sounds reasonable until you consider that the Isles are already on an 8-4 run. As much as I want to, I can’t see them having a stretch where they end up being 15-6-1 (including this current streak).
It’s not impossible, but I expect that it would have to stretch out longer with a couple of poor stretches in between.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Jan 23, 2012 12:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Hell, I don't even think 7-2-1 sounds reasonable!
But I’m along for the ride.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
just curious
is anyone else using the app for droids having issues opening links in the comment sections when using the app? it’s something I noticed recently that seems weird
islanders hockey, making a sane person go insane during finals week
by DarthDoyle on Jan 23, 2012 9:59 AM EST via Android app reply actions
These aren't the droids you're looking for
by SchneiderDiricov on Jan 23, 2012 12:41 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Could you report that to support?
Email support@sbnation.com.
It helps them know (they probably already do) that lots of people are experiencing it.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
ha. ironically that email link cannot be opened with the Droid app
Resident teetotaler married to a habs fan. Who is also not a fan of most dogs.
by elseldo on Jan 23, 2012 4:04 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
Perfect!
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jan 23, 2012 4:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Line Swapping
There’s no doubt that the Okposo-Parenteau swap has given the team (or at least two lines) some life. Some more “swapping” will almost definitely be coming. The one thing that scares me is the 3rd period swap of Amac and Eaton. Trying to take the filling out of a really good pie, and sticking it in a mediocre crust, usually makes two terrible pies. They survived the third period against the last place team in the east… but I really don’t want to see too much of that. I’d rather see Eaton-Reese just playing 15 minutes a game. Eaton-Hamonic means that Eaton will be on the ice for 18+ minutes, and I can’t see AMAC-Reese surpassing Streit-Jurcina, so that pair will be out there for 15 minutes with all of the special teams time going to Streit(alone on PP) and MacHamonic on PK.
The more PLEASANT swaps to come?
Rolston-Nino, 4-4-8 in 39 games just isn’t cutting it… and Rolston won’t be here next year, Nino will.
Wallace-Ullstrom, Pandolfo-Rhett… which brings us to the post ASG lineup of:
Moulson-Tavares-Okposo
Grabner-Nielsen-Parentau
Martin-Bailey-Nino
Rolston-Ullstrom-Rakhshani,
When Reasoner returns it very easily could become…
Ullstrom-Bailey-Nino <—- second PP unit, swapping Ullstrom for Parentau.
Martin-Reasoner-Rakhshani<—- all three can PK
This makes the roster very 2012-13ish
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Not sure if Rolston will be moved down a line after the break, but his demotion is clearly on. He hasn’t seen 14 minutes in any of the last five games, just under 12 minutes on average. And he’s been benched late in games with Pandolfo taking his spot on Bailey’s line to help out in critical situations (with the lead). But yeah, not sure I’d want to see Nino in his spot permanently, can’t really see that helping Bailey at all and for now they’ll surely try to win as many games as possible and not worry yet about what might be next season.
Anyway, fully agreed on something else, the next thing I’d do is swap Wallace for either Ullstrom or Rakhshani. They don’t seem to trust Ullstrom at center, though, and that’s why I think Pandolfo is going to be around for a few more weeks.
Nino...
Has appeared to be better in his last 10 or so games, but still doesn’t have a single positive game(+/-). That fourth line is dangerous.
Here is another reason why I don’t rely on stats.
What I see:
Nino, playing with speed, backchecking and playing physical in all zones.
Wallace doing the same… but with less skill.
Pandolfo has played well, blocks shots and covers for some of the other’s mistakes.
But they can’t score when their on the ice together. Nino is a goal scorer. He has an above average shot at 19, and he gets it off in limited space and time. You know who needs somebody like that on his line… Josh Bailey. You know what Nino needs…somebody to feed him the puck (Bailey) and to get to the net for rebounds (Martin/Ullstrom).
