GAME DAY: New York Islanders @ Ottawa Senators - 7:00pm ET - Thu. Oct. 8th, 2009

Hoags wrote:Pretty good game last night.

Leclaire was great again, beat on 2 great plays.
Cheechoo-Regin-Neil was our best line
Our top players for the most part were again ineffective, Kovy couldn't even keep his helmet on.
Power play is horrible.
Referees were making up for the first goal, 4 straight penalties to us ? Blatant hit from behind by Weight not called ?
And finally WTF is Foligno doing out there ?

I was hoping we'd have an offensive blowout against the Isles but a win is a win

Really? I didn't think he was bad? He made some good plays last night. He's Fisher 2.0, just give him some time- he's going to be GREAT and a pivotal part in our future- I'm predicting.

SeawaySensFan wrote:I'm very disappointed in Picard. Let's say he was terrible for only half the game, it's still unacceptable.

As for Karlsson, kid or not, he has no business being on the bench when the 1st PP unit is on the ice. Shannon or no Shannon.

That powerplay needs to change. They have Kovalev playing the right point, which is not where he should be, he should be down by the half wall. They should have Spezza down the middle and Alfredsson playing the other half wall. Karlsson on the right point and Kuba (when he's back) on the other point.

SeawaySensFan wrote:I'm very disappointed in Picard. Let's say he was terrible for only half the game, it's still unacceptable.

As for Karlsson, kid or not, he has no business being on the bench when the 1st PP unit is on the ice. Shannon or no Shannon.

I was more disappointed with Campoli- especially playing against his old team, you think he'd be fired up, but he really wasnt. I had high hopes for him when he came here last year, let's hope he turns it around.

Jordo wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:I'm very disappointed in Picard. Let's say he was terrible for only half the game, it's still unacceptable.

As for Karlsson, kid or not, he has no business being on the bench when the 1st PP unit is on the ice. Shannon or no Shannon.

I was more disappointed with Campoli- especially playing against his old team, you think he'd be fired up, but he really wasnt. I had high hopes for him when he came here last year, let's hope he turns it around.

True. Good observation. Only I think Campoli will turn it around for some reason. I just don't see it with Picard.

PKC wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:I'm very disappointed in Picard. Let's say he was terrible for only half the game, it's still unacceptable.

As for Karlsson, kid or not, he has no business being on the bench when the 1st PP unit is on the ice. Shannon or no Shannon.

That powerplay needs to change. They have Kovalev playing the right point, which is not where he should be, he should be down by the half wall. They should have Spezza down the middle and Alfredsson playing the other half wall. Karlsson on the right point and Kuba (when he's back) on the other point.

Ya, I'm not sure  I understand the logic behind this one either.  Especially with both Shanon and Kuba out, Karlsson should be manning the point on the pp.  This is his specialty and would let him develop some confidence.I saw a few plays last night, down low in our own zone where Karlsson actually did pretty well physically and using an active stick to gain possession but was unsure what to do once he had the puck.  A more stable d-man would certainly help in my opinion.  

Vandelay wrote:

PKC wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:I'm very disappointed in Picard. Let's say he was terrible for only half the game, it's still unacceptable.

As for Karlsson, kid or not, he has no business being on the bench when the 1st PP unit is on the ice. Shannon or no Shannon.

That powerplay needs to change. They have Kovalev playing the right point, which is not where he should be, he should be down by the half wall. They should have Spezza down the middle and Alfredsson playing the other half wall. Karlsson on the right point and Kuba (when he's back) on the other point.

Ya, I'm not sure I understand the logic behind this one either. Especially with both Shanon and Kuba out, Karlsson should be manning the point on the pp. This is his specialty and would let him develop some confidence.I saw a few plays last night, down low in our own zone where Karlsson actually did pretty well physically and using an active stick to gain possession but was unsure what to do once he had the puck. A more stable d-man would certainly help in my opinion.

They will do all kinds of shuffling just to keep Fisher on that 1st PP. In fact, he was in Kovalev's spot on the half-wall against the Leafs. Solution? Put Kovalev on the point!!!

shabbs wrote:

N4L wrote:I can't believe how good Carkner is looking now! Where are the people that were screaming for Lee now?

They're at hfboards.com.

I wanted Lee and still do. Not over Carkner, but one of Picard and Campoli. Honestly, the way they've played, I don't know which one. Campoli has the hot g/f, I guess. Lee is bigger, plays a little harder, and -- most importantly -- is a right-hand shot.

wprager wrote:
I wanted Lee and still do. Not over Carkner, but one of Picard and Campoli. Honestly, the way they've played, I don't know which one. Campoli has the hot g/f, I guess.

oh ?

wprager wrote:
Lee is bigger, plays a little harder, and -- most importantly -- is a right-hand shot.

Picard will be replaced by Kuba once he returns.

