With the news that Trevor Gillies has been placed on waivers which is clearly to make room for the return of Nino Niederreiter and the total lack of scoring aside from two games this season, it appears that the need for a line change has become absolutely essential to restart this powerful offense.
Obviously, we know the first line clicks very well. John Tavares is probably going to have an 80+ point season, P.A. Parenteau has improved upon his flaws from last season and has been a very efficient playmaker, and Matt Moulson's stick handling and sniping abilities remain fully intact as he goes into his prime. Of all the lines, we know this one should remain intact for the time being, although nothing is ever set in stone. The only player from this line who should remain there eternally barring some shocking drop in play is John Tavares. Realistically, this line is staying the same and should not be broken up right now.
The second line is questionable. While Frans Nielsen and Michael Grabner have picked up their games substantially from earlier in the season and are returning to form, the drop off in play of Kyle Okposo leaves room for improvement with the return of Nino Niederreiter. Both are strong power forwards who aren't afraid to get physical, although Niederreiter's offensive ability is far superior to that of Okposo's, in my opinion. He fills the role of a power forward on this defensive line quite well and I think would mesh well with the hockey vision of Nielsen at center. While some have called for Niederreiter being placed on the 3rd line, I believe he would make much more of an impact on the 2nd line and really be a sparkplug for this team's offense.
The 3rd line has been troubling all season long. Comeau had his best games of the season the past two games, but hasn't done much to prove his worth so far. Josh Bailey has been 90% invisible in the games he's been in and generally floats around without getting vigorously involved down the middle like we had seen from him in the beginning of last year. While I'm pretty confident that this is mental and not based on lack of ability, it's trouble. Brian Rolston has been showing his age and has been generally inefficient all season long. My solution for this troubling line would be moving Kyle Okposo down to the third line with Bailey as his center and Comeau on the opposite wing. You have two strong power forwards with offensive instincts and a playmaker who has great potential, yet hasn't shown much of it yet. I believe Bailey is one of the main reasons this line isn't producing right now, but unfortunately it's doubtful he'd be placed on the 4th line considering their consistency. As for Rolston, he should be scratched until an injury comes along. His contract should not matter whatsoever.
The 4th line has been one of the most consistent lines all year round. Between Martin's consistent hard play and vicious forechecking, Reasoner's faceoff wins and PKing ability, and Pandolfo's veteran prescence, PK skill and shot blocking supremacy (so many adjectives in the last sentences), the 4th line must not be broken up right now. It's as simple as that.
As for the defense, there needs to be a change as well. Staios has been solid, but his age is showing. He's a solid bottom pairing defenseman at this point in his career, but much like Eaton last year, he's being asked to do too much compared to what his abilities and endurance will allow him. Although his health is a concern, based on his play since his return, my best bet for the defense would be to move Jurcina to the top pairing with Streit. There, you have an outstanding offensive defenseman with above average defensive abilities and a big, strong defensive defenseman with a rocket of a shot. Streit is a lefty and Jurcina is a righty as well, so it creates a dynamic situation when setting up in the offensive zone. The Hamonic-MacDonald chemistry should not be broken up and should be left alone. As for the bottom pairing, Mark Eaton has been very solid this year, but is a very stable bottom pairing d-man and needs to stay there. I believe he and Staios would be a great bottom pairing, with both providing solid defense in their own end.
As for the goaltending situation, Montoya should continue to be this team's #1. He is the most durable of all 3 (considering Nabokov's recent injury) and has the best stats thus far. Why he continues to be scratched or back up is extremely confusing, albeit not completely surprising. With 73 games remaining, Montoya should play 40 games for the rest of the season, Nabokov 25, DiPietro 8.
With these changes, if adapted, the lines would look as follows:
Moulson-Tavares-Parenteau
Grabner-Nielsen-Niederreiter
Comeau-Bailey-Okposo
Martin-Reasoner-Pandolfo
Streit-Jurcina
Hamonic-MacDonald
Eaton-Staios
Solid all around, keeping the chemistry that has worked, changing and tweaking the lines that haven't. It should be painfully obvious to Jack Capuano that what the lines are as right now are simply not working. Hopefully, he has the hockey intelligence to be able to realize that if the offense continues to fail in producing, a mix up must be made. If, even after these changes are made, the offense continues to struggle... there should be no hesitation in making a drastic line shift.
- AT
Oct 31, 2011
Oct 29, 2011
Game Recap: San Jose Sharks 3, New York Islanders 2 (F/OT)
The San Jose Sharks (6-3-0) defeated the New York Islanders (3-4-2) in overtime following a questionable call at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night.
- Another 4th liner who had a great game tonight was Marty Reasoner, who had an outstanding .824 faceoff percentage, winning 14 faceoffs and losing only 3. He also had some nice chances on Greiss and was generally very efficient in the offensive zone tonight. After some wishy-washy games, he's really turning into a major key to this team even being competitive.
Boxscore:
(G, A)
1st Period:
SJS: 1, NYI: 0 - Joe Pavelski (7 - PP); Patrick Marleau (6), Dan Boyle (4)
2nd Period:
SJS: 1, NYI: 1 - John Tavares (7 - PP); P.A. Parenteau (8), Matt Moulson (3)
SJS: 1, NYI: 2 - Michael Grabner (3 - PP); Kyle Okposo (3), Frans Nielsen
SJS: 2, NYI: 2 - Logan Couture (3); Brent Burns (2), M.E. Vlasic (2)
3rd Period:
None
Goaltending:
Thomas Greiss - 35 saves on 37 shots, .946 SV PCT
Rick DiPietro - 27 saves on 30 shots, .900 SV PCT
Final Score: 3-2 San Jose, F/OT
Attendance: 11,742
Notables:
- Matt Martin was ferocious once again tonight. He finished the game with 7 hits, 2 SOG and a blocked shot. All in 12 minutes of ice time. For this season he will almost certainly stay on the 4th line, but the work ethic he showed tonight and has shown all season will almost definitely move him up to the third line next season. He's beginning to turn into a Steve Webb who can score and do almost everything right to the highest level his abilities will allow him. Well done, Matt.
- Another 4th liner who had a great game tonight was Marty Reasoner, who had an outstanding .824 faceoff percentage, winning 14 faceoffs and losing only 3. He also had some nice chances on Greiss and was generally very efficient in the offensive zone tonight. After some wishy-washy games, he's really turning into a major key to this team even being competitive.
- We're probably going to mention John Tavares at least once every single recap considering. He's one again showing the strength he's added over the season, really fighting off defenders to help develop plays and push forward past the neutral zone. He scored his 7th goal of the season tonight on one of many rebounds on a powerplay, but in general helped keep the momentum in the Islanders hands for most of the night.
- Rick DiPietro was efficient tonight. Not spectacular, but efficient. He was out of position on the first early goal but could not help the 2nd or 3rd, and really helped keep the score tied for most of the game. His quickness seems to have somewhat returned and he wasn't making any plays that would remind of you of the boneheaded moves he used to pull, even as late as last season. I understand most people were upset he was starting, but he was very serviceable tonight and did a good job. It would have been nice for him to get the win.
- Michael Grabner is coming right back into the player he was for the last half of last season. There was one point on the PK where he had two takeaways in 5 seconds and helped kill off some major time from the penalty. He and Frans Nielsen also helped generate some really solid offensive chances while shorthanded, proving their worth to the PK. Great job by the 2nd line.
- Kyle Okposo had a generally efficient game. After a nice pass from Nielsen, Okposo read a streaking Grabner in the slot perfectly, fed him the pass and got his 3rd assist of the season. However, late in the third, he took a very careless penalty and elbowed a Sharks player in the head, eliminating any chance of an offensive surge for the Isles in the last few minutes of regulation.
- Blake Comeau had his best game of the season, bar none. 4 shots on goal, some nice takeaways and finishing his checks all game. Still not a 100% game from him, but far improved.
- The most obvious one here is the absolutely poor officiating tonight. This isn't even a homer-esque "we lost so clearly the refs were awful" sort of comment, it is pretty unanimous in the NHL world right now that the Islanders were on the wrong end of some very terrible officiating tonight. In the 3rd period alone, there were 3 non-calls for interference against San Jose players that went completely unnoticed. Then, the most notable was the delay of game penalty in the overtime period. Travis Hamonic lifted a shot over the left side of the boards, which clearly hit the glass and then went out of bounds. If it had not hit the glass, it would most certainly be a delay of game penalty, but all replays clearly showed that the puck had touched it before going out of play. Even though the initial linesman had called the play correctly, all 4 officials gathered together and discussed whether to give a penalty or not - and still gave the wrong call. This led to an Islander PK where almost everyone knew the Sharks would score, and Brent Burns fulfilled that destiny. Doug Weight was infuriated on the bench and Islander fans and players alike let the referees have it. Just a very poor job by the officials.
Thoughts:
AT: Whether or not the Islanders would have actually won or lost this game if that bad call was called off is something entirely. The fact that they lost based on that poor call is infuriating, and hopefully will be addressed. However, putting almost 40 shots on goal against a backup and only scoring twice is once again showing that this offense is pretty much stagnant. You are not going to win games like that, and 5 games later you'd think Jack Capuano would wake up and shake things up a bit.
Next game: The Islanders will face off against the Winnipeg Jets at home at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Thursday, November 3rd, 2011. Game time is 7 PM on MSG+2.
Oct 27, 2011
Recap: Penguins - 3, Islanders - 2
The Pittsburgh Penguins (8-2-2) defeated the New York Islanders (3-4-1) by a score of 3-2 in a shootout at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh on Thursday. The Islanders have now winless in their last four games.
