Alexei Yashin will make a huge leap from the injured list for the past 16 games into the thick of the playoff push against the Rangers tonight at the Coliseum in a game that figures to be played at maximum intensity. It’s a tough spot, and if Yashin shows he’s not up to it yet, his role in the third period likely will be limited.
Coach Ted Nolan plans to use Yashin to center left wing Viktor Kozlov and right wing Miroslav Satan, a combination that relies on skill and finesse. If the Islanders can stay out of the penalty box and get into more of a rhythm rolling four lines, their skill might make an impact on the scoresheet. But they probably only have two periods in which to do it, especially if the game turns into a nasty, physical affair.
Kozlov had a poor game on Monday registering no shots on goal, and one of Satan’s two shots actually was a situation in which he iced the puck and it happened to be on net. Yashin and Satan haven’t enjoyed much success together in the past, but Nolan had a good comeback this morning when asked if it was a problem that both need the puck.
“Well, that was the big concern between him and [Jason] Blake at the beginning, and it worked out pretty well,” Nolan said. “These guys are world-class players. The only concern would be Yash’s lack of timing. It’s probably a little bit off because he missed [16] games. So, it’s going to take a little while.”
With Yashin back in the lineup, one forward has to be a healthy scratch, but it’s not going to come from the fourth line. It appears winger Richard Zednik, who was skating with Kozlov and Satan, is the odd man out. Because of the need for a strong physical component in any battle with the Rangers, fourth-line wingers Chris Simon and Arron Asham both will be in uniform and, of course, center Richard Park is valuable as a penalty killer. By replacing Zednik with Yashin, only one line is affected.
MY THANKS TO ISLANDERS FANS: On a personal note, I would like to thank all of the readers of the Islanders Beat Blog for helping us to achieve a remarkable milestone last week while reporting developments at the NHL trade deadline. This blog set a record for most hits in one week by any sports blog ever at Newsday since we began tracking the numbers in April, 2006.
My goal when this blog began was to expand Islanders coverage, and the numbers generated so far say there’s a strong and loyal Islanders following out there. But last week’s numbers were beyond anything I could have imagined. When you top Jim Baumbach’s brilliant and inventive Yankees blog, which is the big elephant in the room, that’s something of which you may be proud. Of course, we all should be thanking Islanders GM Garth Snow, who recently was named Sports Illustrated’s NHL Executive of the Year. His proactive approach at the deadline with his acquisitions of Marc-Andre Bergeron and then Zednik and the suspense surrounding Blake’s status before the blockbuster trade for Ryan Smyth drove the numbers through the roof. To top it off, two Islanders stories led the list of most-read stories from the newspaper, and the weekly numbers for Islanders stories in the newspaper basically tripled.
Give yourselves a hand, and enjoy the moment.
Comments (40)
Dont know if i agree with sitting Zednik. I for one would sit Park but in all honesty i am not a "Yashin guy" i feel he no longer fits on this team, i understand that he was our best forward the first 2 months of the season but i have seen too many nights off from this guy since 2001 to think he will turn it around now.
How on earth can they justify sitting Zednik, why the hell did we trade for him if were not going to play him in a big game like this...Simon is useless, I like him, but hes useless. Asham and witter can handle the fighting aspect of the game and there are enough leaders in the room in Hill, Witt, and Sillinger. What other aspect of the game does Simon enhance? Teddy is a genius but enough with this allegiance to Simon
I agree that Park should be the odd man out. He hasn't done much outside of penalty killing and is the least skilled guy out there. I hope sitting Zednik is just a one game thing.
As I've already stated, my vote is for Park to sit. Otherwise this is simply a swap of Zednik for Yashin. And i wouldn't normally be willing to make that swap for a game this important.
BUT... For the foreseeable future, Ted Nolan can do no wrong in my eyes. As a devoted fan of the NY Islanders I owe him everything for the season produced thus far, the success of which, I believe, is primarily his responsibility. He's effectively 'saved the franchise' from the pit of death, so I'm not about to go second-guessing him now.
Teddy, you want Yashin and Simon. You've got my blessing. Go kick some blue-skirted ass.
First, congrats Greg. We all come here because of your reporting. Nice job setting the new record!!!
I agree with the Zednik sit for this game. Nolan is showing balls, as usual, sitting the guy we just traded for, but its the right move. Zednik has not been clicking with Satan and Kozlov, and you can't put Yashin or Zednik on the 4th line for this game. I am worried that the Skirts will try and overpower the finesse line of Satan-Yashin-Kozlov, but we have the last change at home so Teddy can set the match ups to our advantage.
Zednik will get back in the line up very soon, but tonight is not his type of game.
Well, off to the game.
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!
not a fan of zednik.. we got him before the smyth trade. If the smyth trade happens earlier the zednik trade never happens. plus, he's shown nothing since he's been here. Witt can't fight. he has a brace on his hand and I don't want my dmen fighting unless he's eric cairns. The rest of the isles d-core cannot and shouldnot have to play five minutes without witt. hilbert or park are the likely odd men out. But zednik is my choice.
