Panthers 4, Islanders 1: Slip, slip slide away
by Dominik on Feb 12, 2012 5:56 PM EST
in New York Islanders Game Recaps
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Jack Capuano returned to the well again hoping for another game-saver from Evgeni Nabokov, but this time the Islanders' luck ran out.
At best only one of the four goals Nabokov conceded in two periods was really his fault, as screens, deflections and great passing were the rule on the Panthers' goals.
The Islanders actually opened the game with quality breakouts and promising horizontal passing plays -- perhaps too much passing even -- but more often than not the execution wasn't there, the connections frequently missed.
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On that note, during his customary second intermission interview Scott Allen the Islanders weren't so much losing the possession battle (shots were 17-16 through two) as they weren't executing the offensive situations they did create: Shooting wide from inside the blueline, shooting into the chest from inside the circles, misfiring on passes down low. According to the official sheet, the Islanders put 19 shots on that missed the net entirely.
The most heartbreaking moment, when it could've taken a different trajectory, was when Josh Bailey made a nifty play down low and his backhand hit the post instead of giving the Islanders a 2-0 lead.
Game Highlights
An example of how this game went, even when intentions were at their best:
In the second period, the John Tavares line replaced the fourth line to sustain pressure in the Panthers zone for some setups and shot attempts, with Aaron Ness pinching at the half boards once to put it back in and sustain the pressure. Once the Panthers got a clear, they were off to the races with their top line with Stephen Weiss, Ness briefly misread coverage long enough to make Steve Staios' gap too large, then was unable to recover and disrupt Kris Versteeg's nice feed to Tomas Fleischmann, who tapped it in at speed.
That was more of a brief misread or miscommunication for Ness though; his play continued to be at least intriguing. He logged another 20:40 today, essentially all of it at even strength.
Later it was Milan Jurcina's turn to misread. First while shorthanded, on Versteeg's goal he left Tomas Kopecky alone to provide a blanket screen on Nabokov (though the Islanders rarely try to devote a defenseman to move the screener on the PK). Later, on the second faceoff goal allowed in the game, Jurcina was clearly slow at best to read which man to take, finding himself in no man's land and providing a screen for Jack Skille's shot inside the post. That goal late in the second pretty much sealed the Isles' fate.
As for the Islanders' good things, well the main highlight was early, when P.A. Parenteau made a truly fantastic move around Fleischmann at the half boards and initiated a rush through the neutral zone. Parenteau found Frans Nielsen streaking over the center line and escaping Weiss' coverage, allowing Nielsen to break into the Panthers zone and pot the opening goal far side on Jose Theodore.
The whole first period was level though, and five minutes after Bailey's backhand bounced the wrong way off the iron, Tyson Strachan's shot from the point off a faceoff hit Staios' knee and went into the Islanders net instead of harmlessly wide.
Notes
* Al Montoya got some much needed ice time in the third period, though it was hardly what you'd call "work." With the Panthers up 4-1, most of the play was spent in the Panthers zone, the Islanders trying desperately to chip away at the deficit and the Panthers content to take their chances (3rd period shots: 11-4).
* The best moment from Al's return was when he lost an edge and fell on his tush but Fleischmann, already preparing his shot, didn't notice the extra net and instead rang it off the post.
* That didn't mean any extra work for the fourth line though: Jay Pandolfo, Tim Wallace and Nino Niederreiter didn't see the ice in the third until after the halfway mark with the score unchanged. At that point Capuano gave them three shifts to finish out the game, which is about their average for a normal period but rare for it to be condensed within a 10-minute stretch.
* I'm fine with Matt Martin's second-period roughing penalty -- he went in for a borderline high hit on a player who was already engaged along the boards -- but it was the kind of thing the Kings did 10 times yesterday without call. Three minors called total today (the Panthers got the other two), so again one wonders if the league could, at minimum, publicly share which rulebook it's using from month to month.
* It's been almost four months since the Islanders played the Panthers, but the result hasn't changed. The Panthers have their number this year and the Fleishcmann-Weiss-Versteeg connection is a big reason why. They'll meet one more time March 25, again on the second of a back-to-back though this time as part of a run of five consecutive road games for the Isles.
