Islanders Team Report--Yahoo! Sports

Inside Shots

All eyes will be on the Islanders at the June 26 entry draft because they control the first overall selection.

But whether they grab center John Tavares or defenseman Victor Hedman as their key building block for the future, coach Scott Gordon knows the key to the future is the health of goaltender Rick DiPietro(notes).

“To me, the most important thing is going to be Ricky,” Gordon told Newsday. “No matter who we draft, it’s going to come down to what we do in net. No matter how good you are, you’re going to break down. You can’t underestimate the value of the guy in net.

“You saw Ricky’s value the previous year when he played so well the first half of the season. When he got hurt, they went from being a playoff contender to struggling. You have to have a guy who is able to run with the ball. No matter who we draft, it gets overshadowed by who’s in net.”

The last-place Islanders lost an NHL-high 582 man-games to injury last season, and none were more significant than DiPietro, who was limited to five appearances because of two surgeries on his left knee.

“It sounds like everything is going well with Ricky,” Gordon said. “I spoke with (Isles trainer) Garrett Timms, and he’s very encouraged. That’s music to my ears.

“We’ll have to see how everything goes through training camp. The first step is to get him healthy and see where he’s at.”

The Islanders will seek an experienced NHL backup via free agency this summer after going through most of last season with unproven Joey MacDonald(notes) and Yann Danis(notes), who are both slated to become unrestricted free agents, between the pipes.

Season Highlight: It’s hard to pinpoint many bright spots from a dead-last campaign. But in a season defined by growing pains for a slew of young players, resurgent veteran Doug Weight(notes) recorded his 1,000th NHL point in January and wound up third on the team in scoring (38 points) despite missing 29 games because of injury. The 38-year-old center also was rewarded with a one-year contract extension in early April.

Turning Point: The first red flag flew atop Nassau Coliseum as soon as goalie Rick DiPietro was unable to play in the season opener. The team’s franchise goalie underwent two surgeries on his left knee and ended up appearing in just five games because of complications, pretty much torpedoing any chance the Isles had of remaining competitive this season.

Notes, Quotes

• Coaching legend Al Arbour’s plaque at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto will not be altered to add the extra game and regular-season win the NHL acknowledged he earned when he came back to coach the Isles for one night in 2007, according to a report in Newsday. Referring to similar comebacks by Scotty Bowman and players Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux and Guy Lafleur after their inductions, a Hall of Fame spokeswoman said it is policy not to change any existing plaques.

“While we respect the Hockey Hall of Fame’s position regarding its policy on induction statistics, Al Arbour’s 740 wins and 1,500 games coached (both totals with the Islanders) are milestones that will forever be recorded by the New York Islanders and NHL record books,” Islanders president Chris Dey said in a statement.

• John Tonelli, an integral member of the Islanders’ four-time Stanley Cup champions in the 1980s, faced charges of driving while intoxicated in Westchester County, N.Y., after state police say he crashed his car along Interstate 684 and abandoned his Lexus at a highway ramp in Harrison, N.Y. Tonelli, who scored 325 goals with five NHL teams, assisted Bob Nystrom’s game-winning overtime goal in Game 6 of the 1980 Stanley Cup finals against Philadelphia, giving the Islanders their first Stanley Cup title.

Quote To Note: “Hopefully we’ll score more goals. I don’t expect we’ll be a dynamic offensive team, but we’ll be going toward that. Kyle (Okposo) was our leading goal scorer last year (with 18 goals). I’d like to see everybody improve like Kyle did in the second half to the point where there was less thinking and more action. That’s part of the development process. And we did it with a ton of injuries. Now, it’s a question of everybody having better health.”—Isles coach Scott Gordon on the Isles failing to have a 20-goal scorer for the first time in their history last season.

Roster Report

Most Valuable Player: D Mark Streit’s(notes) signing for $20.5 million last summer drew some snickers around the NHL, but the Swiss-born former Canadien proved to be a bargain and far more than the power-play specialist he was branded as in Montreal. Streit led the Isles with more than 25 minutes per game and finished seventh among all NHL defensemen in scoring with 56 points despite missing eight games with injuries.

Most Disappointing Player: LW Jeff Tambellini(notes) wasn’t a disappointment to those who didn’t think he could put up big numbers at the NHL level. But the Islanders have to wonder if it’s ever going to happen at this level for the former first-round pick and AHL scoring whiz after Tambellini had just seven goals and 15 points in 65 games.

Free Agent Focus: GM Garth Snow actually went 2-for-2 with the free agent signings of D Mark Streit and C Doug Weight last summer. And with immediate holes all over, it makes sense that the Isles will look to supplement their young roster again with a few more veteran bargains.

After career minor-leaguers Joey MacDonald and Yann Danis were forced into 49 and 31 appearances, respectively, the Isles also might seek to find a proven NHL backup as insurance in case starter Rick DiPietro continues to be plagued by injuries.

With Weight re-signed to a one-year extension in April, forwards Dean McAmmond(notes), Mike Sillinger(notes) and Andy Hilbert(notes), defenseman Thomas Pock(notes) and the two backup goalies are the only significant regulars slated to be unrestricted free agents.

Player News:

• RW Kyle Okposo(notes) improved his chances of making the 2010 U.S. Olympic team with a strong showing for semifinalist Team USA at the recent World Championships in Switzerland, according to Islanders coach Scott Gordon, who served an assistant to head coach Ron Wilson. “With the exception of a couple of players, I wouldn’t take anybody on (Team USA) over him, and when he gets older, there might not be anybody I’d take over him,” Gordon told Newsday about the 21-year-old Okposo, who scored 18 goals as a rookie last season.

• C Mike Sillinger underwent season-ending hip surgery for the second straight year. Yet, despite appearing in only seven games for the Isles, the 37-year-old center is planning to attempt a comeback next season. It almost certainly will not be with the rebuilding Isles for the unrestricted free agent, who has played for a record 12 NHL teams in a 16-year career.