Boxscore:
(G, A)
1st Period:
NYI: 1, PIT: 0 - Frans Nielsen (2); Kyle Okposo (2), Mark Streit (6)
2nd Period:
None
3rd Period:
3rd Period:
NYI: 2, PIT: 0 - Matt Martin (1); Steve Staios (1), Marty Reasoner (1)
NYI: 2, PIT: 1 - Chris Kunitz (3); Pascal Dupuis (6), Kris Letang (8)
NYI: 2, PIT: 2 - James Neal (9); Chris Kunitz (3), Evgeni Malkin (4)
Shootout:
Letang - Save
Nielsen - Save
Malkin - GOAL
Parenteau - Miss
Neal - Miss
Tavares - Save
NYI: 2, PIT: 1 - Chris Kunitz (3); Pascal Dupuis (6), Kris Letang (8)
NYI: 2, PIT: 2 - James Neal (9); Chris Kunitz (3), Evgeni Malkin (4)
Shootout:
Letang - Save
Nielsen - Save
Malkin - GOAL
Parenteau - Miss
Neal - Miss
Tavares - Save
Goaltending:
Marc-Andre Fleury - 17 saves on 19 shots, .895 SV PCT
Evgeni Nabokov - 30 saves on 32 shots, .938 SV PCT
Final Score: 3-2 Pittsburgh
Attendance: 18,461
Notables:
- Not a bad road effort for the Islanders, but the team cannot be blowing 2-0 leads in the third period. The Isles needed this game to get back to .500 and stop their three game losing streak. While it is nice they got a point, their winless streak now reaches four games and shades of last year are undoubtedly appearing in the players' minds. They will have to nip this in the behind on Saturday before they fall into a similar trap as last season. While it is still not the time to panic by any stretch, there is reason to be concerned. A good effort and win on Saturday should erase all of that.
- A weird moment after the 65 minutes of hockey as the Isles opted to pull Evgeni Nabokov, who had played exceptionally well for Rick DiPietro as the shootout began. DiPietro did well in relief, stopping 2/3 breakaways, but was awarded an overtime loss for his efforts. Certainly, Jack Capuano did not look all too happy about the situation during his post game interview. It will be interesting to see what actually happened there. That said, any hatred or criticism towards DiPietro has no viability. There is nothing about this game that is his fault, especially because he put forth a good effort coming in cold.
- The Isles fourth line of Matt Martin, Marty Reasoner, and Jay Pandolfo was the best line tonight. They played great two way hockey and were finally rewarded with a goal, as Martin scored his first of the season of a nice garbage goal in front. Through 8 games, they have been the most consistent line. While it's nice that the Isles finally have a reliable fourth line, it is also indicative of how the rest of the team has played.
- The Frans Nielsen line seems close to breaking out. Michael Grabner had a few good opportunities tonight, and Kyle Okposo worked very hard in all zones and was awarded an assist on Nielsen's goal. The lines as a whole deserve another game to get a win, but if the team loses again, it may be time to shake things up.
- John Tavares is becoming an exceptional NHL player, but stick him next to Evgeni Malkin and there is a noticeable difference there. That's not a shot at Tavares, but more so a compliment as to how good Malkin is.
- The Isles passing has been pretty putrid during the last few games. Like we said after the last game, these problems are stemming from both ends - both the passer and the receiver. It's an extremely important part of the game that has the team losing flow and opportunities. For a team that has a pretty creative team offensively, this is surely a part of the game that will need to be fine tuned.
- Nice to see Milan Jurcina back in the line-up. While he has durability issues, the Islanders are a much better team with him in the line-up as opposed to Mike Mottau.
- Blake Comeau engaged more tonight than he has all season. If he plays like he did tonight, the goals will come soon. At the same token, Josh Bailey has been very good positionally, but whenever he gets the puck he looks like he has no idea what he's doing. The entire third line has been the definition of inconsistency, which is simply an issue the Islanders cannot afford to have to deal with.
- There is little to no question the Isles missed Mark Streit's outstanding first pass ability. Streit has played extremely well given that he missed an entire year.
- Overall, the team established a good net front presence tonight. They scored both goals from right outside the crease, which is caused from creating traffic. If they continue to go to those dirty areas, more goals will come.
- A weird moment after the 65 minutes of hockey as the Isles opted to pull Evgeni Nabokov, who had played exceptionally well for Rick DiPietro as the shootout began. DiPietro did well in relief, stopping 2/3 breakaways, but was awarded an overtime loss for his efforts. Certainly, Jack Capuano did not look all too happy about the situation during his post game interview. It will be interesting to see what actually happened there. That said, any hatred or criticism towards DiPietro has no viability. There is nothing about this game that is his fault, especially because he put forth a good effort coming in cold.
- The Isles fourth line of Matt Martin, Marty Reasoner, and Jay Pandolfo was the best line tonight. They played great two way hockey and were finally rewarded with a goal, as Martin scored his first of the season of a nice garbage goal in front. Through 8 games, they have been the most consistent line. While it's nice that the Isles finally have a reliable fourth line, it is also indicative of how the rest of the team has played.
- The Frans Nielsen line seems close to breaking out. Michael Grabner had a few good opportunities tonight, and Kyle Okposo worked very hard in all zones and was awarded an assist on Nielsen's goal. The lines as a whole deserve another game to get a win, but if the team loses again, it may be time to shake things up.
- John Tavares is becoming an exceptional NHL player, but stick him next to Evgeni Malkin and there is a noticeable difference there. That's not a shot at Tavares, but more so a compliment as to how good Malkin is.
- The Isles passing has been pretty putrid during the last few games. Like we said after the last game, these problems are stemming from both ends - both the passer and the receiver. It's an extremely important part of the game that has the team losing flow and opportunities. For a team that has a pretty creative team offensively, this is surely a part of the game that will need to be fine tuned.
- Nice to see Milan Jurcina back in the line-up. While he has durability issues, the Islanders are a much better team with him in the line-up as opposed to Mike Mottau.
- Blake Comeau engaged more tonight than he has all season. If he plays like he did tonight, the goals will come soon. At the same token, Josh Bailey has been very good positionally, but whenever he gets the puck he looks like he has no idea what he's doing. The entire third line has been the definition of inconsistency, which is simply an issue the Islanders cannot afford to have to deal with.
- There is little to no question the Isles missed Mark Streit's outstanding first pass ability. Streit has played extremely well given that he missed an entire year.
- Overall, the team established a good net front presence tonight. They scored both goals from right outside the crease, which is caused from creating traffic. If they continue to go to those dirty areas, more goals will come.
Thoughts:
CH: A better performance tonight, without question, but as the team blows a 2-0 lead to lose it's fourth game in a row, it's hard to not look back to last year and see a similar pattern. While there is little to no chance they lose 20 games in a row, the players are most likely beginning to feel the pressure of not winning. That said, a point in Pittsburgh is much needed and in the big picture is not a bad thing. We'll see how the Islanders come out Saturday, in what should be an amped up crowd that is celebrating the last true successful Islanders team.
Next game: The Sharks come to town on Saturday as the Islanders celebrate the 1992-93 cinderella team as part of their 40th anniversary event. Game time is at 7 PM.
Game Preview: New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
NEW YORK ISLANDERS (3-4-0) vs. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (7-2-2)
The Essentials
October 27, 2011 - 7:00 PM
CONSOL Energy Center - Pittsburgh, PA
TV: MSG+ (NY), ROOT (PIT)
TV: MSG+ (NY), ROOT (PIT)
The Season Series
10/25 vs. Pittsburgh - 3-0 PIT
10/27 at Pittsburgh
11/21 at Pittsburgh
12/10 vs. Pittsburgh
3/27 at Pittsburgh
3/29 vs. Pittsburgh
10/27 at Pittsburgh
11/21 at Pittsburgh
12/10 vs. Pittsburgh
3/27 at Pittsburgh
3/29 vs. Pittsburgh
The Goalies
PIT: 29 - Marc-Andre Fleury (Back-up: Brent Johnson)
NYI: 20 - Evgeni Nabokov (Back-up: Rick DiPietro)
The Scratches
PIT: 87 - Sidney Crosby (IR), 48 - Tyler Kennedy (IR), 4 - Zbynek Michalek (IR), 37 - Brian Strait (IR), 33 - Steve MacIntyre (Healthy), 10 - Mark Letestu (Healthy)
NYI: 14 - Trevor Gillies (Healthy), 25 - Nino Niederreiter (IR), 10 - Mike Mottau (Healthy), 35 - Al Montoya (Healthy)
The Scratches
PIT: 87 - Sidney Crosby (IR), 48 - Tyler Kennedy (IR), 4 - Zbynek Michalek (IR), 37 - Brian Strait (IR), 33 - Steve MacIntyre (Healthy), 10 - Mark Letestu (Healthy)
NYI: 14 - Trevor Gillies (Healthy), 25 - Nino Niederreiter (IR), 10 - Mike Mottau (Healthy), 35 - Al Montoya (Healthy)
The Line-Ups
Pittsburgh Penguins
26 Steve Sullivan - 71 Evgeni Malkin - 18 James Neal
14 Chris Kunitz - 11 Jordan Staal - 9 Pascal Dupuis
24 Matt Cooke - 12 Richard Park - 45 Arron Asham
15 Dustin Jeffrey - 46 Joe Vitale - 27 Craig Adams
7 Paul Martin - 58 Kris Letang
44 Brooks Orpik - 5 Deryk Engelland
2 Matt Niskanen - 6 Ben Lovejoy
New York Islanders
26 Matt Moulson - 91 John Tavares - 15 P.A. Parenteau
40 Michael Grabner - 51 Frans Nielsen - 21 Kyle Okposo
11 Brian Rolston - 12 Josh Bailey - 57 Blake Comeau
17 Matt Martin - 16 Marty Reasoner - 29 Jay Pandolfo
2 Mark Streit - 24 Steve Staios
47 Andrew MacDonald - 3 Travis Hamonic
4 Mark Eaton - 27 Milan Jurcina
Let's Go Islanders.
Oct 26, 2011
Analysis: A Deep Dive Into Last Night's Game
On the surface, the Islanders were dealt a bitter 3-0 defeat to the division rival Pittsburgh Penguins last night. However, while at the game, some different observations came to mind regarding the level of play the team was performing.
Match-ups - I have no idea how many times Jack Capuano put Mike Mottau and Mark Eaton out against Evgeni Malkin's line. I also have no idea how many times John Tavares was sent out with Jordan Staal, Paul Martin, and Kris Letang out for the Penguins. The Islanders are the home-team, which means they get the last option for line changes before faceoffs. Capuano has discretion over who he wants to put out there before the draw. Yes, the Islanders like to roll four lines and three pairings. Generally, that's a sound option that helps evenly spread minutes and keep everyone fresh. However, when at home, coaches should use match-ups to their advantage. And that is something that Capuano is not currently doing. Quite frankly, this is something that needs to be adjusted, especially given that Tavares already faces top pairings in practically every road game. If you can get Tavares out against Ben Lovejoy and Matt Niskanen, why wouldn't you?