Only way Lee gets in the lineup is if Campoli or Karlsson go. It seems Carkner is a keeper so far.

Jordo wrote:
Really? I didn't think he was bad? He made some good plays last night. He's Fisher 2.0, just give him some time- he's going to be GREAT and a pivotal part in our future- I'm predicting.

It just seems Foligno is out of his element playing with Kovy. Kovalev needs a sniper or playmaker on his line and Nick is either. We need the FFS line from last season back.

What are the chances Nick can pot 30-40g like his dad back in the day ?

From Ice chips:


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Forwards:
Michalek - Spezza - Foligno
Kovalev - Fisher - Alfredsson
Cheechoo - Shannon/Regin - Neil
Ruutu - Kelly/Winchester - Donovan

Hoags wrote:From Ice chips:


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Forwards:
Michalek - Spezza - Foligno
Kovalev - Fisher - Alfredsson
Cheechoo - Shannon/Regin - Neil
Ruutu - Kelly/Winchester - Donovan

Huh. That's a new look.

I agree, in principle, with giving Kovalev more to work with. I think I would have just swapped him and Alfie (Michalek+Spezza+Kovalev and Foligno+Fisher+Alfie), but this will be worth a shot, too. Spezza and Kovalev together might be a little scary, I agree, but at some point we're going to have to try something to get them both going.

Keeping Michalek with Spezza seems a little obtuse. Michalek isn't Heatley; he and Spezza just don't appear to be clicking. Not sure what the rational is here -- a face-saving guesture (i.e., we want to make sure Michalek produces)? Anyway, as I said before, I think Michalek+Fisher+Alfie would be a devastatingly punishing forechecking line, while Foligno/Cheechoo+Spezza +Kovalev would have mad puck control.

Kelly is 100% done here, LOL, absolutely no place for him when Shannon and Winchester return. Wow. Just look at that Ice Chips chart. I don't know how you sit Donovan for long -- and with Neil looking like a legitimate 3rd liner again, in fact, I'm not even sure how you set up the top 9. Nice problem to have, tho'.

As for the Picard / Lee debate, that's a tough one. I've been a Picard defender forever. The fact that he is with Carkner, too, as our 2nd pairing (while Kuba's out), getting important minutes CC doesn't trust the bottom pairing with, speaks volumes about where CC rates Picard defensively, in comparison to Campoli or Karlsson. Still, once Kuba's back, I'm not sure I see a place for him. CC goes with Kuba + a forward (Shannon, Kovalev) on the points for PP1; and he goes with Campoli/Picard + Karlsson on the points for PP2. It looks to me like Campoli and Picard are the two bubble guys. If they're not getting PP time, it doesn't make much sense of play them. Still, both guys are really quite cheap -- combined, they make about as much money as Lee does -- so I'm 100% OK with keeping both this year.

The argument for Lee is that be brings something that neither of those two do. He's a little tougher, a little more physical -- or at least he was moving in that direction in the final 30 games or so of last season. Still, his problems is that he's got a muffin of a shot in comparison to either Picard or Campoli, and is not as smart with the puck or on the PP as either. Moreover, he's not as tough or as defensively strong as Carkner. The only way Lee makes it on this team, I'd say, is with a trade (Volchenkov, Picard, Campoli), a major injury (Phillips, Volchenkov, Carkner), or if Karlsson or Carkner play their way off the team.

Anyway, I thought that was a pretty strong game last night. Lots of energy and effort, lots of chances. It was actually an enjoyable game to watch, which you couldn't say about the TOR game.

Chris Neil = WIN

More from Ice Chips:


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Jason Spezza and Chris Neil had an exchange in practice today. While
it is unclear what happened, Neil gave Spezza a two-hander to the back
of the legs and Spezza returned the favour. Neil dropped the gloves but
teammates jumped in. This isn't the first time Neil has gotten into
skirmishes at practice. In the past, he's had similar run ins with
Magnus Arvedson and Martin Havlat. According to head coach Cory
Clouston, things are fine. "That's all right. That's just
intensity...they'll shake hands and make up." - TSN

More drama in the locker room ?

Oh man... here come the "slept with his wife comments" again... perhaps Dr. Phil can help these guys out...

Frig.

So Winch and Shannon are doubtful for Saturday and Clouston will name the starting goalie tomorrow.

NOTE: Elliott has NOT been confirmed to start yet. But is very likely.

Is see this Neil/Spezza business is front page on TSN....

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=294295

Slow news days?

shabbs wrote:Oh man... here come the "slept with his wife comments" again... perhaps Dr. Phil can help these guys out...

Frig.

I think that was the biggest sack of bull chunks I ever heard...

someone tried to tell me the same reason about Heatley leaving. Silly IMO...

SeawaySensFan wrote:Chris Neil = WIN

last night Fisher = Win, figured you would enjoy that one.