• LW Jon Sim(notes) didn’t sulk when he was banished to AHL Bridgeport after the trade deadline, posting 13 goals and 23 points in 18 games with the Sound Tigers. With one season remaining on the three-year, $3 million contract he signed with the Isles before the 2007-08 season, the 31-year-old Sim will attend training camp in September barring a trade or a buyout.

Lots of interesting news in Islanders country of late....

Today at 2PM on Universal Sports, Mark Streit and the Swiss team he captains take on Kyle Okposo's Team USA at the World Championships. I won't be seeing the game live due to a prior commitment (okay, "Wolverine") but we'll have a report up here as soon as we get around to it.

The US has already moved on but Switzerland has to win to stay alive in the tournament. For more on the game and the IIHF World Championships, go to http://www.iihf.com

There also seems to be a lot of chatter about Charles Wang telling Newsday "...if I had the chance, I wouldn't do it again" regarding buying the Islanders.

Um, give us a break. The man has lost tons of money trying to keep the team going and has also been spending money trying to revitalize the Coliseum area. Damn right he wouldn't if he knew that it was going to be this tough working with the town of Hempstead. I don't blame him for voicing his frustrations because we as Islanders fans are frustrated too. We were told the rink would get done years and years ago. No one could have predicted this nightmare.

And if Tom Petty said the waiting was the hardest part, then he was 1004% correct.

The only problem with the quote is that it totally undermines the job Garth Snow and Scott Gordon are doing. You don't think players, agents, and other front office types are going to use that against them when Garth and Jankowski are trying to talk to draftees and free agents, do you? Where is the emoticon for 'shaking my head'?

Mr. Wang, this quote also gives ammunition to the people who are fighting the Lighthouse. We understand and totally sympathize with you and your frustration. We get it about the money, too. But still....

And all this comes on the heels that the Islanders are having some real excitement with their season tickets and renewals since they've won the draft lottery.

See, as an Islander fan, you get the good and then you wait for a knee to the balls.

Dammit, this post should have been longer, but I'm pissed off again.

Streit pots the game-winner for Switzerland

Switzerland beats Germany 3-2 in OT at worlds

By GRAHAM DUNBAR

BERN, Switzerland (AP)—Mark Streit scored a power-play goal in overtime Sunday to lift Switzerland to a 3-2 victory over Germany at the ice hockey world championship.

The New York Islanders defenseman sent in a shot through traffic 1:18 into the extra period to give the host Swiss their second straight victory in Group B.

Christoph Ullman gave Germany the lead with a power-play goal at 6:26 of the first period. Roman Wick tied the score within two minutes.

Mathias Seger gave the Swiss a 2-1 lead at 3:35 of the second, scoring with a shot low to the glove side of Germany goalie Dimitri Patzold.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Christoph Schubert tied the score with a short-handed goal at 13:02.

Each team failed to capitalize on a 5-on-3 power play in the third period.

Newsday: Okposo to play for Team USA at the Worlds

Newsday is reporting that Kyle Okposo has indeed been named to the American team for the World Championships that begin on April 25 in Bern, Switzerland. As previously reported, Islanders coach Scott Gordon is an assistant on Team USA as well.

Okposo and Jack Hillen will be playing in at least the first 2 AHL playoff games for the Sound Tigers. It's assumed that after game two, Okposo will report to the American team.

Mark Streit has also decided to play for his native team as they host the tournament. Interestingly, the Worlds are being held in Streit's home town of Bern.

Greg Logan also reports that Sean Bergenheim will be playing for Finland.

Lots of speculation about the health (or lack thereof) of goaltender Rick DiPietro. Seems that DP was seen on crutches leaving the rehabilitation center that injured Islanders frequent.

Not surprisingly, GM Garth Snow had no comment other than to say Ricky was on schedule.

Streit and Okposo out tonight, Isles Recall Five from Sound Tigers

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK (TICKER) —The New York Islanders added five players Saturday, recalling defenseman Jamie Fraser, left wings Mitch Fritz and Jesse Joensuu, center Mike Iggulden and right wing Joel Rechlicz from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League.

Signed as a free agent in December 2006, the 23-year-old Fraser is expected to make his NHL debut Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 6-1, 200-pound native of Sarnia, Ontario has recorded seven goals and 13 assists in 63 games with Bridgeport this season.

Fritz, 28, got his first taste of the NHL earlier this season, registering 33 penalty minutes in 16 games. The 6-8, 258-pounder from Osoyoos, British Columbia, who was signed as a free agent on July 3, also has notched two assists and 58 penalty minutes in 36 contests with the Sound Tigers.

A second-round pick in 2006, the 21-year-old Joensuu scored one goal in four games with New York this campaign, his first in the league. The 6-4, 207-pound Finn also has amassed 19 tallies, 36 points and a team-leading plus-21 rating in 68 contests with Bridgeport.

Iggulden, 26, collected a goal and four assists in nine games with the Islanders earlier this season after being signed as a free agent on July 3. The 6-3, 215-pound native of St. Catharines, Ontario currently leads the Sound Tigers with 60 points - including 23 goals - in 69 contests.

The 21-year-old Rechlicz has appeared in 12 games with New York this campaign, registering one assist and 44 penalty minutes. Signed as a free agent on May 6, the 6-4, 220-pounder from Brookfield, Wisconsin also has notched 12 penalty minutes in four games with Bridgeport as well as one assist and 110 penalty minutes in 45 contests with Utah of the ECHL.

Quick Links on a Sick Day...

Isles lost to the Canadiens last night 5-1: Newsday

Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit shut down and could be out for the season: Logan

Mrs. NYIFORLIFE.com has a Connecticut Spring Sports Calendar: Linzi

Bridgeport goalie Nathan Lawson named to AHL all-rookie team: CT Post

Newsday rips Murray: Newsday editorial

Sound Tigers late season / playoff coverage from the Connecticut Post: Fornabaio

NBC's 2009 Stanley Cup finals television schedule and analysis: Puck Daddy

Many sources are also reporting that the Isles have secured no worse than the third-overall pick in the Entry Draft with the loss last night to Montreal.

