SB Nation - Kyle Okposo

Rangers vs. Islanders: "The Little Brother Syndrome", everything to lose, nothing to gain

Jim Schmiedeberg — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:37:59 -0000

Little brother comes to town tonight (photo courtesy of LIfe.com)

New York Sports is replete with inner rivalries. The Yankees and Mets, the Giants and Jets, the Rangers and Islanders, and even the Knicks and Nets, although I can't say I've ever heard anyone ever get really excited for a Knicks-Nets game.

But each of these rivalries has a big brother-little brother complex to them. The Yankees have been around over 100 years, average a championship every 4 seasons, and have a worldwide fan base, while the Mets haven't had a team identity in over 20 years, and have just two measly banners to their credit, and years of futility and underachievement in their history.

The Giants and Jets follow a very similar path, with the Giants being one of the oldest teams in the league, numerous championships, and really only one prolonged bad stretch in their history (the 70's). The Jets have always lived in the shadow, and continue to live off a championship that happened forty years ago. (Yes Joe, we've heard the "Guarantee" story, at this point I can tell it better than you.)

That brings us to the Rangers-Islanders. The Rangers, with their 80-plus years of history, the flashy names, the bright lights of Broadway, and when newspapers pay attention to hockey: the headlines. The Islanders? Sure, they had their amazing dynasty in the early 80's, but they still suffer the same fate as the Mets, Jets, and I guess the Nets. I call it "The Little Brother Syndrome".

If you have younger siblings, remember when you used to play games with them? You'd beat them, usually by a wide margin, but you were supposed to. You were the big bad brother or sister: older, smarter, and presumably with more tools and resources for defeating your younger opponent. It felt good to win, it usually does, but there was also something missing because you felt like you were just doing what you were supposed to.

When the Yankees and Mets play, if the Yankees win, the Yankee fan mostly takes it in stride, its just another day at the office for them. Same goes for the Giants when playing the Jets, and Rangers when playing the Islanders. It's just big brother doing what big brother does.

But when little brother gets the best of you, your life becomes a living hell. Jet fans live to beat the Giants, and some Met fans would be ok with the Mets being 6-156 as long as those 6 wins came against the Yankees. Same rule applies for Islander fans; when the Isles beat the Rangers it makes their whole year. If you've ever been around an Islander fan after they've beaten the Rangers, you will know what I mean.

And in the case of the Islanders, baby bro is catching up to the Rangers. They are a hard working team that has played better than their record, and they have a flashy new toy in John Tavares. Meanwhile, big brother is struggling right now, his head isn't quite screwed on straight, like his girlfriend dumped him or something. But the Isles are still the little brother, and a couple of games against little brother may be just what the Rangers need to get their confidence going again.

Let's hope so, because nothing is worse than losing to your little brother.

Also, we are doing a Special "Blueshirt Banter Radio Rally" at 5:30 PM, leading up to the game. You can click the link below to listen to the show:

Blueshirt Banter Radio w/Mouth and Jim

This & That: DiPietro, Brooklyn, Team USA, blowout post-mortem

Dominik — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:51:58 -0000

A few timely(ish) links about what's going on with the Islanders:

Last night was Josh Bailey's 100th NHL game. Officially, he had two hits, three attempted shots -- and still zero shots on goal, making it 23 consecutive periods.
The Isles released an statement about Rick DiPietro seeing more specialists. Worst word: "timeline." I thought Adam's take on this saga was spot on: Concise, to the point, a mix of realism and empathy. At this point (and since last spring, really), that's all we can go with.
In addition to Roloson's to-the-point observation on how no one showed up last night, Mark Streit had this: "When it's 7-1, it's tough to just turn the page." Exactly. At home, no less. For shame.
Nick goes into some interesting thought exercises on the Brooklyn buzz. [Let There be Light(house)]
For you draft dreamers: Tyler Seguin was cut from Canada's WJC camp. Taylor Hall was not.
Update: Speaking of WJC, a FanHouse profile of Isles prospect Matt Donovan.
Team USA at the Olympics: Brian Burke says there are three spots still open and about six candidates. What do you bet Kyle Okposo is one of those candidates? On the one hand, he hasn't scored in a month. On the other, he generates offense, works his butt off, and it's impossible to watch him and not think, "He could help a team in a short tourney."
Finally, an interesting look from James Mirtle that relates to the crunch of quasi-.500 teams in the dregs of the Eastern standings: "One key factor in why the bottom half of the Eastern Conference is so poor is the fact the Western Conference has been beating the tar out of the East all year."

More on that last topic as it relates to the Islanders later today...

Islanders 3, Bruins 2 (OT): Frans Nielsen is the bestest Dane in the whole wide world

Dominik — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:52:49 -0000

More photos » by Paul J. Bereswill - AP

"FRANS NIELSEN IS DELICIOUS!"

Browse more photos »

I love Frans Nielsen -- if you visit this site regularly, you've picked up on that and are ready to slap me. I love Frans for his hockey sense, for his savvy play, for how he frustrates opposing forwards despite his smallish frame, for his underrated hands, for his entertaining command of English during interviews. And for his kindly answering my pre-game request, which went like this:

I do agree with Scott Gordon that Frans Nielsen is very proficient in his defensive duties -- that cannot be argued, at this point. But even I, as a registered Frans Fanboy, want to see more offense from the Dane so that I may call him Great.

A sweet OT breakaway goal on home ice, executing his patented backhand deke: Now that's love.

Game Sum. | Event Sum. | Recaps: nhl.com | Isles official

Final - 12.12.2009	1	2	3	OT	Total
Boston Bruins	1	1	0	0	2
New York Islanders	1	1	0	1	3

Complete Coverage >

There are many more reasons to love Nielsen's game-winner that have nothing to do with my personal whims, but we'll get to those later.

More importantly, the Flyers and Rangers each lost in regulation on a night when the Islanders ended their three-game losing streak, which means the Islanders are back up in third place in the Atlantic Division. Much more to consider (and video highlights) after the jump.

Rob Schremp Hockey(TM): No longer goal-less

Like whoa man: The Jesse Joensuu-Rob Schremp-Trent Hunter line showed some spark, eh? They were on for Michael Ryder's longshot goal, but uh, that wasn't their fault :cough:Rolli:. I was really pleased with their work, pleased Joensuu and his linemates made themselves physically noticeable all night and, of course, tickled by Rob Schremp's first NHL goal ... and spread-eagle fist-pumping celebration. Kudos to them for being among several Islanders -- Jon Sim being another -- who had Zdeno Chara pissing and moaning all night long.

