Pre game notes - Campy in the lineup. Hillen out.

Crowd sparse… A question I heard while walking around the arena….

Where is Monica the Ice Girl??? I guess that question is more important that wat lineups are being set for the Stars or the Isles? Very interesting.

Food critic - Chicken tenders and fries at Gate 11 - grade them a B-. could be a little better, but Nathan’s is always good.

The Avery sucks chants started before the Anthem. Geez, our fans are so forgiving, aren’t they?

Starting Lineup for Isles

Gervais and Streit on D
Neilsen, Tambellini and Hunter up front
DP in net…

1:10 in P1 - Avery in to a booing ovation… Okposo brushes by and Avery turtles like the gutless puke that he is… Yes that was a Travis Green name, but it has now been passed onto the right guy. Erikson makes the Isles pay on the PP.

14:13 in P1 - just when they start to look good (couple of chances by Park and Okposo), Morrow come down and pushes one underneath DP, for a 2-0 lead. The natives are getting restless and the door to the bench is getting slammed more and more.

This needs a good bit of confidence. Right now - it is not coming at all. It is interesting to hear Gordon scream from across the ice. Another stupid penalty for the Isles to take (Bergie). Have to stop grabbing and move your feet more. This Stars team is not fleet of foot. They should be taking advantage of that.

18:22 of P1 - Erikson again. I can see the veins popping out of Gordon’s neck. This is not fun.

I will be sitting in my seat for Period 2 -and will be back at the Box for period 3. Hope it is a little better this time…..

Analysis after 2 periods….

At least Billy G got in the scorebook off some nice passes from Streit and Bergie. However, not taking advantage of a full 2 minute 5 on3 plus another minute of advantage folllowing that. Just horrible. I am not questioning effort, per se; but when a power play struggles, it sems to constantly look for the perfect pass and the perfect play. I will not name names, but numbers, maybe….

89?

I wonder what the talk is at the GM meetings in Chicago?

Stats after 2:

Park -3. Okoposo, Gervais, Comrie -2
Guerin and Weight - +1

Streit 19:29 ice time. Gervais - 18:04

Nothing much else to be happy about…

3:28 - P3 - The Islanders are the last team to get a goal from a defensemen as Mark Streit scores to cut the lead to 3. As Section 317 says:

It’s a Power Play goal…… xxxx you, Sam Rosen! And Joe Micheletti too!

Still too much look for the home run pass….. Section 301 just LOVES Billy G. but they are more concerned about his life after hockey.

Around the 5 minute mark left - Sim gave a nice shot to Avery - nothing came about, but it looked nice….

Will add some comments tomorrow to this (after game locker room quotes).

From the locker room after the game.

Guerin - (paraphrasing) - putting too much on the PK’ers. Witt loss is tough, but it means that others have to step up. Ribiero had a great game, Modano looked good for 37 (is actually 38).

DiPietro - fans have the right to feel how they want. The fans are passionate about the game, and hate to see the team lose.

I think practice will contain a little bit of soul searching, and finding ways to stay out of the box. Especially against a Carolina team that is quick and tough. You have to stay focused, and make an effort to not grab and clutch to keep them in bay.

Good luck in practice today boys!

Comments:

When he looked at the Metro Mug, Scott commented:

“I would like to see a shinnier silver trophy instead of that one…”

Was surprised that the hit on Chris Lee did not warrant a suspension. He did not know about it until I asked the question.

Was pleased that Ricky played 60 minutes, despite the lack of playing. Is confident that he will be in the lineup, and if the timing is right, he WILL play. Ricky is chomping at the bit.

Bailey - he has so much hockey intelligence. He may be here one game, he may be here for the season. The process of the NHL will be so much easier for him, because of his intelligence. He is
head and shoulders’ better than some guys I know with three years of experience.

Nate Thompson - (Gordon’s former captain in Providence) classic blue collar player. We will like the intangibles..

Thoughts on Tambellini - we have to see if his ability will translate to the same success at the NHL level. He was not given the opportunity to fully play to your potential. He has to play, make the mistakes, and learn from them.

