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.”
Comments (46)
Ricky 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.”
It's nice to see - heart-warming, actually - that DP and hopefully the rest of the team realizes that, despite the empty seats, this team has a die-hard, loyal and thirsty fan base. Thanks primarily to Ted Nolan, whose personality and philosophy is as evident in the players as the numbers are on the back of their jerseys, the fan base wasn't pushed to the limit of patience by this past summer's circus. Yes, the players have been terrific in stretches. Yes, DP has matured into a legitimate big-game goaltender. Yes, Snow has made some very shrewed and well thought out player moves. But let's face facts. Ted Nolan is the Islanders messiah. He's ressurrected them from the dead. Without him, the team and the fan-base would be 6-feet under right now.
These guys are making me proud. They deserve a playoff series after the effort they have put in over the course of a tough season.
Any chance Yashin's "injury" is nothing more than a good cover for healthy scratches before a buyout? I for one hope so.
The only thing hurt about Yashin is his minimal pride. Since we can't give him away, who do we consider trading to improve the team ( Blake, Hill, Poti, Campoli, etc)? Do we sell the farm now for perhaps a round or two of playoff experience?
LETS GO ISLANDERS!
Nolan is instilling spirit and pride back in the organization. But, everytime we get caught up in Isles ebullience, we get burned. get 1 or no points in next two games, and the griping will start. face it, we are mired in mediocrity like the NHL is. If the NHL's tolerance of physical play continues, and Asham, Simon etc..start proactively intimidating, we may make the playoffs. But, the stars are old..Blake may be gone; Yashim too. Simon is old. Carpe diem Garth---while the framework for a modicom of success after years of pathetic play is set, we need to step it up next year. So, do NOT bring in high priced scorers...in fact, trade away if need be. Think of the years ahaead, not today. My carpe diem is seizing the moment today for tomorrow---use the trade value, re-build that pipeline, and rely on Ted to keep us afloat.
Let's go all the way to the cup. We're number 1 !!!
Great game yesterday - lots of goals which beg the question: Is it time to give DP a 1 game break? He has been playing great but did give up 5 yeasterday and was noticably tired after the Toronto game. Just a thought, what do you guys think ? The next two games are vs.Toronto and Montreal. Personally i say give 1 to Dunham.
Thoughts ?
Nice post Cincy. As do most journalists, I won't let REALITY get in the way...
The whole story has got to include transition, and evolution.
You make a deal now if it makes the team better. Blake is a coin flip. But if you don't sign him you have to have a plan to replace him. Either through F/A or by trading others in the off-season... becasue there is nobody in the basement that can fill his shoes (right now). this puts snow in a tough spot. But it's a decision he has to make soon, whether Blake says that or not. If he doesn't deal him, and doesn't sign him he faces the posibility of losing him... and that is highly probable... especially to a team that needs a second line guy that can put up 25+ for three more years... they'll pay him for 5... we won't. all you have to do is look across the river. They gain by subtraction. I'm pretty sure if Asham was cut loose last year they'd have picked him up faster than a ham sandwich at a homeless shelter.
Hill is probably on the bubble right now, but he's worth so much more to this team THIS YEAR than the 3rd rounder they'd get for him.
Trading campoli would be a HUGE mistake. With a full corp [at worst]he's on the third tandum, and that's a pretty nice chip to have at the table. A special teams "D" who will give you 15 mins of solid play. Gervais... not so much... except for speaking frog he seems to be a life long shuttle case. But what do I know.
The key is the "EVOLUTION". This team is completely different from last year's version. Stirling to Nolan was like going from night to day. Now that the sun is up, they should just let things grow. Guys like Sillinger, Witt and Hill turned the lights on.. Simon is probably a key guy in the locker room as well. Be very careful about screwing with that...
The old GE standard of letting the bottom feeders go and cycling in new fish every year is a good plan.
Dunham will most likely get Philly, St. Louis or Wash.
My chips would be on Philly. It's a weeknight game that would give Ricky a 4 day rest.