My God, the Defense, We're Hosed

This is not your traditional complaint about our underskilled, undersized blueline (although I must ask: When was the last time you saw Brendan Witt break up a 2-on-1 down low? Not on the Krejci goal). Andy Sutton, one of the Isles better blueliners this year, is close to coming back -- but I'll tell you I'm fearful since he's pushing to come back from a groin injury that could recur anytime this season, particularly if they continue to lean on him hard.

So of course Jack Hillen, another of their top three, goes down to a foot injury tonight after just six shifts. That he tried to come back in the second and couldn't go has me fearing the worst -- to say nothing of the very evident pain he was in when the shot hit him.

Bailey at Left Wing: Experiment A

So Josh Bailey's first appearance was indeed on Nate Thompson and Richard Park's left wing. But the bulk of his night -- 15:00 of even-strength ice time -- was spent on the wing with Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo. I thought he had a good night. He looked alive, was physical. Perhaps most importantly, he found more than 10 minutes of ice time, which isn't always the case when he's behind Tavares and Nielsen at center. We'll see how this goes.

The Moulson-Tavares-Okposo Train

Good god, Mighty Matty Mo. Another even-strength goal. That makes 12 now, for a total of 15 goals on the year. And wow, that behind-the-back pass from John Tavares to set Moulson up. And Kyle Okposo, still "struggling" to score a goal but still piling up assists: eight in his last five games, including two tonight. He was also the third forward on the ice for the OT goal.

The OT Win: A Frans Shootout Move and a Bold Gordon

That's right: With Hillen hurt, Scott Gordon "went for it" in OT and had Okposo out there paired with Mark Streit, while the forwards were Blake Comeau and Frans Nielsen. So Okposo forced a Bruins pass that Streit disrupted, a backchecking Comeau (who had a great physical game) picked it up inside the Islanders blueline, took advantage of a pinching Andrew Ference and slid a very slick pass to spring Nielsen on the breakaway, where he converted in front of his mother, visiting from Denmark to see her first live NHL game.

Upon seeing Frans take the puck in the clear, I had the same reaction Gordon did:

"When I saw the '51 (Nielsen's number),' I'm like, 'This is going in,'" he said. "He excels in that area."

You damned right. And you know why I knew it was in? Of course you do: Because we've seen that Frans move beat countless goalies, mostly in the shootout. But you know what else rocked about that goal? Just because it's a move he uses in the shootout doesn't mean it's "a shootout move." No, this was no half-speed, no-backchecker kind of horsecrap trickery that the shootout encourages. This was no lazy Sunday sweeping wide because no one else is on the ice. This was a real-deal breakaway.

Don't take my word for it -- take the word of the goalie Nielsen beat. Here's Tim Thomas:

"He was coming extremely fast, and he almost started to lose it. He ended up making a great move, considering how fast he was moving and that he was losing it. It was way faster than a shootout."

It was way more entertaining and impressive than a shootout, too. But I nearly spit up my beer when I saw Nielsen crash into the boards afterward. I would have licked it back up once I saw him roll over with a smile instead of a grimace, though.

The Negative, and One More Positive

Yeah, so after two very nicely played periods left the score 2-2, the Islanders were outshot 17-3 in the third. At home. Not good. So they were lucky to survive long enough to get to OT. And that luck was pretty much thanks to Dwayne Roloson, who looked great and in control the whole period.

So, to recap: Schremp good, JT/Moulson/KO good (of course), Sim agitating, Roloson good, Comeau good, Streit tireless, Hillen hurt. Islanders in third place. Not a bad Saturday night, eh?

P.S. The goal song: I guess the decision was made. I wasn't happy with the choices, wasn't happy with the winner, but I thought it worked alright tonight. I still maintain that the goal horn and the crowd is what I hear (and like) most. But feel free to weigh in again.

Where the Islanders goals are coming from

Dominik — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:21:55 -0000

The easy answer to the headline -- is: "Duh! John Tavares and Matt Moulson."

That's the issue of the moment: That these two childhood friends and 2009 newcomers are the only ones scoring for the Islanders. Outside of Richard Park's tally in a 6-1 loss in New Jersey, no Islander besides JT and Mighty Matt has scored a goal since Nov. 27, a 3-1 win over Pittsburgh six games ago.

But when we jump on guys for not scoring, it's good to remember a huge chunk of scoring comes from the powerplay. Of the Islanders' 79 goals so far, 22 (28%) have come via that route. Eight of Tavares's 15 goals have come with the man advantage. If you're not on the powerplay, it's that much harder to wrack up points. Worse, if most of your ice time is spent killing penalties or carrying subpar wingers at 5-on-5, then you're spending most of the time just fighting to keep the puck out of your own net.

So one way to look at this issue: Take the powerplay out of the equation. Who are the Islanders' best scorers at 5-on-5?

One metric, with the aid of Gabe at Behind the Net: Who is scoring the most goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time?

As you'll see below [Warning: Table ahead!], the answers are ... the usual suspects. However, the order has been shuffled a bit, making Matt Moulson look even better than you might already think. And by this metric at least, one much-debated streaky forward still looks pretty good -- even though he has scored exactly one goal since his October hat trick.

	Goals	PP Goals	ES Goals	G/60min. 5on5
Moulson	14	3	11	1.57
Tambellini	7	3	4	1.02
Tavares	15	8	7	0.98
Hunter	5	2	3	0.94
Bailey	7	1	5	0.73
Nielsen	3	0	3	0.65
Bergenheim	4	0	3	0.49
Sutton	3	0	3	0.44
Jackman	2	0	2	0.43
Witt	2	0	2	0.33
Park	2	0	2	0.31
Okposo	5	2	3	0.3
Martinek	2	0	1	0.2
Sim	2	1	1	0.19
Hillen	1	0	1	0.14
Striet	4	2	2	0.11

Matt Moulson, with 11 even-strength goals, is the team's 5-on-5 king to this point. [Video fun: His recent natural hat trick in Atlanta, captured below, featured two even-strength goals and one powerplay goal that wasn't even a traditional setup-in-the-zone PP play]:

But back to that table: Other than Jeff Tambellini at the high end and Kyle Okposo at the low end, where everyone ranks isn't too shocking. Okposo gets a lot of minutes, period, so his low goal total thus far makes him stand out (in a bad way), even though he's still been generating a lot of chances. Tambellini, who scored once in November, is (numerically at least) living off that October hot streak.

