On the Islanders Beat

It’s been a long day of telephone calls, teleconferences, checking the internet, transcribing interviews and, finally, writing the two stories about Ryan Smyth’s arrival as an Islander that will appear in Newsday Thursday morning. I was expecting to hear from Ryan around 5 p.m. or so and had long since given up hope, figuring it was a rough travel day for him, not to mention an obviously emotional separation from Edmonton if you have seen his farewell news conference on tsn.ca.

Just as I finished typing up notes from an interview with coach Ted Nolan around 7:30 p.m. and was preparing to write my main story, the phone rang. The voice on the other end asked for “Gary” Logan, a common mistake people make with my name. It was Smyth calling from the airport in Minneapolis, where he was changing planes for a later flight to New York. He apologized, an unnecessary but very thoughtful gesture, and said his agent, Don Meehan, misunderstood my name when he passed on the message.

Not wanting to take up too much of Ryan’s time with a flight to catch, I zipped through a quick interview that was pleasantly upbeat, considering the sudden transition he’s making. We got off the phone, and I called the office to change gears and make the Smyth interview the main story. All of which, I hope, explains why this blog is late-arriving tonight.

Not surprisingly, neither Smyth nor Meehan wanted to discuss coming contract negotiations with the Islanders, who could wind up just renting him for their playoff push and the postseason if they qualify. Smyth said he was “drained” by negotiations with the Oilers, and Meehan said it’s “premature” to talk about signing with the Isles.

No doubt, four months until the July 1 free-agent period opens is plenty of time to reach an agreement if Smyth is so inclined. The process of getting to know each other starts Thursday when Smyth skates with the team in the morning before playing on a line with Jason Blake and probably Randy Robitaille against St. Louis. Meehan will be here for the meet and greet along with several members of his law firm.

Smyth’s agent said his only contact with owner Charles Wang and general manager Garth Snow had been to discuss travel arrangements. When I asked if Smyth would sign if the Islanders meet his asking price, Meehan said, “We haven’t even had a discussion. We’ve gone through a very difficult time, and we haven’t even approached that process other than Ryan feeling he really wants to contribute and get the Islanders into the playoffs.”

As Snow indicated when he announced the trade, that really is the first order of business. The Islanders have 19 games to see if Smyth can make a difference in their locker room and in front of the net on the power play. He helped lead eighth-seeded Edmonton to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals last season, and the way the Islanders have played throughout their 11-2-4 streak, you’ve got to believe they are as much, if not more, of a threat than the Oilers were this time last season.

In fact, their progress to this point is what convinced Nolan to push for the deal despite the cost of former first-round picks Robert Nilsson and Ryan O’Marra plus this years’ No. 1 pick. Smyth’s toughness and leadership are renowned north of the border, where he is known as “Captain Canada” because he has been on so many national teams. During the Oilers’ playoff run last year, Smith suffered an incident in which he lost most of his teeth, but he rejected oral surgery until after the season, got stitched up and didn’t miss a game.

New Islanders defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron also was acquired from Edmonton and is good friends with Smyth. Describing the power forward’s impact in the locker room, Bergeron said, “Ryan is more of an active role. He’s able to take a lot on his shoulders. The main thing is he really finds a way to answer. I’ve seen him taking some heat, and he’s able to answer back the next period or getting that big goal. It’s something that not too many players in any sport are capable of doing.”

Nolan, Snow and, yes, former GM Neil Smith, built this Islanders team around character and grit, and Smyth is the epitome of what the coach wants from future Islanders. Ever since Snow became GM, he and the rest of the scouting staff focused on getting a handle on the prospects in the organization and making determinations about their value because he wanted to be prepared for a situation like the one he faced at the trade deadline and try to avoid the mistakes of the past in terms of giving up too soon on a good prospect.

Does Nilsson have skill. Yes. People who have played with and against him have expressed great admiration for his skill level. But the question is whether he competes the way Nolan is going to require in the future. Apparently, it didn’t look that way at Bridgeport. O’Marra was a solid prospect, but he certainly hasn’t been dominant as a senior player with Saginaw in the OHL. Is he better than Blake Comeau will be? Sean Bergenheim?

Kyle Okposo is the Islanders’ only first-round pick since Nolan was hired, and he wasn’t going anywhere no matter what was offered. He fits the future mold. And in a league where there will be a high turnover rate in the free agent market every summer, Nolan is confident of finding other players who will fit the mold and who will want to come to Long Island once they see the kind of team he is building.

When you have a shot to gamble on a Ryan Smyth and add him to a team that has good goaltending in Rick DiPietro and the will to battle every single night, it’s a risk worth taking.

“We talk about speed, and we talk about skill a lot,” Nolan said. “But the thing we have to include in that mix is how hard a kid competes, how hard they work and their competitive level. And Ryan Smyth, when he was 18 years old, those are the qualities he demonstrated. And he’s done it through his whole career.

“So, it’s nice to have people who can play, but I always say, ‘My sister could play.’ We want people who know how to win and want to win and compete and love to play the game. That’s the whole environment we’re trying to create, and Garth and I have spoken a number of occasions on that along with Charles. We’re just starting. Hopefully, we have a long ways to go here and a long tenure and we keep building it and get stronger and better.”

Negotiations between Ryan Smyth and agent Don Meehan with Edmonton for a contract extension broke down 20 minutes before the 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline. Ten minutes later, the Islanders called their shocking deal with the Oilers in to league headquarters, a team official said.

The attorney on the other end of the phone expected something minor, and when he heard Smyth’s name, his reaction was, well, the exact words of surprise can’t be repeated in a family blog. Smyth is an icon in Edmonton, and his loss sent shock waves across Canada, especially since it came on Mark Messier Night for the Oilers.

Their announcement of the deal was almost funereal in that a release had to be composed that included the proper tributes to Smyth’s years of service. Hockey Night in Canada immediately dispatched a TV crew to Long Island to cover Smyth’s arrival late tomorrow night.

Despite the 10-minute turnaround between the breakdown of contract negotiations and the trade with the islanders, the groundwork was laid over the weekend when Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe, anticipating the worst, called around the league to see what might be available. Like everyone else, the Oilers asked for Islanders 2006 first-round pick Kyle Okposo, but general manager Garth Snow ruled him off limits long ago.

Still, the Islanders’ offer of former first-round picks Robert Nilsson and Ryan O’Marra along with this year’s first-round pick was too good to turn down. When the call came from the Oilers, Snow called owner Charles Wang and received quick approval to do the deal. When it had to, the Islanders’ committee was able to move quickly.

Of course, Snow understands the risk he’s taking with a player who will be a free agent on July 1. Although he wouldn’t commit to anything yesterday, it’s obvious the Islanders would not have given up so much if they weren’t prepared to offer something close to the five-year deal for $25 million that Smyth reportedly was seeking.

Said Snow: “I think Ryan Smyth is everything that Teddy and I and Charles, when we have conversations of what it’s like to be an Islander, this is the type of player that we want to represent Long Island.”

That tells you right there that they will make every effort to sign Smyth long-term.

