SB Nation - Mike Iggulden

Baby Islanders in the hole, 0-2

Dominik — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:47:29 -0000

My eyes are firmly cast upon the NHL playoffs (and lingering Sunday errands), but several Islanders of the future have fallen behind 0-2 in Bridgeport's first-round AHL playoff series with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton(icity).

Like three years ago when these teams played a tight seven-game series, Game 2 was yet another one-goal game, leaving the Sound Tigers winless in their two-game "home" visit to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Attendance in this second one was 5,903.

Bridgeport led 4-2 in the third (and outshot them 37-23 overall) but blew that lead and lost in OT, 5-4. Mike Iggulden scored but was later upper-body-injuried in the head, on a hit coach Jack Capuano said should draw a suspension. Kyle Okposo finished his two-game stint before heading to the Worlds by potting a goal on a reportedly very effective line with Ben Walter and Jesse Joensuu.

Sound Tigers-Penguins Game 2 game sheet
Game story from the Connecticut Post
More on the game and Nathan Lawson in Fornabaio's blog
Greg Logan has an update on current Sound Tiger Jon Sim, who says all the right things about wanting to prove he can still play in the NHL for the third and final year of his NHL contract and $1 million salary. It's glaring that we never get anything out of Scott Gordon or Garth Snow on this Sim situation. I assume Logan has tried...
Live blogs from Tiger Track and from 7th Woman; Kevin guesting at PointBlank, too.
This is from Game 1, but it's a great read about The Palm Isle's experience at the game ... and meeting Mitch Fritz.
No rest for the weary: Game 3 is at 5 p.m. tonight. [Update: Botta has lineup changes -- DiBenedetto, Mannino...]

Meanwhile, at the big-league level...

Lotta talk about Toronto drooling over the #1 pick they can't have. Barry Melrose Rocks comes up with a helpful graph.
Mark Herrmann in Newsday has several anonymous voices assessing Garth Snow's performance as GM. Repeats the erroneous meme that Snow was "trumped" with Zhitnik. Once again: uh, no. Don Waddell was trumped.
Snow's position on the #1 pick via Logan (as noted earlier in the FanShot)
[Update] Official site has Doug Weight on his decision to re-sign.
As for the NHL playoffs, don't forget there is a wide selection of news links, insights and hilarious game reactions around SBN hockey sites, accessible through the NHL playoffs hub.

Islanders Gameday: Penguins in, Guerin now a 4th

Dominik — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:25:12 -0000

New York Islanders (26-44-9, Tavares) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (43-28-9, 6h/E)

7:30 p.m. EDT | Igloo o' melons | MSG+

Blog we're hoping gets past the 1st round: Pensburgh

Almost nothing on the line tonight, as thanks to the Devils and Rangers' respective swoons and Pittsburgh finally cooling off, the Penguins look very likely to finish in the 6th seed and face the Devils in Round 1. [Edit: WebBard points out in comments that this is a tad simplistic view, as the 4-6 seeds are still up in the air, of course.]

Greg Logan reports that Mike Iggulden will be Blake Comeau's replacement after Comeau broke his wrist in the Carolina Massacre. Logan also has a nice bit with Bill Guerin -- whose compensation is now a 4th-rounder since the Pens clinched a playoff birth -- facing the team he captained for the first time since things went south:

"I was just on edge a lot the last couple months there with the Islanders and just really struggling with the fact that we weren't winning. For a guy my age with just a few years left, I want to win now.

"Being [in Pittsburgh] has just been a lot of fun. I feel more like myself again and more at ease with everything that's going on. I was disappointed to have to leave the Islanders because I liked it there when I first got there. I thought I was done with switching teams, but I respect the direction they've gone. It's just that I'm a short-timer, and my time is now."

Thank you for your service. I'm sorry you were on edge. Now please get the Penguins past the first round and make sure you play in half the games, so we can get our stinking 3rd-round pick.

With nothing else much to say for tonight's low-stakes encounter, I thought I'd review how the Penguins looked before each meeting this season, as my impressions fluctuated laughably.

(There's a reason I don't gamble, and it has nothing to do with morality and everything to do with the growing pile of personal evidence that predicting the uncertain future is a fool's game, and paying for the privilege just compounds the folly.)

