After starting a personal-best 18 straight games and 22 of the Islanders’ first 23 games, goaltender Rick DiPietro will get a well-earned rest. Backup Wade Dubielewicz will make only his second start of the season against Atlanta tonight at Nassau Coliseum.
It’s a much better spot than he was in for his first start on Oct. 11 in Toronto. That was the Islanders’ fifth game in seven nights, and they were coming off a big win the previous night against the Rangers and facing a Maple Leafs team that was coming off a loss in which they gave up seven goals. Dubie wasn’t at his best that night, but the truth is that he was hung out to dry by a team running on fumes in an 8-1 loss.
His only action since then came on Nov. 3 when he relieved an injured DiPietro at home against Pittsburgh early in the second period and earned the win. That was more like the Dubielewicz who started four straight wins at the end of last season to reach the playoffs.
Still, this will be his first action in 28 days, and it will take some getting used to for a defense that is used to having DiPietro play almost as a third defenseman controlling the puck around the net and often making breakout passes. “It’s going to be important to hustle back,” said defenseman Andy Sutton, who will be facing his former team for the first time since signing with the Islanders. “Dubie doesn’t play as many pucks as Ricky does, so, we have get back into our defensive posture a little bit quicker. He hasn’t played in awhile, so, it’s important we get back and let him hear us so he knows what’s going on.”
There also will be another change in the lineup because Shawn Bates suffered a hip injury against the Rangers Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. He will be replaced as a spare forward by Sean Bergenheim, who was a healthy scratch for that game.
Playing just his second game since last Jan. 30 after recovering from abdominal surgery, Bates said he fell awkwardly behind the net in the third period against the Rangers. He had an MRI examination yesterday and has to let the inflammation calm down before undergoing another MRI at a later date. Bates also had a hip injury last season as part of his problems, but this one is on the opposite side.
Comments (29)
C'mon doooooooobie!!!! Do it for the mass tonight!!!!
Ohmigod, Shawn Bates is the most fragile player ever! I think "Shawn Bates" is English for "Moises Alou"...
Shawn Bates suffered an injury? You must be kidding me.
Rock on Dubie- and lets get some GOALS tonight, boys! :)
Can't Shawn catch a break??
Thanks for the update
Down 3 zip six minutes in. Martinek got TORCHED. Dubie is weak. This team looks pathetic, they are just standing there in awe of the caps. Its really sad. I'm glad I decided to stay home this evening.
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3-0 already... Newsflash islanders... Dp is not in today... Tighten it up
3-0 already... Newsflash islanders... Dp is not in today... Tighten it up
Who ones to put money that they make belfour or cujo the next backup
4-0 after one. Pitiful, pathetic, weak, unprepared, unmotivated... What else is there that I missed? Here's the other danger of playing rick 19 out of every 20 games. Dubie does not belong playing in an NHL game if he has this much rust. Its the coaches fault that he does.
Since this team only scores 2 goals a game, this one is pretty much over.
Naturally the play of the team is overlooked by the broadcasters who seem to be focused on free tickets for everyone under sixteen on Tuesday and a live broadcast in Mandarin.
Even if they come back and win, which I doubt there is much danger of, the fact that they have to be down 4 nothing before they show up says much.
Wow, did someone forget to tell the guys they had a game tonight? as much as Dubie looks weak, the rest of the team looked like someone slipped 'ludes into their gatorade. At least they finally woke up, but this looks like too deep a hole.
I remember hearing when Dubie was signed that he had a two way (waiver-free) contract and that if he was sitting on the bench for too many consecutive DP starts, he could be sent to Bridgeport too stay fresh. After watching the first period, it makes me wonder why they have not taken advantage of the clause in his contract.
Can anyone offer a reason for this or perhaps management has not recalled they have this option?