He's got 14+ years to go... he'd better not be tired against two teams they HAVE TO beat.
I have a wait and see attitude on this trade but I did not see anyone else here has a problem with the Bergeron trade. I think I do. We gave a up a 1st round prospect, who, when we got him, was projected as a top 4, possibly top 2, blueliner. At 23 he is ready to make the jump to the NHL next year and move right into a starting spot. I know we had, and will have, trouble signing him, but don't you think we could have gotten more then a small, undrafted, defensively challenged, 3rd line d-man, who was just hated in Edmonton and really had to be moved, and a 3rd round pick, for that type of prospect?
I watched the Pitt game (what a game) and I saw Bergeron have a few defensive lapses, but I know you have to give him time before you form any opinions of his defensive prowess. He does have a cannon of a shot. I also like is that Bergeron is signed for the next 2 years and is enter. But still, wouldn't you think that such a high end prospect like Grebeshkov should have brought back more?
Like I said, I'll wait and see. Garth certainly gets more leeway then MM would from me, but it seems like we got the short end of that stick. Now if Nolan can teach him defense and Grebeshkov does not come back from Russia, sure we got a steal, but I think Grebeshkov is in Edmonton next season and could turn out to be another top D-man the Islanders gave away before he had time to develop into a star.
I agree with JP. No way does Dunham get the Leafs or Habs. I am a big proponent of giving your goaltender a rest, especially when you have a backup as good as Dunham, but these are must games and Dunham is rusty. I would be more infavor of Dunham if he had been playing every 5th game or once a week, etc. but not now. We can't take a chance, unless Ricky says he needs a night off.
I hear you JP and 4Cups, this is the time for Ricky to shine. Hopefully he can continue to play well.
p.s. did you guys see Avery and Marty last night?
I HATE avery already and we havent even played the Rags with him yet.
Four Cups-
In general, you don't get something for nothing in this league (unless you are trading opposite MM).
I liked Grebeshkov (sp??) and looked forward to his days here, but what we got was a reasonably known quantity that fills an immediate and future need for a question mark with lots of potential upside. Heck--Bergeron may have some major upside with Nolan as well.
This is pure speculation on my part--but even if Grebeshkov was on next year's team, who knows if he would even want to be here and would be agitating to play someplace else.
Also, amidst all the buyer/seller talk--I have not seen anyone mention the front office's need to show THIS TEAM the desire to give them a boost. While I'm not for mortgaging the future, I sincerly believe that even in the cold calculating business world, this group of guys deserves some help in a playoff run for the effort they have put in this year. Right now--even if we don't make a major move, I honestly don't believe there is one player in the locker room who currently believes this organization is not committed to winning. That has to count for something.
Before the season started, most columnists and hockey "experts" had the Islanders going dead last in the conference, possibly the league. The only two people to save the season were Nolan and DiPietro. Now that the Islanders are not even close to the cellar and are possible post season bound, the same two men will be the ones that the rest of the team will ride with. DiPietro will start against Toronto and Montreal, he'll demand it. So scratch off Dunham starting. Nolan will continue to work his players and the Islanders will soon be getting ready for the post season.
Now about the trade for Bergeron. A day after he was traded to the Islanders, Martinek was lost for the year, so Snow had to have known in advance that he needed to make that trade. If Nolan continues to work with Bergeron, he'll improve in the system. For the exception of this year, he as been on the plus side for his defense. Grebeshkov has shown promise, but not at the NHL level. We needed someone to replace Martinek and win now.
I did see one person mention that this team deserves management support in the form of personnel moves before the trade deadline, in appreciation for the effort they've shown so far this year. It was Ted Nolan, by gosh. It seems like every day he does or says something that displays the reason why players will go thru a wall for the guy.
