September 26, 2011
KHL - Ak Bars - 4, Siberia - 3
Kirill Petrov - 0 G, 0 A, +1, 0 PIM
Season: 6 GP, 3 G, 1 A, +4, 0 PIM
Sep 27, 2011
Season Preview: Milan Jurcina
Milan Jurcina
Position: Defenseman
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 236 lbs
Birthdate: June 7th, 1983 (28 years old)
Birthplace: Liptovsky Mikulas, Czechoslovakia (Present day Slovakia)
Acquired: Signed Free Agent, 2010
2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats: 46 GP - 4 G - 13 A - 17 P - 30 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Bottom Pairing D-Man
Last year: Signed to a 1 year deal by the Islanders in the 2010 offseason, a usually overlooked Jurcina provided a pleasant stability on defense. Originally known for not using his body as much as he could, Jurcina stepped up his physical game when he returned from injuries and provided positional play that was above average for a lower pairing D-man. He contributed 125 hits to the team and ended up being a major physical presence that the Islanders so dearly needed. However, groin and hip injuries ended his year early, leaving him with only 46 games played for the season. Jurcina also re-signed with the Islanders for another year at $1.6M, a hefty raise from his $1M the year prior.
Expectations: Jurcina could be filling in any role from the top slot with Streit to pairing with Hamonic or MacDonald on the 2nd to returning to his chemistry with Mark Eaton on the 3rd pairing, as it should be. Jurcina, when healthy, provides us a stable defensive force who can also contribute offensively with his laser shot and smooth outlet passing. Health has been an issue for "Juice" the past two seasons, but a healthy offseason should help bring back some stability in his medical track record. If Juice continues his physical play, the Islanders will have some great snarl in the back end once more.
Projections: GP 64 - 6 G - 14 A - 20 P
Thoughts:
AT: Healthy Islanders defenseman? But we let go of Radek Martinek! Jokes aside, Jurcina is a very solid player who was underrated for years on defensively stacked Boston and Washington teams, and is finding a solid place in the lineup on the Islanders. His offensive skills already adding to the abilities of MacDonald, Streit and Hamonic are going to help spread out the O a bit more this year, as long as everyone stays healthy. Seems like such a dangerous and taboo word to say nowadays as if not to jinx anything. We know what we have with Juice and he's doing job of taking advantage of his opportunity here. He's still young at 28 and if he provides 60+ games and the same physical play he provided last year, could be re-signed to another contract. Once again, all boils down to health in the end. Anyone got a band-aid?
CH: Jurcina finally broke out last season after a tough season in 2009-10 where he was sidelined for almost half the season playing for the Capitals and Blue Jackets. Unfortunately, he was hurt a lot last year as well, so questions regarding his durability remain. However, he proved that he is a big, mobile, two-way defenseman who can use his body in front of the net and along the boards. He will never be a big hitter, such as Brendan Witt, but he is certainly more physical than he gets credit for. Jurcina's extension was well deserved, and he will play a huge part for the Islanders this upcoming season. He just needs to stay healthy, and if he does, it's not unreasonable to think another extension may be on the way for a defenseman just entering his prime.
Position: Defenseman
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 236 lbs
Birthdate: June 7th, 1983 (28 years old)
Birthplace: Liptovsky Mikulas, Czechoslovakia (Present day Slovakia)
Acquired: Signed Free Agent, 2010
2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats: 46 GP - 4 G - 13 A - 17 P - 30 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Bottom Pairing D-Man
Last year: Signed to a 1 year deal by the Islanders in the 2010 offseason, a usually overlooked Jurcina provided a pleasant stability on defense. Originally known for not using his body as much as he could, Jurcina stepped up his physical game when he returned from injuries and provided positional play that was above average for a lower pairing D-man. He contributed 125 hits to the team and ended up being a major physical presence that the Islanders so dearly needed. However, groin and hip injuries ended his year early, leaving him with only 46 games played for the season. Jurcina also re-signed with the Islanders for another year at $1.6M, a hefty raise from his $1M the year prior.
Expectations: Jurcina could be filling in any role from the top slot with Streit to pairing with Hamonic or MacDonald on the 2nd to returning to his chemistry with Mark Eaton on the 3rd pairing, as it should be. Jurcina, when healthy, provides us a stable defensive force who can also contribute offensively with his laser shot and smooth outlet passing. Health has been an issue for "Juice" the past two seasons, but a healthy offseason should help bring back some stability in his medical track record. If Juice continues his physical play, the Islanders will have some great snarl in the back end once more.