* * *
This talk of rest on this back-to-back weekend isn't a minor matter: The Isles hit the road this week with two difficult games, playing in Winnipeg which provides a decent home advantage for the Jets, and in St. Louis where the Blues are quite likely to put on a dominant display of possession.
Don't sign me up for the "Islanders shrank in the face of opportunity" camp though: This team is exactly what it is and has been all season. Their lone regulation win since the impressive 4-1 victory in Philadelphia last month was the 5-2 win in Carolina: Everything else in this 6-3-2 run has been a mix of shootout and OT wins and losses. This is the NHL standings era we are in, and feel-good moments, game-changing individual efforts and bacon-saving goaltending performances do not change that reality.
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Tough
Tough game to lose but I don’t know why everyone is freaking out. We did not play well against the Kings or Flyers, so this is nothing new. This team will lose every once and a while and Nabby can’t steal us games that often. Panthers converted their chances and we stopped skating. I thought Montoya should have started just because it was a back-to-back but I’m not the coach.
UVa Student. Twitter: @ericdavidmorris
I thought Montoya should have started just because it was a back-to-back but I’m not the coach.
Me too, although I can’t honestly say I detected a bit of fatigue on Nabokov today. These goals could’ve gone in in the previous games and could have found posts and bodies today.
But either way, for the bigger picture these are the best chances to get another look at Al and give Nabby a rest.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I could tell right away he was tired in the LA game even, and would not have played him today. But then I’ve seen him play more games than Capuano.
Jagr on Nabokov: "He was there even before we tried to shoot it."
by ToddMclellan'shair on Feb 12, 2012 7:56 PM EST up reply actions
I agree Al should have started but don't know if that would have made the difference
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Feb 13, 2012 8:48 AM EST up reply actions
I'm pretty sure Jurcina would have screened him just as well.
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
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But either way, for the bigger picture these are the best chances to get another look at Al and give Nabby a rest.
Agree. I guess in theory they need to approach the games as if the playoffs is possible (even though it isn’t), but you’d like to see them take the long view a little.
That said, I wonder if part of it is showing teams Nabby can go back to back, and handle a lion’s share of games. If that was the goal, then they got it done. Now move him, and let’s get Al some starts. I still want to see him back with the Isles next year.
We just don't match up well with Florida
Same as Opening Day – nothing much to see here – time to move on
We end the season with 4 extremely winnable games – our goal should be to remain in the fight for that, which we retain every chance of doing, but time to get on another roll – this is actually a very tricky sequence of games we’re in right now
I think you are right, Florida matches up really well with us.
They are a fast hustling team(with a defensive conscience), and they do it better then us.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
JT looked like he was trying too hard.
Hasn’t been his dominant self in a while. 1 point in 6 games is not gonna cut it. Reminds me of Novemeber and his rookie season. How long do his dry spells last for?
Ness is a great skater and looked solid.
Not surprised at the outcome
The blueline crew made their mistakes, Nabokov was playing back to back games, JT was held off the scoresheet again (has become a routine in recent games) and limited secondary scoring. It all added up to a flat game.
We can’t expect this team to go on a roll as the Isles just have too many holes in their lineup. They are making progress but I would like to see Snow remove some of the vets from the roster and call up some kids. Ness for one is an example of what I want to see. Really is time to see the likes of Wishart. Ty is a RFA so wouldn’t it make sense to see him 25 games before they make a decision on him. Rakhshani is another RFA so I don’t get why he is being benched in favor of Rolston. Nino on the 4th line is just plain poor judgement by this organization. I’m really starting to wonder what Garth’s and Jack’s motives are. I want to see the kids develop properly.
I don't see Nino on 4th line as hurting his long-term development
I would like to see him in the top-6 for a few games, but learning from Pandolfo, Reasoner, and even Martin, how to play better defensively can help his overall game. (As mentioned before, the AHL would be perfect for him this season. It is too bad it wasn’t an option.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 12, 2012 7:00 PM EST up reply actions
What do you mean "motives" exactly?
Like they think, “Nino would be awesome on the third line but we’d rather him suffer instead?” A lot of people do not find Nino ready for an important role on an NHL team right now. He’s kind of stuck here learning bit by bit. I’m betting they hoped he would be better and more ready by this point in the season or else they probably would’ve returned him to juniors.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
He should of stayed in Juniors and start next season in the AHL
I really didn’t see anything in his production last year in the Juniors to merit a call up but he is here. He does have some raw talent but putting him on a 4th line isn’t helping his development. This organization is not known for developing young forwards well and I’d hate to see Nino fall victim to bad judgement as they did with Bailey a couple of years ago.