Either way, Rolston or Pandolfo do not do these things, and Bailey needs some help scoring.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Bailey
Well, you need to rely on some of the more meaningful stats, heh, such as PDO, which in this case is telling you Nino’s been the most unlucky player in the league. His +/- would deserve to be clearly negative anyway, but there easily could have been scored about 6 goals when he was on instead of just the one.
Also, as you know, I like to rely on puck possession. Bailey can’t make that feed to Nino and Nino can’t get that shot off if they’re not in possession of the puck or playing in the own zone all the time. That’ll be the main issue for them together – not struggles to connect well or something.
In my opinion, Bailey’s game will break out the moment he has someone on his line making sure the puck will be driven into the right direction. And honestly, I don’t see the playmaking skill as his best asset. I know a lot of people think he needs someone to pass to, but I’m not sure. I know this might sound a little strange, but I think a very complete game around the net will be his strength eventually – protecting the puck, making moves, also setting people up, but even more shooting the puck. The issue right now is that he’s not getting himself into the position to make these plays. He’s forced to be the responsible guy all the time, his line mates cover the space down low or in front of the goal and expect him to pass the puck indeed. If you want to maximize his output, make sure he’s getting an opportunity to do something around the net and let someone else on his line play the smart game and do the thinking on the ice.
by BenHasna on Jan 23, 2012 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
If you want to maximize his output, make sure he’s getting an opportunity to do something around the net and let someone else on his line play the smart game and do the thinking on the ice.
Parenteau would be nice. Until Strome is NHL ready.
Now – Niederreiter-Bailey-Parenteau
Future – Niederreiter-Bailey-Strome or Bailey-Strome-Niederreiter
"Seriously that's the last time you guys f#@%ing won?" -RSH (about beating the Penguins in '93)
Blaming the Islanders
“Why would the Islanders, a team out of contention and leading the league in man-games lost and goalies injured, pick up a cheap and experienced goalie like Nabokov on waivers for nothing? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Hockey media, everyone. Remember, they know more about your teams than you do.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Jan 23, 2012 10:03 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
It makes no sense for the isles to have any good players
Or to try to better ourselves. We should just stay down like they want us to stay down.
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
On the other hand...
Why would the Islanders trade a $2M 31 year old right wing (33-2-5-7/-3) with injury problems for a $5M 38 year old left wing (39-4-4-8/-10) who was waived twice last year?
Why would the Islanders waive a 25 year old (16-0-0-0/-11) forward who scored 24 goals for them last year when they had two roster spots (healthy scratch) available… to see if he was able to get some of that back with eventual call up David Ullstrom. It is pretty clear now that $2.5M forward (29-3-6-9/-2, with CAL) was less of an issue than the $5M forward who has been nothing short of an ANCHOR for the team. And next year we have one less forward in the 25-30 age group… because that might cost a little more than say, having a cap gap bonus baby on their ELC in the NHL instead of the AHL (or junior) where they belong.
Take your pick (Strome, Kabanov, Cizikas, Lee, Petrov, 2012 first rounder). Who will it be?
Sometimes they make wise ($500K) decisions, and sometimes they make $5M decisions that help cost you October and November. Or just an attendance burst that could have carried through to today… Why does that team not have Michael haley in the opening night lineup when they filled the building… People who tried the drug for the first time were greatly dissapointed in the high (or lack there of) and the Isles missed the opportunity to get them “on the comeback”… you can still get lower bowl seats for >$60.
So before you criticize the critics, take a step back, and look at the whole picture. We’re better, but we most certainly are not perfect.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
I was only talking about Nabokov
I didn’t say they were perfect or didn’t make crazy, bizarre and puzzling roster decisions. Just that picking up Nabokov on waivers wasn’t one of them.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Jan 23, 2012 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
you?
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
Because Hunter had an extra year?
No Sleep 'til....We Find Some Secondary Scoring
by Anarcurt on Jan 23, 2012 12:33 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
agree
I think in the long term they wanted to open up next years wings for a younger player, instead of having to buy out Hunter and have to deal with his hit for the next two years.
"Mark D: the internet's foremost chronicler of Milburian insanity" - Pretty Good Idiot
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
And was coming off another knee surgery?