Current Ping Pong Standings:

Isles: 59 points in 77 games.
Colorado: 64 points in 77 games. (Ryan Smyth has been shut down for the balance of the season as well.)
Tampa: 65 points in 77 games.
Atlanta: 72 points in 77 games.
Kings: 73 points in 77 games.

Islanders Team Report: Yahoo! Sports

Inside Shots

The Islanders weren’t slated to visit Ottawa for another week, but Scott Gordon ensured that a couple of Senators are likely to have next weekend’s game circled on their day-planners.

Unproductive forward Mike Comrie and unhappy defenseman Chris Campoli were dealt to the Sens shortly before the trade deadline. And they clearly were among those being referenced when Gordon was asked in recent days to explain the 30th-place Islanders’ recent 5-1-2 surge before losing Saturday in Boston.

“You know, we had a couple bad apples, too, that we got rid of,” Gordon told Newsday. “As a result of that, the chemistry in the locker room is what you would expect from a team that pulls together. They are pulling for each other, and they’re working with a purpose.”

Isles captain Bill Guerin was the other regular player moved before the deadline for draft picks, but the improved Isles since have threatened to move out of the NHL cellar.

“We’re not an easy two points anymore,” Gordon said. “We were at the beginning of the year, but now our guys are playing at a pace that it really hasn’t mattered who the opposition has been.”

Bruins 2, Islanders 1: Not much separated the teams with the best and worst records in the Eastern Conference on Saturday. A span of 65 seconds, to be exact. East-leading Boston scored twice within barely a minute early in the first period, and that was enough to send the Isles to only their second regulation loss in nine games (5-2-2).

“It probably wasn’t a highlight game for either team,” Isles coach Scott Gordon said. “It was slow-paced, but both teams played hard defensively and didn’t give up a lot. And, obviously, the start of the game hurts.”

Notes, Quotes

• C Richard Park, who suffered broken ribs Feb. 18, missed barely three weeks before returning Saturday in Boston. He originally was expected to be out up to six weeks.

• LW Jon Sim, who has one year at $1 million remaining on his contract, hasn’t sulked since a demotion to AHL Bridgeport, scoring six goals in his first five minor-league appearances, including at least one in each game.

Quote To Note: “To come here and play (Boston), who is one of the best teams in the league, is obviously a good measuring stick.” Coach Scott Gordon, before the Islanders dropped a tight 2-1 decision Saturday in Boston.

Player Notes:

• D Mark Streit, the Islanders’ leading scorer with 49 points, tied his career high with his 13th goal of the season in a 2-1 loss Saturday in Boston.

• RW Kyle Okposo registered an assist to extend his point-scoring streak to five games.

• C Richard Park recorded the other assist in his first appearance since Feb. 18 due to a rib injury.

Bruins 2 Isles 1

Isles dropped a sleeper 2-1. Mark Streit scored for the Isles.

Toronto Shootout

Last night, the Isles lost 5-4 in the shootout. But that isn't the big story.

Radek Martinek got knocked silly with just over three minutes in regulation. He left the game and probably will be evaluated today.

The oft-injured Martinek is one of my favorites. He's a steady influence back on the blue line but he is out of the lineup (it seems) all the time with one malady or another. With the trade deadline approaching, there has been speculation that a contender would want to add a guy like Radek for the playoff run. Now is not the time to play favorites; I understand that.

But again, Radek Martinek is not the big story here.

Brendan Witt threw an elbow at the head of Toronto's Niklas Hagman and received a game-misconduct 2:21 in the third.

Witt, according to Newsday, said the hit was accidental and apologized to Hagman. He'll be at the league offices today and with Colin Campbell running the show, is likely will be suspended. He deserves it.

But that is not the big story either.

The big story, to me anyway, was that Mark Streit played 31:31 and added a goal and an assist for his night's work. No matter how many times we say it, Streit has been a revelation this season for the Islanders...and has arguably the brightest of spots in a season with so very few of them. I find myself still wondering how the heck Montreal thought this guy was not defensively aware enough to garner regular minutes on defense for the Canadiens last year.

This should not come as a surprise, but Mark Streit is also pretty much a lock for the 2008-09 NYIFORLIFE.COM Islander of the Year. More to come on that score after the season ends.

The Isles found themselves down 1-0 very quickly on a goal by Ian White at 1:27 of the first. The way the boys were skating, it looked like it could have been the beginning of a very long night for the faithful, but we ended the first frame 1-0.

Carbon copy to open the second as former Ranger Dominic Moore took a sly drop pass from Jason Blake to make it 2-0 for the visitors 57 seconds into the middle period.

It was a slow start but the Isles were getting their collective feet underneath them and with an increased determination on the forecheck, they were able to bring the pace to the Leafs.

Islander fan and current Islander Dean MacAmmond scored his first as an Islander at 14:32 of the second on a pass from behind the net from captain Bill Guerin.

Sean Bergenheim, who seemed to have about ten breakaways while on the PK, slipped one past Vesa Toskala at 3:30 into the third period to knot it at two. Oh, yeah. Bergie missed on a penalty shot earlier in the game...so, you know, a measure of payback.

Toronto came right back to reclaim the lead on the same power play (Witt's elbowing major) on a goal by Pavel Kubina; which was followed a minute or so later by Nik Antropov.

Streit made it 4-3 at 11:29 of the third period on a slapshot--after faking a first slapshot to draw the defender to the ice. It was really, really sweet.

Then the suddenly hot Jonathan Sim tied the game up at 4 at 16:53 of the third period on a pass from Streit.

