The fairy-tale finish would have had Doug Weight recording his 1,000th NHL point on the primary assist leading to best buddy Bill Guerin's 400th career goal. But the Islanders' season so far has been a fractured fairy tale, as the long injury list attests, so, the moment that stands out from the game in which Guerin became the eighth American-born player to reach 400 NHL goals came on No. 399, when the captain's stick redirected a shot by rookie Josh Bailey that was announced as his first NHL goal until replays proved otherwise.
Bailey knew it right away on the ice, pointing at Guerin to say, "It was yours." When they were sitting together on the bench, the 38-year-old Guerin patted his 19-year-old teammate on the shoulder and smiled almost like a father reassuring a son his time would come.
"It was kind of an awkward feeling because they announced it and, obviously, everybody has been waiting for Josh to get his first NHL goal," Guerin said at the pre-game skate before tonight's game in Buffalo. "He knew it; I knew it. It was just awkward. I just kind of said, "Sorry, buddy. Sorry I got in the way.' But he knew it right away. No player wants that. They want their goal to be their goal, their first goal."
I wouldn't be surprised if a part of Guerin would trade places with Bailey right now because the kid's odometer is only 21 games down the road, while the primary question facing Guerin and Weight coming into this season was how much they have left in their tanks. That question was posed to coach Scott Gordon today, and he chose not to hazard a guess.
"You have to ask them," Gordon said. "They're playing here now. I'm not going to predict the future."
At the moment, Guerin and Weight seem to have tapped the reserve tank because the former is leading the Islanders with 13 goals, and the injured 37-year-old center is tops in assists (22) and points (29).
It's hard to say whether those numbers say more about the staying power of Guerin and Weight or about the lack of scoring ability displayed so far by many of the young players who are being given full-time roles. "Hopefully, what it says about where I'm at is that I have a couple more good years left," Guerin said. "I feel good. I know Dougie feels good. We still love playing. We accept leadership roles and pressure situations, and that's what we like. Age has nothing to do with it. It's how you feel physically and mentally, and we feel young."
The goal of general manager Garth Snow and Gordon from the beginning has been to develop the young players in the organization, and it has been a painful process thanks to all the injuries that contributed to the 10-game losing streak that ended with Friday night's 4-1 win over Toronto. Injuries have slowed the development of the Isles' three most promising young forwards, Bailey, Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen.
Because things are so bad in terms of the won-lost record, the tendency among many fans, as well as the media and possibly even some in the organization might be to just purge all but a few veterans with long-term contracts and turn the Islanders into "Kids R Us." The groundswell only will grow louder over the next couple of months as the March 4 NHL trade deadline approaches.
If there are deals on the table that will help the franchise take significant steps forward, there's no question what Snow must do. But those deals weren't there last February when Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedetenko, among others, were available. And even though Snow might be willing to bargain a little more this time around, he can't just throw all the older guys overboard simply to create more roster room for the kids.
If it's this bad now, where would the Islanders have been without Guerin and Weight? Yeah, both are playing for contracts because neither is ready for retirement, but their performance has earned a second look and no one has stepped forward to usurp their leadership positions.
Asked if he expects to land another contract this summer, Guerin said, "Oh, absolutely. I'm going to play as long as I can. When you talk to guys who have retired, that's the first thing they say is, 'Play as long as you can.' Once it's gone, it's gone."
As for whether it will be with the Islanders, he added, "They're going to play who they want to play and keep who they want to keep. I can only control how I play and how I produce. If I keep doing that, somebody out there is going to want to give you a job. Hopefully, that's the Islanders, but we'll see down the road."
When Guerin first made it to the NHL with New Jersey in 1992-93, the Devils stars he was trying to unseat were John MacLean and Stephane Richer. He was learning from them, but he also was trying to reach their level. It didn't happen instantly. He had 14 goals that season.
It's the same with the Islanders. For all the emphasis on youth, it's the vets who are producing. The kids have been given major roles and are working hard at it, but these things take time. None of them really has earned his stripes just yet.
So, there may yet be a meaningful role for Guerin and Weight in the Islanders' future. "I would think so," Guerin said. "I mean, I think our performance kind of speaks for itself in that we have played well. We have lived up to expectations and maybe surpassed them at times."
