And because it must be Islander blogger on Canadian radio day, I have been asked to be a call in guest on Team 1040 Vancouver this evening at 7:45 pm. Oh.boy.
**5:24 pm: Wiz gets 2 games? That's the word on the 'net. Could have been worse I suppose if the NHL wanted to be really sticky about it. Suspension is worth $79,268.30 in salary. yikes.
**Note: And for my thoughts on the attendance woes at the Nassau Coliseum, please see the earlier post below "One for the Attendance Police."
James Wisniewski played 23:09 today and had one assist point, two shots, blocked one shot, doled out three hits, played over six minutes on the Power Play and offered one sexual gesture to Sean Avery on daytime TV. Good move -- Not.
What would normally happen on the ice in any beer league game became an internet sensation in a nano-second. The Toronto media was all over it and within five minutes, the clip showing how the Wiz really feels about Sean Avery was on You Tube. (Where else would it be.)
The 23:09 James played today may be the last ice time he sees for a while if the league decides not to ignore the incident. How can they? This is not what they want on afternoon television. Certainly they wouldn’t want it on a Sunday afternoon on NBC.
When Gary Bettman was asked about it, he answered politely,
“I didn’t see it, but I heard about it. My guess is that hockey operations will (deal with) it. They will do what they think needs to be done. Comment if anything. From where I was sitting I couldn’t see it.”
Neither did Rob McGowan and I. We found it on -- Twitter.
When Wisniewski was asked about it in the locker room after the 6 - 4 Isles win, he quietly explained it was all part of a big game.
“He’s playing hard. I’m playing hard an we just laid it on the ice. We all fought hard. They were fore checking hard, we were fore checking hard. It was game two of the season and we were playing like it was game seven of the Stanley Cup playoffs.”
I take it that meant “anything goes to win.” He didn't say what Avery did to prompt the action. But if they take James Wisniewski out of the Islanders line-up for any length of time, that “battle back” attitude will be tested yet again.
There were other factors of this game that should get some ink besides “the gesture.”
How about three points out of four after losing John Tavares after the first five minutes of the season?
How about Blake Comeau playing “outstanding” according to coach Scott Gordon.
“It’s a process and I think players eventually figure out what they are and what they have to do to be successful and Blake, since February last year and on, has come to terms with what gives him success. He’s being physical and using his skating and his strength. One area that he always shied away from was going to the front of the net and to the back post and now he’s doing that. It was a hard sell, but he certainly knows that he can do it now and he has put himself in a position where he can be successful offensively.”
Success today came in the form of three points, two goals one assist, three hits and 20:27 TOI. Blake was on fire. But he wasn’t the only one.
My favorite Tweet today came from
@eichiefs9 when he tweeted out “Ladies and Gentlemen: Josh Bailey has arrived.
Josh Bailey had a goal and an assist and five shots on goal. It was Bailey's back-handed pass in the final minutes of the game that found Blake Comeau that put the Isles up by one less than one minute after PA Parenteau tied it at 4 at 15:36 of the third.
Matt Moulson, who is donating $500 per goal to the Islanders Children’s Charities is out another $500 tonight after scoring the first game tying goal at 19:39 of the second period.(He had an assist point too on Parenteau's goal.)
Nino Niederreiter may be on the score sheet with a two minute penalty, but it seems he’s the designated box-sitter for bench minors (too many men penalty). But the real interesting stat for Nino yesterday is the “5” in the “Hits Given” column. That was the highest on the team. Nino? Really? And he may have ended up on the score sheet with a goal had his stick not broken at the worst possible moment.
In his second appearance, Rick DiPietro faced 33 shots, an unsuccessful Gaborik Penalty Shot and he gave up four goals. One upset him so much that he stayed on his knees with his head down for more than a few seconds. But this team battles back. Everyone in the locker room seems to agree there’s a different atmosphere this season. Scott Gordon called it confidence. Whatever it is -- it works.
Forced into the line-up earlier than expected, Michael Grabner wore #40 and played 13:12 on 18 shifts all at even strength. He had one shot on goal, but boy, did it make noise on Lundqvist.
Zenon Konopka got five for fighting Brandon Prust at 8:03 of the first. The fight lasted almost as long as their penalty. From the bench, Trevor Gillies who played a team low of 1:34 sat on the bench growling as his friend went toe to toe with Prust. Zenon may also be suspended for bumping Avery in warm-ups.
Jack Hillen and Bruno Gervais were healthy scratches again today. That does not bode well.
And that is all I have about yesterday.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»