I completely agree. That's exactly how I felt about the situation, or maybe even at the start of next year he would have been(or be) ready for a 3rd line nhl starting job.
Damn cap floor and us needing his cap hit. I still think Nino will be ok, I just don’t like seeing him on the 4th line all year(or what has been 2/3 of the season so far).
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
tend to disagree
Seguin spent all of last year on the Bruins 4th line and it seemed to help him develop. Nino has looked better and better as the season has gone on. He was completely dominant in the WHL and I’m not sure sending him back would’ve done anything for him. While the AHL would’ve been the ideal scenario this year it just wasn’t an option. I don’t think the comparisons to Bailey are fair because Bailey was put in a vastly different situation where he was expected to contribute on top lines immediately. Not only that but he was on teams where the roster was consistently transforming and he was moved around from center to wing and back again. He really hasn’t had any stellar linemates as a result. Nino is being edged along bit by bit and getting used to the speed at this level, I think he’ll be alright.
Definitely a poster at Lighthouse Hockey until 2015, then maybe somewhere else.
the Bruins 4th line
doesn’t have Pandolfo and Wallace on it.
I don’t mind Nino being here, and I don’t think it will hurt him long term, but I don’t think the situation is comparable to Seguin’s.
if anything I think Nino has it better
Seguin ended up being a healthy scratch several times last season, Nino is at least getting to play on a regular basis.
Definitely a poster at Lighthouse Hockey until 2015, then maybe somewhere else.
I think Ninos getting treated even more like Joe Thornton than Seguin.
But- it worked out for both of them.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 13, 2012 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
@Dom (twitter cont.)
I agree and think the expectations of this team are definitely a bit much considering the point system, BUT we’ve also seen this team have streaks of brilliant offense (1st line in January) AND defense (er…maybe just Nabokov), enough to think that maybe, if something clicks this team can get firing on all cylinders and go for a bit of a run like they did at the end of last season. Now personally, if you’re a long-time Islanders fan I really don’t see how one can have such a strong faith in the team given the decades of brutal disappointment (cue LeBrun respect), but i don’t think its necessarily unwarranted based solely on point statistics. I think there’s a silent agreement among most of us that this is a team that is headed in the right direction, whatever that means, and as a fanbase we’ll always be searching for that phantom “turning point” where everything finally starts coming together. I’m realizing I didn’t make my point very well but I guess I’m just trying to say that I don’t think you can draw too much of a narrative based on the fact that this team goes into OT a lot lately. Do I think the Islanders will make the playoffs? Nope. But do I think they’re a 13th-place team? No. I think they’ll come tantalizingly close and torturously miss… which would only be appropriate for us Isles fans to have to deal with
"Brasky once hosted the Grammy's and gave every award to Cory Hardt."
I'd agree with that
My point wasn’t that recent OT games create a narrative — rather than the silliness of the point system makes people look at 6-2-2 and think they have done better than they actually have lately, because several of those in the “6” were coin-flips away from making the third “2” much bigger.
Further, it seems people look at their best stretch of the season (coin flips or not) as a reason to expect that they can or should repeat it, as if they could go 6-2-2 again and again and end up, what, 18-6-6 through the final 30? That just isn’t likely or realistic, when so much of the success in the win column came from a combo of JT-like surges and Nabby-like goaltending.
That stuff is going to happen, and it probably is a sign they are headed in the right direction. But then to turn around and treat a loss like today as, “They wilt under positive press” and other such theories (to paraphrase lots of disappointment I’ve seen today) is just a stretch to say the least.
It’s like, wait, this team needed a great run of results and some very nice luck just to get within four-team shouting distance of 8th, and then we’re supposed to expect that to repeat in a way that, if it doesn’t repeat, they’ve somehow choked — rather than played exactly as they have for damn well near since Thanksgiving?