Once again Nolan shows he cant manage his backupgoaltending situation. What did you expect to get when dubie hasnt played in 19 games! let me repeat 19 GAMES!!!!! Same thing happenned last year with Dunham. Too much rust and when the team needed him he wasnt sharp. Hence, the free fall. I am listening to the post game and some comments about how the islanders are more confident with Ricky in goal and play better. True but you should be confident and ready to go every night. You dont take a night off because Ricky is not playing. Nolan talked this week about having faith in his players and the team having faith in each other. Sounds contradicting. would not have mattered anyway because they didnt score but the bottom line is this: the team is exhausted from playing too many 2-1 games and not having a big time scorer and playmaker is starting to show. Bringing up guys from bridgeport is not going to work. If they could play they would be here. I dont want to hear Tambellini. Every time he comes up he does nothing. So he may come up. Maybe Walter or Comuea should get a shot. all in all very bad night and this team needs to put the puck in the net. Nolan must find games for Dubie to play at least 15-20 games a year. That is what a true back is supposed to do. If he wont then Dubie needs to go to Bridgeport for conditioning and staying sharp. Interesting to see what happens but this team is in a funk to score goals. Hopefully this was bottom tonight and they can turn around. This is a good team that will make the playoffs lets hope this does not snow ball. Also sit Hilbert already. lets go isles.
Brian:
I was under the impression that the contract Dubie was given is a one way contract worth around 800k (if my memory is correct). Does anyone else have any links as to where this information could be found. It doesnt matter... if they wanted to send him down I'd be real surprised if he gets picked off waivers... at least right now.
Given the same situations with DP we still lose. There were like 5 or 6 breakways against. I don't remember seeing three on DP all year. I don't blame Dubie for any of the goals except the fourth. Martinek inability to stay in front of Kovalchuk cost the first one. Sutton letting his man get to the front and bang in the rebound cost the second, and freaking Hilberts inability to prevent the breakaway (falling like a rag doll) cost the third.
I don't know where Nolan goes from here. Guerin, Hunter, Comrie, Tank, and Sillinger have not been able to score. These are the guys that you expect to contribute goals almost every day (I mean at least one or two of them). The power play is horrible. Its come to the point that its a good strategy for the oposition to take penalties... because you know we're not going to score for those 2 minutes. Hopefully they show up on Monday against a team that we matched up to well the last 2 times we played them. IMO if we get over the hump and net 4 or 5 goals in a game then maybe the confidence will follow.... but thats easy to write on a blog page.
Still Die Hard though... no matter what.... Lets Go Islanders
Dubie wound up making 25-30 saves Im sure, but what kind of support did he get? The D looked really bad in the first, and THATS when the Isles got scored on, Then they looked somewhat better in the 2nd and 3rd, and Dubie didnt let in ANY goals in once he actually had some D support. Coincidence? Some might think so but I sure dont.
Dubie let in one weak goal, one marginal goal, and two that even Ricky would not have stopped. Fact is, if ANY goalie was in that game the Islanders still would have lost.
Its ONE game... I am just happy that the D only looked like crap for one period. The offense needs to get cracking though, theres no question about it! When this team plays good D they need not score a lot of goals... but nobody wins scoring none!!!
Agreed. I wish I know why everyone is so high on Tambellini. It's just because of his name, the same reason Mike Milbury was so high on Brett Lindros. Tambs hasn't proved ANYTHING at the NHL level and I have no reason to think he will based on the games we've seen him play this season. Walter looked like he had some upside - I'm not sure why Hilbert is getting so much ice time but Walter is playing in the AHL. Then again, I'm not the coach.
Oh, and Martinek is not as good as everyone says he is. He gets beat on one on one plays regularly. Players just skate right around him. The OT goal against Dallas was his fault, as was one of the goals tonight.
I do like the grit and physical edge Sutton has been playing with. He still gives the puck away once in a while, but he appears to be our biggest physical force. Bergeron is still awful and Comrie is still a whiny pretty boy.
At least I had a great date tonight with my daughter! As I was pointing out to her to watch Kovulchuk on the opening faceoff, little did I realize that he'd make a play no Islander is capable of completing in his sleep to essentially salt the game 35 seconds in. I did not see the Toronto game, but this was hands down the worst performance I've seen all year. I actually found a lot of positves in the 8-3 loss to Carolina--in this one, they strated badly and were toast at seven minutes. Is it possible that there were more breakaways given up tonight than the entire season combined? The score easily could have been 8-1.