Okposo's experience -- clanging shots off crossbars, yet setting Tavares up in his office -- tells us that even after 30 games and good linemates, your numbers won't always reflect the work that you've been doing. Meanwhile, the two young centers we're hoping will be two-way producers, Josh Bailey and Frans Nielsen, each have fewer even-strength points (7 each) than Richard Park and Sean Bergenheim (9 each), who are hardly looked at as scorers.

Of Course I Will Find a Way to Blame This on the Blueline

There are a hundred ways to try to get a handle on what's happening in hockey's flowing, chaotic, difficult-to-encapsulate game -- both in strictly numeric terms and in nebulous descriptive terms. (Who's been playing with better linemates? Who's been playing against tougher competition? Who's been fatigued from playing so much PK? Who can't find a groove because they're never on a consistent line and they never get more than 11 paltry minutes? And of course the tried-and-true: Who suffers because the coach just hates him, I know it, I can see it in his eyes?) Everything is a cascade of factors, from the goalie behind you to the health of the lineup to the luck of the schedule.

So subjectively, I look at the names on that table and see the makings of a passable "top six" forward corps that ought to put up decent numbers over the long haul. And if that supposition is true (you may easily disagree), you know what I keep coming back to as a reason it's not happening? The blueline. The transition game. Aside from Jack Hillen, probably Andy Sutton (who's frankly been good this year by any measure), and certainly Mark Streit (who has not been as dominating as he was last year, in part because partner Bruno Gervais has not replicated last year's growth), this group isn't fit to consistently get the puck out and supply the Islanders forwards at 5-on-5.

As has been the issue since Scott Gordon arrived, the group as a whole cannot consistently deliver the promise of Gordon's scheme, so we're going to get fits and starts. We're going to get glimpses of the excitement the future will bring, mixed with doses of reality about the blueline Garth Snow has gone with and the below-average forwards who remain.

Until the cavalry of better defensemen arrive. I think.

That's one round-about theory. With the given that the eternal answer is "The Islanders need better players," I'm curious to hear yours.

Maple Leafs 3, Islanders 2: Tavares-led comeback erased by...Blake!

Dominik — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:01:12 -0000

More photos » by Frank Gunn - AP

Happier times.

Browse more photos »

The first period looked like a repeat of the Roloson Miracle game, except with Dwayne not in the mood to play God again. (He was good, he just wasn't 58-save good.)

The second period was a wash -- the Islanders entered and exited down 2-0, with each team thinking it had reason for a better return.

But the third period, aided by a period-opening powerplay: Now that was a different story. The John Tavares Machine was fully operational, working from JT's office to the side of the crease, and the Islanders comeback was in effect. Tied up with five minutes to go, we just might steal another point or two in Toronto.

Then Jason Blake scored and fist-pumped and that was that.

Game Sum. | Event Sum. | Recaps: nhl.com | Isles official

Final - 12.9.2009	1	2	3	Total
New York Islanders	0	0	2	2
Toronto Maple Leafs	2	0	1	3

Complete Coverage >

But man if this game didn't give us some things to think about, in the napkin-sketching, roster-mixing kind of way. Take Tim Jackman out and you lose your de facto enforcer, but you get the chance to add another powerplay piece like Rob Schremp, who did not disappoint in that role ... and who held his own centering the 4th-line in limited minutes (9:30 total, 2:44 on the PP).

Kyle Okposo got the (quite beautiful) first assist on both Tavares goals, but the second assist was legitimately credited to Jeff Tambellini on the first and Schremp on the second. The powerplay actually looked functional.

Meanwhile, Schremp's 9:30 TOI was more than Josh Bailey, who ended up with a paltry 8:15 (just 0:23 on the PP). Bailey was also 0-5 on faceoffs. Hmmm...

We spend so much time (rightly so) fretting about this insufficient blueline. And lord knows Jon Sim and company get their licks for being used above their talent level. (Sim got 9:28, zilch on the PP, by the way.) But we can't forget the search for who on this team can score besides John Tavares and Matt Moulson -- who have accounted for all of the Islanders goals ~~in the last week~~ since Nov. 28 in New Jersey, when Richard Park scored the lone goal in a 6-1 loss. It's worth noting that without the ample powerplay time that Tavares gets, he doesn't have four goals in the last two games, either.

There remain several movable parts who have either not performed (one view) or not gotten the consistent chance to perform (the other view). In that group you'd have to include Bailey, Frans Nielsen, Tambellini, Schremp, Blake Comeau and Sean Bergenheim. With Bergenheim out, it opens up one more slot in the opportunity department.

Safe to say two of those guys (Comeau and Bergenheim) are destined to be non-top-six, two-way wingers with a focus on the defensive side. Two of those guys can probably only stick around if they can score consistently (Tamby, Schremp). And the remaining two are centers, centers with #2 potential, but centers who will need to show more than they have on the offensive side.

I'm not pigeon-holing anyone yet, but it would be fun to get more time with these guys being mixed up and down depending on performance and chemistry. Depending on the length of Bergenheim and Jackman's injuries, maybe that happens -- and maybe the people pining for more Schremp are at least temporarily appeased.

Or maybe somebody gets healthy again and Schremp goes back to the press box.

Either way, this now three-game losing streak is distressing, but it has put me back into the evaluation mode that I fully expected to be in all season. Which is a little different than living and dying with each win and loss to see how long the Isles can stick out this quasi-.500, point-per-game pace.

* * *

Game Thread Thanks

If you saw the game thread, that, friends, is what a Pension Plan Puppets invasion looks like. (If you weren't in there live, the PPP participation was all contained to the 1st intermission/2nd period, except for some stragglers.) Thanks for playing along and being nice hosts; thanks for not shouting at them just because they speak a different form of English. And thanks to our PPP visitors for bringing their unique brand of Leafdom hallucinations; I swear, those Canadian pharmaceuticals are something else.