Projections: GP 64 - 6 G - 14 A - 20 P
Thoughts:
AT: Healthy Islanders defenseman? But we let go of Radek Martinek! Jokes aside, Jurcina is a very solid player who was underrated for years on defensively stacked Boston and Washington teams, and is finding a solid place in the lineup on the Islanders. His offensive skills already adding to the abilities of MacDonald, Streit and Hamonic are going to help spread out the O a bit more this year, as long as everyone stays healthy. Seems like such a dangerous and taboo word to say nowadays as if not to jinx anything. We know what we have with Juice and he's doing job of taking advantage of his opportunity here. He's still young at 28 and if he provides 60+ games and the same physical play he provided last year, could be re-signed to another contract. Once again, all boils down to health in the end. Anyone got a band-aid?
CH: Jurcina finally broke out last season after a tough season in 2009-10 where he was sidelined for almost half the season playing for the Capitals and Blue Jackets. Unfortunately, he was hurt a lot last year as well, so questions regarding his durability remain. However, he proved that he is a big, mobile, two-way defenseman who can use his body in front of the net and along the boards. He will never be a big hitter, such as Brendan Witt, but he is certainly more physical than he gets credit for. Jurcina's extension was well deserved, and he will play a huge part for the Islanders this upcoming season. He just needs to stay healthy, and if he does, it's not unreasonable to think another extension may be on the way for a defenseman just entering his prime.
Sep 26, 2011
Prospect Report: September 25, 2011
September 25, 2011
OHL - London - 2, Guelph - 1 (SO)
Andrey Pedan - DNP (One game suspension due to third man in)
Season: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
WHL - Red Deer - 4, Edmonton - 3 (OT)
John Persson - 1 G, 1 A, Even, 4 PIM
Season: 2 GP, 1 G, 2 A, Even, 4 PIM
John Persson - 1 G, 1 A, Even, 4 PIM
Season: 2 GP, 1 G, 2 A, Even, 4 PIM
Season Preview: Rick DiPietro
 |
| NY Post |
Position: Goaltender
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 209 lbs
Birthdate: September 19th, 1981 (30 years old)
Birthplace: Winthrop, Massachusetts, United States
Acquired: Draft - 1st Round, 1st Overall, 2000 NHL Entry Draft
2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats (STP): 26 GP - 8-14-4 - 3.44 GAA - .886 SV PCT
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Unknown as of this point, rotating with 3 goalies
Last year: After two frustrating seasons, in which DiPietro played only 13 games, the goaltender returned healthy enough to play 26 games during the 2010-11 season. DiPietro was extremely inconsistent, notching only 8 wins (including one shutout against New Jersey) in those games. His goals against and save percentage were close to the bottom of the league, which supported the notion that he was not the same goaltender he was between 2006-2008. However, some of this was due to the fact that DiPietro was not completely healthy. DiPietro landed on IR twice last season, including once after being knocked out by Penguins goaltender Brent Johnson in February. Overall, DiPietro split time over the course of the season with guys like Dwayne Roloson and Al Montoya, and did not re-establish himself as the Isles starting goaltender.
Expectations: With ten years left on his contract, DiPietro will surely need to be better this upcoming season. The Islanders have a lot invested in him, and considering their financial constraints, he will need to at least perform up to the value for which they are paying him. There are a ton of questions surrounding the goaltending situation, but with three goaltenders with a lot to offer, there will be hefty competition to earn the maximum amount of playing time. Islanders coach Jack Capuano seems sincere when he says that whoever is playing the best will play. For now, there is no reason to doubt him, which means that DiPietro will need to step his game up to play this season. Frankly, that's how it should be. He started off great with a solid pre-season debut in Boston. It's imperative that he maintain, or even exceed that level of play. If he does that, the Isles will be in a much better place.
Projections: 24 GP - 7-12-5 - 3.22 GAA - .888 SV %
Thoughts:
CH: Despite the prediction above, the truth is that DiPietro's season could go in one hundred different directions. After seeing him in Boston, he looks better. He was positionally as good as he has been in his career, he was moving laterally at an adequate speed, and he did not fumble the puck too often. But it's only two periods of the first pre-season game. How will his body hold up? Can he stay at that level of play? For now, it's just too difficult to predict. The good thing is that the Islanders once again have prepared for the worst by having Al Montoya and Evgeni Nabokov under contract. But they cannot continually go with three goalie rotations for the next ten years. Not with top prospects like Kevin Poulin and Anders Nilsson in the minors. So it will be very interesting to see how DiPietro responds this year. Because any record under .500 will certainly hurt the Isles playoff chances. The bottom line is simple: he needs to perform better than last year. Time will tell if he does.
