7, the New Unlucky Number

Islanders 3 : Wild 4 (OT)

Bill Guerin scored a goal. Andy Hilbert scored a goal. Sean Bergenheim even gave them a late lead in the third that would have ended the Isles' losing streak at 6. But the Minnesota Wild just wouldn't allow for it.

Brian Rolston scored two goals, including the late-tying goal at 16:36 of the third period, and Brent Burns scored his tenth goal of the season in overtime, to give the Wild a 4-3 win that left the Islanders completely winded, and probably wondering just what it is that they need to do to get back on the winning track. Two screened shots went in as goals for the Wild, ones that Rick DiPietro (14 saves) had no reaction to, and then the tying goal by Rolston was one where Rolston was all alone on the weak side, catching DiPietro out of position before tapping it in neatly. The OT goal was scored by defenseman Burns after Radek Martinek accidentally kicked to him the rebound from Wild forward Marian Gaborik.

On the other side of the ice, Nicklas Backstrom started off a little slow, but was solid (26 saves), making, among others, a great stop on Jeff Tambellini's awesome breakaway chance in which he was more patient- and perhaps desperate- than the young forward.

Mike Comrie, who now has four points in two games, recorded two assists and was +1 on the night, but even that couldn't help the Isles garner a win, as they settle for only a point and add another loss to their skid (now at 7). Isles broadcaster Billy Jaffe put it this way: "You just have to look at the positive in this game; otherwise, you're just throwing in the towel, and there is no need to do that with plenty of time in this NHL season." I absolutely agree. This game was a better defensive game, and hey, the Isles scored some goals again- but how long will this desperate situation be such? To stay in the race, they have to sustain leads and take them early as well- some may argue that battling back is easier than keeping a lead, but after a while both can be difficult.

Misery Loves Company... And Not Talking About the Isles This Time

Islanders 3 : Penguins 4

On a professional level, perhaps the worst thing about last's night loss to the Penguins- the Islanders' sixth consecutively- is that this is perhaps the toughest one to get over, seeing as the Isles were playing their type of hockey- hard-working, physical and tough- and they very well could have won this one.

The worst thing about it personally? I'm finding it harder to maintain a positive outlook, seemingly wallowing in the same type of criticism and knee-jerk reaction that I am not a fan of. I guess that old saying is true, that misery loves company- it can take your mindset and twist it to fit theirs.

I can't even blame my recent reactions on frustration, which is no doubt what this team is feeling times ten today after dropping last night's game 4-3 at Mellon Arena. A controversial non-goal on account of a quick whistle by the refs with 2 seconds remaining in the third would have tied it for the Isles, who are now sub-.500 for the first time this year, having gone 4-9-4 in their last 17 games. Mike Comrie, however, finally scored his 15th (300th NHL point) and 16th (PP) of the season, and Fedotenko also added one on the PP, to make it a typically close one for the Isles, but a struggling Rick DiPietro (23 saves) couldn't hold up, letting in Chris Letang's backbreaker late in the third as he was tight to the post, looking more like he was preparing for a wraparound attempt than the goal that ensued. Later, on the bench as he was pulled for an extra skater, he threw down his water bottle in disgust, no doubt angry with himself for his performance. That outburst says it all- as Christine kindly reminded me last night, our own worst critic is ourselves, and no one is harder on us than we are. So yes, Islanders fans, there is a way to not be so critical, because these guys are hard enough on themselves.

Pittsburgh notes: Ryan Whitney scored two PP goals, Ryan Malone also scored, and Chris Letang's aforementioned game-winner was the tally for the Penguins, and goaltender Ty Conklin (first match against the Isles since January 8, 2004) made 29 saves.

- Ted Nolan had a great-looking tie on last night, didn't he? Unfortunately, it didn't get us a win. But we'll get them next time.

Isles in the News...