If you thought some of the Islanders’ wins lately were exciting, general manager Garth Snow’s buzzer beater at the trade deadline topped everything. Snow couldn’t find a taker for his own future unrestricted free agent Jason Blake, but he had no problem paying the price Edmonton asked for 31-year-old forward Ryan Smyth.

Without a doubt, the price was steep. The Islanders gave up 2003 first-round pick Robert Nilsson, 2005 first-round pick Ryan O’Marra and their 2007 first-round pick for Smyth, who leads the Oilers with 31 goals and 22 assists for 53 points in 53 games. But Snow said he wouldn’t surrender the one player everyone wanted, 2006 first-round pick Kyle Okposo, and he stuck to his word.

Obviously, the Islanders have a win-now mentality and a 6-1, 190-pound power forward in Smyth to help them achieve it. Reports out of Edmonton say Smyth is seeking a five-year deal for $5 million per year. That was too much for the Oilers even though Smyth is a four-time 30-goal scorer and has scored at least 20 goals in four other seasons.

Suddenly, the streaking Islanders look like a serious threat in the Eastern Conference even though they enter tonight’s game against Philadelphia at the Coliseum in ninth place, one point out of playoff position. When Smyth gets here and Alexei Yashin returns to the lineup, the Islanders’ top line probably will be Smyth at left wing, Yashin in the middle and Blake at right wing.

Add that to the deal that put Richard Zednik on a line with Viktor Kozlov and Miro Satan, and remember that the third line of Mike Sillinger and wingers Trent Hunter and Andy Hilbert has been the team’s best, and you have a serious contender for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

As for Blake, the Western Conference teams who inquired about him all went a different direction because they were unwilling to give up the picks and prospects Snow demanded. So, Blake will finish this season in an Islanders uniform and then test the free-agent market this summer.

No doubt, some will argue the price for Smyth was too high, but they got a legitimate star for this year’s playoff run. It will be hard for anyone to say Islanders management doesn’t care about the fans.

Just this morning, as we sat around awaiting the outcome of deadline day, MSG Network’s Deb Kauffman asked Peter Botte of the Daily News and myself who, of all the possible trade prospects the Islanders could get, would top your wish list. The unanimous and instantaneous answer was: Ryan Smyth.

Who knew?

Bulletin: The Islanders are putting the finishing touches on a deal for Edmonton's leading scorer Ryan Smyth. In exchange, the Oilers will receive former Islanders’ first-round draft picks Ryan O’Marra and Robert Nilsson plus the Islanders’ first-round pick this year.

More details in a few minutes.

Islanders leading scorer Jason Blake will be in the lineup against Philadlephia tonight. Despite interest from five Western Conference teams in Blake just before the trade deadline, none stepped up to meet the Islanders’ asking price.

But that doesn’t mean the Islanders are done. It’s past the deadline, but something is in the works, and it might be very big. Can’t say right now because it’s not finalized but stay tuned. If it happens, Islanders fans will be dancing for joy.

With about 30 minutes to go until the NHL trade deadline passes, all is quiet in Room 6 at Nassau Coliseum, where Peter Botte of the Daily News and myself are encamped to await word from the Islanders on any further moves. Room 6 is down the hall from the Islanders locker room and is where coach Ted Nolan conducts his postgame press conferences.

Word just now came that Detroit has acquired forward Todd Bertuzzi from Florida pending the results of a physical examination. That would eliminate the team that had the second-best chance of landing Jason Blake from the Islanders.

When St. Louis traded Bill Guerin to San Jose earlier this afternoon, that was the strongest indication that the Islanders’ leading scorer wouldn’t be going anywhere. The Sharks were said to be the leading bidder for Blake last night, and they obviously have spent their ammunition, dealing both first-round picks they had in this year’s draft in deals for Guerin and Montreal defenseman Craig Rivet, as well as young defenseman Josh Gorges to the Canadiens. In the Guerin deal, the Blues got forward Ville Nieminen and the rights to University of Minnesota forward Jay Barriball, who is tied with Islanders 2006 first-round pick Kyle Okposo as the Golden Gophers’ leading scorer with 35 points.

Nolan wasn’t biting earlier today when asked if he expects more trades. He seemed content with the deal that brought winger Richard Zednik from Washington in time for tonight’s game against Philadelphia.

“Right now, we’re just talking to Richard about fitting in here right now,” Nolan said. “[This afternoon], there’s going to be discussions about whether we do anything or not.”

Although Zednik missed considerable time with a groin injury this season and has seen his production fall to six goals and 18 points in 32 games, Nolan seems confident of how well his new player will fit in. Not only has Zednik been longtime friends and teammates with fellow Slovakian Miro Satan, but also he played several seasons with Brendan Witt and Chris Simon in Washington.

“We did a lot of research on him,” Nolan said of Zednik. “His competitive nature and the type of guy he is, a good team guy, the way he performs in playoffs, the way he performs toward the latter part of the season. He’s very competitive. It fits in to the type of team we have. We talked to a couple of players about him in the past. Everyone had great things to say about his character. We want strong character guys who want to compete, and this guy fits right in.”

Zednik seemed happy enough to be here, saying the short trip and the fact he’s friends with three players in the locker room makes for an easy transition. As a free agent this summer, he expected the trade. The only new wrinkle for him is that he goes from playing right wing to left wing on a line with Satan and center Viktor Kozlov.

“It’s always tough when you play all season on one side, but I’ve played before on the left side,” Zednik said. “It will take a couple games to get used to that.”

If the Islanders are going to make another move today, they barely have three hours left in which to do it. Jason Blake skated this morning with the rest of his teammates in preparation for tonight’s game against Philadelphia at the Coliseum.

We spoke briefly as he was leaving the locker room. As you might expect, Jason is a little bit on pins and needles. He hasn’t heard anything about a trade yet this morning and neither have I.

Of the five Western Conference teams said to be interested in Jason – San Jose, Detroit, Nashville, Vancouver and Dallas – the first four all have made recent trades. Only Dallas has been idle so far, and a Western Conference personnel expert recently told me he would be surprised if the Stars had serious interest in Blake.

Blake’s agent, Neil Sheehy, recently said he and Islanders general manager Garth Snow had agreed that the Feb. 27 NHL trade deadline was “a deadline of no consequence” in their negotiations. Maybe that will turn out to be prophetic if Blake stays put.

If the initial reports from TSN are true that San Jose has acquired Bill Guerin from St. Louis, then, it’s quite possible Blake is going nowhere. Blake would have been a fallback position for the Sharks, who were said to be the frontrunner for the Isles’ leading scorer last night, if they failed to land Guerin. Detroit also was said to still be in the bidding. The Red Wings acquired Kyle Calder from Philadelphia, which doesn’t seem like much. The question now is whether they want to add something else. We’ll see.

Look around the NHL. Teams that want to keep their top players from testing the free-agent market this summer have been signing them to contract extensions in advance of tomorrow’s NHL trade deadline. Frederik Modin. Marco Sturm. Darcy Tucker. Shane Doan. Tomas Holmstrom. And on and on.

Jason Blake and the Islanders never got to that point. They talked concepts. Some numbers went back and forth. But Islanders general manager Garth Snow didn’t share Blake’s urgency to do a deal by Feb. 27, which led Blake to suggest he might not return if he reached free agency on July 1.

