Okposo and Hillen Assigned to Sound Tigers

Okposo and Hillen set to play this weekend as Sound Tigers open Calder Cup Playoffs at Nassau Coliseum

Uniondale, NY – The New York Islanders have announced today that forward Kyle Okposo and defenseman Jack Hillen have been reassigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League.

Okposo and Hillen are scheduled to dress for the Sound Tigers this weekend when they open up their East Division semifinal series at the Nassau Coliseum versus the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Game One is this Friday night, April 17th at 7:30 p.m. with Game Two scheduled for Saturday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale for both games at www.soundtigers.com.

Okposo played in 65 games for the Islanders this season and scored 18 goals with 21 assists for 39 points. He led all Islander rookies in points and goals scored while finishing second overall in team scoring. Okposo suited up in 35 games for the Sound Tigers in the 2007-08 season when he made his professional hockey debut and scored nine goals with 19 assists for 28 points. He was drafted in the first round, seventh overall, by the Islanders in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Hillen played in 40 games for the Islanders this season scoring one goal with five assists for six points. He also played in 33 games for the Sound Tigers, scoring three goals and 13 assists for 16 points. Hillen mark of 0.52 points per game led all Sound Tigers defensemen. The Islanders signed him as an undrafted free agent on April 1, 2008.

Islanders place D Pock on injured reserve

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK (TICKER) —The New York Islanders on Thursday placed defenseman Thomas Pock on injured reserve with a hand injury.

The move is retroactive to Tuesday, and Pock is expected to be out four weeks.

Pock has appeared in 41 games this season, recording one goal and two assists.

Also on Thursday, the Islanders recalled defensemen Joe Callahan and Jack Hillen from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League.

Kansas City

Got some emails about why I haven't written about the whole Kansas City deal.

Well, for one thing, I am hoping that if I put my head in the sand that the whole thing will just blow on by.

And to "Calvert DeForest", who was kind enough to email me (from the grave) and blame me as probably not caring if the team moves because I don't live on Long Island, all I can say, son, is that you're full of it. I've bled with this team for over 30 years. And what's more, I also know what happens when a team leaves because I live in Connecticut and interest in hockey has nosedived in my home state since the Whalers left Hartford.

I also know myself well enough to understand that if the Islanders leave, I am going to super-miserable. I may be in West Hartford, but the Islanders mean a ton to me. That logo is all I care about in sports. If they go to Kansas City, it's going to be like a bad breakup...for all of us...and that doesn't matter where you live.

As I type this, the Islanders are dopwn 1-0 to the Capitals. Ovechkin ripped one by Danis but so far, the Isles are playing a much more competitive game than they did Saturday night against the Devils.

Latest injury report: Chris Campoli is day-to-day with a groin injury. Trent Hunter is day-to-day with a lacerated finger. Up from Bridgeport come Jack Hillen and Kurtis MacLean, who is making his NHL debut.

End of the first, still 1-0.

Opening Night at the Rock: Devils 2 Isles 1

What I liked:

--The pace of the game. The Isles may lose 50 games like a lot of the so-called experts are thinking but they are not going to be boring. The constant pressure and pushing of the tempo by Scott Gordon's Islanders is going to be fun to watch.

--Jack Hillen. Is it me or is Hillen one of those guys you just seem to notice when he is on the ice? Reminds me of something my Dad told me once: some guys are players and some guys are playing. The players affect the flow of the players are along for the ride, reacting. Seems to me, from what we have seen in three games, Hillen is perfectly adept at affecting and making other guys react.

--Joey MacDonald. He was superb as a surprise starter in net. Good idea to hold DiPietro off for the home opener, too.

--Richard Park. Sure, he hit two posts but the fact is that he got himself into a position to make plays. Won 9 of 12 faceffs too.

--Bruno Gervais asserting himself offensively.

What I didn't like:

--One goal. Yeah, it's Brodeur but one goal is not going to make anyone feel any better about the expected scoring woes.

--The Power play. Sure looked unorganized at times...but Mark Streit looked confident running the show. The PP is always the last part of a team's game to get together so of course there is still time.

Overall, a loss is a loss but at the very least, our boys were competing hard. Tonight the Blues invade the Coliseum. Man, it is good to have hockey back.

Josh Bailey, Blake Comeau, and Thomas Pock were the "healthy" scratches.

Let me leave you with this picture of a-hole Joe Elliott placing The Cup upside down on the stage Thursday night in Detroit. You can't tell me that this wasn't on purpose. The base of The Cup is black and looks like THE BASE OF THE CUP for crissakes. Def Leppard blows and Elliott must've huffed too much hairspray sharing tour buses with Bon Jovi in the eighties.

(Picture from Yahoo's Puck Daddy hockey blog)

Islanders sign D Hillen

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK (TICKER) —The New York Islanders on Tuesday agreed to terms on a two-year contract with defenseman Jack Hillen.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

“We are very proud that Jack made the decision to join the Islanders,” New York general manager Garth Snow said. “He was one of the prized college free agents for good reason.”

A Colorado College standout, the 22-year-old Hillen was the leading scorer among blue-liners in NCAA Division I hockey last season as he notched 31 assists and 37 points over 41 games.

“I liked the way Garth Snow and Islanders management came after me with honesty and a commitment,” Hillen said. “They are building a team around a core of exciting young players.

“I know Kyle Okposo well from playing against him and he had many glowing things to say about how the organization has treated him. The Islanders were the perfect fit for me.”

Bill's note: more on Hillen here: Jack Hillen

Another note: Greg Logan in Newsday says that Hillen will practice tomorrow with the Isles and make his debut in one of the remaining games against the Rangers.

Isles brought up Kip "The Suspended" Brennan for another "toughness" audition over the next couple of games. Joey MacDonald will play tonight as Dubie rests and Matt Keith will make his Islanders debut tonight against Martin Brodeur (or former Isles goalie Kevin Weekes) and the Devils.