First Period

8:23 PM Islanders were on the power play, there was a bad give away and Vasicek took a high sticking penalty - 4-on-4

8:25 PM Islanders killed the Carolina abbreviated power play
8:29 PM Guerin missed on a slick feed by Comeau - the entire team looks very confident on the puck and making fairly smart decisions.

8:33 PM An obvious line mis-match as the Islanders cannot get out of their zone. Looked like a power play unit for the Hurricanes.

First period was pretty good, scoreless - barely. Dubie came up big a bunch of times when the Isles were hemmed in their own zone for at least a minute. He needed the post to save one shot which was deflected.

Islanders are doing great on faceoffs without Sillinger, I even saw a few set plays thrown in and they almost managed to sneak one in. If the Islanders keep on the pressure in the second and control the play with smart puck handling……they could come out of the period on top - Grahame cannot make saves like he has all night.

Guerin is looking to end 07 on a high note and will benefit from the solid play of his linemates tonight.

More during the second period.

Second Period

8:57 PM Dubie absolutely commits highway robbery on Cole
8:58 PM Brind’amour off for slashing - Islanders power play
8:59 PM Bergeron Scores!!!!! Great face-off win!
9:00 PM Commodore spills Fedotenko - another PP for the Isles
9:01 PM Guerin SCORES! What a shot that was…..I think I saw smoke trails! Off a great keep by MAB along the boards
9:04 PM Great block by Witt
9:06 PM Fedotenko sneaks in behind the D and takes a feed from Hilbert to make it 3-0. Carolina just pulled Grahame and put Ward in net.

9:07 PM Instant dividends for Carolina - Adams pots the rebound 3-1
9:10 PM Islanders just had a 3-on-1 went over the net
9:12 PM Fedotenko just nailed Ward in the mask and missed on the juicy rebound
9:14 PM Keep an eye on Campoli and his right shoulder - he just got taken in hard. Looks like he is in some pain on the bench.
9:16 PM Ladd shoots on Dubie, Dubie comes up big
9:19 PM Comeau looks great tonight, hard back checking helped break up a good chance by Carolina.
9:20 PM Adams takes a high sticking penalty on Meyer - another Islanders PP
9:21 PM Bergeron second of the game on the PP - what a blast! That’s three power play points for MAB
9:26 PM Slashing call on Cole - another Islanders PP
9:29 PM Power play about to end - can’t expect them to score on every chance….
9:30 PM Boooo birds evident as Witt gets pulled down by Stall - 6th Islanders PP

Well - if there was ever a perfect road period, this was it. 3 power play goals, 4 goals overall and great pressure on Carolina who have opened up their game - keeps generating chances for the Islanders. Carolina keeps taking penalties and putting their goaltender Ward in a bad position coming off the bench. All the Islanders need to do is play smart defense and keep playing their game and they will take the third period just like the second.

There was a graphic up during the game that is important:

First 17 games - 30 goals
Last 7 games - 16 goals

I think they found their offense!

Third Period

9:58 PM Hilbert with a nice steal, but faked a meaningless shot instead of taking one.
10:01 PM Guerin is still centering to nobody at times. Hamilton just hit the post….
10:03 PM Satan to Vasicek - he misses the net - Carolina was going to be up a man, but now Bergenheim was just jumped by a Cane, should be even up.

10:06 PM Bergy 2 for Kneeing, 2 for Roughing - LaRose 2 for roughing - Canes a man up
10:08 PM Great kill by the Islanders 8:13 remaining in the 3rd period
10:13 PM Fedotenko slashed - yet another Islanders power play. Tank looks like he hurt the finger without a fingernail.
10:16 PM Meyer makes a great block - Sutton takes a penalty
10:19 PM Penalty has been killed, although the Isles just took a delay of game penalty. Just over 2 minutes remain

10:20 PM Shot by Whitney hits the post
10:22 PM And that’s all she wrote! Islander played an outstanding game tonight, every aspect of their game was on point tonight. Power play, penalty kill, even strength - it was all working right tonight.

