Jack Capuano

Isles Get Star Struck, Lose 3-2 To Dallas

December 16, 2011

The Islanders inability to score with the man-advantage and stay out of the penalty box would be the story for tonight's 3-2 loss to the visiting Dallas Stars. The Isles were 0-3 on the power play, two of which came at crucial moments where they needed to tie the game. Throw in their continuous trips to the sin bin and you have yourself a recipe for a poorly played hockey game.

Montreal Too Much for Isles to Handle

December 14, 2011

Chris Hessel

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The Islanders were in Montreal on Tuesday night, hoping to get back on the right track after a tough loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Nabby Returns, But For How Long?

December 13, 2011

Rob McGowan

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(Photo Credit: Robert Kowal/Flickr)

The Islanders announced on their home page yesterday that goaltender Evgeni Nabokov was close to making his return to the Islanders line-up.

Per the Isles official web-site:

“Nabby is close,” Islanders Head Coach Jack Capuano said after practice at Iceworks. “He’s been practicing. Yesterday and today, he had good days.”

Place Your Bets On The Vets

December 11, 2011

Rob McGowan

3 Comments

(Photo Credit: Robert Kowal/Flickr)

Brian Rolston, Jay Pandolfo, Marty Reasoner and Steve Staios were added to this Islanders team during the off-season to provide veteran stability throughout the line-up; Rolston was acquired for cap room and an added offensive punch over Trent Hunter, Pandolfo and Reasoner were brought in for defensive support on the bottom line, and Staios added grit and experience to a relatively young defense crew.

Let's take a look at their numbers to see where they stand...

Isles Look To Continue Recent Success Against Crosby-Less Pens

December 10, 2011

Evan Pivnick

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When you hear that the Islanders and Penguins are facing each other again, the first thought that pops into the average NHL fan's mind is the February 11th game (or "The Brawl Game" as I like to call it) when these two teams went over 400 penalty minutes. But that game is in the past, tonight the Isles face the Pens in search of two points and move up in the standings.

Isles Fight Back to Grab Point Against Blackhawks

December 9, 2011

Chris Hessel

1 Comment

The Islanders took their five game points streak into Thursday night's matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Islanders to NHL: "We're Still Here!"

December 8, 2011

Evan Pivnick

2 Comments

The Islanders have currently been riding a nice point streak and it has proven to the NHL that they are not just a small obstacle in the standings anymore.

Balanced Attack Beats Tampa Bay

December 7, 2011

Ken Dick

2 Comments

When the New York Islanders last welcomed the Tampa Bay Lightning to Nassau Coliseum, it took just 36 seconds for them to establish their lead and roll to a 5-1 victory.

On Tuesday night, the Islanders allowed Tampa to score first, but the result would end up exactly the same.

Al Montoya, whose fine play has been carrying the Isles of late (with his 2.17 Goals Against Average and .931 save percentage coming in to the contest) started in goal. The Islanders faced Mathieu Garon in the other end.

Though they fired the first five shots of the game, none got past Garon. When Tampa Bay was able to get their first shot on net, a blast from the stick of Brett Clark near the point, Martin St. Louis redirected it past Montoya for his 800th career NHL point.

Islanders Cannot Let Lightning Strike on the Island Tonight

December 6, 2011

Evan Pivnick

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The Islanders return home for a 3 game home stand tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning are coming off on a 4-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators last night. The Isles are coming off a 5-4 win over Dallas which may be referred to in the future as the "Moulson Game".

The Lightning have had a struggling season so far. At 11-13-2, the Bolts turn to their leading scorer Steven Stamkos (16 goals, 13 assists, to get them over .500. There is a defenseman the Lightning acquired over the offseason that has been putting points on the board in when he is in the lineup; hold on to your hats here Isles fans, but that player is Bruno Gervais. Gervais has 2 goals, 1 assist in 7 games so far this season for the Bolts and it seems as if he has found his fit in Tampa.

Islanders Look For Two Points Tonight In Dallas

December 3, 2011

Evan Pivnick

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The Islanders come off of a 5-4 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks to face the Dallas Stars. The Stars enter the game being a banged up team with a record of 15-9-1.

The Stars will start goaltender Andrew Raycroft, who has taken over the starting role recently after Kari Lehtonen substained an injury. Raycroft, the 31 year old netminder on his sixth NHL team, seems to have finally found the right home for him. Raycroft played earlier in his career with Boston, Toronto, Colorado, and Vancouver.

The Stars have had the offensive touch from Eric Nystrom lately, putting up points in 5 of his last 6 games.

The Islanders need to play the game they have been playing for the past week; putting pucks on net instead of just dumping the puck into the zone.

Although Jack Capuano has not announced tonight's starting goaltender, it would be assumed that Al Montoya will be the started. Montoya has been on fire this past week and there is absolutely no reason to sit him.

Coach Capuano should not have to scramble his lines for tonight's game looking back at last night's game. It is his defense he needs to be concerned about. It's usually the little things the defense does that cost the team and Jack needs to make sure the defense is on top of their game.

Tonight is meeting 1 of 2 this season between these two team and it should be an exciting one based on how these teams have been playing as of late.

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