Observing the Atlantic foe Pens' ups and downs this season has been a lesson in I-don't-know-squat. If my "wisdom" about their fortunes were encapsulated in a diary, here is how the chapter headings would read:

Act I: They're not the Cup finalists anymore, but they'll still be dangerous once Gonchar returns.
Act II: My god these guys are going to run away with the Atlantic title!
Act III: My god these guys stink. Why haven't they fired Therrien?! They're running out of time. Stick a fork in...
Act IV: Wow, what a tear under Bylsma! They aren't last year's Pens, but they could be dangerous in the spring.

Here's what I thought in November, back when they were 7-4-2:

They've started slow -- by conference champ' standards -- but they're showing me enough to make me believe they're a good bet to be a serious threat come spring, particularly once Gonchar and Whitney are back.

Not totally off base, eh? All things considered, that statement still could apply (aside from Whitney -- although what he fetched via trade is a key to their "threat").

When these teams met again in December, both were, heh, "hot." At the time I sincerely thought Pittsburgh was going to run away with the division as the Rangers continued to fall. At the time, Miro Satan was their third-highest scorer. At the time, Brooks Orpik noticed a "confidence" in the 9-10-2 Islanders' game.

By December, Islanders-level injuries continued to bug the Pens, and I thought they were ripe for the taking amid a three-game losing streak. They beat the Isles 9-2.

By February, though, something was clearly rotten in the state of Penguin. At 27-25-5, they were 10th in the East and finally fired Therrien, for whom the team just wasn't performing. Brilliant me thought it was already too late to save the season:

Are the Penguins a bad team, or are they just untapped potential -- like the Blackhawks were when they fired Denis Savard four games into this season?

To me they've been flawed, too flawed, all season long to be able to turn this season around now. They began five steps behind by having blueline cog Sergei Gonchar out until this past weekend, and now their hole looks too daunting to overcome.

Yeah, well, like I said, there's a reason I don't gamble.

Islanders Matinee: Another crack at the Bruins in 1st v. Worst

Dominik — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 05:42:18 -0000

After squeaking by the Senators, the Bruins are aware that things are not easy against no-pressure non-playoff teams like the Islanders. Despite a second half "swoon" (of sorts), they've still only lost 16 in regulation and have 97 freaking points to tie Detroit for 1st overall.

The Islanders, though, have taken some surprising scalps lately. Could the conference-leading Bruins really become another one? Could the Islanders catch the B's sleeping on this early afternoon affair? Nothing would shock me after the last couple of weeks.

New York Islanders (23-37-8, 30th) at Boston Bruins (44-16-9, 1st)

1 p.m. EDT | [FleetTDStarBankDirection & Trust] Garden | MSG+

Chowda blogga: Stanley Cup of Chowder

Mike Iggulden, fresh off his first NHL goal and first real chance in the show, is feeling good:

"It's great," said Iggulden, who has five points in four games since being called up. "I've worked really hard down in the AHL for about four years and to finally get an opportunity to play in the NHL, it's just been amazing."

Iggulden has size but is not accustomed to using it. I'm interested in whether he has the defensive discipline to be responsible and produce points at this level -- five points in four games isn't a bad start. Here's hoping we get to see more of him in the coming weeks.

I'm guessing Yann Danis gets the call again today, but it will be interesting to see what Scott Gordon decides for the second of these back-to-back road matinees in Chicago tomorrow. Does green Peter Mannino get a shot, or does Gordon just run with Danis to see how many challenges he can handle in a row? Back-to-back games against top-flight clubs is number-one goalie territory, and Gordon has not been reluctant to tell Danis he's performing like a number one -- UFA status be damned.

Isles fans should fear Phil Kessel, who leads the Bruins with 29 goals and was an obvious untouchable in the Bruins' push for veteran scoring at the deadline. Of course, the Bruins have beaten the Islanders in four straight. Based on the prior two games this season (2-1 Tim Thomas show and an ugly blowout in November), we should pretty much fear everybody on their roster.

Note: As this is a matinee and as I will not be around for the live showing of the game, consider this preview your Live Game Thread. Leave any thoughts, observations and general taunts in comments, and I'll try to be back for the end.