Someone pointed out a few weeks ago that after 15 to 20 games, teams would know their personnel and other teaams and make adjustments. I think we're seeing that. Shanahan alluded to that the other day in that the Rangers changed their appraoch based on their three previous contests.
I wish I focused on it more tonight, but maybe some wiser hockey minds saw the things I'm thinking of.
First, it seems other teams on the forecheck have done two things. 1) When DP is in goal, they have started to back off attacking the net area and defend the outlet passes. Basically, they have been very good at neutralizng one of DP's strenghts. Second, once you've cut down on DP's ability to start a rush, I also think teams are being very aggressive on the forecheck at taking away the sideboards and daring our defensemen to carry the puck up ice and start the offense--knowing that the speed and/or playmaking on the backline is weak. I think this this among the reasons we seem so disjointed coming through the neutral zone and have had so many offsides the past week. And because we have been having gretare difficulty getting out of our zone and gaining the opponent's end, it has been more difficult to establish an effective forecheck.
On the PP is where Blake is missed the most. There is simply no one on this offense or combination that has shown the ability to move the puck and break down defenses and get them moving. If Blake did nothing else, he created space and movement. Our opponents' task SH is simple: block the shooting lanes of the Isles's D-Men and stay in the box on passes along the perimter because virtually every Islander will hesitate with the puck long enough for you shut down cross-ice passing lanes and get back into position to foreclose shots from the point. There's just no imagination or instinctiveness on the PP. Comrie has added nothing and the PP simply looks very minor league.
Lastly, although I'm sure a lot of coaches would not say this. I'll also bet other teams are willing to take a few more risks in their own end looking for breakouts with the belief that even if they commit a turnover, the Islanders have a less likely chance to covert a mistake into a goal. A lower percentage/high reward play is probably much more favorable if the consequences of a misplay are not high--so other teams may feel freer to go for bigger plays.
To end on high note, there was no traffic.
Have a Happy Advent!
FREE TICKETS FOR KIDS THIS MONDAY!
New York Islanders
Dec 1, 2007, 3:34 PM EST
Monday, Dec. 3 vs. Boston: Islanders Give LI Children Their First Holiday
Presents
United States Marines to host Toys for Tots holiday collection as part of this
special event
The New York Islanders would like to give Long Island children their first
presents of the holiday season:
FREE tickets to see the Islanders face the Boston Bruins on Monday, Dec. 3 at
7:05 pm at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Third real stinker of the year. I said it a million times that Dubie needs to be on the farm getting ice time.
Bottom line we are now below .500 through the past 11 games. We need to go on a run, or the fast start will be a blip of the past.
We need to make a trade for offense. YES, even if that means sending a young guy like Bruno. In my opinion if we keep playing this type of hockey, the fans are going to show up less and less. The trickle down effect will obviously be poor attendance, players not wanting to play here, no FA signings, etc. etc.
Not upset about just one game, but the past 13 of NO SCORING!!!
Everybody pretty much sumed up my thoughts.
I rushed home yesterday to catch the game in progress. I turned on the tube just as the final seconds of the 1st period ticked down. I was like Hmmphhh!!! Checked out my Tivo for something more interesting. Nothing... then watched a little Bear Grylls (Man vs. Wild) on the Discovery Channel to watch him survive in the Sahara on barely anything. Ironic ... The Isles have been surviving on barely anything.
I saw maybe a total of 10 more minutes of the game inbetween commericals. I didn't see anything promising, and only was getting more aggrevated and stressed out. I tuned back in during the post game wrap all PO'd.
Atlanta nuetered them. I think we were all willing to blow the positive smoke up our butts because they were winning more than losing. We also have been critical, but forgiving when they won those games. Well ... 2 goals a game or less (in regulation) for the WHOLE MONTH!!!
I think the last time the Isles scored 3 goals in regulation was the Arbour game. I could be wrong ... but that is the last I remember.
I think the Isles need to send Dubie down ... to shake the rust off .. .It's not fair to him or the team to put him out once every 6 weeks to start. They also need to bring up some scoring talent from the Bridge. It cannot get any worse. Hilbert .... he needs to be working on his shot in practice ... over and over till he wears out the leather in his gloves. We know he can skate!!!