Passing - The Islanders have two major problems with their passing technique, which is hindering their offensive production. First, to put it bluntly, they are subpar passing team. Aside from a few forwards, including John Tavares and P.A. Parenteau, the Islanders have a hard time going tape-to-tape on their passes. However, when they do, the puck has been bouncing off their stick. On the contrary, teams like Pittsburgh have no problems with receiving passes. This tells me that the ice is not as much of a problem as it's made out to be. When looking further into it, the Islanders are not bringing their passes in. In other words, they aren't catching the pass - they are just letting it hit their blade. Of course, this is not going to work and is a major reason why passes are going off heels or bouncing off sticks.
Line Changes - Team speed has not been a major strength of the Islanders this season, but their line changes have been just as painfully slow. On multiple occasions last night were players gliding to the bench after their shifts, as their teammates waited more than a few seconds to jump on the ice. This single-handedly ruined a few opportunities the Islanders may have had on the rush. Now, players obviously get tired over the course of a long 45 second shift. That said, their shift does not end when they are called off. They should still be busting their behinds to get to the bench. This results in better flow and transition ability, especially in the second period when on the long change. To put it simply, the Islanders need to be quicker on their line changes before it results in goals against.
Confidence - Let's face it. The team just is not playing with much confidence right now. After the first goal by Pascal Dupuis in a somewhat solid first period, the team just derailed. They were sloppier and were pressing. They were not playing relaxed, which led to a multitude of mistakes - some of which were made through hesitation. This is a young team that needs confidence to perform at a high level. The question is if an inexperienced coaching staff will be able to carry them through a losing streak.
Stick-Checking - To be honest, I'm not sure if the Islanders coaching staff is telling the team to do this or not, but the constant poke-checks are to the point where it compromises team toughness. On more than one occasion last night, an Islander had the ability to line a Pittsburgh player up and hit them. They mostly passed on the opportunity to try a poke-check. In the case of Travis Hamonic, who is not afraid to make contact, this did not work often - especially against Steve Sullivan. The team needs to be physical to wear opponents down over the course of the game. They need to be physical to establish their presence in the game itself. No one is calling for boarding penalties or even fighting. But they have to be more engaged physically.
Special Teams - To be fair, the penalty kill was effective against last night. However, the Penguins had the Islanders powerplay scouted perfectly. The Islanders tried two things last night: Brian Rolston shoots or Mark Streit shoots. And that is the easiest powerplay to defend, especially given the Penguins aggressive style. It seemed somewhat robotic, which I'm sure is not what Doug Weight wants. It will be interesting to see if the team adjusts to this on Thursday, especially given they play the Penguins again.
Puck Possession - There just is not enough of puck possession. As it stands, only the Islanders fourth line has put together solid cycles consistently over the first seven games. The Tavares line has maintained control as well, but that is mostly due to the level that Tavares is playing at. The Nielsen and Bailey line are both seemingly always playing in the defensive zone, which does not allow for many opportunities. This is especially important for Nielsen's line, who thrive in a run-and-gun type game through transition. The fact that Michael Grabner has just two goals, with Nielsen and Kyle Okposo with just one point should say it all.
What's Next?
Well, the reality is nothing will probably happen. Since Capuano did not change line combinations and defensive pairings tonight, it's reasonable to expect that he won't change them for Thursday's game. The Islanders will have to find their game themselves before they dig themselves into a hole that is too deep.
What should happen is the Islanders should make some changes. Whether they are minor or major, management needs to send a message to the players that this is not working. For too long, management has been reactive to problems while being short-sighted in the aggregate. They need to start being proactive, and some sort of roster transaction would send a clear message to the team. As it is, status quo is not good enough.
-CH
Match-ups - I have no idea how many times Jack Capuano put Mike Mottau and Mark Eaton out against Evgeni Malkin's line. I also have no idea how many times John Tavares was sent out with Jordan Staal, Paul Martin, and Kris Letang out for the Penguins. The Islanders are the home-team, which means they get the last option for line changes before faceoffs. Capuano has discretion over who he wants to put out there before the draw. Yes, the Islanders like to roll four lines and three pairings. Generally, that's a sound option that helps evenly spread minutes and keep everyone fresh. However, when at home, coaches should use match-ups to their advantage. And that is something that Capuano is not currently doing. Quite frankly, this is something that needs to be adjusted, especially given that Tavares already faces top pairings in practically every road game. If you can get Tavares out against Ben Lovejoy and Matt Niskanen, why wouldn't you?
Passing - The Islanders have two major problems with their passing technique, which is hindering their offensive production. First, to put it bluntly, they are subpar passing team. Aside from a few forwards, including John Tavares and P.A. Parenteau, the Islanders have a hard time going tape-to-tape on their passes. However, when they do, the puck has been bouncing off their stick. On the contrary, teams like Pittsburgh have no problems with receiving passes. This tells me that the ice is not as much of a problem as it's made out to be. When looking further into it, the Islanders are not bringing their passes in. In other words, they aren't catching the pass - they are just letting it hit their blade. Of course, this is not going to work and is a major reason why passes are going off heels or bouncing off sticks.
Line Changes - Team speed has not been a major strength of the Islanders this season, but their line changes have been just as painfully slow. On multiple occasions last night were players gliding to the bench after their shifts, as their teammates waited more than a few seconds to jump on the ice. This single-handedly ruined a few opportunities the Islanders may have had on the rush. Now, players obviously get tired over the course of a long 45 second shift. That said, their shift does not end when they are called off. They should still be busting their behinds to get to the bench. This results in better flow and transition ability, especially in the second period when on the long change. To put it simply, the Islanders need to be quicker on their line changes before it results in goals against.
Confidence - Let's face it. The team just is not playing with much confidence right now. After the first goal by Pascal Dupuis in a somewhat solid first period, the team just derailed. They were sloppier and were pressing. They were not playing relaxed, which led to a multitude of mistakes - some of which were made through hesitation. This is a young team that needs confidence to perform at a high level. The question is if an inexperienced coaching staff will be able to carry them through a losing streak.
Stick-Checking - To be honest, I'm not sure if the Islanders coaching staff is telling the team to do this or not, but the constant poke-checks are to the point where it compromises team toughness. On more than one occasion last night, an Islander had the ability to line a Pittsburgh player up and hit them. They mostly passed on the opportunity to try a poke-check. In the case of Travis Hamonic, who is not afraid to make contact, this did not work often - especially against Steve Sullivan. The team needs to be physical to wear opponents down over the course of the game. They need to be physical to establish their presence in the game itself. No one is calling for boarding penalties or even fighting. But they have to be more engaged physically.
Special Teams - To be fair, the penalty kill was effective against last night. However, the Penguins had the Islanders powerplay scouted perfectly. The Islanders tried two things last night: Brian Rolston shoots or Mark Streit shoots. And that is the easiest powerplay to defend, especially given the Penguins aggressive style. It seemed somewhat robotic, which I'm sure is not what Doug Weight wants. It will be interesting to see if the team adjusts to this on Thursday, especially given they play the Penguins again.
Puck Possession - There just is not enough of puck possession. As it stands, only the Islanders fourth line has put together solid cycles consistently over the first seven games. The Tavares line has maintained control as well, but that is mostly due to the level that Tavares is playing at. The Nielsen and Bailey line are both seemingly always playing in the defensive zone, which does not allow for many opportunities. This is especially important for Nielsen's line, who thrive in a run-and-gun type game through transition. The fact that Michael Grabner has just two goals, with Nielsen and Kyle Okposo with just one point should say it all.
What's Next?
Well, the reality is nothing will probably happen. Since Capuano did not change line combinations and defensive pairings tonight, it's reasonable to expect that he won't change them for Thursday's game. The Islanders will have to find their game themselves before they dig themselves into a hole that is too deep.
What should happen is the Islanders should make some changes. Whether they are minor or major, management needs to send a message to the players that this is not working. For too long, management has been reactive to problems while being short-sighted in the aggregate. They need to start being proactive, and some sort of roster transaction would send a clear message to the team. As it is, status quo is not good enough.
-CH
Oct 25, 2011
Game Recap: Pittsburgh Penguins 3, New York Islanders 0
The Pittsburgh Penguins (7-2-2) defeated the New York Islanders (3-4-0) by a score of 3 to 0 at the Nassau Coliseum on Tuesday night.
Boxscore:
(G, A)
1st Period:
PIT: 1, NYI: 0 - Pascal Dupuis (3); Brooks Orpik (1)
2nd Period:
PIT: 2, NYI: 0 - Richard Park (2); Arron Asham (2)
3rd Period:
PIT: 3, NYI: 2 - Jordan Staal (EN - 6); Pascal Dupuis (5)
Goaltending:
Marc-Andre Fleury - 33 saves on 33 shots, 1.000 SV PCT
Evgeni Nabokov - 26 saves on 28 shots, .929 SV PCT
Final Score: 3-0 Pittsburgh
Attendance: 10,681
Notables:
After a very strong yet even start to the first period, the Islanders began to taper off about halfway into the period. They continued their lethargic play until a defensive breakdown by Steve Staios and Blake Comeau losing their men led to a Pascal Dupuis breakaway and goal. After that, even though the Islanders had their chances, none of them were solid enough to really even come close to being a goal. Lots of shots from the point and a few shots in the slot right to Fleury were about it. The Islanders played another game with absolutely no urgency.
The only player who really looked great tonight was Evgeni Nabokov, who on a 4 minute double minor to Reasoner really stood on his head and kept the game at a 2 goal difference. He was solid all night and made some saves he probably shouldn't have.
Josh Bailey had a very up and down game tonight. His defensive work was as usual pretty good, but he had some times where he had great chances and completely fanned on them. After a pass from Brian Rolston as he was set up right in the slot, Bailey hesitated for a good 2-3 seconds and didn't even get a shot on what was pretty much a wide open net. It was almost as if he'd choked up and forgot the point of the game was to shoot the puck into the net. He did however have a nice drive to the net with Rolston which he backhanded into Fleury. Although not a goal, a good drive by Bailey to get to the inside. A better game, but still pretty lackluster for his 4th year in the league.
PA Parenteau had an off game compared to what we had season earlier in the year. He was undressed on a 2 on 2 late in the 3rd which could have resulted in a fantastic chance and was just not playing with the offensive instincts we have seen. His vision in the passing lanes was not something to be desired.
Steve Staios both lost his man on the first goal and let Richard Park dwindle around the net for way too long on the first goal. He had an overall OK game and also had some nice shots on goal (and led the team in shots), but those two gaffes were unacceptable by any standard.
Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen are the lowest 2/3rds of the 2nd line right now. They are not doing a good job to create chances and generally are unseen on the ice.
