Not really much to say about what we saw against the Flyers last night. It was almost if it was a repeat of the last time the Isles made the trek down the Jersey Turnpike and made a right turn at Gino’s. They allowed the Flyers to score 3 more power play goals on top of the 4 they allowed the last visit. Unnecessary lazy penalties result in goals more often than not.

Miro Satan finally broke out of his slump, scoring on the power play for the Islanders and thus breaking Biron’s chance at a shutout bid. Too bad, so sad Marty - from the South.

Okposo Watch - Game 3

If there is ever a shining moment in Islanders hockey these days, it is the continued outstanding play of the kids - Comeau, Bergenheim, Colliton, Spiller, Reiger and Tambellini. Did I leave someone out? How can I forget Kyle Okposo!

Kyle may not surface on the score sheet in every game he has played so far, but he has gained valuable skill and confidence during every shift. Last night he was used on the power play, penalty kill and received extended ice time at even strength.

As always, here is a look at his game stats from last night:

Total Shifts: 16
Time on Ice: 19:45
Power Play Time: 5:43
Penalty Kill Time: 2:43
Average Shift: 1:14
Shots: 1 (blocked)
Takeaways: 0
Giveaways: 0
+/-: EV

Penguins at Islanders

Well, the Islanders will be facing off shortly against the Pittsburgh Penguins who are still without Crosby due to that high ankle sprain, hopefully we can see some spirited hockey tonight in front of the home crowd. I am about to head out, look for a post sometime tonight recapping this game.

I know my post last night wasn’t much, I actually wasn’t even planning on putting anything up at the time - but felt compelled to post the Okposo news when it happened. The Islanders went into last nights contest against the Devils winless in 6 games and scoring very few times over the course of those 6 games. For the first several minutes last night, the Devils attacked Dubielewicz from all sorts of angles and were clearly shooting high. Their game plan didn’t really work out the way they wanted, as the Islanders turned all NJ momentum when they scored a rare first period goal.

What wasn’t very rare about it was how they managed to score. It seems that Martin Brodeur was screened on a shot by Comeau by journeyman Richard Park. Comeau cycled the puck down low and Okposo took the puck behind the net and cut back towards the corner boards where he found Comeau again. Okposo went to the right post and Park went to the front of the net as Comeau turned and fired a shot that beat Brodeur for a 1-0 lead. The play would mark Okposo’s first NHL point with a primary assist on the play. The Devils would eventually capitalize on a power play, one of their many chances during the game by knocking in a rebound at Dubielewicz’s far post. They would appear to get the go ahead goal in the second period on another power play, but the goal was waved off because the net was off its moorings. Sprinkle in numerous Islanders and Devils power plays and fights here and there and it brings you to the third period.

The third period brought more north-south hockey by both teams and Dubielewicz was forced to make numerous stops at point blank range. Matthew Spiller and ex-Isles Aaron Asham would square off for a title bout, but Spiller would be felled by ONE punch from Asham that drew blood on his cheek. Guerin would later fight Clarkson and they would wind up tying their bout. Zajack would be called for holding late in the third period to give the Islanders a very important power play. Nolan elected to ice his Comeau, Park, Okposo line and it would pay dividends, as Park found a helmet less Okposo who fired a blast past Brodeur to make it a 2-1 Islanders lead. It was Okposo’s first NHL goal and he celebrated like it was his first goal - which is even more memorable because he had no helmet. The Devils would pull their goaltender with just over a minute left and Hunter would backhand the clincher past the sprawling Devils d-men to make it 3-1. Aside from Okposo’s memorable night, Vasicek would square off with NJ’s Pelley with seconds remaining - it seems that the Islanders really responded to the scolding by head coach Ted Nolan for their less than perfect effort against Toronto earlier in the week.

Okposo Watch - Game 2

Throughout the remainder of the season I will include a small section in each post highlighting the play of Kyle Okposo to see how he progressive during his time up with the big club. Here are Kyle’s numbers from his second NHL game:

Total Shifts: 17
Time on Ice: 15:35
Power Play Time: 2:31
Average Shift: 0:55
Shots: 1
Takeaways: 1
Giveaways: 0
Points: 2
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
+/-: +1

So, not only did Kyle notch his first NHL assist during the first period, he would then score his first goal on the power play against one of the greatest goaltenders to ever play the game. It was also Kyle’s first game winning goal and first multi-point night - clearly a great night of firsts for this budding star!

Contest Poll!

Just wanted to see if anyone else knew who on the Islanders current roster also scored their first NHL goal against Martin Brodeur.

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Islanders are leading with two-minutes remaining. Kyle Okposo has just scored the go ahead goal for the Islanders on the power play, marking his FIRST NHL GOAL in the same game as his FIRST NHL ASSIST! Second game into his NHL career and his gets himself a multi-point night and game winning goal.

Congrats Kyle -what a game!