Here's the best part, the message Guerin and Weight have for the Isles' kids. "We've told the younger guys, 'Don't wait for us to stop for you to get going. If you can take our job, take it. Because I'm not going to give it to you,'" Guerin said with a laugh. "You know what I mean? That was the challenge Glen Sather said he always said to guys at training camp. 'If you can take Gretzky's job, go ahead. Take it. Prove that you're better than him. If you can take Messier's job, go ahead. That's what it's all about.' That's what players have to do. You have to rise up and prove it."
ISLES FILES: Goaltender Rick DiPietro did not make the trip to Buffalo. Gordon said the Isles chose to err on the side of caution by not asking him to play in back-to-back games coming off his second knee operation this year. "I haven't spoken to him this morning, but I can imagine he's pretty sore as far as being tight and the normal aches and pains that come from playing your first game when you haven't played in awhile," Gordon said of DiPietro. Looks like Joey MacDonald will start with Yann Danis as the backup, but DiPietro is expected to start against the Rangers Monday at Madison Square Garden…Center Jeremy Colliton was called up from Bridgeport to replace winger Andy Hilbert, who suffered a hairline fracture of his left foot after blocking a shot. Colliton's penalty-killing skill played a role in the callup, though Kurtis McLean also was under consideration…Veteran center Mike Sillinger also is sitting out the second game of the back-to-back in an effort to avoid another flareup of his recent groin problem. Either winger Jon Sim or enforcer Mitch Fritz could go in his place.
Comments (35)
Hey everyone..hope we all had a merry xmas or happy chanaukah.....Good game last night, good to see DP back in the lineup, but i was a little worried reading he is not making the trip tonight.....There was a play last night when one of the Leafs players pushed over DP and he fell back akwardly on his left knee i think..He seemed to be very upset no call was made but i took it as hes pissed off because he felt a tweak....Hopefully Im totally wrong, all we need is for him to re-tweak his knee and be out for the rest of the season, which is what i called for anyway before his last surgery to make sure he is 150% healed....We all know how the Islanders are with injuries..so fingers crossed he is ok.....
As good as the KO, Comrie, Comeau line has been....I want Bailey on that line, move Comrie to center Guerin and Bergy.....Lets see what our 3 top prospects can do together...Bailey and KO had alot of chemistry before KO was injured, so move Bailey back on that line GORDO.....
As far as this years trade deadline...I absolutely feel we need to move some veterans such as WITT, GUERIN, MARTINEK, COMRIE, SILLINGER, WEIGHT...Hopefully we can get either a young prospect in return or alot of extra draft picks...I think WITT is def. out at the deadline, and he deserves a stanley cup more then any of the VETS on the team...I dont want to lose him, but he deserves to be moved to a stanley cup contender....
LETS GO ISLANDERS@!!!
Im the reason we won last night
I wont be in Buffalo
We will lose
Hope we can win tonight.Is it true but someone told me the last time we won back to back games was in 2006?
Get TWO TONIGHT boys.............GET TWO!!!
Hope we can win tonight.Is it true but someone told me the last time we won back to back games was in 2006?
Get TWO TONIGHT boys.............GET TWO!!!
Tamby scored!!! WHOA!!!
Still would rather have Fritz in...Tamby just sucks.
WAKE UP BOBBLEHEADS! HOCKEY IS PHYSICAL!
The vaulted winning streak is over at 1 game
The rallying cry is we didnt get blown out in Buffalo
What a freakin' disaster when we applaud the above.
2-1 odds the Rags kill us...and I agree JT still suks, but I hope he has SOME trade value!
Gents--great game tonight . Comeau -1 for the record...one of the worst players on the ice.
Great effort guys....
SW, I completely disagree with you. In fact, I think Comeau is their best young player. FWIW.
At this point, the team should be happy to get the point.
Seeing as how the Rangers are on a 3 game slide themselves and getting torn up by their coach, I don't foresee the Islanders coming out on top Monday.
Fabulous story. Great analysis.
Yes, lets celebrate a point!
What else do we have to celebrate?
Go Dolphins!
I hope the Isles keep Guerin and Weight. Regardless of the record to date, the team has showed progress, along with some pretty entertaining play at times and signs of good things to come. We've got plenty of kids with great potential who are only going to get better - and Guerin/Weight provide not only invaluable leadership, but they're producing as well. They deserve another year with these kids.