And here we are. With less than 24 hours remaining to the 3 p.m. deadline tomorrow, Snow is considering offers for Blake from Western Conference powers Nashville, Vancouver, Detroit, San Jose and Dallas.

“Obviously, I knew this day was coming,” Blake said this afternoon following practice, “and we’ll just see what happens.”

Blake anticipated this scenario long before he expressed his impatience with the slow pace of negotiations to Newsday a little more than two weeks ago in Boston. No doubt, Snow saw it coming, too.

If the Islanders go ahead and trade their leading scorer for a package of prospects and draft picks, as it appears they are prepared to do, it’s a huge risk as far as their chemistry and playoff prospects are concerned. Yes, the addition of veteran winger Richard Zednik this afternoon in a trade with Washington is a nice pickup that allows the Isles to add a potential scorer to a line with Miro Satan and Viktor Kozlov. But he’s no Blake.

Maybe Blake still will be an Islander at 3:01 p.m. tomorrow, but based on what I heard today at practice from Ted Nolan, I seriously doubt it. The Zednik trade had not yet been announced, but it was obvious Nolan knew he had that one in his pocket when he was asked about Snow’s promise to add scoring. When I asked if he worried about disrupting the Islanders’ 10-2-4 roll if they decided to trade Blake, Nolan said, “No.

“Jason, as well as he’s been playing, has only had one or two goals in the last [11] games. I don’t think he’s scored a whole lot. Our team relies on different people on different nights.”

Nolan said he still believes the Islanders can compete for the Stanley Cup this season even if they do decide to deal Blake. At the same time, Nolan said early on in his first season that he hopes to build a farm system like the great Montreal teams used to have where they always had talent available in the pipeline.

So, the situation is this: the Islanders’ leading scorer is their most valuable asset on the trade market.

Snow and Blake are on the same team for the moment, but they actually have competing interests. It’s the one chance Blake has to get the best contract of his career, and it’s Snow’s chance to stockpile more assets for the future at the possible expense of the present hot streak the Islanders are on.

At this point, Blake is intrigued with the idea of finding out what he’s worth on the open market this summer. He believes he can maintain his current level of production over the next five years that he is seeking. Snow is intrigued by the thought of turning a player who will be 34 when training camp opens in September into multiple assets for the future. Maybe he can find a younger Jason Blake-type in the market this summer. Maybe not, which is why Blake should fetch close to his asking price from some other team.

Maybe Snow will decide to keep Blake and all these questions will be moot by this time tomorrow. But I don’t think so. I think the handwriting is on the wall. And has been for some time.

Jason Blake’s career-high 29th goal in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Montreal at the Coliseum might have been his last as an Islander. With two days left until the NHL trade deadline at 3 p.m. Tuesday, a bidding war for Blake’s services has developed among five top teams in the Western Conference, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

Islanders general manager Garth Snow has maintained he would be a buyer rather than a seller at the deadline and has not shopped Blake around the league. But even with the Islanders tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference and on a 10-2-4 roll in their past 16 games, it’s possible they might trade their leading scorer if the offers piling up on Snow’s doorstep are too good to ignore.

Because of Blake’s unsigned status, Snow has offers for the speedy 33-year-old forward from Nashville, which already made a big deal to acquire Peter Forsberg, Vancouver, Detroit, San Jose and Dallas. Only Anaheim among the top six Western Conference teams has not yet made an offer. The Islanders would not trade Blake to an Eastern Conference rival.

At this point, the Islanders are undecided and in the process of making a determination about the merits of trading a player with 51 points in 62 games for prospects and draft picks. San Jose’s farm system, in particular, is loaded with top prospects.

Blake’s agent Neil Sheehy recently said he is not concerned about the possibility of a trade, but when asked if the Islanders had moved any closer to Blake’s asking price of $18 million over five years, he simply said, “I respect Garth Snow a lot. I think the way we left it, I’m comfortable at this point. I don’t feel pressure for a deal.”

Snow has a solid relationship with Sheehy, who also represents Kyle Okposo, the Islanders’ top draft pick last June. Blake, whose wife, Sara, gave birth to the couple’s third child last week, recently has emphasized his desire to remain with the Islanders, but he will be eligible to test the free-agent waters on July 1.

Boston recently signed 28-year-old forward Marco Sturm to a four-year deal for $14 million, a deal that could be viewed as a benchmark for Blake. But the Islanders are reluctant to pay that much for a player who is five years older. They more likely are offering Blake something in the range of $3 million per year for three or four years.

The Islanders traded Mark Parrish last season rather than run the risk of losing him as a free agent or being forced to overpay. If Blake’s replacement didn’t come as part of a trade, the Islanders likely would call up Robert Nilsson, their 2003 first-round pick, from AHL Bridgeport.

Even if they trade Blake, the Islanders still could be buyers at the trade deadline. Snow wants to add offense, which certainly would be a necessity if he trades Blake. But captain Alexei Yashin, who has missed the past 11 games with a sore right knee, is making progress and might return in the next week to provide an offensive lift.

Despite reports to the contrary, the Islanders are not among the bidders for St. Louis forward Bill Guerin because of the high price the Blues are asking. Most teams contacted by the Islanders have asked for Okposo, who was the seventh overall pick last June and has become even more valuable since then during a stellar season with the University of Minnesota.

If the Islanders have one untouchable player, it’s Okposo. Other than that, all of the Islanders’ balls are up in the air. Blake most of all.

Two games is too soon to draw any firm conclusion, but the addition of Marc-Andre Bergeron’s booming cannon from the point on the power play just might be a difference-maker for the Islanders in their stretch run to the playoffs. Since Bergeron joined the lineup, a dormant power play that was 1-for-21 over the previous seven games has produced a goal in each of the past two wins over Pittsburgh and Toronto.

Bergeron had two assists in his first game against the Penguins, including one on Viktor Kozlov’s power-play goal, and his presence on the right point allowed partner Tom Poti to walk in close on the left side and fire a shot that Trent Hunter deflected for the tying goal in the third period that sent the Toronto game to overtime.

In the locker room, it’s obvious Bergeron is an inch or two shorter than his listed program height of 5-10, which means a big forward like the Maple Leafs’ Mats Sundin easily can hold him off in any battle for the puck, as he did last night. But when Bergeron winds up for his shot, pity anyone who gets in the way. The report when it hits a goaltender’s pads or the glass behind the net is enough to rattle any goalie’s cage.

On their second power play in the first period against Toronto, Bergeron got two shots on net, which led to several rebound chances. Nothing got through Andrew Raycroft that time, but the result was seven shots on goal, which easily was the highest total this season by the Islanders on a single power play. In the second period, the Leafs’ penalty killers successfully crowded Bergeron high in the zone to take away his shooting room. Worried about his shot in the third, they cheated toward Bergeron, opening the way for Poti’s drive from inside the left circle.

“When you only have one weapon, sometimes, it’s easy to pin that one weapon,” Isles coach Ted Nolan said after the game. “Everybody says, ‘How come Tommy doesn’t shoot?’ But a lot of teams were right on top of him all season long. Now he has a partner to dish the puck off to, and it opens up both guys. Tommy got a chance to use his shot and get it through.”

