Wed 28 Mar 2007
Another loss to the Devils. I believe that I have heard that song before.
But at least we got two by Marty tonight.
With no Ricky, Mike Dunham had to step up, and for all intents and purposes, he did. He let in two power play goals that his defense looked confused and lazy, and the second goal slid in off the body of Chris Campoli. And that was enough for the Devils to officially clinch a playoff berth with a 3-2 win.
Dunny got a case of the cramps and dehydration after the 3rd goal and was replaced by Wade Dubielewicz.Â
Alexei Yashin had another strong game, scoring a power play BLAST by Brodeur. He has picked up his game of late, but it may be TOO LATE!Â
Jason Blake notched his 38th of the season in a scrum around Brodeur with 6 minutes left in regulation. The Isles certainly played a more inspired game for the second half of the contest, but in the first half looked lethargic and going through the motions. Sorry, but Ryan Smyth is looking lost out there.
I would like to take this time - to offer a question for all of those who read this column to comment on. I really would like for you to click on the comment link at the top of this page, and let me know what you think. Here is the question:
Is Ricky’s careless play in Montreal, the main reason to blame the team for not making the playoffs this year? If so, why?
A couple of days off, before shuffling off to Western New York for Friday night. Then Fan Appreciation Day against the Sens on Saturday. If the Isles have any chance at all, they MUST get 4 points over the weekend, and hope for the best. They are not out, just set back a bit. The next two games should seal the fate, depending on what they do. Time will now really tell the tale.
THREE STARS
- Alexei Yashin - another strong game, moving his feet, blasting that goal past Brodeur
- Jason Blake - adding to the career totals
- Wade Dubielewicz - 6 out of 6 (14 for 14 in an Islander uni this year) - kept the team in late
TIN TWIT
- The fans on various message boards that are already walking away. Yes - I know that the chances are dwindling. However, you people sound like bandwagon jumpers only being a real fan when they are winning. You people make me sick! Being a fan of a team means you support them no matter WHAT HAPPENS. Hey - I am not happy when they lose, or end up out of the running for a spot in the playoffs. But I will never lose my loyalty or my interest, even at the end. Do you walk away from everything else that does not go your way? Why should this be any different. I want no part of you, if you dont stay 100% supportive of your team.
Well - my rant is over - have a good day!
Â
March 28th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Gary,
Enjoy the blog, I had the pleasure of sitting in section 317 Row B Seat 5 last week vs the Pens. I do not know if you were at the game or not but the section offers a great view. Anyways you are right about a few things.
First off, I do not believe Ricky’s injury is the reason we are outside looking in now. Yes the Isles are a much better team with him in the net but every time Dunham is in the team seems to quit. I blame Nolan and our vets (Sillinger, Witt, Smyth, etc.) for that. In the midst of a playoff battle it should not matter who is in net. The Islanders looked lost yesterday but I contribute that to the way the Devils play. Their defense smothers the oppostion which causes confusion and frustration. I do blame the Islanders for the 1st half of that game. They play like they are scared of this fucking team, could you imagine if we actually do get in the playoffs and have to play these guys in the 1st round. We might as well not even show up with the way we play them.
The team has really crapped the bed since the trading deadline. I think when the media start labeleing this team as a Cup contender after the Smyth deal they thought that they could stop working. The month has been a downright shame, and it all started with the loss to the Blues. If we won that game 2-1 or 2-0 would this have even happened. The math may say we are two point back but we are really 3pts back since we don’t hold any tiebreakers. We need wins!
As for the fans, what do you expect. It is a shame but I have always thought most Islanders fans are fair weathered. I mean look at our attendence. The team is in the midst of a playoff race yet we cannot ever draw 14,000-15,000 people to the rink. Years of losing will do that to a fan base and the Islanders have still yet to string 5-6 good seasons in a row to help build that fan base back up. There are only 6 games left, can we do it. The fan in me says yes but my heart says we won’t and despite the moderate success the team had the casual fan will see this as another losing season which won’t help in the long run.