AT: After his first offseason completely healthy (so far) and a promising start in Boston the other night, DiPietro finally appears to be ready to go for at least 40 games this season, if not more. His lateral movement seemed to return and his quickness in general was much more efficient than anything we'd seen last season. This was also playing with a limited defense against a nearly fully manned Boston squad, so that provides even more hope. At this point, it's just a wait and see game, but Jack Capuano NEEDS to make it clear that if Al Montoya and Evgeni Nabokov outperform DiPietro for the rest of the preseason, they should be on top of the totem pole. Management and the coaching staff need to send a message to the fans that they will not retain a player who is under-performing, and if need be will take the necessary steps to ensure the team is the best it can be. This is going to be a major season for DiPietro in his return to regular playing time, if the aforementioned even occurs.
Sep 25, 2011
Prospect Report: September 24, 2011
September 23, 2011
KHL - Metallurg - 4, Ak Bars - 3
Kirill Petrov - 1 G, 0 A, +1, 0 PIM
Season: 5 GP, 3 G, 1 A, +3, 0 PIM
SEL - AIK - 1, Frolunda - 0
Johan Sundstrom - 0 G, 0 A, 0 PIM
Season: 5 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 2 PIM
WHL - Tri-City - 4, Spokane - 1
Brenden Kichton - 0 G, 1 A, -1, 2 PIM
Season: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, -1, 2 PIM
KHL - Metallurg - 4, Ak Bars - 3
Kirill Petrov - 1 G, 0 A, +1, 0 PIM
Season: 5 GP, 3 G, 1 A, +3, 0 PIM
SEL - AIK - 1, Frolunda - 0
Johan Sundstrom - 0 G, 0 A, 0 PIM
Season: 5 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 2 PIM
WHL - Tri-City - 4, Spokane - 1
Brenden Kichton - 0 G, 1 A, -1, 2 PIM
Season: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, -1, 2 PIM
Sep 24, 2011
Season Preview: Evgeni Nabokov
Evgeni Nabokov
Position: Goaltender
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 200 lbs
Birthdate: July 25th, 1975 (36 years old)
Birthplace: Kamenogorsk, USSR (Kazakhstan)
Acquired: Claimed off waivers, 2011
2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders (DNP)/St. Petersburg (KHL)
2010-2011 Stats (STP): 22 GP - 8 W - 8 L - 3.02 GAA - .888 SV PCT
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Unknown as of this point, rotating with 3 goalies
Last year: Nabokov, after receiving no offers to his liking in the NHL, decided to play for St. Petersburg of the KHL. However, he performed very on a very subpar level, and soon decided to come back into the NHL. He was signed to a 1 year deal by the Detroit Red Wings, but he needed to go through waivers in first in order to play, leaving him susceptible to being claimed by any team. The Islanders were the lowest ranked team at the moment to put in a claim for him which meant they had priority, and claimed Nabokov off waivers. However, after his agent had stated Nabokov would play for whoever claimed him, Nabokov refused to report to Long Island. His contract was tolled by the Islanders, which leaves him with a year long contract for this year.
Expectations: Nabokov has been training on Long Island and still should have another year left in the tank if not more, so if the Islanders decide to hang on to him we could be in for a treat. Not long ago in the 09-10 season, Nabokov was absolutely lights out in the regular season, and could be again for the Islanders if he's chosen as the starter. We know the capability he has, but after gaining some rust and playing on a lesser level, it's worried some fans that he will not be able to compete on the level he used to be on. The only way to tell at this point is how he plays in the rest of pre-season. The most likely scenario at this point is that he rotates games with Rick DiPietro and Al Montoya.
Projections: 29 GP - 17 W - 12 L - 2.53 GAA - .910 SV PCT
Thoughts:
AT: We know the kind of goalie that Nabokov is, but after a pisspoor season in Russia, a terrible WCs and generally not playing as much as he should've been, you have to wonder how much rust is on Nabokov. If he proves that he can perform at his prior level however, he should be our #1 goalie. There is no question in my mind that he is a bonafide #1 who can lead this team back to the playoffs. If he's healthy and if he's back in form, DiPietro should take a seat. Whether that would actually happen is very questionable, but we may have a route back to the playoffs here. If they're seeking to return this franchise to greatness, that would be the way to do it.
CH: Personally, I am very excited to see Nabokov suit up for the Islanders this year. With the uncertainty surrounding an inconsistent Rick DiPietro and an unproven Al Montoya, Nabokov has an opportunity to come in and prove that he is the same goaltender that won 40 games a season for the San Jose Sharks in the last decade. Yes, he had a poor season and yes, the relationship with the fans is not terribly strong at this time - but Nabokov may very well prove to be the team's best option in net. The Isles would be best suited to keep him around this season, because they are a more competitive team with three options in net as opposed to two. The goaltending situation is certainly a very interesting one, but at the very least is a good problem to have.