When a trade goes down, it’s always interesting to see the spin from both sides. As many of you know, Bergeron had become a whipping boy in Edmonton because of his defensive lapses. Coach Craig MacTavish scratched him for five of seven games in the Stanley Cup Finals loss to Carolina. At the time of the trade to the Islanders, MacTavish told reporters in Edmonton that he wouldn’t have made the deal if he thought Bergeron could help the Oilers’ playoff push.

“We may improve in that area [defense] and, at the same time, have this blue-chip prospect in our back pocket,” MacTavish said of former Islanders defense prospect Denis Grebeshkov who the Oilers received in return. General manager Kevin Lowe, who knows a thing or two about playing defense, also raved about picking up Grebeshkov, saying, “This deal was too good to give up…We had a chance to get a guy who can be a top player for a lot of years.”

The jury will be out on who got the best of this deal for a couple of years until Grebeshkov shows what he can do in the NHL. It’s quite possible he will turn out to be the better all-around player. But for what the Islanders needed now, general manager Garth Snow did a good job of delivering Bergeron’s cannon shot plus a third-round draft pick. Against Pittsburgh, Bergeron made a few errors on defense, but he was better against the Leafs. Let’s see how he does in his own end after the coaching staff has time to work with him.

After the Pittsburgh game, a radio reporter asked Bergeron if it would be a relief to get away from the media scrutiny he faced in Canada. Looking around at an unusually large contingent of all four New York newspaper reporters, plus radio and TV microphones surrounding him, Bergeron had to laugh.

“I’m not sure about the media attention,” he said. “But we all know how it is in Canada. I’m used to it. I’ll wait and see here. We’re pro athletes, and it’s something we have to deal with. It never really bothered me before. Most people who follow hockey know the kind of relationship I had with my old coach, but I think through those four years, he taught me a lot and made myself a better pro player. For sure, I’ve got some good memories, and I’ve got some other stuff. It’s better to turn the page right now.”

A fresh start might be just what Bergeron needs, and while he knows his main purpose is to shoot on the power play, he certainly sounded willing to learn the rest of it. “I’m still a young defenseman,” the 26-year-old said. “I have a lot to learn. When a team like this in the playoff hunt comes and gets you, it means a lot. I’ll try to help them as much as I can.”

So far, so good.

DEADLINE DATA: Now that NHL GMs have had a chance to exchange offers face to face in their meetings earlier this week in Florida, look for things to heat up over the weekend. The braintrust in St. Louis is meeting as I write this, and they’re sorting through the offers for veteran forwards Bill Guerin and Keith Tkachuk, trying to make a decision before the trade deadline at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Boston reportedly is close to signing free agent forward Marco Sturm to a three-year deal believed to total around $9 million, which would remove another logical target for the Islanders from the market. Assuming the Isles don’t believe they’re close enough to a Cup to pay the high price required to land Guerin or Tkachuk, I expect they’ll leave the major moves until the summer and try to do something on a smaller scale to boost the offense now.

As for the Islanders’ current group of forwards, I noticed some questions on the blog about why Arron Asham replaced Jeff Tambellini on a line with Kozlov and Miro Satan. Because the game ran late and I was close to deadline last night, I didn’t ask Nolan that question directly, but my take during the game was that he wanted more experience and strength on that line in such an important game. Tambellini and Richard Park were limited in the third period, and Frans Nielsen didn't play at all because all three are small and the Leafs were able to use their size to maintain control of the puck down low. Ted indicated yesterday morning that Nielsen will head back to Bridgeport as soon as Shawn Bates (groin) is ready to return.

That’s it for now. Enjoy the Montreal game.

For a change, Nassau Coliseum was alive and crowded with 15,472 fans Monday afternoon, but when the most exciting game of the season ended, the aisles remained clear because people were standing for the announcement of the three stars, listening to Chris Simon’s postgame interview and just letting the Islanders’ thrilling, last-minute 6-5 victory over Sidney Crosby and the red-hot Penguins soak in.

The locker room was equally charged when the media was allowed in, full of happy chatter, smiles, laughter and excitement coursing through a team that has responded again and again when it was under the gun. This was about more than stopping the Penguins’ unbeaten streak at 16 games (14-0-2). It was about fighting to overcome every obstacle in the Islanders’ path to keep pace in the race for a playoff berth.

After giving up goals in the first minute of each period to Ryan Malone on Sidney Crosby’s line, there was a clear and present danger of surrendering the game-winner to the same line in the final minute. The determination not to allow that fueled Trent Hunter as he fought to keep up with Crosby’s frantic effort behind the Islanders’ net to create one last bit of magic.

“He’s got great hands, and he’s strong on his feet,” Hunter said. “I was just trying to limit his options. I didn’t want to let him bust to the net free, so, I was just trying to stay between him and the goalie and I was able to get some help at the end.”

Hunter wasn’t the only one desperate to stop Crosby. Mike Sillinger, Andy Hilbert and Hunter have been the Islanders’ most consistent, two-way performers all season. They set the tone for effort, but their best wasn’t enough to stop what Chris Simon called “hard-working” goals by Malone. On the first, he caught a puck with his hand and dropped at his feet in the slot to set up the shot; the second was a wraparound that required a long video review, and the third was a rebound that came right to him.

When you’re good, lucky things happen, too. But when Crosby finally got the puck out front to Mark Recchi at the end, goaltender Rick DiPietro made the stop, and Hunter cleared the puck to Hilbert for a two-on-two rush with Sillinger as the game clock wound down under 30 seconds.

Let Sillinger tell it: “When it’s a two-on-two, I see where the goalie is, but my main concern is trying to use the defenseman as a screen. I don’t even really look at the net. To use him for a screen, I pull the puck to the inside, he tries to block it, and I try to shoot it through him. That’s what I did. I’m looking to get the puck at the net, and obviously, it was a good bounce.”

The fans’ surprise when Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury failed to glove the shot turned to joy when it hit the back of the net. If they were cynical after the Devils shut out the Islanders for the third time this season on Saturday night, they had to admit there’s no quit in this team. In an aside the other day after a morning skate, Islanders coach Ted Nolan pointed to his chest and said people focus so much on a player’s skills that too often they underestimate the importance of heart.

Not Nolan. He wanted players who are willing to fight, and you saw that as the Islanders came back from 1-0, 3-1 and 5-4 deficits to beat Pittsburgh.

“We’re a resilient team,” Sillinger said. “That’s the thing. We just keep bouncing back. It just goes to show the character we have in the room. Guys didn’t give up. We found a way to win. They’re the hottest team in the league. When you outscore this team, you’re doing something right.”

Jason Blake broke his eight-game goal-scoring slump; Simon broke a 26-game drought with two goals, and their center, Randy Robitaille, had three assists. Describing the wrist shot from the right circle that tied the game at 5 early in the third period, Simon said, “It was a great pass by Roby, and Blakey drove the middle and pushed the defenseman back. I had a little bit of time, and I’ve been telling myself I’ve got to shoot the puck more. I was shooting that one all the way, and it just got right up under the bar.”