Islanders defy Gretzky, wrap up winning homestand

Dominik — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:42:47 -0000

Now how shall we spin this relative hot streak? A 4-1-1 homestand? The Islanders have won 4 of 5? 5 of 8? Taken points in 6 of 8? Since they ended January's 8-game losing streak with that Yann Danis-stolen victory over Anaheim, they've earned 22 out of a possible 40 points -- which is by no means playoff-like, but is far off a Tank for Tavares pace. Thank goodness for a miserable December.

Game Summary | Event Summary | Islanders Site Recap

Final - 3.8.2009	1	2	3	Total
Phoenix Coyotes	1	0	1	2
New York Islanders	0	3	0	3

Complete Coverage >

The Islanders now embark on a six-game road trip -- with some serious opponents -- which may temper the ~~enthusiasm~~ newly emerging fan worry that the long-sought reward for all this losing -- the Tavares-weighted lottery pick -- will somehow slip away.

Today's offensive stars will sound like a broken record through the rest of the season: Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, Jeff ... Tambellini? Passer Bailey potted a rare goal after the again-impressive Mike Iggulden started the rush and created a wide-open rebound. Tamby's goal came from -- get this -- going to the net, as ordered.

But it's funny: The Islanders' top six forwards are now purely the young core because all the old veterans have left the building: Doug Weight and Richard Park are still injured, Bill Guerin and Mike Comrie are dealt away, and now even Trent Hunter is injured for the year. It's the young kids' time now by design but also by accident.(Incidentally, Guerin had a big day on Sidney Crosby's wing and looked positively 96 World Cup-ish with his enthusiasm. His long search for meaningful hockey is over.)

Homicidal Penalty Kill

But it wasn't just the pretty shots that made the day. Danis naturally took first star with his career-high-tying 40 saves. But he and other penalty killers (Mark Streit, Bruno Gervais, Radek Martinek, plus forwards Andy Hilbert, Dean McAmmond and Okposo) helped squash Coyotes power plays, including two 5-on-3s and one 6-on-4 with the goalie pulled.

Granted, the Coyotes' two-man advantage leaves much to be desired and leads one to question exactly what it is Wayne Gretzky teaches this team.

"We didn't capitalize on either five-on-three," Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said. "I believe you should score on every five-on-three situation."

Well, OK then. He at least teaches them what should happen. But the way the Coyotes used the two extra men reminded me more of a middle school fire drill rather than the Oilers' dynasty interruptus that received the torch from the Islanders but fell a Steve Smith'd 1986 short of replicating it. OdinMercer of Coyotes blog Five for Howling suggested that the 'Yotes PP will never improve while Ed Jovanovski is on the point.

Whatever the answer, we won't see it. This is the modern NHL, so we won't see these desert dogs for quite some time. Why, the fact we even saw them twice this season was just a scheduling accident that reminds us the league's more glamorous teams want their extra games to be against other glamorous teams. So it goes.

Islanders Matinee: Coyotes come a howlin'

Dominik — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:00:09 -0000

What's this? An inter-conference rematch -- in today's NHL? So it goes. To cut the quips off at the pass here ... the NHL must've seen fit to use up these "extra" games in the schedule by pairing up two teams that, uh, don't make money. There, that's done.

Phoenix Coyotes (28-32-5, 25th) at New York Islanders (21-37-7, 30th)

3 p.m. E-Daylight-T | Nassau [gloriously not-dot-com'd] Coliseum | MSG+

Desert blog where dogs dog it: Five for Howling

When these teams last met, Doug Weight was healthy(ish) and notching his 1,000th point, while the Coyotes still had Olli Jokinen and a chance -- 7th place in the West in those salad days -- at the playoffs. Apparently, it's no coincidence that they couldn't get there with Olli the Eniigmaa, so they wisely cut bait with the former King/Islander/Panther.

Now that the Coyotes have joined the Islanders in the land of the lottery -- and that's where they'll finish, or my name ain't Nathan Arizona -- they have a fresh roster of former Rangers and other cursed deadline clippings to make hay with. Like the Islanders, their treasure chest of young kids may find life is likeable without the older guys around. Petr Prucha and Nigel Dawes are easier to like once they showered off their Broadway blues.

