Islanders 2 Red wings o

Last night in Detroit Joey MacDonald His first career shut out stoping all 42 shots. Returning last night from injury Joey Mac continues to make showing off his skills between the pipes including a glove save robing Mikael Samuelsson of what looked like a sure goal. MacDonald and former Islander Chris Osgood kept the game scoreless untill 8:41 when Frans Nielsen got one passed Osgood giveing the Isles a shorthanded 1-0 lead. Later in the second period Tim Jackmen took a rap around shot that was kicked away right to Josh Bailey who put home to give the Isles a 2 zip lead. The Islander spent four minutes each period in the penelty box but the Isles played good defense throught steping up big when needed. When asked about the shut out MacDonald replied"It's an unbelievable feeling to get my first shutout in the NHL against my former team."

Islanders vs Wild

Overshadowed by tommorows Lighthouse event at the Long Island Marriot(which i suggest everyone to go to) the islanders host th wild at the coliseum after they lost to the Rangers last night 2-1.After losing 5-2 in ottowa the other night the isles look for a boost tonight. With little to really report besides 2 familure faces coming back to long island from bridgeport Mike Iggulden and Joel Rechlicz. Lighthouse news have taken over islanders country so we will se what happens tommorow

Isles vs Canes

Fresh off their 4-2 win over the 5th place Blackhawks last Sunday the Islanders look to continue their win streak tonight in Carolina. The Islanders have recalled goaltender Peter Mannino and forwards Joel Rechlicz and Mike Iggulden for tonights game. Mannino got his first NHL career start last Sunday stoping 40 shots in which only two got by him. The Islanders who have gone 2-1-1 on this six game road trip so far hope to finish it with back to back wins tonight and tomorrow up in Ottawa where they face former Islanders mike Comrie and Chris Campolie. The Hurricanes who are coming off a 4-2 win over the Devils last Wednesday night at home in Carolina. The Canes who are looking to keep in the playoff race as they barley hold on in 8th place with Florida nipping at their heels with 80 points.

Islanders 3 Canadians 2 Final!!

Updated'
Overtime
Kyle Okposo gets the game winner off a shot by Gervie

3rd Period

Less then a minute into the 3rd Frans Nielson scored a goal to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead. Montreal had an opportunity to tie the game early but couldn't convert. Later the Canadians would go on a 5-3 power play. The Islanders D played tight knocking the puck away and Yann Danis was outstanding in the net. Unfortunately right after the power play ended the Islanders changing lines gave the canadians an odd man rush opportunity and Kostopoulos got one past Danis. Later with less than a minute left in the period Carey Price robed Tamballini of a game winning goal sending the game into overtime.

2nd Period

In a period with alot hits and scoring oppertunities the game remains tied at one. The Islanders out shot the Canadians 12 to 7. The Islanders put the pressure on almosts scoring a few time including a breakaway oppertunity by Josh Bailey who failed to get it past price. Montreal had some scoring oppertunities to score but was mostly Islanders this period including a fight between Rechlicz and Kostopoulos. Price and Danis keeping everything out of thir respectice nets.

1st Period

The first is done and were all tied up at the Bell Center. The Canadians pressured early as a puck was swatted out of the air at 18:13 but was called a no goal. the Canadians kept the pressure up slamming puck at Danis. Brenden Witt was called for interference and the Isles payed as Plekanec got the power play goal at 5:04 into the period. What seemed to be a Canadian dominated first quickly changed towards the Isles favor. At 11:33 into the period Mike Iggulden Scored his first NHL goal off a pass from Comeau and the Islanders tied the game at one. The Islanders pressure continued and hope to continue the tough play.

Islanders vs Canadians preview

Nate Tompson has returned just in time replace the injured sean Bergenhiem and Peter Mannino has been called up as an emergency replacement

Injury Update

In what seems to be a never ending saga of injures add two more names to the list. Sean Bergenheim and Joey McDonald will not be in tomorrows line up. Bergenheim suffered a groin injury in last nights game and McDonald is out with a knee injury which can only be guessed was hurt in the collision with Jason Blake in last nights loss to the Maple Leafs.

Islanders 2 Toronto 3

Updated 10:07

Overtime/Oveview

Leafs win on a rebound goal scored by Grabovski.
The Islanders played a good game and kept up with Toronto and McDonald looked good but couldnt stop everything in a game the Islanders really didnt need to win. Unfortunatly Sean Bergenhiem suffers what looks to be a groin injury

3rd Period

In another comeback game between these two teams this time it was Toronto's turn. The Leafs put pressure on McDonald and he stoped everything except one at 8:46 into the period scored by Ponikarovsky. Sean Begenhiem seem to have suffered a groin injury which would be a huge blow to the Islanders.