Position: Goaltender
Height: 6'0"Weight: 200 lbs
Birthdate: July 25th, 1975 (36 years old)
Birthplace: Kamenogorsk, USSR (Kazakhstan)
Acquired: Claimed off waivers, 2011
2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders (DNP)/St. Petersburg (KHL)
2010-2011 Stats (STP): 22 GP - 8 W - 8 L - 3.02 GAA - .888 SV PCT
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Unknown as of this point, rotating with 3 goalies
Last year: Nabokov, after receiving no offers to his liking in the NHL, decided to play for St. Petersburg of the KHL. However, he performed very on a very subpar level, and soon decided to come back into the NHL. He was signed to a 1 year deal by the Detroit Red Wings, but he needed to go through waivers in first in order to play, leaving him susceptible to being claimed by any team. The Islanders were the lowest ranked team at the moment to put in a claim for him which meant they had priority, and claimed Nabokov off waivers. However, after his agent had stated Nabokov would play for whoever claimed him, Nabokov refused to report to Long Island. His contract was tolled by the Islanders, which leaves him with a year long contract for this year.
Expectations: Nabokov has been training on Long Island and still should have another year left in the tank if not more, so if the Islanders decide to hang on to him we could be in for a treat. Not long ago in the 09-10 season, Nabokov was absolutely lights out in the regular season, and could be again for the Islanders if he's chosen as the starter. We know the capability he has, but after gaining some rust and playing on a lesser level, it's worried some fans that he will not be able to compete on the level he used to be on. The only way to tell at this point is how he plays in the rest of pre-season. The most likely scenario at this point is that he rotates games with Rick DiPietro and Al Montoya.
Projections: 29 GP - 17 W - 12 L - 2.53 GAA - .910 SV PCT
Thoughts:
AT: We know the kind of goalie that Nabokov is, but after a pisspoor season in Russia, a terrible WCs and generally not playing as much as he should've been, you have to wonder how much rust is on Nabokov. If he proves that he can perform at his prior level however, he should be our #1 goalie. There is no question in my mind that he is a bonafide #1 who can lead this team back to the playoffs. If he's healthy and if he's back in form, DiPietro should take a seat. Whether that would actually happen is very questionable, but we may have a route back to the playoffs here. If they're seeking to return this franchise to greatness, that would be the way to do it.
CH: Personally, I am very excited to see Nabokov suit up for the Islanders this year. With the uncertainty surrounding an inconsistent Rick DiPietro and an unproven Al Montoya, Nabokov has an opportunity to come in and prove that he is the same goaltender that won 40 games a season for the San Jose Sharks in the last decade. Yes, he had a poor season and yes, the relationship with the fans is not terribly strong at this time - but Nabokov may very well prove to be the team's best option in net. The Isles would be best suited to keep him around this season, because they are a more competitive team with three options in net as opposed to two. The goaltending situation is certainly a very interesting one, but at the very least is a good problem to have.
Recap: Islanders 6, Devils 2
The New York Islanders (1-1-0) defeated the New Jersey Devils (0-2-0) 6-2 in their 2nd preseason game and first and only game at home tonight at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Islanders captain Mark Streit played his first game in 17 months.
1st Period
NYI 1: NJD 0 - Kyle Okposo (1), Michael Grabner (1)
NYI 2: NJD 0 - Mark Streit (1 - PP), Matt Moulson (1), Frans Niselsen (1)
NYI 2: NJD 1 - Nick Palmieri (1), Matthew Corrente (1), Matt Taormina (1)
2nd Period
NYI 3: NJD 1 - Frans Nielsen (1- PP), John Tavares (1), Mark Streit (1)
NYI 4: NJD 1 - Steve Staios (1), Mark Streit (2)
NYI 5: NJD 1 - Matt Moulson (1) - Unassisted
NYI 5: NJD 2 - Mattias Tedenby (1), David Clarkson (1), Patrik Elias (1)
3rd Period
NYI 6: NJD 2 - Matt Moulson (2 - PP), Travis Hamonic (1), Frans Nielsen (2)
Goaltending
Al Montoya - 8 saves on 9 shots, .888 SV PCT
Kevin Poulin - 16 saves on 17 shots, .940 SV PCT
Johan Hedberg - 20 saves on 26 shots, .769 SV PCT
Final Score: 6-2
Attendance: 7,107
1st period - The game started off with the Islanders roaring out of the gate, clearly outplaying the Devils. As a whole the defense was performing to a much higher level, most likely due to the reinsertion of a #1 D-man in Streit returning to the lineup. Michael Grabner sent a beautiful pass over to Kyle Okposo at 10:35 in to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead, and 5 minutes later on a powerplay, Mark Streit showed he was back and better than ever by ripping a shot home to increase the Isles' lead by 2. A few minutes later, Nick Palmieri sent a shot past Al Montoya to help the Devils catch up, keeping the score at 2-1 as the 1st period ending.