Last but not least is this offseason is one of the most important in a long time for this team. We finally have the goaltending, we need another solid defensemen. A playmaking center and another gamebreaker. Will Smyth and Blake be back? I hope so, I think Smyth has produced for us. Yashin, despite his better play needs to go.
Lets keep our fingers crossed!
March 28th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Mike, thanks for the reply. Was not at the game that night - I was still in Florida.
Appreciate the insight - well done! Cheers,
Gary
March 28th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I don’t think I can fully put the “blame” on Ricky. I think that has definitely now “hurt us”, but something happened before that. I think that the team fooled itself with all of the media crap after Ryan Smyth came here. Somehow, he was the final piece to the playoff puzzle, and, perhaps, he could still be. However, the rest of the team seemed to forget that 60 minute games would be necessary down the stretch.
Also, I think the back to back losses to the Rangers also really seemed to stagger us. We really played like crap the game at the Garden and looked more like a college team playing the Rangers. Then, the non-goal that Should have been a goal in the closing minute of the game at home. Yes, it’s as if the air has been coming out of the tires and we can’t seem to fix the problem.
I won’t say we are out of it, but I am not feeling so great right now. We have just lost too many important points this month, and playing the Sabers and Sens back to back…well…a tall order to fill.
March 28th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
If woody would have gone to the police, none of this happes, if Ricky stays in the crease he is still the same goilie who has carried the team on his back the last 2/3 months….Isles need Ricky, and the reast of the team needs to step it up, Yashin finally seems to have found a clue, but TOO LATE(agree with Gary above) and finally, lets just make the playoffs with or without Ricky, and please Ricky when you come back, stay in the net, that is when you are at your BEST !!!!!!
March 28th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Gary I really believe if our WANDERING goalie had just stayed in the damn net where he belongs we would NOT be in the position (or lack thereof) we are now. On another note, the loss of DP has proven that he was actually covering for our ineffective and slow defense for most of the season. And now we are paying the price.
I am finding it difficult to keep the faith, but I will NEVER give up on my team.
March 28th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
What a question…
I think we will still have to wait and see, though.
We’re NOT out!
March 29th, 2007 at 7:03 am
I agree - but I wanted some feedback…
March 30th, 2007 at 2:41 am
DP was competing. Stop the Monday night quarterback analysis. He would do the same play over and over again. It happens in a contact sport. We have had a ton of bad luck the past month. They surpassed every prediction. I still want to win but these guys gave us the most entertaining season in years!
March 30th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Dave,
First of all - I am a DP fan - but his glaring chances have caused a lot of catastrophies in previous games. Taking chances is fine, but in a game with no score, and no imminent danger, taking those chances is disaster!
I totally feel that the team has done great, and the fact that anyone is talking about us making the playoffs is a great thing.
And lastly - not to sound like a child, but this is my blog, and I will write what I want and what my feelings are. If I feel that Ricky’s play may have cost us a first round playoff appearance, than I will say it just like that. You have your thoughts - I have mine!
March 30th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I agree that Ricky is an intense player and that it might be a matter of the old Monday morning QB, but I also must concur with the basic recommendation that DP has to be chained to the Goddam net. I am, again, not going to say that he is to “blame” for our current situation, as there are 19 other guys on the bench with him every night. As someone first pointed out, the loss to Saint Louis really set the tone before the injury. I really have to point out that I believe that too many guys seemed to let up a bit once Ryan Smyth came over as if his presence alone assured us of a first round shoe in.
April 1st, 2007 at 3:11 am
Hi Gary. Thanks for providing this site. Congrats on its success (nice growth chart by the way!) Because of the type of work I do, I tend to not only watch players/teams but also analyze them on other levels beyond skill. I’ll try to be as brief as possible…I’m a little Isles deprived being surround by Stranger fans here in the city.
-When I first saw Rick in goal I knew he was a special player. Rick seems to have an innate ability to anticipate what’s coming towards him, he senses stuff that his eyes can’t see. Combine this ability with his amazing reflexes, spatial matrix acuity, and dedication to his team, and you’ve got a goalie with incredible potential, a potential that has only begun to manifest itself.
