Mon 5 Mar 2007
2-1 Shootout loss - Tough point to lose, but nothing to be ashamed of
Posted by Gary Harding under Islanders 06-07
I think in most cases, I would really be upset. However, I am so proud of these guys; especially Rick DiPietro. He was magnificent. The Rangers threw everything they had at him. As Bill Clement just said, DiPietro had his shields up, but unfortunately, two photon torpedos got through. The one by Matt Cullen was the big blow.
However, we are still getting points out of these games. We now have points in 20 of 23 games, keeping up in the hunt for sixth place and more.
Blakey got a flukey goal, but a nice goal nevertheless, notching his 33rd of the season.
Peter Prucha got a nice rebound from Ortmeyer at the 26 second mark of the third period to tie the game at 1.
Hilbert had a great chance to break it open at the end of a Zednik penalty when he got by the Ranger D, and made a great move on Lundqvist but sees the puck hit the post and under the goalie’s legs.
It was the Rick DiPietro show - he made save from difficult angles, from the wrong size of the net, every which way possible. I am proud of the game he played. I just hope that he continues this on Thursday. Every game is now the most important game of the season now - an points are so crucial. 20 in 23 is very good - and we have to keep it going, in order to see some playoff games.
THREE STARS (I felt like doing it tonight)
- Rick DiPietro - duh
- Jason Blake - adding to the career totals
- Collective Defensive unit - great job - blocked many shots and really allowed a lesser deal of inside shots.
Sounded like a great number of Islander fans there tonight — I wish I was there.
Still loving the effort of Bergeron. If he was such a defensive liability in Edmonton, I think it got lost when it entered the Eastern Time Zone. He has been brilliant, taking on the other teams top forwards, and handling them well, despite the large size difference.
Witt was just plain Witt. No fights, but a lot of agitation and aggressiveness. Poti played over 31 minutes tonight - and Witt close to 30.Â
From what I hear, #79 will return on Thursday night. Interesting to see how he does with Smyth and Blake on his line. I hope he can spark a further fire in the team.
Again - I am not mad, a little disappointed, but proud of the way the team held on, especially in net. No reason to put your head down Islander fans; I really did not expect to see them go 8-0 against the Rangers, but we have to start winning the other three games, and we will have the home team advantage. The 7th men and women have to do their job, right Roger???
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March 6th, 2007 at 12:00 am
You are right Gary. It was the fans at the garden that got them the “Too many men” on the ice call. We, as fans, need to be there for our boys. The one thing that is described about our fans in our house is the ability that we have to change the feel of a game.
I am so aggravated at the officiating and the lack of calls our way. Hopefully, it will make our boys angry on Thursday and they come out flying. Mark my words, this game is the audition for the playoffs. If we can not pick ourselves up and kick some butt then we need to relook our desire to be in the playoffs.
I challenge everyone to bring any type of noise maker that is allowed. We need to rock the place. We need to take out our frustrations over the loss of the one single point and bring it on Thursday.
As frustrated as I am, I need to do something. Let’s have some fun. Since we don’t have Theo Fleury to antagonize lets go after the SONG. Have some fun with it and maybe divert some of the attention away from the lost point. Maybe distract the opposition a little bit. I just want to play abit and have an effect.
So take a look here:
http://www.savethechickendance.com
Our magic number is 14 Games. Any combo of Isles wins or Ranger losses that equal 14 games and we will finish ahead of them.
March 6th, 2007 at 6:50 am
I agree with you, Gary. Disappointing, yes. Ricky was unbelievable. Games like ths happen. But you can’t be mad when it happens. Many times we’ll get a win in games they don’t play well in. The important thing is coming out on the ice thursday, and playing with the same intensity they started with last night.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:52 am
so nice to see the words “magnificient,” “amazing,” and other accolades written in conjunction with DiPietro’s name for a change!
But did VS have to bring up his contract more than once?
We’ll take the point and look forward to thursday.