2nd period - After a David Clarkson penalty, the Isles went back to the PP. After a nice setup by John Tavares, Frans Nielsen hammered home a goal to increase the lead to 3-1. Tryout veteran d-man Steve Staios ripped home a slapshot at 12:47 that was assisted by Mark Streit, giving Streit a 3 point night. Matt Moulson came in on the wing on a 2 on one and sniped one over the right shoulder of Johan Hedberg, giving the Isles a 5-1 lead. Trevor Gillies and Cam Janssen also had a nice scrap in the 2nd that was on all accounts a draw, and came about when Janssen landed a hit on Martin that sent him to the lockerroom. Towards the end of the period, Mattias Tedenby hit Kevin Poulin over his shoulder for his first goal of the preseason.
3rd period - The Islanders continued their overwhelming dominance in this game, both in scoring and with a little help by Trevor Gillies in his second fight with Cam Janssen of the night, which lasted upwards of a minute and left Cam Janssen bloodied. Shortly after on a powerplay, Matt Moulson put his second tally on the scoresheet with an assist from Nielsen, giving the Dane a 3 point night. The Devils gave Kevin Poulin a good run for his money in this period, but Poulin stayed solid and kept the Devils scoreless in the 3rd.
- What can you possibly say about Islanders captain Mark Streit, playing his first game in 17 months? He played a very solid defensive game as he's always known for and showed that his shoulder had literally no rust on it from the time off. He was all over the ice and showed why we missed him so dearly last season, keeping the Isles powerplay very efficient, with the PP unit going 3 for 8 on the night. If you had no idea Streit had missed last season, there would be no way you would have known he hadn't played in such a long time. We welcome - and thank the hockey gods for - his return and hope to see more of this in the regular season. It was also notable that Streit played 23 minutes, more than any other Islander.
- A contract may just be being written up by Garth Snow right now for Steve Staios, who also had a fantastic defensive game. He was clearly playing his heart out to prove himself, and prove himself he did. His defensive work was on par with a top 4 d-man (I'm not insinuating anything...) and his goal tonight was fantastic. Staios clearly has taken this tryout contract very seriously and was playing like someone who truly deserves to make the team. If anything, even if he becomes the 7th d-man, he'd be a much better player for that position than Mike Mottau who was wholly unimpressive last night. Staios tonight proved exactly what hard work will get you.
- Beautiful assist to Kyle Okposo aside, Michael Grabner was absolutely on fire tonight. It still seems as if he needs to work on his hands as he had a few breakaways and missed one entirely wide of the net, but his defensive work with Okposo was fantastic. Everything that we saw from Grabner last season clearly carried over to this season, and if he keeps getting these chances I would not be surprised to see a 40 goal season out of Grabner this year. He's becoming an all around great player and has the potential to be... anything, really.
- After scaring the living daylights out of everyone with his second major knee injury last year, Kevin Poulin was lights out for most of the night. He made the saves he should've, and some he probably shouldn't have. His athleticism and lateral movement were still top notch, and his smart play continued. While every ounce of worry isn't completely gone, it's good to see him come back strong.
- Ryan Strome was playing with Jay Pandolfo and Tim Wallace, yet still was able to make himself noticed. His work ethic continues to be top notch and his time on the PP provided some great opportunities for the team. While his line assignment pretty much guaranteed he'll be sent back to Niagara, it was good just to see once again the type of player we have.
- Matt Moulson's snipe on his first goal proving - again - that he's no fluke. The skill is there and will remain. 30 goals again this season? I think that's a safe bet.
- John Tavares was setting up plays like it was his job tonight. Well, it is, but you get the point. He had one great attempt to Matt Moulson that was denied, and even though he only ended up with 1 assist, he could've easily had a 3-4 point night based on his play. He looked stronger and much bigger as well, as he's clearly been doing some heavy training in the offseason. Just makes you all the more excited for the regular season.
- Travis Hamonic continued his outstanding defensive work and had an absolute howitzer of a shot tipped in by Matt Moulson. While he's traditionally known for his defensive work which is outstanding, I have a feeling we're going to be seeing a lot of his offensive side as well this year if he keeps it up.