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
(I should add that reaching OT is in some ways a good thing)
Or at least a sign they’re doing what they can to hold on and get points however possible.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Thats true
I also think its silly for people to expect a win against anyone because they’ve fully demonstrated they’re capable of losing to any team at any point
"Brasky once hosted the Grammy's and gave every award to Cory Hardt."
also
jumping off your misleading stats point- its also a bit of a misnomer to think the Isles are truly players in this race for the playoffs because of the fluidity of the bottom 5 in the East. every day teams are jumping or falling back 4 spots and no team has really distinguished itself and moved away from the pack (though Montreal is making the most recent push). So a couple of nights ago when the Isles were in 11th I think a lot of people became excited seeing that place number, when in reality they were only a few points from the basement. They might be in the race, but so is the rest of the conference.
"Brasky once hosted the Grammy's and gave every award to Cory Hardt."
Agreed
It’s fun for them to be in that position — I expected they’d be there all year, rather than slumping so bad in the first quarter and climbing back to the same area code now. Builds some excitement, some buzz … heh, and some crazy expectations, I guess.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Stephen Weiss is very impressive to watch.
Seems to have great defensive instincts, great speed, and a ticker that never quits. Tons of heart. I’m surprised how much of a competitor he is, and he brings solid o-instincts. Very underrated likely because he’s in FL.
I think we played sloppy, were out hustled all night, and couldn’t finish our chances against a good defensive team. But the big thing was just the defensive breakdowns. As Dom even said, 1 of those goals was questionably Nabby’s fault, the other 3 were all on our players. Maybe it’s because we were tired, but it feels like the same story from earlier in the season.
I still dislike the idea of Rolston on the 3rd. There were clear times were he still disrupted flow, still forced shots wide, still forced shots into d-men standing in front of him, still was a step or 2 behind on a couple key plays where he could have gotten a key rebound, and still didn’t finish his checks(which I guess is because he’s an “older” body and his speed makes it hard for him to skate back if he follows through on a check). It just doesn’t really work. Cap knows this, but for some reason he’s reluctant to throw Rakh back in there or try Nino there or call-up Ullstrom for a 2nd look there or maybe even cizikas. We know the question, we know Rolston isn’t the answer, try different people and bench him or put him on the 4th line.
I hope this is just from being tired, although you can’t blame them being outhustled by a quicker team and being shutdown by a defensive team, but still the defensive breakdowns make you just say why. We played a sub-par offensive team and they put 4goals in our net. It’s just 1gm, but given if Nabby wasn’t hot, we really could have came out of the past 4gms with 0pts instead of 4pts. Something to think about given how “sub-par” our team play has been the past week(or how much we’ve been outplayed).
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Love Weiss
Don’t know if it was Tallon himself or if someone convinced Tallon not to sell him off when he was clearing house, but he’s huge. Think he makes both Versteeg an Fleischmann better, too.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Yeah, you know someone knew he was valuable when they ship Horton away ahead of him.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Wishart dreams?
Nothing official at all, but it looked as if Ty Wishart had a bag packed. Could finally be getting a call up. Team’s off tomorrow here.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
At this point
I’d take a bag of pucks over Steve Staios; it would block shots better, is full of potential (get it?), and wouldn’t be able to screen Nabokov or deflect shots into the net. Seriously though, enough is enough, let Wishart get the rest of Staios’ time until Hamonic gets back
"Brasky once hosted the Grammy's and gave every award to Cory Hardt."
Hope it's true but it could simply be to add a additional defensemen for the road trip
Staios makes the most sense to be moved but Ness could also be going back to Bridgeport. Wishart is a RFA coming so it only makes sense for him to finish out the season to see if he’s worth a additional investment. The knock seems to be on Ty that he’s too soft to play at the NHL level but in the brief time I watched him last year he was a plus player (if you care for that stat) and he moved the puck up the ice well. Has a good shot and should help out on the PP. We need to see offense so hope he can help.
"too soft"
One would hope that with his size (6’4") he would be able to work on being a more physical player like Jurcina has. If he can it would make the difference between perennial AHL player or truly transitioned NHLer
"Brasky once hosted the Grammy's and gave every award to Cory Hardt."
He's know to be a gentle giant of a man with only 19 PIM this year
Having a down year career wise in points but of course he’s playing a much lessor role now that Donovan, de Haan, Ness have joined the Sound Tigers. I guess with de Haan out and Ness called up some might have been impressed how he has looked recently.