Still, anyone expecting a letdown on the Islanders' part? After yesterday's thrilling win (boy, that's a rare phrase in these parts), the kids have another chance to go out there and play some pond hockey. Or they have a chance to feel good about themselves and sleepwalk through a game after yesterday's post-game celebratory libations.

So far on this Coyotes road trip, they've stunned the Bruins 2-1 and made like Devils in losing to the Sabres, 5-1. Tough to predict which version comes out today.

As we already heard, possible future captain Trent Hunter is now out for the season after fracturing his ankle yesterday. But honestly, that just clears more room for the kids to get a taste of life as responsible NHLers. Jesse Joensuu is apparently night and day different from where he was last season and last fall -- so most Islanders fans will be happy to get longer looks at him and Mike Iggulden, as well as the rest of the kids we've been talking about all season long.

Devils Defenseless Against Islanders Speed, Lose 7-3

John Fischer — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:46:59 -0000

Two weeks ago, the Devils just failed against the Islanders 4-0. Today, the Devils didn't perform much better as they lost to the Islanders 7-3. The loss is Martin Brodeur's first loss since his injury, contains the most goals against since his injury (6), it was the first game since his injury he was pulled, and it snaps a four game winning streak. So much for history repeating itself! As you can guess by the scoreline, it definitely wasn't a good game for New Jersey. Islanders fans like Dom, are pleased with how the team performed.

My thoughts begin after the jump. I also discussed the Devils and the season that they've been having on Hockey Night on Long Island earlier this evening. You can listen to Episode 22 via the HNLI website.

Let's begin with the biggest weakness in the Devils' performance: the defense. As a whole, the Devils defensemen were a step behind the Islanders on a majority of the shifts in this game. I don't know if Overspeed was the official tactic of the Islanders today, but the Islanders attack featured many guys in blue and orange just heading up ice. Lots of short passes, lots of second and third skaters jumping up in the play, and the Islanders at least looked very quick. It gave the Devils' defenders fits all afternoon.

When speed seems to be in a team's disadvantage, positioning and awareness of where the opposition is becomes that much more important. The Devils' defenders - and this includes backcheckers as well - just made too many mistakes in this regard. As a result, many of the Islanders' goals were seemingly easy for the shooter. A few of them came off rebounds and a few of them came from Islanders getting into the slot. The Isles were able to do way too easily due to the defensemen's poor positioning in conjunction with being overmatched in speed.

Martin Brodeur didn't have a good game and really should have stopped Jeff Tambellini's breakaway chance. However, he got hit with goals from the flank, off rebounds from initial shots, and the last one that got past him came off a screen. All of which are preventable by good defensive play. What I'm saying is that he was hung out to dry on more than a few of those goals against.

Needless to say, Niclas Havelid had a very poor debut and we can only hope he'll do better next time. The pairing with him and Bryce Salvador definitely was not a strong pairing today. Then again, it's not like the other four had good games as well. That Paul Martin and Johnny Oduya got split by a killer pass to Tambellini for the breakaway is proof that everyone was prone to mistakes.

The second area of weakness (failure) was special teams play. The penalty kill killed no penalties. Kyle Okposo was wide open in putting in a rebound for the first power play goal against. Blake Comeau was alone in the slot to receive a slick Josh Bailey pass for a one-timer to convert the second power play. That's it. 0-for-2. The power play was only marginally better as Patrik Elias was able to re-direct a Paul Martin shot for a third period power play goal. Yet, they went 1-for-6.

You can't say the Devils didn't have chances to get back into this game. At least, they didn't fold up after ending the first period 3-0 with a couple goals in the second period. The Devils' forwards were able to do a much better maintaining possession with the puck than they did in the last Islanders' loss. Moreover, they didn't get shutout - so that's an improvement over the last game as well. But while the game was manageable at 4-2 (goals from a great Brian Gionta deflection and Jamie Langenbrunner putting home a rebound), the two goals against later in the second period really killed the momentum for New Jersery. Again, the issue there was the defense. It truly hurt the Devils the most. The game was pretty much over in the third period.