- Frans Nielsen showed why he's such a great all around player, potting a beauty on the power play in the 2nd period and helping to dish out another in the 1st. He ended up with a 3 point night and had an overall great game.
- For such a small kid, Aaron Ness did a pretty good job at blocking shots and was generally very efficient defensively tonight. Very on par with what's to be expected of him this year at Bridgeport.
- Josh Bailey had an okay game. Certainly better than yesterday and playing with a bit more passion, but his play in general is worrisome for the season. He had some nice play set ups in the 2nd and played decently defensively, but in general he needs to become more aggressive to ensure he stays on the puck.
- Nino Niederreiter was not overly impressive, but that may very well be due to the fact that he was playing on the first line while not really ready for it. He could and may very well be slotted into the 3rd line right now. At the moment, I would go with PAP over him on the 1st line, and put Nino with some combination of him, Comeau, Rolston or Bailey on the 3rd line. It wouldn't even be the worst idea to send him back to the WHL for another year.
AT: Overall, the team played a great game and really brought a lot of passion to the table that the Devils were clearly lacking. Very few players stood out in an ugly way, so that's always a general positive in my book. We see once again the kind of offensive power that this team has ready to go, and the defensive capability the team has, even without Andrew MacDonald on the roster. A game like this definitely made me even more excited for the regular season, and at this point the only thing you can hope for is a healthy team for the rest of the preseason.
CH: Just an all-around great game from the Isles tonight. They played well in all three zones - especially in the offensive zone. Their best players played like best players, which will be so important for this team going forward. On a night when the Isles played without MacDonald, Brian Rolston, Blake Comeau, P.A. Parenteau, and Marty Reasoner, they showed the potential is there to be a surprise team in the East.
Next game: The Islanders will face off against the Calgary Flames at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada at 9 PM Eastern Time on the NHL Network. The majority of the NHL roster should be playing for this one.
Boxscore:
(G, A)
1st Period
NYI 1: NJD 0 - Kyle Okposo (1), Michael Grabner (1)
NYI 2: NJD 0 - Mark Streit (1 - PP), Matt Moulson (1), Frans Niselsen (1)
NYI 2: NJD 1 - Nick Palmieri (1), Matthew Corrente (1), Matt Taormina (1)
2nd Period
NYI 3: NJD 1 - Frans Nielsen (1- PP), John Tavares (1), Mark Streit (1)
NYI 4: NJD 1 - Steve Staios (1), Mark Streit (2)
NYI 5: NJD 1 - Matt Moulson (1) - Unassisted
NYI 5: NJD 2 - Mattias Tedenby (1), David Clarkson (1), Patrik Elias (1)
3rd Period
NYI 6: NJD 2 - Matt Moulson (2 - PP), Travis Hamonic (1), Frans Nielsen (2)
Goaltending
Al Montoya - 8 saves on 9 shots, .888 SV PCT
Kevin Poulin - 16 saves on 17 shots, .940 SV PCT
Johan Hedberg - 20 saves on 26 shots, .769 SV PCT
Final Score: 6-2
Attendance: 7,107
Recap:
1st period - The game started off with the Islanders roaring out of the gate, clearly outplaying the Devils. As a whole the defense was performing to a much higher level, most likely due to the reinsertion of a #1 D-man in Streit returning to the lineup. Michael Grabner sent a beautiful pass over to Kyle Okposo at 10:35 in to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead, and 5 minutes later on a powerplay, Mark Streit showed he was back and better than ever by ripping a shot home to increase the Isles' lead by 2. A few minutes later, Nick Palmieri sent a shot past Al Montoya to help the Devils catch up, keeping the score at 2-1 as the 1st period ending.
2nd period - After a David Clarkson penalty, the Isles went back to the PP. After a nice setup by John Tavares, Frans Nielsen hammered home a goal to increase the lead to 3-1. Tryout veteran d-man Steve Staios ripped home a slapshot at 12:47 that was assisted by Mark Streit, giving Streit a 3 point night. Matt Moulson came in on the wing on a 2 on one and sniped one over the right shoulder of Johan Hedberg, giving the Isles a 5-1 lead. Trevor Gillies and Cam Janssen also had a nice scrap in the 2nd that was on all accounts a draw, and came about when Janssen landed a hit on Martin that sent him to the lockerroom. Towards the end of the period, Mattias Tedenby hit Kevin Poulin over his shoulder for his first goal of the preseason.
