Yardbarker: New York Islanders

Nolan's late tally carries struggling Wild past Isles

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:49:22 -0500

ST. PAUL, Minn.(AP) Owen Nolan 's goal with 67 seconds remaining, his second of the game, sent the struggling Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday night.

Nolan scores twice, struggling Wild edge Islanders

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:43:00 -0500

Owen Nolan's goal with 67 seconds remaining, his second of the game, sent the struggling Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday.

NCAA Hockey 101: The kids don't stand a chance, we swear

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:34:54 -0500

NCAA Hockey 101 is a weekly feature on U.S. Division I college hockey. Stick around and you just might learn a thing or two. Last week I talked about some of the great traditions in college hockey, and the common theme to all of it was fan interaction. College hockey has great fans but, as I alluded to, sometimes the fans can go a little too far.Personally, I'm more than a little comfortable with profanity, and chants featuring the word [expletive], [expletive] or even [expletive] don'...

Sports Dynasties and the days they all came crashing down

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:11:01 -0500

All good things must be come to an end. Here is a look at some of the great sports dynasties of the modern era and the days that ended each of them. New York Islanders 1980-1984 The Islanders’ magnificent run started in the Stanley Cup Final of the 1979-1980 season, a season in which they [...]

Are The Islanders For Real?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:16:00 -0500

One quarter of the way through the 2009-10 NHL season, the New York Islanders are tied for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Did you ever, in your wildest dreams, envision this scenario? Last year, around this time, the season peaked as the Islanders approached .500 and the eighth seed. That team crapped out and finished with 61 points. This year's Islanders team has 23 points after just 21 games. Over 82 games, that projects to 90 points. If you're thinking playoffs already, I've always used the Rule of 92 when it comes to playoff teams - as in, you need 92 or more points to stake a claim to a playoff spot. But even 92 points guarantees you nothing. Florida missed the playoffs last year with 93 points. Carolina had 92 points in 2007-08, but finished ninth. In other words, the Islanders will have to play even better than they are now - and sustain that level of play for 61 more games - if they want to make the playoffs.
Now, contrary to popular belief, the playoffs are not the sole determinant of a team being "for real". Most Islanders fans will take contention for a playoff spot as constituting a "real" team. Hell, I'm just happy the season isn't over at Thanksgiving. The question is, though, can the Islanders keep this up? Are the Islanders for real?
In short... yes, the Islanders are for real.
Botta wrote a piece earlier today about why the Islanders have gotten off to their hot start. I won't regurgitate his rationale. But health, goaltending, John Tavares and Matt Moulson have all helped. It also helps that the players are better suited to Scott Gordon's system; Gordon has helped his own cause by not dressing the likes of Joel Rechlicz and Mitch Fritz for three minutes a game. In short, everyone on the team has a role, and everyone fills theirs well. Even Jeff Tambellini has produced this year, before his inexplicable (and unexplained) absence on this road trip. And speaking of road games, the Islanders have nabbed 11 of 24 possible road points this year - not too shabby.
Perhaps the best thing about this Islanders team is that the Lighthouse isn't looming over the on-ice product - finally. It's amazing what can happen when the focus is solely on the on-ice product. The only unfortunate fallout from the Lighthouse happenings is that Charles Wang likely won't let Garth Snow spend big bucks to bolster the Isles' roster, but we're all probably better off that way. This Islanders team is pretty deep, and the eventual return of Rick DiPietro can only help matters.
There are still some questions about this team, some criteria I have for a good team that the Islanders aren't reaching as of yet. First, they've allowed more goals than they've scored. The disparity has come down significantly in recent weeks, but it's still there. Second, for all the talk about how the Islanders are above. 500 - they're not. It's this writer's opinion (I don't believe Zach shares this opinion) that .500 means winning half your games, not having more wins than losses. Let's not forget that the Islanders are actually 8-13 and have fattened up on, as Howie Rose would call them, "loser points". Oh, and the Islanders have played the most games of anyone in the East.
These are nit-picking issues Islanders fans are wont to come up with, mainly because we're so used to seeing the other shoe drop in excruciating fashion. I, for one, am not even thinking about the playoffs, 92 points, winning 41 of 82 games, or any of the other criteria I'd use to gauge a team's level of success. With these Islanders, they're simply fun to watch. They play hard, as they always have, but this year they have an added layer of skill that scores three goals per game and (usually) keeps them from self-destructing in the third period. After a summer full of Lighthouse acrimony and worrying about Snow screwing up the draft, Islanders fans deserve to watch this brand of entertaining hockey.
And yes, that entertaining hockey played by the Islanders makes them "for real".

Monday's Three Stars: Moulson time for Isles; Vinny wakes up

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:02:31 -0500

No. 1 Star: Matt Moulson(notes), New York IslandersSimple concept: Go to the net. It's what Moulson does well, and it's the reason he scored two goals in the Islanders' 4-1 win at the Boston Bruins. Moulson scored on a scramble in front of Tuukka Rask(notes) (17 saves) for the game's first goal, and then deflected home a Richard Park(notes) pass after a Boston turnover for his 10th of the season. It appeared Moulson scored a hat-trick later in the game, but the goal was correc...

Ice Breakers: Bruins-Islanders, Monday 11-16

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:20:54 -0500

The Bruins will look to avoid a three-game losing streak Monday night when they host high-flying rookie phenom John Tavares and the New York Islanders at the Garden this evening. It surely has been a while, but the Bruins are actually looking UP at the Islanders in the Eastern Conference standings. Entering play, New York [...]

Rudy and Rocky all in one

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:25:00 -0500

Take a quick look at the New York Islanders' scoring leaders and you'll find the usual suspects. John Tavares, the top pick in the 2009 Entry Draft, busted out with 18 points in his first 20 games. Kyle Okposo, the seventh pick in 2006, posted ...