2nd Period

A goalless second period has just ended and Toronto's penalty kill was put to the test. Toronto had over six minutes of penalty kill in the seccond including a penelty that will run into the third. The Islanders failed to convert on the power play and Toronto failed to score when a Toronto player was on the breakaway but lost the puck off his stick. A scary moment at 14:01 when Blake ran into Joey McDonald, both players went down and were slow to come up but, everyone was ok.

1st Period

With the first period starting off slow and staying at that pace for most of it. The Islanders placed most of the pressure and kept the puck in the Toronto zone keeping them at bay and only allowing minimal scoring chances to the Leafs. Jackmen and Oreskovic got into a small scrap and that's all that really happened until 2:33 left in the period when Stempniak scored to give the Leafs a goal. 15 seconds later Kyle Okposo scored to tie the game at one. keeping the momentum going the Islanders took the lead 45 seconds later when Comeau got one past Gerber.

Islanders vs Toronto preview

Preview-Tonight the Maple Leafs host the Isles up in the Air Canada Center. The isles coming off a 2-0 weekend winning over the 1st place Devils and the spiraling Coyotes.The Maple Leafs are coming off a 2-1 loss to Ottawa last night and look to get another win over the Isles(without letting the Islanders come back and almost win). The Islanders get Brenden Witt back who was suspended for 5 games the last time these 2 teams met.

Islanders 3 Coyotes2

Game day Preview Islanders vs Coyotes

Following yesterdays blowout of the Devils the hot Islanders host the Coyotes who are coming off a loss up in Buffalo Friday night. The Islanders who pretty much destroyed one of the best teams in the NHL yesterday on goals from Okposo, Martinek, Tambellini, Comeau, and a hat trick from Sean Begenhiem. The last time these two teams met the Isles lost 5-4 in Phoenix.

Sidenote-Kurtis McLean was called up to fill in for injured forward Trent Hunter who is out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle.

Islanders 7 Devils 3 FINAL

UPDATED!!!
3rd Period

A switch at the beggining of the Period putting in Weeks was a showing of how well the Islanders had played. The Devils drew first blood in the period with ellias getting the redirection past McDonald to make it 6-3. The period progressed with little action from the Islanders McDonald was able to keep everything out of the net after the Ellias goal. With the Islanders win pretty much assured Sean Bergenheim was able to get his 3rd goal giving him his first career hat trick with 1 second left on the clock to make the final 7-3 islanders.

2nd Period

With an all Islanders 1st period the Devils came out looking to regain some composer on the second. The devils came out guning. Brian Gionta slamed in a rebound just 29 seconds into the period to make it a 3-1 game. The islanders responded when Bergenheim got one past Brodeur to make it 4-1 and Inggulden got his first NHL point. The Devils came right back when langenbrunner got a rebound past McDonald to make it 4-2. It seemed like the devils were making a comeback playing more aggressivly and capitalizing on the rebounds. The Devils once again failed to kill a penelty when Blake Comeau scored on a perfect pass from beind the net from Josh Bailey. With the Islanders play picking up Seam Bergehiem scored his second goal of the game at 2:26.







1st Period





With an action packed 1st period over the Islanders have made the Devils look like the last place team. Just 1:42 into the period Radek Martinek slamed a goal past the out of position Martin Brodeur. Tim Jackmen charged the Devil net, stoped short spraying ice on Brodeur as he fell backwords and Martinek Slamed the puck into the virtually empty net. Only a few minutes later the Islanders drew Brodeur out of position but failed bury the puck in the net. At 9:45 John Madden was called for high sticking and the devils payed dearly for it. At 8:51 Kyle Okposo got one by Brodeur with the help of Bailey and Nielson. Later Jeff Tambellini scored unassisted on a breakaway at 14:05.The Islanders penelty kill looked sharp killing both penelties and McDonald keep everything the devils threw at him out of the net.

Game day Preview

Last time these two teams met, the Islanders blanked the Devils in 4-0 win at the coliseum. Sim, Okposo, Bergenhiem, and former captain Bill Guerin all scored with assistance by Yann Danis who posted his first shut out as a New York Islander in front of a packed house at the coliseum. This afternoon's rematch should be just as intense and action packed. The Islanders are coming off a tough loss to the Rangers at what felt more like an away game than a home game. A combination of sloppy play and at points putting the pressure on the Rangers. The Devils, who come to coliseum on a four game winning streak, features Martin Brodeur's first match against the Isles since his return. Mike Iggulden will make his Islander debut this afternoon along with Jesse Joensuu and Joe Callahan, who were both brought back up from Bridgeport.