The talk on the Isles side is that MAB is a good acquisition, but maybe we needed to get more than a 3rd rounder in exchange for the admitted potential in Grebeshkov. On the Edmonton side, the fan base feels like Lowe dropped the ball on this one, in that they gave up a 100+ mph PP shot (with admitted defensive weakness) for an untested 23 year old Russian leaguer. AND they threw in a 3rd round pick to boot. Truth be told, the price on this one for both sides was fair. We desperately needed a PP specialist, and we got one. The Oilers need youth for the future, and as we saw in just a few games last year, they got a pretty good one in Grebeshkov. This deal happened the day after we got shut out by NJ and the PP looked as pathetic as ever. It also happened to come just as it was announced that Martinek is out for the rest of the year. Snow listened to Nolan on this one. The team needed and deserved help on the blue line and on the PP. Snow paid full price, something he probably had been hesitating to do in the days leading up to the deal. But in one trade he gave Nolan and the players what they needed. Risky to give up such a prospect? Yup. But I can live with whatever happens because the deal has plenty of evidence of sound judgment behind it. And THAT, my fellow Islander freakheads, is a breath of fresh air around this team.
The biggest difference I can see from the Isles this season is oppossed to last is their resiliency to bounce back after a disheartening loss. This comes directly from Nolan and veteran leadership like Witt and Sillinger. They are derfintely a team built to win in the playoffs. Now, they just have to get there.
Maybe you guys are right. Maybe I am just gun shy with Edmonton trades. Be it Tommy Salo, Eric Brewer or Raffi Torres, etc. it always seems like we get the short end of trades with them. I guess its not MM pulling this trigger so I'll take a wait and see approach.
Four Cups you definitely have reason to be scared when the Isles deal with the Oilers as past trades have not been favorable but I think this one was a nice job by Snow. The chances of Grebeshkov developing into a top 4 defensemen are there but I think when you weigh that against the need to reinvigorate the power play and add an NHL ready defenseman because of the Martinek injury this was a nice move. I like the moves that Snow has made thus far. He cleared cap space by getting rid of both Zhitnik and York and picked up a power play specialist in Bergeron. My thought is that he will be very conservative the rest of the way. I would love to see them offer Blake a take it or leave it offer prior to the deadline next week. If he takes it fine, if not then try and deal him rather than letting him walk at the end of the year.
BTW to Fourcups...
Read the recent Canadian press on Edmonton and you'll see that they're characterizing Torres as "worthless". He's got 29 points thru 60 games, but only 5 since the break. Considering we have almost nothing now to show for the Niinimaa trade, I figured this might take away at least some of the bitterness.
4cups, I'm right on the same page with you. But I think this deal, like some of the MM moves that didn't quite pan out, has some merit.
This deal will be better judged in 2010. Unfortunately those judging the move may fail to include the current circumstances that we know, and that WE DO NOT KNOW.
We know that MAB is just what the doctor ordered at this point, for THIS SEASON. They were killing Hill, Witt and Poti... They seem to be getting a little more out of Meyer defensively, so maybe the system will better fit MAB's more aggressive style. I haven't seen enough of him to have a clue. (not that I would have a clue anyway...)
UNKNOWN TO US
Grebeshkov could have been a negotiations nightmare that the Isles didn't want to face with other veterans on the F/A market this off-season... he wouldn't be available until next year anyway.
Nolan might not want the kid. He seems to have put the AHL ceiling on Nilsson, and I'm sure he was a factor in Bergenhiem not getting an NHL contract to stay in the US. Those two were our top prospects last year. He also kept Gervais over Erskine, Campoli and a few other AHL guys.
When you judge the moves as a whole they look pretty good right now... I'd still like to see some of the magic that Nilsson has the potential to perform... but then again I thought Wienhandl was going to be special also... what the hell do I know.
This just comes down to a matter of faith. Even as a rookie GM, you can't ignore the work Snow and Nolan have done to produce a solid roster of HOCKEY PLAYERS.