One of the big problems with Jurcina
Over his career is that he doesn’t play his size, which is something that has changed a bit since he first got to the Isles.
"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.
I really loathe the staios/streit pairing. I'd rather Eaton with Streit over staios.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Good
I think he deserved another shot. Play him these last ~30 games and see if we should decide to resign him or not because he’s an RFA after this year right? Put Wishart with Ness, Streit with A-Mac and Jurcina with Eaton. Then when Hamonic gets back, sit Eaton.
Wishart had one hell of a second slapper on the PP yesterday and it was good for him, maybe some confidence coming back. I thought Wishart played decently well at the end of last year in his first major NHL stint. Maybe he just needs time.
UVa Student. Twitter: @ericdavidmorris
by edavidmorris on Feb 12, 2012 7:33 PM EST up reply actions
Hooray! Bring in the reinforcements!
I still want Haley on the 4th line :-). Still beating that dead horse.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Ozzy, one more pound, I think that nag is getting up!
We are all Islanders, even if we’re from Jersey!
by Russel Ginart on Feb 12, 2012 9:55 PM EST up reply actions
Wishart...
can hopefully cancel his Spring classes at DeVry. I hope Ulstrom and Haley were packing as well. It’s really a good time too, because Pandolfo, Rolston and Wallace will have plenty of time to get to Bridgeport. They just played game three of a 6 game homestand. Those guys won’t even have to take a bus… and they’ll all have a chance to show those kids “how to win”.
Sorry… I don’t really mean to put Pandolfo or Wallace in the same class, as they are role players and they are performing to the level of expectations for their role, experience and/or salary.
Between the 3 forwards they have 114 games, 5G and 5A for 10P and a (-28) rating.
When you don’t have you’re best defenseman, and you didn’t have much behind him to begin with you need to drive play more than that with your bottom 6. And… Bailey is becoming the number two center on this team, but he has to drag that anchor around…
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Man, I hope
like three or four other guys have their bags packed…and one of ’em is Shea Weber.
Neil Smith @bigdealneil94 @KeithLHHockey @craigjbutton hey keith GFY
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
This brings up an interesting point. Does Wishart have much of any value among other teams in the NHL if he were on the block?
Not sure what a 23yr old d-prospect and former 1st rounder would fetch. lol. Probably not much alone.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
Yeah, doubt very much
he’s older, been there a while and his stats aren’t very good. I doubt he brings back much either. I was basically crossing my fingers.
Neil Smith @bigdealneil94 @KeithLHHockey @craigjbutton hey keith GFY
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
I hear ya.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
You have to remember his ice time especially on the PP has been greatly reduced this season
Donovan, Ness and de Haan has taken his place for the most part on the PP but that did change recently with the injury to Calvin and call up for Aaron. One thing your average Joe fan will like about his game is he likes to shoot the puck which we saw last year in his 20 game with the Isles.
Oh, I remember
But do you think that’s because of the “sunk cost” theory on “these are our own prospects”, so bump Wishart, or because he’s not been that good?
Remember, theoretically, he is the highest drafted D man down there now (especially if you consider deHaan an overdraft) and should be the most NHL ready at his age.
Neil Smith @bigdealneil94 @KeithLHHockey @craigjbutton hey keith GFY
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Feb 13, 2012 5:51 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Panther Plus/Minus
i just got finished watching this one. first off… especially with Dom’s comment above this post from the pregame is telling me that my crystal ball is in tune.
+ They had a nice crowd for a non-spectacular opponent on a sunday afternoon. (14,179). That brings their average up to 12,787.
- their road attendance average is 17514 for the last 13 games. that means other teams, mostly in smaller markets, are getting almost 5K more to watch the “lowly” Islanders.
- Because they refuse to give their fans what they want (Ullstrom, Rakhshani, Haley, Wishart) instead of (Rolston, Pandolfo, Wallace, Staios) they will be seeing sub 10K crowds soon.
- Rolston just needs a minus for not retiring after being waived twice last year. Him, his four goals and his Bobby Orr Hockey slot hockey strategy need to just go away.
