Well, at least the third jersey is a hit.
Scott Gordon's first 10 games as head coach are among the worst in team history, down there with Earl Ingarfield and Phil Goyette, who posted their stanky stretches in the inaugural and historically bad 1972-73 season. But you can't completely blame Gordon for what's gone on so far.
Yes, the team has had its troubles adapting to a completely new system after a tough training camp, and those growing pains were expected. But injuries -- to defensemen Brendan Witt, Radek Martinek and Freddy Meyer, and goalie Rick DiPietro, who will be out 4-6 weeks after surgery to repair an unidentified damaged meniscus -- combined with an inability to capitalize on scoring chances when they present themselves have conspired to sink the Islanders to the bottom of the standings and dampen whatever enthuiasm the fans had at the start of the new campaign.
Regarding DiPietro, whether the meniscus in question is in his right knee or his left, it really doesn't matter. Let's say the injury he suffered was unrelated to his previous injuries, as the team has stated. It doesn't change the fact that DiPietro has had three surgeries in the last seven months and is looking as stable as a one-legged stool.
We're willing to give DiPietro a chance -- he played 62, 62 and 63 games the previous three years -- to get healthy and be the team's horse. But there may not be much of a race left to run by the time he gets back.
Getting a point on the road in Philly is something, but the overtime loss is still a loss. What happened Saturday night, in the third jersey's debut, was just awful and sort of typified the Islanders' young season.
You just cannot blow a 4-1 lead at home. I understand the Canadiens are a popular choice to win the conference, but after playing so well for 40 minutes, to allow four unanswered goals -- regardless of who was or was not in the net or on the ice -- is unacceptable. That third-period collapse is the kind of thing that can rip the heart out of a team, and here's hoping the Islanders learn from it and not let it drag them down any further.
What made it worse was the sound of so many Canadiens fans cheering the outcome. Watching the game on televison, it sounded like the game was being played in Quebec. Fellow Blog Boxer Frank Trovato has an excellent point -- many Islanders home games are almost like road games with so many fans of opposing teams buying available tickets at the Coliseum.
It's disheartening and it sucks and I can imagine what it's like as a player to hear that in your own arena. But I cannot condemn Islanders fans for not filling those seats, considering how much tickets cost, especially in this economy, and considering the team's recent lack of success and amount of turmoil the franchise has experienced.
Put a winner on the ice, and fans will come.
As for the third jersey, I was unsure about it at first glance, but having watched the Montreal game and seeing the jersey "in action," I am sold. Getting one with 27 TONELLI on the back is a given at this point. I've added it to my Christmas list.
That, and a couple of victories. Please, Santa?
Showing posts with label Canadiens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canadiens. Show all posts
Monday, November 3, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
The future is now
Because the present just ain't much to look at.
Kyle Okposo will make his Islanders debut Tuesday against the Maple Leafs, and we're sure Ken is giddy with excitement over at OkposoNet. Okposo will bring his Number 12 (hey... that's Dog's number!) to the lineup of a team that has performed down the stretch in a manner that calls to mind the Hindenburg.
Injury-riddled and utterly powerless on offense, the Islanders will give Okposo a free look in these last few games because he's going to be on the big club next year and hopefully for many, goal-filled years to come. Everything we know about him has been positive, and it will be exciting to see him on the ice, despite otherwise depressing circumstances.
Not much to add about the shutout loss to the Canadiens, or the loss to Florida, for that matter. You know the ugly numbers -- five losses in a row, 7 of 8, 9 of 11, all coming at what was supposed to be the start of a playoff push.
Did we have high hopes that the Isles would make the playoffs? Sure, and that makes the last two weeks incredibly disappointing. Did we think they'd go far? No, but once you're in, you never know, and every team looks forward to playoff revenue. Do we think Garth Snow should have been more of a seller? Not at all. At the time, the Isles had as much a chance at a playoff spot as anyone else. Snow made a couple of safe trades, picking up a couple of picks while keeping players who he figured would produce in a critical time.
That didn't happen, and no one could have foreseen this bad of a collapse. But it's over now. Time to watch Okposo and the other youngsters and try and get a glimpse of what's to come.
And if you needed more incentive, tickets are HALF OFF!
Kyle Okposo will make his Islanders debut Tuesday against the Maple Leafs, and we're sure Ken is giddy with excitement over at OkposoNet. Okposo will bring his Number 12 (hey... that's Dog's number!) to the lineup of a team that has performed down the stretch in a manner that calls to mind the Hindenburg.