I don't have any problem moving Comrie, Sillinger, even Witt (who has really seemed slow this year) - but don't move Guerin or Weight.
Just my two cents from an area code even further away than 505's.
Miggsey....
You analysis on the previous thread is dead on. Perfect! The bobbles are doing everyhting we feared. They are so lost it is aboslutely scary. They are a disgrace to the great game of hockey and this once proud franchise. Snow ~ Wanger ~ And ~ Gordon must all go sooner than later.
FIRE SWAG !!!
p.s Bet those veterans all WISH they had Nolan back now. Grass is not always greener boys!
As a follow up to my previous commentary, I drove down to Fire City last night to see in person what I've been watching on the tube. Now I have concrete evidence that Lacroix (assuming he is in charge of them) has absolutely no idea of what he's doing with the D. His own blog on our Islander website speaks volumes for his experience at the NHL level with under 200 games played and a grand total of under 20 points in over 7 seasons. This lack of actual experience and results is likely part of the reason he has no concept on how to pair and utilize his assets. When you blend his minimal experience and small successes with Gordon's inaugural campaign, I can clearly see why they're so over whelmed and over matched. How on earth can you continue to over play Mark Streit on the PP, PK and regular shifts? Look at the actual minutes played for each defenceman for proof. His partner Polk should be out buying lottery tickets because he must feel like the luckiest guy in the world getting all that undeserved ice time. I can only imagine Lacroix's thought process is to have his weakest D protected by what he perceives to be his best blue liner in Streit. That in itself says it all for Lacroix and his peewee brain. We certainly get the fact that Mark can be a valuable asset but not when he's continually gassed and either too stupid or too selfish to come off the ice. Lacroix also puts out a weary Witt in situations better suited for the far more mobile likes of Campoli and the younger D. It's like watching the old dog you love trying to run with the young puppy down the street knowing full well that the heart is willing but the body is weak. Derek Roy walked around around poor Wittt like he was a statue on the ice and the only one to blame is Lacroix. During the second period, Campoli and Gervais could have been doing colour commentary for MSG television because I'm sure Lacroix forgot they were there. As he was wearing out Streit, this pair sat without reason and without logic. If someone wants to suggest it was for mistakes, I suggest you watch the results implemented when the old boys make a mistake.....nothing is done and that's the type of consistency both Gordon and Lacroix need to bring to this team real quickly.
The PP got to see an unproven Okposo give it a try but whatever happened to the training camp concept of a Streit/Campoli pairing with the man advantage? Yes, Doug Weight is padding his career stats back there but his inability to skate backwards and ever venturing into the defensive zone on the PP are not worth the limited benefits he brings to the PP in the long term. Let's get Campoli back on the point and start to play him to death because that's when we got the most out of him in the past. If they think resting Campoli and Bruno is a way of thanking them then who needs coaching like that? At least Campy was well rested enough to go out and tie the game up.
I also believe and will continue to believe what others post about the older forwards. Let's move them when the time is right because the value of the Weight's, Guerin's, Witt's and Sillinger's is proven but sacrificing the ice time of our young guys is not the answer. If we're not committed to that process, then maybe it's time for the under utilized guys to be seeking trades out of this old boys club.
Above is me
Im not very masculine.
Go Parcells.
I threaten people with bricks b/c I cannot use my fists. I am considered a nerd on many levels and think a hockey puck is a ring ding. Yummy yummy ring dings! Ust call me the wee one!
Umm, Miggsey, perhaps you should get a life or end yours. Your call.
Thxs.
New Years Resolution:
take brick out of my arse
Love,
Ssteady
WEST COAST FAN......Disregard the imposter above.
Comeau is beginning to come around and play better. Hopefully, he will continue to improve. The interview with Gordon was enlightening where he spoke about Comeau's lack of defensive play. Perhaps that is what Gordon has been holding against Comeau all along.........SIR WILLIAM
Miggsey,,,,,good stuff....have not watched the D that closely...interesting take on the "overplaying" of Streit....makes sense.
Sir William.....
I find it hard to believe that Gordon is/was singling out Comeau's "lack of defensive play" when the rest of the team is about a combined -85.