If the Isles fulfill the media's prophesy and end dead last. FINE ... at least they got some guys from the Bridge some NHL experience. That is going to be key for when they take the next step.
We can't fool ourselves and believe this team as is can and will win the Cup. They obviously are not going past the first round even if they make the playoffs at this rate. They aren't winning decisively when they win. However, they are having their clocks cleaned when they lose.
The last four games (yes even the win against a poorly playing Ottawa) was a splash of slush in the face. Prove me wrong Isles. Boston is playing well ... be ready for Monday. We still have time to fix the offense and make noise in the playoffs .... but gotta fix the offense. They are still in the thick of the playoff picture and can make this post look ridiculous in 4 months.
BTW ... Don't look now but here come the Devils, Sabres & Thrashers!!!!!
At least this happens now, at the end of the first quarter of the season, instead of Dunham slapping on the pads at the most crucial point of last season only to realize he forgot how to play goal. But if this kind of effort becomes more commonplace...
Thoughts from the game ...
1) I'll never understand why the Isles always do this - they seem to always be starving for goals, yet make line combos that leave me scratching my head. You move Satan with Comrie - fine, but you've had Park and/or Simon rotating off the first line for a few games? I think Park is a great 3rd/4th line guy who's great on PK but is he really a guy who should see 1st line time on a team? Simon, who had a good goal scoring season how long ago, sees time on the top line. I'm sure at some point he did have hands, but should he even still be on this team? He doesn't really drop the gloves anymore - clearly wanting to try and change his image after last year's bone head move. He's not a "goal scorer" yet gets put into goal scoring positions.
Nolan said he doesn't want to put to much pressure on Vasicek, which is why he gets no PP time despite leading the team in goals, yet he'll throw those 2 guys out on the 1st line ...the Isles are clearly a loyal franchise, which is good, but they're loyal to fault ...would SImon still be here if not for his close relationship with Nolan?
2) This is where it may get somewhat controversial for some ...and I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts ...but I think as we get closer to the trading deadline (which is still I guess far away!) there are some players I think Snow-lan should start to think about moving if there's anything of quality that can be braught back - 1st round picks and/or young scorers. Lets go through some of the players I think should be moved - and why ...
Satan - I actually really like him. I think he's strong on the puck with go towards the net while others are cycling for 2 minutes ...but he's gonna be a UFA next season and might bring in some quality picks and/or young players ...plus, the Isles could just try and resign him in the summer if they were so inclined ...
Hunter - I also like him, but I think he could be doing more. I'm not sure if its him or Nolan, but Hunter has shown the ability to go to the net and score, but here he seems to be more of another "D" man playing at forward (which we have TOO many of) ...I think either he's a FA or the Isles may have resigned him (can't remember) ....but he should have some value ...
This upcoming draft is supposed to be deep ...so, if we could aquire some 1st rounders (which may be wishful thinking I realzie) then it could go a long way to rebuilding this team the right way - from within ...although, they wouldn't get any playing time anyways ....
Anyone know what are picks are for this upcoming off season?
Why play Simon if you're going to dress 7 D-Men? If we have to fight...like we did lastnight (Sutton), then why do you need to have Simon in there against a fast skating team? Makes no sense.
Simon is not a scorer and we need scoring.
Nolan better stop picking favorites (Simon, Hilbert) and shake this team up properly...bring up 2 young guns and let them play...sit Simon and Hilbert and play 7 D-Men if you want...but get some young legs up who can put in quality minutes.
You'll never know how good the youth is unless you give them the opportunity....I'd rather lose with youth then aging vets.
Any thoughts on this guys?
The best thing that could happen to the Islanders is to crash and then trade off some of the 13 plus FA's they have on this team. In my opinion, the Islanders have the least impressive roster in the NHL. I'm not saying they are a bad team, I'm saying they have the least desirable roster of all teams in the league. There are no real good young players, beyond Dipietro (They dressed three players under 25 against the Rangers). And the roster is chop full of average veteran type players. See, the Isles are better than a team like Pheonix, but Pheonix is developing several very good young players and has a very good future. Where is the Isles youth? Do they have any? Honestly, I don't think they do. Peter Mueller, selected after Oksopo, had more goals this year at the ANL level than Oksopo has at the College level.