Injury-riddled and utterly powerless on offense, the Islanders will give Okposo a free look in these last few games because he's going to be on the big club next year and hopefully for many, goal-filled years to come. Everything we know about him has been positive, and it will be exciting to see him on the ice, despite otherwise depressing circumstances.
Not much to add about the shutout loss to the Canadiens, or the loss to Florida, for that matter. You know the ugly numbers -- five losses in a row, 7 of 8, 9 of 11, all coming at what was supposed to be the start of a playoff push.
Did we have high hopes that the Isles would make the playoffs? Sure, and that makes the last two weeks incredibly disappointing. Did we think they'd go far? No, but once you're in, you never know, and every team looks forward to playoff revenue. Do we think Garth Snow should have been more of a seller? Not at all. At the time, the Isles had as much a chance at a playoff spot as anyone else. Snow made a couple of safe trades, picking up a couple of picks while keeping players who he figured would produce in a critical time.
That didn't happen, and no one could have foreseen this bad of a collapse. But it's over now. Time to watch Okposo and the other youngsters and try and get a glimpse of what's to come.
And if you needed more incentive, tickets are HALF OFF!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Tough times on the Isle
I've said all season that this Islanders team was a playoff team and I still believe that -- but they sure aren't playing like one and it's safe to say those postseason hopes are in jeopardy.
The losing streak increased to four with Saturday's 4-1 loss at Montreal, and while Rick DiPietro looked fantastic over All-Star weekend, nothing else has gone right for the Isles. Consider that in the last four games the Islanders have been outscored, 13-5, with the offense managing just one meager goal on three occasions. The Isles have also been less than dominant at home, going 13-11-3 so far.
In the first game back from the break, the Isles fell at home to Ottawa, 5-2, after spotting the Sens a 3-0 lead. They battled back to 3-2 but that was as close as it got.
OK, but Ottawa is a tough assignment. Surely they'd break out of it against the last-place Kings, right? Nope - another home loss, this time 3-1. Dubie played well in relief of an ill D.P., but there was precious little to feel good about. Ted Nolan hit the nail on the head when he called the effort 'unacceptable.' The Isles have a thin margin of error, and when the effort -- which has been strong most of the season -- isn't there, they have big problems.
Another bad stretch doomed the Isles against Montreal. The Habs scored three goals in the second period to put the hammer down and drop the Islanders into last place in the division and 10th place in the conference.
Sure, there's plenty of season left, but the Isles are in in the middle of an eight-team battle for the final two playoff spots so things need to turn around in a hurry. And with the Feb. 26 trading deadline fast approaching, does Garth Snow deal some of his promising young players for an impact player on offense? Does Kyle Okposo come up and make his mark?
The turnaround could start Tuesday night at home against the Ducks.
The losing streak increased to four with Saturday's 4-1 loss at Montreal, and while Rick DiPietro looked fantastic over All-Star weekend, nothing else has gone right for the Isles. Consider that in the last four games the Islanders have been outscored, 13-5, with the offense managing just one meager goal on three occasions. The Isles have also been less than dominant at home, going 13-11-3 so far.
In the first game back from the break, the Isles fell at home to Ottawa, 5-2, after spotting the Sens a 3-0 lead. They battled back to 3-2 but that was as close as it got.
OK, but Ottawa is a tough assignment. Surely they'd break out of it against the last-place Kings, right? Nope - another home loss, this time 3-1. Dubie played well in relief of an ill D.P., but there was precious little to feel good about. Ted Nolan hit the nail on the head when he called the effort 'unacceptable.' The Isles have a thin margin of error, and when the effort -- which has been strong most of the season -- isn't there, they have big problems.
Another bad stretch doomed the Isles against Montreal. The Habs scored three goals in the second period to put the hammer down and drop the Islanders into last place in the division and 10th place in the conference.
Sure, there's plenty of season left, but the Isles are in in the middle of an eight-team battle for the final two playoff spots so things need to turn around in a hurry. And with the Feb. 26 trading deadline fast approaching, does Garth Snow deal some of his promising young players for an impact player on offense? Does Kyle Okposo come up and make his mark?
The turnaround could start Tuesday night at home against the Ducks.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
LIVEBLOG: Canadiens 3, Islanders 1
Finally, another liveblog from the Coliseum as the Isles take on the Canadiens, fresh off a successful road trip and a big win over the Senators.