In the shootout, Blake and Jeff Tambellini traded scores before rookie Tim Stapleton capped the night with a wrist shot past Joey MacDonald to give the visitors the win. The Maple Leafs won all three games vs. their New York Area foes this week. Check the Canadian papers to see if they think the Leafs can make a last-ditch playoff push!

Islanders are back hosting the Sabres Saturday night at 7PM at the Coliseum.

Wade Redden vs. Mark Streit

Redden signed with the Rangers for six-years and $39 million bucks last summer.

Mark Streit singed with the Islanders for five-years and $20 million dollars on the same day as Redden, July 1.

At the time, I was scratching my head and wondering why the hell someone would pay Redden that kind of money. I talked it over with my buddy, a Senators fan, and we just laughed at it. Typical Ranger signing. They go for the name and not for the, um, game.

I had a chance to see Wade Redden quite a lot last season and for whatever reason, he stunk it up out there for Ottawa. Here was a guy who was going from Canadian Olympic team consideration to playing like a guy with no experience whatsoever. There was no confidence in his offensive game and it showed.

Of course, even though everyone else had to see the same thing, the papers were all happy that they signed him. Mark Streit's signing was either under the radar (America) or laughed at (in Canada) as another one of those silly Islander moves.

Today, right now, you think the Rangers would like a do-over?

Redden is booed in his home rink more often that the out of town scoreboard. He looks confused on the ice and squeezes his stick too hard. Actually, that's it: the guy is trying to hard. He seems to have forgotten how to let the game come to him rather than jumping in and making mistakes trying to justify his contract.

Mark Streit, on the other hand, is on the Island, enjoying himself, and telling the Daily News' Peter Botte that he "couldn't be happier with (his) decision (to sign with the Isles)" and that he thinks the "team is going to be very good before my contract is over."

Montreal's powerplay is in the dumper. They're telling the captain, Alex Kovalev, to stay home for two games while embarrassing party pictures of their young players are hitting the internet. Now they are alleged to have players with "gangster ties".

You think Mark is happy to be out of there?

The point of all of this is that the Mark Streit signing is proof that Snow and Jankowski and Gordon have a clue at what they're doing. They could have pinpointed a big "name" player to sign but the under-the-radar signing of a solid two-way force like Mark Streit is a testament that the Islanders pro scouts are doing a heck of a job.

Islanders Team Report from Yahoo Sports

With the fewest points in the NHL, the Islanders already will be playing for future jobs over their final 30 games.

But an official competition is shaping up for the right to back up starting goalie Rick DiPietro next season—a job that often entails a heavy workload because of the former All-Star’s frequent trips to the injured list, including his ongoing knee issues.

Joey MacDonald opened this season as DiPietro’s understudy and seemingly earned a new contract for 2009-10 with solid nightly play in starting 36 of 42 games before the All-Star break. But third-stringer Yann Danis has allowed three or fewer goals in seven of his last eight starts entering Tuesday’s home game against Los Angeles, and he appears to have gained the trust of head coach Scott Gordon.

“One thing about Yann, I think he’s taken it a step further than what Joey did,” Gordon said. “Not that Joey didn’t play well, but certainly, Yann, from a level of consistency, has been able to play like a guy that’s a true No. 1. That’s reflective of his numbers…to consistently give up less than three goals is what you expect a No. 1 guy to do, and that’s the type of performance he’s been able to give us.

“It goes hand in hand with his success. When you have that kind of goaltending, it certainly makes it easier for your team to know that, when you have those off moments, it’s going to stay tight.”

Lightning 1, Islanders 0: Yann Danis had won his previous four starts and certainly appeared in line for another, keeping the Islanders in a 0-0 tie with several acrobatic saves until late in the third period Saturday night in Tampa. Still, opposing goalie Mike McKenna ended up with his first shutout in just his third NHL start, as veteran Gary Roberts’ redirection goal with 6:26 remaining sent the last-overall Isles (16-31-5) to their second straight one-goal loss.

“It’s never fun to lose like that in the third,” said Danis, who made 27 saves. “We played a good game. We battled hard. There’s definitely some positives out of it.”

Notes, Quotes

• D Chris Campoli has been installed as the Isles’ power-play quarterback with All-Star D Mark Streit, the Isles’ leading scorer this season, sidelined the last two games with a shoulder injury.

“It was different. I’m in (Streit’s) position, and we’ve all seen he does such a great job every night,” Campoli told Newsday. “It’s definitely big shoes to fill, and I just tried to go out there and keep it simple.”

• LW Sean Bergenheim was activated off the injured list after missing the previous eight games with a strained muscle in his side suffered Jan. 13, replacing center Nate Thompson (shoulder) in the lineup.

Quote To Note: “Yann’s really stepped up. He’s given us a chance every time he’s played. It’s great to see a kid like that come in and play really well for us when he gets a chance.”—Defenseman Brendan Witt, on goalie Yann Danis, following a hard-luck 1-0 loss Saturday at Tampa Bay.

Player Notes:

• G Yann Danis lowered his goals-against average over his past five starts to 1.61, but he didn’t win for the first time in that stretch in a 1-0 loss Saturday in Tampa Bay.

• RW Trent Hunter’s four-game point streak (3-1-4) was halted.

• D Chris Campoli logged a team-high 24:19 of ice-time, including 5:40 of power-play time with No. 1 defenseman Mark Streit sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Medical Watch:

• G Rick DiPietro, who appeared in just five games due to multiple injuries, has been shut down for the remainder of the season with swelling in his surgically repaired left knee.

• D Mark Streit sat out his second straight game Saturday against Tampa Bay with a shoulder injury and remains day-to-day.

• D Thomas Pock also has missed the last two games with a hand injury suffered Feb. 3 against Tampa Bay.

• D Freddy Meyer remains out indefinitely with a groin strain suffered Jan. 5 in Edmonton.