Let me play psychologist for a moment. Does anyone else think that having a wife who's only 2 weeks from delivery might be at least part of the cause of Blake's recent slump, not to mention his weird melt-down last week? I mean, let's face it - these guys are human. His wife is set to give birth (maybe today)? Let's see if a healthy baby causes the guy to become his usual 'tornado' in the next few games.
Question to Newsday: isn't this a detail worth reporting in the midst of last week's fiasco?
Cincy, I agree with you completely. Blake has been a class act and a work horse from the day he came to the organziation. The guy loves being an Islander (not many people do) and he has been my favorite player to watch over the past 5 or so years.
Give the guy a break. He is a human.
With that being said, a 3 year contract would be perfect. I hope they come to an agreement and I hope to be rooting for him in the future.
Beat the Leafs, please !!! Let's go Isles !!!
Cincy-
I appreciate your thoghts on Blake. While I have no idea whether the expected baby is a factor, I do believe that circumstances of home/family issues and its impact on player performance may be one of the underanalyzed aspects of sports.
I'm sure players don't want their family lives dragged through the press, but I do recall a Sports Illustrated blurb a few yeras back highlighting the difficult on-field years of several baseball players who were going through a divorce.
It's certainly something to keep in mind the next time you want to rag on a player.
where are all the greg logan haters now? he correctly predicted that the isles were close to making a trade for a d-man in his blog on 2/17. the logan-haters can tell me what happened next.
Logan rules.... Hahn offered nothing
I'm sure "home issues" impact a player's psyche, but in my mind these guys are still professionals and are expected to perform under any circumstance. They know this when they sign the contract and I won't excuse his comments about the contract. I still think he benefited a lot from playing with Yashin. Yashin takes the heat on this team for everyone, when Yashin isn't around, Blake is now getting some of that pressure and maybe that explains his lack of production. Pressure is powerful force. Just look at A-Rod.
The question with this team is whether or not goaltending and clutch veteran play will be enough to offset an offense which is fair at best an a woefully inept power play. The last two issues could be conceivably addressed with the return of a competent Yashin or a trade. If not, it's all on the shoulders of DiPietro and guys like Witt and Sillinger. We shall see. Tonight and Saturday will be very telling. Does this team rise up to a golden opportunity and smite its two closest competitors (in regulation - giving Toronto or Montreal a point won't do)? Or, do they revert to the same sleepwalking style that has cost us 4 points at home against Philadelphia (where would they be with 70 points instead of 66?).
I agree. Tonight and Saturday are playoff previews for us, and more importantly, Garth Snow. If we can pull 4 points out, we should be well on our way to the playoffs and may even make some noise there. If we collapse, you, and Garth, can assume we are not playoff worthy and would not do well even if we do get there, and he should act accordingly. If we get 2 points out of it, then the water is just as muddy as it is right now.
Before we can predict anyting this team can do the rest of the season, and in the playoffs, let's see what Snow will do in the next 3-4 days. I for one will be spending my weekend on the computer waiting to see what happens. For now the only two regulation losses the Islanders have had were against the Devils, and we need these next four points to give the Islanders some breathing room. If Snow will make a trade, it'll be for a forward on the first line for Yashin and Blake. That should take care of the offense for this season. Nilsson is a last option cause he didnt have the grit Nolan was looking for during training camp, and thought that he needed seasoning in the AHL. Those of you who know the playoffs well, goaltending gets you further and DiPietro is at his best this year. Time to get excited!!!!!
M.A. Bergeron is a honorable trade. We will have to wait and see, but so be it. As for someone mentioning Avery in a prior comment... I hate that little booger. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy his style of play but he is DIRTY. Does anyone remember the shot he took on Witt vs. the Kings in the first few games of the seaon?! From what I remembered he speared him in the bag with his stick!
Please understand that when the going gets tough, the Isles bail. Tornonto WILL WIN TONIGHT--pray im wrong
Hey you guys. I've been following the last two Islanders games (penguins and leafs) on NHL Radio from Norway. And it's getting pretty exciting. Listening to these last couple of games has been tense. I love when guys like Sillinger, Witt and DP steps up and makes the difference. From an outside point of view, it really looks like your team is picking up the Stanley cup pace.