Since our in-game threads range from quiet to noisy depending on the day and the opponent, it's fun to do accept a visiting high-volume tribe every once in a while to see how these can go at max capacity. Some games you need to get more off your chest in-the-moment, so just know it's always there (and some days you wish your comments would go away ... which is why the threads are a little more disposable). We only had one flare-up -- not bad for a high-volume cross-team visit, so no worries. Generally, I just want people here to welcome visitors, ignore trolls (or in rare cases, stomp them with extreme prejudice before they are banned) and be cool with each other.

On that note, I know I read most sites a lot more than I comment. So if there are things you want or don't want here, just let me know via comment (or via email if you want privacy or insist on remaining a lurker). I can't promise I'll answer every request (That's a nice way of saying your comment goes directly to our Customer Service Department, where it will be considered very important and our people will respond within 6 to 8 weeks).

But if your request fits I'll try, and if I know what people generally prefer (time, type of post, topic, etc.), it will help me know how bad I'm ticking you off when I insist on doing whatever the hell I want anyway. But seriously, for a moment: I just run this place so Islanders fans and hockey fans have a welcoming place to chat hockey, and hopefully I have a good idea every once in a while. That's all.

Let's Go Islanders. Let's Go Second Line.

Islanders Gameday in Toronto: Let's really try to win this one, boys

Dominik — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:15:21 -0000

The Maple Leafs penalty kill, at a jaw-dropping 72.1%, remains the worst in the league by a country mile. In the last three games -- two of them convincing wins -- they've killed just 6 of 11.

The struggling Islanders powerplay potted two last night (thank you, John Tavares), but don't let that fool you: One was a 5-on-3, they also gave up a shorthanded goal -- caused by Mark Streit's ill-advised shot, which was preceded by a typical panic pass -- and they could have given up several more.

New York Islanders (11-12-7, 12th/East) at Toronto Maple Leafs (9-13-7, 14th)
7 p.m. EST | [something about air] Centre | MSG+2 (twice the plus!), radio
Rabble-Rousing Foes: Pension Plan Puppets

This isn't the only problem with that unit, but the powerplay point chemistry between Streit and Kyle Okposo just hasn't been there. I keep saying this, but they miss Doug Weight's poise. Okposo is a galloping young thing whose game at this age is suited for relentlessly winning puck battles. Weight is a more circumspect, patient veteran who can no longer rely on speed and so must turn to guile. Hopefully Brian Burke and Ron Wilson don't judge Okposo's Olympic candidacy on that out-of-position side of his game.

For the rest of the unit, at least we know Matt Moulson knows how to create traffic, and when they get the puck down low to JT, he doesn't miss.

Injuries aside, that's the most pressing concern. The Leafs, 6-2-2 in their last 10, continue to handily outshoot opponents 34 - 30.4 per game. And the Isles, 4-6-0 (has it really been 10 games since an OTL?!), continue to get outshot 33.2 - 29.5. So tonight could be a lovely shooting gallery, and even that would be a vast improvement over both last night and the last Isles-Leafs meeting, when Dwayne Roloson took 61 for the team and somehow salvaged an OT win.

But about those injuries. For some reason whenever Sean Bergenheim plays the Leafs, the offensive side of his game -- the one we used to dream about -- comes alive. PIty then that he's out of the lineup with a rib injury. Also out is Tim Jackman, the de facto enforcer. So if that whole overblown "truculence" thing ("Truculence: The Secret Ingredient to One* Cup Since 1975") comes up, the Isles will need a committee to step up and play the NHL's ritual testosterone dance. But I'm expecting more of a throw our guns at their guns affair, which should make for some entertaining hockey, fast-paced hockey. I could do without Phil Kessel and Lee Stempniak getting 20 shots between them this time. And more of the "just throw it at Vesa" approach.

*not even all that essential to that 2007 Cup either, come to think of it. But do not blaspheme our great game's mythology.

That all of course depends on who enters the lineup, too. At the moment, I assume Blake Comeau and Rob Schremp Hockey are in. But you never know whether they might pick up the Rechlicz Phone and bring "The Wrecker" up for his three minutes. He hasn't seen a lot of time in Bridgeport though, so I'd hate to see them do that when Comeau and Schremp are due.

Please Show Up for this Kind of a Big Deal Game

After handing the Flyers a free pass back to the playoff bubble, it would be nice if the Isles didn't hand the Leafs a free advance back to respectability tonight. As mentioned last night, a regulation loss to the Leafs puts them two points back of the Islanders and five points behind 8th-seeded Montreal with a game in hand. Not too shabby, considering the hole they dug in the opening weeks.

In the "Explaining Random Chance through Psychology" department, the Islanders at the end of this long road string could be looking forward to home cooking for the next month. And the Leafs could be looking past the Isles to a revenge match in Boston tomorrow night, the scene of last weekend's drubbing at the hands of the holders of their 2010 and 2011 first-round picks. That's worth mulling over if one team fails to show up tonight, but I've learned that this team consistently surprises me. One game never tells me much about the next game. It feels like the "any given Sunday" mystique that the All About Televised Football and Concussions League professes to offer.

So if the Islanders lay another egg, I won't be thinking about their mental state so much as where they're headed. In their last five games, they've had three ugly losses (New Jersey, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia) and two very sound wins (Pittsburgh, Atlanta). Play the organized, aggressive way they can, and they look good. Don't play that way, they look awful. I guess the answer is as it has been: Their margin of error is thin, their depth is paltry, so they need all cylinders firing to get points (well, except when there is a Roloson Miracle). Sounds kind of like the Leafs actually, save for the miraculous goalie part.

Tonight's Game Thread: Visitors from Leafs Nation?

There's talk over at Pension Plan Puppets of a 2nd-period "field trip" over here to our thread at Lighthouse Hockey. If you've never seen their PPP game threads, they're a lively ribald bunch of Leaf fanatics. One of the things that drew me to SBN's platform is the ability for rival teams' fans to interact without descending into anonymous message board flame wars. So obviously if their tour bus stops off here, I'd expect you to welcome them and banter like fellow hockey fans without taking any jabs too seriously. Bring the funny, the drink and the spirit. Or just take it all in and marvel at their numbers.

That's The Virtual Party, What about the Real One?

For locals, don't forget the Point Blank viewing party at SOCIAL, across from the Coliseum. If you know about it, you know by now you should RSVP at that link if you plan on going. Free buffet, $1 Bud/Bud Lights {holds nose} between 7-8 p.m., and complimentary shots after each Islanders goal. That sounds like a party I could dig -- and it sounds like a great reason for the Islanders to score a lot of goals.