March 6th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Because Versus doesnt know what to freaking say!
I think Bill Clement should be put out to pasture like an old mare…
March 6th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
I will say that I was upset at the conclusion of the game, but I agree with Gary now that I have some time behind me. I am proud of the boys and the way DP truly frustrated the Ranger faithful over and over again was worth the “price of admission”. And, again, I cannot stand the one-sided officiating. I hate to constantly harp on this, but how many times can Rick be interfered with without a call against the Ranger forwards?
We better come out with fire Thursday and take the legs out from under them. DP deserves a sound response from our offense. Let’s give him some goals and less shots.
March 7th, 2007 at 12:46 am
Man. Did you people watch the game? Your team was dominated. That’s why the calls went the way they did.
The Rangers were hungrier to every loose puck and for once, didn’t allow the Islanders to dictate physically.
You can thank DiPietro for that one point because he was terrific. All in all, it was a great game.
Hope Thursday’s is as entertaining!
March 7th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Sure, the Islanders were dominated Derek, but obviously not enough to induce a Rangers win… of course. Good teams get great performances from key players when they are sorely needed and that’s what the Islanders have gotten from various players this season.
Something the Rangers haven’t gotten. Blame it on Jagr’s boo boo’s or a miserable defensse all you want, but the Isles have fought injuries all season and are stil playing well.
The Rangers are playing desperate hockey right now.
There’s a big difference there, of course.
March 7th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Here is a mini-transcript of the topics covered in the 33+ minute commercial-free interview with Newsday’s Islanders beat reporter Greg Logan last night. It is not an exhaustive list by any means, and I do hope that you get a chance to listen.
You can find it at:
http://hosted.filefront.com/patchyfogg
–Greg thanks the Islander fans for their input
–Last week’s hit #’s for the Isles Blog were the highest ever for any Sports Blog at Newsday.com
–A lengthy discussion of all things Ryan Smyth
(behind the scenes at the Deadline, a discussion of the prospects dealt, Ted
Nolan’s feelings for Smyth, what is the team doing to keep the Smyths on
Long Island?, etc. etc.)
–Can the Isles afford to sign both Ryan Smyth and Jason Blake?
–Greg doesn’t believe there was a proposed Anaheim deal for Blake
–Greg refutes reports of a “confrontationâ€? between Blake and Garth Snow
–Rick DiPietro’s 56-save performance
–Alexei Yashin
–Injury status of Radek Martinek
–New arena?
–“The GM Committeeâ€?
–Defensive Pairings
–A thorough discussion of Greg’s plans for the Islanders beat
As always, thanks.
March 7th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Pat, the Rangers don’t have many finishers. That game should’ve been 5 or 6-1. If you want to credit DiPietro for making a franchise record 56 saves, go ahead. He was splendid. But I also felt too many of those shots came from the perimeter. Particularly on the power play which again disappointed.
Though even you got to admit to amazement that didn’t score on that one shift where they kept the puck in for roughly two minutes where DiPietro made a save with his ass. Haha
March 8th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Let’s call a spade a spade here.
The Islanders were thoroughly dominated on Monday night and were extremely fortunate to get a point. That being said, it was a huge road point, and they’re getting at least one point in seemingly every non-Devil game lately - and they STILL had a few chances to win the game. In other words, what you saw was the best the Rangers could throw at the Isles. Good thing for the Islanders is that Ricky seems to elevate his game for such situations.
What the Islanders need to do tonight is put on the proverbial “storm” in the first period, constantly taking the attack to the Rangers, make them take penalties, force them to make bad decisions with the puck, etc. Then, they need to keep the gas pedal on full throttle. In recent Ranger visits before this season, they’ve gotten off the gas and settled down. They did the same thing last week against the Blues and it cost them dearly.
Fans going tonight need to be as loud as can be, outshout the Rags fans on every shift, all game long. Recreate that Fort Neverlose atmosphere, it can be done and it must be done, and trust me, the orange and blue WILL feed off it.