An article about Chris Simon by Gordon Sinclair of the Winnipeg Free Press

We can all learn something from this 'bad boy'

email sent to Mr. Sinclair

Dear Mr. Sinclair,

Good day to you. Thank you for taking the time to write about Chris Simon. More specifically, thank you pointing out the difference between the ‘doer’ and the ‘deed’. I predominately work with children; there is no better age group that needs to learn about making mistakes and recovering from them than kids, and no better age group that is as understanding and forgiving. A role model is not synonymous with perfection, the best role models are people who are authentic and who can inspire others by sharing insight about lessons learned from the highs and lows of their life, a rollercoaster ride that we can all relate to. I am really looking forward to Chris’s return and have faith that he will skate onto the ice ready to compete in a way that represents the talented player he is.

Take care,
Christine
New York, NY

response from Mr. Sinclair

Hi Christine,

What a beautifully written letter.
Thank you for saying it better than I could.

Gordon

Build Them Up, Don't Tear Them Down

There has never been a house so bad that it couldn’t be made over into something worthwhile.
~Elsie De Wolfe

In response to the Isle’s less than spectacular performance lately fan frustration is on the rise. During the final moments of the Anaheim game, a small crowd sitting in one 300 level section decided to express themselves by chanting, “we suck”, “refund” and something else that has left my memory’s database. Hearing this kind of stuff is like nails on a chalkboard. The worst part about it was the fact that they were Isles fans; the best part about it was that the rest of the crowd did not join in on it. The only fitting thing said was “we suck” because yes YOU ALL DO SUCK as fans.

On a more positive note, the Isles repeating tongue twisters on the scoreboard screen was mucho funny.

On a freaky-deaky note, my Isles mate Marc found it necessary to point out that moustache wearing George Parros reminded him of a 70s porn star.


Hmmm…where have I seen that look before??


LET'S GO ISLANDERS!!

Isles Falling Flat and Falling Fast Into Unlucky 13th Spot

Islanders 0 : Ducks 3

Let's hope this is rock bottom for Ted Nolan and his squad, who were shut out 3-0 on home ice against the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks despite the addition of youth (callups Jeff Tambellini and Frans Nielsen) and a solid first period.

Teemu Selanne, in his first game back in the NHL since winning the Cup, notched an assist, and Scott Niedermayer scored a power play goal, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 25 saves, as the Ducks didn't skate all over the Isles, but patiently waited for the Islanders to make mistakes- and in the form of penalties and complete breakdowns, the Islanders eventually granted them opportunities. Rick DiPietro was good early on under a flurry of shots by Anaheim, but couldn't help his team, whose fans were chanting "Refund" and booing them off the ice by the end of it. Meanwhile, the struggling Ducks, losers of 6 straight prior to this game (shutout two games in a row), were only too happy to end their own skid against the reeling Isles.

The only thing that was missing from this game was goals. Countless chances went astray, including one from Bill Guerin on a wide-open net, that epitomizes just what the Islanders are going through in regards to scoring woes. Tambellini and Nielsen, who were kept apart for most of the game up until the third period, didn't get quite as much ice time as I would have liked, but showed some smarts on the ice (especially Tambellini, who was just as good defensively as offensively and had some good chances).

Either way, however, the Islanders find themselves in 13th place in the Eastern Conference and at .500 for the first time in a long time (24-24-6), and in dire need of help and rejuvenation. No offense, struggling defense, and an All-Star goaltender who has made big saves but doesn't look to be the same as he was prior to the break... it all adds up to this- something has to give.

My solution? Bench guys who aren't playing full out. Plain and simple. Comrie showed me nothing last night except for some ridiculous penalties- bench him. Get some players in that will play smart and play determined, and will try their best to pull out a win. This is not the time to breakdown, not when it is February and the conference is getting tighter, and not while we are on the wrong end of it. I don't think this has anything to do with age- it has to do with who wants to play here, and who wants to give it their all.

Super Bowl Sunday Makes Up for Sub-Par Saturday

Isles 1 : Montreal 4

This past weekend, it was a tale of two worlds for this sports fan.