Beat the blueskirts. They have women on their sweaters for crying out loud.
I was cocky going into the last game vs. the Rangers, and my posts reflected that. I'm now confident - not cocky - going into this game at home. The Rangers did show that they do belong in the NHL, at least.
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!
That was late goal.
Well... we won't have the extra-forward "problem" anymore. Simon's gone for the season, possibly more...hell he should be in the friggin slammer.
The Rags are better than the Isles--we just aint that good.
The NHL is such a joke and that video review proves it. That puck was over the goal line clearly but what the hell anything to help the Rangers get in the playoffs right? Absolute joke, maybe Simon can take the refs head off next time.
That was a goal. No question. We were robbed of a point.
But more to the point, what is happening to this team? We've crapped the bed far too many times recently (we let this game get away from us starting in the 2nd).
And what's up with Simon pulling a Bertuzzi? In retrospect, benching him seems like the smartest move. But now the league should take care of that.
I'm sick to my stomach. I threw up all over my keyboard writing this.
Snow,
Get rid of Simon... i dont care how you do it, just get done. Not only was his slash dangerous, malicious, and inexcusable, it was also insanely stupid. He left his team out to dry and slashed Holwig in the face.....come on now.... A fight is one thing but to swing a hockey stick like a baseball bat into someones face? thats not hockey........ though he usually isnt like that, im not an Isles fan to see them do dangerous and stupid things like that...Simon deserves a suspension for the rest of the season, regular and postseason and possibly even into next year... What a waste of another great game by DP......
I giveth and I taketh away.
Sorry to let you all down. I'm going on a long vacation now.
Obviously not a goal or the game would have been tied. Look at the rules.
Put the blame where it should be. With me I'm classless because I got lightly checked into the boards.
1. I never want to see Simon in an Islanders uniform again
2. That was a goal...we was robbed
3. I saw Smyth hobbling at the end...can someone update me on what happened to him? (I'm not in NY so I rely on video feeds and it cut out right after the game)
yea, i completly agree with Josh, that was definitly like assault or something....
Thank You Chris Simon, for showing us "Old time" hockey. Oh, yeah, that sh*t's been banned for years, and oh yeah, you just cost us the game. Avery's got to be laughing his ass off right now.
Now we will see what kind of coach Ted Nolan is. We can play better than this, it's just up to him to show the players how to play again.
Bring up Tambellini!!!
3 stars of the game:
3. Chris Simon
2. Chris Simon
1. CHRIS SIMON!!!!
Smyth got knocked down in front of the net during the last few shots and fell in a weird way on his leg
Didn't Simons Daddy teach him to choke up on the bat?
If he did it would have been better then the foul tip.
do you guys do the chicken dance after a play like that by simon
I am SURE that was a goal... the only thing that could have blocked the view was the water bottle... why isn't it mandatory for them to be kept in the freakin WATER BOTTLE HOLDERS onthe top of the nets. It only makes sense if they want to get all the calls right to reduce obstruction... does any one else agree... that's all for me... oh yeah f**k simon.... ban him for life. That s**t can't be tolerated in our beautiful game
Hey AK we will more then likly do the chicken dance in April while you are watching us in the playoffs. COngrats you blew your load this weekend. Get ready for a nice Rags losing streak. Also please take Simon back, that classless s**t belongs on broadway
Just back from the game ...
1) Simon is a d*che bag ...how can you take that kind of penalty at that point in the game? Total game killer ...
2) That was a goal ...
3) Better win on Saturday ...I'll be there ...
yeah, simon was stupid and blew the game...but why do we think we can score one goal and then sit back and expect to win? all the forwards were invisible after simon's goal...too much gliding, not enough skating
that puck was in the net!! the best view was the semi-ice level zoom - puck on edge, completely over the line with daylight!
ted, please tell your team that they are not in the playoffs yet!
expect at least a five game suspension for simon...he just finished telling deb kaufman between periods that the team needs to play smart and stay out of the box...what a moron...
Wow just when I thought chris simon was only a horrible hockey player he is also a real life loser. What a punk bit** just like the rest of that team, guess what, it wasn't a goal...I guess your team is good for one BS bounce a game which was simon's first goal. Be happy you losers got 1 point and even that you did not deserve. Stay off the Rangers blog and worry about your chicken dance.
The Blueshirts have "women on their sweaters"?
Comeone guys, I am an Islander fan but let's be smart about what we say about our rival team.
I just got back and hope I never have to see Simon again. That was just insane--and lucky for Ted, he won't have to make much of a decision on Simon because he'll be suspended for at least five games.
And, while not remotely as vicious, what the heck was Hill thinking when he thumped on Avery on the head a few times and took the penalty leading to the tying goal. What did he think was going to happen? Do these cagey vets come so unglued so quickly in a game that matters?
As for the goal, once the ref ruled no goal--and it was very close from his angle, the deal was sealed. I saw no conclusive replay showing the entire puck completely over the plane of the goal line. Just a tough break.
