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Isles @ Devils 1 -0 Final |
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9:25 pm: Once again, the Isles squad could not score a goal and lose to the Devils 1 - 0 on a David Clarkson goal.
Rick DiPietro played a full 60 and faced 21 shots giving up only one goal. You would have thought Jack would have put Poulin in for the third, but no. Rick still took an occassional chance, but looked solid overall.
Ryan Strome received a boadring major and a game misconduct for a hit in front of the Isles bench. Very unlike Strome. Matt Martin almost ended up in the box again for exchanging words after the hit.
Blake Comeau led the team in ice time and was (according to the Devils announcers) the best Islander on the Ice. Josh Bailey woke up in the third and tried to make the best of what little time they had to try to tie the game.
Aaron Ness played 20:17 and is still making a strong case for himself. (and I'm still upset over Nino)
Trevor Gillies played 5:49, blocked one shot and threw one hit -- and never saw the box.
Mark Streit had four of the Isles 16 shots on net. While I am happy that his game is coming back quickly, I'm disappointed this squad couldn't even out the score.
But these games are not to win, they are to evaluate talent -- and Jack got a good look -- sort of.
8:44 PM: It seems that Michael Haley is indeed taking up residency in the box. He now has 21 minutes of penalties in 40 minutes of play. Nice.
Worse is that Nino Niederreiter will not return to the game and will be evaluated tomorrow for a groin injury.
Hey! so much for that new/old strength and conditioning guy. Yeah, I know. Not his fault. I'm just sick and tired of injuries in pre-season. The Isles can't even get a full roster before the season starts!
Also, the Devils dancers are well... less than appropriate for a hockey game since the entertainment should be on the ice and not on a stage with a dozen girls in their underwear.
8:05 pm: Okay, I am officially concerned as Staple says Nino took a few seconds of a shift and left for the dressing room. Obviously couldn't skate. NOT GOOD NOT GOOD!!
Matt Martin tangled with Fraser and the refs let them fight until they were tired. No one went down on the ice, but no one landed anything heavy either. 5 for fighting. go sit in the box.
7:44 pm: Okay boys you can't get anything going if you can't stay out of the box. Michael Haley assessed a 17 minutes of penalties in the first period and Steve Staios with the ink still wet on his contract endedup in the box TWICE.
Rick made some very nice saves in the first few minutes but the shots on goal are low for both teams, Isles with 4 SOG and Devils with 7.
As Art Staple tweeted out at the end of the periode, "most concerning is that Niederreiter looed to be in pain after thowing a big hit" before the period ended. Um, yes. That would be VERY concerning!
5:29 pm: Confirmed Rick DiPietro will get the start tonight in New Jersey. With Marty Brodeur playing last night, RDP will be facing Hedberg.
The Islanders made it very easy on the Flames with very few shots. They need to make sure they protect Rick while peppering Hedberg from all angles.
3:28 pm: Better late than never. Rhet Rakhshani can't catch a break and is out for 6 - 8 weeks with a knee sprain. He has been placed on the IR. Milan Jurcina is still day-to-day with a groin issue.
11:42 am: so like I'm on the phone doing a recorded interview with WRHU for thier Islander preview and I don't look at my phone as the Tweet comes over that Steve Staio has signed a one year agreement with teh NY Islanders. Good signing. Guess he'll be celebrating in NJ tonight as he alongside Mark Streit.
9:52 am: So while I was writing this at 7 am, Art Staple was busy posting tonight's line up on Newsday. The cat is out of the bag. Here is the squad you'll see:
Forwards
Blake Comeau-Marty Reasoner-Nino Niederreiter
Jay Pandolfo-Josh Bailey-PA Parenteau
Matt Martin-Ryan Strome-Tim Wallace
Trevor Gillies-Trevor Frischmon-Micheal Haley
Defensemen
Mark Streit-Steve Staios
Aaron Ness-Mark Eaton
Matt Donovan-Mike Mottau
Goaltenders
Rick DiPietro, Kevin Poulin
This is what I get for having a day job that pays me NOT to be at the rink 24/7.
7:30 am: The Devils had to wonder what year it was yesterday. First their bus breaks down with a transmission problem and they have to walk to the arena. Then after bringing their “A” squad and 52 (31 S/21 AB) shots on Flyers goalie Bobrovsky, Jagr scored the game winner on Marty Brodeur to put the Flyers up 2 - 1 at 12:48 of the third. Maybe by then Marty was a little tired.
But… It‘s pre-season and it doesn‘t really matter - yet.
Will the Devils return their A squad to their home ice tonight to face the Islanders? Will Jack Capuano put his first liners out there again to face the Devils as he did in Uniondale or save them for Saturday against the Bruins? (Don’t want another 6 - 3 loss, right?) Will it be the B squad getting a second look before cuts are made and the final roster is determined before next week’s deadline? Oh decisions, decisions!
From the looks of it, the only way to see this game is to be in the Prudential Center or staring at your computer (as I will) as it will only be web streamed. I don’t see any information on a radio feed on the NJD site either and of course MSG is not airing it even though it is TWO of it’s THREE teams. (But it’s not the Rangers so -- yeah.)
At Thursday’s practice, Jack’s 1st squad combos were:
Forwards
Moulson-Tavares-Niederreiter
Okposo-Nielsen-Grabner
Martin-Bailey-Parenteau
McNeely-Cizikas-Backman
Gallant-Marcinko
Defensemen
Streit-Eaton
MacDonald-Hamonic
Mottau-Ness
Olson
Goaltenders
DiPietro
Montoya
Nilsson
Leaving his second squad to be composed of:
Forwards
Comeau-Reasoner-Romano
DiBenedetto-Ullstrom-Haley
Pandolfo-Frischmon-Wallace
Kabanov-Strome-Gillies
Defensemen
Reese-Wishart
Donovan-de Haan
Klementyev
Goalies
Nabokov
Poulin
Koskinen
As you can see, the waiver 5 also practiced. Now, I‘m having a hard time even venturing a guess who will be in net tonight to face the Devils. I‘d like to see Nabokov get another game in and perhaps put Ricky and Poulin in on Saturday night in Bridgeport (another game you‘ll only get to see in person or on line.)
If you are going to Bridgeport for the Saturday night tilt against the Stanley Cup Champion Bruins, check out the great fan meet-ups planned for the game. There is a Ferry Tweet-up and a 5 pm Bud thing. If you haven’t been to Bridgeport, you really should go. I would be going but I am stuck with family obligations on Saturday.
I’d also like to point out a new website that is not only fun but informative. Check out www.fromthisseat.com. It’s a place for fans to leave their comments and review about the seats they have used at different arenas. It’s a great idea if you are visiting another arena and looking to purchase tickets.
Okay, more later as news comes out of camp today before the boys board the bus for Jersey. Hopefully -- it doesn’t break down. Nyuck nyuck.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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