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
And because he wasn't Weight's buddy
And because he couldn’t be waived or bought out after the year because of the exclusive I AM TRENT HUNTER, DAMN IT clause in his contract.
And because he couldn’t play the point on the power play.
And because he wasn’t tying up $5M of the dark master’s cap space.
And because he’s not American.
And because he’s not a veteran who can teach us how to win.
And because he isn’t part of TEH CORE.
And because he doesn’t have TEH GRITZ
And because he’s bald
And because he’s right handed.
And because he couldn’t flip two sandwiches with his stick.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Does he know JT is top 25 under 25?
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 2:11 PM EST up reply actions
Hey!
He did so have teh gritz, thats mostly all he DID have left.
And baldness via a “Comeauver” is the right choice.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 23, 2012 2:25 PM EST up reply actions
I agree...
he had some “gritz”. I used to complain about HOW he hit, but he did hit.
I’ve also made the same “comeauver” choice… to some extent.
I’m obviously anti-rolston deal… and he’s a lot harder to make go away than Hunter would have been. Lou did it in 20 minutes. No matter what anybody says this was clearly a way to waste Wang’s money on a buddy. There may not have been any way of spending $3M… but if there really wasn’t then Snow needs to take remedial spending classes. i think their offered by Sather on the third Wednesday of every month.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Well
Lou did it in 20 minutes. No matter what anybody says this was clearly a way to waste Wang’s money on a buddy.
I’m don’t recall when Wang and Rolston went fishing together, and it actually took Lou over a year to undo his mistake — couldn’t do it in fact until there was just one near-focused year left on the term, and had to take a buyout back — but I get that this is your Rosebud.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jan 23, 2012 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Couldn't be more wrong...
What I meant was, it took Lou 20 minutes to get rid of Hunter. I find it funny that they needed Rolston’s cap hit, but they only added $3M this year in the deal, and let Comeau ($2.5M) go for nothing.
I’m don’t recall when Wang and Rolston went fishing together
Can you recall when Snow, Weight, Guerin and Rolston were Team USA candidates… might be hard, because it was before Situation39 was the best this country could come up with in net. Ron Rolston, his older brother, was Gordon’s assistant recently. There is definitely a circle there, and Brian Rolston fits in it. It’s actually more like a pentagram in Lou’s basement.
“Rosebud” was a mystery to everybody but Charles Foster Kane… It’s no mystery who I’m talking about… Where you might be correct is Brian Rolston plays like a sled.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
I look forward to him being gone in at most a few months
Not only because I dont like what he brings (or doesnt bring) on the ice but also because I cannot tell you how much I look forward to you choosing a different daily fixation. This guy gets way, WAY more attention than he merits!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 24, 2012 9:47 AM EST up reply actions
Too much tinfoil for me
Last night I saw Allen give Rolston a good pat on the back — was it ordered by Weight?!
Then Weight gave Nino an encouraging pat — WHO TOLD HIM he was allowed to give the Rolston pat to anyone else?!
Misunderstood your 20 minutes part. But the point of course is that they exchanged question marks that they thought fit their needs better. Rather than pay X for ridding Hunter, they pay X + two-fifths for trying Rolston. Of course they go with who they think they know for that inflator rather than a wild card like Souray, or Redden, or Jeff Finger.
Keith Tkachuk and Jeremy Roenick and Brian Leetch were in the USA circle too. Brett Hull as well. Why didn’t they get contracts? Who has broken the secret handshake? We need to get to Bohemia Grove to find out…
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jan 24, 2012 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
and because...
he isn’t matt moulson’s brother-in-law
he wasn’t the highest Swiss draft choince in the history of the NHL
he doesn’t have 10 years left on his contract @$4.5M per.
he isn’t as good as Jay “perennial all star” Pandolfo
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
That bum Nabokov...
is the NHL’s third star of the week.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Jan 23, 2012 11:07 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Happy for Nabby, but I'm puzzled
The Ducks are on a 8-0-1 run, mostly thanks to a spectacular Hiller and he is not even one of the stars of the week? Hiller has won five consecutive games and in his last six appearances he is 5-0-1 with a 1.33 GAA and a .955 save percentage. How is that not enough for a star?