It's pregame and you know what that means... SHOUT OUTS! A big howdy to my friends and Squids softball teammates Tom and Marty Stock in Section 218 (Mike Downey couldn't make it - home sick; get well, buddy). We Squids didn't have a great season but we had a hell of a lot of fun. Now THAT would have been an interesting blog.
I'd like to tell you more about the matchup but frankly, I'm freezing. Hands are like ice. And I'm the only one in the blog box right now, and it feels a little weird.
First of five games in 8 days for the Isles, all against contending teams. So it's an important stretch as the team heads into the All-Star break.
Is it too much to ask to respect the nationals anthems while they are being sung and refrain from being loud an obnoxious? I didn't even post during the anthems. Just putting it out there.
Dee Karl is here - it's just the two of us, so far.
Brendan Witt still out with the ankle injury, still listed as day-to-day. We'll miss the 14 blocked shots he usually racks up. Freddy Meyer's been playing well, though, and on cue, a nice steal at the Isles blue line. Then Satan with a chance blockered by Huet.
Campoli whistled for a questionable foul at the 12:45 mark. Tripping? Welcome to the NHL. Montreal with a shot in close - wide left, then Park carries in on a shorthanded break, fires wide. Good penalty kill.
1-0 Montreal. Tomas Plekanec with a blistering shot from the top of the circle, just under the crossbar, pouncing on the loose puck for the unassisted tally. Good chance converted by the Canadiens, who are in fifth place in the East entering tonight's game.
Witt, by the way, sixth in the NHL in blocked shots with 109, 18th with 103 hits. Thank you, Islanders media guide!
Nice play by DiPietro keeping his pads at the post as Koivu tries to stuff it short side. Another good opportunity for Montreal, which has had the advantage thus far. Another chance by Higgins turned aside by DP.
A bad play by the Isles - miscommunication allows Michael Ryder to grab the puck behind the net and set up a shot from the slot. Meanwhile, the Isles have ONE SHOT ON GOAL with a minute left in the first. Yikes. Montreal outshoots them 9-1, up 1-0 after one.
Feels like a hangover after the impressive road trip. We'll see if Ted wakes the team up in the dressing room. The crowd could use a wake-up call, too.
Just walked the entire concourse looking for the nacho stand - nada. Also no sushi bar if that's how you roll. THAT'S what we're missing - nachos and sushi and the Isles would be winning this game.
Also saw a few Canadiens fans wearing their Montreal sweaters - but almost none of them had a number on them. C'mon, people, you're Canadiens fans - plenty of history - can SOMEONE rock a NILAN 30 or a ROBINSON 19 or a DRYDEN 29? Finally, I saw a girl with a LAFLEUR 10. You come to cheer on your team in someone else's house, you gotta represent.
Meanwhile, Isles on the power play but it's the Canadiens who score, 2-0 Montreal. Plekanec again, with an assist from Alex Kovalev on a breakaway after a big save by Huet. Isles seem a step behind on the ice and the crowd is getting quieter by the second. This is where LOUDVILLE needs to step it up - try and bring the crowd back into it and spark the team -- not yell nonsense during the anthems.
Isles starting to pick it up -- Satan leading a 2-on-1, looks to pass then fires a shot off the post, moments later Vasicek wrists one wide left. Later, Hilbert in front to Jackman, stopped. Then Comrie on a break, cuts right to left but Huet slides across to make the save.
Campoli with a nice breakup of a potential 2-on-1 -- a goal there would have been a back-breaker.
Sillinger and Fedotenko with a chance on the doorstep, nothing doing. Ten shots on goal, Isles down 2-0 after two. Three goals in the third period? It COULD happen.
Three minutes in and Comeau makes a nice feed to Jackman, who can't pull the trigger. Isles need a quick goal here to turn things around.
Instead, Comrie gets 2 for cross-checking - dumb play. Then Campoli gets his stick slashed out of his hands - no call. Isles kill it, though.
Park gets one back, putting in a rebound off a shot from the right boards by Guerin with 9:04 remaining in the third - Montreal up 2-1. FINALLY, someone is in front of the net, and sure enough, the Islanders score. THAT's how you get it done. And now the crowd gets back into it.
Hunter nice pass to the point for Bergeron, deflects high. Less than four minutes left - crunch time now.
Final minute, Isles with a scramble in front, then the puck back out to Campoli - he doesn't shoot - tries to pass to the left boards and it's picked off - Montreal scores with the empty net. Game over, big disappointment. Off to the post mortem.