That said, I have much praise for the Islanders. Today proved that there are no actual doormats in the league. The last placed team played like anything but a last placed team, largely in part to their youth players. Sean Bergenheim was lethal and put up a hat trick. Okposo, Comeau, and Bailey all looked good out there. I was impressed with Jesse Joensuu and Mike Iggulden - they definitely look like future NHL players. With some more talent on defense and maybe an addition of John Tavares, the Islanders have a bright future. They definitely have some of the pieces to the proverbial puzzle right now. Today was only one game and maybe some of these players won't take it to that proverbial "next level." However, the Islanders' performance could very well be a sign of things to come!

As for the Devils, the concern after a bad loss like this is the future. What will the Devils learn from this game? Was this just a bad game? Did the Islanders just expose a weakness of the team (defense against speed?), or was it just poor performance? Do the Devils play down to teams? Was this game a sign of things to come? Will this game be the start of a losing streak? Is this just a big wake up call?

With the playoffs looming and a tough March schedule ahead, it's a bad time to start a bad streak. I'd have to think this has to be taken as a wake-up call of sorts and the Devils need to get it together for Tuesday. How the Devils perform against Calgary will tell us the answers to some of these questions.

Bergenheim hat trick helps Islanders turn back the Devil

Dominik — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 22:45:32 -0000

Yeah, you read that right: The Islanders routed the East's second-place Devils for the second time in two weeks in front of giddy Nassau Coliseum fans. Not even the news that potential captain Trent Hunter is lost for the season with a fractured ankle could dampen this day.

Game Summary | Event Summary | Islanders Site Recap

Final - 3.7.2009	1	2	3	Total
New Jersey Devils	0	2	1	3
New York Islanders	3	3	1	7

Complete Coverage >

Sean Bergenheim, who entered this season with a very "make-or-break" feel to his development, potted his first hat trick by scoring goals the Bergie way: Digging around the net; crossing the slot with a shot through traffic; and digging out an empty netter from the corner rather than taking the easy one-on-ones offered 30 seconds before.

As a fan, you go through a tough rebuilding season pre-programming yourself to look to the horizon, telling yourself to wait patiently for the day when these growing pains will be worth it. Then you have games like these that remind you what that rush feels like. Games where the kids -- whose more weathered images dot that horizon -- put in performances to remember. The giddy collective fan will urging Bergenheim on with the net empty just added to the fun.

Nassau Coliseum had a festive atmosphere Saturday afternoon

Bailey's sweet backhand from behind the net to set up Comeau. The Nielsen-Bailey combo that set up Okposo. Bergenheim supporting the forecheck and turning a lazy turnover into a goal that ended Martin Brodeur's afternoon. Even prescient free agent signing Mark Streit casually springing Jeff Tambellini (Tambellini?) for a breakaway goal on a smooth deke. Seven goals, seven "Wow!"s.

True, the Islanders let up in the third, and the Devils came out remarkably flat in the first two periods. The Devils new defense pairing of Bryce Salvador and ex-Thrasher Niclas Havelid was victimized multiple times. But the Islanders youth corps of Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, Blake Comeau, Sean Bergenheim and Josh Bailey simply took it to the Devils. That fivesome -- and throw recent callups Jesse Joensuu and Mike Iggulden (2A and first NHL points in NHL game #2) in for spice, if you want to dream -- have more skill, vision and speed among them than the top six veteran forwards the Islanders have trotted out for the past two seasons.

It's that simple, really: They have a greater skillset than what we're used to seeing in Orange and Blue -- they just don't have the "established veterans" billing that comes with guys who you've seen in the Stanley Cup Finals before. It ~~was~~ is just a matter of nurturing and waiting for the maturation to come.

And sure, the waiting will continue. Some will flame out as they are pushed to do more and as other yet-unknown youngsters leapfrog them. But make no mistake, this is what Garth Snow realized and this is what this season's painful franchise restart is about: Young, affordable skill is what rules the NHL now, and it was well past time the Islanders got theirs.