Islanders vs Rangers

Tonight marks the last time the Islanders and the hated Rangers will meet this season and this one means more for both teams than could have ever been anticipated. In a month where the Rangers went from a top seated playoff contender to a team just trying to keep their playoff hopes alive. Going 3-6-4, and all overtimes resulting in losses, with one of the three wins coming against the Islanders. After a busy trade deadline aquiring Nik Antropov and Derek Morris and picking up NHL thug Sean Avery, the Rangers look to come into the coliseum and play a tough and agressive game. On the flip side, the young and enthusiastic Islanders look to be the spoilers tonight and push their archrivals further toward an early offseason. Dannis who has had oustanding outings against the Rangers, except for an easy goal that got by him, but came back that Saturday to shutout the Devils. Okposo, Bergenheim, Bailey and others must put forward a tough effort against the new look of the Rangers.Last time the two met a hard fought effort was put up by the Islanders in a very physical action packed game which i hope will be the case again tonight.Of course the coliseum will be packed with Islander fans, but it is always over-run by fans of the Rangers (always makes for interesting interaction between the opposing fans and a game I will enjoy being at). LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!

Sidenote- Sim was sent back down to bridgeport and excpet to see Jesse Joensuu and maybe Mitch Fritz on the ice tonight.

DO OR BYE!

If you havent heard more critical news has come from Charles Wang about the Lighthouse Project. In a Newsday article writtem Anthony Rieber and Eden Laikin Wang has now directly said its do or bye. Wang who has made every effort to pursue not only keeping the Islanders on Long Island but to bright the Island and create a long and lasting economic future. Long Island is a place of historical significance and first of extrodinary kinds. From Charles Lindbergh's flight to paris to building of the first suberbia in Levittown. From producing the powerful feared F-14 tomcat to hosting the greatest sports dynasty. Long Island has a rich history, but in recent years has lost its lust. As Military technology companies leave Long Island and business lay people off Long Island and the rest of America are realing from tough economic times. The Lighthouse project not only will give new life to the town of Hempstead but will help revive Long Islands economy, and It will Once again serve as the model for the new suburbia in America. It will bring millions in new tax revenue for the county and help provide new tax dollers for Hempstead school district. The creation of new jobs temporary and perminant will have a significant impact and hopefull help in the recovery effort of our troubled economy, and help attract new businesses to the island. Along with the economic benifits Long Islanders will have a place to go befor and after events whether they be concerts or sporting events there will plenty to do and see. The project is now a do or die not only for the Islanders but for the town of Hempstead, Nassua county, and Long Island as a whole. Its a turning point in this great islands history wheather it thrives and becomes a model for the future or a storied sports franchise leaves, and Long Island continues to fall into obscurity.

Draft day

With the deadline come and gone the only move the Islanders made today was to send Bill Guerin to Pittsburgh and in return pick up a conditional draft pick. A deal that everyone anticipated, starting saturday night when the Islanders pulled him from the ice but, thought a deal would have been announced sooner than today. Islanders fans maybe would have excpected more for Guerin the 6'2, 220 pound veteran but were left with little more than a pick.

Side note- The New York Rangers sent Dmitri Kalinin, Nigel Dawes, and Petr Prucha were sent to the Coyotes in return for D-man Derek Morris. They also sent a 2nd Rd. Draft Pick and a Conditional Draft Pick to Toronto in return for Nik Antropov so be prepared to see them tommorow night at the coliseum.

Hunter Injury

The word from Islanders country is Trent Hunter missed last nighs game due to a lower leg injury and will be re-evaluated.

stay tuned for more info.

game in review

As the island was blanketed by snow all day the Islanders were able to blanket the Avalanche.

1st period

In a very uneventful period, it was the islanders that capitalized first. Dean McAmmond scored his second goal as an islander with 6:45 left in the first. The avalanche, who are putting up a very lack lust performance, have had two power play oppertunities not scoring on the first and the second will run into the second period. The islanders penelty kill is looking good tonight as they are able to keep the puck out of their zone. Yann looking good so far not really have to put much effort forward so far. Fans at the coliseum are not taking to kindly to Ryan Smith. With every puck he touches a blizzard of boos comes down from the stands. The islanders were able to out shoot colorado 12-6. The biggest story coming tonight is the obvious absents of islanders foward Trent Hunter who was at warm ups but was pulled off the ice do to an apparent injury.