John Tavares was not playing the greatest defense tonight. Most notably was when he fanned on the pass early in the 2nd that led to Park grabbing hold of the puck and firing it on Nabokov.
Thoughts:
AT: Just another lousy performance from the Islanders right now. I'm not a "sky is falling" kind of person, but falling behind this early in the season is the last thing we want to do. It doesn't create a positive mentality going forward and begins to remind the team (and the fans) of last season's 20+ game losing debacle. This team needs a swift kick in the behind and needs to realize that they ARE a team that can win games as evidenced by the first few games of the season. They are capable of putting up offense and capable of playing solid defense. What they're showing right now is a reflection of laziness.
Next game: The Islanders will face off against the Penguins once again at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 27th, 2011. Gametime is 7:00 on MSG+.
Game Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (6-2-2) vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (3-3-0)
The Essentials
The Essentials
October 25, 2011 - 7:00 PM
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Uniondale, NY
TV: MSG+ (NY), ROOT (PIT)
The Season Series
10/25 vs. Pittsburgh
10/27 at Pittsburgh
11/21 at Pittsburgh
12/10 vs. Pittsburgh
3/27 at Pittsburgh
3/29 vs. Pittsburgh
10/27 at Pittsburgh
11/21 at Pittsburgh
12/10 vs. Pittsburgh
3/27 at Pittsburgh
3/29 vs. Pittsburgh
The Goalies
PIT: 29 - Marc-Andre Fleury (Back-up: Brent Johnson)
NYI: 20 - Evgeni Nabokov (Back-up: Rick DiPietro)
The Scratches
PIT: 87 - Sidney Crosby (IR), 48 - Tyler Kennedy (IR), 4 - Zbynek Michalek (IR), 37 - Brian Strait (IR), 33 - Steve MacIntyre (Healthy), 10 - Mark Letestu (Healthy)
NYI: 14 - Trevor Gillies (Healthy), 25 - Nino Niederreiter (IR), 27 - Milan Jurcina (DTD), 35 - Al Montoya (Healthy)
The Scratches
PIT: 87 - Sidney Crosby (IR), 48 - Tyler Kennedy (IR), 4 - Zbynek Michalek (IR), 37 - Brian Strait (IR), 33 - Steve MacIntyre (Healthy), 10 - Mark Letestu (Healthy)
NYI: 14 - Trevor Gillies (Healthy), 25 - Nino Niederreiter (IR), 27 - Milan Jurcina (DTD), 35 - Al Montoya (Healthy)
The Line-Ups
Pittsburgh Penguins
26 Steve Sullivan - 71 Evgeni Malkin - 18 James Neal
14 Chris Kunitz - 11 Jordan Staal - 9 Pascal Dupuis
24 Matt Cooke - 12 Richard Park - 45 Arron Asham
15 Dustin Jeffrey - 46 Joe Vitale - 27 Craig Adams
7 Paul Martin - 58 Kris Letang
44 Brooks Orpik - 5 Deryk Engelland
2 Matt Niskanen - 6 Ben Lovejoy
26 Steve Sullivan - 71 Evgeni Malkin - 18 James Neal
14 Chris Kunitz - 11 Jordan Staal - 9 Pascal Dupuis
24 Matt Cooke - 12 Richard Park - 45 Arron Asham
15 Dustin Jeffrey - 46 Joe Vitale - 27 Craig Adams
7 Paul Martin - 58 Kris Letang
44 Brooks Orpik - 5 Deryk Engelland
2 Matt Niskanen - 6 Ben Lovejoy
New York Islanders
26 Matt Moulson - 91 John Tavares - 15 P.A. Parenteau
40 Michael Grabner - 51 Frans Nielsen - 21 Kyle Okposo
11 Brian Rolston - 12 Josh Bailey - 57 Blake Comeau
17 Matt Martin - 16 Marty Reasoner - 29 Jay Pandolfo
2 Mark Streit - 24 Steve Staios
47 Andrew MacDonald - 3 Travis Hamonic
4 Mark Eaton - 10 Mike Mottau
Let's Go Islanders.
Oct 24, 2011
Prospects: Kabanov still having trouble playing
In further obstruction to Kabanov playing in juniors this season, IslandersCentral has learned that forward Kirill Kabanov, who was recently traded to the Shawinigan Cataractes, must receive a release from the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia in order to play in a game.
We had all been hoping that this trade would be the end of Kabanov's issues for playing time, but as we know considering his history, nothing's ever drama free even when you think it is. This is by no means Kabanov's fault, but is certainly another roadblock in his final year of juniors.
When questioned about Kabanov, Cataractes coach Vellieux responded that Kabanov has been practicing since arriving in Shawinigan and his practice time is a reflection of what's to come: "He's smart with the puck. He's got great vision and he can put the puck right on your tape even if he's got someone on his back. I also liked his compete-level, as he was really intense during the practices. He's a young kid who really wanna learn and who asks a lot of questions. He's brought some fresh air to the group".
While it may take up to 14 days to gain his release, the fact that Kabanov is at least training and working hard while not able to play is a positive sign. Even if he only gets to play in 40 or so games this year, it's better than nothing. He's just learning the ways of Shawinigan's chemistry right now and bonding with his teammates, so it's not a total loss as of right now. The sooner he can get into a game the better, but right now he just has to face one more roadblock before finishing up his junior career.
- AT
We had all been hoping that this trade would be the end of Kabanov's issues for playing time, but as we know considering his history, nothing's ever drama free even when you think it is. This is by no means Kabanov's fault, but is certainly another roadblock in his final year of juniors.
When questioned about Kabanov, Cataractes coach Vellieux responded that Kabanov has been practicing since arriving in Shawinigan and his practice time is a reflection of what's to come: "He's smart with the puck. He's got great vision and he can put the puck right on your tape even if he's got someone on his back. I also liked his compete-level, as he was really intense during the practices. He's a young kid who really wanna learn and who asks a lot of questions. He's brought some fresh air to the group".
While it may take up to 14 days to gain his release, the fact that Kabanov is at least training and working hard while not able to play is a positive sign. Even if he only gets to play in 40 or so games this year, it's better than nothing. He's just learning the ways of Shawinigan's chemistry right now and bonding with his teammates, so it's not a total loss as of right now. The sooner he can get into a game the better, but right now he just has to face one more roadblock before finishing up his junior career.
- AT
Opinion: The Invisible Men
Blogger's Note: We are finally back full-time after a hectic weekend in which both of us were out of town. Look out for a lot of opinion posts as the season continues to progress.
Through the first six games of the season, the Islanders have been carried by the first line of John Tavares, P.A. Parenteau, and Matt Moulson. Combined, the three of them have 9 goals and have all been on for more goals for than goals against. While that generally does not tell the whole story, in this case it shows how effective they have been compared to the other lines.
Some had attributed the success of the Tavares line due to playing at home, where Jack Capuano is able to play matchups, allowing the first line to play against weaker defensive pairings and forward lines. That may be true, but after another two points for Tavares and one for Parenteau on Saturday (albeit on the powerplay), they have shown no signs of slowing down their production.
Eventually, however, that will happen. And when it does, the other lines are going to have to pick it up. The Islanders have played a total of 13 forwards in the first part of the 2011-12 season. Other than Tavares, Moulson, and Parenteau, the remaining ten have three goals between them - including two from 30-goal scorer Michael Grabner (Frans Nielsen has the other one). Kyle Okposo has looked sluggish and is off to a slow start, but you can see the effort is still there. Over the weekend, that beloved second line started to generate more chances - a much needed sign for a team that needs contributions from everyone who wears an Islander jersey.
The problem really starts to occur when you get down to the third line. Brian Rolston has looked slow, which is a far cry from the blazing speed he used to have. Blake Comeau has been shuffled in and out of the lineup, fueling speculation that he and Capuano have some sort of rift. But that is only speculation - the truth is no one outside that locker room knows what Comeau's situation is. Josh Bailey has been painfully ineffective thus far, as his compete level is lower than it has ever been. Bailey is struggling with simple strategies such as cutting to the front of the net and is not using his vision to generate offensive chances. That said, defensively he has been good - but the Islanders did not select Bailey to become a fourth line center.
The fourth line has largely done its job, which is to be a defensive-minded, smart line that understands the importance of puck possession. Matt Martin has been the shining star on that line, ranking second in shots behind John Tavares.
The problem is that without the second and third lines clicking, teams are able to focus on the Tavares line, especially on the road. Tavares will soon stop scoring at a goal-per-game pace. It will then be up to the secondary scorers - Michael Grabner, Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau - to chip some goals in. If this doesn't happen, the Islanders will not win many games this year. A team cannot win with one great line and nothing else, and the Islanders are no different even with the elite talent of John Tavares.
As we start a week in which the Isles play three games against very good teams, this issue should play itself out shortly. With two home games, the Isles have a perfect opportunity to show this past Florida trip was nothing but a fluke pair of games in a long season. I would expect Jack Capuano to shake some things up to try and get different players going. Maybe a player like Micheal Haley makes his season debut this week, not for his ability to fight and play physically, but his ability to provide an energetic jolt to a team that was largely lethargic in the last two games.
But even Haley won't provide the Islanders with many goals, and that's certainly what the team needs this week. It's going to be on Okposo and Comeau and Bailey to get going. And if that offense comes around, the confidence will come around, and wins will start to follow soon after. If not, it will be on Garth Snow to be proactive and make a move. But for now, the Isles need to roll with what they have. They need to see what this team is made of.
-CH
Through the first six games of the season, the Islanders have been carried by the first line of John Tavares, P.A. Parenteau, and Matt Moulson. Combined, the three of them have 9 goals and have all been on for more goals for than goals against. While that generally does not tell the whole story, in this case it shows how effective they have been compared to the other lines.
Some had attributed the success of the Tavares line due to playing at home, where Jack Capuano is able to play matchups, allowing the first line to play against weaker defensive pairings and forward lines. That may be true, but after another two points for Tavares and one for Parenteau on Saturday (albeit on the powerplay), they have shown no signs of slowing down their production.
Eventually, however, that will happen. And when it does, the other lines are going to have to pick it up. The Islanders have played a total of 13 forwards in the first part of the 2011-12 season. Other than Tavares, Moulson, and Parenteau, the remaining ten have three goals between them - including two from 30-goal scorer Michael Grabner (Frans Nielsen has the other one). Kyle Okposo has looked sluggish and is off to a slow start, but you can see the effort is still there. Over the weekend, that beloved second line started to generate more chances - a much needed sign for a team that needs contributions from everyone who wears an Islander jersey.