On the plus side:
1) It was a very entertaining game and Lundqvist was great for the Rangers--keeping them in the game in the first period (and in the last twenty seconds with his swipe).
2) I thought Yashin played well if a bit rusty,
3) Campoli and Meyer had reasonable minutes giving Witt a break, and
4) I didn't have to watch Antonella being kicked off American Idol.
Let's just beat the Caps.
This is the kind of coverage this team needs and I'm thrilled with Mr Logan's work recently giving us update after update on things that go beyond the papers.
Just keep up the great work and thank you.
Also shows to you that we don't need the Rangers for anything, seems like they need us for hockey to get noticed.
THE REFS CAUSED THIS! PEOPLE, WAKE UP, IF THEY MADE THE CALL ON HOLLWEG FOR BOARDING, THEN WE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS SITAUTION!! IF HOLLWEG HAD BOARDED ANYONE ELSE, THEY WOPULD HAVE BLOW THE WHISTLE! HOLLWEG GOT WHAT HE DESERVED, IT WAS CLEAN HIT, HOLLWEG IS DIRT ANYWAY. BRASHEAR WENT OFF ON A STRETCHER, THE OTHER GUY BERTUZZI HIT,- HIS FACE WAS CRUSHED. HOLLWEG? HE IS LAUGHING BAOUT IT. THE ANGLE IS THE ONLY SCARY PART HERE PEOPLE... IF IT WERE FLIPPED, YOU WILL SEE THAT IT WAS A HIT SQUARE TO THE CHIN AND THATS IT. RANGERS WILL LOSE THE REST OF THE WAY. ISLES RULE, WE'LL JUST PICK SOMEONE BIGGER OFF OF WAIVERS TO BEAT YOU GYS DOWN!
Yes, it was just a hit to the chin, the video made it look much worse. He shouldn't be banned. He was boarded, and Hollweg was ok. 15 games only.
TRUE, HIT WASN'T THAT BAD, NO HARM NO FOUL. 15 GAMES IS GOOD. IT WAS JUST A KNOCK TO THE CHIN.
MITCHELL AND BARRY,
PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE DRAGONS BUTT AND DO THE CHICKEN DANCE!
YOU BOTH ARE DESPICABLE HOCKEY FANS! NO BOARDING!
Hit wasn't as bad as it looked, he was laughing and joking. REMEMBER people, its New York rivalry, if someone BOARDS you, which could cause you to be paralyzed, a little knock to the chin is perfectly acceptable! Wake-up! and stop crying, all you people crying about it, its not as bad as it looks ... no real harm done, and Bettman better not suspend simon for playoffs, because he knows he can't. Arm for a leg. Rnagers are sooooo pathetic, thay need five minuntes for a goal, and for the SECOND TIME, they get saved by Toronto on BS calls! Please, lets play a real team!
It was BOARDING you fool! They didn't call it b/c its is Chris Simon- a giant who they think does not NEED protection! If it was jagr, or Crosby, they would call it! Simon had to stand up for himself.....
I think its time to go with just two sets of "D". Danny Flynn is ruining Campoli with such minimal ice time night after night. It's sad watching the spirit and confidence Campy had last year wasted. We all agree Meyer is overmatched every night. Can't he see how pitiful the pairings are???? Let's totally burn out Hill, Witt, Poti and Bergeron so we don't have to worry about the playoffs.
Campoli's gamenight interview was interesting. The first 2 periods of the game were interesting. Avery needs a wedgie. Zednick can have ice time now that Simon will be suspended. The blueshirts will get theirs on the 25th.
I for one would like to see Yashin reunited with Blake. Blake skates his ass off, finds Yashin, Yashin shoots, Smyth buries the rebound. Yashin, Koslov and Satan is a scary line (not in a good way). Keep Zednik with Satan and Kozlov. Love Sillinger, Hunter and Hilbert together and your new 4th line is Asham, Park and Robitaille.
Simon has a history of "losing it". When the Isles signed him I was really disappointed. But since that point I have turned around and the guy has been a major contributor to the teams turn around.there is no excuse for what he did, but I hope campbell will look at the WHOLE game.
Avery's hit on Hill was viscious. He not only ran him, but punched him in the face when Hill wasn't even on the puck. Does Hill have to lay on the ice face down for a few minutes to make that a penalty.
I really don't care what Barry Melrose says, if Hollweg's hit was on Crosby he'd have been in the box. No whistle... WHY? Is that discrimination? Is it because he's 220 lbs, or maybe because of his heritage... Maybe the DA should look into THAT!
Maybe the refs can explain why the blind siding of Smyth at the end of the game with the puck 80 feet away is acceptable.
If anybody needs to be suspended it's the refs.
THEY WERE HORRIBLE.
And there is no defending Avery's SPEARING Witt earlier in the season. I guess the morons in Toronto haven't had a chance to see that one yet.
PLEASE REMOVE BETTMAN FROM HIS POSITION... NOTHING GOOD CAN HAPPEN WHILE THIS MORON RUNS THE LEAGUE.
John Spano