In a game like this, there’s plenty of credit to go around, and Simon saved some for Crosby, the next great superstar whose creative, feisty play figures to make him a player Islanders fans love to hate for years to come. “He’s a super hockey player,” Simon said. “I’ve got nothing but respect for the way he plays and competes every night. I met him when he was 15 years old, and it was like talking to an adult because he was so mature and how much he respected the game at that young age.”

The Islanders don’t have a superstar like that, which makes it more challenging to beat the Penguins at the top of their game. “We needed everybody in the room,” Simon said. “That’s the type of team that we are. When we play physical and win those battles along the boards like we did tonight, we have a chance to win against anybody.”

Next up for the Islanders are “four-point games” against Toronto on Thursday night at the Coliseum and Montreal on Saturday night, the very teams the Islanders tied for the eighth playoff spot with their win over the Pens. “Everyone’s watching the standings, and we’re watching the teams that are ahead of us or close to us,” Simon said. “It seems like everybody’s winning, so, we definitely don’t want to lose any games. We want to make sure we make it to overtime every night, and those points are going to all add up. Ricky made some huge saves to keep us in there. He’s been the difference on a lot of nights for us.”

The goaltender isn’t the first one you think of in a 6-5 game, but the fact that DiPietro stopped the final 10 shots of the third period shouldn’t go overlooked. His play has been superb in the Islanders’ 8-2-4 streak, and will be vital against the Leafs and Canadiens. As great as it might have felt to the rest of the Islanders to pull out such an exciting win over the Penguins, the last thing DiPietro wants is a replay.

Asked if it was a fun game to play, DiPietro said, “Not for me. That’s a great team, and we did well to win the game. But that’s not the kind of game we want to play down the stretch.”

Still, the Islanders’ goaltender could appreciate what a game like that means to the fans. “It was great to see people in the stands,” DiPietro said. “This team has some very loyal, heart-and-soul fans. It’s taken a while for people to see we have a team that can win, but I think everyone recognizes that now.”

Help is on the way for the Islanders’ anemic power play. Early this morning, the team completed a trade with Edmonton for offensive defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron, who is expected to step in on the top power-play unit as soon as he arrives. The Isles also receive a third-round draft pick in 2008 as part of the deal.

Bergeron was with the Oilers in Toronto for a game Saturday night, but it’s uncertain whether he will clear the paperwork in U.S. Customs in time to be in the lineup against Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. Monday at Nassau Coliseum. If Bergeron can’t make it, Drew Fata will come up from Bridgeport for one more game.

Islanders general manager Garth Snow acquired Bergeron in exchange for defense prospect Denis Grebeshkov, who currently is playing in Russia for Yaroslavl after failing to reach agreement on a contract with the Isles last summer. Bergeron is making $969,000 in the first year of a two-year contract.

In 55 games with Edmonton this season, the 5-10, 197-pound Bergeron has eight goals and 17 assists. This is his third full NHL season. Last season, Bergeron finished with 15 goals and 20 assists. Islanders coach Ted Nolan hinted that he might pair Bergeron with Brendan Witt to have an offense-defense combination to use against opponents’ top lines.

“We’re pretty excited about the deal,” Nolan said after practice this afternoon. “Garth’s been working on it for a little bit, trying to address the need on our team for a power-play guy that has a big shot. He’s entering the prime of his career. He’s only 26 years old, he can skate, and he’s mobile for today’s NHL. That gives us three pretty good young defensemen [along with Bruno Gervais and Chris Campoli]. We’re worried about now, but we’re worried about the future also.”

Grebeshkov was acquired by the Islanders last year along with Jeff Tambellini in a trade-deadline deal that sent Mark Parrish and Brent Sopel to Los Angeles as a rental player. Parrish signed with Minnesota over the summer, and Sopel is available for trade now. Soon, the Islanders will have two starters in their lineup in Tambellini and Bergeron to show for it.

I just got back from practice a short time ago and wanted to post the basics of the trade as soon as possible. Check tomorrow morning’s Newsday before the Penguins game for more comment from defensemen Tom Poti and Sean Hill about the trade, as well as Nolan on possible lineup changes for the power play.

As much as the Islanders need offensive help, the right ankle re-injury suffered by Bruno Gervais Thursday night against Boston has forced general manager Garth Snow to focus on acquiring help on the blue line. Three NHL officials and personnel experts confirmed today that Snow is working feverishly to put together a deal for a depth defenseman.

The loss of Gervais left the Islanders down two starters, and coach Ted Nolan said at the morning skate before the Devils game tonight at the Coliseum that Gervais could be out as long as two weeks. Radek Martinek, who suffered a fractured lower left leg on Feb. 3 in Montreal left the arena today on crutches and wearing a hard cast. His return is projected around March 17 at the earliest.

Rookie Drew Fata, who made an appearance in Washington the day after Martinek was hurt, has been recalled from Bridgeport to take the place of Gervais in a pairing with veteran Tom Poti. But with the Islanders tied for eighth and in the middle of a serious playoff push, Snow recognizes the need for a more experienced hand.

Although Fata definitely will play against the Devils, Snow is pushing to make a deal as soon as possible rather than waiting until the Feb. 27 NHL trade deadline. If possible, he might even try to have a new face ready to put in the lineup against Pittsburgh and Sidney Crosby Monday afternoon at the Coliseum.

The Islanders won’t be getting a top-three defenseman, which means the cost is more likely to be some combination of a mid-round draft pick and possibly a minor leaguer. But with $5 million in salary cap room available, Snow also will continue to troll over the next 10 days for a forward who can add scoring punch. That likely will take longer, if it happens at all.

Until Snow is able to make a trade, Nolan will go with Fata, who played only 8:30 on Super Bowl Sunday in Washington but left a good impression with his physical play and with his ability to make the simple plays during a game in which the Islanders held Alexander Ovechkin to two shots and no points before losing 2-1 in a shootout.

Recalling the experience this morning, Fata said, “It was pretty exciting, I guess. They just told me three things: go out there and have fun, work hard and whenever Ovechkin is on the ice, try to get off. I took that to heart and had fun with it.”

As luck would have it, one of the two hits credited to Fata during the game came against Ovechkin. He crushed the 34-goal scorer into the right boards. “Yeah, it was kind of a lucky break,” Fata said. “He kind of turned into me, and I was lucky to throw a shoulder into him.”

As you can tell, Fata has a sense of humor, and he entertained reporters with it this morning. Asked if he spoke to his older brother Rico, who began this season with Washington but now is playing in Mannheim, Germany, Drew said they contacted each other before and after the game.

“He said, ‘You get to play against my old team,’” Drew said of Rico, who has logged time with five NHL teams. “And I was kind of bugging him. I said, ‘There’s probably a 20 percent chance I’ll play against one of the teams you played on.’ He got a laugh about that.”

Describing his first NHL shift in that game, Fata said he hardly could believe it when he was told to get ready to go over the boards. “I thought I was going to puke on my first shift,” Fata said. “My first shift was kind of weird, but after this guy hit me, my stomach loosened right up and I said, ‘Yeah, this is easier than I thought.’ I’ve still got the butterflies, but not as bad as before.”