Introducing Your Islanders 2010 Olympic Hockey Hopefuls: crickets

Dominik — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:30:11 -0000

More photos » by Seth Wenig - AP

As long as nothing like this happens, Mark Streit will be in Vancouver leading Team Switzerland.

Browse more photos »

There is an exchange in the movie "Airplane!" that sort of goes like this but doesn't really go like this:

Elaine (stewardess): "Would you like something to read?"
Old Woman (not the one who later "speaks Jive"): "Do you have anything light?"
Elaine (hands over a bookmark-sized paper): "How about this leaflet, 'Famous Islanders 2010 Olympic Hopefuls'?"

(The original line is a harmless religious gag that you might not remember unless you're someone who watched that film way too often in the '80s ... someone like me.)

Because 2010 Olympic hockey rosters will start to be announced later this month, several of us hockey site managers on SB Nation are taking turns looking at our respective teams to see who's a lock, who's on the bubble, etc. for each country. Sadly, Team Denmark did not qualify for this Olympic tourney -- cutting Islanders representation by a scientifically estimated figure of 33 to 50 percent.

Fine by me. While I like to have good players, I don't mind our good players getting a big rest in February while everyone else's stars fight it out for ~~bigger endorsement deals~~ the pure patriotic pride that the completely uncommercialized Olympics has proudly represented for so long. Unfortunately, our best player at our weakest position is the most important player on his national team.

[Olympic outlook continues after the jump, after the poll...]

This Guy Right Here, He's an Olympian

Mark Streit

#2 / Defenseman / New York Islanders

Height: 6-0

Weight: 197

Born: Dec 11, 1977

Intl. Experience: "Mark Streit" is Latin for "Swiss god of hockey"

Prospects: "Lay her down and slap 'em yack 'em"

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Mark Streit	27	4	11	15	1	22	2	0	1	0	61	6.6

With all due apologies to David Aebischer, Mark Streit is the face of Swiss hockey on these shores. Be it Olympics or be it the annual World Championships -- where Streit played 10 consecutive tournaments -- Streit is a fixture. He was captain in 2006 (when Switzerland beat Canada and the Czech Republic in group play) and the captain at the World Championships last spring, when I really wish he'd been resting his banged-up body after his first NHL season as a #1 defenseman.

Streit's not only a lock this year (barring injury), he's probably a lock until he gets old and gray, sort of like Petr Stastny was for Slovakia. Why this sort of stinks? As often discussed here, the Islanders blueline is a bit of a weak point, and Streit is their best defenseman, logging the most minutes. I don't relish the thought of him coming back exhausted. Fortunately for the Islanders-centric view, his team is a long shot to make it to the medal round.

Streit might be the only Islander at the Olympics ... but maybe not.

This Guy, He's Got Work to Do, But One Day He'll Be an Olympian

Kyle Okposo

#21 / Right Wing / New York Islanders

Height: 6-1

Weight: 200

Born: Apr 16, 1988

Intl. Experience: 2008 WJC, 2009 WC

Prospects: A Brian Burke-type of player, minus the dumb penalties part. But would need to pick it up, quickly. Or, in short: "Cutter say can't hang."

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Kyle Okposo	26	5	9	14	-6	16	2	0	2	0	82	6.1

The first step for Kyle Okposo was last spring, when he formed the most consistent line for Team USA at the WC with David Backes and TJ Oshie. That line is an ideal, North American-style combo of physicality, hands and determination right there. The coach's stereotypical "Give me 18 Backeses/Okposos/Oshies and I won't have to coach" sort of deal. The second step for Okposo was being among the 34 invited to last summer's orientation camp.

But after a promising second half last year and a nice start this year, Okposo's been in a bit of a slump. He's only 100 games into his NHL career, and his scoring totals will definitely improve (particularly if he re-unites with John Tavares and Matt Moulson on the top line). But for now, his totals and play tell me he's not on pace to make the cut this year. Lots of games in December could change that projection, though. And generally when people watch an Islanders game, they notice when this Minnesotan is on the ice. That talent and love for the game could make him an Olympian one day ... if the NHL is still doing that thing in 2014 or 2018.

This Guy Has Been Shelved, But Deserves a Mention for Service

Doug Weight

#93 / Center / New York Islanders

Height: 5-11

Weight: 196

Born: Jan 21, 1971

Intl. Experience: Led the U.S. team to gold at the 1960 Olympics in Squall Valley

Prospects: Dinner is every day at 4:30 in the cafeteria. Bridge is in the lobby. In the lounge is a TV with SAP where you can watch Wapner and the Olympics in closed-caption.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Doug Weight	11	0	6	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	19	0.0

I'll just be happy if Doug Weight, whose body keeps reminding him this is a young man's game, is healthy in February. When healthy, he's a big help to the Islanders powerplay. But he's on the shelf now, likely for several more weeks, and he wasn't in the picture for this year's Olympics anyway. Of the World Cup '96ers -- man, what a wonderful week that was -- only Mike Modano was invited to last summer's orientation camp as a player. And seriously, Modano shouldn't be in Vancouver either.

Don't Call Us, We'll Call You

Sean Bergenheim

#20 / Left Wing / New York Islanders

Height: 5-10

Weight: 205

Born: Feb 08, 1984

Intl. Experience: Multiple WJCs plus 3 of the last 4 WCs

Prospects: Pretty slim, actually - but he'd fit right in if called.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Sean Bergenheim	27	4	6	10	1	14	0	1	0	0	55	7.3

Sean Bergenheim is a diligent, feisty, responsible two-way player, which is why Scott Gordon trusts him in defensive situations more than the "pure" scorers on the Islanders. Of course, that description fits a ton of Finnish players, so there's no reason Bergenheim should expect to be on the squad. He would have played at last spring's World Championships, but as with Frans Nielsen and his Mottau'd knee, the Islanders wisely talked Bergenheim out of putting his wonky groin through an intense tournament test.

Still, if a plague of injuries wiped through Finland's best players, you know Bergenheim would handle a fourth-line role like a pro.

Sticking with Bergenheim's team: Finnish goalies are as common as Texas quarterbacks and Nebraskan linemen, so no, Mikko Koskinen does not get the call, even if Miikka Kiprusoff is doing the whole prima donna thing.