- Capuano… Nabby… really? Rolston, really? Ullstrom, Rhett, Haley and Wishart had better be on that plane waiving to Rolston, Pandolfo and Wallace tomorrow. Staios can make the trip as an extra D. If a forward goes down, play with 7 D. It’s time to start getting rid of the players that will not be with the team or the organization next year. February isa soft month, don’t make it into NOVEMBER II.
+ good effort for the most part. They never seemed to have been frustrated, and just kept coming. Montoya only had to make 4 saves… a little of that has to do with the Panthers being dead tired as well. Dead tired, but more talented with players in their prime. Not a roster filled with 3rd graders and should be retirees staving off early social security benefits.
+ BPT beat the Whale in OT. Dibo and Ullstrom… not that the AHL=the NHL, but Ullstrom drives the play.. Rolston should be driving the Zamboni.
- Parentau is really coming into his own. He is playing hard to become a wealthy hockey player, and he deserves to be in that class. garth snow, MAKE A DECISION. Make a realistic three year offer, and if he doesn’t sign it put up the for sale sign. PA Parentau is somebody that will be hard to replace with any of the youngsters. PA parentau will give you the ability to fill your bottom six with kids that can explode. PA Parentau can give Josh Bailey the RW answer he’s needed. PA Parentau is in his prime… Stop selling the Islander fans short. But if he wants to wait until July 1, get a bag of pucks for him, and try like hell to resign him. There is no shame in trying to fix other problems with guys that want to test the free agent market.
- they need to apply the same principle to Evgini Nabokov… though I think the goaltender market, Montoya and their prospects can soften that situation. Nabby is a pro and it would be nice to have the #1 question answered going into the season next year. If he doesn’t sign, on the market or on the bench and let’s see if Montoya can answer the bell again. No more goalie go round next year…. PLEASE!!!!
- Gigantor! Sorry. I couldn’t be around for the game thread. Thanks, BNOY, but we need the FULL SIZE Gigantor… not the the Aaron Ness version of Gigantor.
+ We get Jiggy wid it in Winny!!!
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
by JPinVA on Feb 12, 2012 7:41 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Attendance, yeah. I think we are up 10% so far from our attendance figures from last year. That's a big improvement, especially without any $20 tickets deals this year.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
"John Tavares(a top 10 forward in the NHL)"-Neil Greenberg
by OzzyFan on Feb 12, 2012 8:05 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Gigantor
I think that was the Jurcina version of GIgantor, screening Nabokov and not moving the man in front.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
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Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
I'm climbing back on the fence with Jurcina
I know those are damned if you do, damned if you don’t kind of plays, But I’d rather see a few “roughing” “cross-checking” or “interference” calls on Juice. He has been using his body in more favorable situations, but when there is a question he opts to be non-confrontatinal.
The last thing this team needs in tight games is a 260lb diplomat.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
As a member of
the He-Man Jurcina Haters Club, I’d like you to know you would be welcome if you choose to come down on the correct that side of the fence.
Can't do it right now...
It’s unfortunate that we don’t have players with size, strength and the willingness to assert their physical dominance. I assume that this is not the coach’s directive as both the defensive coach(chynoweth) and the head coach(capuano) have demonstrate thier appreciation of more physical play. It might be that, as Dom has stated on occasion, that maybe those penalties in front of the net just aren’t worth it.
We scream at non-calls when our guys are getting roughed up, and we scream at our guys for not roughing up opponents. We are on both ends of a really shitty equation.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Seriously
We are on both ends of a really shitty equation.
The Kings game was a good example. The refs let stuff go, and the only one on the Isles who took advantage was Martin (and I guess PAP and Nino to a lesser extent). Meanwhile the Kings laid into us. I don’t think Haley is going to solve that problem, but at the same time the team needs to play tougher in those situations. My hope is that they can cut the dead wood on defense (all four UFAs), and in part fill that void there.
by afrosupreme on Feb 13, 2012 10:17 AM EST up reply actions
MacDonald had seven hits in that game
Not that such “stats” are really all that accurate, but it’s a recognition that he was taking the man. I think Grabner was the only Islander not credited with a hit against LA. Even Juice hit somebody!
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
I think Grabner was the only Islander not credited with a hit against LA.
Really? He actually nailed someone pretty good along the boards in that one. I remembered noting it because someone here a week ago or so asked if Grabner had ever thrown a body check in his life.