2nd Period

Game intensity picking up as the first was a very quick, lack luster period. The second was the polar opposite. 33 seconds into the period, ex-Islander Ryan Smyth got one by Danis to tie the game at one. Following that Jessie Juensuu assisted by sim and fellow rookie Joe Callihan scored his first NHL goal at 17:29 in the period. The avalanche were able to pick up their performance, increasing the pressure on Yann Danis and forcing him out of position to give them ample scoring opportunities including one that almost gave Smyth his second goal of the game. Bruno Gervais was able to give the islanders a 3-1 lead after he scored at 14:40 in the period ending his 160 game goal drought. Although they trailed, they looked decent killing the Islander power play and were unable to convert on a power play opportunity of their own after McAmmond was called for hooking

3rd Period

The 3rd started off with another quick goal by ex-Islander Ryan Smyth (who else of course) to make it a one goal difference. Slaming one past Danis in front of the net, 1:02 into the period. Reycroft who looked better in net until 15:12 in the period when Mark Streit went into the Avalanche zone, faked a shot, and passed it off to Jeff Tambellini, who shot it past Reycroft to give the Islanders a 4-2 lead. Closing in on the end of the game, Colorado put the pressure on and had a few scoring opportunities infront of the net, but were shut down by Yann Danis who was able to keep the puck out of the net and insure an Islanders win.

Overview

The Islanders played a good game with rookie Jessie Juensuu scoring his first NHL goal and giving more hope for the future. Yann Danis had a good game again tonight and continues to show he is starting to become an NHL calliber goalie, but shows he still needs to work on a couple of things. Bergenheim and Okposo were relatively quiet during tonight's game with no real stand out plays for the night. Reports on Trent Hunters injuries are limited but I have heard lower body or ankle injury (will keep on top of that story).

sidenote- A small crowd of 11,298, probably due to the blizzard that hit Long Island last night and this morning. NHL commisioner Gary Bettman was on hand for tonights game with Charles Wang and discussed his thoughts on the lighthouse project with versus during the third period.

Game night preview

With the Guerin saga continuing into tonights game speculation continues where,when or even if he will be traded. Reports saying Doug Weight may now be included in the trade talks but everything is still up in the air. As for the game tonight Dani will get the start in net. Ryan smith makes his first trip back to the coliseum since he declined to resign with the team, and Jesse Joensuu will make his NHL debut tonight after being called up to replace Bill Guerin.

Gordon and the vets

After shoveling the foot of snow in my driveway, I picked up today's newsday and got a chance to read the follow up article about Scott Gordon's so called "tense" relationship between him and some of his vets. In my pure disgust yesterday, i left a comment on Islanders Point Blank calling newsday's so called "sources" cowards and little girls for there comments. I stick to this statement today but to a certain point. The vets who ran their mouths to the media and were too coward to have their names published is what really pissed me off. Displeasure with a coach or management should be kept in house or if your going to run your mouth, have the guts to tell us who you are. so to them, i have this to say
GROW UP AND STOP ACTNG LIKE LITTLE CRYBABIES!
The Islanders made it clear that this year was going to be about the rookies and developing them, (which in recent games seems to be paying off). No one can blame the older guys for being mad over losing playing time. Not everyone agrees or gets along with their coach, but there should be a certain respect to air your grievences in house and not to the media.

As we wait

As we all wait for news from the islanders as to where Bill Guerin is going, I'd just like to talk about some of the recent progress surrounding the islanders the last couple of games. Sean Bergenheim, #20, has been stepping up his game and starting to make a name for himself. In the last 4 games he has racked up 5 goals including the only 2 goals in the islanders win against Buffalo. Yann Danis #34, who has had 2 shutouts in the last 2 weeks, is starting to raise his stock. MacDonald who has had off and on starts the past couple of games has seen his stock start to dwindle in recent games. In the last game MacDonald started and won 2 weeks ago in the islanders win over the penguins. MacDonald was also in net during the Islanders embarassing loss to carolina at the coliseum where he gave up 6 goals. Thats not to say Yann hasn't given up goals that he really should of had, including Scott Gomez's goal at 7:26 in the second period that ultimately was the game winner. Kyle Okposo who has yet to score a goal since last saturday's game against the devils is continuing to progress and keep the intensity going. he had an assist during the isles win over buffalo and continues to look strong and give hope to islanders fans for next year. so as we wait today for some news about Bill Guerin think about the progress that has been made over this season and how that will benefit us next year.

welcome

welcome to islanders crazy. this is a blog run by a fan for fans. inspired by the many hockey blogs and my passion for the islanders i hope this informative and helpfull with hockey news