Sticking with Nordic goalies: Were you like me when you saw Chris Botta's headline about Anders Nilsson being "selected to Team Sweden?" Wha-wha-what?! Oh, that Team Sweden. I always forget about the kids, so of course I was going to forget about the WJCs when it was the Olympics on my mind. Still, the fact Nilsson is in the picture for his national junior team is nothing but a positive for the Islanders' future. Oh, hey, did you hear Rick DiPietro is about to get some game action in Bridgeport?

If Only My Country Had Qualified

Frans Nielsen, the NHL's first Dane, would be there if the rest of his team was. He's a smart two-way center with some savvy puck skills -- okay, and I have a man-crush on his game -- but the fact he's one of Denmark's best hockey products tells you why Denmark won't be in Vancouver. As with Streit and Switzerland, though, players like Frans are the guys who pave the way for national team growth. And unless you're the type of Canadian who thinks the sky is falling each time the percentage of Canucks in the NHL drops, then more hockey played by more people in more countries is always a good thing. Period.

Richard Park, one of the few Korean-born players in NHL history, will not be at the Olympics. But not because South Korea won't be -- Park's actually a U.S. citizen who has represented the U.S. several times at the World Championships. But the pool of willing Olympic players is deeper than the IIHF's annual spring tournament, so the role Park normally plays will be taken by a 20-goal scorer.

Regardless, Park is also a trailblazer with a very interesting route to the NHL, and a couple of times on this site we've had at least one Asian-North American (another Nova Soctian, actually) log on just to share with us what Park's career has meant. That is always cool.

* * *

Related: Full stream of SBN's 2010 Olympic hockey previews.

Note: This is a hockey-lover's site, run as a labor of love. Which means it's hardly authoritative and not sourced by Olympic team insiders. You're not only welcome to disagree with these assessments, you're encouraged to lodge any disagreement or other thoughts in comments, whatever they may be ("Airplane!" quotes, for example).

Side question: How much do you care about Olympic hockey? I feel a bit inconvenienced by it myself. Kind of miss the amateurs and the Canada Cup/World Cup.

Poll

How many Islanders will be at the Olympics in Vancouver?

1

64 votes

2

79 votes

3

29 votes

43 (You better show your work on this one)

22 votes

194 votes | Poll has closed

Game 22, Preview and Open Thread: Reunited With Marty, Philadelphia Flyers at New York Islanders

Travis Hughes — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:09:27 -0000

Philadelphia Flyers (12-8-1, 25 pts) at New York Islanders (9-8-7, 25 pts)
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - 7:00 PM EST - Uniondale, NY
TV: CSN Philly HD, Yahoo! Online
Radio: 610 WIP, XM 205
This is the open game thread.
Behind Enemy Lines: Lighthouse Hockey

Tonight, this hell of a road trip will finally be over. But before we can all breathe a sigh of relief, the Flyers will have to beat the Islanders tonight on Long Island. With a loss tonight, I will start to worry. Three straight losses out West are understandable. Not acceptable, but understandable. Making that four losses against a team that the Flyers are clearly superior than is not acceptable. It's not a must win tonight, but it's as close as you can get in the month of November.

For one, a loss tonight would make that in-superior hockey team top us in the standings. That's right, the Islanders are currently tied with us in the Eastern Conference with 25 points, but as their 9-8-7 record shows, they're being successful by having a penchant for getting games to overtime.

A major key in the Isles' relative success has been rookie phenom John Tavares. He's living up to the hype that has surrounded him since he broke onto the scene as a pimple-faced teenager, and now that he's a not-pimple-faced teenager, he's among the Isles' team leaders in scoring. But as Dominik from Lighthouse Hockey worried last night on BSH Radio and again today on his site, Tavares might not be as successful against the Flyers and Chris Pronger.

"But I'm more worried," Dominik wrote, "about Chris Pronger simply being physically dominant around the Flyers net -- John Tavares's workshop -- and using his long reach to disrupt any moves or shots Tavares tries." Outside of Tavares, the Flyers have Matt Moulson, Jeff Tambellini, and Kyle Okposo to worry about up front. But for the most part, the Islanders are a one-line team and their offense can be limited.

They've allowed 74 goals in 24 games so far this season, compared to the 59 allowed by Philadelphia in 21 games, so they are certainly vulnerable on defense. The Flyers are pretty hobbled in the scoring department, as we well know. Danny Briere will sit this one out due to suspension, and Darroll Powe and Blair Betts are still out as well. The good news? Arron Asham is back tonight. David Laliberte has been sent back to the Phantoms, so it looks as though Riley Cote will get to play hockey tonight.

The big news, though, is that the Flyers will see Martin Biron for the first time since casting him aside this offseason. Marty has basically been pushed into a backup role by Dwayne Roloson, who Yahoo! apparently thinks is playing tonight. It'll be Marty, but we wont get to see a rematch of Emery vs Biron's little fisticuffs match.

Brian Boucher will go for the Flyers tonight, and he earned it, in my humble opinion. Emery looked terrible against Colorado and pretty unimpressive against Phoenix as well. He's simply hit a wall and needs a rest, and Boucher has earned some time with his performance in relief against the Avs and even against Los Angeles last week. There's no goalie controversy, of course, but Emery needs a little rest. He'll get it tonight.

After the jump, we'll ask a few questions to be answered tonight.

Questions To Answer

Can Pronger and Matt Carle shut down Tavares and the Isles' top-line?
Will the Flyers be able to take advantage of knowing Martin Biron's weaknesses?
The Isles take 4.25 minor penalties per game, on average. That's about middle of the pack in the league, but the Flyers PP should get some chances tonight. Can they take advantage against a PK that's also average?
Is Kimmo Timonen hurt? He didn't play in the third on Monday night, but the Flyers haven't said anything about his absence. Any indications tonight that something is wrong?
Ice time for Riley Cote?

Tonight's game will be broadcast locally on CSN Philly. Listen on 610 WIP, and if you're not in the Philadelphia or New York markets, watch live online -- for free -- from Yahoo! (link above). As always, join us here for the conversation, and LET'S GO FLYERS!

Islanders Gameday vs. Flyers: Please don't hurt us

Dominik — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:15:08 -0000

One complaint among Islanders fans this summer was the need for an enforcer or, at minimum, toughness, because teams like the Flyers, Rangers and Penguins had added physical guys. I'm all for team toughness, but I'm not for paying a guy like Colton Orr $4 million over 4 years to be your worst player. (Ah yes, Orr: Who's taken five times more penalties than he's drawn, and who was the only Leaf Monday night on the ice for more shots directed at his own net than at the Islanders'. (Yes, the same night the Isles were outshot 61-21. Pay that man a million dollars! Lock him up until 2013!)