• C Mike Sillinger underwent season-ending hip surgery for the second straight season on Jan. 26.

• D Andy Sutton suffered a broken right foot on a blocked shot Dec. 19 in Minnesota and underwent surgery. He is expected to miss 8-to-10 weeks.

• C Nate Thompson was placed on the injured list after suffering a shoulder injury Feb. 5 against Florida.

Islanders All-Star Streit paves way for ‘homecoming’

By Bill Bernardi
PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

Mark Streit feels like he’s headed home this weekend.

Where’s the native of Switzerland who plays on Long Island going? Well, Montreal of course.

The lone All-Star representative of the New York Islanders, the 31-year-old Streit will see many of his former mates with the Montreal Canadiens during the upcoming NHL All-Star Weekend.

“I’m just really honored and thrilled to play there,” said Streit, who will be joined by fellow defensemen and current Canadiens Andrei Markov and Mike Komisarek, as well as All-Star captain Alexei Kovalev and goaltender Carey Price.

“It will be nice to see those guys. It’s going to be sweet to go back and have fun with them.”

And what about hockey-crazed Montreal itself?

“It doesn’t get any better than this. I knew it was going to be crazy, but I didn’t expect it to be that crazy,” Streit said. “There were, I don’t know, how many people when we got off the plane asking for autographs?

“It’s a celebration of hockey - all over they will see the fans are so crazy for hockey, how much they are into hockey. I think it will be great for hockey and it will be a really great game, there’s so much atmosphere at the Bell Centre.”

While he’s there, perhaps the two-time Olympian could share a secret or two to jump-start the Canadiens’ lackluster power play.

With Streit at the helm, Montreal was the proud owner of the top-ranked power play for the last two seasons. This season, with Streit toiling on Long Island after signing a five-year contract in the summer, the Canadiens have converted 16.1 percent of their power plays - 24th-best in the league.

For his part, Streit’s 22 power-play points place him in a tie for seventh-place in the league - four behind All-Star Ryan Getzlaf of the Anaheim Ducks.

Considering Streit’s a contestant in the hardest shot competition, it’s no wonder why opposing foes are a bit leery of venturing too close to him.

With eight goals and 27 assists for a team-leading 35 points, Streit has been the lone bright spot for the cellar-dwelling Islanders (13-29-5, 31 points).

And for his efforts, Streit can enjoy his trip “home”.

Streak at 14 losses on the road; Jeff scores his second; Trevor Smith gets his first NHL goal

Islanders Team Report from Yahoo! Sports
Inside Shots

It would be comical, if only it weren’t so ominous for the Islanders.

Rick DiPietro now is experiencing swelling in one of his surgically repaired knees, so the oft-injured goaltender missed his third straight game as the dead-last Isles concluded a terrible 0-4-0 western road trip with a 5-2 loss Thursday night in Calgary.

Without another game until Tuesday at home against the rival Rangers, DiPietro will get the weekend to rest further and will be reevaluated by the team’s medical staff once the Isles return to Long Island.

He has appeared in just five games this season, following summertime hip surgery and operations on each knee, including an arthroscopic procedure Oct. 31 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. DiPietro also missed a handful of games in recent weeks due to a groin injury.

“From a medical standpoint, he’s cleared to play. With the (knee) surgery that he’s had, he’s expected to have some swelling. That’s been normal,” coach Scott Gordon said of DiPietro, who is in just the third year of a record 15-year contract. “We’ve been very cautious about how he’s going to respond.

DiPietro practiced Wednesday and appeared on target to play one night later against the Flames, but Yann Danis was summoned to fly across the continent from AHL Bridgeport to serve as Joey MacDonald’s backup once DiPietro was deemed unavailable.

“We just feel that it’s in his best interests to give (DiPietro) the night off and make sure that everything is going the way it’s supposed to go. If anything, just err on the side of caution,” Gordon said. “He could have played all (four) games (on the road trip). That’s why he’s been here.

“But it hasn’t made the progress that was to be expected, so, rather than just throw him in there, knowing that he’s medically cleared to play, we just figured we’ll hold off and get him back to New York and reevaluate and go from there.”

Flames 5, Islanders 2: It wasn’t exactly a road trip to ring in 2009 with a bang, as the Islanders continued free-falling towards a crack at the No.1 overall draft pick in June with their four straight loss out west Thursday night in Calgary.

The Isles clawed back from an early 2-0 hole to tie the score, including rookie Trevor Smith’s first NHL goal, but Calgary’s Daymond Langkow scored just 55 seconds later and the Flames beat Joey MacDonald twice more in the third as the Isles fell to 3-16-2 in their past 21 games.

Notes, Quotes

• D Mark Streit gets to go back to Montreal in style, as a first-time All-Star. Streit, who left the Canadiens to ink a five-year, $20.5-million deal as a free agent last summer, was named the Islanders’ lone representative for the Jan. 25 All-Star Game in Montreal.

“It’s ironic that I’m going to go back where I played three years and made my first steps in the NHL,” Streit said. “I have a lot of great memories, it was a great experience playing for the Habs. But going back there and playing at the Bell Centre, it couldn’t get any better than that.”

• D Radek Martinek, who’s been limited to 11 appearances this season due to multiple shoulder problems, returned to the lineup Thursday for the first time since Nov. 29. But Martinek’s return coincided with an injury to another regular defenseman, as D Freddy Meyer sat out the game with a groin injury.

Quote To Note: “We’re at the point where there’s going to be a bigger responsibility on our young guys. There’s a lot of opportunity for these guys and it’s good to see them try to make the most of it.”—Coach Scott Gordon, after the already-out-of-it Islanders opened the second half of the season by completing an 0-4-0 road trip with a 5-2 loss Thursday in Calgary.

Player Notes:

• LW Trevor Smith, appearing in his fifth game since a recall from AHL Bridgeport, notched his first NHL goal in a 5-2 loss Thursday in Calgary.