POSTGAME COMMENTS: TED NOLAN
On the slow start: That's what they kept telling us all day, but we tried to do our best to compensate with short shifts.
We didn't play as bad as I thought we would, but we just couldn't get back into it.
On the shorthanded goal: Just one of those things ... a nag-up play where the defense pinched in too prematurely. It was a good play [by Montreal] and a good goal.
If we win two or three and then lose one, I'll be happy with that.
Coming off two hard-fought games, we didn't have our legs early but we rebounded well in teh second and third periods.
To win hockey games, you have to play 60 minutes and we played 40.
It's pregame and you know what that means... SHOUT OUTS! A big howdy to my friends and Squids softball teammates Tom and Marty Stock in Section 218 (Mike Downey couldn't make it - home sick; get well, buddy). We Squids didn't have a great season but we had a hell of a lot of fun. Now THAT would have been an interesting blog.
I'd like to tell you more about the matchup but frankly, I'm freezing. Hands are like ice. And I'm the only one in the blog box right now, and it feels a little weird.
First of five games in 8 days for the Isles, all against contending teams. So it's an important stretch as the team heads into the All-Star break.
Is it too much to ask to respect the nationals anthems while they are being sung and refrain from being loud an obnoxious? I didn't even post during the anthems. Just putting it out there.
Dee Karl is here - it's just the two of us, so far.
Brendan Witt still out with the ankle injury, still listed as day-to-day. We'll miss the 14 blocked shots he usually racks up. Freddy Meyer's been playing well, though, and on cue, a nice steal at the Isles blue line. Then Satan with a chance blockered by Huet.
Campoli whistled for a questionable foul at the 12:45 mark. Tripping? Welcome to the NHL. Montreal with a shot in close - wide left, then Park carries in on a shorthanded break, fires wide. Good penalty kill.
1-0 Montreal. Tomas Plekanec with a blistering shot from the top of the circle, just under the crossbar, pouncing on the loose puck for the unassisted tally. Good chance converted by the Canadiens, who are in fifth place in the East entering tonight's game.
Witt, by the way, sixth in the NHL in blocked shots with 109, 18th with 103 hits. Thank you, Islanders media guide!
Nice play by DiPietro keeping his pads at the post as Koivu tries to stuff it short side. Another good opportunity for Montreal, which has had the advantage thus far. Another chance by Higgins turned aside by DP.
A bad play by the Isles - miscommunication allows Michael Ryder to grab the puck behind the net and set up a shot from the slot. Meanwhile, the Isles have ONE SHOT ON GOAL with a minute left in the first. Yikes. Montreal outshoots them 9-1, up 1-0 after one.
Feels like a hangover after the impressive road trip. We'll see if Ted wakes the team up in the dressing room. The crowd could use a wake-up call, too.
Just walked the entire concourse looking for the nacho stand - nada. Also no sushi bar if that's how you roll. THAT'S what we're missing - nachos and sushi and the Isles would be winning this game.
Also saw a few Canadiens fans wearing their Montreal sweaters - but almost none of them had a number on them. C'mon, people, you're Canadiens fans - plenty of history - can SOMEONE rock a NILAN 30 or a ROBINSON 19 or a DRYDEN 29? Finally, I saw a girl with a LAFLEUR 10. You come to cheer on your team in someone else's house, you gotta represent.
Meanwhile, Isles on the power play but it's the Canadiens who score, 2-0 Montreal. Plekanec again, with an assist from Alex Kovalev on a breakaway after a big save by Huet. Isles seem a step behind on the ice and the crowd is getting quieter by the second. This is where LOUDVILLE needs to step it up - try and bring the crowd back into it and spark the team -- not yell nonsense during the anthems.
Isles starting to pick it up -- Satan leading a 2-on-1, looks to pass then fires a shot off the post, moments later Vasicek wrists one wide left. Later, Hilbert in front to Jackman, stopped. Then Comrie on a break, cuts right to left but Huet slides across to make the save.
Campoli with a nice breakup of a potential 2-on-1 -- a goal there would have been a back-breaker.
Sillinger and Fedotenko with a chance on the doorstep, nothing doing. Ten shots on goal, Isles down 2-0 after two. Three goals in the third period? It COULD happen.
Three minutes in and Comeau makes a nice feed to Jackman, who can't pull the trigger. Isles need a quick goal here to turn things around.
Instead, Comrie gets 2 for cross-checking - dumb play. Then Campoli gets his stick slashed out of his hands - no call. Isles kill it, though.