-I think out of any player on the team Rick is dealing with the most pressure. WE are all relying on him, maybe a bit too much.
-I don’t think Rick is to blame. Last I checked he was part of a team, not a scapegoat. Even before Rick was injured I didn’t see or sense the extra UMPH they needed to get ahead and secure a spot in the playoffs.
-He wasn’t being careless in Montreal, he OVER cared which can be just as dangerous. Ok well he also might have overstepped his boundaries which showed an underlying lack of trust for his defense. Whatever his intention, he took a risk and it didn’t pan out. He’s not the first goalie to take this kind of risk, and he won’t be the last. Coach: “Did you see what DiPietro did in Montreal?� Goalie: “Yeah�. Coach: “Don’t do that.�
-For anyone who blames Rick, prepare yourself to be continually disappointed because he has to make ‘mistakes’ in order to become a better goalie. Every player does. They key is to have a short learning curve and be able to recover quickly. May I suggest the book ‘Failure 101’ to give you an idea of how much failure it takes to succeed. Athletes are mentioned in the book.
-Why did Rick (subconsciously) attract injury? I’m leaning towards self-sabotage as a response to the over reliance and pressure put upon him and put upon himself. If I detect one sign that Rick is developing Lindrositis (the worst case of self-sabotage I’ve ever seen) I will hunt him down and hypnotize it out of him.
- Any fan who stayed on board through the trauma of ugly jerseys, lighthouse decals on the Coliseum walls, a fisherman mascot, and a fog horn sound blowing when a goal was scored (that especially sucked) is ok in my book. It’s easy to be critical when wearing shoes and not skates so let the fair-weathered Isles ‘fans’ stay at home and not bring negative energy to the games.
-T-shirt idea: “I survived the fishstick nightmare and all I got was this crummy t-shirt and an ugly jersey that I can’t return�.
- I started going to Isles games when I was a kid, moved to Flyer country (S. Jersey) when I was 12…“you’re from HICKSville??? does that make you a HICK?â€? got old really fast…and then later endured the fishstick nightmare when I lived in Philly where it became open season on Isles fans. Now I just have to deal with silly Ranger fans here in NYC. They are not as pesky as Philly fans. By the way, there is a billboard in Jersey on the way to Philly that says something like Flyer fans voted #1 for the most intimidating fans. Maybe the Flyer powers that be should strap some skates on the fans at this point. It’s open season this season on Flyer fans and I am enjoying every minute of it.
-Being an Isles fan is about endurance and hope so I close out this post with hope:
- Years ago the Red Wings impressed the heck out of me by their ability to sense each other on the ice. It was more than peripheral vision, it was energetic. As a result the speed and accuracy of their flow on ice was awesome. I hope the Isles will utilize the off season and achieve this kind of flow for some kick ass UMPH. Wax on wax off grasshoppers!
-I hope that Rick will take a look at how he chooses to be an agent of change on his team and find healthier ways to deal with the pressure of being that damn good of a player. You’re good enough, you’re smart enough and darn it people like you.
-I hope that any sibling rivalry due to the focus on Rick will work itself out rather than playing itself out on the ice.
-I hope the Isles will look beyond the surface of the recent happenings and figure out how to utilize them for the team’s growth.
-I hope the Isles organization (and anyone else who is contributing to this) will stop kissing the ass of the past. WE KNOW they won 4 cups in a row. It was an amazing time at THAT TIME but I can’t imagine the boys trying to move forward while also being suffocated by the past. As Bruce Lee has said, “Yesterday is dead”. We can’t win from any other platform but being in the present moment with future vision. It’s all we got.
-I hope Isles fans will continue to stay on board for the long haul and support our team win or lose. If not I will hunt you down wearing the ugly jersey, slap a lighthouse decal on the hood of your car while the fisherman mascot blows a fog horn in your ear.
Thanks for reading.
Christine