The Islanders are a team with no actual plan. Their mission simply is to have a good record, but at the same time they know they are not a threat to really accomplish anything significant.
It's the truth. And you know it.
This was really the second game in a row the Isles were taken out of their game. Martinek may have been the most glaring example of this. They had been taking the puck carrier out of the play at the blueline. Marty went puck chasing... 1-0.
Against the rangers it happened a few times. Where the puckhandler at the blue line gets back into the play and is key to a good opportunity. If that's the system they are going to play, then they can't lose their aggressiveness. It's worked for 20 games...
On offense I agree with AZS to some degree. I liked seeing Park and Simon on the first line to see if it would spark something, but the team meeds to re-evaluate it's responsibilities. The Satan-Vasicek-Bergy line has been the most effective. Let them get the top line minutes (Maybe with tank instead of Bergy) and the PP time. Comrie has been a second line center his whole career, and (to my dismay) hasn't really earned the top spot yet here. But he has been somewhat effective as a second liner with failing talent on the wing. Tank has played bigger than he is, but they don't mesh. Guerin has lost a step and is missing an inordinate amount of shots. I'd move hunter into that spot permanently, Bergy on the other wing and JUST LET THEM GEL.
Forget about AHL talent for a while. Walter may be the best player down there right now, but he's not going to step into a top two center role just yet and they have Sillinger and park as well.
Hilbert might just be a defensive luxury this team can't afford. I'd move Park into that spot and get Andy on the fourth line.
If that happens then you could see Walter centering Simon and FBA... assuming they will end the 7 defenseman idea... and Bates is one and done.
AAA,
I don't ever hear anybody except Islander fans and media talking about Marty. I think that makes him UNDERRATED. The guy is the puck moving half of the top pairing on a team that is winning by scoring 2 goals a game... let's give him some credit.
Their system has been better than the sum of it's parts. But those guys with the exception of maybe four periods this year have played their butts off.
I know I said this last wednesday, and steady probably mentioned it also, I know I've read it here before... why didn't they send Dubie down to play a game or two? He looked horrible int he first period... regardless of the goals.
We may not have seen the break aways all year, but how many rebounds were kicked into the slot. How many bad angles were taken... and I really like dubie, but in a crouch it's like shooting over a wastepaper basket... he gives up 18" to the cross bar, so he really has to be aggressive when challenging a shooter, and with a team that moves the puck he's dead.
I'm glad he was rewarded for last year (and year's previous in the minors) but they have to start thinking about McDonald as a backup option. If for nothing else, to give Dubie some action.
Letting kids in for free is a nice gesture... maybe to stave off embarassing attendance numbers... but doing that is better than letting those seats waste away... and Mr. Wang needs to be commended for his commitment to make this thing work.
As far as trading for draft picks... that's nuts. This team needs to recognize personel that will help them this year and next year. They can't give up any draft picks, but they most certainly can't afford to trade guys like Gervais and Hunter for draft picks... Satan is another story. He can be resigned in a free market.
This team has been KILLED by two of the worst deals in hockey history, and they have created a vortex around the franchise. There's no need to rehash history but this team could very easily be led by Heatly, Luongo, Spezza, Chara, straka and Jokinen... I hope the next time Milbury makes a comment about the current Islanders he mentions the shambles he left them in.
Snow got to see some of that, especially the hole that the DP/Luongo situation left... he hopefully won't repeat that... though he gave his best effort last year for Smyth.
If they hit the cellar by January, Satan is probably on the market, along with Comrie. But I think that they should try to sign Comrie and Vasicek and maybe overpay for a pair of second line centers, instead of let them get to July and be priced out of their reach. This thing isn't going to get solved by trade, or by Okposo next year...and definitely not by a draft pick that won't see the NHL until 2011 (if he's good enough)... It will be solved by WINNING with what you have.
Ted has done a good job of that. It's still early in year number two, and I think he needs to be patient with his lineup. It will come around...
But if you folks believe in God, you might want to say some prayers for a healthy DP... this ship is sunk if he misses a big chunk of time... and he's a good kid, so some prayers inhis direction won't hurt anything.
We're all Islanders!