3rd period - The Islanders continued their overwhelming dominance in this game, both in scoring and with a little help by Trevor Gillies in his second fight with Cam Janssen of the night, which lasted upwards of a minute and left Cam Janssen bloodied. Shortly after on a powerplay, Matt Moulson put his second tally on the scoresheet with an assist from Nielsen, giving the Dane a 3 point night. The Devils gave Kevin Poulin a good run for his money in this period, but Poulin stayed solid and kept the Devils scoreless in the 3rd.
Notables:
- What can you possibly say about Islanders captain Mark Streit, playing his first game in 17 months? He played a very solid defensive game as he's always known for and showed that his shoulder had literally no rust on it from the time off. He was all over the ice and showed why we missed him so dearly last season, keeping the Isles powerplay very efficient, with the PP unit going 3 for 8 on the night. If you had no idea Streit had missed last season, there would be no way you would have known he hadn't played in such a long time. We welcome - and thank the hockey gods for - his return and hope to see more of this in the regular season. It was also notable that Streit played 23 minutes, more than any other Islander.
- A contract may just be being written up by Garth Snow right now for Steve Staios, who also had a fantastic defensive game. He was clearly playing his heart out to prove himself, and prove himself he did. His defensive work was on par with a top 4 d-man (I'm not insinuating anything...) and his goal tonight was fantastic. Staios clearly has taken this tryout contract very seriously and was playing like someone who truly deserves to make the team. If anything, even if he becomes the 7th d-man, he'd be a much better player for that position than Mike Mottau who was wholly unimpressive last night. Staios tonight proved exactly what hard work will get you.
- Beautiful assist to Kyle Okposo aside, Michael Grabner was absolutely on fire tonight. It still seems as if he needs to work on his hands as he had a few breakaways and missed one entirely wide of the net, but his defensive work with Okposo was fantastic. Everything that we saw from Grabner last season clearly carried over to this season, and if he keeps getting these chances I would not be surprised to see a 40 goal season out of Grabner this year. He's becoming an all around great player and has the potential to be... anything, really.
- After scaring the living daylights out of everyone with his second major knee injury last year, Kevin Poulin was lights out for most of the night. He made the saves he should've, and some he probably shouldn't have. His athleticism and lateral movement were still top notch, and his smart play continued. While every ounce of worry isn't completely gone, it's good to see him come back strong.
- Ryan Strome was playing with Jay Pandolfo and Tim Wallace, yet still was able to make himself noticed. His work ethic continues to be top notch and his time on the PP provided some great opportunities for the team. While his line assignment pretty much guaranteed he'll be sent back to Niagara, it was good just to see once again the type of player we have.
- Matt Moulson's snipe on his first goal proving - again - that he's no fluke. The skill is there and will remain. 30 goals again this season? I think that's a safe bet.
- John Tavares was setting up plays like it was his job tonight. Well, it is, but you get the point. He had one great attempt to Matt Moulson that was denied, and even though he only ended up with 1 assist, he could've easily had a 3-4 point night based on his play. He looked stronger and much bigger as well, as he's clearly been doing some heavy training in the offseason. Just makes you all the more excited for the regular season.
- Travis Hamonic continued his outstanding defensive work and had an absolute howitzer of a shot tipped in by Matt Moulson. While he's traditionally known for his defensive work which is outstanding, I have a feeling we're going to be seeing a lot of his offensive side as well this year if he keeps it up.
- Frans Nielsen showed why he's such a great all around player, potting a beauty on the power play in the 2nd period and helping to dish out another in the 1st. He ended up with a 3 point night and had an overall great game.
- For such a small kid, Aaron Ness did a pretty good job at blocking shots and was generally very efficient defensively tonight. Very on par with what's to be expected of him this year at Bridgeport.
- Josh Bailey had an okay game. Certainly better than yesterday and playing with a bit more passion, but his play in general is worrisome for the season. He had some nice play set ups in the 2nd and played decently defensively, but in general he needs to become more aggressive to ensure he stays on the puck.
- Nino Niederreiter was not overly impressive, but that may very well be due to the fact that he was playing on the first line while not really ready for it. He could and may very well be slotted into the 3rd line right now. At the moment, I would go with PAP over him on the 1st line, and put Nino with some combination of him, Comeau, Rolston or Bailey on the 3rd line. It wouldn't even be the worst idea to send him back to the WHL for another year.
Thoughts:
AT: Overall, the team played a great game and really brought a lot of passion to the table that the Devils were clearly lacking. Very few players stood out in an ugly way, so that's always a general positive in my book. We see once again the kind of offensive power that this team has ready to go, and the defensive capability the team has, even without Andrew MacDonald on the roster. A game like this definitely made me even more excited for the regular season, and at this point the only thing you can hope for is a healthy team for the rest of the preseason.