'Canes fall to Tavares, Isles; winless streak at 14

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:48:10 -0500

RALEIGH, N.C.(AP) Kyle Okposo scored with 14.4 second left in overtime, and John Tavares had the first two-goal game to help the New York Islanders beat Carolina 4-3 on Friday night, extending the Hurricanes' winless streak to 14 games.

Isles extend Canes' winless streak with OT win

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:00:51 -0500

Kyle Okposo scored with 14.4 second left in overtime, and John Tavares had the first two-goal game to help the New York Islanders beat Carolina 4-3 on Friday night, extending the Hurricanes' winless streak to 14 games.

Hurricanes can't get a win, lose 14th consecutive

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:53:00 -0500

Islanders 4, Canes 3 (OT)

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:25:56 -0500

Kyle Okposo's goal with 14.4 seconds left in overtime gave the Islanders a 4-3 victory and extended the Hurricanes' winless streak to 14 games, tying the franchise recdord. Tim Gleason's goal with 2:31 left in the third tied it 3-3 for the Canes and forced OT. Gleason scored on a shot from the point. Tuomo Ruutu and Ray Whitney scored goals as the Canes rallied in the second period. Ruutu's third goal in two games came on the power play as the Canes ended an 0-for-24...

thanks to varlamov, caps outlast islanders

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:12:59 -0500

(photo by Greg Fiume) The Washington Capitals sure know how to put on a show. That much is clear after their 5-4 shootout win over the New York Islanders Wednesday night at the Verizon Center in a game that had it all. Anyone familiar with these two teams knew this would be a tightly-contested game – especially [...]

A Turning Point for Semyon Varlamov?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:11:28 -0500

Semyon Varlamov’s struggles this season have struck me as often being of the mental as opposed to the physical variety. So consider the mental fortitude he displayed in last night’s 11-round shootout victory over the New York Islanders. Beginning with Robbie Schremp’s shootout attempt in round 3 and lasting all the way through Cap-killer Jon Sim’s in round 10, Varlamov stood in his crease and stared straight out at unrelenting must-save scenarios, or else the Caps lost...

Amidst the Trade Rumors, Martin Biron Smiles and Stops Pucks

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0500

by Christopher BottaFiled under: Islanders, NHL RumorsAs if being a goalie in the National Hockey League is not difficult enough. As if 6-3 power forwards standing in front of you on power plays is not enough of a distraction.From now until the day he is dealt -- and he almost definitely will before the March 3 deadline -- Martin Biron is going to hear his name in trade rumors. This is what happens when you're on a one-year contract at a very reasonable $1.4 million. This is what happens ...

Islanders' Okposo Diagnosed with H1N1

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:20:00 -0500

by Christopher BottaFiled under: Islanders, EasternAccording to team officials, New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo has been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu.The 21-year-old Okposo did not travel accompany the team on its flight on Tuesday afternoon to Washington, where they face the Capitals on Wednesday. The team did not release any further details on Okposo's illness or a timetable for his recovery.Islanders' Okposo Diagnosed with H1N1 originally appeared on Fanhouse NHL Blog on T...

The Best (And Worst) Islanders Jerseys To Wear

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:09:00 -0500

As Zach explained on Sunday, there are certain jerseys you can wear to the game. At the same time, there are others you wouldn't be caught dead wearing at the Coliseum. Here's a (hopefully) comprehensive list of what's in and out when it comes to Islanders jerseys.
GoodDenis Potvin#5, Clark Gillies #9, Bryan Trottier #19, Mike Bossy #22, Bob Nystrom #23, Billy Smith #31 (if your number is retired, it can be worn by fans forever)Pat LaFontaine #16 (that this number is not hanging from the rafters is a travesty)Pierre Turgeon #77 (they really should retire this; it's not as though any future player will wear it anyway)Josh Bailey #12, Kyle Okposo #21, John Tavares #91 (nice future-proof jersey)Darius Kasparaitis #11, Ray Ferraro #20, David Volek #25, Glenn Healy #35 (for many of us, the '93 team is the only time we've seen the Islanders win)Gary Howatt #8, Rich Pilon #2/#47, Mick Vukota #12, Steve Webb #20, Eric Cairns #33 (nothing like wearing the jersey of a goon)Trent Hunter #7, Claude Lapointe #13, Dave Scatchard #38, Butch Goring #91 (wearing the jersey of a grinder shows you appreciate the nuances of hockey and accentuates your fandom)
IffyRick DiPietro #39 (not because he's hurt, but because everyone has one and it makes you look like you're not as big of a fan as you probably are)Derek King #27 (fine player, but most of us would prefer to forget the early 1990s)Michael Peca #27 (he had a great run, but he hasn't been an Islander in five years)Miroslav Satan #81 (he didn't leave the team all that long ago, but it's not as though he was a legendary Islander)Roberto Luongo #1, Zdeno Chara #3, Bryan McCabe #4, Zigmund Palffy #16/#68, Bryan Berard #34, Todd Bertuzzi #44 (it never hurts to remind people how good this team would have been if not for the Mike Milbury era)
BadAlexei Yashin #79 (Zach argues that this is okay, because Yashin left the NHL as an Islander, but it's probably time to buy a new jersey if you're still wearing Yashin)Eric Fichaud #1, Dean Chynoweth #3, Dave Chyzowski #9, Oleg Kvasha #12, Scott Scissions #14, Robert Nilsson #21, Brett Lindros #75 (busts of epic proportions)Garth Snow #30 (as a fan, you are required to hate your team's management)Kirk Muller #9, Trevor Linden #32, Ron Hextall #72 (these guys were great elsewhere, but didn't exactly work out well on the Island)Anything from the Gorton's Fisherman era (obviously)