If he WAS doing it and bothering to comment about Comeau's "lack of defensive play", what the hell or who the hell was Gordon watching during the 25 games Comeau wasn't playing with the big guys?
MIGGSEY - "... Look at the actual minutes played for each defenceman for proof.'
are you kidding me? you put this out there as if you know?
please.
"minutes?"
"gassed?"
they are winging it pure and simple. it's all they can do.
they're doing their best with the guys they have.
the players they have are not the problem. they play their asses off most of the time.
the problem is the players they DON'T have.
505 ~ "If he WAS doing it and bothering to comment about Comeau's "lack of defensive play", what the hell or who the hell was Gordon watching during the 25 games Comeau wasn't playing with the big guys?"
That is exactly what I thought when I heard him criticizing Comeau
19Isles...
I just took a run at Gordon for his comments about Comeau's "defensive play" on Botta's blog.
Granted, I have not heard them, but I have read enough comments on various blogs about them to SCARE THE HELL OUT OF ME.
Worried about COMEAU'S defense???
I will be at the game in PHX on Friday night. With seats in a good location. I may have to send a word or two Gordon's way--live and in person.....two time zones away.
He is REALLY starting to scare the hell out of me.
I really like Tamby playing with Bailey and Guerin. If Tamby is going to be worth anything to this team it will be as a top six forward. He has to score. He really needs a playmaking center to get him the puck. I hope that Gordon gives him a real chance. Gordon should use Tamby in the shootout too. Let the kid play!!! Ok, Comeau and Comrie have looked really good the last two games too!! GO ISLES
505..........Why is it that you feel that the coach of the team has no right to cricize a player who in 10 games is a minus 8? This same player has been a minus player for seven of the 10 games he has played in, but the coach is wrong for pointing out that the player has had defensive shortcomings?
Why bother to have a coach at all? Let's just pretend everythings wonderful and that the player has no faults. This player has one (count 'em) one goal in 10 games. He damn well better be able to handle his defensive responsibilities if he can't score worth a lick. His 4 points in 10 games is not exactly burning up the
NHL. And it'e the coach's fault that he can't backcheck or pick up his point?
Al Arbour would have sent this guy packing
long ago, just for his lack of defensive hustle. Don't blame the coach for the players schortcomings.
Gordon's interview was televised during last night's game. I am quite sure I am not the only one who watched it. Maybe try youtube if you missed it...Sir William
Sir William....
I think that a coach has a right to criticize anyone he wants.
I question why he singles out a guy who is known as primarily an offensive player, and questions his DEFENSIVE abilities.
A SKILL player, on a team that has a paucity of skill players.
I question a coach who questions Comeau's defensive abilities (minus 8 in 10 games) when this same coach has DEFENSIVE guys who:
A/Is a Minus 6 in 10 games----Martinek
B/Is a Minus 16 in 31 games--Campoli
C/Is a Minus 15 in 24 games--Witt
D/is a Minus 11 in 23 games--Gervais
E/is a Minus 10 in 22 games--Meyer
Did Gordon bring Comeau up from Bridgeport for his defensive
abilities?
I DON'T THINK SO, Sir William
Based on Gordon's most recent comments it is clear to me that Gordon, like you, has an axe to grind with Comeau.
And it really scares me that Gordon and YOU are the only two people in the Islander Nation that see eye to eye about Comeau's abilities.......or lack thereof.
"Gordon's interview was televised during last night's game. I am quite sure I am not the only one who watched it."
Sir William.....I watched the game last night. With Center Ice, I was watching the Buffalo feed with Rick Jennaret, hence, no interview.
I am not disputing that the interview occurred, nor am I disputing your interpretation of it.
I am simply questioning Gordon's sanity in raising the issue of/ and point out Comeau's lack of defensive prowess after only 10 games, in view of the overall lack of TEAM DEFENSE in every frigging game played this year until now.
THAT IS SCARY, "COACH" GORDON!!
Really scary...
Bring ear plugs to Jobing Arena on Friday night Coach Gordon.
Just as Sir William claims that coaches have a right to criticize players (and I agree) so do fans have the right to criticize coaches who do REALLY STUPID THINGS LIKE THAT.