• LW Jeff Tambellini, who was sent to the minors after not scoring in any of his first 23 games, has two goals in his past seven appearances.

• D Mark Streit, who was named to the All-Star team for the first time in his career earlier in the day, recorded an assist and leads all NHL defensemen in points with 33.

Medical Watch:

• G Rick DiPietro, who has appeared in just two of the Islanders’ last 34 games due to multiple injuries, missed his third straight game Thursday with swelling in his surgically repaired knee.

• C Doug Weight sat out his second straight game and remains day-to-day with an undisclosed injury to his lower right leg.

• D Freddy Meyer is day-to-day with a groin strain suffered Jan. 5 in Edmonton.

• C Mike Sillinger, who has appeared in just seven games since undergoing season-ending hip surgery last February, is out indefinitely after suffering another hip injury Dec. 29 against the Rangers.

• LW Andy Hilbert suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot Dec. 26 against Toronto and is expected to miss 2-to-4 weeks.

• D Andy Sutton suffered a broken right foot on a blocked shot Dec. 19 in Minnesota. He is expected to miss at least 6-to-8 weeks.

• C Frans Nielsen has been practicing with the team but hasn’t played since suffering multiple leg injuries Nov. 21 in New Jersey.

• C Nate Thompson missed his 12th straight game since suffering a fractured ankle Dec. 13.

Mark Streit is an All-Star!

NYI For Life would like to congratulate Islanders defenseman Mark Streit for making the All-Star team. Streit is the first Swiss player ever to be named to the NHL All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, January 25 in Montreal at the Bell Centre.

"This is an unbelievable honor and I'm truly excited to represent the Islanders in the All-Star Game," said Streit, who was presented with an Eastern Conference All-Star Jersey at the Islanders' morning skate in Calgary. "It's going to be a great experience to go back to Montreal and it will be a lot of fun."

For more on Streit's honor visit:
http://islanders.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=402851

Streit going straight on the Island

Ryan Dixon
The Hockey News

The era of Mark Streit, swingman, is over. And the Swiss – get ready for it – defenseman couldn't be happier.

"I play 100 percent, full-time defenseman so I'm happy with that," said Streit, now 28 games into his New York Islanders career after joining them as a free agent last summer. "That's one of the big reasons I signed with the Islanders and obviously it was always my goal to play as a defenseman."

Last year, when Streit was among the top-scoring rearguards in the league with Montreal, people were quick to attach an asterisk beside his name because he wasn't exclusively a defenseman.

Streit always manned the point on the Canadiens' potent power play, but often took his regular shift as a forward on the third or fourth line.

"In Montreal I was kind of in and out; played on the power play as a defenseman, but other than that I was the joker a little bit - wherever they needed me, they put me," Streit said.

Streit parlayed a 62-point season and the fact he was a key member of the league's No. 1 power play last season into a five-year deal to play on Long Island for $4.1 million annually. Some thought it was a case of paying racehorse money to a one-trick pony who would find it much tougher to flourish now that he wasn't surrounded by such talented teammates.

That notion can be safely heaved out the window.

Through Tuesday night's action, Streit sat seventh in league scoring among defensemen, one spot ahead of Chicago's $57-million man Brian Campbell and further up the charts than the likes of Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Pronger.

Make no mistake; Streit's production is still rooted in the power play. In fact, his 14 man-advantage points is tops among all blueliners and accounts for 70 percent of his 20 total points. Streit has six goals this year and none of them have come at even strength (five on the power play, one shorthanded).

Yes, Streit is minus-6, but he also plays for a team that gives up the third-most goals per game and has produced the fewest 5-on-5 markers of any NHL team this season with just 35.

Look beyond the numbers and you'll see a guy who's working game in and game out to shed the 'specialist' label. And he's getting plenty of opportunities to do it, thanks to the fact he plays roughly 25 minutes a game, almost five minutes more than any other Islander.

"He's established that he is a defenseman," said Islanders coach Scott Gordon. "I think coming into the year there was a little bit of uncertainty, not from knowing (if he could do it), but just from the perception of him playing defense mostly on the power play and being the odd guy in and out of the lineup as a defenseman.

"What he's done now is he's been able to perform as a defenseman full time and not just be an offensive guy, but be a guy who can kill penalties and he's played, at times, against other teams' top lines. I think he really has shown he's more than just a power play specialist."

An Islanders Thanksgiving

Well, it's that time again...time to worry about making it to .500 and whether or not the franchise goalie is ever going to make it back to the lineup. Yes, that is what I wonder about while sitting here at work when almost everyone in the office has taken the day off and I am the only one in the building. Don't worry--I'll turn out the lights when I leave.

I love this time of year. I am a Christmas nerd. Turkey is like my favorite thing to eat. I have a great and supportive family and the best wife in the world. So, yeah, I know I am lucky and that I have a lot to be thankful for.

This forum gives me a chance to entertain and inform with my musings. Yes, I am thankful for my readers. Both of you.

In that spirit, I want to make a list of what I am thankful for hockey-wise this year. Indulge me if you will.

I am thankful for Joey MacDonald. Admit it: when Rick went down (all of the times) you thought our goose was, um, cooked. But Joey MacDonald has nutted up and made himself a darn good NHL goaltender. Sure, he's had coaching and sure he has a underrated corp of defensemen, but in the end, he is that last line. MacDonald has taken his ball and run with it. He's no Wally Pipp--I fully expect that when Ricky can go that Ricky is gonna go--but MacDonald has solidified himself as a good NHL player and he's made Garth Snow look smart for letting Dubie go to Siberia...or the KHL.

I am also thankful for Doug Weight. Weight is a guy who took a chance on Long Island and has been a pleasant surprise. I'm not even sure Doug Weight thought Doug Weight would be leading the team in points and almost scoring a point per game...but he is and he has been part of the leadership core that Scott Gordon has had to rely on to make the Islanders one of the more surprising teams in the league.

