Tom Liodice over at The Tiger Track posted tonight that Bridgeport Sound Tiger enforcer Kip Brennan will be recalled now that his suspension is over. What makes this move interesting? Well, with two games slated to end the season against the rival New York Rangers - there is bound to be some enforcing needed.

Per Tom’s post:

Word out from the locker room is that Kip Brennan is going up to the big club…just in time for the Rangers series. Oh boy…

It appears as if the Islanders are relishing the role of spoiler - if anything, maybe they plan on beating the ever living snot our of the Rangers just in case they manage to hold on an make the playoffs.

Good show! Kip, Kip HOOOOORAY!!!

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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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!

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What, is that smell?

Clearly, it is the smell of scorched jockstraps - after what was a very devastating loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning last night 8-4. Ted Nolan had what could only be described as “a night”, last night. I say it like that because despite his normal demeanor in the post game press conference, his answering was completely un-Ted like. I’m lucky - I really am, as I get to see the players and coaches after every game. I hear and see them first hand when the cameras are and are not rolling, so this was really the first time anyone outside of the room(s) (Room Six as we have come to know it, and the locker room) has seen or heard what what pure frustration sounds like. I want to emphasize, that the showing of frustration is a positive thing - not a negative as many of the message board posters have been saying. Wouldn’t you be more concerned with a player or coach who shows no emotion after a bad loss? I know I would.

Notes and Quotes

Just in case you all haven’t read the latest from last night’s loss, I have gathered some of the juiciest quotes in one location for you all to enjoy.

Nolan on DiPietro:

“The only thing you can do is keep going through it over and over again. You can’t do that. You’ve got to let our defense handle it a little bit more. He just wants to play it. What can you do?”

Greg Logan asking DiPietro of Nolan’s comments and if he had a response:

“No. Whatever.”

Guerin on DiPietro (Per Greg Logan’s latest blog entry):

“Ricky is a competitor,” Islanders captain Bill Guerin said. “He just tries to do whatever he can to make the team better. Nobody can really tell him…I mean, what are you going to do? He’s one of the best puckhandlers in the league for goaltenders. You don’t want to take his competitiveness away from him. You’ve got to be patient.

Nolan on the injuries and callups:

“I don’t know if we’re the New York Islanders or the Bridgeport Sound Tigers right now. There’s so many guys out, so many new guys.”

If you look at all these quotes, it is easy to see why so many people could twist and turn words into making stories where there are none. The team, as a whole - is completely frustrated and has no idea how to get past the endless injuries suffered this season. From the opening night roster, I would say about half are currently playing - which includes 4 original defensemen. I know, I know - injuries aren’t to blame for this teams woes, but it has a very big part to do with their situation.

Onto the game from last night - DiPietro, had he stayed in net would have faired a lot better. When the score was 3-2 in favor of Tampa, the score should have really read 2-1 Islanders as two of Tampa’s goals came when DiPietro was barely in his crease. This knocked him off of his game and the Lightning began to attack. Shot, after shot, after shot appeared to give DiPietro trouble and what resulted was an 8-4 loss. The Islanders power play scored a rare goal, I think they are now 1 for their last 97 chances. Their power play continues to struggle, giving up the first two goals surrendered on either a man advantage and a two man advantage. They were out hustled, out hit, out just about everythinged.

So, what little bit of hope the team had to make the playoffs has faded into the slightest glimmer, ever. It is after this realization that the team moves into Sunrise, Florida tonight to take on a team that shut them out despite a 53 shot barrage on their netminder. Should prove to be an interesting game, considering the team will now be without Fedotenko (knee), Hilbert (ankle) and Witt (knee).

And now, your New York Bridgelanders!

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Well for everyone who wanted to see some of the kids get more icetime, this is definately your chance.

With Fedotenko and Hilbert being felled to injury last night, the Islanders had no choice but to bring in even MORE help from Bridgeport in the form of Steve Reiger, Tim Jackman and Matthew Spiller. This is in addition to: Tambellini, Colliton, Comeau, and Walter. One can only assume that Kyle Okposo will get his proverbial “cup of coffee” here in the next few games with this insane lack of scoring and rash of injuries.

Another intersting day in Islanders Country - I think this “Were all Islanders” motto has been taken a little too far.

Update!

Just some updates per Greg Logan’s latest blog entry!

Seems as if Spiller will be replacing Witt who has decided he can no longer work with his bum knee. I think this is a good choice as it appears the Islanders hopes of reaching the playoffs has faded. I would prefer Witt concentrates on getting healthy for next year.

Vasicek will be returning from the flu for tonight’s game, so Jeremy Colliton was sent back to Bridgeport. Reiger and Jackman will indeed fill in for Hilbert and Fedotenko.

Maybe Nolan really is coaching the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Three reinforcements arrived from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate to fill out the lineup tonight. Defenseman Matthew Spiller has the biggest shoes to fill. He’s in for Brendan Witt, who no longer can play effectively on his sprained knee. Forwards Steve Regier and Tim Jackman also will play in place of injured Ruslan Fedotenko and Andy Hilbert. Josef Vasicek, who missed the Tampa Bay game because of the flu, returns to the lineup, replacing Jeremy Colliton, who was returned to Bridgeport. Jackman and Spiller should add a physical element that has been missing since Chris Simon was traded. Certainly, Spiller’s callup might be a reaction to the way defenseman Rob Davison was handled last night in his second fight as an Islander.

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