Working with the teams. There are times that I will have to be tough, and I will let them know that. The players welcome direction. He is not a ‘my way or the highway’ coach, but the players and the coaches have to work together.

System - training is the core of the matter (over-speed). Doing it in practice, will make the game easier. Making the practice more intense, will make the game a lot easier to handle. It does not happen overnight, but in time, the system will take over. Some games in the exhibition were good (even the 6-0 game - Scott thought the team executed, and there were positives, with the less than full lineup). The idea of game setup is making sure that the team is constantly moving forward, instead of the opponent coming to them. We have to be efficient coming out of the zone.

Penalty Kill - be aggressive….. We dont want our horses to play with snow tires.

Power Play - not normally a 4 forward 1 d - not liking to be high risk…

Riding the goaltender - It usually comes down to the schedule. Want to give Ricky every advantage to be successful. He wants to play every game. Any rest that goals to the #1 goalie is dependent on the schedule.

The injury bug - thought the early injuries may have been to the change in the system. Scott seems to be leading to the skates being stiff. Talking to some of the other coaches, they feel it may be the same thing. The soft ice surfaces can be a problem…

Playing days in Quebec. Probably like being in Atlanta and not saying y’all. Quebec was passionate about the game, but at least he had his chance to play and experience the NHL.

Sillinger - hopefully be back in November.

Shootout - Gordon may have a secret weapon. (I am not allowed to say, but it is someone you would NEVER expect) Looks as shootouts as ties. Looking at a half full glass instead of half empty. It is entertainment. What happens is secondary, just have fun.

Coaches on the bench - they go about it the right way… They come across as great professionals with excellent attitudes. They go about it the right way, and the veterans that take that attitude, seems to rub off on the younger players. They exert, and make he efforts in practices, will keep from letting down the teammates.

Thoughts on Jack Hillen - not big - but extremely intelligent. Would not play professionally if he did not have the smarts. Has the tools as well; he gets it! Instincts far more than exceed what a minor leaguer can do. See what he will handle the change from the college schedule to the NHL schedule.

Great meeting - 2 days to hockey, yea!!!!

The words that many a NHL fan can not wait to say…

“Training Camp is about to begin!!!”

The Isles will start on Thursday with their physicals and head to Moncton, NB, for a week of intensive training. Scott Gordon will have his first chance to get his new players to read into his new system, and hopefully it is a transition that the players will not only take seriously, but pick up and master along the way.

Some early questions???

With Sillinger not ready to start the season, how does one of the newest Islanders, 1st round pick Josh Bailey work himself into this group, and find a chance to head to Long Island in October.

Will Kyle Okposo take a giant step forward in his rookie season (eligible for the Calder this year), and be the person that everyone expected him to be when he was drafted a few years back?

Are we FINALLY going to see the NHL caliber play of Jeff Tambellini, or are we just going to see him fade away…? (Truthfully, this is the one question that can make huge dividends for the Isles, if Jeff comes through)

Will Scott Gordon be able to curtail Ricky just a little, so that he has rest and injury free days for all season? The over/under for Joey McDonald (or other backup) starts is 10.

Will Marc Streit be the answer to a struggling power play? Was his year in Montreal good, because of the teammates, or his play?

Basically, will this team be healthy? We can not endure another year of 12 men on the IR.

Now these questions that we were asking in July and August, are now major topics of conversation. The time is here, get the pads on boys. Time to start skating. Time to get your shooting skills in order.

Hockey is back, and I love it!

And the best part - my season tickets came in the mail yesterday, and I am so stoked!

Other notes:
On a personal note - my mom is doing better. She should be heading to a rehab center shortly. Thanks to all for the kind wishes. I will not be on the NY Hockey Report tonight, as I have so much work to do, before my vacation starts on Friday. I will be in Sunny Orlando Florida when camp begins, so I will have my ears to a large coke bottle, and will try and report as much as I can. Add a little flavor, if you will.