Naturally, if we are talking about Doug Weight we have to segue into to speaking about captain Billy Guerin. Let's make one thing perfectly clear: if Guerin didn't buy into Gordon's overspeed then the team would have been down the drain. He had some well-documented issues with the previous coach and the system (or lack thereof) that the team was employing night after night. After the change, Guerin got his buddy Weight to come to NY and once they bought in, they set a professional example for the younger guys. Plus, Guerin is scoring some.

I am thankful for overspeed. Sure, it was a weird catchphrase for a while but now that we see it working, the system is a lot of fun. Islanders games are never dull because everyone is moving. Scott Gordon is still getting used to the big time and all but it really is great having a coach with a plan that the organization can rally around with everyone pushing in the same direction.

I am grateful for Brendan Witt. Things just are better when he is out there on the ice. Witt brings the snarl that every hockey team needs. Plus, he is signed for three years so he is going to be around to help shape the islanders of the future.

And man, for Mark Streit. I can't even put into words how freaking impressed I am with Streit. Whatever his rep was in Montreal, who gives a crap? He has been playing at an All-Star level since he arrived.

Finally, what can you say about Trent Hunter and Richard Park? Cast into checking roles by Ted Nolan, Gordon has released the guys to become point producers and offensive contributors. Hunter seems to have found his scoring touch and Park plays like his pants are always on fire. (I know I've said it a lot but it is true.) Watching these guys get time on the power play proves to the young guys that if you produce, you're going to be rewarded.

So there you go. No, it's not been all a hayride this season. Jeff Tambellini has the same numbers of goals that I do. The whole injury non-disclosure thing was strange and the DiPietro cover up continues. But if you think about it, when we all thought the team was Tanking for Tavares, if we were told the team would have 20 points in 21 games, would we have believed it? Probably not.

Isles go for .500 tonight with the Penguins. It's March of Dimes night. Don't forget to bring some canned food to the game on Saturday if you're going to help some people out.

Freddy Meyer has surgery

Greg Logan has a bit of Islanders' injury news.

He's cracked the fact that Freddy Meyer had sports hernia surgery and used some sort of abacus to decipher that Fred will be back in two to four weeks.

Nice to see Andy Sutton do what he does best last night. Sutton was in charge clearing out the crease for Joey MacDonald last night in the 3-2 OT loss to the Flyers. I thought Campoli has a strong game and Mark Streit continues to excel.

Speaking of, Thomas Pock has gone from Rangers-dumpee to playing on the top pair with Streit. Pock has looked good too.

Logan also reports that Radek Martinek (undisclosed upper-body/shoulder injury) was at the optional morning skate today. Radek has been out since October 11.

Saturday Night: Panthers 2 Islanders Zee-ro

There are two universal truths in hockey....

Actually, there are more that two, but I am going to talk about two so for the basis of the conversation, let's say that is all there is.

Two. Two universal truths.

The first universal truth is that if your team does not create second chances, you're not going to win. The second is that if the other team has possession longer that your team does, you're probably not creating many scoring chances.

So, right there, we've figured out the game of hockey. Possess the puck and create chances to score. If you don't do that, you are most likely not going to win.

Exhibit A: Saturday night, Sunrise, FL. Panthers 2; Islanders 0.

What I liked:

Kyle Okposo. The guy can flat out move and he has a sneaky fast gear that can take him around defensemen. They're not used to him yet. He blew by Bouwmeester twice to try and push the play. Still, like Billy Jaffe said, Kyle (and a lot of the kids) have got to learn to make shooting their primary option and get away from the instinct to make the perfect play. There's simply not time at the NHL level to try and score video game goals night after night.

Jeff Tambellini. We've seen glimpses of Bridgeport Jeff so far this year and we need more of it. When Tambellini used his speed to set himself up for scoring chances, he is dangerous. When he tries to take it outside the defense and to the boards, he just gets himself out of position.

Rick DiPietro. I thought Ricky settled down fine but didn't we all just throw up in our mouths after that first goal went in only 24 seconds into the game? And yet, his lateral movement seemed fine and he even was able to make a couple of those Ricky Saves that only he can make.

Mark Streit. Seriously, what was all the bitchin' about? He has onlyproven to play a pretty solid two-way game and let's face it, when he has the puck on the PP, you inch forward thinking something could happen.

What I didn't like:

The power play. Lack of chances.

Even strength. Lack of chances. Lots of shots but no real quality.

Puck possession. We didn't have it enough. Sure, the Panthers are a speedy bunch but they are still the Florida freaking Panthers. The Isles didn't initiate tempo enough. Was that because the Panthers were just that much better at it? Hard to say.

Scott Gordon's boys can go back to the drawing board for a few days. The Isles are off until Thursday, when That Avery Guy and the Stars invade from Dallas. Marty Turco is playing at his usual playoff level by letting in a lot of soft goals (in the games I have seen anyway) so this is a team that could be had.

Anyone else tired of CJ Papa yet? Where do we write to see if we can get Deb back?

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 Team Report

Courtesy: Yahoo! Sports

Inside Shots

Islanders general manager Garth Snow took his time talking to men of various experience levels while searching for Ted Nolan’s replacement as head coach.

He found him in AHL Providence coach Scott Gordon, who was introduced as the Islanders’ head coach on Aug. 13.

Gordon, the AHL’s Coach of the Year, is accustomed to dealing with young players, which will be critical given the Isles’ commitment to a youth movement. Nolan reportedly was not, which led to his dismissal.

“I could tell right away when he walked through my office door that there was chemistry and that we were speaking the same language,” said Snow of Gordon.

While many big-name coaches with NHL experience were discussed before the club decided to give Gordon his first taste of coaching in the NHL, Gordon is optimistic that his experience in the AHL has prepared him to deal with a young, struggling Islanders team.