Philadelphia Flyers (12-8-1, 25pts) at New York Islanders(9-8-7, 25pts)
7 p.m. | Nassau [home, sweet home] Coliseum | MSG+, radio

Frequent Flyer Hub: Broad Street Hockey

Granted, some nights you need to "put on the foil" and be armed with enforcers for a goon-it-up evening. And sometimes "the guys" enjoy that boost. But far more often, you just need toughness: Forwards who can hit (Trent Hunter, Sean Bergenheim), forwards who are not easily knocked off the puck (Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo), and forwards who are passable 4th-line players and are also willing to drop the gloves (Tim Jackman, Nate Thompson). The Islanders are generally undersized and need to rectify this over the long-term. But the solution is not to make a millionaire out of a guy who can only skate (poorly) six minutes a night, while taking dumb penalties and only finding a role when the other team's resident enforcer mutually agrees it's time for a job-justification bout.

But tonight is the first test against the physical Flyers, who are so physical even Dannyiel Briere is doing naughty things, right? Will they run over the Islanders physically? Will they hurt them? It's possible. But I'm more worried about Chris Pronger simply being physically dominant around the Flyers net -- John Tavares's workshop -- and using his long reach to disrupt any moves or shots Tavares tries. I'm also worried about the Flyers' 25.6% powerplay, and the Islanders' tendency to be tagged with several penalties per game (though not as much at home).

And more than that, I'm worried about the Islanders hurting us, the fans -- by getting a lead and making us run through a bottle of antacids and a six-pack of beer hoping against hope that they don't deviate from the approach that got them that lead.

I almost throw the 3-0 lead over the Leafs out; the Islanders were playing poorly before that three-minute spurt, so it's not like "keep doing what you're doing" was the strategy for success, particularly since the "Just throw it at Vesa" strategy became moot once Toskala left the game hurt. But overall, this is a young, not very deep team. So this protecting leads thing, it's going to take time. And ultimately, it's going to take a few more better players.

The Flyers Have Been Recently Rather Rude to the Islanders

**Islanders vs. Flyers 2007-09**
	Record	Shots	GF	GA	PP	PK	FO rec
2007-08	1-6-1	264-239	16	30	3/33	18/32	233-214
2008-09	0-4-2	203-182	12	22	2/23	13/17	192-197

In the throes of last year's misery, in a post noting how the Islanders were particularly feeble against their playoff-caliber Atlantic Division brethren, I recalled how the year before (2007-08) they'd played everyone tough -- except the Flyers. In fact, in 07-08, the Flyers wouldn't have made the playoffs without the 14 points they took from the Islanders. So in 2009-10, when the Islanders are closer to their 07-08 competitive selves, will the Flyers domination continue?

I'll just note a few things about Ted Nolan's meetings vs. Scott Gordon's meetings: Nolan had the superior team (and superior goaltending, with DiPietro playing 6 of 8), yet far worse special teams. I mean, just look at that PK: 18 for 32? Faceoffs are pretty close to even for both coaches, when you're talking some 400 faceoffs. And while the Islanders have outshot the Flyers in both years, that is often a product of a team constantly playing behind, throwing desperation bombs while an opponent is content to sit back and close out its win.

The Flyers goalie for 12 of those wins over the last two seasons? Why "Islanders-killer" Martin Biron, of course. Biron gets the start tonight, so hopefully his Islander-killing ways are behind him.

With the way Biron sometimes cheats off his post, I fear he's the type of guy whose teammates might know his weaknesses. Conversely, nothing brings out a singular focus like playing against the team that let you go.

This and That (and-uh)

Andrew MacDonald was sent back to Bridgeport "on loan," according to Katie Strang. If "loan" means we get him back soon, let it be so. I dread more Meyer-Witt by the same degree I relish the chance to see more of Jack Hillen's growth. Your third pairing is general your two weakest defensemen, but those two have been, well, our two weakest defensemen. By Corsi, Witt has been weaker than Meyer -- but in that measure Bruno Gervais has been weaker than both. (Fine print: Yesterday's straw poll concluded that this site's motto should be "So basically, the stats make no sense whatsoever." So there's that.)

Speaking of undersized: Old friend Marc-Andre Bergeron got two goals in the Habs' win over the Blue Jackets. That dude, every once in a while he makes you wonder...then he makes a play that gets him benched.

We're Talkin' About Practice, Man: The Islanders canceled the full-squad practice and just had Rick DiPietro and the scratches and some random regulars. I know they were coming home from the road, but to me the only guy who needed a rest was Roloson. The rest of them could stand to work on correcting a few habits. That said, coaches loooooove practice, and coming home is like giving them their remote control back so they can tinker and direct. So if Gordon passed up a chance to practice in favor of giving them a mental rest, I defer to the guy who is a professional coach.

Lineup Shenanigans: Chris Botta says tonight it will be the same 18 as Monday, though the lines may be shaken up. It's hard to evaluate anyone in Monday's debacle (outside of Sean Bergenheim, Josh Bailey, Hillen, and Dwayne "God" Roloson), but what did you think of Trent Hunter with Tavares and Moulson? In theory it makes sense. And Hunter set up the Hillen shot on Moulson's goal. But I wonder if it's time to put Okposo back up there and reunite that line? Or is it time for Okposo to rediscover how to score without being on that line?

For the Flyers, Briere (suspension), old pal Arron Asham, and Blair Betts are all out.

Prediction: Josh Bailey continues his scoring streak.

Blues 4, Islanders 1: In the end, not much fight

Dominik — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:25:13 -0000

This 4-1 loss to the Blues struck me as a case of running into a rested, physical team on the second night of back-to-backs.

Things opened up well, and Freddy Meyer and Andy Sutton did their best to send wake-up call hits to Blues forwards like T.J. Oshie. But when the Blues grabbed their first lead late in the second period, they had also ramped up their own physical game -- with big forwards like David Backes, Keith Tkachuk and Cam Janssen reminding the Islanders of their small size at both forward and defense. At that point, it seemed the Islanders ran out of gas, as backchecks got lazy, and the offense fizzled.