Fata hails from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where Nolan once coached the local major junior team. New Bridgeport coach Dan Marshall also is from the Soo, and he’s the one who was sent by the Islanders to meet with Fata at a local Tim Horton’s doughnut and sandwich shop when the defenseman was calling around last summer looking for tryouts. Fata had been playing in Wilkes-Barre in the AHL, but the Pittsburgh organization declined to re-sign him.

“I didn’t have anywhere to go in mid-August,” Fata said. “I was going through getting rid of an agent and trying to find a new one. My Dad and I were doing our own calling. We came across Dan Marshall, and we hooked up a meeting. He said they’d give me an AHL deal. I could have gone to Europe, but at 23 years old, I don’t want to go yet.

“Technically, I signed out of training camp, an AHL straight deal. In mid-December, Marshall and Cappy [assistant coach Jack Capuano] pushed for a contract to come up here, and I got it finalized the Saturday before the game in Washington. It was kind of a crazy road, but I don’t think I’d take it any other way right now.”

Neither would Nolan. Skill is important, but he wants players with plenty of hunger and heart. Fata has those qualities, which is why he got the call.

YASHIN UPDATE: Coming in Sunday’s Newsday is my interview this morning with captain Alexei Yashin on the progress he’s making in rehabilitating his injured right knee. It was reported by Newsday when the decision was made to rest him that the rehab would be extensive, possibly lasting as much as three weeks. Yashin remained on Long Island to undergo rehabilitation while the team went on the road for six of the past eight games he’s missed over the 16 days before tonight’s game against the Devils. Although Yashin has resumed skating, he has further physical tests to pass next week before he can return, the details of which will be in tomorrow’s story.

With points in 11 of their past 12 games, the Islanders obviously are coming together at the right time of the season. They have a plan and some chemistry and they’re doing a lot of things right, but the best trait they’ve exhibited is the ability to finish.

Game after close game is coming down to the third period, and that’s often where the Islanders are at their best. If you break down the past 12 games (7-1-4), the Islanders have outscored their opponents in the third period, 16-7. Their win-loss-tie record for the third period alone is 5-2-5. The only game in which they lost a lead in the third period was their 4-3 overtime loss to Detroit, but in three other games, the Isles came from behind in the third period to post victories.

They haven’t been nearly as good in overtime and shootout situations, where skill plays a larger role. Of the five games in this stretch that have reached overtime, they have lost two in OT and gone 1-2 in shootouts with the only win coming Tuesday in Toronto.

Still, in the big picture, their play in the third period to get at least one point in 11 of 12 games has been the clearest sign yet that the Islanders not only are a serious playoff contender but also are the kind of gritty opponent that would be tough for higher-ranked teams to beat in a playoff situation. In the playoffs, overtime is like regulation hockey, not contrived four-on-four or shootout situations.

If the Islanders have shown one thing during this 12-game stretch, it’s that they have the ability to hang tough in the third period, and that should carry over in the playoffs to overtime. Their 4-1 win over Boston on Thursday night was only the latest example.

“It’s that time of season,” said Mike Sillinger, whose game-winner at 10:56 of the third period triggered a three-goal outburst that led to a 4-1 win. “You have to be good in the third period. They’re all one-goal games. [The final score] was 4-1, but really it was a one-goal game right to the end.

“Everyone’s fighting for points, but we seem to buckle down and play good team defense. In Toronto, we got outshot, 16-1, and they were all over us, but we really played tight around Ricky. Ricky makes the big save or a couple when he has to. He’s been the man. He gives us a chance to win every game. I don’t think you can say enough good things about Ricky.”

Goaltender Rick DiPietro often has been the deciding factor with his play in the third period to make a lead stand up once the Islanders put a nose in front. He appreciates the tight defensive play in front of him and the way his teammates have worked to avoid taking harmful late penalties.

But most of all, DiPietro understands the difference it has made this season to have a group of heady veterans on the ice with him, including Sillinger, Brendan Witt, Sean Hill, Tom Poti, Viktor Kozlov, Chris Simon and Richard Park, all of whom were added in the offseason. Most likely, the Islanders will infuse a little more youth into the lineup next season, but it’s the experience of the veterans around him now that has eased the burden on DiPietro.

“All our veteran guys have been huge for us in the locker room,” DiPietro said. “Obviously, it’s been a little bit different for us having such a veteran team. Last year, we were very young most of the year, and now, we’ve got established guys who know what it takes to win and have been there. That’s huge when you’ve got young guys here who are able to look up to these guys.”

Learning how to win is the toughest lesson of all, but the Islanders are passing the test in the third period.

The presence for the past two weeks of youthful Jeff Tambellini and Frans Nielsen in the Islanders’ lineup has added a refreshing dose of enthusiasm, energy and speed that has made an impact that goes beyond the scoresheet. Since captain Alexei Yashin and Shawn Bates were placed on the injury list, the Isles have gone 4-1-2 with their rookie replacements in supporting roles.

Tambellini primarily plays at even strength with Viktor Kozlov and Miro Satan, and they have produced 10 goals and four assists in that seven-game span. Although he has yet to score a goal, Tambellini has five assists in that stretch. Coach Ted Nolan moved Jason Blake onto Kozlov’s line for one game at Boston but decided it didn’t work because Blake and Satan both need the puck.

Nolan wants Kozlov to shoot, too, not just pass all the time. As he said after the Islanders’ win in Toronto, where Kozlov played a very strong game despite not registering a shot on goal until overtime, he believes Kozlov has the ability to score 35-40 goals if he pulls the trigger.

It was obvious Satan and Kozlov were pleased when Nolan reverted to putting Tambellini with them because of the quick chemistry they developed. “I’m just trying to create a different dimension,” Tambellini said in Toronto. “Those two can really slow a game down and bring it. I try to pick up the pace and get in on the forecheck early. Hopefully, they can come in late and grab the puck and make the plays. So far, it’s been great. They’ve been really good to me every time I’ve played with them.

“I’m not worried about my numbers as much as getting them the puck and having them score. As long as Miro and Kozlov walk away with one goal and one assist each or two goals, that’s a good night for all of us.”

Nielsen is playing a more limited role in place of Bates as center of the fourth line. He has yet to score a point in regulation, but his goal at the start of the shootout in Toronto set it up for Kozlov to get the winner. “It was just great playing here,” Nielsen said of his experience at Air Canada Centre. “I haven’t been back here since I got drafted in this rink [in 2002]. So, that was something I had dreamed about for many years was to play in this city. That was fun.”

Bates has been suffering from a lingering groin injury. When he’s healthy, Bates likely will return to the lineup, sending Nielsen back to Bridgeport. As smart a player as Nielsen is, he still needs to add strength to last at the NHL level.

Tambellini, on the other hand, looks more and more as though he’s found a spot with Kozlov and Satan. Nolan recently hinted that Yashin is close to returning, and he’s said to be skating well on his own after resting his sore right knee. Look for Yashin to get back in the lineup at some point next week, which certainly should help his linemate Jason Blake rediscover his scoring touch.