“It didn’t just take coaching Xs and Os, it took the players buying into the system that we play and being accountable to each other. That’s kind of the last step in my development as a coach in refining the team chemistry part of it—how to get the guys to want to play for each other. I’ve been able to find what works and doesn’t work and been able to do it on a small stage and not have to have the growing pains, hopefully, at the NHL level.”

Of course, hope springs eternal in August.

Notes, Quotes

• The Islanders announced their 2008 preseason schedule, including one home game at Nassau Coliseum, Oct. 1 against New Jersey. With training camp to be held in Moncton, New Brunswick, for the second straight year, the Isles will play host to Boston at Moncton Coliseum on Sept. 23. They also will play Philadelphia in London, Ontario, on Sept. 25 and Florida in Sumerside on Prince Edward Island on Sept. 27. The Isles also play in New Jersey, Boston and Florida in early October.

Quote To Note: “Communication is key, along with the ability to provide structure to the team, to be able to discipline players and to hold players accountable. I’ll look for a coach who has integrity, an inspirational, motivational, knowledgeable coach. Those are the ingredients I feel a great coach has. I look forward to the process of finding our next head coach.”—GM Garth Snow, on the Islanders’ coaching search.

Roster Report

Draft Picks Of Note:

Corey Trivino, 6-1, 170, OPJHL Stouffville, 36th overall: The speedy center scored 69 points in 39 games in the Ontario Provincial junior A league, plus four goals for champion Team Canada at the World under-18 Junior tournament in January.

Aaron Ness, D, 5-9-1/2, 157, Roseau HS (Minn.), 40th overall: The undersized defenseman was Mr. Hockey in Minnesota in 2008, with 72 points from the blue line in 31 games for his high school team. Interestingly, Ness will attend the University of Minnesota and coach Don Lucia, who took issue with the Isles and with Snow for signing 2006 first-round pick Kyle Okposo away from the Golden Gophers in the middle of the college hockey season last winter.

David Toews, 5-10, 175, Shattuck-St. Mary’s HS (Minn.), 64th overall: The younger brother of Chicago rising star Jonathan Toews had 100 points in 51 games (44-56) for Minnesota’s top high school program. The younger Toews is headed to the University of North Dakota.

Kirill Petrov, 6-3, 198, RSL AK Kazan: 73rd overall: The Isles took a chance on Petrov, the No. 2-ranked European skater (behind No. 6 overall selection Nikita Filatov) by NHL Central Scouting. Petrov plummeted in the draft because he is under contract for the next two seasons in Russia. The right wing was named the top forward at under-18 worlds last winter with five goals in six games.

Free Agent Focus: After signing center Doug Weight, power-play quarterback Mark Streit and third-string goalie Yann Danis, the Isles boast 24 one-way contracts for 23 roster spots for 2007-08. When asked by Newsday if that means he’s likely done shopping on the free-agent market, GM Garth Snow replied, “I would say so, but I’ll still poke around and make calls.”

Player Notes:

• C Frans Nielsen, a Denmark product who has appeared in 31 games for the Islanders the past two seasons, received a four-year contract worth $2.1 million.

• D Bruno Gervais became the last returning Islander to land a new contract, signing a three-year deal worth $2.225 million on July 25.

No Complaints!

Let's see. Garth Snow signs Mark Streit for five years and just over 20 million bucks.

The Blackhawks admittedly overpay for defenseman Brian Campbell to the tune of $57.12 million over an eight-year deal.

The Ranger$ jump back into the hilarity by giving Wade Redden a six-year deal worth $6.5 million per year. If you're scoring at home, that's six years of getting booed at for the former Islanders' draft pick.

Not to be undone, the Maple Laffs restore order in the word by giving the Finger to their fans (I couldn't resist) by signing little-known defenseman Jeff Finger $3.75 million a year. This is a dude who was scratched for five of Colorado's ten playoff games.

Streit scored 13 goals and had 49 assists for 62 points in only an average of seventeen minutes on the ice. While he isn't well-known for being an especially adept defensive force, Streit is not exactly Marc Andre Bergeron either. Besides, we have the defensive horses on the Island and in Bridgeport. What the Islanders needed was some help on the power play and in Mark Streit, we finally have a power play quarterback.

So, if you look just at the numbers, the Islanders made out like bandits on the first day of free agency. At and average of just over 4 million dollars a year, they brought in one of the key components of Montreal's league-leading power play from a year ago and signed a relatively young man for 5 years. Streit--as Greg Logan mentions in today's Newsday--was also the captain of the Swiss National Team so he should bring more professionalism and leadership into the room next season.

There were other rumors regarding who the Isles had made offers to yesterday as well. Brian Rolston reportedly got an offer from Snow before deciding to make his return to the Devils. On Hockeybuzz, there was a posted rumor that the team had made a monster offer to Marian Hossa, which was quickly removed from the site. That one had me howling to my friends in the office. Why would Snow offer so much cash to a player who is not exactly known as a great "team guy"--especially after Snow had his oft-stated goal of letting the young guys play.

Rumors are just rumors...and in the internet age, you have to use common sense when you read this stuff.

We'll have updates today as often as we can...and if they are necessary.

ISLANDERS SIGN D MARK STREIT

New York Islanders signed free-agent defenseman Mark Streit to a five-year contract worth $20.5 million on Tuesday night.

Last year with Montreal, Streit scored seven of his 13 goals and had 27 of his 49 assists on the power play.

“Mark was someone we targeted from the beginning and we’re thrilled he’s an Islander,” Islanders general manager Garth Snow said in a statement. “Mark provides us with the stability on the blueline that we were looking for.”

Streit has 25 goals and 84 assists in 205 career NHL games. Last season, Streit finished tied for 11th in the NHL in power play scoring and finished tied for second among defensemen.

The 30-year-old played eight seasons of professional hockey in Switzerland before coming to North America after he was drafted 262nd overall by Montreal in 2004.