As for the decisions made by Snow and Nolan. Aquiring Bergeron from the Oilers looks like a great deal. Since the Norwegian Thoresen has joined Edmonton I've been following the team closely. Their performances have dropped, for sure, and of course several of their players (such as Bergeron) have followed that trail. It wouldn't be fair to consider his potential from the performances shown this season. I truly believe he will pick up the pace again with the Islanders. Just look back to what he did last spring in the Stanley Cup. And speaking of Grebeshkov. As many others have pointed out. He wouldn't have joined the team before next season, and besides that. He could just as well be another Semin his first season in the NHL (without demonstrating his true abilities the following season, that is).
Be happy for the performances shown by the NY Islanders recently. Their one of the hottest teams in the NHL. Not because of the supreme talent in their roster. But because of the grit and work ethic shown by the players. Be happy for this. At least I am, as it makes my days of engineering studies easier when I get to watch great Islanders highlights on NHL Video....
Once again I will say this. From an outside point of view, the Islanders looks great. Don't worry. The team will make the play-off's, with or without current players like Yashin, Gervais, Martinek or potential trade prospects like Guerin, Tkachuk, Carter (I don't know) etc...
Good look in the play-off push. Hopefully you'll make it. And hopefully I will get to attend to a game in the Nassau Collouseum some time soon!
Happy to say you're dead wrong Bench.
What a game, another gutsy come from behind win. How can some fans not be excited about this team and their potetntial? And all of this without Yash and Martinek! By the way, what's the deal with Alexi? I would thik he's got to be close to returning already.
Good prediction bench... I'm also glad your wrong. I went to the game tonight and had a ball... I work from 9 to 9 in lancaster pa tomorrow and it was well worth the trip... and the crappy day I'll probably have at work tomorrow.
Some time ago some dude said he doesn't go to games because they are boring... whoever you are... you missed a dandy again today
Lets Go Islanders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
solid game tonight.
blake may have been "slumping" be he's never stopped working. Maybe the baby was a distraction (I hope so), but his performance didn't show it.
There are a few things people are fogetting here. This team was 4 games unde .500 last year. With the win tonight they are in a great position to be in the playoffs. Last year, we were all hoping that the AHL team they were putting on the ice would perform miracles. This team is legit!
BTW: last year 22 pts behind the rags. tonight, 4 points in front. Not bad for a team who people were calling a three ring circus in July.
And yes, the Isle reporting has gotten better. I think Logan is on vacation. (just kidding)
BTW2: why is Jeff Hamilton playing for the blackhawks? He had tremendous AHL numbers, and though he was a little long in the tooth to be considered a rookie, he always did a good job when called up. He has pretty good numbers this year for a team struggling to score goals.
There's absolutely no comaprison when one has to make a choice between Campoli and the Gervais/Meyer combo. Game in and game out Campoli surpasses those guys in every aspect of the game except ice time.
Great win by the Isles last night. The game was fun to watch and once again DiPietro played great. The two goals were both off skates. I loved the Notes article in today's Newsday about him not sitting the rest of the year. That is what I like to see, he's living up to his potential.
Just to get off topic a little bit, but did anyone catch the second period highlights of the Buffalo v Ottawa game? Wow, that was great. Neil takes a run at Drury and then there is a melee on the next shift. Playoff hockey is upon us.
Some interesting notes in USA Today this morning concerning the cap and free agents for next year. The cap is going to rise significantly and while I don't see the Isles maxing it out, there are two player that I wouldn't mind seeing pull on the Isles jersey, they are Chris Drury and Pavel Datsyuk. Who knows what they'll want and even if their respective teams will resign them, but Drury especially seems to be a "Nolan type" player.
Great game last night!! Had the playoff feel. This team never stops working and anyone that calls themselves a fan, should be coming to the games. The place was rocking at the end of the game and there were less than 12,000 people there. Come out and cheer the guys on!!