SW .... don't you think that there is something wrong when Gordon picks out ONE guy ... who had only been with the team for 10 games for his defensive play when the Isles were ALREADY the WORST defensive team in the NHL before Comeau even pulled on an Islander sweater this season??? I find that mind boggling... and I fear for Gordon's sake that he has several severe cracks in fan support base. I don't need to make it any clearer how ridiculous Gordon's statement was in that interview after 505 so plainly laid out the +/- stats of the players assigned to play defense. I also want to know about the other 4 players on the ice with BC when those GA were scored with Blake on the ice. That one game vs. Pitt really ballooned BC's minus more than anything else ... knock that game off the he's a minus 3 in 9 games .... but stats are stats and he deserved the minus 5 in that game because quite frankly the entire team stunk it up.
How about the defensive play of the other players? Blake has done more to stir the offensive chances than most other players have. He's more of a setup man then a goal scorer as it is ... but the Isles lack finishers ... how many tape to tape passes has BC made only to meet the boards / glass behind the net or the crest of the goalie?
Fact is ... Gordo's "system" is a throw caution to the wind forecheck system that really leaves you defensively vulnerable unless every play works out perfect ... and we all know that sports is a battle of skill vs. skill and errors vs. opportunity.
-------------------
505 ~ Gordo also said in the pre-game prior to Tamby's return in an interview with CJ Papa that Tambellini is going to have to learn that what works for him in the AHL doesn't necessarily work in the NHL and he's going to have to adjust to that ... I was flabbergasted .... I couldn't believe what I was hearing ...
Gordo ... do us all a favor and practice what you preach ... you can't use your AHL Hyper Speed system to fool or pressure higher skilled NHL players ... especially with a low skill team ... A team like the Pens will eat the Isles up by turning it against them.
Gotta go to Botta's blog now to read your comments 505.
Oh ... and great article by Logan today regarding Witt's comments and the Isle's recently improved defensive play ... Atta Boy Witter.
Tamby just flat out weak guys...get over him, he's a bust!
Comeau does look good.
The only true facts are that this team played ten times harder for Nolan.
The wrong man was fired.
Get rid of Snow asap or this franchise will stew in mediocrity and worse for years and years to come.
FIRE S.W.A.G !!!!
p.s All those that said weight was such a good move...Why can't he help them win? Why can't he match last year ? Hmmmmmm must be coaching and GM huh !?!?!?!?
Yes Steady, fire everybody
We know
Move on
Blowhard
At the beginning of the season the team looked like it was going to be "entertaining", but lacking talent to contend for a playoff spot. At that time Gordon was quoted more than once as saying, "The defence is playing too tentative, they need to be more aggressive"
Writers, and I think Logan was one, said that those comments were rare.
Well... look at the nose dive they took. Look at the what the "D" were doing in those games... BRENDAN WITT, ANDY SUTTON and FREDDY constantly below the opposing GOAL LINE... and DEAD in the third period.
I think the team will approve in the second half as the defenders go back to making less aggressive decisions... and you have the NEXT CAPTAIN (If they can get a 2nd rounder for Guerin) to thank for it. Witt RULES!!!
All of those guys (Witt, Guerin and Weight) should probably be offered up, but not in a fire sale. If you can get a second rounder for any of them call it a day... and move on. I would think that Weight is the most likely to move becasue he's a renter, and a second rounder for a guy that would make a great second line C on any playoff contender is not too much to ask.
that would leave Witt and Guerin... then the next move would be to make an intra-organizational move and replace Lacroix with Morrow...
505 and 19 ISLES......Since neither of you saw the interview, I'll set it up for you. The Interviewer (Papa?) ASKED Gordon about Comeau's play and what he had to do to get out of the minus streak he was in.
All Gordon did was reply and tell the truth about Comeau's poor defensive play. If that bothers you, then so be it.
19 ISLES...Get your facts straight. Comeau was -3 vs Pitt NOT minus 5. So all your other numbers are way off. The facts remain that the guy was a minus for 7 out of 10 games, even twice, and a plus in ONE game. Not good numbers no matter how you try to spin them.
505...D-men will always have worse plus minus numbers than forwards. Look at any team and you will see the same thing. To compare D-men to forwards is just foolish as far as plus/minus.
But what can you expect from someone who has never played the game. LOL..........Sir William
19ISLES.....Go back to the August files and re read some of your posts about Gordon. You are signing quite a different tune, now my friend.........Sir William