Trent Hunter just made it 3-1 into an empty net! First win and first points in 6 games.

If anyone has watched goaltender Rick DiPietro as close as I have since the infamous All-Star F-Bomb, the news last night that DiPietro’s season is over due to his second consecutive hip surgery isn’t all too surprising. Thankfully, the surgically repaired left hip of last season is good to go, it’s now his so called “good” right hip that is in need of attention.

DiPietro’s surgery was scheduled for today in Vail, Colorado at the hands of Dr. Marc Philippon, the well known hip surgeon that completed his first surgery, the surgery on now GM Garth Snow two seasons ago and most recently - veteran Mike Sillinger. The decision to call the remainder of this season off was an easy one to make, DiPietro has obviously not been 100% for quite sometime and was likely pushing himself due to the now impossible feat of making the post-season. So to get an early jump on the surgery and the recovery period is a big positive and will help out more than hurt.

Greg Logan brings to light numerous valid points, as always that are a must read in his blog entry today. Here are a few quotes that stand out best:

But with so much riding on DiPietro, the Islanders have to learn they can’t ride him game after game. As much as he admires Devils workhorse Martin Brodeur, it just might be that DiPietro isn’t built to maintain the ironman pace of a Brodeur, who played 78 games last season and has been between the pipes for 68 of the Devils’ 74 games so far this season.

This one in particular:

Whether the Islanders re-sign Dubielewicz, who will be a free agent, or bring someone else in as DiPietro’s backup, it’s time the coaching staff made it clear to the franchise goaltender that he is going to be rested on a regular basis. No more riding him into the ground. The thing is that he needs the mental break as much as the physical break, and if he gets it, DiPietro might attain a level of consistency that is necessary for him and the franchise to take the next step toward true contender status.

I just can’t wait for further contract backlash given DiPietro’s emergence of an oft-injured player and how we could potentially be stuck with a player forced to retire early regardless of the remaining contract years. Either way, DiPietro came to camp lean and mean this year, in the best shape of his career - so I don’t expect anything different next year.

Several of my blogging constituents take on the task of DiPietro’s butterfly style of play as the potential root cause of the hip problem, be sure to check them out when you get the chance!

Well - Islanders ice new cast, yet suffer the same result.

Sometimes it doesn’t really matter who you call up to replace players lost to injury, even if they are your top prospect. This is by no means a knock at Kyle Okposo, despite playing a great game he just couldn’t provide enough of a spark to get the Islanders firing on all of their remaining cylinders. The shots were close during the first period and the ice looked fairly choppy so there weren’t many end to end rushes, but the game was relatively close. The Isles took a few early penalties and on one particular penalty kill, a seemingly innocent clearing attempt by defenseman Rob Davison bounced down the length of the ice and right over Toskala’s glove for a 1-0 lead. The goal was measured at 178 feet and it marked the first time Davison has scored this season.

I don’t know what it is about these types of freaky bounce goals, but this isn’t the first time that Okposo has been on a team where it has happened. While playing for Michigan, a bouncing puck allowed North Dakota to tie the game while shorthanded. The difference this time, the bounce went the way of Okposo’s team instead of the other way around. Had I known this I would’ve asked him about it last night - I will be sure to get on that for the next home game.

Getting back on track, the rest of the game was very poorly executed. The Isles did have some pressure and a chance here and there, but they just couldn’t hold onto the lead and eventually allowed a tying goal in the third period. With the game tied at 1-1, the Islanders took yet another penalty and I thought to myself this would decide the game. With that, the Leafs scored and went ahead 2-1. They would top it off with an empty net goal and mar Kyle Okposo’s professional career with a loss.

Okposo Watch!

Kyle played a pretty good game considering it was his very first experience playing against NHL caliber talent. I took a bunch of pictures during his first shift and throughout the game, I will upload those tomorrow as I need to get to bed early tonight. I know there are those out there salivating for Kyle’s exact stats from last night, so here they are:

Total Shifts: 15
Time on Ice: 14:45
Power Play Time: 1:33
Average Shift: 0:59
Shots: 2
Takeaways: 1
Giveaways: 1

Kyle, whom I have already praised for his poise with the press - continued to do so with his self-assessment last night. When asked how he felt he did given the amount of attention he received, he had this to say:

“I was a bit jittery,” Okposo said. “I think I psyched myself out. I thought the game was faster than it was the first period. I started to calm down a bit in the second and third … In between the first and second periods, I was like, ‘It’s no different than what I’ve played.’

The entire press corps had almost the same exact question, where numerous journalists asked the same question at the same time. Everyone wanted to know what he felt about the talent difference between Collegiate hockey, the AHL and the NHL. If anyone is the right person to ask this question to, it would be Kyle as he has played in each level over a period of 6 months. His response was the following, as expected:

“Obviously, the players are better, but hockey is hockey anywhere you go, whether it be on the pond or in the NHL or the AHL. It’s still hockey. I’ve played the game a thousand times, and it’s not going to change.”