On one side, my strong hockey following took a huge blow with the Islanders' fourth consecutive loss, a 4-1 drubbing by the Montreal Canadiens on the road to kick off February with a terrible whimper. Rick DiPietro had a stronger game in his return from sitting out the Kings game with flu symptoms (28 saves), but ultimately the lack of offense was what killed the Isles, who now find themselves with a game in hand and four points behind the Rangers, who beat said Canadiens 5-3 yesterday afternoon. Moreover, they are not making any callups to Bridgeport, according to this Greg Logan item.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/ny-spisles045563798feb04,0,5860338.story
With a league-last 2.36 goals per game, you're going to let Jeff Tambellini sit with the Sound Tigers? Not for nothing, but something has got to be done regarding roster changes, and the best thing to do would be to sit someone like Mike Comrie and pull up Tamby or Ben Walter to see what happens. Sure, you don't want to have your players lose faith or confidence, and I can understand that if Ted Nolan is thinking it. But you cannot coddle these guys, and you can't keep playing them if they are not producing. The time has come to make changes, and make them big time. (Ted Nolan, are you listening??????)

That said, my whole outlook changed with the Super Bowl, and the first one I really paid attention to in a long time- being that my beloved New York Giants were in it for the first time in eight years, and they were the proverbial David against a huge Goliath in the 18-0 New England Patriots, the team that I, my father, and everyone else loves to hate (unless, of course, you're a fan), who were all set to make history and whose fans even smugly started planning parades and selling T-shirts marked "19-0 Dynasty" and the like to celebrate.

Spoke too soon, didn't they?

The Giants were the winners, 17-14, in a thriller that had me in turns screaming, praying, and ready to cry as I watched, second by painstaking second. Everyone who thought this would be a high-scoring game thought wrong- the Giants played their trademark defense-first game and played it well, throttling Tom Brady and stifling Randy Moss (except for his touchdown catch in the last two minutes of the game that put the Patriots up and would have sealed it for them if not for... wait, I'm getting ahead of myself). In the fourth, Brady finally hit Moss for a touchdown that made the score 14-10 Pats, and were that close to making history... but then young Eli Manning stepped up and said no, we're not done yet, throwing an incredible long-yardage pass to David Tyree that pulled the Giants all the way across the field (83 yards!) and set up the clincher: a TD pass to Plaxico Burress that sent all of New York's fans into a frenzy. They would hold on and make the score final: 17-14 Giants. Super Bowl Champs.

As I write this in my Manning jersey and with "18-1: R.I.P." written on my hand, I still can't really believe that we've come this far. It brings me to the conclusion that it is true, what they say- any team, on any given night, can win it. It all boils down to who wants it more, who is willing to step up and bring it home, as our MVP quarterback did.

Which is exactly why I am dying for the Islanders to break out of this funk and break onto the ice tomorrow night against defending Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Ducks, and start winning games. We have as much of a chance as anyone. The Giants proved it last night.

Where the Isles Place in Mindset Standings

The Isles have separated themselves from the NHL herd by something other than their actual ability – their mindset. From watching the Isle’s body language on the bench and demeanor in interviews, here’s where they appear to stand:

Frustration
noun. the feeling that accompanies an experience of being thwarted in attaining your goals.

->Isles<-

Apathy
noun. absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.

Frustration is a normal response to not being able to get to where you want to go, especially when you believe you have the ability to get there and it’s the only place you want to be. While in a state of frustration an athlete can still find the will to re-translate, re-formulate and move past it…utilize the frustration as fuel. Apathy on the other hand, is more toxic to an athlete’s mindset because in that state a player can begin to lose sight of their resources for success. Thinking and feeling patterns can become distorted (ie. the ability to realistically evaluate one’s performance) where problems can appear larger than they really are, thus leaving little room for optimism. Apathy is detrimental to an athlete’s self-confidence which can then lead to other symptoms such as depression and anxiety. In frustration an athlete can still be po’d enough to get back up, often with more determination than ever, however in a state of apathy, getting back up can be harder to do because by this time the athlete may be physically and mentally exhausted. And at this point the most formidable opponent an athlete faces is him/her self. In the bigger picture every player contributes to the collective unconscious of the team so the mindset of each player matters greatly because whatever state of being exists is contagious.