Being ignored is not only an Islanders issue:
Boudreau gave Hiller his proper due.“In this run, he’s been spectacular,” Boudreau said. “I’ll put my bid in right now. If he’s not player of the week, player of the month, I mean, it’s bad enough they don’t even sometimes know we exist out there in Anaheim — that, I’m learning quickly — but I hope they do take notice of how well he’s played and give him some recognition.”
Quote taken from LA Times
"If you have what you say you have, I’ll make you rich. If you don’t, I’ll make you into shoes" Jim Moriarty 1/1/2012
Good question
They had two guys from anointed teams (Penguins and Flyers), which leaves one spot for a guy from the slums of the league (a.k.a the other 22 teams). Maybe they flipped a coin and the Islanders won.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
Excellent slapper pass...
by Boudreau. That seemed to be one of his more visible talents as a coach (because we can’t always be at practice with him). He seems to deflect praise to his players and absorb the heat.
Bruce is doing a nice job with the Ducks… I bet Ted wishes he could have made that work a little better.
PS: I was checking up on all the stuff I’ve missed over the past week on twitter. What are the chances of you doing a fan post on the swiss presence in the NHL… in Italian. It would be a lot easier to read than one of Garick’s posts.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
In Italian?
That would be too easy ;)
The Swiss NHL players count is now up to 7. Roman Josi leapfrogged from the AHL to the Predator’s 2nd D-pairing. He even got Weber’s spot on the 1st line while Weber was out with a concussion. Not bad for a 21-year-old rookie with less than 30 NHL games played. His future looks very bright.
"If you have what you say you have, I’ll make you rich. If you don’t, I’ll make you into shoes" Jim Moriarty 1/1/2012
by Francesca on Jan 23, 2012 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
That is a shame. Hiller deserves it by far.
Stable as Nabby was, he did not steal the show the way Hiller did.
Wonder if we really do have a case of coastal bias/lens here, with people paying attention to Tavares and noting Nabby’s 3-0 record last week.
This is why I don’t care for Stars of the Week/Month.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
We’re use to it out this way. But in the case of the Ducks being ignore, I have no issue with it. Nabby > Hiller any day anyways. ;)
GO SHARKS!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin (see profile for more info on this quote)
Ha
Good to see the intra-Cali hate strong.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Hiller will probably get the monthly honor
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 23, 2012 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
Anti-Swiss Sentiment is rampant in the NHL front offices
Stems from a too-hot hot cocoa incident Bettman had a few years back.
Fun Fact of the Day
Brian Rolston’s last point was an empty-net goal in a 3-1 win vs. Calgary December 29, 2011. Since that goal, John Tavares has recorded 19 points. Moulson 16. Grabner 6. Martin 4. Hamonic 3. Eaton 1.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 23, 2012 11:57 AM EST reply actions
Eaton????
Eaton has more points? Even Staios has at least one point since the new year.
by dunnowhat2type on Jan 23, 2012 12:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Not that this matters...(Spoiler Alert, this includes neg Rolston material)
but Hunter is (10-0-2-2/EV) in January.
Comeau is (10-1-3-4/-1) in January, and just ahd a three point game against CAL’s rival EDM… SOUND FAMILIAR? MBC is starting to come alive in CAL. I don’t think there is a MBR…
And who suffers…
Bailey is (10-1-0-0/-4) in JAN, and his lone goal came shorthanded when the cap mule was in the barn… or where ever mules stay when they aren’t stubbornly taking shots from the blue line.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
You'd think that...
10-0-0-0/-6 on a line with a former first round draft pick who the organization would like to keep around for a while would get you WAIVED, or at least demoted.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Sad
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
Sometimes I post just to get a response ;-)
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 23, 2012 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
Do you guys know about this?
http://islanders.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=76839&navid=DL|NYI|home
I wonder if our little community can help give them a boost!