The problem really starts to occur when you get down to the third line. Brian Rolston has looked slow, which is a far cry from the blazing speed he used to have. Blake Comeau has been shuffled in and out of the lineup, fueling speculation that he and Capuano have some sort of rift. But that is only speculation - the truth is no one outside that locker room knows what Comeau's situation is. Josh Bailey has been painfully ineffective thus far, as his compete level is lower than it has ever been. Bailey is struggling with simple strategies such as cutting to the front of the net and is not using his vision to generate offensive chances. That said, defensively he has been good - but the Islanders did not select Bailey to become a fourth line center.
The fourth line has largely done its job, which is to be a defensive-minded, smart line that understands the importance of puck possession. Matt Martin has been the shining star on that line, ranking second in shots behind John Tavares.
The problem is that without the second and third lines clicking, teams are able to focus on the Tavares line, especially on the road. Tavares will soon stop scoring at a goal-per-game pace. It will then be up to the secondary scorers - Michael Grabner, Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau - to chip some goals in. If this doesn't happen, the Islanders will not win many games this year. A team cannot win with one great line and nothing else, and the Islanders are no different even with the elite talent of John Tavares.
As we start a week in which the Isles play three games against very good teams, this issue should play itself out shortly. With two home games, the Isles have a perfect opportunity to show this past Florida trip was nothing but a fluke pair of games in a long season. I would expect Jack Capuano to shake some things up to try and get different players going. Maybe a player like Micheal Haley makes his season debut this week, not for his ability to fight and play physically, but his ability to provide an energetic jolt to a team that was largely lethargic in the last two games.
But even Haley won't provide the Islanders with many goals, and that's certainly what the team needs this week. It's going to be on Okposo and Comeau and Bailey to get going. And if that offense comes around, the confidence will come around, and wins will start to follow soon after. If not, it will be on Garth Snow to be proactive and make a move. But for now, the Isles need to roll with what they have. They need to see what this team is made of.
-CH
Oct 20, 2011
Recap: Lightning - 4, Islanders - 1
The Tampa Bay Lightning (2-3-2) defeated the New York Islanders (3-2-0) by a score of 4-1 on Thursday night.
Boxscore:
(G, A)
1st Period:
NYI: 0, TB: 1 - (PP) Ryan Malone (2); Vincent Lecavalier (2), Marc-Andre Bergeron (7_
2nd Period:
NYI: 0, TB: 2 - Vincent Lecavalier (3); Marty St. Louis (3)
3rd Period:
3rd Period:
NYI: 0, TB: 3 - Steven Stamkos (3); Teddy Purcell (3)
NYI: 1, TB: 3 - Michael Grabner (2); Mark Streit (4), Brian Rolston (2)
NYI: 1, TB: 4 - Brett Clark (2); Teddy Purcell (4)
NYI: 1, TB: 3 - Michael Grabner (2); Mark Streit (4), Brian Rolston (2)
NYI: 1, TB: 4 - Brett Clark (2); Teddy Purcell (4)
Goaltending:
Mathieu Garon - 16 saves on 17 shots, .941 SV%
Al Montoya - 26 saves on 30 shots, .867 SV%
Final Score: 4-1 TB
Attendance: 18,181
Notables:
The Islanders came out looking both flat and unprepared after a solid first five minutes. Tampa Bay made the necessary adjustments and really closed off the Islanders offense in the neutral zone all night. They deserved the win and were the better time for practically the entire game. Certainly, not what the Islanders wanted in their first road game of the season.
Marty Reasoner and Brian Rolston both had bad games tonight. They were giving up pucks, couldn't generate any forecheck, and looked sloppy and lethargic all around. These two veterans will need to be better as the season moves forward.
Kyle Okposo looks lost out there. Where did the player of two years ago go? He needs to be better in all three zones, as he has the potential to be a key part of this team. Likewise, Frans Nielsen was practically invisible tonight as well. Both have had a lackluster first five games of the season.
On the third Tampa Bay goal, Mark Eaton made the right play by clearing it to the boards with Steven Stamkos right on him. No Islanders wing supported the play, Mike Mottau did his best "fish out of water" impression leaving Stamkos all along in front. By far the ugliest sequence in a very ugly night. That said, Eaton did have a solid game blocking a few shots and passes.
Travis Hamonic was a little off his game tonight. He wasn't smart with the puck and backed up on Lecavalier as he waltzed into the slot, wristing one by Montoya with a ton of time and space to make soemthing happen - which he did.
John Tavares and Steve Staios were the best two Islanders out there tonight. Tavares is at the point of consistency that separates the great from the good. He is becoming a nightly "must-watch" player.
The decision to scratch Blake Comeau for Trevor Gillies still remains a complete mystery to me. Comeau may deserved to be scratched, but the Islanders need to find a suitable replacement for him in the lineup. Simply moving Matt Martin up a line and throwing Gillies in for five shifts is not good enough for a team with playoff aspirations. As we saw tonight, this causes players to be mixed and matched every shift. It's not a recipe for success and needs to be rectified by Saturday night's game.
The best thing the Islanders can do is move on from this. A win against the Panthers would still make this a solid two-game mini road trip. This is not the time to panic.
Marty Reasoner and Brian Rolston both had bad games tonight. They were giving up pucks, couldn't generate any forecheck, and looked sloppy and lethargic all around. These two veterans will need to be better as the season moves forward.
Kyle Okposo looks lost out there. Where did the player of two years ago go? He needs to be better in all three zones, as he has the potential to be a key part of this team. Likewise, Frans Nielsen was practically invisible tonight as well. Both have had a lackluster first five games of the season.
On the third Tampa Bay goal, Mark Eaton made the right play by clearing it to the boards with Steven Stamkos right on him. No Islanders wing supported the play, Mike Mottau did his best "fish out of water" impression leaving Stamkos all along in front. By far the ugliest sequence in a very ugly night. That said, Eaton did have a solid game blocking a few shots and passes.
Travis Hamonic was a little off his game tonight. He wasn't smart with the puck and backed up on Lecavalier as he waltzed into the slot, wristing one by Montoya with a ton of time and space to make soemthing happen - which he did.
John Tavares and Steve Staios were the best two Islanders out there tonight. Tavares is at the point of consistency that separates the great from the good. He is becoming a nightly "must-watch" player.
The decision to scratch Blake Comeau for Trevor Gillies still remains a complete mystery to me. Comeau may deserved to be scratched, but the Islanders need to find a suitable replacement for him in the lineup. Simply moving Matt Martin up a line and throwing Gillies in for five shifts is not good enough for a team with playoff aspirations. As we saw tonight, this causes players to be mixed and matched every shift. It's not a recipe for success and needs to be rectified by Saturday night's game.
The best thing the Islanders can do is move on from this. A win against the Panthers would still make this a solid two-game mini road trip. This is not the time to panic.
Thoughts:
CH: Simply put, this game was awful. The Islanders have now put two clunkers in the first five games of the season. Better to get them out of the way now. Over time, this team needs to get more consistent or else they will not be able to keep up mid-season when teams are ramping up for a playoff push. It's not alarming yet, as they showed they can be a very good team at times. They just need to put it all together. That all said, a calming presence in net in Evgeni Nabokov should get the call on Saturday. We'll see what Jack Capuano decides to do.
Next game: The Islanders next game is Saturday night in Sunrise, as the Isles take on the Florida Panthers in a rematch of opening night. Gametime is at 7:30 on MSG+.
Preview: New York Islanders vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
NEW YORK ISLANDERS (3-1-0) vs. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (1-3-2)
The Essentials
October 20, 2011 - 7:30 PM
St. Pete Times Forum - St. Petersburg, Florida
TV: MSG+ (NYI), SUN (TB)
The Season Series
10/13 vs. Tampa Bay - 5-1 NYI
10/20 at Tampa Bay
12/6 vs. Tampa Bay
3/24 at Tampa Bay
The Goalies
TB: 32 - Mathieu Garon (Back-Up: Dwayne Roloson)
NYI: 35 - Al Montoya (Back-Up: Evgeni Nabokov)
The Scratches
TB: 22 - Ryan Shannon (Healthy), 7 - Michel Ouellet (Healthy), 21 - Mattias Ritola (Healthy), 27 - Bruno Gervais (Healthy), 50 - Richard Petiot (Healthy)
NYI: 25 - Nino Niederreiter (IR), 8 - Ryan Strome (Healthy), 27 - Milan Jurcina (DTD), 39 - Rick DiPietro (DTD), 57- Blake Comeau (Healthy)
The Line-Ups
New York Islanders
26 Matt Moulson - 91 John Tavares - 15 P.A. Parenteau
40 Michael Grabner - 51 Frans Nielsen - 21 Kyle Okposo
11 Brian Rolston - 12 Josh Bailey - 17 Matt Martin
14 Trevor Gillies - 16 Marty Reasoner - 29 Jay Pandolfo
14 Trevor Gillies - 16 Marty Reasoner - 29 Jay Pandolfo
2 Mark Streit - 24 Steve Staios
47 Andrew MacDonald - 3 Travis Hamonic
4 Mark Eaton - 10 Mike Mottau
Tampa Bay Lightning
9 Steve Downie - 91 Steven Stamkos - 26 Marty St. Louis
12 Ryan Malone - 4 Vinny Lecavalier - 16 Teddy Purcell
11 Tom Pyatt - 19 Dominic Moore - 14 Brett Connolly
49 Blair Jones - 44 Nate Thompson - 18 Adam Hall
77 Victor Hedman - 2 Eric Brewer
47 Marc-Andre Bergeron - 13 Pavel Kubina
7 Brett Clark - 97 Matt Gilroy
Let's Go Islanders.
Oct 15, 2011
Game Recap: Islanders - 4, Rangers - 2
The New York Islanders defeated the New York Rangers in the first of a 6 game series in one of hockey's biggest rivalries to a sellout crowd of 16,234.