Note-I didn’t really mean just hitting, but playing “closer to the edge,” or however you want to phrase it. Finishing checks later than normal, going up a little higher, etc. In essence trying to get the other team to do something really stupid.
by afrosupreme on Feb 13, 2012 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
OK I got you
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
Attendance
3pm games with super heroes in the house is a great way to boost the numbers. I’d say at least a third of the crowd was kids, if not more. I had two there myself (first game for the younger one), and while they were into the game, it didn’t hurt when The Hulk came rolling by after we went down 3-1.
Hopefully it was the Ed Norton version.
I took my daughter to her first women’s basketball (some friends contend that it is neither) game yesterday. She was getting into the game until her teammates came by and they had to do a tour of the VCU arena. I assure you, watching the VCU Ramettes was not the way daddy wanted to spend his sunday afternoon… I’d much rather have been rollin’ with the Hulkster!
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Ullstrom had 4 points in 14 games and 21 hits in that in that time. Plus 1.
Okay sss but his point ratio is better than Bailey and hit ratio better than KO. Heck his overall game including blocked shots is better than Rolston but yeah that’s not saying much. That kid has talent and can’t wait for him to be called back up.
by rickrays on Feb 12, 2012 8:12 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Obviously Jack has in for Frans :)
“When you give up two faceoff goals and a power-play goal, you’re not going to win games," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "When you break it down, we had quality chances but I look at the work ethic and the structure, and we didn’t execute our breakout in the first period."
I love his quotes. It seems as if he doesn’t realize that his roster decisions have any negative bearing.
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...
by Turgeon1992 on Feb 12, 2012 9:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah I'm real sick of those faceoff goals
Almost as much as the first shot goals. It’s like there is a lack of focus sometimes.
No Sleep 'til....We Find Some Secondary Scoring
Good Bailey is good.
If he keeps getting chances like the post shot the goals will come.
No Sleep 'til....We Find Some Secondary Scoring
Yeah, agree
Let’s just hope he does not develop a case of the Ok-post-o syndrome!
We are all Islanders, even if we’re from Jersey!
by Russel Ginart on Feb 12, 2012 10:03 PM EST up reply actions
Still has issues to address
His shot total per game is down over the previous two years as is his shooting percentage. I don’t look at him other than being a 3rd line Center but long term I’d prefer Frans have that role. My guess by 2013-2014 is he’ll be moved with Cizkas and Strome added.
nm. There's a picture of him on the BPT site under a header about today's game,
but I guess it’s an old picture. That site always crashes my browser. I don’t see him listed on the game summary anywhere.
totally random but
one of these days I want Rakhshani to score a hattrick so I can say “Rakhs, on Rakhs, on Rakhs”
Definitely a poster at Lighthouse Hockey until 2015, then maybe somewhere else.
took my wife and 3 little girls
To the coli for their first time. We live in jersey, so they have only seen the Rock.
Game was as expected. Same lineup, same offense. More interesting were my wifes thoughts.
1. Wow, i cant believe how many islanders fans there actually are. I thought you were one of very few.
2. What a great place to see a game. (We were in 322, about 1/2 way up) you can see everything and its not so loud and flashy like newark. Why does everyone make fun of this place?
3. I really hoped they would win for you, but im still glad we came. It was fun.
So, my isles are in need of significant changes and the game, of course pissed me off. The real point of the day was, however, yet another reminder that while not lucky with my beloved hockey team, i am very fortunate to have found and married the right woman. Now, if we could just get rid of Rolston……
by randyboyd on Feb 12, 2012 11:46 PM EST via mobile reply actions 6 recs
rec'ed
the Coliseum is second to none when it comes to sight lines and crowd noise when the building is packed. The real problem is the facilities are out of date by NHL standards and we can’t generate enough revenue to be competitive without modern amenities like luxury boxes. Free agents know that stuff and tend to avoid us as a result. The problem for the average fan comes from the non-matinee games when the bathroom line is insane due to people drinking and the overly crowded concourses. I love the Coliseum and am going to be sad when we say goodbye to Fort Neverlose but there’s something to be said for actually being able to go to the bathroom in less than 15 minutes during an intermission.
Definitely a poster at Lighthouse Hockey until 2015, then maybe somewhere else.