Still feels weird cheering for Nabokov
Isles do a great job in the social media sphere
Glad to see they’re doing well on the interwebs.
Probably because Wang doesn't want to spend any money on REAL marketing.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Jan 23, 2012 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
BREAKING NEWS
Islanders use dial-up internet connection. Wang too cheap for cable.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Jan 23, 2012 12:55 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I heard they were stealing Wi-Fi from the Marriot.
Is that true?
by Les Beaver on Jan 23, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Pfffft
The marriot got that shit on lockdwon. If you ain’t in the lobby, you paying.
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
Grabner is so fast
he personally carries each megabyte back and forth to the NYI operations office
Still feels weird cheering for Nabokov
by ilopan on Jan 23, 2012 1:30 PM EST up reply actions 7 recs
I like this
for it not making a lick of sense, and yet still being rec-worthy.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
Just in case you didn't know...
You might want to do soem research on this company.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Charles B. Wang
Charles be quick
Charles be overdue
to have a talk with Rick
(okay low blow but this just popped into my head)
Still feels weird cheering for Nabokov
by ilopan on Jan 23, 2012 1:33 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
oh man the backhand shelf podcast was awesome today
they talked about Howie’s rant on JT not being on the list
starts around 21 min mark
islanders hockey, making a sane person go insane during finals week
by DarthDoyle on Jan 23, 2012 1:33 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
LHH--The pulse of the internets
No Sleep 'til....We Find Some Secondary Scoring
no that would be reddit
or just bored college students
islanders hockey, making a sane person go insane during finals week
Backhand Shelf of Justice
Beautiful, just beautiful.
Did [Howie] sound like a homer? Yes.
Was he right? Yes!
Great PA bit
Thanks for that Dom. I’ve always been wondering how well PA would work on that line with Nielsen and Grabner – for this exact reason. It really must be an enormous difference for PA, he’s the total opposite of Grabner. He isn’t slow on his feet, but playing the game at such a different pace alltogether. Obviously, they’re all too good individually to struggle as a line, but yeah, I always thought I’d try something else first. Now that it’s on, I’m glad to see they’re aware and PA’s working hard to adjust there. I still think the day PA helping Bailey to break out will come, but yeah, might have to wait a little, don’t see anyone right now who could fill the then open hole on Nielsen’s line.
by BenHasna on Jan 23, 2012 1:42 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
What about Ullstrom?
don’t see anyone right now who could fill the then open hole on Nielsen’s line.
He actually seems like a good fit there to me…especially if you’re going to focus defense first.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
yeah, maybe
That would be worth a try probably. I’m just not sure how good Ullstrom really is at this point. I liked his first couple of games and still some parts of his game later on, but I also noticed some things I didn’t particularly like and I thought that line wasn’t playing very well at all in the games leading up to his injury. I liked the spark he brought, but also think we all wanted to see that spark and maybe didn’t focus too much on other aspects of his game and might overrate him a little bit at this point. Also, I feel the staff doesn’t trust him at center for now, and though that’s not a big deal, I think it might be another hint that his all-around game isn’t terrific at this point.
As a side note, not sure what to make of his Bridgeport stats. He has 14 goals, just 2 assists and has been shooting at 22.2%, which is probably close to double the figure you can realistically expect there (his shooting was 11.6% last season). So, how well has he really been playing down there this year?
I share all these concerns
Though I am hoping for another trial soon. Hoping the warts can be ironed out while the flashes get more frequent. Ah, prospects.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
There are some good options...
or at least TRIAL OPTIONS once you do away with the guys who aren’t going to be here next year.
I don’t want to abandon the “playoff chase”, but I think they havea better chance of keeping things moving forward if they experiment now, rather than wait for dead horses [that I beat daily] to start running.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Two things
First, anyone know if the coment about the home and home woth the Islanders being the Maple Leafs “Silver lining” after stinking the joint out vs Montreal is on the Isles Lockerroom wall?; and
Second, have you invited the Puppets over for the party tonight, Dom?