Some effective solutions beyond each player choosing to pivot in a new direction can…wait, scratch that…WILL be found in the team’s leadership and the support of the fans. Being far from the Isle’s inner circle, there is no way to asses the mindset of the Isles organization but what has been noticeable is that recently Ted Nolan speaks with deflation and distance in his tone of voice. But after reading about him in The New York Time’s article, the force for overcoming challenges is well within him. As for Isles fans, now would be a great time to move beyond our own frustration and rally behind the Isles. Let the only Flu circulating around be Isles fans infecting the team with positive vibes.

Someone once shared with me a mantra of the 12-step program AA. ‘Gratitude not attitude’. Here’s to the Isles pivoting towards better outcomes and preserving gratitude in all that doing so entails - put one skate in front of the other and let nothing or no one stop you from getting where you want to go.

LET’S GO ISLANDERS!!

ps. In a pre-game radio interview, it was great to hear LA coach Mark Crawford stating that he and his team were looking forward to playing at the Coliseum, describing it as an arena filled with great history and tradition. Take THAT all you Lighthouse enthusiasts! By the way organization d’Isles…it’s the Lighthouse ON Long Island, not the Lighthouse AT Long Island.

(word definitions taken from dictionary.com)

Isles in the News...

by Greg Logan of Newsday

Bridgeport callups could be next

Isles in the News...

by George Vecsey of The New York Times

Islanders' Nolan Proves Himself Once Again

Wake Up, Wake Up, This Saturday Afternoon

Isles 1 : Kings 3

Take a hockey team. Add lack of confidence, stir in some bad passes, the flu bug, and liberally sprinkle some penalties on top, mix and let sit for sixty minutes. If it leaves a bad taste in the mouth, don't be alarmed... it's not meant to be good.

Another home game went for naught last night at Nassau Coliseum, as the Los Angeles Kings triumphed over them, 3-1, in a game that made the visiting team- by no means incredibly talented- look good. Tons of penalties, plus an aggravating lack of shooting the puck from the center, left the Islanders hapless and hopeless, out of the top 8 with a Rangers win. But of course, seeing as it's January, that is not the point of the story.

The point is that last night's game was an opportunity to help the Isles boost their confidence against a Western Conference team, in a solid, if perhaps boring, game. Not the case. Not only was it sleep-inducing, it was sloppy and about as bad a game as the Isles have played to date. They typically gave up the first goal, on a rebound by Matt Moulson. About four minutes later, however, Bryan Berard cleanly stripped Lubomir Vishnovsky as he attempted a cross-ice pass, putting the puck past a splayed Jason LaBarbera to even the score. However, that would be all she wrote as LaBarbera (28 svs) won the battle of the goaltenders; meanwhile, although starting goalie Wade Dubielewicz (in relief for Rick DiPietro who has flu symptoms; 24 svs) played well, he couldn't save them all, and his teammates weren't doing him any favors. The frustrated glare on Ted Nolan's face said it all. But some wonder... is he doing enough to get this team motivated?

My thoughts? Maybe not. There needs to be some form of tough love to get these guys to wake up- in the form of benchings (the right guys, Ted, not Sean Bergenheim, who shows you hard work night in and night out), scratches, demotions if necessary- maybe even full practices or stationary bike rides after the game a la Brent Sutter. My point is, something has to be changed here, something that will wake this team up and make them realize that now is not the time to be experiencing a meltdown- not when there are 31 games left and we need to fight for every point if we want the playoffs, which I am sure these guys do. We're quite a ways from those four and five game win or points streaks, and as long as the out-of-town scores are working against us, we can't count on them. For once, I would like to see this team control its own destiny and guarantee a trip to the playoffs. Too early to say it? Maybe, but it's never too early to start winning. So go into Montreal tomorrow afternoon and make something good happen, boys. (REMINDER, the game starts at 2 p.m. tomorrow, not 7-7:30, so be ready to DVR if you can't watch it.)