What a great place to see a game. (We were in 322, about 1/2 way up) you can see everything and its not so loud and flashy like newark. Why does everyone make fun of this place?
Because the big 4 sports no longer cater to the average fan, all anyone cares about now are Luxury Suites. There is no way to renovate the Coliseum and increase the number of suites in the building.
"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.
What a great place to see a game.
It really is. I’m actually becoming partial to the idea of bumping it up a little so they can add their precious luxury boxes, and bumping it out to widen the concourses, rather than building a whole new one. A new one is going to be like all the other shitty new ones, and they don’t need that. Part of what’s great about the Coliseum is it is the Islanders’ building. Everything else that happens there is secondary. They don’t need to accomodate for stuff aside from hockey.
I will say though, the constant music during stoppages is ridiculously loud. I wonder if we could lobby them somehow to turn it down. I heard the Mets did that finally after they got enough complaints. It was especially ridiculous at a game at 3pm geared toward kids.
If you find that loud
bring hearing protection if you ever go to Prudential center. I was amazed that I could actually talk to the guys sitting in front of us during stoppages about the game. That is a luxury unavailable in Newark where the cacaphony of music and/or shreiking arena announcer commences immediataly upon every stoppage and does not cease until the puck is dropped.
I wish that they would expand the concourses and keep the old bones of the building. There certainly is plenty of room to work with. If it were updated, it would quickly become a unique venue, old school loud and authentic but with modern amenities. Imagine if someday the old place could be recast from dilapidated to venerable?
by randyboyd on Feb 13, 2012 4:33 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I seem to recall
An owner who wanted to do just that with the old barn…
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Post-Modern Expression of Cubism?
Cubism…Cuba…maybe Rolston can play in a pickup league in Cuba…or not. Can he play baseball?
we just can't find that extra gear to win in the 3rd
we can hold a lead or break a tie in the 3rd, but if we are down by 2 or more we can’t find the net
I thought we just were a 1/2 a step away from a goal a bunch of times but in the end we are 1-2 players away from winning. Rolston is not the answer, I would have preferred to see Rahk in.
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
This is the NHL standings era we are in, and feel-good moments, game-changing individual efforts and bacon-saving goaltending performances do not change that reality.
This hits the nail on the head. They just aren’t that good overall. That fourth line is honestly just awful. They struggle mightily to get it out of their own end and the only offense they generate is when Nino tries to make something on his own (which is usually a shot from somewhere around the blue line). I hope when Reasoner comes back they drop both Pandolfo and Wallace. And Rolston. Ugh. If there’s a chance for Bailey and Martin to develop into good, two-way, bottom six forwards, it’s not with him on the wing.
And that doesn’t even get into the defense…
back from a tiring weekend...
didn’t get to see the kings game, but watched the highlights. glad they pulled that one off…
i got home a little late for the game yesterday, and was disappointed they couldn’t win against a team they needed to beat (once it was 4-1, i changed the channel for a “entertaining” star duo of stallone and russell in tango & cash)…don’t have much to say other than that all hope is still not lost for those of you with playoff dreams. i don’t expect them to pull it off, but at least it allows us to get ourselves a fill of fun hockey to watch.
"Redemption? Sure. But in the end, he's just another dead rat in a garbage pail behind a Chinese restaurant."
seeing as I missed both games this weekend due to being at a bike race, how did we look in both games?
I know we won saturday and lost yesterday, but did the team look like the one that makes every mistake imaginable or did they just get flat out outplayed?
Why yes, I do have a man crush on Bailey and Martin, and no, I don't care what you think about it
I have had it with Staos!
Im not being a whiny b*tch..Im saying this guy does nothing for our offensively lacking team..done done and done.
by IslesFanForLife on Feb 14, 2012 6:50 AM EST reply actions
I can understand if you dont like the guy… but your explanation here of why leaves me scratching my head. Why bring up offense? He is a defenseman. He is not there to bring any offense to this team.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 14, 2012 9:54 AM EST up reply actions
I get that he is a defensive defenseman…the guy was probably good 5 years ago, now he is a mannequin on skates. If he cant defend and he cant score than why is he using a roster spot.
by IslesFanForLife on Feb 15, 2012 5:23 AM EST up reply actions
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1979-80
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