His answer screamed confidence, so between the help of veterans like Guerin helping him out throughout the night, continued practice and eventually numerous games - Kyle Okposo will completely arrive at the NHL level and will continue to impress. He may not have had a game winner or been a difference maker, but he definately impressed me with his play last night.

Congratulations Kyle, I wish you many years of success and look forward to watching you grow into the powerhouse we know you can be.

DING DING DING

No, that’s not the ending bell for the Islanders season - although admittedly it is rather close with 9 games remaining and the Islanders needing nothing short of an absolute miracle to claim the 8th playoff spot. I am talking about the KO punch named none other than Kyle Okposo making his New York Islanders debut. Clever play on words there, eh? Boxing, KO - never mind.

That’s right, maybe you haven’t been paying too much attention - but news of Okposo’s callup to the big club has been abuzz all over the internet the past several days. However, looking back at the trade deadline - I let everyone in on what I was told by Garth Snow in our interview, so this wasn’t a complete surprise or anything.

Ken over at Okposo Net has been doing a great job keeping everyone abreast on the latest KO developments down the stretch - he has even made a banner featuring the “retired” sweater of KO (one could only hope) and he even heard from Kyle himself on his reaction to the image.

With so many bodies bruised and banged up, it’s not really surprising that the Islanders would bring Kyle up to see what he can do in the NHL. The team has been struggling mightily as of late and a little bit of excitement for the team and the fans couldn’t hurt anything. Says Garth Snow on Kyle’s Islanders debut:

“It’s the right time to give Kyle the chance to show what he can do at the NHL level,” said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. “From the beginning we said that when it came to Kyle we would do what was best long-term for both him and our franchise. He has played well in Bridgeport and deserves a look. Our organization is very excited to see Kyle in an Islanders unifom, and I’m sure so are our fans.

And Kyle’s Reaction:

“My focus had been on playing well in the AHL and helping the Sound Tigers, so I didn’t know when the call would come,” said Okposo. “But now that it has, the excitement is off the charts. I just want to have a good practice on Monday and then I’ll start thinking about playing a big game against the Maple Leafs in front of our fans on Tuesday. It’s up to me to make the most of the opportunity.”

For those wondering WHY it took this long to bring Kyle up to the big club - if he were to play any more than nine games with the Islanders this season, the first year of his contract would count towards the season - bringing him that much closer to restricted free agency. This; obviously being something the Islanders want to avoid - so it’s a no-brainer on waiting it out.

Today, Kyle practiced with the team at Iceworks and there is extensive coverage on the Islanders Website and iTV so check that out. We are told that he practiced on a line with Richard Park and Blake Comeau and fit in very well, impressing the coaching staff as the morning progressed. Here are some quotes from the day:

Kyle on what it felt like to take part in an NHL practice:

“It feels pretty good being out there in my first NHL practice,” said Okposo, following today’s practice. “Knowing a few guys (from Bridgeport) I felt a little more comfortable today. The guys have been awesome and have taken me under their wing. The guys have been great.

Ted Nolan on Kyle’s play and why he will start with the linemates he practiced with:

“He’s an exceptional player that we’re looking forward to see play at the NHL level,” said head coach Ted Nolan. “There are certain players who have that instinct. He doesn’t just skate and shoot the puck well, he also has that great hockey sense. Kyle has all of the ingredients good players have. We wanted to start him on a line with one of our most reliable guys in Richard Park. And considering Blake Comeau has good hockey sense, the three of them should form a pretty good line out there.”

Kyle on the hype surrounding his debut:

“Anytime you play your first game at any level, especially the NHL it’s an exciting time,” said Okposo. I just want to go out there, play my game and help my team win. I look at this as a challenge and try to ignore all the hype. I’m just going to do the best I can to help the team win. I don’t have any tricks up my sleeve.”

Has anyone else been really impressed in the manner that Okposo handles himself with the media? To me he doesn’t sound like a 19 (soon to be 20) year old making his NHL debut, but more of a seasoned veteran! There is a lot of opinion going on out there on the potential negative effects of coming up to the team at this stage of the season, but I don’t feel it will “ruin” Okposo as a player. I don’t really feel this is entirely a gimmick either, or a ploy by the Islanders to salvage whatever ticket revenue they can out of what’s left of the season. I am really excited to see KO make his debut and see what he can bring to the team, at a time they need a spark more than anything. I also don’t expect Kyle to come in and be the savior of the Islanders, light up the lamp at a torrid pace or be the second coming of Crosby - I just want to see him get his feet wet in the NHL and use the experience as a stepping stone and building block towards a long prosperous career on Long Island.

I am going to do my best to sneak out of work a bit early tomorrow so I can get down to the glass and take some pictures of Kyle out there with the rest of the team. I know I haven’t posted pictures from the past several (15ish?) games - but I promise everything will be updated in the very, very near future!