Boxscore:
(G, A)
1st Period:
NYI: 1, NYR: 0 - Matt Moulson (2), P.A. Parenteau (4), John Tavares (3)
2nd Period:
NYI: 1, NYR: 1 - Marian Gaborik (2), Brad Richards (2)
NYI: 2, NYR: 1 - John Tavares (3 - PP), Mark Streit (2), Brian Rolston (1)
NYI: 2, NYR: 2 - Brandon Prust (1), Ruslan Fedotenko (2)
3rd Period:
NYI: 3, NYR: 2 - John Tavares (4 - PP), Mark Streit (3), P.A. Parenteau (5)
NYI: 4, NYR: 2 - John Tavares (5 - EN), P.A. Parenteau (6), Matt Moulson (2)
Goaltending:
Evgeni Nabokov - 29 saves on 31 shots, .935 SV PCT
Henrik Lundqvist - 30 saves on 33 shots, .909 SV PCT
Final Score: 4-2 Islanders
Attendance: 16,234
Notables:
There is absolutely no way to describe John Tavares anymore. Not in human words. What we've seen out of him in these first four games is, as Al Trautwig aptly put it, "Gretzky-like". He was all over the ice once again, creating chances almost every shift he was out on the ice. If not for a two misses by P.A. Parenteau, a 6 point night could have been very likely. His vision on the ice and ability to both set up plays and, as he showed today, get them himself, is at this point among the league's best. His backhander on the rebound over Lundqvist's shoulder was a total display of his ability to know exactly where the puck will go the minute it hits his stick. Beware, opposing teams. More of this is coming.
After the surprise start, Evgeni Nabokov did everything to show that he's still capable of being a #1 goaltender in the NHL. The two goals he let up were not his fault: The first was after Reasoner let his man go and Nabokov was yet another goaltender to fall victim to the quick release of Marian Gaborik, and the second was on a fluke bank off of Frans Nielsen. Other than that, Nabokov looked very sharp. He was aggressive on the puck, extremely alert and a very calming presence in goal.
Mark Streit is an absolute maestro on the power play. We knew this, but he shows it more and more every game. He had a beautiful pass to Tavares on the power play all the way through traffic that beat Lundqvist on his left side. Not many players in the NHL have that kind of vision.
Matt Martin, after receiving a promotion to the 3rd line following the scratch of Blake Comeau, completely took advantage of his opportunity and played at a very high level. He continued to finish his checks and was hustling the entire game.
The PK duo of Marty Reasoner and Jay Pandolfo continues to shine. The Islanders took way more penalties than they should have today, but they were lucky enough not to have to pay for it due to the mastery of man down play by these two. Subtle, yet two of the biggest additions made in this offseason.
The continuous improvement of P.A. Parenteau, who is now among league leaders in assists and points, is something to behold. He had a beautiful backpass to Tavares on the first goal and was in general an offensive force with 3 assists.
Kyle Okposo continues to do... nothing. He has been nothing short of invisible in these first four games and that continued tonight. The first line can only contribute so much offense, and Okposo really needs to pick it up. Grabner and Nielsen have both picked it up, it's time for Okposo to do the same.
Josh Bailey continues to be invisible.
Thoughts:
AT: Obviously, it's always nice to beat our most hated rival. The way we did it however was even better. We played a complete game against Tampa, and we carried that over tonight. The score essentially should have been much higher in favor of the Islanders, but the strong goaltending of Henrik Lundqvist as usual ensured that didn't happen. Still, pure dominance by the Islanders tonight. The breakout of John Tavares could be one of the biggest storylines in the NHL this season, and all we as fans have to do is watch and enjoy.
Arena: Mangano unveils economic development plan including new Coliseum
Ed Mangano, trying once more to get a new Nassau Coliseum at the HUB site, unveiled plans to develop a new arena at the HUB site along with a massive parking garage, residential and retail space and a bioscience research and development park. This plan will competing with several others as part of Governor Cuomo's Empire State Development Corp, which will give state funds to whichever projects win out. The state's decision will come in December. The plan also mentions Belmont as a possible site for a new Coliseum if the HUB is no longer viable due to restricted space or other concerns. You can read the full article here.
AT: Here we go again. Albeit, this project would be jump started from state funds and not be voted upon by the public, it's hard to be optimistic about anything concerning keeping the Islanders in Nassau County. If you look at the projected layout of what the HUB site would be, there is very little room for parking outside of the direct area outside of the Coliseum. If the parking garage - which would be shared with the bioscience center and the Coliseum - were to hold 7,000 vehicles, where does everyone else go? Plus, parking in an enclosed garage like that would create chaos on nights where the Islanders sell out. Getting out of the Coliseum as it is right now is already a major hassle, getting out of it when you're on the top floor of a multistoried parking garage sounds like a nightmare. This would have to be designed to the highest standards for easy in and out access for mass traffic, otherwise we'll have simply solved one problem and gained another.
It's notable as well that there looks to be plans for a light rail system, which Mangano is known to be in favor of, wrapping itself around the HUB area extending into the Nassau County Community College area and down Hempstead Turnpike. This would be a great addition to the HUB site as right now, the nearest LIRR station is not the most easily accessible site when coming to and from the Coliseum. An addition such as a light rail system would make it a lot more tempting for commuters who simply want to jump on the LIRR and not use a taxi or bus to finish the ride.
Obviously, we have to see more details. But this looks like it will be the final ditch effort for Mangano and Nassau County to really keep the Islanders in Nassau County and retain an arena in Nassau as well. I'm very curious to see Wang's opinion on this and where his support lies at this point, as a plan like this would obviously need private developers in addition to state funds to achieve anything. Would a plan like this even be economically viable for Nassau County?
AT: Here we go again. Albeit, this project would be jump started from state funds and not be voted upon by the public, it's hard to be optimistic about anything concerning keeping the Islanders in Nassau County. If you look at the projected layout of what the HUB site would be, there is very little room for parking outside of the direct area outside of the Coliseum. If the parking garage - which would be shared with the bioscience center and the Coliseum - were to hold 7,000 vehicles, where does everyone else go? Plus, parking in an enclosed garage like that would create chaos on nights where the Islanders sell out. Getting out of the Coliseum as it is right now is already a major hassle, getting out of it when you're on the top floor of a multistoried parking garage sounds like a nightmare. This would have to be designed to the highest standards for easy in and out access for mass traffic, otherwise we'll have simply solved one problem and gained another.
It's notable as well that there looks to be plans for a light rail system, which Mangano is known to be in favor of, wrapping itself around the HUB area extending into the Nassau County Community College area and down Hempstead Turnpike. This would be a great addition to the HUB site as right now, the nearest LIRR station is not the most easily accessible site when coming to and from the Coliseum. An addition such as a light rail system would make it a lot more tempting for commuters who simply want to jump on the LIRR and not use a taxi or bus to finish the ride.
Obviously, we have to see more details. But this looks like it will be the final ditch effort for Mangano and Nassau County to really keep the Islanders in Nassau County and retain an arena in Nassau as well. I'm very curious to see Wang's opinion on this and where his support lies at this point, as a plan like this would obviously need private developers in addition to state funds to achieve anything. Would a plan like this even be economically viable for Nassau County?
Prospects: Kirill Kabanov traded to Shawinigan Cataractes
After accepting a 1 month tryout with SEL team Farjestad, Kirill Kabanov was traded from QMJHL team Blainville-Broisband Armada to the Shawinigan Cataractes, as so to give him a spot on a roster and the ability to play.
AT: Finally, this situation has been resolved. Of course, Kabanov will have to find chemistry with his new linemates once again, but being a 19 year old in a junior league he should find his way on to the top 6 in the depth chart and considering his skill should have no problem producing. According to his Facebook, he seems ecstatic to just have a place to play. Though the Cataractes have already played a solid amount of games, there is no doubt Kabanov will still have a solid chunk of the season to play through and hopefully help guide the Cataractes to the playoffs.
AT: Finally, this situation has been resolved. Of course, Kabanov will have to find chemistry with his new linemates once again, but being a 19 year old in a junior league he should find his way on to the top 6 in the depth chart and considering his skill should have no problem producing. According to his Facebook, he seems ecstatic to just have a place to play. Though the Cataractes have already played a solid amount of games, there is no doubt Kabanov will still have a solid chunk of the season to play through and hopefully help guide the Cataractes to the playoffs.
Game Preview: New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders
NEW YORK RANGERS (0-0-2) VS.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS (2-1-0)
The Essentials
October 15th, 2011 - 7:00 PM
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Uniondale, NY
TV: MSG+ (NYI), MSG (NYR)
The Season Series
10/5 vs. Rangers
11/5 vs. Rangers
12/22 at Rangers
12/26 at Rangers
2/24 vs. Rangers
3/11 at Rangers
The Goalies
NYR: 30 - Henrik Lundqvist (Backup: Martin Biron)
NYI: 20 - Evgeni Nabokov (Backup: Al Montoya)
The Scratches
NYR: 18 - Marc Staal (IR), 86 - Wojtek Wolski (DTD), 38 - Mike Sauer (DTD)
NYI: 25 - Nino Niederreiter (IR), 14 - Trevor Gillies (Healthy), 27 - Milan Jurcina (DTD), 39 - Rick DiPietro (DTD)
The Line-Ups
New York Rangers
10 Marian Gaborik - 19 Brad Richards - 10 Derek Stepan
24 Ryan Callahan - 17 Brandon Dubinsky - 26 Ruslan Fedotenko
8 Brandon Prust - 22 Brian Boyle - 42 Artem Anisimov
42 Mats Zuccarello - 40 Erik Christensen - 71 Mike Rupp
5 Dan Girardi - 27 Ryan McDonagh
44 Steve Eminger - 32 Jeff Woywitka
53 Tim Erixon - 4 Michael Del Zotto
New York Islanders
26 Matt Moulson - 91 John Tavares - 15 P.A. Parenteau
40 Michael Grabner - 51 Frans Nielsen - 21 Kyle Okposo
11 Brian Rolston - 12 Josh Bailey - 57 Blake Comeau
17 Matt Martin - 16 Marty Reasoner - 29 Jay Pandolfo
2 Mark Streit - 24 Steve Staios
3 Travis Hamonic - 47 Andrew MacDonald
10 Mike Mottau - 4 Mark Eaton
Let's Go Islanders!
Oct 14, 2011
Recap: Islanders - 5, Lightning - 1
The New York Islanders (2-1-0) defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning (1-2-0) on Thursday night.