When that happens, Nolan will have a roster decision to make. If Bates also is healthy at that point, one forward will have to be a healthy scratch. Randy Robitaille is one possibility, but Nolan hasn’t had to cross that bridge yet.

In hindsight, it looks as though Nolan and general manager Garth Snow made the right decision by keeping Tambellini and Nielsen in Bridgeport as long as they did. When the Islanders really needed them at a key time in the season, the kids were well-prepared and ready to produce.

If I had $100,000 (my asking price) for every time I’ve questioned a player about hearing his name in trade rumors and was told they can’t worry over things they can’t control because “it’s a business,” I could retire right now. Ask Randy Robitaille how easy it is to uproot your family at midseason and send them home to live in Ottawa while you take up residence in a hotel for four months and try to find a niche on a new team while wondering about your future.

The point is that when a player finally reaches a time in his career where he is set to become an unrestricted free agent after working his way up from third-line penalty killer to top-line All-Star, as Jason Blake has done, he has an obligation to himself and his family to get the best possible deal for all the years of hard work and sacrifice. Just as players understand it’s part of the business when they get traded, management has to understand a player’s right to look after his own interests.

In Sunday’s Newsday, Blake said he plans to test the free-agent waters if the Islanders don’t sign him to a long-term contract by the Feb. 27 trade deadline. No doubt, some will criticize Blake for his timing with the Islanders in a playoff push or call him selfish. But look at it from his perspective. He’s given the franchise six seasons of hustle and hard work and has become a consistent 25-goal scorer over the past four seasons.

This is his time to get the best contract of his career, and time is running short with only two weeks left before the trade deadline. When negotiations didn’t heat up as quickly as he was hoping, maybe he worried the Islanders would trade him because of his contract situation. Maybe he needed answers, a sign of commitment, before allowing negotiations to drag beyond the end of the season. Maybe he’s just trying to protect his business interests.

Was general manager Garth Snow upset by Blake’s comments? Yes. Snow has different business interests. His job is to make the value judgment on Blake’s worth to the franchise and then to make the best possible deal from the team’s standpoint. It’s the eternal conflict between labor and management but on a multimillion-dollar scale, which makes it really serious business.

Many fans naturally want to simplify it, to put a white hat on one side and a black hat on the other side. It’s not simple. It’s complex, and Blake and Snow each have a lot of factors to take into consideration. There are no bad guys here, just two people who want the Islanders to win but who have to make a business decision that will determine how the team moves forward.

The good news is that I’m certain both sides will negotiate in good faith on Blake’s asking price of five years for somewhere in the vicinity of $18 million. If you look at the financial aspect and where Blake should fit on the Islanders’ payroll, they’re in the same ballpark.

The question for Snow is the length of a contract. How many years can he risk on a player who turns 34 in September but obviously keeps himself in top shape, has speed the Islanders need and competes as well as anyone on the team? The question for Blake is how much he’s willing to bend to fit within the structure Snow and coach Ted Nolan are trying to build to contend for the Stanley Cup. Does he believe this franchise is on the right path after several years of mismanagement?

They have a lot to think about and not much time to come up with an answer.

Over their past three games, the Islanders have managed to score only three goals, and you can hear the frustration in coach Ted Nolan’s voice. Following their shutout loss to the Devils on Thursday, he said, “We’re not going to outscore teams, 7-6.” Even after their 2-0 shutout win over Philadelphia on Tuesday, Nolan observed, “We haven’t got the firepower of a lot of teams.”

So, despite the loss of defenseman Radek Martinek for four to six weeks with a fractured lower left leg, it’s clear the Islanders’ top priority as they approach the Feb. 27 trade deadline is to add scoring punch. Whether they are willing to give up the necessary players and draft picks to land an established scoring threat is another matter. It could be that they decide the price is too high, in which case, general manager Garth Snow might settle for a minor deal.

But what the Islanders really need is a top-line winger to go with All-Star Jason Blake and, when he’s ready to return from the injury list, center Alexei Yashin. With Yashin out, it’s obvious Blake’s frustration is mounting. In reality, the Isles’ top goal scorer is on what amounts to the third line with Randy Robitaille and Chris Simon. Lately, opponents have treated the Viktor Kozlov-Miro Satan-Jeff Tambellini line as the most dangerous scoring threat with the Mike Sillinger-Trent Hunter-Andy Hilbert line right behind.

Although a number of smaller deals have been made recently, most of the sellers seem prepared to wait until just before the deadline to give themselves time to either re-sign their pending free agents or to drive the price up. As one Western Conference personnel expert told me recently, most teams would rather keep their top free-agents-to-be rather than give them away for junk to help a playoff contender. After all, you never know how the contract landscape might change in the offseason.

As I said in a previous blog, the major prerequisite for any player the Islanders hope to add to their core group is a level of competitive grit. That’s why I doubt they have much interest in someone like Montreal’s slumping Sergei Samsonov, who recently cleared waivers, or Chicago’s Bryan Smolinski, who didn’t do much in a previous tour on the Island. Phoenix’s Ladislav Nagy has nice numbers and will excite a lot of teams, but I doubt he fits the profile to play for Nolan, either. The Coyotes’ Shane Doan would have been great, but it’s clear they want to re-sign him because of his importance to the fan base.

Philadelphia’s Peter Forsberg is at the top of the list for many teams despite his foot problems. But since he gets to pick where he goes if he decides to leave the Flyers, I find it difficult to believe he’d choose the Islanders because they need several more pieces to contend for a Cup.

So, the most obvious possibilities are St. Louis forwards Bill Guerin and Keith Tkachuk, not just for the Islanders, but for many teams. It appears the Blues are focused on determining whether they can re-sign goaltender Manny Legace and defenseman Eric Brewer before they decide what to do with Guerin and Tkachuk. Of course, the Islanders would have to decide if either is worth a long-term investment and take the risk of not being able to re-sign them this summer.

Two other possibilities who could fit the Isles’ needs are Boston forward Marco Sturm, whom they face Saturday night, and Columbus forward Frederik Modin. But the availability of Modin or Blue Jackets forward Anson Carter, who has gone downhill in the estimation of many, depends on whether new Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock sees them as part of the future or is content to go the longer route with prospects.

Tampa Bay is in the hunt for another Cup, so, fantasy GMs can stop dreaming about Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards because they aren’t going anywhere. In fact, the Lightning is looking for defensive help. But don’t be surprised if some older forwards long past their prime move for a low price. Geoff Sanderson, who underwent abdominal surgery earlier this season, wants out of Philadelphia, and he would be a short-term fix who might come at a low cost. There are others in that category.

Most sellers haven’t really shown their hands yet. Snow has been ready to deal since December, but obviously, potential trading partners have been asking for the moon to this point. With little more than two weeks left to deal, teams should get realistic very soon.

If Islanders fans haven’t already circled March 5th and the 8th, the dates for the next home-and-home clash with the Rangers, they should. When the Rangers traded for Sean Avery on Monday, they added a whole lot more spice to the rivalry. In fact, when the deal happened, I couldn’t help but wonder if their 0-4 record against the Islanders this season is why the Rangers imported Avery from Los Angeles, never mind that he’s Brendan Shanahan’s friend.