Hate to cut this short, but I am starving and need to get ready for New Years Eve. I hope everyone has a safe and healthy new year - have fun and drive safe. If you don’t need to drive, don’t and if you do - be smart!

See you in 2008!

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I don’t really have many excuses, but this is a really late post. I think I will place blame solely on the fact that I received an Xbox 360 for Christmas and bought NHL 08 and Call of Duty 4. I don’t fancy myself a video game junkie and definitely wouldn’t waste time sitting in front of the TV - but I can’t seem to stop playing either of those awesome games!

What did I like about the game against NJ? A lot honestly. We scored in the first period - shorthanded. My boy Campoli fired a laser from the point, after a nifty stall by Park at the blueline. Park made such a great move that he had the entire Jersey defense transitioning into the neutral zone which made Campoli wide open for the pass.

Three separate defensemen scored, which made me wonder if the Islanders scouting told them to fire pucks from above (we shall call it “Hell from above”).

Dubie looked sharp all game and the entire defensive core looked solid. Several things that I noticed during the game: Meyer made a nice spin/bank move off the back of the net and burnt the man hanging on him, Bergeron was great all game and stuck to his man and made solid keeps and passes, Witt and Sutton were laying the body and we even saw Sutton’s first goal as an Islander.

In the same breath, I could also say that once or twice Witt and Gervais both left their men open and we saw Parise involved in both Jersey goals.

Comrie looked better, but he still uses that toe drag way too much - it was good to see him get rewarded for one of his better games with the empty netter.

All in all, it was one of the Islanders better showings because they never gave up and kept plugging away until their lead was solidified.

Hopefully they bring all the positives to the next level by taking the last game of 2007 in Carolina tonight. Hopefully it’s a great game - which is already taking place as I type this.

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One of the negative aspects of having an older, veteran roster is how the daily grind can begin to break down players who would normally shake off an injury. This isn’t a knock on anyone really, just a part of the game. I know it’s a long season and as a hockey player I know these guys play through bumps and bruises better than anyone. Sometimes though, it’s best to sit for a game or two in order to get back to 100% and that is exactly what Mike Sillinger will be doing tonight in Carolina.

In his place, forward Ben Walter will dress - and skated on a line between Comeau and Jackman during practice yesterday.

In other injury news, DiPietro will also not travel with the team being listed as day-to-day with that knee sprain. I think it’s more of a positive decision giving him rest and not rushing him back to play - as I said earlier in the week the team has definately learned by the mistakes it made last year.

Per the Islanders website:

Islanders head coach Ted Nolan called the decision to keep the two players back a “precaution” and added DiPietro and Sillinger were probable for Thursday night when the Islanders host the Florida Panthers at 7:05 pm at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

To replace Sillinger, the Islanders have recalled center Ben Walter from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. At today’s practice at Islanders Iceworks, the 23-year old Walter centered Tim Jackman and Blake Comeau. In 27 games with the Sound Tigers this season, Walter has 9 goals and 16 assists for 25 points. He played four games for the Islanders earlier this season.

“It’s important that we give Mike Sillinger a game off to heal some injuries,” Nolan told newyorkislanders.com. “Fans don’t know this, no one does, but Mike has been banged up for a while and has shown a lot of guts playing through it. By giving him the one game off on Monday, it will give him four days to get a little more healthy until our home game on Thursday.”

As for DiPietro, Nolan was consistent with what he said over the weekend. “We want Ricky at 100%,” Nolan said. “He’ll stay back and should be ready for Thursday against the Panthers. Why risk it for one game when he can get an extra few days of rest”?