STOP effin' messin' with my FnGO!!
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Jan 23, 2012 2:41 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I showed up without an invitation
Resident teetotaler married to a habs fan. Who is also not a fan of most dogs.
by elseldo on Jan 23, 2012 4:07 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
Wait a minute, this isn’t where I parked my car!
TWEET AT ME BRO
DAAAAA BLOG
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Jan 23, 2012 5:44 PM EST up reply actions
Welcome aboard!
:::hides the good beer:::
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 Jan 23, 2012 5:45 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Welcome to the LightHouse
be sure to tip your server.
STOP effin' messin' with my FnGO!!
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Jan 23, 2012 6:54 PM EST up reply actions
Eberle? Letang?
Added to all star roster but not Moulson? Maybe get Eberle, but Letang before Matty Mo?…. Really?
Positive Waves! Indianapolis Racers (1974-1978)
Maybe they needed a defenseman?
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 23, 2012 3:59 PM EST up reply actions
See my post in the Tavares thread
It’s awful. Like, 6th grade book report awful.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
The story, not my post
Which is only, like, 8th grade science project awful.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Jan 23, 2012 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
link please
islanders hockey, making a sane person go insane during finals week
by DarthDoyle on Jan 23, 2012 3:34 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Pretty sure it's not online for non-subscribers
There really isn’t anything that insane in the actual text of the article.
Talk of Tavares maturing, Streit and Mottau among others talking about him coming out of his shell more. Obligatory “but Crosby won a Cup and Stamkos won an award” sort of comparison.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Not insane, no
Poorly researched, speciously reasoned, knee-jerk, silly and utterly, contemptuously dismissive of everything Islander except for John Tavares? Yes.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
Suprisingly, no
Only the 2003 Robert Nilsson-and-Zach-Parise draft.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
I'm ready for the game
6:00 can’t get here fast enough.
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 3:52 PM EST reply actions
Funny. In one of my college classes today, there was a guy with a Ranger hat on. I was wearing my isles hat to class today and he obviously saw me.
Talked to him a little after class about hockey, and the first thing out of his mouth about the islanders: “Tavares is a beast, you guys are lucky to have him for a while”. And it gets better, “I thought you guys were gonna make the playoffs this year”. I Ranger fan with optimism for the islanders? Damn that feels good. And aside from the usual, but jokingly “I feel sorry for you”, it was a pleasant conversation. He even said he doesn’t know if the Rangers are gonna get to the cup, the Bruins are destroying teams while the rangers are just getting win tallies, “But I could care less about the stats as long as the Rangers get their pts and wins”. Realistic Ranger fan too? And to complete this, I almost couldn’t believe it. I didn’t even bring up the game tonight or anything, but he said “Good luck at winning the game tonight, beat those Maple Leafs!”, I kid you not. That made my day. lol
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
by OzzyFan on Jan 23, 2012 5:10 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
Not where I live
But i think that may stem from the fact when you meet a hockey fan here, you’re just happy to meet a hcokey fan.
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 6:08 PM EST up reply actions
Same old song
Just put on NHL Live and they show the 3 stars of the week: Nabokov is one of them, but who’s picture is on the screen in orange n blue?: James friggin Wisniewski.
Seriously NHL, what the fuck?
"Seriously that's the last time you guys f#@%ing won?" -RSH (about beating the Penguins in '93)
LOL- what????
Haha how the hell do they do that?
Dopes.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 23, 2012 5:58 PM EST up reply actions
That's an obscene gesture
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Jan 23, 2012 6:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
That made me laugh. Screw them. They probably don't even have a pick of Nabby
And thought they could pass that off.
“Nobody watches the Isles and nobody will listen when their fans cry about it. Just put that pic of Wiz up there.”
Lighthouse Hockey - Trying to figure out why JT is good but not great.
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 23, 2012 6:10 PM EST up reply actions
Surprised
they didn’t just run this:
by afrosupreme on Jan 23, 2012 6:27 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
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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.