Proposed lineup... definitely under the WINDBAG LINE...
Satan-Vasicek-Tank
Hunter-Comrie-Bergy
Guerin-Sillinger-Park
Hilbert-Walter-Simon
Witt-Marty
Sutton-Berard- (or MAB) NOT "AND"
Campoli-GervaisOne has to sit.
...and leave it alone until 2008!
I Agree 100% with Merrick on his 00:38 posting earlier. Great X's & O's analysis. I have a habit of watching the play away from the puck and have noticed pretty much what you noticed. They are not giving the Isles much room anymore to get out of the zone. They also are keeping the puck away from DP more. I always wonder why Rose & Jaffe don't bring us this info. The PP is non-existent. Merrick brought up the low percentage / high reward factor that other teams seem to be employing.
Steady @ 08:00 .... I couldn't agree with you more on your whole post. Dubie is a very capable goaltender. However he's used to being a #1 where ever he plays and needs to play to be effective. I haven't seen the goals that he gave up but the consensus here seems to be the team left him out to dry. A trade for some offense may be needed. However I'm willing to look at Walter or someone else from the Bridge more to see if that helps first.
AZS @ 10:18 I agree with both your points. I cannot keep track of the line combos. I think Nolan is hoping for the right magic via trial and error. The PP needs guys that move the puck with confidence and don't hold onto it to long. As far as the trade options are concerned. I think we should look into trading Satan who I like very much or Hunter who I like very much also. Maybe even Comrie. Only for high draft picks (1st Round) or young offensive talent. I haven't really waved the white flag yet. The season is still young and we are in the thick of things. I just don't see how they can keep this hard work low reward pace for another 3/4 of a season with the way they play and be effective in the playoffs.
I'm not as concerned for the Isles prospects of making the playoffs as I am for their future the next few years.
You cannot trade Satan, unless you are a Seller, in which case, lets face it, the team is a failure for around the 15th consecutive year. Comrie has a 1-year deal and has a reputation for a questionable attitude and work ethic, which limits his value. He's not a bad player, and has value here, but can't be counted on as the teams go-to offensive guy.
Its pretty clear that the team is made of role-players who may play with a lot of grit and heart, but can't put the puck in the net. Hunter, Hilbert, Bates, Sillinger, Simon, Park, none of these guys worry the opposition. They're good hockey players for their roles but aren't scorers. Even of the "top line" guys, there aren't any real scorers. Ultimately, that's what this game is all about. Without some kind of consistent scoring threat the best this team can do is abuse excellent goaltending and hope they score a goal. That isn't going to get them very far.
I like guerin who is a gamer but he's 37, not the player you build a team around. Maybe if things worked out differently last year Bergenheim would have another year of experience under his belt and would be a different player... He was supposed to be a faster version of Peca at one point, if I recall correctly.
Bottom line is none of these guys scare anyone and until the team acquires, and that is the key word, acquires, a real scorer the ceiling is very limited. "Acquires" is the key because the kind of talent this team needs is not in the system, and even if it were, it would lack the necessary NHL experience to make a real difference.
Personally, I keep hearing about changes in Tampa and I'm hoping theres some way Garth can bring Lecavalier here. I'd give them anyone but rick and he would make a difference. A real difference, not like Walter, Tambellini, or anyone else down in bridgeport would make. The more I think of it, the more I rue the Smyth deal now. With those chips we would definelty have enough to get it done.
themass:
Dubie's contract is worth $500,000. The salaries of all players are available on thehockeynews.com
I will see if I can dig up the info on the two-way waiver free aspect of his deal.
themass:
Okay regarding the nature of Dubie's contract - It is a one way contract. However I found the quote that remember from Dubie. Here it is:
Switching to a backup role will be a big change for Dubielewicz, who played in the AHL All-Star game last season. Asked after the season if he could handle long periods of inactivity behind DiPietro, Dubielewicz said, "You have to be ready. I've always been very good at coming into games. It's going to be something new. If Ricky goes on these runs where he plays for six weeks straight, something you might see is me going to Bridgeport to play a couple of games to stay fresh.
"We're definitely going to be prepared. If the schedule works, go down and play a few games and stay fresh."