Great game last night. The barn has not rocked like that since . . . Monday. I am hoping for a sell out Saturday. We have to take down the Habs, who are playing very well again. Its amazing that every team we are fighting with for the playoffs was in a 3 point game last night, and everyone ahead of us, who we could catch, came out on top in the OTs (except Atlanta who is now only 4 up, and we have 2 in hand. Who would have thought we might have a chance at them). No one said this would be easy. Keeping pace/picking up a point, was great. We need a big effort on Saturday.
BTW, welcome from Norway Andyman. I hope you are right.
Does anyone know why Tambellini was taken off the Kozlov-Satan line last night? I did not hear anything but Asham played most of the game on that line while Tambellini was mostly on the 4th line, but did get some time on the Blake line when Simon got benched.
Not use about the Tambellini situation or the Campoli one either? I sure hope Hill and Witt have something left in the tank for the year end push. Do Gervais and Meyer have pictures of someone??????
The leafs play alot bigger than the Isles, so I think Nolan used Asham with Koz and Satan rather than Tambellini for the size. Then later in the game as the leafs were tiring a bit and the Isles needed more offense he used Tambellini more.
Here's what impressed me the most about the game last night. Except for the first half of the first period the isles really weren't "on their game". Yet they still found a way to win. Let's face it, they don't match up well against the leafs. The isles use disciplined and physical play to beat teams which usually have more talent. But the leafs are BOTH talented and big. So once the momentum was lost after they didn't acore in the 1st 10 minutes the isles were kind of out-of-sync and making wrong choices in the offensive zone. Especially Kozlov and Blake. Maybe they were trying too hard, but Kozlov again carried the puck too much and Blake passed when he should have shot and shot when he should've passed.
But that's why I love this team. They don't have to play precision hockey on offense to win. Their guts makes up for whatever might be missing on a particular night. It's the intangible aspect of the game - the emotional component - that Ted Nolan is most responsible for. He really believes that emotion, desire, camaraderie and the perception of having fun while playing can propel any team to accomplish anything they want. I gotta tell ya... I'm starting to believe the guy.
So are we in sell mode or buy mode? We beat the Leafs but are we playoff worthy and do we have enough? If we sell, who should go to make it deal worth remembering?
I can't believe my ears. Could it be possible that Islander hockey is being discussed in depth on the FAN right now!? They may not have a clue as to what is going on with the team, or hockey in general, but it sure is refreshing for our team to get some coverage. I mean, the guy can't even pronounce Dipietro's name right. By the way, nice job Howie!
I think a major part of the attendance problem is lack of media coverage. It's sad that a rangers loss gets four times the coverage on any of the major news outlets than when the isles come from behind and beat division rivals coming down the stretch in a playoff battle. we get post-game intervies from the rangers, highlights from every period, and the isles are mentioned as an afterthought and maybe they show the game winning goal and then cut to commercial. Hopefully the rags will continue to struggle, the isles will make the playoffs, and we'll start getting the coverage and respect we deserve. The fans won't comeback overnight, but if things keep up like this, we'll start to ifll more seats.
We also need to sell hockey to Long Islanders. Lets face it, fans of the game are tough enough to find, but the HAVOC energy zone and discounted deals are a great move by the organization to do just that. I personally was turned off after the '01-'02 season when my partial plan just about doubled the next year, just b/c the team made the playoffs and had a good year. Is that how a loyal fan should be rewarded? I cancelled my plan b/c I felt betrayed and simply couldn't afford it, and the team didnt do nearly as well the next season. The lockout certainly didnt help matters, nor did the bad press about the NVMC falling apart, and sewage spills in the lockerroom.
Hopefully Snow and co. can learn from past mistakes and slowly win back fans that were lost over the past 15 yrs b/c the team deserves more respect and support than its getting, and bottom line, we need to keep the Isles on Long Island.
See you all on Saturday. LET'S GO ISLANDERS!!!