Game Sum. | Event Sum. | Recaps: nhl.com | Isles | StL P-D

Final - 11.21.2009	1	2	3	Total
New York Islanders	1	0	0	1
St. Louis Blues	1	1	2	4

Complete Coverage >

A surreal thing about watching two teams who never play each other but who you personally watch all the time: You see things developing before the unfamiliar opponents on the ice do. You want to shout warnings like a parent.

So here's my brain internal narration during the game: "Whoa, Bailey's gonna break in alone and Hunter will hit him!" ... "Look out, Streit, Perron has enough open space to try his -- whoa." ... "Bergenheim and Okposo are going to give and go here, and Weaver won't be ready." ... "Moulson, look out, Berglund will cut back to the middle here and shoot against the grain!"

Admittedly, I didn't foresee Eric Brewer scoring.

Kyle Okposo was a force early (and should have drawn a penalty when he was mauled in the Blues crease, only to see a tacky call on Mark Streit happen seconds later). But by the second half of the game, Okposo's efforts and those of his teammates including John Tavares were pretty ineffective, with all of their comeback attempts coming via harmless shots from the outside. Maybe they weren't gassed, but they looked it.

It was a funny thing with Meyer's and Sutton's big hits (and for Sutton, attempted hit that ended up with him in the Blues bench): They may have backfired. Because the Blues, rather than get run out of their own building, responded by making things difficult for undersized players like Jack Hillen, Bruno Gervais and Josh Bailey.

WebBard posted this at the end of the game thread about the Islanders on back-to-backs:

On the 2nd game of back to back games we’re 2-3-1 with 18 goals for and 21 goals against. Respectable, until you look and [see] we scored 11 of the 18 goals in the two wins. I get the feeling that back to back games are going to be problems throughout the year.

Special Teams

I'll say this, as a guy who was watching this hoping for OT but rooting for an Isles win: I thought the Blues received the benefit of home team officiating on the few calls that were made. That said, another 3-on-5 kill by the Isles was impressive, and I'm glad this game was decided 5-on-5. The Islanders' PP has gotten a little stale the past few games anyway.

Lineup Moves

I haven't seen anything from Andrew MacDonald to make me take him out of the lineup -- have you? Meanwhile, Jeff Tambellini got under 10 minutes, so it's hard to say yea or nay for his play. Okposo, Tavares, Moulson, Gervais, Hillen, Sutton all ended up minus-2, and tonight I'd say that was a fair reflection.

Being There

I don't have too much to say about being there tonight. I watched this one from a perch I've never had: Our friends took us to this game with reservations at one of those face-the-ice restaurant deals, so I watched the game with a plate of food in front of me and my neck permanently turned to my left to see the ice. So i didn't get to scan the building for fellow Islanders jerseys, but I did see two Streits and one Tavares in the section below us (all of them the retro thirds). Our "seats" had a great angle, though. Josh Bailey's goal came right at me, and I saw the daylight he picked to Chris Mason's right. Apparently, when they pimped this restaurant on the Jumbotron, they had a live image of me, in an isles jersey, stuffing my plate at the buffet. That's a first.

I was thinking before the game how it seems like it had been forever since I'd watched the Islanders in St. Louis, and sure enough their last meeting was before the lockout, with Brad Shaw as coach. I don't remember my mental state for that one (a 6-3 Isles win), but both teams were in disarray. Tonight, I found myself rooting for OT while also hoping players I like on each side would take advantage of players who need scratching on the other side.

Inadvertent 'What is their coach doing?' Quote of the Night

From Scott Gordon: "I can't believe (the Blues) are just .500 (8-8-4). That just blows my mind with the talent they have."

Flash just echoed the thoughts of many Blues fans.

Bottom Line

This is why the coughed-up game in Minnesota at the start of this back-to-back hurts. Suddenly a very winnable three-game trip against the league's struggling teams becomes a daunting, road-weary challenge. Another regulation loss in Toronto Monday would spell serious trouble, with two very tough Pennsylvania opponents waiting on either side of Thanksgiving.

Finally, I know it hurts, but Perron's second was an incredible goal that will be remembered around the league all year long, so I'm saving it here. From an atmosphere perspective, you felt the oohs and aahs build in the crowd as he gained each zone:

SB Nation - Kyle Okposo

Rangers vs. Islanders: "The Little Brother Syndrome", everything to lose, nothing to gain

This & That: DiPietro, Brooklyn, Team USA, blowout post-mortem

Islanders 3, Bruins 2 (OT): Frans Nielsen is the bestest Dane in the whole wide world

Rob Schremp Hockey(TM): No longer goal-less

My God, the Defense, We're Hosed

Bailey at Left Wing: Experiment A

The Moulson-Tavares-Okposo Train

The OT Win: A Frans Shootout Move and a Bold Gordon

The Negative, and One More Positive

Where the Islanders goals are coming from

Of Course I Will Find a Way to Blame This on the Blueline

Maple Leafs 3, Islanders 2: Tavares-led comeback erased by...Blake!

Game Thread Thanks

Islanders Gameday in Toronto: Let's really try to win this one, boys

Please Show Up for this Kind of a Big Deal Game

Tonight's Game Thread: Visitors from Leafs Nation?

That's The Virtual Party, What about the Real One?

Introducing Your Islanders 2010 Olympic Hockey Hopefuls: *crickets*

This Guy Right Here, He's an Olympian

Mark Streit

#2 / Defenseman / New York Islanders

This Guy, He's Got Work to Do, But One Day He'll Be an Olympian

Kyle Okposo

#21 / Right Wing / New York Islanders

This Guy Has Been Shelved, But Deserves a Mention for Service

Doug Weight

#93 / Center / New York Islanders

Don't Call Us, We'll Call You

Sean Bergenheim

#20 / Left Wing / New York Islanders

If Only My Country Had Qualified

How many Islanders will be at the Olympics in Vancouver?

1

2

3

43 (You better show your work on this one)

Game 22, Preview and Open Thread: Reunited With Marty, Philadelphia Flyers at New York Islanders

Islanders Gameday vs. Flyers: Please don't hurt us

The Flyers Have Been Recently Rather Rude to the Islanders

This and That (and-uh)

Blues 4, Islanders 1: In the end, not much fight

Special Teams

Lineup Moves

Being There

Inadvertent 'What is their coach doing?' Quote of the Night

Bottom Line

Introducing Your Islanders 2010 Olympic Hockey Hopefuls: crickets