[Note: Video highlights of seven sweet goals after the jump]

This is what a really fun Islanders win looks like:

The AHL all-stars: Two Girouxes, Rory and a Brodeur

James Mirtle — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:15:07 -0000

The AHL also announced its all-star teams this week, and they give you a decent idea of who some of the top talent is in the NHL's minor league:

Team Canada

Forwards	Defensemen	Goaltenders
Steve Downie, Nor	x-Johnny Boychuk, Pro	Mike Brodeur, Roch
x-Alexandre Giroux, Her	Kyle Cumiskey, LE	Barry Brust, Hou
x-Claude Giroux, Phi	Cody Franson, Milw	x-Brian Elliott, Bing
Mike Iggulden, Bri	Bryan Helmer, Her ("C")
Jason Krog, Man	x-Derek Joslin, Wor
Corey Locke, Hou	Andrew MacDonald, Bri
Brett MacLean, SA	Brett Palin, QC
Mark Mancari, Por	Danny Syvret, Phi
x-Chris Minard, W-B/Scr
Cal O'Reilly, Milw
Teddy Purcell, Man
Martin St. Pierre, Pro
Mike Santorelli, Milw		x-starters

The tough thing about these all-star games is that, not only do you have to hope no one gets injured, but there's also the problem of call ups to consider. Claude Giroux just torched the AHL in his first pro season with 17 goals in 31 games and is now up with the Flyers, perhaps permanently given their injury woes.

At least they don't have to worry about Captain Helmer missing the game. (Great character guy. Was good to see him get some time in the NHL with the Caps as part of his swan song.)

Three Milwaukee players here, all Nashville picks in the midrounds. Franson's a great example of the depth the Predators have on defence now; he's only 21, big and skilled and would be in the NHL with most franchises. (Not bad for a third rounder.)

Purcell looks like a really good NHLer, someone we'll see play a role with the Kings when they're climbing the standings a year or two from now. He probably misses this game, too.

Boychuk leads AHL defencemen in scoring for the Baby Bruins, and I bet the Avs are kicking themselves for dumping him this summer.

And looking at the goalies, I wonder if the Sens will give Elliott a shot in goal if Gerber and Auld continue to struggle. (And in case you're wondering, Mike Brodeur is a distant cousin of Marty. He started the season in the ECHL and has been very good for Rochester in a dozen games so far.)

Team PlanetUSA

Forwards	Defensemen	Goaltenders
Keith Aucoin, Her	Rory Fitzpatrick, Roch ("C")	Jeff Frazee, Low
x-Chris Bourque, Her	Jonas Junland, Peo	Daniel Larsson, GR
x-Nikita Filatov, Syr	Mattias Karlsson, Bing	x-Cory Schneider, Man
x-Nathan Gerbe, Port	x-Jakub Kindl, Gr. Rapids
Martins Karsums, Pro	Ben Lovejoy, W-B/Scr
Tim Kennedy, Port	Bobby Sanguinetti, Hart
Petri Kontiola, Rock	Jaime Sifers, Tor
Drew Miller, Iowa	x-Yannick Weber, Ham
Joe Motzko, Chicago
Michael Ryan, Albany
Ryan Potulny, Spr
Jeff Taffe, W-B/Scr
Ryan Vesce, Wor		x-starters

Vote for Rory paid off! The plucky defenceman gets the captain's 'C' while playing for his hometown Americans despite having a pretty pedestrian season so far.

Aucoin's another veteran worth pointing out: a 5-foot-9 30-year-old playing for one of the best teams in the league, he leads the AHL in scoring by a mile with 48 points in 34 games despite missing some time while playing three games with the Capitals in the NHL.

Filatov's with Columbus at the moment, so his participation's in doubt.

Karsums is a talented young Latvian who I saw at the world juniors quite a bit when they rolled through B.C. two years ago. He's eighth in league scoring and should see time with the big-league Bruins in the near future.

Weber looks like another good one for the Habs, too, who also have P.K. Subban on the way on the blueline.

Kindl... don't tell me you're suprised the Red Wings have another European stud coming on the blueline.

Speaking of Detroit and potential gems, so much for Jimmy Howard as the goalie of the future: Sweden's Danny Larsson has outplayed him by a mile and makes the team here. He was a late third-round pick in 2006.

I know there are some readers who see a lot more AHL hockey than I do; let me know what you think of the teams and some of the players' play to date.