The grit and passion Ted Nolan’s Islanders have developed this season is a trait the Rangers obviously are going to have to match, not only in the playoff push now but for years to come. Obviously, they can’t get by strictly on skill level.

Part of me says Avery would have been a good fit for the Islanders in the sense that he’s a tough forward with some skill who plays with a chip on his shoulder. I never brought his name up specifically to Garth Snow, but I’m certain the Islanders’ general manager at least investigated his availability because the Kings are an obvious seller and Snow has strong ties to their front office.

But what makes this move so interesting from the Islanders’ viewpoint is the obvious distaste defenseman Brendan Witt has for Avery. Witt has absorbed all kinds of punishment this season and shrugged it off as no big deal, but he was absolutely livid when Avery speared him during the third game of the season in Los Angeles. Avery was a real pain in the rear for the Islanders’ defensemen and goaltender Rick DiPietro that night because he set up shop in front of the crease and would not be moved.

In the second period of that game, Witt and Avery clashed with the Islanders’ alternate captain winding up with a double minor for retaliating to what was called a slash by Avery. The Isles had a season-high 13 penalties that night at least partly because Avery got them so riled up.

Mistakenly thinking a local L.A. reporter was defending Avery’s actions in a question after the game, Witt unleashed some strong adjectives describing where he thought Avery fit on the food chain and added, “He’s lucky he’s alive. We all know what kind of player he is. Instead of confronting me head-to-head, he takes the easy way out and spears me. He gets what he deserves.”

When the reporter explained that he meant Avery overreacted and took things too far, Witt was only slightly mollified. “Oh, he overreacted? I guess so, but you can’t touch Sean Avery. He’s got a publicist. So, he’s Mr. Hollywood here I guess.”

Explaining the incident, Witt said, “The spear was pretty evident. I don’t lose my cool unless something like that goes on. That’s a cheap shot and an easy way out instead of confronting me face-to-face like a man.”

Since that incident, Witt has been a regular “Cool Hand Luke” when it comes to handling the rough stuff. Remember how he baited Shanahan and Colton Orr into dropping the gloves and then took their punches to draw penalties in the second game at the Garden? I’m not sure Witt will show such restraint where Avery is concerned. It might even be a good idea for Nolan to put Arron Asham out whenever Avery is on the ice. Any fireworks between those two would be worth the high price of admission.

The same line was repeated by Viktor Kozlov and Miro Satan in separate interviews after practice Friday afternoon in Montreal. “It’s just one game.” Each was talking about new rookie linemate Jeff Tambellini, and you should have seen how they smiled at the mention of his name.

Clearly, the energy and excitement Tambellini created with three assists in the Islanders’ 5-2 victory Thursday night in Atlanta is contagious. When captain Alexei Yashin was put on the injured list to recover from knee tendinitis, Randy Robitaille moved from Kozlov’s line to take Yashin’s place between Jason Blake and Chris Simon, and Tambellini was called up from Bridgeport to play left wing with Kozlov and Satan.

The anxious rookie drew a holding penalty 48 seconds into the game, but from there on out, he put the pedal to the metal, and Kozlov and Satan jumped to keep up. Kozlov had the opening goal, the closing empty-netter and an assist on Trent Hunter’s power-play goal, and Satan had a goal and two assists.

“It’s only one game,” Satan said. “I don’t want to get too excited. But I had a good feeling about Jeff because I saw him in training camp, and you could see he worked very hard over the summer. He was shooting the puck hard and making plays. He has a lot of energy, so I had a good feeling he might fit with us.

“He was the first guy on every puck in the corner, and he gave us a chance to get there and help him out and start a forecheck, basically, and prevented them from making the play and getting out. We spent much more time in the offensive zone as a result of it. That’s why we had such a good game.”

Kozlov was equally effusive with his praise for Tambellini’s speed and for his ability to read the game. Asked if that meant Tambellini understood where Kozlov and Satan wanted the puck, Kozlov said it went beyond that.

“No, no, no. I think he is like a natural,” Kozlov said. “Some guys know, they feel where to be. You cannot teach that. That’s why I like it. He is always in a good position to give him a pass or to get the puck. It’s just one game, but I hope we can play the same way.”

Tambellini had such a great training camp that it forced coach Ted Nolan to include him in the opening night lineup in Phoenix. But the plan was to develop him in Bridgeport, and he was sent down after that reward. At the time of his callup, Tambellini was leading the Sound Tigers with 22 goals and 22 assists.

Against the Thrashers, Tambellini played with so much pent-up emotion that it looked as if he’d just been released from prison and couldn’t wait to get going with his first real opportunity to stick with the Islanders. “Right now, there’s an open hole in the lineup, and that’s what guys hope for – the one chance,” Tambellini said. “I’m going to do everything to help my two linemates produce. Those guys are phenomenal players, so, it’s up to me to get them the puck early and go to the net and bring that energy and that speed to the line.”

He’s only 5-11, 186 pounds, but Tambellini crashed the net hard against the Thrashers, once ending up in the net after being knocked down. He was relentless. It reminded Kozlov of an exhibition game they played together.

“Yes, of course I remember,” Kozlov said. “We had a game, and I got a two-on-one with me and Jeff. All of a sudden, he just passed the defenseman going so hard to the net. I remember that. He was like that in the beginning…Of course, the energy is shared with the team. It kind of pushes you up, too. You have to do something better.”

With the game in Atlanta at 1-all in the second period, Tambellini played a huge role in what might have been the best shift of the season. Hunter had the puck pinned deep on the right wall in the Thrashers’ zone when his linemates went off and Tambellini and Kozlov skated on. Tambellini joined Hunter, and the two of them fought to keep the puck down low for what seemed like ages. They momentarily lost control, and one of the Thrashers tried to make a clearing pass that was knocked down inside the blue line by Islanders defenseman Sean Hill.

As Hunter skated off to let Satan come on, Tambellini swept back toward the right point, got his stick on the puck and sent it past the left post, where Satan could get to it behind the net. Then, Tambellini scooted down there to join the fight. He said Satan tried at first to get the puck to him, but in the end, he was able to chip it to Satan near the left post.

“I had a little advantage when I got in the battle because I was fresh,” Satan said. “The guys on the ice were a little tired. It’s just hard work by all those guys, especially Jeff behind the net. I don’t remember every detail of the battle, but it was two-on-two behind the net. Somehow, the puck came out a little bit, and I just tried to reach from behind the net and shoot it and it surprised the goalie, I guess. It was over his pad but under his glove.”

That gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead at 11:11 of the second period, and they were able to play with a lead instead of being forced to fight from behind going to the third period. “You get enough pressure in their zone, and something’s going to break down,” Tambellini said of that play. “That’s what you’ve got to do. You do that enough games and you’re going to come out ahead for sure.”

There’s no telling how long Yashin might be out, but he will return at some point and a decision will have to be made on what to do with Tambellini. If he can sustain his chemistry with Kozlov and Satan by bringing the same effective energy game after game, Tambellini won’t be going anywhere.

“That’s determined by how I play,” Tambellini said. “If you earn your spot and play well enough, they’re going to give you even more of a look. So, that’s all in my hands right now.”