For the Islanders, the game against the dominant Columbus Blue Jackets was better than the previous against Atlanta, which was better than the previous against the Panthers. A point against Atlanta and a point against the Blue Jackets is more than they’ve had in a month, but far less than they want.
They know the importance of every game and every point. They feel they still have a shot to at least compete for a playoff spot. They are not throwing in the towel just yet. John Tavares told the crowd of cameras and reporters “All these games are important. All these points are important. If it hasn’t hit any of us that we’re in a hole and we have to get out of it, then it’s just another wake-up call. We’ve already had a few. But everybody came with a good effort today.”
For another night, Rick DiPietro looked solid in net. When I asked around the consensus seemed to be he was square to the shooter and out of position less. He is playing smarter and it shows. That glove of his, that he uses so well, got a workout and, to the delight of a home crowd that once again chanted his name, robbed the Jackets of a few goals.
The Isles were out-shot throughout the game, especially in the first when it was 17 - 9, and they took more penalties offering up more power play opportunities. A five on three power play at 12:07 of the first was a killer. As Jack Capuano said in the post game “They’re penalties, they’re stick infractions where -- we talk about positioning on the ice, where we were actually -- shouldn’t have been in that spot to take those penalties. A couple of them were in the offensive zone, so. It’s an issue we’re going to have to address with our team.”
Travis Hamonic making his NHL debut played well (19:40 TOI), even though he did end up in the box early in the second for cross checking.. He did not look too out of place against NHL players and came within a hair of actually scoring an overtime game winner. The problem was that Garon didn’t care that it was his first game and that would have been a goal to remember for the kid. Too bad.
During the game, besides the improved play of a healthy Rick DiPietro, I noticed that Bruno Gervais was noticeable for all the RIGHT reasons. While everyone huddled around John Tavares, who added another goal to his stat sheet, I asked if I could talk to Bruno. I got the “nod” and caught him just as he was about to hit the showers.
I had difficulty formulating the question. How do you ask a player, “Gee, you played so much better tonight. How come?” But that is what I was thinking. He was skating, he was shooting, he was battling -- he was playing as if his career depended on it. After sitting in the press box this season, I suppose it does.
I asked if there was anything different to his game now, with Jack behind the bench, with Bailey in Bridgeport and Travis Hamonic in Uniondale. In other words, what the security level right now. He admitted Scott wanted him to work harder and he came to camp this year ready and with the idea of focusing on every play. “Since I came back this year, I felt like that. I wanted to keep it simple and then your confidence comes back. Last couple of games, I’ve been trying to make more smart plays. I want to help my team. That’s about it. Tonight went well, so I have to keep doing that.”
When it comes to confidence he told me he puts a little brick every day to rebuild it. “I want to stay around here. It’s the only thing I care for so hopefully we’re going to be ready on Friday and get those two points.”
Trevor Gillies had a total of one minute on the ice, skating, and earned 17 penalty minutes by man-handling Jared Boll. That is what happens when you take liberties with John Tavares and Trevor Gillies is on the ice at the same time. He knows his job and the spark he had to offer up in a tough situation. “We’ve just got to believe in each other and know that we’ll get out of it together.”
With regard to his role, and the response from the bench it inspired “I went over to stick up for my team mate and the boys got a goal for me while I was in the box. There’s no greater compliment as a fighter. It’s just too bad that we came up short tonight.”
Perhaps in an effort to dilute Jack Capuano’s “passenger” quote, Stan Fischler asked about the team’s “noble” effort against the Blue Jackets. Rick told Stan “We come to the rink to WORK every day. Everyone realizes that There might have been a time at the beginning of the season that we got a little bit high-and-mighty after the good start, and then things started to snow ball and we couldn’t get ourselves out and that’s the result. This league is a tough league. It’s not easy to win. Every team comes to play and every team plays hard. A couple more mistakes than the other team, you lose. And that’s what’s been happening to us lately. But you’ve got to give our guys credit we’re playing hard, we’re competing and we’re trying to prove that we care as much as they do. …. Like I said before, there’s not a group of 20 guys I’d rather go to war with every night. Even though we’re losing, it is a joy to come to the rink. We all realize how lucky we are and we’re trying our best to get out of this funk.“
Tomorrow they have another shot at doing just that against the NJ Devils at 1 pm. The Devils beat Calgary and now have 16 points to the Islanders 13. Without Zach Parise, they haven’t been doing well. But they do have Kovalchuk who may make all the difference. Can the Islanders stop the bleeding and beat the Devils tomorrow afternoon? Let’s hope so.
They may have to do it without Trent Hunter who left the ice yesterday after throwing a check against the boards. He was obviously hurt and did not skate today and will be evaluated after the holiday. Great. Just what they needed. Another body on the injured list. Doug Weight didn’t skate today either. The sad fact is that I’m not even sure if Bridgeport has a player they can spare at this time either. I’m starting to wonder if they will start calling up from either of their ECHL teams.
Um Garth -- Bootland, Darryl. He’s in Odessa. Give them a call, put him on a plane. Give him another kick at the can. Just a thought.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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