CH: Just an all-around great game from the Isles tonight. They played well in all three zones - especially in the offensive zone. Their best players played like best players, which will be so important for this team going forward. On a night when the Isles played without MacDonald, Brian Rolston, Blake Comeau, P.A. Parenteau, and Marty Reasoner, they showed the potential is there to be a surprise team in the East.
Next game: The Islanders will face off against the Calgary Flames at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada at 9 PM Eastern Time on the NHL Network. The majority of the NHL roster should be playing for this one.
Pre-Season Preview: New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islande
NEW JERSEY DEVILS (1-1-0) vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (0-1-0)
The Essentials
September 24, 2011 - 7:05 PM
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Uniondale, NY
The Season Series
9/24 vs. New Jersey
9/30 at New Jersey
9/30 at New Jersey
The Goalies
NJ: Johan Hedberg
NYI: Al Montoya, Kevin Poulin
The Rosters
New Jersey Devils
Forwards: Zach Parise, Patrik Elias, David Clarkson, Mattias Tedenby, Adam Henrique, Nick Palmieri, Stephane Veilleux, David Steckel, Vladimir Zharkov, Steve Bernier, Rod Pelley, Cam Janssen.
Defensemen: Matt Corrente, Mark Fayne, Mark Fraser, Anton Stralman, Henrik Tallinder, Matt Taormina
New York Islanders
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| Brian Bohl/NYSD |
Matt Moulson - John Tavares - Nino Niederreiter
Kyle Okposo - Frans Nielsen - Michael Grabner
Jay Pandolfo - Ryan Strome - Tim Wallace
Matt Martin - Josh Bailey - Trevor Gillies
Mark Streit - Steve Staios
Mark Eaton - Milan Jurcina
Aaron Ness - Travis Hamonic
Prospect Report: September 23, 2011
September 22, 2011
OHL - Owen Sound - 6, Guelph - 4
Andrey Pedan - 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
WHL - Kootenay - 2, Red Deer - 3
John Persson - 0 G, 1 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, Even, 0 PIM
OHL - Owen Sound - 6, Guelph - 4
Andrey Pedan - 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM
WHL - Kootenay - 2, Red Deer - 3
John Persson - 0 G, 1 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, Even, 0 PIM
Season Preview: Marty Reasoner
 |
| Zimbio |
Position: Center
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 190 lbs
Birthdate: February 26th, 1977 (34 years old)
Birthplace: Honeoye Falls, New York, United States
Acquired: Signed Free Agent from Florida Panthers (2011)
2010-2011 Team: Florida Panthers
2010-2011 Stats: 82 GP - 14 G - 18 A - 32 P - 22 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Fourth Line Center
Last year: Reasoner was traded to the Panthers in 2010 from the Atlanta Thrashers for AHLer Jeff Taffe. He went to Sunrise and had a very productive season for the Panthers as one of their alternate captains. Reasoner tied a career high in goals (14) and set a career high in points (32) playing a decent amount of minutes. While the Panthers did not make the playoffs, Reasoner showed that he is a good leader and solid veteran, which made him an attractive free agent for teams needing a veteran presence in their bottom-six.
Expectations: Reasoner was signed by the Islanders on July 1 on a two-year deal to fill the void that Zenon Konopka left. Not in the sense of being a rah-rah kind of player or one that would drop the gloves, but in being a quiet leader who puts up quality two-way play with average production. There's no reason to believe that Reasoner will not be able to fulfill what the Islanders expect of him, which makes his signing both solid and safe.
Projections: 79 GP - 11 G - 16 A - 27 P
Thoughts:
CH: While the fourth line center was not a huge priority, it was certainly a spot on the roster than needed to be upgraded. When Garth Snow went out and signed Reasoner, we all praised the move as it was clear that he was an upgrade over Zenon Konopka. At 34, he is a seasoned veteran and should provide good support for the young veterans and rookies on the team. He can play masterful PK and can even chip in on the scoresheet. Overall, Reasoner fits the mold of what the Islanders have been looking for: players with high-level hockey sense, ability to play in all three zones, and possess a high character personality for the locker room. He was not a huge upgrade in name, but the difference between Reasoner and his predecessor should become obvious fairly quickly.
AT: At last, a 4th line center who doesn't need to rush back to the bench after the faceoff as to not create a liability on the ice! Reasoner was a fantastic addition as he is a veteran of the game yet still young enough to produce, can play the penalty kill and take crucial faceoffs, and can play a multitude of other roles efficiently, such as the 3rd line center role should an injury occur to Josh Bailey or Frans Nielsen. Our 4th line center wasn't the biggest hole that needed to be filled, but it was filled with the best possible choice on the market, and for that I am grateful.
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