World Championships on Universal Sports

We promised the programming schedule as soon as we got it, so here it is. All games are on the Universal Sports channel (249 in the Hartford area on Comcast; 'check your local listings' as they say for the channel number in your area.)

You can also watch the games online at universalsports.com.

Sean Bergenheim is out for Finland and the Isles have ruled Frans Nielsen unfit to play from Denmark.


WEDNESDAY, MAY 6
4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – MEN’S QUARTERFINAL 1 (same day)

6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – MEN’S QUARTERFINAL 2 (same day)


THURSDAY, MAY 7
4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – MEN’S QUARTERFINAL 3 (same day)

6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – MEN’S QUARTERFINAL 4 (same day)


FRIDAY, MAY 8
4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – MEN’S SEMI FINAL 1 (same day)

6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – MEN’S SEMI FINAL 2 (same day)


SUNDAY, MAY 10
11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – MEN’S BRONZE MEDAL (same day)

2: 30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – MEN’S GOLD MEDAL (live)

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.

In Montreal tonight

Bergie is out and Thompson is back in.

Bergenheim 3, Devils 3; Trent Hunter out for the year

Don't look now, Islanders fans, but in the last twelve home games, the boys are 8-2-2!

Great, fun, hope-filled game last night. The Isles beat Marty Brodeur and the Devils 7-3. Sean Bergenheim had a hat trick--and scored a near-improbable empty-netter with less than a second left to send the fans who stayed to the very end of the game home hatless.

Radek Martinek, Kyle Okposo, Jeff Tambellini and Blake Comeau also scored for the Islanders as Devils coach Brent Sutter had to yank Brodeur, who remains three wins shy of Patrick Roy’s record of 551.

Latest Bridgeport call-up Mike Iggulden had two assists in his first NHL game as an Islander.

We've said it before but it bears repeating: these kids play for each other. Howie and Billy talked about it all night and the whole team worked hard to get Bergenheim his hat trick; cheif amongst them Mark Streit.

Not all was rosy though. Trent Hunter fractured his ankle in the game, and will miss the rest of the season. Seriosuly, this MASH list is freaking out of control.

Our boys are back this afternoon at three to host the Coyotes.

Home Opener: Isles 5 Blues 2

What I liked:

--Well, the whole first period. The way the guys were crashing the net and moving without the puck kept the Blues back on their collective heels for most of the night. When the forecheck is working, it is a beautiful thing to watch.

--Joey MacDonald. The guy made what Billy Jaffe called a "sick" save in the second period with a lunge across his crease to deflect a sure Blues goal with his catching glove. He also stopped T-Chuck on a breakaway. The fans were into it for sure, chanting "Jo-ey!" in the same cadence they cheer for DP. Stellar.

--Sean Bergenheim played breakneck and got a goal. Trent Hunter also scored with a nice wrister from just above the circles. The Isles are going to need improved offense from these two to be successful this year. If Trent rediscovers his nose for the net and Bergie buries just half of the chances he seems to have all the time, both guys are going to have good offensive numbers.

--Scott Gordon, who got his first NHL win last night in the home opener.

What I didn't like:

--Radek Martinek went down behind his net again with an apparent shoulder injury. I love Radek as a player and there is no denying that he and Brendan Witt are the team's best pairing but we need to find a way to keep Martinek on the ice. He sure misses a lot of games and he is important to the team.

--The "Somewhere in California" commercial that they play EVERY FREAKING BREAK on the Center Ice package.

--TSN.ca speculated (without giving a source, by the way) that DP was going to be out for a while and was spotted with an ice pack on his knee after the game the other night. Yeesh. These guys really like kicking the can of conspiracy and always like to dig at our boys. If Rick was truly hurt, would they risk putting him on the bench as the backup goalie when he may have to get into a game? What in the name of Bob McKenzie is going on up there?

--Newsday reports that coach Gordon says that Blake Comeau's conditioning is not up to his overspeed standards.

--Josh Bailey is also reported to be out two- to four-weeks with an injury.

Isles sign Tambellini, Bergenheim

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK (TICKER) —The New York Islanders may not have a coach, but that has not prevented them from making moves as they signed left wings Jeff Tambellini and Sean Bergenheim to two-year contracts Wednesday.

Tambellini, the leading scorer for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last season, agreed to a deal worth $1.175 million. Bergenheim’s contract is for $1.725 million.

Tambellini, 24, recorded 38 goals and 38 assists in just 57 games for the Sound Tigers, the Islanders’ affiliate in the American Hockey League. The 76 points set a Bridgeport franchise record for a single season.

The British Columbia native also skated in 31 games with the Islanders, registering a goal and three assists.

“We are extremely happy that we have Jeff as a member of the Islanders organization for the next years,” New York general manager Garth Snow said. “We know that Jeff will come to training camp in shape and be ready to compete in September, and we look forward to it.”

A two-time AHL All-Star, Tambellini finished second in the league in goals last season. He has recorded four goals and 13 assists in 79 career NHL games over parts of the past three seasons with the Islanders.

Bergenheim, 24, played in 78 games for the Islanders last season, recording 10 goals and 12 assists. The native of Finland was taken by New York in the first round of the 2002 draft.

Ted Nolan stepped down as Islanders coach Monday, citing “philosophical differences” with Snow regarding the direction of the team.

Bergenheim, Gervais amongst six receiving qualifying offers

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK (TICKER) —Left wing Sean Bergenheim and defenseman Bruno Gervais were among six players who were extended qualifying offers by the New York Islanders on Wednesday.

Also receiving qualifying offers were centers Jeremy Colliton, Ben Walter and Frans Nielsen and left wing Jeff Tambellini. All six players become restricted free agents if not signed by July 1.

Bergenheim appeared in 78 games with the Islanders last season, registering 10 goals and 22 points.

Gervais saw action in 60 games for the Isles last season, collecting 13 assists.

NYIFORLIFE.com REACTION: Bergie and Gervais are obvious favorites of management. Colliton, Nielsen, and Tambellini all should have expanded roles with the team in 2008-09.

Walter is interesting. Clearly, he is a depth guy that will be counted on to carry the flag in Bridgeport, but he proved he is not out of place in the NHL. Since he has been qualified, it means that if the Isles want to send Walter (or any of the others who were qualified) to Bridgeport that they are going to have to leave him exposed to waivers. He could be claimed by anyone in the NHL.

More interesting are the guys who were let go. The Isles let go of three defensemen: Aaron Johnson, Drew Fata and Matthew Spiller. Also allowed to become a free agent was Bridgeport fan favorite Steve Regier.