Very few players from the starting lineup for New Jersey were sitting in the stands.
Not the case for the “Home” team.  Guerin, Comrie, Fedotenko, Sim, Hunter, Sillinger, Bergeron, Gervais, Campoli, Sutton. All of them wearing suits, and hanging out in the hallways.
Oh yea – don’t forget the goalie, too.
However, Doobie was doobie doobie good!
The shots were nearly two to one in favor of the boys in white and red, and Dubielewicz stood upto the competition well. The only two that got by the goalie were from short range, while the Isles were shorthanded. One as a 5 on 3.Â
Good signs – the constant emergence of Bryan Berard. He WILL make this team. But at the expense of who??? He looks smooth and fluid. In the few power plays and limited time he saw on the PP, I feel comfortable with #4 quartaerbacking. He isn’t the #4 in Green and Gold playing football (Brett Favre), but he can handle the job with authority.
Who will be out? Freddy Meyer is a victim of the numbers game. Aaron Johnson – has some skills, but in many situations seems to be back on his skates. In my guestimation, I think the Isles will take 7 D up. With some serious cap room, they can afford to keep 7 up for now.
On the forwards, I really do not see that many surprising scenarios playing. Tambellini and Nielsen are on the fense, and may be looking in rather than out.
The one thing that I notice, is that this team will show it is larger up front. In the past, the Isles have had size, but were as powerful as a hiccup. This season, with Vasicek and Fedotenko, that hiccup can turn into a tsunami.
The Isles are 2-4-2 with one game remaining in Boston this afternoon. These guys (the main 20) have not been close to all playing at the same time this preseason. Today may be the day that this may happen.
I think that all 4 lines up and down will make the Ted Nolan team become even more apparent this season. To me, Comrie must have a ridiculous start. He needs to come out of the gate smoking.
Ricky needs to make another bold step forward. Last year he went a few steps on the goaltending ladder. He now needs to get to the top rung this year. Playing smart is paramount.
The countdown to the season, is under 6 days now. Get excited Islander fans!!!
Posted under Islanders 07-08
This post was written by Gary Harding on September 30, 2007