The coach said the adversity of injuries to top players brings opportunities for others. “Whenever you lose top guys it’s tough,” said Nolan, referring to DiPietro, Sillinger and veteran defenseman Radek Martinek. “We’re talking about our star goalie, our best two-way center and one of our best defensemen, but that’s hockey and you make the best of it. Look at Bruno Gervais the last few games stepping up with big minutes. Marc-Andre Bergeron was very good last night. Comeau’s been steady. This is a great opportunity for a kid like Ben Walter, who looked very good his first time here.”

I had a busy day yesterday, so I will post some opinions on the game versus NJ this afternoon.

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Good evening all, just wanted to get a post up before the game. Today was another busy day for me, thus such a late post. We had my fiancee’s family come over for dinner because they couldn’t make it Christmas day. It was also the first time my Father met my sister’s boyfriend’s family - as they came over also. At least I am going to the game full for once!

So, Martin Brodeur and the Devils are visting the Islanders tonight, they Devils are fresh off a 2-1 shootout victory over the Sabres and have been pretty successful as of late - gaining the top of a tight Atlantic Division.

Injury Update:

Injured Islanders d-man Aaron Johnson skated with the team for the first time since early November after suffering a knee injury. He should be returning any time now.

Ruslan Fedotenko lost a finger nail the other night in Ottawa, the result of a nasty Alfredsson slash. He is ready to go tonight against the Devils. I love this quote from the Islanders website:

“It’s a full-contact league; you’re going to get injuries.”

Fedotenko has really proven he deserves an extension after the way he as played this season, he may not be tearing up the league in points, but he does the little things out there that give those around him room to play and make things happen. Playing injured isn’t easy, let alone sans fingernail.

Rick DiPietro will be a game time decision, and per Greg Logan’s blog it doesn’t appear that the Islanders are willing to risk the health of their franchise goaltender by rushing him back too soon - proving they learned their mistake from last year.

Per Greg Logan:

It’s significant that backup Joey MacDonald has not returned to Bridgeport. The signs suggest Wade Dubielewicz is in line for his second straight start.

The Islanders should be hungry, coming off a big loss to Ottawa Thursday night. The Devils have opened up their playing style as of late - which should make the 5th announced sellout crowd a loud one if they Isles get on the board early.

I will do my best to post updates from the game.

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Per Islanders insider; Okposo inked to three year deal and will join the organization after the World Juniors Tournament is over!

More info plus links when I get home.

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The woes continue, not only are the Islanders getting manhandled in Ottawa by the Sens, we lost yet another player to injury. Ruslan Fedotenko has left the game with a hand injury and is listed as day-to-day. No word on if any call-ups are neccesary for Saturday.

Guerin just scored to make it 3-1 11 minutes remaining.

Isles showing some life here - about time. Must’ve gotten a favorable answer from the mid-period check of that magic eight ball.

Looked like a high stick to me - should be NO GOAL, but of course inconclusive evidence goes against the Isles and its now 4-1.

Fisher just scores to make it 5-1. These Senators are just too fast for the Islanders - what more can you say at this point?

I wish I was on the road tonight to hear Nolan’s post game commentary first hand…..

When is this team going to realize that EVERY single time they get a stick anywhere near the oppositions hands they will get called for hooking? Seriously?!?

Guerin just ripped a shot breaking into the zone. 2nd of the game, 12th of the year….should have shot more all game.

Powerplay Islanders - I have guarded optimism here ::cue laugh track::

OFFSIDES, stop making moves at the blueline!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I am extremely steamed right now - which is why I didn’t blog during most of the game like I have during most of the away games. This was just a very poor showing by the Islanders, they need to stop the win one, lose two, win 3, lose 1 type trend if they wish to advance at all in the standings.

I almost want to give them a bye because they played last night, but the schedule is only going to get tougher here as they will be playing 16 games in the next 30 games. Will Snow make a move or two to solidify scoring depth or defensive depth? One never knows, but the trade freeze ends in 2 hours and the trade deadline is fast approaching.

The Islanders better bring a better effort Saturday against the Devils.

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