Boxscore:
(G, A)
1st Period:
TB: 0, NYI: 1 - John Tavares (1)
TB: 1, NYI: 1 - Steven Stamkos (1); Marc-Andre Bergeron (3)
TB: 1, NYI: 2 - Matt Moulson (1); John Tavares (1), Mark Eaton (1)
TB: 1, NYI: 3 - John Tavares (2); Matt Moulson (1), P.A. Parenteau (3)
TB: 1, NYI: 4 - P.A. Parenteau (1); John Tavares (2)
TB: 1, NYI: 2 - Matt Moulson (1); John Tavares (1), Mark Eaton (1)
TB: 1, NYI: 3 - John Tavares (2); Matt Moulson (1), P.A. Parenteau (3)
TB: 1, NYI: 4 - P.A. Parenteau (1); John Tavares (2)
2nd Period:
TB: 1, NYI: 5 - Michael Grabner (1); Kyle Okposo (1)
3rd Period:
3rd Period:
No Scoring
Goaltending:
Dwayne Roloson - 13 saves on 18 shots, .722 SV%
Mathieu Garon - 16 saves on 16 shots, 1.000 SV%
Mathieu Garon - 16 saves on 16 shots, 1.000 SV%
Al Montoya - 34 saves on 35 shots, .971 SV%
Final Score: 5-1 NYI
Attendance: 9,759
Notables:
The Isles best player was their best player tonight, as John Tavares was all over the ice in the first period. He scored two goals and assisted on two others. He played physically in all three zones, and backchecked extremely hard. His linemates, Matt Moulson and P.A. Parenteau also had fantastic games as both scored a goal and had an assist in the first period as well.
Al Montoya was solid in net again tonight, stopping 34 on 35 shots. While he wasn't really tested that much, he made the saves that he needed to make as he continues to establish himself as the team's #1 goaltender. There is no reason that he should not be in net against the Rangers on Saturday night. You know it would mean a lot to him too, given his history with the team.
Words cannot express how much Mark Streit means to this team. The little subtleties he brings to the table provide a calmness to the rest of the defense. Both Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic will learn a lot from him this season as they continue to progress into legitimate top-4 defensemen.
Speaking of team defense, the Islanders have allowed a total of four goals this season. A big reason for that? Attentiveness to team defense, especially by the forwards. Big marks to the fourth line of Marty Reasoner, Matt Martin, and Jay Pandolfo. They have been the Isles most consistent line, doing exactly what they need to do. Pandolfo has especially been an extremely under-the-radar acquisition, but a good one through three games.
Blake Comeau needs to pick his game up, as the third line is toiling right now. That said, Josh Bailey had a complete game in all three zones today, giving the Islanders exactly what they should expect from a third line center.
No one even bothered to try and respond to the liberties Lightning players, especially Victor Hedman, were taking on John Tavares. Matt Martin did say something to Hedman at the end of the game, but as strong as he has gotten, the Isles cannot afford to have Tavares taking huge hits every shift. The answer, however, is not Trevor Gillies.
Former Islander Dwayne Roloson never had a chance tonight. The Tampa defense was nowhere to be found, but it didn't help that John Tavares had a phenomenal night either.
OHL Alert: Ryan Strome had a hat-trick in his first game back for the IceDogs as they defeated the Belleville Bulls tonight. Clearly, he was not all that affected by getting sent down.
Al Montoya was solid in net again tonight, stopping 34 on 35 shots. While he wasn't really tested that much, he made the saves that he needed to make as he continues to establish himself as the team's #1 goaltender. There is no reason that he should not be in net against the Rangers on Saturday night. You know it would mean a lot to him too, given his history with the team.
Words cannot express how much Mark Streit means to this team. The little subtleties he brings to the table provide a calmness to the rest of the defense. Both Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic will learn a lot from him this season as they continue to progress into legitimate top-4 defensemen.
Speaking of team defense, the Islanders have allowed a total of four goals this season. A big reason for that? Attentiveness to team defense, especially by the forwards. Big marks to the fourth line of Marty Reasoner, Matt Martin, and Jay Pandolfo. They have been the Isles most consistent line, doing exactly what they need to do. Pandolfo has especially been an extremely under-the-radar acquisition, but a good one through three games.
Blake Comeau needs to pick his game up, as the third line is toiling right now. That said, Josh Bailey had a complete game in all three zones today, giving the Islanders exactly what they should expect from a third line center.
No one even bothered to try and respond to the liberties Lightning players, especially Victor Hedman, were taking on John Tavares. Matt Martin did say something to Hedman at the end of the game, but as strong as he has gotten, the Isles cannot afford to have Tavares taking huge hits every shift. The answer, however, is not Trevor Gillies.
Former Islander Dwayne Roloson never had a chance tonight. The Tampa defense was nowhere to be found, but it didn't help that John Tavares had a phenomenal night either.
OHL Alert: Ryan Strome had a hat-trick in his first game back for the IceDogs as they defeated the Belleville Bulls tonight. Clearly, he was not all that affected by getting sent down.
Thoughts:
CH: Clearly, this was the Isles best game of the season. They played a great first period, a good attacking second period, and a smart, shut-down third period. They never let off the gas, even with a four goal lead - they just changed their style. This was obviously very encouraging based on the fact that the team can play different styles within a game to win. With the Rangers coming in after a cross-Atlantic flight and a week between games, the Islanders have a chance to make it a quality 3-1-0 homestand with a win. If they play 60 minutes, they will certainly have a great chance.
AT: Nice to see the Isles offense finally find it's groove, and the players who had been playing hard (Tavares most notably) finally get their due in the score sheet. The defense was solid even though they allowed 35 shots, the 4th line was absolutely monstrous both in forechecking and creating some offensive pressure, and the team as a whole played as they should have. Most notably for me was the PK unit, specifically Reasoner and Pandolfo. Two subtle additions in the offseason may turn out to be the two greatest, as right now they look to be one of the best PK units in the entire league.
AT: Nice to see the Isles offense finally find it's groove, and the players who had been playing hard (Tavares most notably) finally get their due in the score sheet. The defense was solid even though they allowed 35 shots, the 4th line was absolutely monstrous both in forechecking and creating some offensive pressure, and the team as a whole played as they should have. Most notably for me was the PK unit, specifically Reasoner and Pandolfo. Two subtle additions in the offseason may turn out to be the two greatest, as right now they look to be one of the best PK units in the entire league.
Next game: The Islanders next game is Saturday night at the Nassau Coliseum against the New York Rangers. Game time is at 7:00 PM and will be broadcast on MSG+.
Oct 13, 2011
News: Strome Sent Back, Kabanov, Injury Updates
The Islanders announced that 2011 first round pick Ryan Strome has been sent back to Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League. In a somewhat unusual circumstance, Strome was kept on the roster for the team's first two games but did not play.
CH: This is the correct and obvious move here. Like we said, Strome is not physically ready for the NHL, and having him play games would have been a mistake. He will go back to a Niagara team that has stumbled a bit out of the gate and be a main contributor for a team that should be in the playoffs. While this week may have been a waste from a fans' standpoint, Strome claims he learned a lot, which in the grand scheme of things is important.
AT: The only positive to having Strome up for the two games was that he was able to take part in NHL practices, but this is obviously the right move. Niagara is going to be a force in the OHL this year and compete heavily for the Memorial Cup, so this was the best possible option for all parties. Strome gets to develop further, and Islander fans get to see a well developed Strome in a few years.
Kirill Kabanov has found a home for the time being as he will play for Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League on a one month tryout. Kabanov has recently stayed on Long Island as he continues to try and find a place to play.
CH: It's only a month but this is exactly the league that Kabanov should be playing in. We knew the KHL would not take him back, and given the amount of talent that has come through the SEL, he is at the right level. The nature of the league is somewhat defensive, so even if Kabanov only plays fourth line minutes, he will learn a lot of valuable lessons there. We can worry about the future when it comes, but for now this is a relatively good situation for Kabanov given the circumstances.
AT: Even if it's 4th line minutes, playing time is playing time. The SEL is a professional league where many other prospects as well as veterans play, so Kabanov will have an interesting time finding a chemistry with both the younger and older players of the game. While everyone including myself still prefers him to be in the Q, sometimes extenuating circumstances force other action to be taken.
Rick DiPietro continues to be re-evaluated after getting hit in the head by a Brian Rolston snapshot in Wednesday's practice. Doctors have not ruled a concussion out just yet, according to Katie Strang. DiPietro will not dress for Thursday's game against Tampa Bay. Evgeni Nabokov will back-up Al Montoya.
CH: DiPietro cannot seem to catch a break. I know that he is a very polarizing figure in Islander country these days, but you have to feel bad for him. This is a freak incident that may have been brought on by previous concussions, so there is nothing anyone could have done.
AT: Really is a shame. He seemed to be fully healthy coming into this year, but everyone was so focused on his knees that his concussion problems in the past weren't really on anyone's radar. Hopefully the situation is monitored properly and DiPietro can return to back up Montoya and put up a few solid games here and there.
Finally, Trevor Gillies comes off IR today and replaces Ryan Strome on the active roster.
AT: Fear the 'stash.
CH: This is the correct and obvious move here. Like we said, Strome is not physically ready for the NHL, and having him play games would have been a mistake. He will go back to a Niagara team that has stumbled a bit out of the gate and be a main contributor for a team that should be in the playoffs. While this week may have been a waste from a fans' standpoint, Strome claims he learned a lot, which in the grand scheme of things is important.
AT: The only positive to having Strome up for the two games was that he was able to take part in NHL practices, but this is obviously the right move. Niagara is going to be a force in the OHL this year and compete heavily for the Memorial Cup, so this was the best possible option for all parties. Strome gets to develop further, and Islander fans get to see a well developed Strome in a few years.
Kirill Kabanov has found a home for the time being as he will play for Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League on a one month tryout. Kabanov has recently stayed on Long Island as he continues to try and find a place to play.
CH: It's only a month but this is exactly the league that Kabanov should be playing in. We knew the KHL would not take him back, and given the amount of talent that has come through the SEL, he is at the right level. The nature of the league is somewhat defensive, so even if Kabanov only plays fourth line minutes, he will learn a lot of valuable lessons there. We can worry about the future when it comes, but for now this is a relatively good situation for Kabanov given the circumstances.
AT: Even if it's 4th line minutes, playing time is playing time. The SEL is a professional league where many other prospects as well as veterans play, so Kabanov will have an interesting time finding a chemistry with both the younger and older players of the game. While everyone including myself still prefers him to be in the Q, sometimes extenuating circumstances force other action to be taken.
Rick DiPietro continues to be re-evaluated after getting hit in the head by a Brian Rolston snapshot in Wednesday's practice. Doctors have not ruled a concussion out just yet, according to Katie Strang. DiPietro will not dress for Thursday's game against Tampa Bay. Evgeni Nabokov will back-up Al Montoya.