Park gets one back, putting in a rebound off a shot from the right boards by Guerin with 9:04 remaining in the third - Montreal up 2-1. FINALLY, someone is in front of the net, and sure enough, the Islanders score. THAT's how you get it done. And now the crowd gets back into it.
Hunter nice pass to the point for Bergeron, deflects high. Less than four minutes left - crunch time now.
Final minute, Isles with a scramble in front, then the puck back out to Campoli - he doesn't shoot - tries to pass to the left boards and it's picked off - Montreal scores with the empty net. Game over, big disappointment. Off to the post mortem.
POSTGAME COMMENTS: TED NOLAN
On the slow start: That's what they kept telling us all day, but we tried to do our best to compensate with short shifts.
We didn't play as bad as I thought we would, but we just couldn't get back into it.
On the shorthanded goal: Just one of those things ... a nag-up play where the defense pinched in too prematurely. It was a good play [by Montreal] and a good goal.
If we win two or three and then lose one, I'll be happy with that.
Coming off two hard-fought games, we didn't have our legs early but we rebounded well in teh second and third periods.
To win hockey games, you have to play 60 minutes and we played 40.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Game recap: Canadiens 4, Islanders 1
I'm in a holiday mood, so I'll pass on breaking down Wednesday night's dismal effort against Montreal, only to say that the Isles were flatter than Hempstead Turnpike. You can't win every home game and you're gonna have nights like this, but you should beat Montreal.
Instead, I have a question for Cablevision and Fox Sports NY:
I live on Long Island. I also have an HDTV, and I enjoy the high-def programming that Optimum delivers, particularly sports and especially the Islanders.
So imagine my surprise and disappointment when I discovered that the Islanders-Canadiens game - broadcast by Fox Sports NY - had been relegated to C-SPAN2 (channel 79), and was NOT available on ANY of the high-def channels. WTF?
This was an Islanders HOME game. Instead, the Devils were on regular Fox Sports NY and on FSNHD. Couldn't Fox Sports have broadcast the Islanders game in HD, with Cablevision putting it on MSGHD (the Rangers were on the road and not in HD) or on Mojo 701 or one of the other less-popular HD channels?
As a Long Island cable subscriber, I expect MY LOCAL TEAM to be in HD, not a team from New Jersey. And if you want to blame FSNY, fine -- ALL home games should be broadcast in HD, even when two teams are on at the same time.
Utterly ridiculous. I ended up watching the game on a 19-inch set in my office because I can't stomach watching a game that should be in HD on an HD set when it's not in HD.
The question is why FSNY chose to broadcast the Devils in HD and not the Islanders, and you get the sense that this is always the way it is going to be. Don't tell me the Devils attract more viewers. People in New Jersey don't care about the Devils. And if there is a difference, it has to be negligible. Either broadcast all games in HD and have the cable companies find a home for them (which they can) or alternate between the teams so one fan base doesn't get screwed.
I think we're going to be screwed. We'll see.
Instead, I have a question for Cablevision and Fox Sports NY:
I live on Long Island. I also have an HDTV, and I enjoy the high-def programming that Optimum delivers, particularly sports and especially the Islanders.
So imagine my surprise and disappointment when I discovered that the Islanders-Canadiens game - broadcast by Fox Sports NY - had been relegated to C-SPAN2 (channel 79), and was NOT available on ANY of the high-def channels. WTF?
This was an Islanders HOME game. Instead, the Devils were on regular Fox Sports NY and on FSNHD. Couldn't Fox Sports have broadcast the Islanders game in HD, with Cablevision putting it on MSGHD (the Rangers were on the road and not in HD) or on Mojo 701 or one of the other less-popular HD channels?
As a Long Island cable subscriber, I expect MY LOCAL TEAM to be in HD, not a team from New Jersey. And if you want to blame FSNY, fine -- ALL home games should be broadcast in HD, even when two teams are on at the same time.
Utterly ridiculous. I ended up watching the game on a 19-inch set in my office because I can't stomach watching a game that should be in HD on an HD set when it's not in HD.
The question is why FSNY chose to broadcast the Devils in HD and not the Islanders, and you get the sense that this is always the way it is going to be. Don't tell me the Devils attract more viewers. People in New Jersey don't care about the Devils. And if there is a difference, it has to be negligible. Either broadcast all games in HD and have the cable companies find a home for them (which they can) or alternate between the teams so one fan base doesn't get screwed.
I think we're going to be screwed. We'll see.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