CH: DiPietro cannot seem to catch a break. I know that he is a very polarizing figure in Islander country these days, but you have to feel bad for him. This is a freak incident that may have been brought on by previous concussions, so there is nothing anyone could have done.
AT: Really is a shame. He seemed to be fully healthy coming into this year, but everyone was so focused on his knees that his concussion problems in the past weren't really on anyone's radar. Hopefully the situation is monitored properly and DiPietro can return to back up Montoya and put up a few solid games here and there.
Finally, Trevor Gillies comes off IR today and replaces Ryan Strome on the active roster.
AT: Fear the 'stash.
Game Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Islanders
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (1-1-1) vs.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS (1-1-0)
The Essentials
NEW YORK ISLANDERS (1-1-0)
The Essentials
October 13, 2011 - 7:00 PM
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Uniondale, NY
TV: MSG (NYI), SUN (MIN)
The Season Series
10/13 vs. Tampa Bay
10/20 at Tampa Bay
12/6 vs. Tampa Bay
3/24 at Tampa Bay
10/20 at Tampa Bay
12/6 vs. Tampa Bay
3/24 at Tampa Bay
The Goalies
TB: 30 - Dwayne Roloson (Back-Up: Mathieu Garon)
NYI: 35 - Al Montoya (Back-Up: Evgeni Nabokov)
The Scratches
TB: 49 - Blair Jones (Healthy), 7 - Michel Ouellet (Healthy), 11 - Tom Pyatt (Healthy), 97 - Matt Gilroy (Healthy), 50 - Richard Petiot (Healthy)
NYI: 14 - Trevor Gillies (IR), 25 - Nino Niederreiter (IR), 8 - Ryan Strome (Healthy), 27 - Milan Jurcina (DTD), 39 - Rick DiPietro (DTD)
The Scratches
TB: 49 - Blair Jones (Healthy), 7 - Michel Ouellet (Healthy), 11 - Tom Pyatt (Healthy), 97 - Matt Gilroy (Healthy), 50 - Richard Petiot (Healthy)
NYI: 14 - Trevor Gillies (IR), 25 - Nino Niederreiter (IR), 8 - Ryan Strome (Healthy), 27 - Milan Jurcina (DTD), 39 - Rick DiPietro (DTD)
The Line-Ups
Tampa Bay Lightning
9 Steve Downie - 91 Steven Stamkos - 26 Marty St. Louis
12 Ryan Malone - 4 Vinny Lecavalier - 16 Teddy Purcell
22 Ryan Shannon - 19 Dominic Moore - 14 Brett Connolly
21 Mattias Ritola - 44 Nate Thompson - 18 Adam Hall
77 Victor Hedman - 2 Eric Brewer
47 Marc-Andre Bergeron - 13 Pavel Kubina
7 Brett Clark - 27 Bruno Gervais
12 Ryan Malone - 4 Vinny Lecavalier - 16 Teddy Purcell
22 Ryan Shannon - 19 Dominic Moore - 14 Brett Connolly
21 Mattias Ritola - 44 Nate Thompson - 18 Adam Hall
77 Victor Hedman - 2 Eric Brewer
47 Marc-Andre Bergeron - 13 Pavel Kubina
7 Brett Clark - 27 Bruno Gervais
New York Islanders
26 Matt Moulson - 91 John Tavares - 15 P.A. Parenteau
40 Michael Grabner - 51 Frans Nielsen - 21 Kyle Okposo
11 Brian Rolston - 12 Josh Bailey - 57 Blake Comeau
17 Matt Martin - 16 Marty Reasoner - 29 Jay Pandolfo
2 Mark Streit - 24 Steve Staios
47 Andrew MacDonald - 3 Travis Hamonic
4 Mark Eaton - 10 Mike Mottau
Let's Go Islanders.
Prospect Report: October 12, 2011
October 12, 2011
KHL - Chelyabinsk - 2, Ak Bars - 1
Kirill Petrov - 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 12 GP, 6 G, 3 A, +3, 2 PIM
WHL - Spokane - 4, Brandon - 3
Brenden Kichton - 1 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 6 GP, 1 G, 4 A, -5, 13 PIM
WHL - Red Deer - 4, Lethbridge - 1
John Persson - 0 G, 2 A, +2, 0 PIM
Season: 7 GP, 2 G, 5 A, -5, 4 PIM
KHL - Chelyabinsk - 2, Ak Bars - 1
Kirill Petrov - 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 12 GP, 6 G, 3 A, +3, 2 PIM
WHL - Spokane - 4, Brandon - 3
Brenden Kichton - 1 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 6 GP, 1 G, 4 A, -5, 13 PIM
WHL - Red Deer - 4, Lethbridge - 1
John Persson - 0 G, 2 A, +2, 0 PIM
Season: 7 GP, 2 G, 5 A, -5, 4 PIM
Prospects: Kabanov Unhappy with North America/NHL?
Journalist Dmitry Chesnokov reported that Islanders prospect Kirill Kabanov, in an interview with Sports.ru, spoke on his current situation with Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL. The team has two international players on their roster already, and due to QMJHL stipulations, must either sit out or play in Europe. Kabanov expressed his frustration, although has recently refuted his statements via social media.
AT: This is such a shame. After developing such a solid chemistry with his linemates on Lewiston last year, Kabanov had to suffer one heartbreak when his team was dissolved and he was drafted to Blainville-Boisbriand (then the Montreal Juniors) in a special draft. Now, he's unable to even play hockey, and it's up to the Islanders and Kabanov to figure out a situation as to where he can play. Right now, it's looking like the most likely situation for Kabanov would be playing for a team in the Swedish Elite League or going back to the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia. Kabanov can technically still play in the QMJHL if Viktor Hertzberg, another international player playing with the Armada, leaves the team. That does seem likely seeing as how he's had a lot of injuries and may not even be able to continue playing hockey, but as of right now everything is still up in the air.
That leaves the two most likely options: He can be loaned out to either the SEL or the KHL. Neither league is known for giving young prospects much playing time, and Kabanov, even with his talent, will be no exception. It would be wise to loan him out to a team like Frolunda (SEL) or Ak Bars (KHL) so he can play with other Isles prospects Johan Sundstrom and Kirill Petrov, respectively. He'll be playing 4th line minutes, but he'll be playing, and that's the most important thing right now. Better to play 5 minutes a game than to dwell on Long Island losing over a year of development time.
As for Kabanov's comments, I wouldn't be too concerned about them. Kabanov has come a long way since his days of immaturity as a 16 and 17 year old teenager, and has shown massive progress in his desire to be a better person and player. He is clearly upset that he's not playing right now and at the instability in his life, and as a fellow 19 year old I can understand how such major instability at an age like this can cause an incredible amount of stress. He has some extra kinks to work out in his career, but I have faith that he'll be able to. It will only create an even better story for when he develops into the player we know he can be.
CH: I do agree that Kabanov's comments were taken out of context and that there was a translation error in talking about his happiness in North America. After looking fully into this situation, I expect Kabanov to end up in Sweden, though it's still too early to say. After all of the disparaging remarks he made towards the KHL, it seems unlikely that he will be able to go back there even if he currently has a standing offer. Obviously, Kabanov has a lot of talent so getting him a place to play is the first priority. The rest will all take care of itself as he will most likely be in Bridgeport to start next season.
The Isles made the correct decision in not keeping him in the NHL, as he is not ready to play at that level. At 19 years old, Bridgeport unfortunately is not an option due to the NHL/CHL agreement. While it would be nice to make an exception in this rare case, there is no loophole in the rule regarding a team's overabundance of European players. So that leaves a teenager with no place to play as we works on his fourth team in the last three seasons. Some of that is his fault, but the poor kid can't catch a break. All the Isles can do is hope that this is not a wasted year for Kabanov.
AT: This is such a shame. After developing such a solid chemistry with his linemates on Lewiston last year, Kabanov had to suffer one heartbreak when his team was dissolved and he was drafted to Blainville-Boisbriand (then the Montreal Juniors) in a special draft. Now, he's unable to even play hockey, and it's up to the Islanders and Kabanov to figure out a situation as to where he can play. Right now, it's looking like the most likely situation for Kabanov would be playing for a team in the Swedish Elite League or going back to the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia. Kabanov can technically still play in the QMJHL if Viktor Hertzberg, another international player playing with the Armada, leaves the team. That does seem likely seeing as how he's had a lot of injuries and may not even be able to continue playing hockey, but as of right now everything is still up in the air.
That leaves the two most likely options: He can be loaned out to either the SEL or the KHL. Neither league is known for giving young prospects much playing time, and Kabanov, even with his talent, will be no exception. It would be wise to loan him out to a team like Frolunda (SEL) or Ak Bars (KHL) so he can play with other Isles prospects Johan Sundstrom and Kirill Petrov, respectively. He'll be playing 4th line minutes, but he'll be playing, and that's the most important thing right now. Better to play 5 minutes a game than to dwell on Long Island losing over a year of development time.
As for Kabanov's comments, I wouldn't be too concerned about them. Kabanov has come a long way since his days of immaturity as a 16 and 17 year old teenager, and has shown massive progress in his desire to be a better person and player. He is clearly upset that he's not playing right now and at the instability in his life, and as a fellow 19 year old I can understand how such major instability at an age like this can cause an incredible amount of stress. He has some extra kinks to work out in his career, but I have faith that he'll be able to. It will only create an even better story for when he develops into the player we know he can be.
CH: I do agree that Kabanov's comments were taken out of context and that there was a translation error in talking about his happiness in North America. After looking fully into this situation, I expect Kabanov to end up in Sweden, though it's still too early to say. After all of the disparaging remarks he made towards the KHL, it seems unlikely that he will be able to go back there even if he currently has a standing offer. Obviously, Kabanov has a lot of talent so getting him a place to play is the first priority. The rest will all take care of itself as he will most likely be in Bridgeport to start next season.
The Isles made the correct decision in not keeping him in the NHL, as he is not ready to play at that level. At 19 years old, Bridgeport unfortunately is not an option due to the NHL/CHL agreement. While it would be nice to make an exception in this rare case, there is no loophole in the rule regarding a team's overabundance of European players. So that leaves a teenager with no place to play as we works on his fourth team in the last three seasons. Some of that is his fault, but the poor kid can't catch a break. All the Isles can do is hope that this is not a wasted year for Kabanov.
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